Changes

The stories all have the trademark Nix combination of realism and magic. My favourite, ''Bill the Inventor'', is set in a childrens children's home as the young protagonist waits for a family who will like him enough to adopt him. But nobody even blinks when prospective parents include pirates, wizards and aliens with thirty -three eyes. Serena gets on everybody's nerves with her precocious, miss know-it-all ways, but nobody is surprised when a penguin comes home for tea. This blending of preposterous events in realistic settings appeals greatly to newly confident readers, as does the child-as-hero motif. There's a level of ever-so-slightly naughty humour there which allies itself to the fantasy role -play games four to eight -year -olds love, and Nix has tapped into it exceedingly well.

''Here's a coat of best superfine with one -inch brass buttons on a nautical line; a linen shirt somewhat patched with a detachable colar collar that's practically a match; a pair of double-seated britches made of wool that sadly itches; two pairs of stockings, one silk, one not; a pair of sea -boots with holes where they've been shot; a broad leather belt with steel buckle showing faint remains of gilt; and a broad-brimmed hat of salt-stained felt.''

Newly confident readers who enjoy the slightly surreal could also try Joan Aiken's [[The Winter Sleepwalker]] and, of course, Roald Dahl's [[George's Marvellous Medicine]]. We also enjoyed [[To Hold the Bridge by Garth Nix]].