I THOUGHT I would share this great picture of Zahra, a two-week-old baby Rothschild giraffe taking her first steps outside at Chester Zoo, watched by her mother Aiofe.

  • YOUNGSTERS at St Nicholas and St Laurence School in Weymouth have been helping me out by reviewing some books.

The Year Six pupils have very kindly read the books I dropped at the school then written to tell me what they think of them.

I will try to include a couple of their reviews on my page each week. Today we hear from Harvey Webber and Jacob Gunn.

Dixie O’Day, In the Fast Lane by Shirley Hughes, reviewed by Harvey Webber

Dixie O'Day is a good book for junior children because there are fantastic illustrations and it is really funny and interesting and you have funny situations.

It is about two dogs who love their car. They were going off to the country but their car was making noises.

Their next door neighbour gets a new car every year and Lou-Ella just went zooming past.

When they looked they were on the edge of the cliff. A family came to help and they pulled the car up and off they went. They went home and they saw a poster that said car race tomorrow, so they signed up.

They went the next day and saw Lou-Ella in front. Their car was really slow.

The same family who helped them needed help so the two dogs went over and helped at the end.

Lou-Ella got stuck in a train track but the dogs were behind her and the tracks were going the wrong way.

The two dogs passed the finish line and they had a trophy and certificate.

My favourite character was Percy because he was wondrous and he wanted an adventure.

I recommend the book to people who like adventures and who like comedy.

Betsey’s Birthday Surprise by Malorie Blackman, reviewed by Jacob Gunn

IT is an interesting book. Each chapter is a different story about Betsey and her family.

In the first story Betsey pretends to be different animals. At the end she is a guard dog and her mum is pleased.

In the second chapter it is Betsey’s birthday.

She thinks everyone has forgotten but they have not and she has a surprise party.

Betsey builds a house in the third chapter but at the end decides she would rather live with her family. In the final chapter Betsey’s dad videos her.

My favourite character is Desmond, Betsey’s brother. I would recommend the book to a young child who can read long words.