In October 2019, I created my first post for Scope for Imagination. Today I'm celebrating my 700th post with a very special book. The Boy Who Made Monsters is everything that's good about children's literature. It is engaging, funny, heartfelt and speaks truth. It does not hide from issues faced by children. Instead, it approaches… Continue reading The Boy Who Made Monsters by Jenny Pearson
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
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
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
Fight Back by A.M. Dassu is an important and powerful story. It should be read by adults as much as by the young people for whom it was written. In a similar vein to A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll, it reveals issues of identity, respect, community and empowerment that need to be recognised… Continue reading Fight Back by A.M. Dassu
I sat down to make a start on A Flash of Fireflies and ended up reading the entire thing. I was completely drawn in by the magic and mystery of this unique story - a completely enchanting twist on fairy tales, forests and witches. Hazel's world is turned upside-down. Sent on her own from Kuwait… Continue reading A Flash of Fireflies by Aisha Bushby
Even when life is fun, full of friends and absolutely joyful, we can still have mixed-emotions - the feeling of being Happy Sad. Toby learns about this feeling when he meets a stranded mermaid in a rock pool near his home by the sea. He takes her to his house and looks after her the… Continue reading Happy Sad by Pippa Goodhart & Augusta Kirkwood ~ Blog Tour
The natural world has a magic all its own. Even though we know so much about how plants grow, reproduce and fill our world, it is still inexplicably wondrous to be surrounded by something so alive - the damp shadows of the forest, the new shoots of a seed, the medicinal powers not created by… Continue reading The Magic of Nature in Middle Grade
Barrington Stoke can always be relied on to create entertaining, meaningful, empathy-filled stories that are accessible and empowering for readers. With dyslexia-friendly font, spacing and page tint, everyone can enjoy these wonderful books. The manageable length and carefully chosen vocabulary encourages success and brings children back for more. All About Ella by Sally Nicholls &… Continue reading Invaluable Books from Barrington Stoke
The healing power of nature and music weaves its way through this stunning story. In Annie, Katya Balen has created another character who is so unique and so real. Her inner voice is strong, vibrating with emotion and truth that will gently wind its way inside the reader and change them. This is a book… Continue reading Birdsong by Katya Balen
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