Written and illustrated by Ross Collins
Nosy Crow £6.99
ISBN: 978-1788002523
When a platypus arrives at the zoo the animals take it in turns
to interview him. Sadly, they all, from the panda to the flamingo, the elephant
and the monkey, find something wrong. The platypus doesn’t eat bamboo, can’t do
monkey tricks and isn’t as elegant as a flamingo. The bright, bold splashes of
colour are just right for this amusing tale of misunderstanding. The poor
platypus has come to the zoo with a quite different intention, but all is
resolved by the end and the animals learn not to judge or jump to conclusions.
The expressions of the animals are cleverly conveyed in this enjoyable story
and the simple rhyming text works well.
Louise Stothard
Written and illustrated by Meg McLaren
Anderson £11.99
ISBN: 978-1783445639
Maurice is a most conscientious station mouse and is careful
to follow the rules - taking care not to be seen and staying in during the
daytime. He is in charge of lost property and the bold and detailed
illustrations show the wonderful plethora of belongings the passengers leave
behind. Maurice wonders whether they miss their possessions until the day when
he just cannot help himself and returns a very special lost item to a little
boy. It seems that some rules can be changed for the better. The simple text is
just right, and the illustrations deserve detailed examination as they add to
and extend the tale. A delightful story.
Louise Stothard
Written by Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by David Roberts
Macmillan £11.99
ISBN: 978-1509813773
“There once was a very hungry king / Who needed a cook like
anything”. Kings have a lot of kingly
things to do, so they can’t be expected to spend time rustling up their own
meals. Still, finding a skilled cook is not all that easy if you know a thing
or two about food. Enter Wobbly Bob. He seems to be a complete novice and he is
scared, scared, scared, in the way that many of us are when we’re faced with a
new challenge. However, the King senses Bob’s potential and shows him what to
do - modelling both courage and culinary prowess along the way. Like everything
from Julia Donaldson, this story is a joy to read aloud. As for the peerless
David Roberts, his illustrations cast a comedic spell that holds all the best
ingredients in perfect balance. The Cook
and the King is everything you
could wish for in a picture book - it’s clever, it’s accessible, it’s
instructive and it’s very good fun.
Tessa Strickland
Written and illustrated by
Ellie Snowdon
Simon & Schuster £6.99
ISBN: 978-1471166341
Wolf absolutely lives to
bake. When he gets a flyer through the door advertising A Great Bunny Bake-Off,
he soon decides to undertake an ingenious feat of deception and take part in
the competition himself! What could go wrong?! An extremely entertaining read
and the illustrations, with their simple colour palette, are hilarious, adding
a very funny extra dimension to the story. The animals are absolutely adorable
(Though you need to watch out for one particularly bad bunny!) and the extra
little asides and details are a real treat for both adults and children alike. Great Bunny Bakes is an absolute treat
for anyone who enjoys a spot of baking.
Becca Watts
Rosa Draws
Written and illustrated by Jordan
Wray
words & pictures £11.99
ISBN: 978-1910277492
As the title suggests, Rosa loves
to draw. Her colourful imagination bursts out through her drawings, sprawling
energetically across pages. From a bear eating a hat, to a giraffe stealing a
teapot, young readers will be captivated by Rosa’s imaginative creations. But
when Rosa loses her train of thought, will she be able to find it again? As the
fantastical story reaches a peak, the reader holds her breath to see what will
happen to Rosa’s ‘canvas’; but no fear, it turns out her mum loves to draw too!
Dynamic drawings leap off the pages and the rhyming text bounces the reader
through the story. A delightful read for pre-schoolers and beyond.
Lucy Russell
Written and illustrated by John Kelly
Faber & Faber
£6.99
ISBN: 978-0571336371
Meet Fixer, a helpful, generous, brave, little space robot
who sets out daily to repair other robots working on the planet’s surface. As
Fixer does his rounds he is able to help Dug with his broken spade, Bull with
his flat battery and Gertie with her smashed gearbox. It’s a satisfying day’s
work, but when Fixer heads back to base, disaster suddenly strikes and Fixer
himself is left helpless. Will his robot friends realise what’s happened and be
able to help in time? John Kelly’s space world is imagined through fabulous
colour illustrations packed with energy and expression, which give
individuality to his robot characters. The story’s bouncing rhythm and rhyme,
an abundance of quirky details and the use of dynamic lettering at moments of
tension, all combine with the bold pictures to make this book great fun to look
at and read aloud. A wonderful combination of action, rhyme and robots; this
book is a warm-hearted story of friends helping one another in need and valuing
their different strengths. I hope we’ll see more of Fixer – he’s my tip for a
hit character!
Anne Walker
Written by
Rachel Valentine
Illustrated
by Katie Weymouth
words and
pictures £11.99
ISBN:
978-1910277584
Audrey is
full of curiosity about how things work, and when she decides she wants to be
an inventor, she starts to practice by inventing some amazing machines.
Unfortunately, they are not completely successful and her father and her pet
cat suffer the consequences. When her automatic cat shampoo machine
malfunctions she is mortified and almost gives up. But Dad comforts her saying
that inventions are not disasters if she learns from her mistakes. Audrey plans
her next invention very carefully and it turns out remarkably well, apart from
one final rather amusing detail. Fortunately, Dad can see the funny side and
the cat is pleased too, so all ends well. There are lots of visual details in
this colourful picture book and children will enjoy studying the inventions and
their comic results. Adults may need to add a bit more interpretation than the
text offers, but this would make a good read-aloud story for individuals or for
groups of children. Two of the illustrations require turning the book through
90 degrees which makes for added interest. It might even prompt some children
to try out some zany inventions of their own.
Liz Dubber
Written and
illustrated by Tom Percival
Bloomsbury £6.99
ISBN: 978-
1408892152
Ruby is a
happy child living in what looks like a tropical paradise. But, when a small
worry grows close to her, it gradually gets bigger and bigger until it consumes
all her thoughts. It seems Ruby’s happy days are behind her forever. Then one
day she meets a small boy at the park, who also has a worry, and realises that
other people have their worries too. When she asks him to talk about his worry,
a strange thing happens – it gets smaller! Before long Ruby has shared her
worry too and both of them find their worries have disappeared. A muted palette
of soft blues and yellow makes this story very easy on the eye. The simply
drawn characters are full of life and expression and the quiet but growing
scribble that denotes the worry is a looming presence that conveys the pressure
of a simple anxiety very convincingly. Above all this book promotes a very
useful message - that talking about our worries is one of the best ways to deal
with them.
Liz Dubber
Written by Corrinne Averiss
Illustrated by Susan Varley
Anderson £11.99
ISBN: 978-1783446124
The soft and delicate illustrations of this simple tale
describe special friends, Sorrel and Sage, who are alike in every way. They
enjoy the same games, sing the same songs and have the same stripe on their
tails. But when Sorrel goes to stay at Sage’s home she realises that not
everything is the same and makes excuses so that Sage doesn’t discover how
Sorrel’s home is very different to hers. But the friends soon discover that
differences don’t matter at all when you are best friends. A delightful story
to be enjoyed many times.
Louise Stothard
Written and illustrated by
Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet
Simon & Schuster £6.99
ISBN: 978-1471171703
When Supertato and his
friends begin a game of hide and seek, little do they know it will soon become
the greatest treasure hunt ever! Soon, things start to go horribly wrong, and
Supertato and the veggies find themselves in a spot of bother. Who can they
possibly call on to help? Another great addition to this funny series by Sue
Hendra and Paul Linnet. Bright and bold illustrations are sure to catch the eye
of any little one and the cheeky vegetables will definitely get some delighted
laughs.
Becca Watts
Quick, Barney, Run!
Written by Pip Jones
Illustrated by Laura Hughes
Faber & Faber
£6.99
ISBN: 978-0571327522
Wholly delightful! Barney’s big sister takes him on an
adventure on one of those days to which everyone can relate when the rain is
pouring, Daddy is fast asleep, Mummy is working and everything is so boring.
So, they jump in a cardboard box and magic away to an under stairs jungle and
go on to meet a tufty-furred gibbon, a colourful bird and a tiger which proves
so tempting to poke with a stick … that they return home very quickly! The
clever rhymes and fabulously imaginative fun illustrations add to the totally
magical, exciting experience. This,
together with other titles involving Ruby Roo, will be a firm favourite.
