The Small Potatoes Club ¦ The Small Potatoes and the Magic Show

Lively, accessible stories about a small group of children who form a gang, with membership rites and rules. We get to know them in the first book and a sparky lot of individuals they are ... 'Sue has plaits and Scott does not.' It's good to have spirited girl characters, and there's a dog called Spot. Don't let that put you off! The lay-out of the text and the pictures make these just right for 'bridging' books - they'll go down well with the newly-independent. Length of chapters, repetition, sense of fun and involvement make them just right for sixes to eights. There are some good ideas for forming a club, too, which readers will enjoy.