February 2023 The Funniest Boy in the World is overflowing with laughs and a whole lot of heart. Ever-charming Billy Plimpton is back! Buoyed by the success of his stand-up comedian act in the school talent show, he’s determined to make it as a comic. He’s learning to embrace his stammer and accept it as… Continue reading The Funniest Boy in the World by Helen Rutter
The Moon of Kyiv by Gianni Rodari & Beatrice Alemagna Picture Book - Walker Books Originally written over 70 years ago, The Moon of Kyiv is a powerful poem about connections. No matter who we are or where we are in the world, we are all under the same moon. This can be a comforting… Continue reading Home? – Books to Help Children Understand the Lives of Refugees
January 2023 Jenni Spangler is one of my favourite middle grade authors. Her stories are full of intrigue, strange objects and characters who always do the unexpected. Valentine Crow and Mr Death goes ten steps further with a unique, gently funny and thought-provoking tale of a young apprentice who is sent to work for the… Continue reading Valentine Crow and Mr Death by Jenni Spangler
February 2023 The Sleeping Stones is an intriguing Welsh mystery. Gruff doesn’t like change. When Matylda and her family move to his Welsh island from Manchester, he doesn’t really want to have to look after her and teach her the ways of their unusual community. She just doesn’t understand about the Sleeping Stones – a… Continue reading The Sleeping Stones by Beatrice Wallbank
March 2023 Finding unexpected treasure is always magical. The Curio Collectors brings the thrill of discovery to life on the page with a historical mystery that will engage readers right from the start. Tom and Lil live in a caravan with their Ma. Travelling from town to town, trying to make money by selling items… Continue reading The Curio Collectors by Eloise Williams & illustrated by Anna Shepeta
The Monster Hunting series is perfect for young readers who love laugh-out-loud adventures, engaging illustrations and off-the-wall situations. In Monsters Bite Back, the hilarious sequel by Ian Mark, Jack and Nancy are at it again. They travel to the unexpected setting of an ancient abbey in Scotland to put a stop to some troublesome monsters.… Continue reading Monster Hunting: Monsters Bite Back by Ian Mark
Sarah Ann Juckes' middle grade novel, The Night Animals, is a beautiful exploration of our determination to always be strong and "fine", even when faced with difficult circumstances. Through gentle story-telling that shimmers with hope, readers see that everyone needs help sometimes and come to understand what it really means to be strong. Nora's mum… Continue reading The Night Animals by Sarah Ann Juckes
As 2022 draws to a close, I’d like to share my favourite books of this year. Not all have been published in 2022 but I have had the pleasure of reading them between January and December. I really struggled to narrow down my choices this year. There have been so many incredible books. Here are… Continue reading My Favourite Books of 2022
January 2023 What could be better for my final review of 2022 than the third book in Vashti Hardy's brilliant Harley Hitch series?! This young adventurer is back with her robo-dog Sprocket and they're ready for anything! She's as determined as ever to win the coveted school prize - Pupil of the Term. Excitement builds… Continue reading Harley Hitch and the Fossil Mystery by Vashti Hardy & illustrated by George Ermos
Where am I? What am I doing here? Who am I? When a young girl wakes up in the middle of the desert, she has no idea who she is. She's wearing one shoe, a black dress, and she is carrying a strange, heavy case. She meets Tarni, who is on a quest of her… Continue reading The Song Walker by Zillah Bethell