Gill Roberts
Written and
illustrated by Ross Collins
Nosy Crow £11.99
ISBN:
978-1788002646
Anteater is not
very clever and he is hungry. But, he can’t remember what an anteater really
eats, so he sets off through the jungle to find out. Sloth is too lazy to
answer, Toucan thinks it could be watermelon, Crocodile hasn’t got any idea,
but then he’s too busy eating, and Leopard is unable to offer any advice as he
lounges on a tree wondering how good an anteater might taste. Eventually
Anteater stumbles on an ants’ nest under a banana plant and when they all run
for their lives he suddenly remembers what he is supposed to eat. The matter of
fact humour and gently amusing illustrations give the reader the perfect
opportunity to have a good old laugh at Anteater’s expense.
Richard Monte
Steve, Terror of the Seas
Written and illustrated by Megan Brewis
OUP £6.99
ISBN: 978-0192766854
Steve is not a scary looking fish in any way. He’s
actually quite small and friendly looking, but all the other sea creatures, and
even the people swimming in the sea, flee in terror as he approaches. Steve
shows us other sea creatures, like puffer fish, viperfish and blob fish, all of
which are much more frightening than he is, so it’s all a mystery! Or is it?
Look very carefully on each wonderful double-page spread for the clue is always
there. Thankfully, Steve has a very good, and extremely large, friend called
George and George isn’t the least bit afraid of him. This simple and
delightfully amusing story also illustrates the symbiotic relationship between
a pilot fish and a shark and the last spread shows the ways in which Steve and
George look after each other. Symbiosis is not a word any toddler needs to
worry about, but the idea of friends looking out for each other is
heartwarming.
Jan Lennon
Long
Dog
Written and illustrated by James Davies
Templar £11.99
ISBN: 978-1787411098
Long Dog is just that – a very long dog and his small owner
loves him. Sometimes the boy’s parents think Long Dog’s length is becoming a
problem but the child thinks he is perfect. However, when his friends start
saying Long Dog is different and making fun of him, Long Dog and his owner feel
sad. It isn’t until all the other dogs fall down a hole and it is Long Dog to
the rescue that everyone realises it is good to be different sometimes and Long
Dog has skills no one else does. A delightful picture book, full of humour but
with a subtle, positive message about celebrating difference. Simple style
illustrations in red and yellow fit really well with the story and the end
boards, featuring Long Dog in all his glory, are a nice addition to the book.
Annie Everall
Little Owls First Day
Written by Debi Gliori
Illustrated by Alison Brown
Bloomsbury £6.99
ISBN: 978-1408892213
It is a big day for Little Owl - his first day at school,
but he would rather have a small day at home with Mummy & Baby Owl, doing
all the things they usually do together. All day he is thinking about them,
whilst he learns to build a sandcastle, helps with storytime and best of all,
makes a new friend, who helps him to realise that maybe big days can be fun
after all. Simple style and language combine with bright, colourful
illustrations, making this fun to read aloud or alone. A lovely, reassuring
story for children who are about to start nursery or school and who might be
anxious about it.
Annie Everall
Written and illustrated by Anahita Teymorian
Tiny Owl £12.99
ISBN: 978-1910328361
A small child reflects on how there is enough room in the
house for all his toys and his family, enough room in the sky for all the stars
and the moon, enough room in the garden for all the birds and in the library
for all the books. When he grows up and becomes a sailor, he realises that
there is enough room in the sea for the all the fish and enough room in the
world for all the animals. Why then is it that people are the only ones
fighting for space and even going to war for it? He thinks that if only people
were kinder to each other, they would understand that there is room enough for
everyone. A beautiful picture book with a powerful, yet gently told, message and
one that is particularly important in the current climate of fear, conflict,
the displacement of people and the resulting refugee crisis. Iranian author/illustrator Anahita
Teymorian’s stunning illustrations are rich in colour and quirky in style,
working well together with her text to get the message across within an
enjoyable story, that can be used very effectively to discuss these issues with
children.
Annie Everall
Written by Rachel Valentine
Illustrated by Katie Weymouth
words & pictures
£11.99
ISBN: 978-1910277584
Audrey wants to be an inventor, but her inventions don’t
seem to be as successful as she planned and she starts to lose heart. Her dad
and her pet, Happy Cat, tell her that all the famous inventors had lots of
inventions that didn’t work at first and that she should keep persevering. So,
she decides to try again. A fun, humorous story with a lively, engaging text
and bright colourful illustrations. A strong, feisty heroine with big dreams
and a positive underpinning message about going for your dreams and persevering
to achieve your goals.
Annie Everall
Written by Chitra Soundar
Illustrated by Poonam Mistry
Lantana £11.99
ISBN: 978-1911373292
It is bedtime for the baby animals but, when the night turns
dark and stormy, they are fearful and cannot sleep. Only Mama Elephant is able
to soothe them, explaining why the stormy winds blow, the thunder roars and the
lightning flashes, and reassuring them with her gentle words, “You’re safe with
me.” As well as being an author, Chitra Soundar is an accomplished storyteller
and her skills as a storyteller are very much evident in the way that the book
has been written and reads aloud. The illustrations which reflect the nature
and folklore of traditional Indian art are stunning and their interpretation of
the lyrical text mesmerises the reader. The design of the book and the
production quality is excellent. It is a book that shouts out to be shared and
read aloud - an ideal book for bedtime book and one that children and their
parents will want to return to again and again. A wonderful addition to our
collection of multi-cultural stories and one that deserves to be widely
promoted.
Annie Everall
Written by Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Walker £12.99
ISBN: 978-1406378658
Every day Square pushes stone blocks to the top of a hill. Circle mistakes
one of the blocks as a self-portrait and asks Square to make a sculpture of
her. Square works desperately on the commissions and creates a ring of rubble.
He falls asleep in the rain. Next morning Circle sees her reflection in the
pool of rainwater that accumulated overnight and declares Square a genius. The
book ends with the question, "But was he really?" This is an
exceptionally clever book that teaches very young children about shapes, and,
simultaneously, raises philosophical questions about art, misunderstandings and
perceptions. Square is unimaginative and insecure, and Circle is artistic and
suave. There is plenty of wry humour in Jon Klassen’s artwork, especially in
the picture of an exhausted Square toppling over with a twig dangling from his
head. Highly recommended.
Brenda
Marshall
Written
by Tom Percival
Illustrated
by Christine Pym
Bloomsbury £6.99
ISBN:
978-1408881019
Goat’s Coat is an enchanting new picture book which is sure to delight readers of all ages with its message of kindness and friendship. Alfonzo is thrilled with his new coat - it’s bright, colourful and warm. As Alfonzo is skipping along filled with happiness, he comes across creature after creature that needs his help, and, little by little, his coat disappears as he uses it to assist his friends. Goat’s Coat is the ideal way to introduce young readers to the concept that being kind and helping others can bring more happiness than mere possessions. Children will fall in love with Alfonzo as he selflessly shares his beloved coat with his friends in need. The brightly coloured illustrations are charming and add fun to the delightful tale, as we follow Alfonzo’s continuing generosity. There is also much going on in the background for children to enjoy. The story is told in rhyming couplets, which makes it fun to share and read aloud. At a time when there appears to be a focus on instant gratification, such a generous and heart-warming story is to be celebrated.
Jane Hall
Written by Dawn Casey
Illustrated by Oamul Lu
Frances Lincoln
£11.99
ISBN: 978-1786030672
A most unusual, special book that is heartfelt, meditative
and sincere. The cover is attractive with the title picked out in gold. The
text is a mother’s blessing, conveying the love between parent and child. The
language is gentle, warm and evocative with rhyme and repetition that would read
well aloud. The illustrations and colour palette are peaceful and soothing. A
truly loving, intimate book with a timeless global message. It would be an
ideal gift for new parents.
Sophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert
Written by Morag Hood
Illustrated by Ella Okstad
Simon & Schuster £6.99
ISBN: 978-1471145629
Sophie is a unicorn expert. She has 17 of them, and the illustrations show that Sophie can transform most things into unicorns by adding horns made from cardboard or a toothbrush. Sophie enjoys teaching them about magic, hunting for food, and the danger of balloons. She is so absorbed with looking after them that she does not notice when a real unicorn joins the group. This is a charming story of a little girl who is happy and totally absorbed in her fantasy world. Text and illustration are well matched. The rainbow colours in the unicorn’s mane and throughout the book are entrancing. The illustrations capture the character of the animals, and the mess and creativity of a young child’s life. Great fun, and highly recommended.
