The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me.      

A BOOK REVIEW BY YUSUF MOHAMED ILHAM.                                                   

What did you like most about the book?

My favourite part of the book is when The Ladderless Window Cleaning Company are given a chance to reside on the Duke’s estate and are provided with everything that they could possibly want (salmon, walnuts and the pink and purple leaves of the Tinkle Tinkle tree).

What did you dislike about the story?

My least favourite part of the book is when The Ladderless Window Cleaning Company and Billy have to go their separate ways because it is such a sad contrast compared to the joyful story it continues to tell.

What is the plot of the story?

The plot of the story is when the ‘Cobra’ tries to steal the Duchess of Hampshire’s jewels but gets caught by The Ladderless Window Cleaning Company.

Your opinion?

I think that this is a great book for anyone aged 8-12 and in general anybody who likes action, adventure and teamwork as this book fulfils each one of these qualities. Overall, I really like this story.

Scarlet and Ivy: The Lost Twin

Author: Sophie Cleverly

Release year: 2015

A book review by Nadwa Mohamed Risan

Let me tell you about it…

Ivy’s twin sister, Scarlet, has passed away and Ivy has been asked to take her twin’s place at the prestigious Rockwood School. Miss Fox, the substitute headteacher, helps Ivy settle into her new school and new room. Surprisingly, Miss Fox doesn’t just want Ivy to take Scarlet’s place at school, she wants Ivy to BE Scarlet!

Ivy finds Scarlet’s diary in her new room and so she explores the school pretending to be Scarlet and solves the mysteries the diary holds. Ivy also deals with Scarlet’s enemy, Penny, and her sidekick, Nadia. As well as this, she also sits through painful tedious lectures from her new teachers.

Why is it a good book?

The book kept me engaged as I wanted to know all the answers, for example, why Ivy had to pretend to be her twin sister, if anyone find out about Ivy’s secret, and to know the truth about the school.

Book rating:

4.5/5 - I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about twin mysteries, school drama and a lot of secrets.

Rainbow Cake

Ingredients

• 200g butter, softened
• 165g (3/4 cup) caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 150g (1 cup) self-raising flour
• 75g (1/2 cup) plain flour
• 35g (1/3 cup) Cocoa Powder
• 180ml (3/4 cup) milk
• 4 packs of Smarties/Skittles, colours separated

Step 1

Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Grease and line base and sides of 20cm round cake pan.

Step 2

Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Step 3

Sift the flours and cocoa powder into the butter mixture. Add the milk and beat on low speed until combined, then on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Step 4

Spoon mixture into prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 55 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centres comes out clean. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes before turning out on wire rack to cool completely.

Step 5

Make Chocolate frosting: Using an electric beater, beat butter until white as possible. Beat in icing sugar, cocoa and milk until combined.

Step 6

Cut the cake in half to make 2 half-moon shapes (see note). Spread a thin layer of frosting on the base of one of the half-moon shapes. Sandwich with the remaining half-moon. Spread frosting all over cake in a thin layer. Decorate cake using different colours for each row alternatively.

Ta da your master piece is ready to showcase and enjoy with your family and friends!

The Rubik's Cube is the world's best-known puzzle, a magical object that has baffled and fascinated the world for years. This video below teaches you a fool proof beginners' method for solving the Cube.