Historical fiction from Emma Carroll is guaranteed to be outstanding but The Little Match Girl Strikes Back is something truly special. I have memories of reading the original Hans Christian Andersen story of The Little Match Girl as a child. I have also used it with Year 6 classes near Christmas to help children think… Continue reading The Little Match Girl Strikes Back by Emma Carroll & Lauren Child
Hal and Uncle Nat are channeling their inner James Bond on this high-stakes journey to the frozen north. With danger around every turn, readers hardly have time to catch their breath before the next threat comes charging down the tracks! Hal (now 13 years-old!) is flying to Stockholm to meet his uncle for a once… Continue reading The Arctic Railway Assassin by MG Leonard, Sam Sedgman & Elisa Paganelli
The Mystery of the Missing Mum by Frances Moloney (Pushkin Children's) Told from the charmingly intense point of view of Jake, The Mystery of the Missing Mum, addresses parents' mental illness and how children cope in a gentle, funny way. Jake wakes up one morning to find his mother is missing. He makes a list… Continue reading Marvellous Middle Grade from Summer 2022
Wren is a glorious celebration of dark Welsh folklore, clever engineering and the power of a girl with a dream - all wonderfully woven together in a story of a house that seems to be alive, mysterious family history, the thrill of flight and a desire to be free. Wren is wild. Inspired by her… Continue reading Wren by Lucy Hope
Katie & Kevin Tsang are a children's lit writing dream team! This week I've had the joy of reading two of their upcoming books: the final instalment in the epic Dragon Realm series and the first of a fun new chapter book series for readers age 6-9. I can't believe the Dragon Realm series is… Continue reading Dragon Destiny & Space Blasters: Suzie Saves the Universe by Katie & Kevin Tsang
Honesty and Lies is a wonderful journey back in time to Queen Elizabeth I's court. Readers have the chance to see London through the dual point of view of two young girls who are doing all they can to survive and perhaps even make their way up the almost impossible social ladder. It's 1601 and… Continue reading Honesty and Lies by Eloise Williams
Summer 2022 has been so jam-packed with brilliant children's books that it would be very easy to miss some real gems. Game Changer by Tom Palmer (Rebellion) Tom Palmer is an author with so many incredible talents. From his stunning historical fiction to his action-fuelled football adventures, his books are must-haves for school libraries. Timed… Continue reading Super Summer Reads You Might Have Missed
Ophelia Bottom's teachers call her "O-failure" - they have no idea just how wrong they are... Brave, determined and not afraid to be true to herself, Ophelia Bottom is a force to be reckoned with. Having spent many years with her cringeworthy, louder-than-life parents in their travelling theatre with disastrous plays, she wishes for an… Continue reading The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom by Susie Bower ~ Blog Tour & Guest Post
Emma Carroll's storytelling is consistently outstanding. Whenever I pick up one of her books, I know I can count on becoming completely lost in a wonderful adventure - the kind of reading experience that takes you away from everything else, shutting out the world and all its worries entirely. The Tale of Truthwater Lake is… Continue reading The Tale of Truthwater Lake by Emma Carroll
The Club Loser gang are back in Jennifer Killick's funniest, scariest book yet. She truly is the master of the comedy-horror genre for readers in that crucial primary to secondary school transition. I laughed - I shuddered - I couldn't put it down. Then I passed it on to my 12-year-old son (who'd been hovering… Continue reading Fear Ground by Jennifer Killick
Scope for Imagination 