Brenda
Marshall
Written and illustrated by Heidi McKinnon
Allen & Unwin
£11.99
ISBN: 978-1760634353
A monster has just eaten his friend and now he is very
unhappy and lonely. So, he goes looking for a new friend. Eventually, another
monster chooses him as his friend. All seems well until … The ending is
excellent and will make you laugh out loud. This book works well as a humorous
adventure story, and there are underlying messages about being a friend,
keeping and losing friends, impulsivity, self-control, worry and sadness. The
illustrations are strong with bright colours and white font. A clever book that
will be enjoyed by young children.
Brenda Marshall
Written and illustrated by Julie Colombet
Templar £6.99
ISBN: 978-1787410541
Deep in their burrow, The Society of Distinguished Lemmings
lead a very busy life, enjoying a varied social calendar bound by a strict set
of rules. From musical accomplishments to fine dining, they strive to be
distinguished in everything they do. But Bertie decides that there is far too
much noise and ventures outside, where he encounters a bear, which despite its
size and lack of distinguished accomplishments, is friendly. Bertie soon learns
that there is more to life than being distinguished – you can have fun doing
different things. And although the other lemmings don’t agree initially, they
change their minds when the bear rescues them from a rather wet and dangerous
situation. With quirky, expressive illustrations this is a delightful
exploration of accepting difference and making friends, perfect for sharing.
There is much to discover in the detailed pictures, especially in those
depicting the burrow, and each of the multitude of lemmings has an opinion to
express!
Jayne Gould
Titles for the young child just beginning to Read Alone
The Dragonsitter’s
Surprise
Written by Josh Lacey
Illustrated by Garry Parsons
Andersen £4.99
ISBN: 978-1783446230
A delightful addition to the series, The Dragonsitter’s Surprise sees Edward dealing with an egg that
his Uncle Morton gave him as a birthday present. The egg is supposedly dead,
but soon starts rattling and cracking before erupting into something bright and
fluffy with claws. It turns out to be the Yellow Phoenix, known to experts as
the terror of dragons. Chaos soon ensues as the dragons fly in to protect
Edward, though their ‘deposits’ on the patio and Mum’s news are both equally
startling. The book ends with a lovely surprise. Lavishly illustrated by Garry
Parsons, this funny and heart-warming book will be a huge success with fans of
the series and those coming new to it alike.
Julia Wills.
Written by Lucy Rowland
Illustrated by Kate Hindley
Nosy Crow £6.99
ISBN: 978- 1788002080
Ned was a Knight - the most amenable Knight ever. Whatever
anyone asks him to do, he always says, “Yes”. Every evening, a fierce dragon
flies over the town and Ned is told to go inside and, as always, he says,
“Yes”. However, one evening, Ned stayed outside to watch the dragon, and
something happened inside him. He heard the dragon groan and sigh and felt
sorry for her. To everyone’s surprise, Ned started to use the word “No”, and so
the story unfolds and it includes the unhappy dragon. A delightful book -
funny, well written and illustrated, with good rhyming text and amusing
pictures. A pleasure to read and I am sure children will really enjoy it.
Pat Thompson
Written by Alan MacDonald
Illustrated by David Roberts
Stripes £4.99
ISBN: 978-1847158116
I think the title probably sums up the main character. He is
mucky and scruffy and always in trouble! Part of the Dirty Bertie series, this
book contains 3 stories about Bertie - his character, the trouble he gets into
and the way that he generally manages to wriggle free. They are all enormous
fun to read, moving at a fast pace, mainly because Bertie moves at a fast pace
and is always up to something different. I would really recommend this book, as
it describes the chaotic situations that Bertie gets himself into and children
can empathise with Bertie, whilst appreciating and enjoying the stories.
Pat Thompson
Written and illustrated by Jan Fearnley
Nosy Crow £6.99
ISBN: 978-1788001038
Grandma Bear has made a pie and has left it on a shelf to
cool. A fox passes by and steals it, but, he is only the first thief. As runs away with his prize, a whole group of other
animals are waiting to steal it, each in their turn. Miraculously, it finds its
way back to Grandma Bear and she kindly offers to share it with them all. But,
sadly, it doesn’t really work out as the animals have a problem with the idea
of sharing. This is a really enchanting book, with a good story, humorous illustrations
and a lively rhyming text. I am sure all children will love it, either to read
alone or share with others. This story offers a brilliant opportunity to talk
about the concept of sharing. Strongly recommended.
Pat Thompson
Written and illustrated by Camille Whitcher
Scribblers £11.99
ISBN: 978-1912233250
Luna and her granny are looking at the moon. Granny is
telling her about the Moon Rabbit, who loves rice cakes. So, having placed a
very tempting rice cake on the windowsill, Luna waits. The Moon Rabbit arrives
and off they go on a wonderful adventure. A lovely story - very gentle and
charming. The relationship between Luna and the Rabbit is perfect, and at the
end of her adventure, he leaves her fast asleep with her own toy white rabbit.
Was this all a dream, or did it really happen? The story, the text and the
illustrations are all delightful.
Pat Thompson
Uncle Shawn and Bill and the Almost Entirely Unplanned Adventure
Written by A.
L. Kennedy
Illustrated
by Gemma Correll
Walker £8.99
ISBN: 978-1406360493
This story opens with Badger Bill trapped in a dirty, smelly
sack. Bill, with a group of four elegant llamas, have been captured by two
extremely villainous sisters. Bill is to fight three very nasty dogs, and the
llamas will be baked into pies. Thank goodness for tall, lanky, kindly,
eccentric Uncle Shawn, who doesn’t wear socks because he had given half his
last pair to a young squirrel who wanted to play at camping and use it as a
sleeping bag. Uncle Shawn loves dancing, jokes, multi-coloured caravans, having
adventures and happy endings. Unexpected ideas and lots of amusing
illustrations combine to make this the funniest, kindest, sort of book to read,
and then keep under the pillow and dream happily by.
Tina Massey
Written by A.
L. Kennedy
Illustrated
by Gemma Correll
Walker £8.99
ISBN:
978-1406360509
Just as life is going well for Badger Bill, Uncle Shawn and
all their friends, a new doctor appears in the village, noting down all that’s
unusual. Unusualness is very suspect, probably criminal, and Uncle Shawn is to
be locked up until he can be cured and the unusualness driven out of him. Uncle
Shawn needs rescuing and his best friend, Badger Bill, is determined to help,
along with four arguing llamas, a pirate girl and lots of spiders. There are
lots of happily ridiculous adventures, the quietly determined Shawn tap dancing
to Old MacDonald, despite the threats hanging over him, much to the confusion
of his captor. Throughout, there is the strongest possible approval for what
is, or who is, different, unique or unusual - that is what makes us all
special, the author proves, and what a consoling message that is for all
children. Much fun, laugh-out-loud events and illustrations, with chapter
headings to lead you on, this is a book with kindness at its heart. Unmissable.
Tina Massey
Akissi:
Tales of Mischief
Written by Marguerite Abouet
Illustrated by Mathieu Sapin
Flying Eye £12.99
ISBN: 978-1911171478
For a small girl, Akissi bursts onto the page larger than
life. She’s bold, adventurous and precocious, but, at the same time, vulnerable
and innocent - all the perfect ingredients for creating her own kind of
mischief. Told in a traditional comic style, Akissi: Tales of Mischief is packed with amusing episodes from
adopting a mouse as a teddy to discovering the problem with telling tales.
Often funny and poignant, these tales reveal stark contrasts with modern
western life, like dealing with tapeworms or the terror of having to go outside
for a ‘pee’ at night. Based on the Ivory Coast childhood of Abouet, Akissi’s
adventures will resonate with a range of young readers, opening a window on a
different time, place and culture and yet also sharing some familiar problems,
emotions and characters.
