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
Marney’s Mix-Up by Jane Rushmore & illustrated by Sally Darby It’s autumn and the squirrels are busy collecting nuts and acorns to store for winter. It’s Marney the grey squirrel’s first year gathering his own food and it’s trickier than he expected. While he’s out on his own, he spots a frightening monster in the… Continue reading Stories of Acceptance from Owlet Press
Edgar and Adolf is a beautiful story published by Oxford University Press in association with Barrington Stoke. It is the perfect combination of a rich, heartfelt story with accessible vocabulary, spacing and font. This story bridges the gap between middle grade and young adult wonderfully and I can already think of so many children with… Continue reading Edgar and Adolf by Phil Earle & Michael Wagg
I Am the Minotaur is a story of hiding, of darkness, of being alone but it is also a story of find out who you really are and doing the right thing even if no one is there to see it. Matthew is not your usual hero. He is the minotaur – the monster no… Continue reading I Am the Minotaur by Anthony McGowan
Can Bears Ski? is a charming and powerful picture book that follows Boy Bear on a journey of discovery. Growing up always bring challenges and changes. For Boy Bear, this means learning about being hard of hearing and how to cope with all of the things that will help him to better understand the world… Continue reading Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus & illustrated by Polly Dunbar
Omar, the Bees and Me is a charming picture book explaining the incredible importance of bees. Combining interesting facts with a story of friendship and community, this book will encourage young readers to join in with the Maisie & Omar's Year One class and their exploration of bees. Maisie and Omar discover that in order… Continue reading Omar, The Bees and Me by Helen Mortimer & illustrated by Katie Cottle
In March 2020, I read Orphans of the Tide and was blown away by the intensity of the story and power of the symbolism. Click here to read my review of Orphans of the Tide. Shipwreck Island is the brilliant sequel to Orphans of the Tide – the second in the trilogy. Readers are reunited… Continue reading Shipwreck Island by Struan Murray
Scope for Imagination 