Worry Warts by Morris Gleitzman

Worry Warts is the sequel to Misery Guts. Keith Shipley's parents now own a fish and chip shop in Orchid Cove in Queensland and are still worried about money. Keithy is still frantically trying to cheer them up and his new friend Tracy thinks that she can solve all their financial woes. Puppy Fat follows this book and we have all three in out little library in the classroom. Click on the link below the book image to listen to the first chapter  to hear author Morris Gleitzman reading from his own book and see what you think:

http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/books/fst_warts_audio.html

Puppy Fat by Morris Gleitzman

This novel is set in London. The main character, 13 year-old Keith Shipley, introduced in Misery Guts and Worry Warts, is preoccupied with the fact that both of his recently-separated parents are letting their appearances go to such a point that they will not be able to attract new partners. Unbeknownst to either parent, Keith begins a campaign to find them both a suitable partner by placing advertisments in the local paper, and using his artistic abilities to promote them. Meanwhile, his best friend, Tracy who lives in Australia, and her Aunty Bev turn up for a visit. It's as far fetched as a story could, get but Gleitzman's endearing and eccentric characters more than make up for this. Keith's complete incompetence and increasingly grandiose and ridiculous schemes which are doomed to failure, will keep you turning the pages and bring a smile to your face. Why not listen to the author reading the first chapter of the book by clicking on the link below the cover:

http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/books/fst_pfat_audio.html

Adults Only by Morris Gleitzman

Jake lives on a remote island off the Australian coast with his parents. His best friend is Crusher, an antique stuffed bear. His parents run an "Adults Only" resort on the island and Jake spends his days surfing the internet, exploring the island and keeping a low profile. He does his school lessons via two-way radio. Life for Jake is rather lonely and he would just love to have a few friends, so he decides to invite some of the families of the students in his class. However, he accidentally includes a VIP magazine in his class mailing list and two journalis turn up to do a feature story about the island. Jakes finds himself trapped under the bed in their bedroom and can't believe what is going to happen next. Listen to Morris Gleitzman read the first chapter of the book by clicking on the link below the cover.

http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/books/fst_ao_audio.html

Blabbermouth by Morris Gleitzman

Rowena Batts has a disability; she can't speak. Roweena lives with her good-natured but somewhat eccentric dad on an apple farm. She was enrolled in a special school where she learnt sign language but now she attends a public school in a small county town. Rowena finds is exceedingly hard to fit in and is bullied by Darryn Peck. She is resilient though and along with a new found friend Amanda, Stickybeak and Gift of the Gab which continue on from this novel are both available for borrowing from in the Little Library of Rescued Books. To listen to the first chapter of this book, click on the link below the book cover.

http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/books/fst_blab_audio.html

Girl Underground by Morris Gleitzman

This book follows on from the book Boy Overboard but as with all of Gleitzman's books, it is not necessary to read this novel in order to understand or enjoy this one. The book is signed by the author himself. I bought it for my son, Travis, when I attended one of his seminars. This is a story of friendship, courage and a bit of crime. Bridget wants a quiet life and this is difficult when your Dad is a wheeler and dealer and your brother is in gaol. Bridget doesn't really care for the new, posh school her parents have enrolled her in, but after making the acquaintance with Menzies, son of politician, life becomes more interesting. Menzies makes her an offer she can't refuse, and they set off on a job of their own. It's a desperate, daring plan to rescue two kids, Jamal and Bibi, from a desert detention centre. Can Bridget and Menzies pull off their very first jail break, or will they end up behind bars too? Listen to the first chapter by clicking on the link below:

http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/books/fst_girl_audio.html

Deadly, Grope (Book 5) by Morris Gleitzman & Paul Jennings

I don't think too much of her green lipstick, but remember the golden rule; don't judge a book by its cover. So this is book five in the Deadly series and Amy is on a mission to rescue Sprocket, who has been kidnapped. They get to drive a Hummer, wish I had a Hummer. This time there is a weird nudist colony. And what are the weird scientific experiments which are keeping the colonists alive? The books says you could die laughing...but I don't think you will. We have all the books in this series except for book 3 in our Little Library of Rescued Books.

Deadly! Brats by Paul Jennings & Morris Gleitzman

This little book is number 2 in the series called Deadly but could be read without the others. I believe all of the six stories are available in one volume now. When Amy arrives home for her birthday tea, her parents have vanished and in their place is a baby she's never seen before. At around the same time Sprocket wakes up naked on a deserted mountainside and realises that he has lost his memory. Both kids set out on journeys to find the people they belong to, little knowing that they will soon join forces and embark, with the baby, on the deadliest quest of their lives We also have books 1, 4,5, and 6 in the Little Library of Rescued Books.