Benjamin
Scott
Written by Dan Metcalf
Illustrated
by Aaron Blecha
Maverick Arts £6.99
ISBN: 978-1848863194
Dino Wars: Rise of the
Raptors is the first in an exciting new adventure series for young
confident readers. Set in the year 3142, the world is ruled by the genetically
engineered dinosaurs who won the Dino Wars. However, humans and dinosaurs live
in harmony in the secluded city of Bastion. Here, Adam Caine, his sister Chloe
and best friend Dag, a tech-savvy Iguanodon, discover that an old biological
weapon has been activated which will destroy all dinosaur life. The group of
young friends set out on the adventure of a lifetime to save the world. This is
a fun action-packed tale that younger readers will enjoy. There is gentle peril
as our young heroes undertake their quest, with evil dinosaurs to battle, as
well as peace-loving dinos who help the youngsters on their way. Children will
enjoy learning the names of the different dinosaurs as they follow the intrepid
team on their journey. The squabbles between Adam and his sister Chloe will be
familiar to children with siblings, and the way all the children and dinosaurs work
together to get results sends a positive message. The comic black and white
cartoon illustrations throughout, bring the book to life.
Jane Hall
Written by Ade Adepitan
Illustrated by David M. Buisán
Studio £5.99
ISBN: 978-1787413252
Ade Adepitan is a wheelchair basketball star and
Paralympian. Young readers interested in sport will have seen him as a
presenter and sports commentator during the Olympics and Paralympics. The story
is based on the time during the 1980s when Ade moved to London from Nigeria. It
was difficult for a young child to assimilate into English society and school,
without the added problem facing Ade. He had contracted polio as a baby and, as
a result, wore a calliper on his left leg. The story is funny and well-written
with black and white illustrations. It gives a good insight into many of the
problems and cultural differences Ade had to face.
Ingrid Fox
The Secret of the Night Train
Written by
Sylvia Bishop
Illustrated
by Marco Guadalupi
Scholastic £6.99
ISBN: 978-1407184401
Eleven year
old Max (short for Maximilienne) is stifled by the lack of stimulation in her
conventional Parisian home, so when the chance comes to travel to Istanbul
without her family, she is determined to make the most of it. The journey turns
out to be an adventure in detection as she and her eccentric companion, a
detective nun, find themselves on the trail of a jewel thief. Max uses the
quest to bury her anxiety about being so far from home, and grows in confidence
as she travels, even when separated from her chaperone, before reaching a
satisfying and rather surprising conclusion. A very readable story told with
humour and a light imaginative touch. While some of the characters appear like
comic book stereotypes, they are none the less real enough in the context of
this very lively story. The style and presentation are so positive that the
reader is happy to suspend belief to enjoy the far-fetched adventure. As Max
travels by train across Europe, we share her suspicions and concerns and admire
her detection skills and bravery. This is an easy to read and fast moving
adventure story which should be enjoyed by young confident readers.
Liz Dubber
Written by Robert J. Harris
Kelpies £6.99
ISBN: 978-1782504832
Even the great Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a 13 year
old schoolboy once, and it’s easy to believe that he was every bit as clever as
the fictionalised Artie in this story. We are in Victorian Edinburgh for this,
their second adventure - Artie and his pal, Ham, are engaged to investigate the
series of strange events interrupting the rehearsals of Professor John Henry
Anderson’s magic show and threatening to spoil the great magician’s comeback performance.
When a huge dragon, the centrepiece of the whole show, impossibly disappears
from a locked room, Artie needs to think even harder and it becomes clear that
something else altogether is going on. The story is a glorious mash-up of known
facts about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, like his difficult early home life and his
interest in the supernatural, and other historical events, along with a great
helping of fun. There are flamboyant characters, clues and false leads, moments
of hold-your-breath excitement and a clever plot that will keep readers turning
the pages. The Gravediggers' Club,
the first adventure in the series was reviews in issue 65.
Jan Lennon
The Knights and the
Best Quest
Written by Kaye Umansky
Illustrated by Ben Whitehouse
Barrington Stoke
£5.99
ISBN: 978-1781127674
The Knights of the Drop Leaf Table decide it is time for
them to go on a quest and King Artie and Queen Gwinny agree to present the
winning knight, the one who achieves the most points, with a silver goblet. Sir
Percy draws up the rules: 10 points for killing a dragon and stealing its
treasure, 9 points for rescuing a damsel in distress, 8 points for finding a
sword in a stone, 7 for finding one in a lake, down to 1 point for finding a
lost cat. The cook prepares each knight with a sandwich pack as they all set
off. But, like all good Arthurian quests, things don’t go exactly to plan! A
hilarious twist on the King Arthur stories and full of the wacky humour and
wordplay that Kaye Umansky brings to her stories, making them so irresistible
to children. Part of the Barrington Stoke Super
Readable stories, it has a dyslexia friendly layout, typeface and paper.
Hopefully, this is the first in an ongoing series and we will see more
adventures of these daft knights.
Annie Everall
The Riddle of the Runes
Written by
Janina Ramirez
Illustrated
by David Wyatt
OUP £6.99
ISBN: 978-0192766335
Art
historian and TV presenter Dr Janina Ramirez has written her first children’s
book and it’s a rollercoaster ride of suspense and adventure set in the world
of the Vikings. Her heroine is Alva, a twelve year old girl who proves herself to
be a brave and stalwart shield maiden, determined to discover the message
behind a series of runes carved on a mysterious bone box. The runes lead her
and her wolf, Fenrir, together with her Uncle Magnus and mother Brianna, to
another box, a Christian treasure containing the bones of an Anglo-Saxon saint,
stolen in the Viking raids on Lindisfarne. This is a gripping and fast-moving
story set in a fictional Viking village. The author’s deep knowledge of the
period and expertise with Viking runes make the whole an authentic historical
experience and bring the period very much to life. Yet, Alva’s feelings are
those of a girl of any age and are wholly relevant to readers of today. As the
plot develops, Alva’s emotions and motives are explored, making for a
thoughtful read alongside the action. David Wyatt’s atmospheric illustrations
reflect and enhance the story. This is a rewarding, yet accessible, adventure
story for confident readers.
Liz Dubber
The Rose Muddle Mysteries: The Secret Ruby
Written by Imogen White
Usborne £5.99
ISBN: 978-1474927307
This is the second book in The Rose Muddle Mysteries series but can easily be read as a
standalone. Rose Muddle is a feisty and dynamic heroine who with her friend,
Rui, attempts to return a ruby to its rightful owner, even though they are up
against magic, danger and powerful enemies. The characterisation is terrific,
and the book evokes the early 1900s wonderfully. I must confess to having loved
the first book in this series, The Amber
Pendant, and was delighted to continue Rose’s adventures. A sure-fire hit,
filled with twists, turns and sparkling originality. Highly recommended.
Julia Wills.
Written by Hilary McKay
Macmillan £12.99
ISBN: 978-1509894949
Clarrie and her older brother, Peter, live, for their summer
holidays, with their grandparents in Cornwall, along with their amazing cousin,
Rupert. Between these times, their life is very restricted by their dour,
remote father. Peter is sent to boarding school but Carrie is left at home with
only the barest minimum of an unstimulating education. When the war begins,
life changes - Rupert joins the army and life is reduced to worrying about him
and his friends who have also volunteered, and about how to get enough food,
and coal to heat the house and cook with. However, despite all the worries and
shortages caused by the war, life changes for the better for Clarrie and Peter
- it becomes more positive and challenging. This is a wonderful, well written
story about life before and during the war - both the upsides and the
downsides. A very difficult book to put down.
Pat Thompson
Written by Sylvia V. Linsteadt
Usborne £6.99
ISBN: 978-1474934985
Magical, mythical and sweepingly
magnificent, this is a new fable for modern times. On the island of Farallone,
an environmental disaster has struck. There is division between City and
Country - the two groups of humans are separated, each believing the other to
be the enemy. When Tin, a City boy, and Comfrey, a Country girl, meet events
are set in motion. They encounter challenge, secrecy and danger as they uncover
the depths of the land’s disaster. Will they be able to defeat the sinister
forces at work and enable restoration before it is too late? Sylvia Linstead’s
prose is lyrical as she paints a powerful picture of the land and its
inhabitants. Familiar mythical ingredients of menacing enemies, perilous
journeys and impossible challenges, achieved only with the assistance of
surprising creatures, weave a complex and luscious web of narrative. The two
protagonists are appealing characters with believable flaws, and readers will warm
to their courage and honesty. Compelling and highly recommended, this first
volume in The Stargold Chronicles has
a satisfying conclusion which will make readers eager for the next, due for
publication in 2019.
