Deadly Deep is the absolutely brilliant next instalment in Jennifer Killick's Dread Wood series. This is upper middle grade comedy horror at its best. Both my son, Tom, and I devoured this book within about 12 hours, unable to put it down until we got to the gory finish! Jennifer Killick captures Year 8 children… Continue reading Deadly Deep by Jennifer Killick
The Truth About Yeticorns by Rachel Morrisroe & Ella Oakstad (Puffin Books) ~ July 2023 When you're little and you do something wrong, it can be easy to tell a little lie and blame someone else so you don't get in trouble. That's what Bea does - but instead of blaming her sister she comes… Continue reading 15 Picture Books to Read this Summer
Uncle Pete and the Polar Bear Rescue by David C. Flanagan & illustrated by Will Hughes (Little Door Books) ~ 6+ The Uncle Pete series is so much fun! Full of adventure and imagination, you never know what will happen when TM joins Uncle Pete on his plane. In this third instalment, they're on their… Continue reading Fantastic Summer Reads for Younger Readers
Inventive, creative and laugh-out-loud fun, Bridget Vanderpuff and the Baked Escape is a heart-warming story of dreams, family and never giving up hope. Young Bridget is a heroine bursting with personality (and a lot of hair!) Memorable for all the right reasons, she doesn't shy away from trying to outwit the baddy in her life,… Continue reading Bridget Vanderpuff and the Baked Escape by Martin Stewart ~ Blog Tour
Small Bites Back Small Bites Back is the delightfully bizarre and absolutely hilarious sequel to Small by Hannah Moffatt. 10-year-old Harvey is back at Madame Bogbrush's School for Gifted Giants, even though he's not really a giant. Cursed with being labelled "The Chosen One", he feels the weight of the world on his shoulders when… Continue reading Small Bites Back by Hannah Moffatt ~ Blog Tour
Readers in Years 3 & 4 come in all shapes, sizes and reading abilities. Some are confident readers, well on their way to lengthy middle grade novels, while others are still getting to grips with phonics and taking their first steps into chapter books. Fortunately for teachers and parents, there are so many wonderful books… Continue reading Growing in Confidence: Brilliant Books for Lower Key Stage Two
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 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
Grab your moustache and get ready for an adventure! Inspector Bonbon is Widdlington's best detective. He's always at the scene of the crime, spotting suspects and searching for clues. What the rest of the town don't realise is that Bonbon and his assistant, Banks, are actually ten-year-old Bonnie Montgomery and her quick-witted grandfather. This unlikely… Continue reading Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum by Alasdair Beckett-King
Barrington Stoke books are wonderful in their diversity, ability to evoke thoughtful emotion and incredibly enjoyable stories. Written by top-notch, current authors, they are the gold-standard of quality and appropriateness for today's children. With dyslexia-friendly font, spacing and page tint, everyone can enjoy these books. The manageable length and carefully chosen vocabulary encourages success and… Continue reading Brilliant Middle Grade from Barrington Stoke ~ Autumn 2022
Scope for Imagination 