Send us a book review and receive 5 Verso Dollars.
The 2024 Children's Book Week theme, "Reading is Magic", celebrates the amazing power of stories to transport minds. A good story entices, provokes conversations, sparks curiosity, and inspires.
This year, we are celebrating the magic of reading with a special challenge for children who love to read.
Be Creative!
Write a review (150 words or less) and send it to us along with a photo of you and your book
OR
Create a video review (30 seconds or less) and email it to us
Open To everyone 18 years and under
Review any book currently in stock at Verso. Not sure? You can look it up via our website or contact us to check.
Include Your name, age, contact number
Enter up to 3 reviews per child
Challenge Closes Friday 23 August, 2024 (at the end of Book Week)
How to Enter
Email your review to us at hello@versobooks.com.au or drop it into us at the shop
Check out some previous reviews below.
Bunny vs Monkey by Jamie Smart
Book review by Archie, age 8
Three evil scientists shot a monkey into space and it landed in a forest. But Bunny and his friends live there so now they are battling in challenges to win the forest.
I love reading funny graphic novels and this one is really funny. There are cool characters and the pictures are bright and colourful. Lots of my friend at school love this book too. It's great when you find out a book you like is part of a series because you know you'll be able to keep reading more even when it's over.
I rate Bunny vs Monkey 5 out of 5 stars. Great for kids aged 6 and older.
Runt by Craig Silvey
Book review by Leo, age 7
Lisa and Leo have been reading Runt by Craig Silvey and loving it!
It's an uplifting story about the importance of sharing your worries so they don't weigh you down.
Leo says: This book is so exciting! You really want to know what happens next.
Wings of Fire graphic novel series by Tui T. Sutherland
Book review by Archie, age 8
'I love the Wings of Fire graphic novel series because the dragons are really cool and the story is so good that I can't stop reading it, even when I'm meant to be doing other things!
Sometimes the story is funny and sometimes it's scary but mostly it's exciting.
My favourite dragon in Book 3 is Glory. I'm going to ask for the next two in the series for Christmas!'
The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
Book review by Oscar, age 7
'In The 143-Storey Treehouse, Terry and Andy decide to go on a holiday and they pick up some other passengers on the way but then they get kidnapped by the hobyahs and that’s where the trouble begins!
I love the Treehouse series because it’s REALLY funny and it makes me have creative dreams — because they are always creating crazy things. And The 143-Storey Treehouse is the best one yet!
I recommend this for about 7+.'
Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad
Book review by Juliette, age 10
'Before reading this book We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad was my favourite book. Now this book is my favourite! Sasha finds himself at war in Russia at the age of six. He is kind and shares his love around to everyone.
Rabbit, Soldier, Angel,Thief is lovely and heartwarming. You really feel like you are actually in it. If you liked We Are Wolves you should read this!
I recommend this book to kids 10+'
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
Review by Harper, age 11
'During lockdown, I read The Hunger Games, where 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen participates in The Hunger Games after volunteering to save her sister. She must survive the terrifying games in which she has to fight other kids to the death.
This book series is thrilling and exhilarating. You just want to read on and on, forever! It's so descriptive, it feels like you really are in the book. It’s super amazing and gory. Anyone who reads this series will say “WOW.”
I really enjoyed this series and I recommend it for ages 12 and up.'
The Girl Who Speaks Bear, Sophie Anderson
Review by Evie, age 10
'Yanka has never quite fit in with the other villagers and when something happens that makes her question her past, she sets out in search of answers. An original tale of family and friendship, journey and destination, and finding out where you belong.
Magical as snow shining against the dream light. I could see Yanka's journey as clearly as if I was riding in the Yaga-house with her.
Ages 8+'
The Medoran Chronicles, Lynette Noni
Review by Olive, age 11
'The Medoran Chronicles feature a girl who ventures into another world, and finds that her life is about to change. Throughout the story she makes both friends and enemies who she will never forget.
The way the author writes is astounding, and her use of dialogue and description made it a perfectly written piece. The books have just the right amount of romance (not very much) and have a spectacular amount of stabbing and blood, meaning I couldn't put it down.
I would recommend this to ages 11 and above and to people who love reading fantasy and fiction books.'
The Haunting of Aveline Jones, Phil Hickes
Review by Harper, age 11
'A girl obsessed with reading ghost stories goes to stay with her aunt in a town that's full of the paranormal. A missing girl is all it takes for her to investigate the town's secrets.
The Haunting of Aveline Jones is spooky, creepy and thrillng. It goes to the next level of scary and every chapter is a cliffhanger. This is the perfect book for lovers of ghost stories. It starts off scary and escalates quickly with its descriptive and atmospheric writing. Aveline is totally relatable to as a character. This book really takes you into the world that it is set in, and you can really visualise every moment of it.
I recommend it for kids aged 10+'
Dr Karl's Little Book of Climate Change, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
Review by Harry, age 11
'In Dr Karl's book I learnt a lot about global warming and emissions. We can do things to help – like feeding seaweed to cows, it reduces their methane gas by A LOT and it's an easy thing to do.
I think the pandemic is really stressful but not as stressful as climate change. Everyone should read this because he tells us how we can make changes that make a difference.'
Tell Me Why, Archie Roach
Review by Rex, age 13
‘I thought this book was really eye-opening. Archie Roach writes about the stolen generation — he met a guy who said to him that he’d never learnt about any of that in school history lessons. I think it’s really important to know about. It’s been going on since white people came and took over the country.’
Rex has just read the young-adult adaptation of Archie Roach’s memoir, Tell Me Why. We also have copies of his full memoir, Tell Me Why: The story of my life and my music, as well as the children’s picture story book, Took the Children Away, illustrated by Ruby Hunter.
The Last Bear, Hannah Gold
Review by Dash, age 9
'The Last Bear is an emotional story of a friendship of a wild bear and a little girl called April. April and her dad go to Bear Island for her dad’s work and there are supposedly no bears left... until April discovers one.
This friendship between a polar bear and a little girl is incredible.'