The launch of an exciting new fantasy series for 7-12 year olds. Cole Randolph was just trying to have a fun time with his friends on Halloween (and maybe get to know Jenna Hunt a little better). But when he and his friends break into a spooky house with the scariest rep in town, it turns out to be the start of an adventure on a whole different level!
As his friends are mysteriously sucked away into another realm Cole dives in after them and finds himself in a magical place called The Outskirts. Made up of five kingdoms, The Outskirts lie between wakefulness and dreaming, reality and imagination, between life and death. It’s an in-between place. And once you find your way to the Outskirts, it’s very hard to leave…
MOVE OVER PERCY JACKSON, THERE’S A NEW HERO IN TOWN!
Available as paperback from your prefered book retailer for $14.99
Adventurous, intriguing and insightful into the pre-tween world.
Looking at a boy with a glowing sword and a massive scorpion calls to you from the front cover, it calls out to you…Adventure! Epic Battles! Fantastical Creatures!
From the very first words that jump off the page…’weaving down the hall, Cole avoided a ninja, a witch, a pirate…’ Our imagination take flights! We are engaged! We meet our main character, we know it’s Halloween, we meet his mate Dalton and we know about a girl-friend (emphasis) on the friend – Jenna. We are transported and already relating to the characters – our new friends.
In the very first pages we get a sense of who Cole is, a very smart boy who may or may not have a little crush on this girl and to prove he’s ‘cool’ like the other kids sets up to meet at the ‘Spooky alley house’…but don’t forget the haul of candy!
For a group of kids in a haunted house on Halloween you know and feel something is going to happen. Even if you’re too cool for trick-a-treating, don’t really like that girl ‘more’ than a friend, cause you really want to hang…but also cause you’re not afraid…You know you want to…Go on! Open that ‘white door with a plain brass knob’…read on, you know you want to know what happens…go on I dare you!
My eleven year old nephew absolutely loved this book. I bought it to encourage him to read now he wants to read more. Great fantasy book that is fun to read for kids and the young at heart. Brandon Mull writes in such a manner that you are drawn into a magical fantasy world.
This is a great book for pre teens, teens and adults (I’m a kid at heart), anyone who enjoys fantasy mystery. Brandon Mull is a great writer and it’s hard to put the book down once you start reading. He transforms you into another world so you enjoy reading. Great book to encourage children to read, that’s why I gave it to my 11 year old nephew,
I have finally manged to pry this book out of my son’s hand so that I could actually look at it! He ploughed through the book in records speed and then gave it to Dad to read as well – huge thumbs up all round in this household. Suitable for readers 9 to 99 and my nephew is currently reading it. Yes, we will be tracking down the series as it is a Fabulous adventure!
My son is just starting to read books and he couldn’t put this book down it keep him on the edge of his sit, and he loved it that much he read it again
My daughter loves these types of books so was very excited to receive the book yesterday. Her first impressions after reading a few chapters is that the book is very exciting! She tells me so far she really likes the story which is about a boy named Cole. She didn’t want to give all the details and spoil it for other readers but it starts with Cole and his friends going into a haunted house where they get kidnapped. Cole goes down a ladder to rescue his friends and finds himself in another universe. She couldn’t wait to keep reading it today and took it to school for silent reading time. She recommends it for kids over nine.
I dared to drop into the darkness with Cole…and I was transported…engaged…and ready to see this adventure out with him. You are immersed with the need to help his friends, to learn more about the place that couldn’t possibility exist – but it does and each word and each step that Cole makes, you need to know what happens next! Its a page turner and a tale twister! The immersion into this strange new world, the adventures he undertakes but with the final end game to rescue his friends always at the back of your mind. There is courage and determination and sheer luck on Coles part. You feel his sense of defeat of being sold as a slave, scared when he runs his first mission, relieved when he survives another day and that eventually he makes friends in a strange world.
It’s his story, that crosses with another character, to help him reach his end goal but to perhaps enable him to help someone else along the way. There is no guile to who he is or his lack of bravery, he is indeed an accidental hero but with a heart of gold that bonds you to him. To travel with him to rescue his friends, to help others along the way and to really live the adventure of the Outskirts! There are lessons to be learned in these books, that resonant outside of the covers of this magnificent novel.
The imagination of the author, the detail and the ability to keep the reader engaged is a testament to his wordsmith. His ability to capture the imagination of young readers has branched out to capturing the imagination of a mother of two! I have been given the opportunity to revisit my childhood through this book, to read through the eyes of a male author (very rare for me) and to learn a little more about my pre-tween son’s world of books and maybe find a common bond not just in reading by the adventures of these books with him.I cannot wait for the next book in the Five Kingdoms Trilogy: Skyraiders series. A need to know that Cole and his band of mismatched friends will complete their next quest, my curiosity of the world in which he is trapped in, what is shapecraft and if they can save his friends and topple the HighShaper! If you’re not reading Brandon Mull, you need to get on it – NOW!