Lucy Russell
Written by Alan Durant
Walker £6.99
ISBN:
978-1406374629
Ever since Dak's dad died,
everything has been difficult to deal with. While Mum continues to struggle in
her own way, cutting herself off from the world, Dak decides to seek solace in
his and Dad's favourite place - the local aquarium. Whilst there, Dak begins to
deal with his grief in a most unusual way. A quirky look at dealing with loss,
told in an offbeat, yet sensitive, way. Clownfish
will appeal to fans of Ross Welford and Lara Williamson. Dak is a likeable
protagonist, and his burgeoning friendship with the feisty Violet is funny and
charming. A gentle approach to a serious subject.
Becca Watts
The List of Real Things
by Sarah
Moore Fitzgerald
Orion £6.99
ISBN:
978-1444014815
Grace’s
parents have died and she lives with her little sister, Bee, their uncle,
Freddy, and his father, Grandad Patrick. The girls are grieving, but Freddy
tries to ignore the past and focus on providing them with a happy childhood.
Meanwhile Grace worries constantly about Bee’s vivid imagination. When Patrick
dies, Bee’s grief comes spilling out. The magical realism reinforces the point
that real life and fantasy can sometimes be confused. What emerges is the
importance of the grieving process in order to accept the death of our loved
ones. The reality of school and its friendship groups helps to balance the
focus on the girls’ feelings which dominates the story at home. We identify
closely with Grace as she seeks to contain Bee’s wilder imaginings, and when
Grace realises that she needs help as much as Bee does, cleverly, we feel the
same sense of personal insight. Overall this is a very well written book about
a difficult subject, and a great read too.
Liz Dubber
A Good Day for Climbing Trees
Written by
Jaco Jacobs
Illustrated
by Jim Tierney
Translated
by Kobus Geldenhuys
Rock the
Boat £6.99
ISBN: 978-1786073174
Marnus is
the middle of three brothers, and often feels invisible to his parents. It’s
the Christmas holidays in South Africa and as usual he feels trapped between being
bullied by his older brother and being financially exploited by his younger
one. Then Leila turns up on the doorstep with a petition to save a tree. Marnus
quickly becomes drawn into her campaign and ends up with a starring role.
Sadly, the tree cannot be saved, but Marnus certainly emerges stronger and more
confident from the experience. This is a simple short story about friendship,
direct action, and the value of taking a stand. The text reads smoothly, the
characters are lightly drawn and the plot quite slight, in this pleasing read
which explores some interesting issues of friendship and trust as well as
cross-generational understanding. The campaign to save the tree ends in failure
but there’s a much more realistic outcome which celebrates some of the lessons
learned along the way.
Liz Dubber
No Fixed Address
Written by Susin Nielsen
Anderson £12.99
ISBN: 978-1783447213
Felix wants to live a normal life but he and his mother,
Astrid, live in a van and are continually on the move. Astrid promises that it
is only temporary until she finds a job, but Felix knows that she is good at
bending the truth. As he settles in at a new school, Felix is tired of hiding
the reality from his new friends and struggling with the difficulties of van
life. Written with honesty and humour, we warm to this redoubtable young man as
he comes up with an ambitious plan to change their fortunes. Of course, events
don’t turn out exactly as Felix had planned, but, thankfully, their friends
come to the rescue and Felix and Astrid have the chance to make a new life for
themselves.
Louise Stothard
A Darkness of Dragons
Written by S. A. Patrick
Usborne £6.99
ISBN: 978-1474945677
The first in the Songs
of Magic series, this exciting story takes the tale of The Pied Piper of Hamelin and mixes it with dragons, music and
three unlikely heroes, creating an unusual adventure. Patch is an apprentice
piper who has been imprisoned for playing a forbidden tune. In a world where
music has the power to control everything, not only rats, Patch discovers that
their songs are being used for good and ill. Helped to escape by Wren, a young
girl cursed by a sorcerer, and a fire-breathing dracogriff, Patch is determined
to thwart the plans of the evil Piper of Hamelyn. This fast-paced, skillfully
written, captivating adventure celebrates magic, bravery, ingenuity and the
strength of friendship.
Louise Stothard
Indigo Island
Written by Susan Moore
Nosy Crow £6.99
ISBN: 978-0857639585
Indigo
Island is the third book in the Nat
Walker trilogy by Susan Moore. In this final thrilling adventure Nat and
her faithful robot dragon, Fizz, are in San Francisco having followed clues
from her late parents. They are searching for the ancient sword, Gan Jiang. Nat
must find it before her nemesis, Lang Liu, who plans to use its power to
animate a robot army enabling him to take over the world. This is a fun and
exciting page turner that will have young readers on the edge of their seats.
Set in the future, Nat’s world resembles a computer game with hybrid robots,
robot pets, and travel by hover-board. There is plenty here to spark young
imaginations, especially those readers who are also gamers. There is action
throughout, with the two young heroes being brave in the face of peril. There
is enough backstory included to be able to read this third title in the series
as a stand-alone, but why would you with such a gripping trilogy?
Jane Hall
My Messed-Up Life
Written by Susin Nielsen
Anderson £7.99
ISBN: 978-1783445523
Pre-teen Violet is not happy because her dad has left his family in
Vancouver to start a new life in L.A. with a younger wife and two new babies
and her mum seems to have very low standards when it comes to finding a new
partner. As an added irritant, Violet and her best friend, Phoebe, are
constantly being harassed by the ‘popular’ girls at school. Violet decides to
take things into her own hands, and she has the perfect man in mind for her Mum
- George Clooney. Violet’s letters to George Clooney and her attempts to thwart
her Mum’s potential love interests are comical. This is a funny book but with
the tender underlying story of a young girl struggling to accept her parents’
break up. Violet is a feisty girl - some of her escapades are inspired, but
they often land her in trouble, such as the cat poo trick, and tracking down
George Clooney. Definitely, an entertaining read. Many of the secondary
characters are well drawn and play a big role in Violet’s story. There is also
a guest appearance from a big Hollywood star.
Jane Hall
The Book Case
Written and illustrated by Dave Shelton
David Fickling
£10.99
ISBN: 978-1910200544
After an unfortunate, unspecified incident at her old school
Daphne is offered a place at St Rita’s School for Spirited Girls, an exclusive
girl’s boarding school. She is given the task of helping in the school library,
a mysterious edifice that has very few books, a terrifying cat and a student
librarian, Emily Lime. What follows is a crime-mystery-comedy caper that is
totally bizarre and thoroughly entertaining - think St Trinian’s meets Fawlty
Towers and you’ll get the idea. Could this be the first in a new series of
Emily Lime mysteries?
Yvonne Coppard
Written by Martyn Blunden
Troubador £8.99
ISBN: 978-1789010268
Charlie Green is boy who knows all about time travel. When
an elderly museum guide tells him about a miscarriage of justice at the Court
of King Arthur at Camelot, Charlie decides to put it right. In fact, he wants
to travel back in time and actually stop it happening. He, and the group of
friends who go with him, meet all the main characters from Camelot - Arthur,
Guinevere, Lancelot, Galahad, Merlin and, of course, Morgana le Fay, plus a
host of other characters, both good and bad. Does he succeed? You will have to
read it to find out. It is a book of non-stop action, with a range of weird and
wonderful characters - even in those parts of the book that are set in modern
times. It is thoroughly enjoyable and will give huge pleasure to readers who
enjoy books with a historical slant.
Pat Thompson
Written by
Chloe Daykin
Faber &
Faber £6.99
ISBN:
978-0571326785
Elvis Crampton Lucas was found on a bench at a zoo, taken
home in a Stetson hat and named after the first three vinyl records his
‘father’ picked off the shelf. On his twelfth birthday, Elvis decides to
discover who left him on that bench, and why. All he has is a scrap of
Norwegian newspaper, his ‘dad’ and his friend, Lloyd. Their journey to the
north of Norway is constantly shadowed and threatened by a seriously scary
tweed clad figure who is prepared to kill to prevent them reaching their
journey’s end. Lloyd, a seriously flaky, country and western eccentric, sells
all his possessions to fund the trip, but increasingly seems to be hiding
secrets himself. As unpredictable and menacing as a Sherlock Holmes story, but
with constant punctuations of humour, unexpectedly warm family feelings and a
precarious trust in the people they meet along the way. The ending is quite
unexpected, yet firmly sets in place the loose pieces of the jigsaw puzzle left
lying about earlier. Curious, unmissable and deeply satisfying.
