Posts, Articles & Reviews

Book Review, Picture Books

Now You See Me. Now You Don’t by Patricia Hegarty & illustrated by Jonny Lambert

Full of gorgeous colours and wonderful animals, this rhyming story is sure to entertain children of all ages. With a new take on the Golden Rule - do to others as you would have them do to you - readers can see how teasing might make others feel and how important it is to be… Continue reading Now You See Me. Now You Don’t by Patricia Hegarty & illustrated by Jonny Lambert

Book Review, Picture Books

Oh No, Bear! By Joanne Partis

With themes of Autumn, Harvest, Friendship and Empathy, Oh No, Bear! is a charming book for young children. One morning, Bear wakes up very hungry. As he makes his way around the forest, visiting his friends, he eats far more than he ever intended. He worries that he’s made his friends angry but he just… Continue reading Oh No, Bear! By Joanne Partis

Book Review, Picture Books

Sneaky Beak by Tracey Corderoy & illustrated by Tony Neal

Sneaky Beak is an absolute joy to read! Its bright colours, larger than life characters and silly rhymes combine to create a book full of laughs, giggles and a loud “Oh No!” Bear and Hamster are quite content. They enjoy what they have and the time they spend together. Then, one day, a television advert for… Continue reading Sneaky Beak by Tracey Corderoy & illustrated by Tony Neal

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

Time School We Will Honour Them by Nikki Young

Nadia, Jess, Tomma and Ash are back with another fascinating historical timeslip adventure in the Time School series. The four friends are in Year 7 in a Yorkshire mill town near Leeds when Nadia learns some sad news – her grandfather has passed away. She is asked to give a eulogy at his funeral and… Continue reading Time School We Will Honour Them by Nikki Young

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

After the War From Auschwitz to Ambleside by Tom Palmer

After the War is the book every teacher of the Holocaust needs. This carefully researched and accurate retelling of the horrors and hopes of the Second World War pulls readers in to the reality faced by three brave Polish Jewish boys who find themselves in the serene beauty of the Lake District in the days… Continue reading After the War From Auschwitz to Ambleside by Tom Palmer

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

My Name is River by Emma Rea

Eleven-year-old Dylan dreams of a wonderful future – a future where he grows up on his family’s farm in Wales, builds a treehouse and plays with his friends by the river. Then, suddenly, one phone call changes everything. A huge pharmaceutical company wants to buy the farm and his family will have to leave. Dylan… Continue reading My Name is River by Emma Rea

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

The Longest Night of Charlie Noon by Christopher Edge

Once upon a time… or once upon a now… Time has so much meaning and sometimes none at all. When Charlie, Dizzy and Johnny become lost in the woods, their night of adventure and mystery gives time an entirely new meaning. This is a book of the unknown – of puzzles, codes, hints and ciphers.… Continue reading The Longest Night of Charlie Noon by Christopher Edge

Book Review, Picture Books

You Are Special by Sam Loman

Kiki is a beautiful, white cat. She’s absolutely adorable but doesn’t feel special like the other brightly-coloured animals she knows. More than anything, she wishes she could be colourful like her friends. On each page, Kiki tries to add a bit of pencil, ink or paint to improve her appearance. Unfortunately, the other animals just… Continue reading You Are Special by Sam Loman

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

The Griffin Gate by Vashti Hardy & illustrated by Natalie Smillie

Vashti Hardy has done it again! The Griffin Gate is exactly the kind of story children are looking for: adventure, mystery and a strong sense of family – with a bossy robotic raven thrown in! Teaming up with talented illustrator Natalie Smillie, this story jumps off the page and dares readers to go with Grace… Continue reading The Griffin Gate by Vashti Hardy & illustrated by Natalie Smillie