New Series: Ella and Olivia

 Cupcake catastrophe (Ella and Olivia) by Yvette Poshoglian, illustrated by Danielle McDonald (Scholastic Australia)
PB RRP $3.99
ISBN   978 1 74283 354 5






 Best Friend Showdown (Ella and Olivia) by Yvette Poshoglian, illustrated by Danielle McDonald (Scholastic Australia)
PB RRP $7.99
ISBN   978 1 74283 355 2

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Cupcake Catastrophe and Best Friend Showdown are the first two titles in a new Australian series sharing the exploits of sisters Ella and Olivia.

Olivia is five and a half and looks up to her seven year-old sister Ella. They have a sweet and realistic sibling relationship which many young girls with sister of their own will relate to. Olivia wants to be just like her big sister, and although Ella sometimes wishes her little sister wouldn’t hang around quite so much, she knows Olivia can be helpful and fun.

In Cupcake Catastrophe, the first of the series Ella and Olivia make cupcakes for Dad’s birthday. Ella reads the recipe and measures while Olivia fetches ingredients and help to mix. They are happy to be able to bake them without Mum’s help. It is not until the party, when someone takes a bite of one of these perfect iced cupcakes, that they realise there is a problem...

In Best Friend Showdown Ella’s teacher announces that there will be a chocolate drive for the class to participate in and that there will be a gold star award for the student who sells the most. Will Ella’s best friend Zoe sell the most chocolate, or can Ella, with Olivia’s help, win that gold star award? And will the girl’s friendship survive the chocolate drive?

This is a series that young girls will enjoy. The large font and cute illustrations make these books perfect for beginner readers, as does the simple, fun and light text. Look out for the next couple in the series Ballet Stars and The New Girl.

You can find out more about Ella, Olivia and the series, read first chapters or download Ella and Olivia bookmarks at www.ellaandolivia.com.au.