Little Lunch:
The Off-Limits Fence by
Danny Katz, illustrated by Mitch Vane (black dog books)
PB RRP $ 9.95
ISBN 9781742032375
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis
Little Lunch:
The Off-Limits Fence is the sixth installment of this
exceptionally popular chapter book series. It is released to coincide with the
July release of its television show on ABC3, which will be 26, 15 minute
episodes.
With three stories in the book, each story is about
what happens during the 15 minute snack break in a primary school playground.
In The Bench that Goes in a Circle around
the Big Old Tree the five friends play Chinese whispers about why Max and
Elsa went home from school that morning.
Language chaos ensues as hearing is distorted then related in a grossly
exaggerated form. It is hilarious and gross. Exactly what 8 year olds love to
read.
The Equipment
Shed sees
Max and Elsa having a snail race. Battie is next to the equipment shed watching
a cobweb. Manny and Amber are in a pip spitting competition. Melanie Applebum
is eating an apple as she watches Battie watching the cobweb, waiting for the
spider to come and eat the fly that is caught in the web. All Melanie can think
of is saving the fly. This sets off a chain of events that involves all the
children with incredible results.
Rory is running with the footy accompanied by a
commentary in The Off-Limits Fence. He
manages a superb kick but the ball falls beyond the back fence which is off
limits. What happens now? Will
zombie-aliens get the ball? Has he lost the ball for good? He can’t stop the
images going around in his head and certainly can’t imagine the outcome, no
matter how many guesses he has.
Mitch Vane’s illustrations are true to the
characters, their antics, and the text. There is a seamless unity between the
two creators’ work that makes the outcome so successful. The gross bits are
really gross. That adds to the fun. This is illustrated fiction at its best.
These books are ideal for difficult or early readers, and they’ll be hooked
from the first title.
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