Pepper Masalah and the flying carpet (Pepper Masalah #1) & Pepper Masalah and the temple of cats (Pepper Masalah #2)

Rosanne Hawke (text) and Jasmine Berry (illustrator), Pepper Masalah and the flying carpet (Pepper Masalah #1), Wombat Books, March 2023, 64 pp., RRP $11.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781761111105

Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet is a unique addition to the junior readers category for its setting and characters.

Pepper Masalah is a black, panther-like, pet cat who lives on a farm with her owner, Zamir. Zam is motherless, living with his despondent father and immigrant grandmother, Dadi. Dadi is still passing on stories from the old country, stories that Zam can’t be sure are true.

One night, Zam and Pepper are whisked away on the old, yet definitely magical, carpet. After a bumpy, sandy landing they find that Zam can now understand Pepper and the two can converse freely, however they cannot be understood by the young boy who finds them. Believing the carpet can be sold to help his family, the boy takes the carpet and so begins an adventure for Pepper and Zamir to get the carpet back and to find a way home.

This is a short chapter book for children who are competent independent readers, likely 7–10-year-olds. It feels similar in length and reading level to the Aussie Nibbles series. The main difference is that the majority of this story takes place on the Arabian Peninsula, a literary setting that will be very new to many Australian children. It also features a main character who is the grandson of immigrants, and this is an important feature of the story.

The best place for this story is in a school library, either as a long take home reader for Grade 3 students, or on a spinner with the other quick reads (isn’t that where we all keep them?). It will add more diversity to the collection and because it is fairly easy to read, many children will gain confidence from completing it.

Rosanne Hawke (text) and Jasmine Berry (illustrator), Pepper Masalah and the temple of cats (Pepper Masalah #2), Wombat Books, July 2023, 72 pp., RRP $11.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781761111143

This is the second in a new series which is ideal for young independent readers. In the first book we were introduced to Pepper Masalah, a pet cat, and her owner, Zam. They usually live in Australia with Zam’s father and grandmother, Dadi. But they go on exciting adventures courtesy of a magic flying carpet, which not only transports them around the world, but also through time.

In this book, Pepper and Zam find themselves dumped in a crocodile infested river. A kind new friend helps them realise that they are in Egypt, during the reign of Tutankhamun. They are taken to a temple, and they are told how highly cats are regarded by the Egyptians. So naturally Pepper is confused and concerned when she learns that cats are so revered that people want to pay for the mummification and burial of a cat to please the gods and receive good fortune.

This series is well designed for readers in Grade 1-3 with a moderate reading level. The chapters are brief and the language is age appropriate. They are also a good change from what is currently in the market for this type of book, which for boys it’s usually spies and for girls it is spunky female characters learning to solve social dilemmas. In this book most of the story is from cat’s perspective of events and the use of time-travel makes for a slightly historical book, which is often fascinating for kids.

The third title will be released in November.

Reviewed by Cherie Bell

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