OZ LIT REVIEW - Nit Boy series

Nit Boy – Lift Off and Nit Boy – Bug Out by Tristan Bancks Illustrated by Heath McKenzie Laguna Bay Publishing Australia rrp $14.95 Paperback Junior fiction $14.95

These easy to read books are perfect for newly independent readers. A good story. Lots of humour. Funny drawings by Australian illustrator Heath McKenzie.

Eleven-year-old Lewis has a wild blonde afro and a head full of nits. He hates hair cuts but he’s grown to love his nits. ‘Lewis had had nits for so long he thought of them as cute little head mice rather than head lice.’ He’s even found a nit money-making scheme. He passes them on to other children, who if they get nits, are given time off school.

Then Ned is born on Lewis’ head. The first ever jumping louse. The nits are on the move and suddenly, the whole town is scratching. Lewis’ nits are in great danger as the townspeople band together to exterminate the lice.

Heath McKenzie’s illustrations are wickedly funny. Especially ‘evil’ deputy principal, Mrs Herrick, whether she’s peering through Lewis’ hair, yanking great hunks of it or waving an electric razor.

There is much more to this book than simply a good story. First there is a wealth of information and even a quiz about nits. The concept of species adapting and evolving is introduced. Lewis explores his sense of identity when faced with the loss of his hair.

But what I liked best is the positive message this series brings to its readers. You don’t need to be embarrassed about having nits. While nits are prevalent in our primary schools (23% of kids I’m told), many children are still uncomfortable about admitting they have or have had them. A recent visitor to my house was appalled when her mother, with good intentions and consideration for the other parents present, announced she was treating her daughter’s hair for nits. Tears welled up in my little visitor’s eyes.

Enter Nit Boy, to rescue the damsel in distress, in true super hero fashion. I showed the cover. I told the story. Later I refereed the tug-of-war between her and my son when she wanted to take the Nit Boy books home.

Lift Off and Bug Out are excellent books for children of all ages – to read or have read to them. Nit products might help with infested hair but this book will help give kids a reason to laugh about nits.

OZ LIT PROFILE #7 - TRISTAN BANCKS

This week's guest is author, actor, presenter, fim-maker, writer and much-too-talented Tristan Bancks. Tristan is the author of the YA series Mac Slater, Cool Hunter and its yr life (co-authored with Tempany Deckert) His latest release for junior readers is the Nit Boy series. These books have already resulted in a family tug-of-war in our house but more about that tomorrow. Tonight it's Tristan's turn to answer a few questions:

1 The last children's/YA book you read (fiction or non-fiction) Slam by Nick Hornby. Funny, page-turning and well worth the investment.

2 If it wasn't an Oz title, then the last Oz title Fighting Ruben Wolfe by Markus Zusak. Such well-drawn characters but not a word wasted in description. Incredibly tight prose. Gritty and funny and honest. I loved it and will be heading out on a Zusak-fest in the near future. I'm also looking forward to reading some James Roy.

3 Name one favourite book from your childhood My Side of the Mountain by Jean Graighead George

4 Name one picture book that you love for the illustrations The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard by Gregory Rogers

5 What is your personal favourite among the books you have authored/illustrated ***Hmmm, Tristan skipped this one.... Very diplomatic ***

6 What book do you wish you had written - for love or money The Body by Stephen King, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Bugalugs Bum Thief, Tim Winton

7 If you could be a character in a book, who (or what) would you be? I'd be Max in Where the Wild Things Are

8 Do you have a favourite quote - from a book or life in general! Anything.' Fall seven times. Stand up eight.' - Chinese proverb.
'Experience is what happens when we don't get what we want.' - Not sure who.

TEASER TUESDAY

The Teaser Tuesdays meme is hosted by Should Be Reading. It's easy and fun. Open your current read at a random page and share two sentences from somewhere between lines 7 and 12. There's one important rule - no spoilers!

At every training session, hundreds of crawlers gazed up through the hair canopy in awe as their extended family members leapt into the nitosphere. Today was no different.

'One hundred,' called Keith. 'Good. Excellent. Take a drink. Keep your exoskeletons warm. Five minutes until launch. I repeat, five minutes until launch.'

The Jumpers jammed their thirsty muzzles into Lewis' skin and slurped vigorously.

Lift Off, the first book in the Nit Boy series is loads of fun. Educational even. And guaranteed to reassure any kid with nits that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. That last fact alone is enough to justify recommending this book.

Nit Boy author Tristan Bancks will be this weekend's Oz Lit Profile. Drop back in to see what he has to say.

IN MY MAILBOX

I haven't even opened the first page and already I love these. I love the series title. Nit Boy. The mind boggles and the imagination goes flying after it. I love the Heath MacKenzie drawings. The blurb has suckered me in. Totally. The publicist gets a gold star for coining the phrase Nit Lit.

But most of all I love the way my 8-year-old son's eyes lit up as he spirited them away to his room saying "I'm reviewing these." He knows the drill. Reviewers get to keep the boks they review. And he desperately wants these. I'm Nit Boy's newest fan.

Now to open the page... having been allowed to borrow back the first one... guess what... it's as good as the package promised. I'm starting the Nit Boy fanclub. Post a comment to sign up here!

Book 1: Lift Off Book 2: Bug Off By Tristan Bancks Illustrated by Heath MacKenzie.