After being treated to a sneak peek from Sophy Henn herself at the Simon & Schuster Middle Grade Spring Showcase in March, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of Happy Hills: Attack of the Giant Danger Kittens! This bright and cheerful comic style novel is so appealing! The illustrations are absolutely… Continue reading Happy Hills: Attack of the Giant Danger Kittens by Sophy Henn
Rory and the Snack Dragons is absolutely delightful! With Paper Bag Princess vibes, an intelligent girl outwits a dragon and they form the most unlikely of friendships. The development of the dragon character as one who doesn't really like eating princesses and just wants to do good adds to the charm of the story. Rory… Continue reading Rory and the Snack Dragons by Louisa MacDougall & Giulia Cregut ~ Blog Tour
Helen Peters writes the most delightful stories from her fun animal adventures to her wartime middle grade mysteries. New Arrivals at Willow Farm, published by Barrington Stoke, is another chance for young readers to see the world through the eyes of animals. The book is split into two stories - "Snowy the Sheepdog" and "Cowslip… Continue reading New Arrivals at Willow Farm by Helen Peters & Isobel Lundie
Stories by Gill Lewis are always gentle and heart-warming but with an incredibly strong message. A champion of nature, she leaves her readers with a sense of responsibility for taking care of our world. The Island Vet series continues in this manner. It promises to be an absolutely charming series for readers age 7+ full… Continue reading The Island Vet: Pirates and Sea Monsters by Gill Lewis & Irina Avgustinovich
I never cease to be blown away by the quality of the authors who write for Barrington Stoke. In this collection, Holly Webb, Katherine Woodfine, Jenny Pearson and Serena Patel share their talent for reaching children right where they're at - inspiring and encouraging while providing a laugh and a smile along the way. With… Continue reading Super Books from Barrington Stoke
Going to Bat is the second book in the charming Mind and Me series. Celebrating mindfulness and positive self-talk, these stories help children think about how they speak to themselves and how they can rely on themselves in all sorts of situations. In Going to Bat, Maya is trying to write a letter to her… Continue reading Mind and Me: Going to Bat by Sunita Chawdhary ~ Blog Tour
Little Gems books from Barrington Stoke are perfect for children in Reception and Key Stage One who are ready to add some variety to their reading diet. Pitched between picture books and chapter books, these early readers give children the feeling of an older book with accessible vocabulary and spacing to help them on their… Continue reading Sidney and Carrie Have a Party by Lisa Thompson & illustrated by Jess Rose
Whenever I'm asked for class novel recommendations for Year 2, Harley Hitch is always my answer. This sparky inventor with regularly changing hair colour is enthusiastic and ready for anything! Along with her delightful robot dog, Sprocket, and her best mate, Cosmo, she's the most wonderful role model for anyone interested in how things work.… Continue reading Harley Hitch Takes Flight by Vashti Hardy
The Girl who Became a Fish is an absolutely lovely story of a little girl who is afraid of a lot of things: talking to classmates at her new school, walking through her new town and, most of all, swimming. Then, one day, she dips her hands in the river and something unusual happens! She… Continue reading The Girl who Became a Fish by Polly Ho-Yen & Sojung Kim-McCarthy ~ Blog Tour & Guest Post
Readers who are taking the step into longer chapter books and building independence are in for a treat this autumn! There are so many delightful new books for them to explore! Magic Faces: Monster Mayhem by Esi Merleh & Abeeha Tariq (Uclan Publishing) Twins Austin and Alanna, along with sausage dog Ozzy, are back in… Continue reading Charming Chapter Books for Autumn 2023
Scope for Imagination 