Children's Picture Book Reviews: Toy Mountain and Cookie 

 

 

 Toy Mountain and Cookie are recent releases from EK Books, a publisher which produces picture books that have meaningful messages and important topics.

Toy Mountain features a boy named Sam, who wishes that he had some new and exciting toys to play with. When he is given the opportunity to be a toy tester and receive the latest toys on the market, Sam is thrilled! 

However, it isn't long until he realises that it may not be necessary to own so many toys after all when his beloved old toys get buried under a mountain of new ones. 

This book teaches children about sustainability and the importance of protecting the environment and using only what we need, not want.

 

Cookie is a story written by Isabelle Duff when she was 18 years old, and is inspired by her border collie Saffy.

Cookie and Girl have an unbreakable bond and bring joy to each other's lives. Even when Girl feels sad, she knows that she can depend on Cookie to cheer her up. He brings light to her dark days and cheers her up with his antics.

This is lovely story that touches on the importance of pet ownership and the love that a pet provides.

Both books are available now through EK Books. 

 

 

 The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly  

 

I haven't read many crime novels this year, so when I was given the opportunity to read the latest release from the number one bestselling crime writer Michael Connelly, with thanks to Allen & Unwin Australia, I was interested in being involved.

This is the fourth Connelly book that stars the leading female character Renee Ballard, and although it was a first for me, I became an instant fan of hers.

Renee is a detective for the LAPD and loves working the graveyard shift. The story begins on New Years Eve, heading into 2021, as she waits out the traditional rain of bullets as revellers welcome in the new year by shooting their guns into the air. Just a few minutes after midnight, Ballard is called out to a scene where a hard-working auto shop owner named Javier Raffa has been found dead after being hit by what appears to be a falling bullet at a street party. 

Renee soon discovers that Raffa was an ex-gang member and that his death isn't accidental. She also concludes that the bullet that was used to kill him is linked to another case of an unsolved murder, which was worked on by Detective Harry Bosch some years back. She contacts Bosch and the two of them begin working together to solve the mystery surrounding the two cases.

But it doesn't stop there for Renee. She is also on the hunt for a pair of serial rapists, dubbed The Midnight Men, who have been terrorising women in the local community, and leaving no evidence behind. To say that she has her work cut out for her is an understatement, and with such low morale amongst the police department due to the pandemic and recent social unrest, she feels even more responsibility to step up and find out who is to blame for these crimes.

Renee Ballard is such a determined and feisty character, and I admired her relentless energy to get things done, and to take risks, no matter what the consequence may be. 

This is an action-packed story that is very well told, and Connelly ties in current issues including the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, which made it all the more realistic.

If you're a fan of crime and/or action-packed thrillers then I am sure you will enjoy The Dark Hours.

Available now thorough Allen & Unwin Australia, RRP $32.99