Love, support, acceptance and kindness are what make people shine brightly. The same is true for the lovely little fir tree in the gorgeous book. At first, the tree is devastated when it isn’t chosen to become a Christmas tree. Left in the clearing, all alone, it longs to feel needed and loved. The animals… Continue reading The Tree That’s Meant to Be by Yuval Zommer
Right from the start, The Island That Didn’t Exist is full of fast-paced action! Twelve-year-old Rixon is shocked when his Great Uncle Sylvester leaves him something in his will – an island that can only be found on an ancient map! Does it actually exist? And, more importantly, how can he get there?! Rixon is… Continue reading The Island That Didn’t Exist by Joe Wilson
What do we need to survive? Is it a warm, safe home with plenty to eat? Is it being surrounded by friends and family? Is it good health and access to medical care? Now, more than ever, we have been thinking about our basic needs and how they are met each day. The Children of… Continue reading The Children of Swallow Fell by Julia Green
The Good Bear is a powerful story of trust, unusual friendships and understanding. Twelve-year-old Thea travels to Norway to spend Christmas with her father and his family. Leaving her mother and everything familiar behind, Thea must learn that Christmas is not about the traditions, what you do or what you eat, but about being together… Continue reading The Good Bear by Sarah Lean & illustrated by Fiona Woodcock
The Eiffel Tower has been stolen and it’s up to the League of Extraordinary Travellers to solve the case! In the 1920’s, Athena Strong was an incredible scientist and inventor. Despite their brilliance, if her creations were to fall into the wrong hands, it would be disastrous! Now, years later, Lucy and Tom, together with… Continue reading Extraordinary Travellers: The Little Museum by Karen Beddow & Lyndsay Macaulay
With a bright, eye-catching cover, Jeremy Worried About the Wind is just the kind of picture book children want to pick up and explore. Perfect for any child who has ever felt a little worried, this book reassuringly addresses those concerns through a funny, slightly silly story. Jeremy is a worrier. He worries about everything… Continue reading Jeremy Worried About the Wind by Pamela Butchart & illustrated by Kate Hindley
A New Kind of Normal is an interactive performance poem aimed at helping children deal with the Coronavirus pandemic. Engaging and fun, the five sections of the poem move through the different thoughts and feelings many children have experienced over the past months. Discussion prompts after each section provide an opportunity to delve deeper into… Continue reading A New Kind of Normal by School Poet
The Baboon with the Golden Bum is a funny, action-packed mystery with a dark, “film noir” detective feel. Seamus, a turkey detective, is the head of the Free Range Detective Agency. His dry comments, clever sarcasm and random musings lift this story to the next level of children’s detective parodies. Seamus has had no cases… Continue reading The Baboon with the Golden Bum by Jed Lynch & illustrated by Stephen Stone
Daisy and the Unknown Warrior is a powerful and important story commemorating the centenary of the burial of Britain’s Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in November 1920. Tony Bradman tells the story from the point of view of Daisy, an 11-year-old girl, who lost her father in the First World War. “Missing, presumed dead”, he… Continue reading Daisy and the Unknown Warrior by Tony Bradman & illustrated by Tania Rex
Queen of King Street is a laugh-out-loud satire of the British Royal Family and their relationship with the rest of the country. When Bertie, the Queen’s younger brother, gambles away absolutely everything in a game of Happy Families, the Royal Family has to give up the crown and everything else. They move to King Street… Continue reading Queen of King Street by Tom McLaughlin
