Ava Anne Appleton: Catching a wave by Wendy Harmer

Ill. by Andrea Edmonds. Scholastic Australia: 2014. ISBN 9781743622353.
(Ages: 7-9) Recommended. Wendy Harmer continues the alphabetically aware Ava Anne Appleton series about the family who has packed up and left the security of their suburban home to travel around Australia in a mobile home.
The Mobile home has a problem with the kitchen water pump so the family are forced to pull into the caravan park at Crescent Cove until the pump is repaired. Crescent Cove is most inviting with its beach, surf and well resourced caravan park.
Ava is reluctant to learn to surf even though local Cody is willing to teach her. Having a ride on the back of his surfboard however opens up a whole new world below the waves. When she comes face to face a baby seal with a plastic bag wrapped around its back flipper, Ava joins forces with Cody to rid Crescent Cove of plastic bags and clean up the beach. Saving the seal and discovering a love of body boarding add to the story.
Supported by the engaging drawings of Andrea Edmonds, the descriptive text in larger font is suitable for readers embarking on chapter books and looking for a bit of realistic adventure. That Wendy Harmer has introduced the reader to one of the environmental issues facing marine wildlife can only be a positive.
Sue Keane