Toad Heaven by Morris Gleitzman

There are now four copies of this in our little library so you could read it with a few friends. This is the sequel to Toad Rage and it is all about a cane toad who longs to find a place where his family can live safely from the humans who seem to delight in squashing them. After an encounter with a conservationist, Limpy, the main character, mistakenly believes that he has been injected with a virus that will decimate his species. After hearing about a national park where living things are protected, he sets out, hoping to find this refuge for his family before he dies. Limpy is the brain box and a reluctant leader who manages to guide the others through battles with stinging ants, crocodiles, and a boatload of tourists. The over-the-top dialogue includes lots of body humour and tummy-turning descriptions of toad diet and personal habits. Death is a frequent source of amusement, from the toads' eerie use of a flattened relative as an insect trap to the companions' unsettling experiences among stuffed souvenir cane toads in a gift shop. This book has so many things in common with the film called Canetoad: the Conquest which I saw at the cinema earlier this year. It was funny in a very droll sort of a way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYUHnf7Uy1k

Also click here to hear the first chapter of the novel:

http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/books/fst_heaven_audio.html.

Sticky Beak by Morris Gleitzman

"I put my face close to the cocky's and gave it a look. Don't be scared, you poor little thing,' the look said. 'I want to help you. 'Rack off,' said the cocky." (The cocky reminds me of Claude the Crow from Shirl's Neighbourhood).

Now, the very last thing Rowena wants in her life is a cockatoo with a bad temper. She's got enough problems of her own. For a start, she's just spattered two hundred grown-ups with jelly and custard. However, Rowena comes to discover that a crazy cockatoo could actually be just what she needs. This is the hilarious sequel to to Blabber Mouth from one of Australia's best known authors. Click on the link under the picture to read and hear the first chapter of the book.

http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/books/fst_intro_sbeak.html

Now by Morris Gleitzman

This novel would appeal equally to boys as to girls and moves along at a fast pace. Set in the current day, this is the final book in the series that began with Once,continued with Then and is... Now. Felix is a grandfather. He has achieved much in his life and is widely admired. He has mostly buried the painful memories of his childhood, but they resurface when his granddaughter Zelda comes to stay with him. Together they face a cataclysmic event armed only with their with gusto and love – an event that helps them achieve salvation from the past, but also brings the possibility of destruction. To listen to the first chapter click on the link below the book.

http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/books/fst_now_audio.html

Watch an interview with Morris Gleitzman discussing his books and their themes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vov8Tyephk

Two Weeks With the Queen by Morris Gleitzman

There are now two copies of this book in the unit, so you could read it athe same time as a friend, which is always fun.

Two Weeks with the Queen was another book I had to read in one sitting. The story revolves around Colin, whose younger brother has cancer. Colin is sent to stay with relatives in London and decides that he can do something to help his brother. It is a combination of humour and pathos and would be enjoyed by any upper primary student. Here is Colin's letter to the Queen:

"Dear Your Majesty the Queen,

I need to speak to you urgently about my brother Luke. He's got cancer and the doctors in Australia are being really slack. If I could borrow your top doctor for a few days I know he/she would fix things in no time. Of course Mum and Dad would pay his/her fares even if it meant selling the car or getting a loan. Please contact me at the above address urgently.

Yours sincerely,

Colin Mudford."

Listen to chapter 1 by clicking the link below:

http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/books/fst_2wks_audio.html

Gift of the Gab by Morris Gleitzman

This a very humorous book by well-known Australian novelist Morris Gleitzman. It is suitable for 10-14 year olds and focuses on the issues Rowena Batts is having with a local larrikin, her mother's death and her exuberant father. Due to a birth defect Rowena can't speak, however, this doesn't affect her having plenty to say. Her story begins in the local lock-up where she is being detained for filling up a local lout's car with rotten apples and turning the heating on full bore. Her quest to find out more about her mother's death in a hit-and-run accident takes her to France. Here she meets with a wide range of personalities and her determination to seek revenge on the hit-and-run driver leads her into more trouble than she can handle by herself. There is sadness and pure joy in this novel and once you start you really won't be able to put it down. There are two other books about Rowena, Gift of the Gab and Sticky Beak. This is the third and final in the series.

Gleitzman has an excellent website where readers can go to his bookshelf and hear the first chapter of the majority of his books.

http://www.morrisgleitzman.com/books/fst_gab_audio.html