I bought this book for my 11 year old nephew as a present, hoping he would develop a love of reading as his mother and Auntie have. He absolutely loved it and now I’m keen to borrow it and see what it’s like. I will be tracking down the other titles in the series for Christmas presents.
My 11 year old son loved this book. He can’t wait for more to come out. Read it at night and also over the school holidays. I was very surprised that he wrote a book review about it at school as well. Told me doesn’t wanna give to much away to me as he wants me now to read it. Gr8 book, thankyou for allowing us to read it and review it..
A very detailed start to the book not too sure I would let a younger childe I.e. 7-9 read it feel they would become scared. Definitely aimed at 10 -13 age group as they woild be more into fantasy. I am enjoying the easy read
This book is targeted at the younger 7-12yo generation, and the writing and story line is very much in the “tween” age group. The problem is you have a 421 page book full of just text which scares a lot of the kids in that age group off reading it (the ‘Diary of a wimpy kid” type stories with the odd pictures throughout somehow make it an easier read for kids of this age).
For a slower reader or child who is a bit nervous about reading a book that size, it does take a little while to get to the fantasy/sci-fi elements, but once you get there they come quick and keep coming.
Unless your child is an advanced reader, who loves their books, I would suggest that this book is probably more designed for the 11-14yo age group, or for a parent to read to/with their child.
I dared to drop into the darkness with Cole…and I was transported…engaged…and ready to see this adventure out with him. You are immersed with the need to help his friends, to learn more about the place that couldn’t possibility exist – but it does and each word and each step that Cole makes, you need to know what happens next! Its a page turner and a tale twister! The immersion into this strange new world, the adventures he undertakes but with the final end game to rescue his friends always at the back of your mind. There is courage and determination and sheer luck on Coles part. You feel his sense of defeat of being sold as a slave, scared when he runs his first mission, relieved when he survives another day and that eventually he makes friends in a strange world.
It’s his story, that crosses with another character, to help him reach his end goal but to perhaps enable him to help someone else along the way. There is no guile to who he is or his lack of bravery, he is indeed an accidental hero but with a heart of gold that bonds you to him. To travel with him to rescue his friends, to help others along the way and to really live the adventure of the Outskirts! There are lessons to be learned in these books, that resonant outside of the covers of this magnificent novel.
The imagination of the author, the detail and the ability to keep the reader engaged is a testament to his wordsmith. His ability to capture the imagination of young readers has branched out to capturing the imagination of a mother of two! I have been given the opportunity to revisit my childhood through this book, to read through the eyes of a male author (very rare for me) and to learn a little more about my pre-tween son’s world of books and maybe find a common bond not just in reading by the adventures of these books with him.I cannot wait for the next book in the Five Kingdoms Trilogy: Skyraiders series. A need to know that Cole and his band of mismatched friends will complete their next quest, my curiosity of the world in which he is trapped in, what is shapecraft and if they can save his friends and topple the HighShaper! If you’re not reading Brandon Mull, you need to get on it – NOW!
Adventurous, intriguing and insightful into the pre-tween world.
Looking at a boy with a glowing sword and a massive scorpion calls to you from the front cover, it calls out to you…Adventure! Epic Battles! Fantastical Creatures!
From the very first words that jump off the page…’weaving down the hall, Cole avoided a ninja, a witch, a pirate…’ Our imagination take flights! We are engaged! We meet our main character, we know it’s Halloween, we meet his mate Dalton and we know about a girl-friend (emphasis) on the friend – Jenna. We are transported and already relating to the characters – our new friends.
In the very first pages we get a sense of who Cole is, a very smart boy who may or may not have a little crush on this girl and to prove he’s ‘cool’ like the other kids sets up to meet at the ‘Spooky alley house’…but don’t forget the haul of candy!
For a group of kids in a haunted house on Halloween you know and feel something is going to happen. Even if you’re too cool for trick-a-treating, don’t really like that girl ‘more’ than a friend, cause you really want to hang…but also cause you’re not afraid…You know you want to…Go on! Open that ‘white door with a plain brass knob’…read on, you know you want to know what happens…go on I dare you!
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Mums Reveal Their Fail-Safe Nappy Rash Tips
Whether you’re a seasoned or first-time mum, protecting your baby’s delicate skin is right up there on the priorities list. Because when their skin is irritation-free, it really does make for a happier bub! Anyone who’s had to deal with nappy rash (me included!) knows it’s an inescapable mum truth.
Having skin irritation as an adult is super distracting and annoying. So just imagine what that’s like for our teeny babies and toddlers, who need to focus on sleep, eat and play. No wonder they can be so upset when they have nappy rash.
