The Rug that Grew ¦ Dragon Earth ¦ The Bugbear ¦ The Year One

I'm sure Hamish Hamilton Gazelle Books don't reach many children who would enjoy them, primarily because their covers have not caught the attention of the browsing book selector, especially if they are shelved among more colourful paperback books. These two remained relatively untouched by my class. Those that did dip into them commented unfavourably on the 'thick paper' and had little to say about the stories.

Dragon Earth is meant to be a funny story about a dragon who unearths a treasure hoard and has difficulty keeping it a secret. The language is rather advanced and some silent readers might find difficulty in sorting out some of the long complex sentences. The Rug that Grew has the core of a good idea. Children rescue an old rug and clean it up to reveal an intricate pattern of plants and flowers which, after a little 'magic', grows into a garden. But somehow the fantasy does not really work. It's told in a chatty readable style, but is slow to get moving and lacks a strong, what next? pull - a big drawback for new readers - alone.

The Antelopes have more colourful covers and were instantly more attractive. Bugbear is the story of a large, hideous pink bear, an unwanted Christmas present. Each member of the family tries to get rid of it; but it's the youngest who finally succeeds. The children liked the family and the touches of humour. The easy style and short episodic chapters were just right for building up stamina for longer reads. The Year One appealed more to the eights and over. It's about a family of new settlers in South Africa last century; historically informative and readable.