Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: skill

  • Easy Peasy

    Easy Peasy

    Parents want to embed a sense of confidence in their children. The only issue with this is when the child has an unrealistic sense of their own capability. Easy Peasy from Ky Garvey tells the story of a little girl whose father is a very competent roller skater.

    It looks easy, when he skates, therefor it should be easy and so when Ruby is given a pair of roller skates on her birthday she is thrilled. Now she too will whizz around the arena.

     The roller skates are red, her favourite colour, Ruby can’t wait to be off and so when Dad suggests he might help her, Ruby giggles and replies,” No, It’s easy peasy.” Luckily Dad bought the elbow, and knee pads for protection. Predictably, Ruby spends more time on the ground than skating. Dad keeps offering to help, and eventually Ruby admits that no, skating is not “Easy Peasy.”

    Once Ruby accepts Dad’s help, she gradually learns the skills she needs. This Is such a familiar story, not just with roller skates particularly when children begin to problem solve and they assume that skill will cover everything.

    Easy Peasy is a charming story made quite special by the wonderful illustrations. From the front cover to each special page, the artist Amy Calautti has captured Ruby’s emotions and frustrations. This adds greatly to the text. The text is written in different size fonts for interest and emphasis. A delightful story.

  • The Good Thieves

    The Good Thieves

    What an absorbing adventure story this is. From the beginning the characters engage our interest and imagination. The tale unravels at a fast but steady pace, and the back story of the main character Vita is revealed. We meet her on her journey with her mother to New York. Her early days were difficult as she developed polio in one leg and was bed bound for many months. Now she and her mother are about to rescue her grandfather and take him back to England.

    Vita’s grandfather was a man of wealth, but he has been swindled out of his property by a con man. Grandpa doesn’t have the money to engage a lawyer to defend his case, so Vita’s mother wants to take him back to her home. Vita adores her Grandfather. He is the one who helped wile away many hours while she was ill and taught her how to throw incredibly accurately. So, while Mother is spending her days by organizing things for grandpa, Vita decides to take some action against the well-known con man.

    Living opposite Carnegie Hall, the girl meets some circus performers who are staying at the Hall. They become confidants and friends and listen with awe as Vita tells them that there is a valuable piece of jewellery at her grandfather’s property, and if they could retrieve it, they could pay for the lawyer. At once the friends volunteer their skills, (one is a trapeze artist, the other an animal handler). The excitement builds as the three get together to form a plan. They realise that there will be plenty of danger in the form of guard dogs, a caretaker, and a very high stone wall.

    Once the plan is set in place the excitement builds. As obstacles are overcome, more appear to deter the children. It seems that all the skills and creativity that they can muster will be needed to locate and then escape with the treasure. The daring and skill that is shown during this night time escapade leaves the reader holding their breath.

    Family love and loyal friends bind this story together, as all the intended plans and schemes arranged by the children go awry. However, all is not lost and grandpa is avenged. What a stirring story and concept. Great fun and a real page turner.