When my children were little, there were certain bedtime stories they would ask for again and again. If Scaredy Bat had been around ten years ago, it definitely would have been one of them. This charming story has everything a little audience wants: loveable characters, a feeling of injustice, a brave little hero and a… Continue reading Scaredy Bat by Jonathan Meres & Anders Frang ~ Blog Tour
Lightning Strike is a gripping story that paints a heart-wrenching picture of the terrible conditions of London’s East End in the 1880s. Eliza and her family work in a match factory. The phosphorus they come in contact with is pure poison, causing a horrible condition known as “phossy jaw”. There’s little money, never enough to… Continue reading Lightning Strike by Tanya Landman
It’s half-term and Anisha’s family are off on a road trip. This is a recipe for disaster with a whole host of funny mishaps before they even arrive at the National Space Centre and the Shabdkosh Festival. The festival is so exciting. It has everything you could ever want including a chance to meet a… Continue reading Anisha Accidental Detective: Granny Trouble! by Serena Patel & illustrated by Emma McCann
From the first page, The Book of Stolen Dreams pulls the reader right into mystery and adventure. There is a classic feeling to this story – a weightiness of something you just know is going to be epic. Brother and sister, Robert and Rachel Klein, are left orphaned in Krasnia – a city devastated by… Continue reading The Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr
I think this just might be my favourite book in the fantastic Dragon Realm series! Full of action and excitement, the gang are even more reliant on their relationships with each other as they try to rescue their dragons and find their way home. We rejoin Billy, Dylan, Charlotte and Ling-Fei in some sort of… Continue reading Dragon City by Katie Tsang & Kevin Tsang
This is a book for cat people and everyone else who has yet to realise that they are cat people too. Based on the true story of a little cat who makes his home in the Faber and Faber offices during the Second World War, it’s a book full of charm, energy and the loyalty… Continue reading The Book Cat by Polly Faber & Clara Vulliamy
Family, loss, heartbreak and healing. Keeper of Secrets is a beautiful story of the power of nature. Everything has been wrong since 11 year-old Emily’s mother died in a tragic accident. The happy life she once knew with her favourite person by her side has completely disappeared. When her grief-stricken father, a vet, needs a… Continue reading Keeper of Secrets by Sarah J Dodd
When I was a child, I loved the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. If you want to explore the castle, turn to page 71. If you want to battle the troll, turn to page 96. There were so many possibilities and so many endings. This week, I was thrilled to discover two new books that… Continue reading Choose Your Own Adventure for the next generation
Curse of the Dearmad is an engaging new middle grade fantasy from Emma Mylrea. Twins, Percy and Nell, are starting high school. As if that isn't challenging enough, there is something the matter with their mother and she has to go away to get well. Heartbroken, Percy and Nell struggle to think of anything they… Continue reading Curse of the Dearmad by Emma Mylrea
Together is a beautiful picture book that teaches young readers that sadness doesn’t have to last – there is comfort in friendship and community. Being together is always better than being alone. This story follows a little gorilla alone in the jungle. Something big and scary comes along. It seems frightening but it’s actually a… Continue reading Together by Jane Chapman
Scope for Imagination 