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HarperCollins:
| I thought this book was pleasant and easy to read. It is about a family in Indonesia who has everything they need until they have a run of bad luck. A motorbike hit the father's becak, a type of taxi, and he lost his job. To try to change their fortune, the family buys a bird and teach it to sing the lucky song. One day it started singing and the mother thought of a brilliant plan to make money. She decorated the becak so it looked grand. They took it to a hotel where lots of tourists wanted to ride in the beautiful becak. The characters are Sarindi, the boy, the mother, the father, Sarindi's friend and the tourist. My favourite character was the mother. I liked Kim Gamble's illustrations. They were artistic and realistic. I think that seven to eight years olds would enjoy reading Sarindi and the lucky bird. Michelle, aged 11, Canberra, ACT |
| Sarindi and the Lucky Bird is about a young boy named Sarindi who lives in Indonesia with his family. His father is a beak driver (which is like a taxi driver but instead of a car its a bike with a shelter seat on the front of it where the passengers sit.) Sarindis mother is an artist and also looks after the family. Sarindis family isnt very lucky. Sarindis father is losing work because his becak is getting old and doesnt look as good as the as the others. Sarindi keeps losing his marbles to one of his friends and Sarindi's mother isn't selling as many paintings as she used to. Sarindi's father believes that if he gets a special bird called a kutut from the market it will bring them good luck whenever it sings. But its way too expensive for him. Then one-day Sarindi's father had an accident and the becak got broken. So he decided to go to the market and get the kutut. The kutut wouldnt sing so the luck didnt happen straight away. Sarindi's mother decided to fix up the becak. She painted it and changed the rough old seat covers .She changed the faded roof. They went out to town when the becak was looking like new and got a job at the hotel by driving tourist and selling paintings. Suddenly the bird began to sing . Sarindi won his first marble from his friend. Sarindi and his father believed that it was the bird that at brought all their luck but Sarindis mother said was it the bird that changed the seat covers and painted the becak and did all the work ? Finally their luck had changed was it the bird that brought them luck or was it their hard work and determination after all Sarindis friend said that they were lucky all along. I dont think that it was the bird that brought them all their luck it just inspired them. All along they had the power to make things right. The kutut gave them that extra push they needed. I think that this book was very well written and easy to understand. I would recommend it to year 5 to 7. Even though there are very little pictures they really help the text. This is a great book and I urge you to read it. I think that the author of this book deserves a lot of credit for it. It is a wonderful book with a very interesting twist. Sarah Jade, Year 7, country South Australia | |
| Sarindi and the Lucky Bird written by Janie M. Fraser and illustrated by Kim Gamble is a wonderful book. Sarindi thinks that luck is like a mischievous monkey, playing hide-and-seek, and it seems to be hiding from Sarindi and his family! When Sarindi's father has an accident and loses his job, it seems like their luck has run out. So Sarindi's father suggests that they go to the market and buy a lucky bird. Then perhaps their luck will change. But Sarindi's mum doesn't want to waste precious money on useless birds. She'd rather have a chicken, then at least they'd have fresh eggs. So do they buy the lucky bird? Will their luck ever change? Will Sarindi ever win his marbles back from Jaya? Or do they make their own luck in the end? This is a charming story brilliantly illustrated by Kim Gamble. The story is short and simple and is best for the younger children. It is a magnificent book that they would love to read out loud or listen to it being read. Janie has a way of writing that makes the letters come alive and the pictures formed in one's head is as clear as glass. To add to the well-written story Kim has drawn stunning pictures that illuminate the book. The cover is eye-catching for those who, do judge books by covers and the blurb provides an interesting account of the story that makes you want to sit down and read it straight away. This is a book that all younger children will love to read. Tharsiga aged 12, Canberra, ACT |