One thing you do need to ditch when it comes to nappy rash is mum guilt. It happens despite our best efforts. But it is helpful if you can get ahead of the game by doing as much as you can to try and prevent nappy rash in the first place.
We asked our hundreds of thousands of Mouths of Mums members for their tried-and-true, trusted nappy rash tips, and their responses came down to four key tips. So if you’re about to have your first baby, or your fifth, it’s worth popping on the kettle and reading through what’s helped other mums.
Fail-Safe Nappy Rash Tips From Mums
What we love about these tips is they’re perfect for mums and expecting mums, and they’re really simple to do. Everything from what to use and what to steer clear of, to helpful hints on caring for delicate baby skin.
1. Nappy Free Time
“As much free nappy time as possible. Lay baby on a blanket covered with a towel on the floor, without a nappy on, if possible in front of a warm sunny window.” – Joanne W.
We love nappy free time for newborn and toddlers (although it’s a lot harder to get them to stay in one place!). And while nappy free time is one of the most popular nappy rash tips among our mums, using the right nappy also plays a huge part in protecting against irritation on your baby’s skin. For example, Huggies Ultra Dry Nappy Pants have clever Rapid-Dry™ Technology, which instantly absorbs for drier skin. And they’re perfect for day and night, with up to 12 hours of leakage protection.
2. Change Nappies Frequently
“For me, what worked on my two kids is not leaving them in soiled nappies too long. I definitely changed as soon as they were wet and let their skin air dry before placing a new nappy on. I would rather go through more nappies than have to deal with the uncomfortable rash they would feel.” – MoM Member
Frequent nappy changes are a fail-safe way to keep moisture, but it’s not always practical (babies just love to fill their nappies while you’re out and about!) Huggies Newborn Nappies are designed to help protect a baby’s delicate skin with a zinc-enriched layer*, clinically proven to help protect against skin irritation.
3. Use A Barrier Cream
“My mum put me onto Zinc and Caster Oil cream. It is FABULOUS stuff! It’s very thick and sticks like you know what to a blanket hehe I tried literally everything and this was the only stuff that helped.” – Trudes
Using a barrier cream was another really popular tip from our mums. But did you know that Huggies Newborn Nappies are the only nappy with a zinc enriched layer. The zinc oxide in Huggies Newborn Nappies is the same ingredient found in many nappy rash creams, which helps to protect against irritation with visibly less redness on skin. They’re also endorsed by the Australian College of Midwives and the number one choice in Australian hospitals.
4. Choose Gentle
“Don’t use scented wipes. Flannel and warm water is the best.” – Justine F
Using the most natural product possible for wiping a baby’s delicate skin to prevent irritation is a tip that’s been passed down from generation to generation – and it’s still a great one. But something lots of mums don’t consider that a nappy itself can help protect against skin irritation. Huggies Newborn Nappies are clinically proven* to help protect against skin irritation while Huggies Ultra Dry Nappy Pants keep up with wriggly little ones while providing superior dryness, making them perfect for active toddlers.
Nappy Rash Myths & Facts
🚫 Myth: Nappy rash is only caused by wet nappies. ✅ Fact: It’s true that moisture does play a role in nappy rash, it can also be caused by moisture friction, bacteria, and even what the nappy is made from.
It’s why choosing a nappy that’s specifically designed for skin protection is really important.
🚫 Myth: Cloth nappies are better at preventing nappy rash than disposable nappies. ✅ Fact: When it comes to nappy rash, there’s not really any need to compare cloth and disposable nappies, because it’s all about keeping baby dry. The longer baby can stay dry, the better.
🚫 Myth: Nappy rash creams are the only way to protect against irritation. ✅ Fact: A good nappy with a zinc enriched layer can also help to protect against irritation.
Find Huggies Newborn Nappies and Ultra Dry Nappy Pants in your supermarket nappy aisle today.
Mouths of Mums is working with Huggies to bring you this handy information.
*Zinc as Zinc Oxide. Tested on adult skin as a suitable substitute for baby skin. *#1 choice in Australian hospitals based on sales data.
7:20 pm
Adventurous, intriguing and insightful into the pre-tween world.
4:42 pm
Fun reading
11:27 pm
Recommended book
2:22 pm
Fantastic Five Kingdoms
6:50 pm
Just love it
10:25 am
Exciting reading for kids
9:19 am
Age has no limit when reading this book!
5:10 pm
Best book I read my whole life
10:37 am
Nephew is now reading
2:49 pm
Fanastic read..
6:13 pm
an easy read for right age group
5:10 pm
Best book I read my whole life
2:09 pm
Good but suited to older kids
8:41 am
Sci-fi for the younger generation
9:19 am
Age has no limit when reading this book!
7:20 pm
Adventurous, intriguing and insightful into the pre-tween world.
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