There was once a boy called Tashi
Anna Fienberg
Barbara Fienberg
Kim Gamble

Allen & Unwin 2004
32pp., hbk., $27.95
1741141982

Tashi is a brave and clever boy who has a way with witches and warlords and he can even guess the secrets of ghosts.

One day an ogre stomped into Tashi's village, trampling over everyone and everything. He even took the roof off Hai Ping's house so he could sit inside! All around winter settled in.

"Is it going to be winter forever?" people asked?

Tashi visited Luk Ahed the fortune teller. Luk Ahed said that the ogre should have a familiar, which is a magic creature's pet. Then he visited Wise-as-an-Owl the wizard who said that when ogres were in a sad mood they made it winter until they were happy again.

Tashi decided to ty to find the ogre's familiar. When he and Lotus Blossom went to the forest they saw the wicked Baron sneaking along holding a bag as precious as gold. Tashi heard a sound come from the bag.

Is this the familiar that the ogre has lost?
How will Tashi get it from the Baron?
Can he save his village again?

You will need to read the book to find out.

We really liked the story because it is a new Tashi adventure. The author made it interesting by picking words that really helped us imagine what it was like for Tashi.

"If I was lost or afraid I'd liketo have Tashi to help me because he is brave and he does everything he can do to help."

"His ideas would give me ideas to help myself."

"He is smart and really good at tricking people."

"I would love to be Tashi because he is strong and faces his own fears."

The ending was funny but the picture was scary. We just want to hear more. We think it is an excellent book that all children from about seven or eight who like adventure mixed with magic and cleverness would love.

Sharks (3AB), Palmerston ACT