Changes

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Aww. ''My Mate's as 'Ard as Nails'' is an irresisitibly irresistibly madcap story. It careers along at a breakneck pace and you're rooting for Freddy right from page one. He is an interesting little boy who is determined to follow his own path in life, even if that means he risks mockery for being different. And he's a loyal friend. But he has an excellent brain and the superpower of quick thinking, which is the virtue that sees him through. Underneath the adventure caper and all the jokes, there is a serious story here - all about friendship, loyalty, courage in the face of danger, and being true to yourself. It's great fun to read and it's empowering, too.

''My Mate's as 'Ard as Nails'' has a glossary of "difficult" words at the end. And the "difficult" words are printed in bold throughout the book. And just in case there are any unbolded non-bold words you didn't know the meaning of, the glossary has some blank pages for you to write in the definitions yourself, once you've found them. I think this is a fabulous addition, which cleverly helps kids to stretch their vocabularies in several different ways. Not only are they encouraged to flip to the back to get a definition for an unfamiliar word, they're also encouraged to find definitions independently. It also makes a wide vocabularly vocabulary an aspirational aim; a good thing; a cool thing. Word-loving parents like me will do a little dance of joy when they see how Virk is putting these ideas into his story.

And searching for the meaning of new words isn't the only bit of coolification (ok, I made that one up - I think Virk would approve) in ''My Mate's as 'Ard as Nails''. Central character Freddy has a best friend and companion. It's his teddy. He loves Bertie with a passion, in part because it provides a strong connection with his late and beloved grandfather. And Freddy is just starting secondary school - a time when kids feel they should be putting some of the things of infancy aside, like blankies and teddies. But in ''this'' story, teddies are cool. Teddies can be babe magnets. Who'd a thunk it?! I love this idea. Kids should put away childhood things only when they are ready and they shouldn't be made to feel babyish if some persist longer than others.

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