Tina Massey
Across the Divide
Written by Anne Booth
Catnip £6.99
ISBN: 978-1910611111
The island of Lindisfarne may be beautiful and
magical, but it’s a very long way from Olivia’s home. She is spending the
school holiday with her dad because her mum has been arrested at a demonstration against
the army base on the mainland. She really doesn’t want to be there as there are
issues to be dealt with back home. Many people in Olivia’s home town, and in
her school, have strong connections to the nearby army base and they aren’t
particularly tolerant of pacifism. With a peace-campaigner mother and a
grandfather who is a retired major, Olivia feels very torn. As she gets to know
her father better and as Lindisfarne starts to work its magic, she is able to
see her dilemma in a new light and she is helped by her rather surreal
friendship with a mysterious and quaintly old fashioned young man called
William. There are many examples of division in the book and Olivia’s situation
raises many questions about, among other things, the role of the army, the
accuracy of news reporting, and family loyalties.
Jan Lennon
Splash
Written by Charli Howard
Nosy Crow £6.99
ISBN: 978-1788001700
Negotiating the last year of primary school and the
transition to secondary, with friendships in flux and the strong pressure to
conform, can be tricky for some children, as Charli Howard adroitly explores in
this novel. Molly lives with her grandparents, her mum having left when she was
small, and she dreams of becoming a champion swimmer. She is invited to train
with the local club, which means early starts and lots of practice. However, her
best friend Chloe, determined to be one of the “cool” girls at their new
school, decrees that Chloe should give up swimming – it is so not the thing to
do. And besides that she makes unkind comments about Molly’s size and shape.
But Molly is determined not to give up the sport she loves, which leads to
conflict, both within herself and with Chloe and other friends. Add in to the
mix the return of her mother which increases the turmoil Molly is feeling and a
tricky few months are in store. Learning to accept yourself as you are and
following your own dreams is the important message of this heartwarming book.
Jayne Gould
Return to Rome
Written by Caroline Lawrence
Orion £6.99
ISBN: 978-1510100336
The advantage of setting novels in Roman times is that historians
know so much of the detail of daily life and its historical context. They know
the character of individual Emperors, the battles fought, the conquests and the
crimes committed by those who wanted to acquire and retain power. This all
provides enormous inspiration from which the author extracts the known people
and places and creates the stories of adventure and romance in this excellent
series, Roman Quests. Bouda was
orphaned and grew up as a ‘cutpurse’ on the streets of Londinium. It is
believed that she was the granddaughter of Boudicca, most famous of the British
that resisted the Roman invasions. Having inherited that spirit, courage and
defiance, she is befriended by those from Rome that have every reason to want
to usurp the evil Emperor Domitian. The idea that a small group of young rebels
can find their way to Rome for the sole purpose of ‘removing’ the Emperor may
seem outrageous, but that is their quest. How they achieve their purpose is the
story that unfolds in this gripping tale of ancient times.
Trevor Thompson
Will You Catch Me?
Written by Jane Elson
Hodder £6.99
ISBN: 978-1444927788
Nell care for a small menagerie of animals and fish, plus an
assortment of bugs and beasts that she keeps in jam jars on her windowsill. But
she also cares for her alcoholic mum, and she’s tired - tired of trying to hide
it from everyone, tired of being bullied at school, tired of always worrying
about her mum and tired because she gets very little sleep. When a new teacher
starts teaching the class about King Charles ll and Nell Gwyn, she feels that
there are so many similarities that Nell Gwyn must be her honorary ancestor.
Chosen to play Nell Gwyn in the school pageant she starts to see visions of
Nell. The impact on her life is immense and leads her to hatch a plan to try to
change things. Written in the first person this is a moving story, depicting
the chaotic homelife of a child in a family with addiction. Jane Elson’s gift
is for making the reader walk in Nell’s shoes and really gain some understanding
of what a child in her situation could be going through. A thought-provoking
reading experience that also celebrates community and friendship, which
includes contact information for the National Association for the Children of
Alcoholics.
Annie Everall
Aru
Shah and the End of Time
Written by Roshani Chokshi
Scholastic £6.99
ISBN: 978-1407185798
After lighting a cursed lamp in her mother’s museum, Aru
Shah is forced into an adventure that takes us into the amazing world of Hindu
mythology. Aru and her long-lost half-sister are the soul children of the gods,
reincarnated heroes who must save the world from the creature unleased from the
lamp. However, they must face many foes and challenges before they are equipped
to handle their nemesis. The writing crackles with wit and a fascinating array
of mythological places and creatures – all seen with a modern twist, from the
night bizarre to the wise-cracking pigeon who mentors the sisters. Roshani
Chokshi is doing for Hindu mythology what Rick Riordan has done for Greek
mythology, and it won’t be long before Aru Shah is as well-known as Percy
Jackson.
Benjamin Scott
How to Bee
Written by Bren MacDibble
Old Barn £6.99
ISBN: 978-1910646441
Peony lives in a future, dystopian Australia where the gulf
between the rich and the poor has deepened and where small children are trained
to do the pollinating work of bees. This is a job to which Peony aspires, but
before she can get there, her mother drags her off to the city, against her
will, to earn money working in the house of one of the rich farm owners. There,
Peony befriends the daughter of the house and they are able to help each other
out of very different, but equally challenging, situations. Initially, I
thought that the story would focus on the new agricultural reality of this near
future, and on how Peony and her family survive. On one level it does address
this, but there is a lot more complexity as Peony has to accept the limitations
of her relationship with her mother and recognise the family that she truly
values. In that way it is speculative fiction that remains relatable for young
people right now and doesn’t lose sight of character development. Some tough
ideas but an ultimately hopeful message – both personally and environmentally.
Annalise Taylor
Beyond
the Odyssey
Written by Maz Evans
Chicken House £6.99
ISBN: 978-1910655993
This is the third book in the Who Let the Gods Out? series and things
are not improving for Eliot. He's in trouble at school and although his father
is now out of prison, this seems to be making things worse at home, rather than
better. With his mother’s health deteriorating and the Gods wreaking havoc,
trying to keep welfare officers at bay is becoming impossible. Maz Evans
cleverly combines mythology and mischief to create a riotous romp. In these
books, Greek mythology is brought to life with an introduction to many figures
from the ancient stories. The gods are shown as fallible and selfish, yet are
redeemed by moments of kindness and vulnerability. However, Elliot is also
facing some very real, serious issues; in the midst of all the humour, his role
as a young carer is sensitively portrayed with his love for his mother, his
anxiety and the realities of bearing great responsibility at such a young age
forming a poignant contrast. In addition to this, his father has been in
prison. These elements of the story are woven seamlessly into the plot,
creating a great read. Well worth reading!
Sue Wilsher
Written by Susin Nielsen
Andersen £7.99
ISBN: 978-1783446223
A sudden tragic bereavement leaves Petula in the grip of
overpowering anxiety. Her inability to deal with her grief and guilt has cost
her the support of her best friend and she is achingly lonely. Petula sees only
the darkest, most terrible possibilities in every situation. So, when Jacob
joins the school’s therapy group, she is horrified by his relentless optimism
and refusal to let his own devastating experience pull him under - at least on
the surface. This is a classic rom-com story of fizzing hormonal attraction
simmering beneath initial tension and repulsion. Jacob and Petula’s journey to
the inevitable happy ending is warm, humorous and sufficiently ‘twisty’ in the
telling to keep you reading.
Yvonne Coppard
Orphan, Monster, Spy
Written by Matt Killeen
Usborne £7.99
The main character is all that the title claims - she has to
be in order to survive. Opening with a
horrific car crash which leaves her orphaned, this book holds the reader in its
grip from the very first page. Events unfold in Nazi Germany from August 1939,
which, though fictitious, are based on Matt Killeen’s extensive research. The
Captain is credible because British spies were in Germany then and because he is
depicted credibly as remote, abrupt, quick-thinking and ruthless with just
glimmers of humanity. Sarah is credible because we learn of her background, her
theatrical upbringing and because tenacity is a true human characteristic when
tested to the extreme. The allegiance of the two is successful because it is
unlikely and, at first, unwelcomed but for its provision of a shield. Matt
Killeen is a brilliant writer, skilled at measuring and mixing the dosage of
graphic detail, action and background information and timing its delivery so
that reading this is addictive, exhausting and terrifying. An astounding first
novel, the sequel to which will be a must
next year.
