Chintz The Chihuahua by Tania Bramley

Review by The Mole

Chintz is a very pampered chihuahua who is fed on the best foods and doesn't have to walk anywhere until one day when her owner goes away. She is left with a neighbour and has to walk on a lead and eat tinned dog food. When she is taken to the park, it is to where the big rough dogs are playing and she doesn't like it one bit. Then she meets Sandy, a golden retriever, and things start to improve - slowly.

This a collection of three stories of Chintz and Sandy, the friends they make and the tricks they get up to. I always find it amusing and 'wouldn't it be nice' that animals in children's stories understand every word that is said, but people - no matter how empathic they are - never understand the animals. I suppose this is one of those traits of children's fiction that make it so endearing to both old and young alike.

Illustrated throughout with cartoon style, but delightful, full colour pictures, this is a really lovely book for the early readers. As with most early reader books it is also ideal for read aloud at bedtime and with each story 10-15 pages in length the stories are an ideal size for it.

A really nice book that will delight the younger reader.

Tania Bramley also wrote a series of books about "Nannette".

Publisher - Austin and Macauley
Genre - Children's fiction

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Nananette and The Wreckers by Tania Bramley

Review by The Mole

Having rescued Nananette from the Doldrums (Nananette and the Doldrums) Nicky and Nick are still waiting to meet Nananette for the first time but now they see danger for her from wreckers and must rescue her from them too if they are ever to finally meet Nananette.

The story continues told in the same voice teaching its readers (and Nicky and Nick) about wrecking and the people involved. It did leave me wondering if they would ever actually meet Nananette as we finally left 2 very disappointed children.

Another very enjoyable 8+ reading book with with frequent bright fun pictures and easy language. Once again ideal for reading and sharing alike.



Publisher - Austin and Macauley
Genre - Children's fiction

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Nananette and the Doldrums by Tania Bramley

Review by The Mole

Nick receives a postcard from Nananette. The problem is two fold the first is that he is five and can't read yet and the second is that he doesn't know anyone called Nananette. Along with Nicky, his sister (yes, parents with no imagination?) they set out to get the trade winds needed to free their new found nanan from the doldrums and so she can get home and they can meet her.

The tale is written in Nicky's voice which at times feels like an adult narrator, although it never patronises the reader but instead adds a little knowledge in a non-lecturing voice. Great fun throughout with colour pictures at the end of each chapter make this suitable for the 8+ reader although the story may be a little young for them. Something I like about this book is that the children don't go off and do non-kid things, in fact they do VERY kid things, things that any child can do (although I would not be encouraging any child to start removing wallpaper from their bedroom no matter how long it's been up!)

With a voice suitable for read aloud, short chapters and enough pictures for sharing this is suitable for bedtime reading.

Publisher - Austin and Macauley
Genre - Children's fiction

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The Boy Who Led Them by George Chittenden

Review by The Mole

When Stanley discovers a message in a bottle on the seashore he finds he needs to know who the writer was and as much about him as possible to be able to see if there really is treasure to be found. Taking the message to a local museum he meets Reg who tells Stanley what he needs to know and the adventure starts.

The first impression from the description is that this is a children's book and yes, I suppose it is but the way and the style it's written in is ageless. It sounds a bit clichéd? When Reg starts to tell his tale of Jacob Swift, Swift is a young boy but events make him grow up fast and the reader quickly forgets his age and thinks of him as "The Boy" - the king of the smugglers.

Packed with historical fact and historical references this book was a fascination for me and engaging doesn't come close to describing it. I didn't feel patronised or preached to but I felt I was sitting with Reg, in the museum being told the story with a real passion - like only a true fanatic can.

My only concern is, do young children read about smugglers any more? If they don't then I think they should be made to. But don't forget to read the book before you let them have it.

Publisher - Austin & Macauley Publishers
Genre - Action Adventure, Children's and Adults

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