N. J. Gemmell, Coco Banjo is Having a Yay Day, Random House, 1 June 2015, 192pp., $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780857987334
Life at Banksia Bay school is put under the microscope by our heroine Coco who has plans to make it a more just and totally fun place to be. No detail is too small, no teacher able to escape the critical eye of our intrepid diarist.
The pace is rollicking, the illustrations spot on and the humour is heartfelt yet never cruel. Nikki Gemmell has turned a very deft hand to writing and illustrating a jewel of a book that sits comfortably for the early reader as well as adults needing a reality check about how the young ones tick. Almost rebus like, the story gallops along to an expected conclusion with the the reward of a new title in the offing. Set out in chapter form the book is sure to encourage, entertain and delight young readers.
Highly recommended.
reviewed by Chris Dayman