Gill Roberts
Written by Anne Fleming
Pushkin £6.99
ISBN: 978-1782692140
Kid goes to Manhattan for a while,
accompanying her mother who is performing in a new show. Having left behind her
beloved cat, she is predictably a little homesick, but soon she finds herself
looking after her uncle’s dog, named Cat. As she settles into life in New York,
visiting museums with her dad, she befriends Will. Together they set out to
find out whether there really is a goat living on the roof of the building, as
some people seem to think. But ‘Why a goat?’ and ‘How did it get there?’ are
just some of the many questions the reader needs answered. Narrated from the
viewpoints of a number of eccentric characters, including the goat, the story
unfolds, drawing the reader into a world where idiosyncrasies are the norm and
where a goat on a rooftop in a city can bring people together and heal the
deepest of wounds. Unique, tender and very funny, this quirky story is not to
be missed.
Lucy Russell
Information
Titles
10 Reasons to Love a
Whale
Written by Catherine Barr
Illustrated by Hanako Clulow
Frances Lincoln
£9.99
ISBN: 978-1786030139
An attractive hardback book with a whale-shaped hole in the
cover. Text and illustration are well-matched. We are given ten reasons why we
should love whales, and five ways we can show that we love them. Interesting
information is presented in an accessible way, such as explaining a whale’s
heart is the size of a small car, and that a blue whale’s tongue is as heavy as
an elephant. The section on whales as
globetrotters has a clear coloured world map that helps us understand the
routes whales follow. The picture of the blue whale’s giant mouth is effective,
as is the krill cloud, and the fact that blue whales eat forty million krill
every day. An excellent book for children who want to learn more about the
natural world, and for promoting environmental awareness and conservation. (3+)
Brenda Marshall
Written by Stacy
McAnulty
Illustrated
by David Litchfield
Faber &
Faber £6.99
ISBN:
978-0571345441
A charming book in which the text is spoken by Planet Earth
herself. This creates an immediacy that makes the information accessible to
young children. Facts are clearly presented and fun to read. The illustrations
are amusing. Planet Earth introduces her siblings in the solar system, as well
as her friend, the moon, and then describes key moments in her first 4.54
billion years. The whole book has light touch, and is a perfect, introduction
to Planet Earth for young children. (4+)
Brenda Marshall
Written and illustrated by Ella Bailey
Flying Eye £11.99
ISBN: 978-1911171416
The beauty of this books starts with the endpapers, showing
illustrations and the unusual names of such sea creatures as the coconut
octopus, the pineapplefish and the harlequin sweetlips. We follow the
bottlenose dolphin and its pod as they go on their travels through the Pacific
Ocean, encountering various other sea mammals and fish in the beautiful Great
Barrier Reef and beyond. Children can try and spot the creatures they have been
introduced to in the endpapers, throughout the book, which will lead to many
re-readings. With just enough basic facts and stunning illustrations, readers
will learn about life under the sea, which is a perfect introduction for those
studying the topic in school. Other titles in the same excellent series include
In the Rainforest, In the Antarctic and In the Savannah. (4+)
Nicole Jordan
Written by
Kay Barnham
Illustrated
by Maddie Frost
Wayland £12.99
ISBN:
978-1526305947
This is one
of a series of topic books for young children. Bright colourful illustrations
illuminate the simple text which introduces the night sky, the solar system,
and a selection of objects found in space, including the Hubble telescope and
the International Space Station, as well as planets, comets and asteroids. The
text is direct and informative, with short sentences, and is set in a clear and
readable, slightly informal, font of a generous size. The pictures are clear
and full of activity as two children are shown exploring the subjects on each
page, accompanied by one interested dog! This is a very accessible and
informative introduction to the night sky, and includes additional reading and
guidance for extra activities, aimed at parents and teachers. This is a useful
book that would read aloud well and should stimulate an interest in astronomy.
(5+)
Liz Dubber
Dogs in Space
Written by Vix Southgate
Illustrated by Iris Deppe
Wren & Rook
£12.99
ISBN: 978-1526360571
During the space race of the 1950s and early 1960s, America
and the Soviet Union were working on sending living creatures into orbit, to
pave the way for the first manned spaceflight. During this time, the Soviet
Union launched more than fifty dogs, which had to be a certain size to fit into
a spacecraft. These were often strays from the streets of Moscow and other
cities, specially selected for their size and temperament. Several of these
canine cosmonauts became celebrities, feted around the country, including the two
whose story is told in this book, Belka and Strelka. It features bold,
colourful illustrations in the style of Soviet propaganda children’s books,
with an engaging and informative text. It could be used as an exciting story in
its own right or as an introduction to a topic on space travel, with children
encouraged to carry out further research. Overall, this is a book I would
happily recommend. (6+)
Jayne Gould
Written by Kevin Warwick
Illustrated by Paulina Morgan
QED £8.99
ISBN: 978-1784939311
A colourful, accessible information book, ideal for KS2
topics, that presents a lively mixture of facts and activities for children to
explore. Types of trees and leaves, their ages, folklore, photosynthesis and
the wildlife they support are just some of the topics covered in this book.
Lots of practical activities bring this topic to life with plenty of
illustration, colour and bite-size text throughout. It will provide a ready
supply of facts and lesson ideas for teachers too. Highly recommended. (6+)
Julia Wills.
What on Earth?: Robots
Written by Jenny Fretland VanVoorst
Illustrated by Paulina Morgan
QED £9.99
ISBN: 978-1784935603
A bright, inventive and informative book for KS2 that will
sit well with Design and Technology topics at school. Lively illustrations,
lots of practical activities and an accessible prose that taught me some things
I didn’t know about robots, too! There are plenty of creative activities for
children fuelling projects that will thrive on curiosity. Covering the history
of robots, their technology and uses and even some robot poetry, the practical
projects include making a robotic hand and robot costume. Huge fun! (6+)
Julia Wills.
Written by Sarah Ridley
Wayland £11.99
ISBN: 978-0778751298
This book is the latest addition to Wayland’s Where Food Comes From series, which also
features Bees to Honey, Blossom to Apple and Seeds to Bread. Simple text and plenty
of bright photographs introduce early primary age children to the complex
process of cocoa production, transport and chocolate manufacture. Readers are
urged to buy Fairtrade chocolate and shown how paying producers a fair price
for their goods enables poor communities to improve their lives. Excellent
series. (7+)
Paul Dowswell
Explorers: BUGS!
Written by Nick Forshaw
Illustrated by William Exley
What on Earth £9.99
ISBN: 978-0995576605
This book is an excellent introduction to the world of
insects. Readers accompany Agent Eagle, the Senior Librarian of the Eagle-Eyed Explorer Club, as he undertakes
his mission to produce a report on bugs. We look at the history of the
creatures, why they are so successful, bug scientists, fossils and how
bugs support our environment today. There are beautiful illustrations by William
Exley and the pages are attractively designed. A special feature of the book is
a removable 1.8-metre-long timeline which features more than a hundred bugs
from 520 million years ago to the present day. There are quizzes so readers can check their knowledge. The
book is published in co-operation with the Natural History Museum. (7+)
Brenda Marshall
Written by Barry Hutchinson
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Puffin £7.99
Puffin £7.99
ISBN: 978-0241322215
This is a must-have for all Roald Dahl fans and also those
with a fascination for all that is minibeasts. Inspired by James and the Giant Peach, readers can learn all about the insects
that James got to know and love in the original story. Packed with facts about
the insects and lots of ideas such as how to make a bug hotel, this is the
perfect companion to the much-loved novel. The activities are well explained
with clear instructions and the facts about the insects are comprehensive
enough to capture the children’s imagination. With puzzles, an Insectopaedia
and fantastic drawings, this is ideal for young pupils learning about
minibeasts. (7+)
Nicole Jordan
Emmeline Pankhurst
Written by Haydn Kaye
Illustrated by Michael Cotton -Russell
David Fickling £6.99
ISBN: 978-1910989616
Part of the First
Names series of fun, lively and highly illustrated biographies that
introduces some truly amazing individuals who lived incredible lives, to an
audience of young readers. This tells the story of Emmeline Pankhurst, the
Suffragette Movement and the battle to win the vote for women. Written in a
very readable and accessible style and interspersed with humorous cartoon style
illustrations and some quotes from Emmeline Pankhurst, it packs in a great deal
of information and really gives a good feel for her life and times and the
journey to winning the vote. A good index supports its use as an information
book but the lovely approach and style of writing makes it a book that can just
be read as a story about this period. This will have real appeal for its
intended audience and I look forward to seeing future titles in the series.
