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THE SECRET OF THE SWORDS

Frances Watts Gregory Rogers

The first book in a fun and exciting series by award-winning author Frances Watt and Kate Greenaway Medal winner Gregory Rogers, introducing Tommy - a feisty kitchen hand who longs to be a knight. When Tommy is finally promoted to Keeper of the Blades, will a missing sword ruin everything?
Tommy, a kitchen girl at Flamant Castle, dreams of becoming a knight - and when she is made the Keeper of the Blades, caring for all the swords in the castle armoury, it seems like her dream might come true. But then Sir Walter's most valuable sword goes missing from the sword room. Will Tommy be able to find it before she is sent back to the kitchen in disgrace? Introducing a feisty new character for girls (and their parents and teachers) who love adventure and want an alternative to 'pink' books. Created by Frances Watts, a CBCA Award Winner and author of the huge bestseller Kisses for Daddy. Frances Watts was born in Lausanne, a small city in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and moved to Sydney when she was three. She spent nearly ten years working with some of Australia's most talented children's authors and illustrators before writing a book of her own, Kisses for Daddy, beautifully illustrated by David Legge. Their second collaboration, Parsley Rabbit's Book about Books, won the Children's Book Council of Australia's Eve Pownall Award. She is also the author Rat in a Stripy Sock (illustrated by David Francis) and the Gerander Trilogy. Gregory Rogers was the first Australian to be awarded the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal. His first wordless picture book The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard was selected as one of the Ten Best Illustrated Picture Books of 2004 by the New York Times and short-listed for the CBCA Awards, Younger Readers, 2005 and the APA Best Designed Children's Picture Book, 2004. Gregory lives in Brisbane.
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Published 2012-04-01 by Allen & Unwin

Comments

This wonderful series is set in a period where the men were gallant and the ladies swooned. But Tommy is feisty, strong and determined, and doesn't wait around for anyone to fight her battles. She's a strong role model for young readers…With its short chapters and many appealing illustrations, this is a perfect series for emerging young readers confident enough to take on some more challenging vocabulary and a gripping story.

Have you been thinking about swords? Well, if you have, this is the perfect book for you. Tommy the kitchen girl has a dream that she won't let go of. Her dream is something you won't expect! There is a mystery going round the castle. How are you going to solve it? By talking to a cat? Asking a pigeon? Take part and ask yourself! The Secret Of The Swords is a great book that has loads of imagination and you won't forget it. I definitely recommend it to you. And don't forget to hold on to your dreams!

Shortlisted, 2012 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award for Lower Primary.

I enjoyed these two chapter books for newly independent readers… The books are laced with humour, especially around the crocodiddle who lives in the moat, but there is a serious note about bullying too. Add the talking cat, Lil, and old swords that also talk, adventure and action and you have a winning series for newly independent readers, both boys and girls, to enjoy. Recommended.

This medieval tale about standing up for others and following your dreams is great for girls.