From the
award-winning creators of Brindabella, and with more accolades than
you’ve had hot dinners, this junior fiction book is dream-boatish and
it has short chapters which are just perfect for newly independent readers.
Touted as three books in one (proclaimed with glee on the very engaging front
cover), each delightful story is connected to the next by a common thread – Hercules
Quick’s need to earn money.
You see,
young Hercules has spied the very best box of magic tricks in the world, in a local
shop window. So, he needs to earn ten cent coins by doing odd jobs for his
neighbours in order to buy it.
Hercules’
Aunt Alligator and best friend Sophie the tadpole (who turns into a frog during
the course of the book) live on the middle floor of their building.
Above are a
whole lot of yakkish, hooved critters, below is Professor Calamari, on the roof
are a couple of turtles and in the cellar is a mysterious Queen.
Each of
these glorious characters finds unusual and quite funny jobs for Hercules to
do, and soon his green sock-money-saving-receptacle is clinking with coins.
The black
and white Illustrations are simply delightful with much to pore over and giggle
at. Indeed, we would not expect anything less from this author/illustrator
team. I particularly love Baby Yak who is like a whirlwind on steroids.
This funny
book with its unusual characters, perfectly heart-warming moments and surprises
at every turn, embodies all of the very best things about junior fiction.
It’s
engaging, creative, unpredictable, hilarious and soulful.
The perfect combination.
Title: Hercules Quick’s Big Bag Of Tricks
Author: Ursula Dubosarsky
Illustrator: Andrew Joyner
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $19.99
Publication Date: 2 May 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761067747
For ages: 6 – 9
Type: Junior Fiction
