How to Be Brave is a funny and engaging book uniquely told through the power of footnotes. With a chatty style, the reader is pulled right into the story almost as an additional character. The narrator breaks the fourth wall by addressing the reader directly, drawing us into every questions, dilemma and decision. Calla lives… Continue reading How to be Brave by Daisy May Johnson
When I first saw this book, I was immediately reminded of the scene in The Return of Mary Poppins where Mary Poppins and the children visit “The Royal Doulton Music Hall” – with its song that my daughter regularly takes great delight in singing at full volume – especially when she was performing in a… Continue reading The Animals of Madame Malone’s Music Hall by Laura Wood & illustrated by Ellie Snowdon
I love historical novels, especially ones based on true stories! This uplifting book by Karen McCombie (author of the brilliant Little Bird series) tells the tale of the adventurous, quick-witted Dolly Shepherd – a real young woman who became a pioneering aviatrix in the early 1900s. She went against the expectations of young women in… Continue reading The Girl with her Head in the Clouds by Karen McCombie & illustrated by Anneli Bray
Mirabelle Breaks the Rules by Harriet Muncaster Mirabelle is back! This half-witch half-fairy promises she won’t get into mischief at school but we all know this is a promise she can never keep! At Miss Spindlewick’s Witch School for Girls there are just too many opportunities for things to go wrong. Whether it’s in Potions… Continue reading Super Early Readers from Oxford University Press
Rosa is just one little bird. Her tree is being cut down leaving her homeless. What does it matter? She’s just one little bird. Actually, it matters a lot! Rosa rallies the other animals encouraging them to stand up to the people who are taking their homes. If humans are going to take the animals’… Continue reading One Little Bird by Sheryl Webster & illustrated by Helen Shoesmith
Out of Nowhere is the charming story of two friends – a beetle and a caterpillar. Gorgeous black and white illustrations with simple red accents depict a tale of kindness, acceptance and true friendship. Readers see beetle and caterpillar sharing a picnic on a big rock and watching the moon. They love to be together.… Continue reading Out of Nowhere by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Birch Trees, Bluebells and other British Plants is a beautiful non-fiction sticker book created in association with National Trust. It is full of many of the flowers, plants and trees you might find in the British countryside throughout the year. Facts about how plants live and grow have been combined with lovely, brightly coloured illustrations.… Continue reading Birch Trees, Bluebells and other British Plants by Nikki Dyson
The Wizard in the Wood is the third instalment in the The Dragon in the Library series for readers age 7+. The opening perfectly recaps all the magical happenings of the previous story so it could stand alone as a fun adventure without reading the others first. The Wizard in the Wood is engaging right… Continue reading The Wizard in the Wood by Louie Stowell & illustrated by Davide Ortu
Just Like You is an incredibly beautiful picture book that builds empathy in its readers and celebrates the features we all share. It is narrated by an ordinary little girl who is just like all children everywhere. She is exploring her identity. I can just imagine her playing “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” with so… Continue reading Just Like You by Jo Loring-Fisher
Climate Action is the ultimate encyclopaedia for helping kids to understand the causes and effects of climate change. More and more, they are hearing about issues such as plastic pollution, greenhouse gases and deforestation but may not fully realise what they are all about. Packed full of information, this book will inspire children to change… Continue reading Climate Action by Georgina Stevens & illustrated by Katie Rewse
Scope for Imagination 