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.

Magical Woods

Reviewed by Ryhanna Salie

Do you want to visit an enchanted land and meet fairies, elves, pixies, goblins and gnomes? The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton is about a magical journey of three little children Joe, Beth and Frannie who unexpectedly come across an enchanted wood with fairies, elves, pixies, goblins and gnomes. The best thing about the wood is the oldest tree in the world where the children are taken on exciting journeys on top of the Magical Faraway Tree. People with peculiar names such as Silky, Moon-Face, Mister Watzisname and Dame Washalot live in the Faraway Tree.

The novel focuses on the adventures of Joe, Beth and Frannie in the Enchanted Wood. The most exciting adventures the children have are on the lands on top of the Faraway Tree. Fairytale characters come alive in these lands, and the children get to meet their favourite characters in books such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

The novel takes the reader on an imaginary journey to a land of magic. The talking animals and trees add to the magical nature of the story. The animals and trees in the Enchanted Wood talk and whisper to each other and the children. The children's adventure in the Land of Wizards on top of the Faraway Tree is the most captivating. Beth even celebrates her eighth birthday in the Land of Birthdays on top of the Faraway Tree. The novel has a happy ending with the children going safely back home although they look forward to more adventures in the Enchanted Wood.

[1st Prize]

Totto Chan: The Little Girl at the Window

Totto Chan: The Little Girl at the Window is a Japanese novel written by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi with the experience of her own childhood. The story is about a different type of alma mater which prevailed during the time of World War II. As the main character of the story, Totto Chan finds herself engaging in many adventurous activities with her schoolmates. Totto Chan and her fellow students learn there while having fun and freedom. Another speciality is that instead of buildings, the school was constructed by using train compartments. The children are often encouraged to do their activities out of the classroom in order to enjoy nature. Above all, the most interesting thing is that there were no strict timetables like today's schools. The great leadership behind this wonderful school is its principal Mr. Isa Kobayashi.

However, in the end, the great school was destroyed by an unfortunate bomb blast. Even though the school was burnt in the flames of the war, it could gift many educated, all-rounded people to Japan. The story of this amazing alma mater provides a lot of lessons to the present education system in the world.

Dewni Subasinghe,
Grade 11,
Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo 5.

[2nd Prize]

The Hound of the Baskervilles

I have read many books, but the best book I have read is The Hound of the Baskervilles. It is written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It was published by George Newnes in 1902. The main reason I like this book is because it brings many feelings to the reader such as happiness, wonder, amazement and fear. The story is also very mysterious. It is about how Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. Watson solve the case of the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville who was followed by an enormous hound. Another reason why I like this book is because it improves my knowledge on the subjects of English and English Literature.

Lihini Wijesekara,
Grade 11,
Lyceum International School,
Wattala.