(7+)
Annie Everall
Young, Gifted and
Black
Written by Jamia Wilson
Illustrated by Andrea Pippins
Wide Eyed £14.99
ISBN: 978-1786030887
There is a noticeable lack of black characters in UK
children’s books, so this compilation of 52 famous black people is a timely
antidote. Nina Simone, the author of the song featured in the title, is one of
the many musicians included. There are also explorers (Matthew Henson),
humanitarians (Mary Seacole), novelists (Malorie Blackman) and, of course,
presidents (Barack Obama – here with his wife Michelle). Athletes and pop
singers also feature prominently. Lively illustrations and easy to read potted
biographies make this attractive book a fine addition to any primary school
library. (7+)
Paul Dowswell
Written by Catherine Barr
Illustrated by Anne Wilson
Otter-Barry
£12.99
ISBN: 978-1910959961
Meet 15
endangered animals fighting to survive who share our planet and are in
urgent need of our help if they are to survive. Readers choose a habitat, pick
an animal that lives there and then find the story about the dangers these
creatures face. Animals are hunted for their meat or their skins or their
scales, their living spaces are being polluted or demolished, and insecticides
and other chemicals are poisoning their food. Not all the animals featured are
sweet and appealing, but they still have a place in the ecosystem and we need
them. The book uses beautiful, double-page spreads, and colour illustrations
rather than photographs, which makes it accessible to a younger audience. A
fact box in each section details the kind and level of threat faced by each of
these endangered animals and a section at the end of book highlights ways in
which everyone can help to raise awareness. (7+)
Jan Lennon
Written by Isabel Thomas
Illustrated by Daniel Egnéus
Bloomsbury £12.99
ISBN: 978-1408889756
Described as “An Evolution Story”, this title about the
peppered moth is an enriching visual and factual portrayal of how the
predominantly light speckled moths of the early 1800s, fifty years later,
became mainly charcoal-coloured, having had to adapt to a changing world of
steam trains, factories and pollution. Amazingly, it then adapted yet again, in
the mid twentieth century, as reduced air pollution laws meant that tree barks
became lighter once more. It really is an absolutely fascinating book with
marvellous illustrations which perfectly complement the also captivating text.
Being an excellent introduction to Darwin’s
theories of natural selection and evolution for young children, no
school or library should be without it. (8+)
Gill Roberts
Written by Catherine de Duve
Kate’Art Editions £6.99
ISBN: 978-2875750907
Part of an excellent series examining the life and work of
great artists, this title takes an accessible and visually ravishing look at
Renaissance man extraordinaire, Leonardo da Vinci. Its 32 pages cover the time
in which he lived, contemporaries such as Botticelli, Raphael and Michelangelo,
and detailed examinations of some of his most famous inventions and paintings.
Did you know Leonardo was friends with Sandro Botticelli, creator of that
famous painting, The Birth of Venus? The two of them opened a tavern together,
but it closed after a few months, inspiring Leonardo to invent various cooking
machines and utensils. (8+)
Paul Dowswell
Illustrated by Peter Judson
Dorling Kindersley
£16.99
ISBN: 978-0241316597
Designed to encourage children to be creative, to unlock
their imaginations and to keep their minds engaged, this contains 250 indoor
and outdoor activities to “ boredom busters”. They feature a range of
activities including, tag games, drawing games, writing a story, things to do
with a piece of paper, making a flick book, chilling out and many more. A good
double-page spread at the beginning of the book explains how the book works.
Each activity is numbered so children can keep track of the ones they have
done, a warning symbol lets children know this is an activity they need an
adult to help, a checklist outlines everything they will need before they start
and a padlock indicates when they need to unlock their own imagination and
creative ideas. Colourfully illustrated with clear instructions. The book also
has a pocket at the back which contains a double-sided board with counters and
press out dice to enable children to learn to play chess, checkers, draughts
and snakes and ladders. Children will really enjoy exploring the book and
taking part in the activities. Great for use by families and in classrooms.
(8+)
Annie Everall
Written by Kris Hirschmann
Illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
QED £9.99
ISBN: 978-1784932640
The simple message behind this excellent book is, “Pocket
your smartphone, put away your tablet and unplug your games console.” It’s
packed with activity ideas and step-by-step projects for children to do at
home, outside and on car journey’s, without using their technology. From
origami puppets, rainbow bubble clouds and travel bingo to number plate
checklists, ‘Would you rather?’ and ‘Guess the song!’, it includes something
for everyone. Clear instructions, amusing and lively illustrations and a host
of great ideas that don’t need lots of special materials make this is a great
book for families, classrooms and libraries. (9+)
Annie Everall
Written by Deborah
Patterson
British
Library £14.99
ISBN:
978-0712352857
This book, containing
fascinating detail of 15 different adventures, charts an Age of Discovery and
Exploration, beginning with the travels of Marco Polo to China in 1271 and
ending with the space race to the Moon in 1969. Some are well known - Ferdinand
Magellan’s voyage to circumnavigate the earth and Charles Darwin’s study of the
natural history of the Galapagos Islands. Maria Sibylla Merian’s entomological
studies in the rainforests of South America, Zheng He, the greatest Chinese
explorer of his age and Gertrude Bell’s passion for Arab peoples and
archaeology, maybe less well known. Maps, charts, drawings and photographs,
illustrate the wonders and the excitement, along with the dangers, hardships
and exotic locations, that these intrepid men and women encountered on their
journeys. (9+)
Richard Monte
Dear Katie
Written by Katie Thistleton
Orion £7.99
ISBN: 978-1510102132
An ‘agony aunt’ style guide offering advice on real life
problems for young people and written by TV and radio presenter Katie
Thistleton, who is also a mental health campaigner and an ambassador for the
mental health charity Place2Be. 10-16 year olds were asked to email or write to
her anonymously about any problems they were having. They included, “I don’t
think my mum loves me as much as my sibling.”, “My stepdad calls me chunky as a
joke but it upsets me.”, “I think my dad might be racist because of the way he
speaks about other people.”, “I’m really struggling at school with the amount
of homework.”, “I’m worried about starting a new school.”, “I’m unhappy with
the way I look.” The question or concern is outlined and advice is given in a
warm, witty, practical way. The advice also includes exercises, ideas, tips and
quizzes. The book contains a useful list of other support organisations that
young people can turn to if needed. Overall, a really well-designed book that
will appeal, containing some thoughtful, excellent advice and written in a
style to which young people can easily relate. (10+)
Annie Everall
Written by Anna Claybourne
Wayland £12.99
ISBN: 978-1526305466
This Science Makers
series aims to make science accessible by encouraging primary children to make
their own wonderful machines and devices. Clear step-by-step instructions show
the reader how to assemble their own musical instruments, communication
devices, and even a real working vinyl record player. Anna Claybourne also
includes potted biographies of famous sound scientists such as Thomas Edison,
Jean-Baptiste Biot, inventor of the speaking tube, and Delia Derbyshire who
created the unworldly sounds used in Ron Grainger’s Dr Who theme. Other titles in the series include Making with Forces and Making with Living Things. (Family)
Paul Dowswell
Plantopedia
Written and illustrated by Adrienne Barman
Wide-Eyed £14.99
ISBN: 978-1786031389
Adrienne Barman has produced something rare, if not unique,
in this beautifully produced sequel to her best-selling Creaturepedia. This time she explores the plant world in a fresh,
new way that will entertain and inform the whole family. Bright, full colour
illustrations group plants into categories, some conventional (sand lovers,
garden vegetables), some not so (confused fruits, imposters). Bite-sized
snippets of text convey weird and wonderful facts. Think ‘picture book meets
botanical encyclopaedia with a handful of comedy thrown in’ - a beautiful
reference book for children and adults to share. (Family)
Yvonne Coppard