Dear Junior readers,

The Junior Observer launches 'Junior Readers’ Club' to which we invite all you Junior Readers to join up! The Junior Readers’ Club will hold activities and competitions to encourage you to read and read and read more, for fun and to learn. Do join in!

One activity will be to introduce books for you to read. We will introduce a book from Vijitha Yapa Bookshop and tell you about it in our 'Book Review'. You are also invited to write in and tell us about a book you have read and liked. Write up to 150 words and email your entries to [email protected] or post them to Lake House, 35, D.R. Wijewardane Mawatha, Colombo 10.

NOTE: Vijitha Yapa Bookshop will give away prizes for a write-up on a book available in their bookshops. The best book review will receive a book as first prize, and the second will be a gift voucher from Vijitha Yapa Bookshop. Contact the Junior Observer on 2429239 or 2429234 to collect your gifts.

Talking Toys

Reviewed by Ryhanna Salie

The Diaries of Robin's Toys by Ken and Angie Lake is about a little boy's unexpected adventure with a toy donkey. Robin takes his usual trip to a car boot sale with his grandad when he comes across a toy donkey that he simply must have. Little did he know that the simple toy would take him on an exciting adventure. Imagine Robin's surprise when the toy donkey starts talking!

Robin finds out the donkey's tale when he starts talking. The donkey's life in Spain had been one of hardship. But he has had an unbelievable stroke of luck, although he had to give up a fortune for the simple fact that he was a donkey. The toy takes Robin on an imaginary journey to Spain. He also gives him lessons in Geography and Culture. He tells Robin an interesting tale of life in Spain. The novel is 'meta-fictional' which means it has a story within a story. The story of the toy donkey is set within the story of Robin's everyday life.

The author juxtaposes or presents fantasy and reality side by side. This illuminates the way in which inanimate objects such as toys come alive to a child. The tremendous imagination of a child is also explored in the novel.

[1st Prize]

The Quidditch Hero

There are many books I like to read and among them the book I like the most is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The Harry Potter series consists of eight books. These books are written by J.K. Rowling and are published by Bloomsbury Publications. The Harry Potter series is filled with mystery, excitement, magic and fright which makes me like them. In every book in the series Harry, Ron and Hermione the heroes of the story are ready to save the day.

The story begins when Harry comes back to the Dursleys to spend the summer vacation. But after the vacation when Harry was packing to get back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he receives a warning from a rascally creature named Dobby saying that if he returns back to Hogwarts, misfortune will strike.

When Harry arrives at Hogwarts, he realises that the chamber of secrets has been opened by someone. Due to this a number of witches get petrified. So Harry, Ron and Hermione worked together and closed the chamber by killing the basilisk inside and they unleashed the horror within it. Furthermore, Harry finds out that Tom Riddle who is the past, present and future of Lord Voldemort had opened the chamber.

Helani Balasuriya,
Grade 8, Musaeus College,
Colombo.

2nd prize

Oliver Twist

I have read many books in my life and I have many books yet to read. I like the book Oliver Twist because it is very interesting. The writer Charles Dickens was not only a storyteller, but he also tried through his novels to make people aware of the social evils of the day. It is the first English novel to centre on a child throughout.

Orphaned, because his mother dies at childbirth and his father disappears, Oliver Twist is born into a life of poverty and misfortune in the workhouse. After spending nine years in the child farm, Oliver is moved to another workhouse.

Finally, he meets his mother's sister and discovers the relationship. He finally ends up as a survivor with Mr. Sowerberry, an undertaker employed by the parish.

I like this book very much because it is very interesting. Oliver Twist shows the injustice and cruelty suffered by poor people. The novel tells us about how Oliver triumphed over his tragic upbringing.

H.M. Kalana Wewelpola,
Grade 9,
Ibbagamuwa Central College, Ibbagamuwa.