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
The Storm Swimmer is one of those books that leaves you thinking. Read in just a couple of sittings, I found myself completely wrapped up in Ginika's story. Why do her parents have to send her to stay with her grandparents in Cumbria? What kind of trouble are they in? Will Ginika make any friends… Continue reading The Storm Swimmer by Clare Weze
March 2023 Readers will lose themselves in this atmospheric mystery filled with hints of magic. An ominous undercurrent runs beneath the main plot, giving a sense that something significant is going to happen - something dark, something magical, something even more important than protecting nature from road works and development. Alfred is sent to stay… Continue reading Into the Faerie Hill by H.S. Norup ~ Blog Tour
February 2023 The Ghosts of Mars is a fantastic science-fiction adventure for every young reader who has ever wondered what it would be like to live on Mars. Action-packed with incredibly high stakes, it takes Eva (the first person to be born on Mars) and her band of faithful friends on a quest full of… Continue reading Ghosts of Mars: The Adventures of Eva Knight by Stuart White
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
Publishing: May 2023 Wild is the kind of story that stays with you. I found myself thinking about it in between reading sessions, wondering what was going to happen next in this fast-paced rainforest adventure. I was worried about the deeply troubled character of Jack and his relationship with his mum. When his father dies,… Continue reading Wild by Ele Fountain
Mending the Moon is a beautiful picture book from author Emma Pearl & illustrator Sara Ugolotti. Publishing with Page Street Kids in the US on November 1st and in the UK on December 5th, it's arriving just in time for Christmas. A gorgeous story of the relationship between a grandfather and grandchild, Mending the Moon… Continue reading Mending the Moon by Emma Pearl & Sara Ugolotti ~ Guest Post & Blog Tour
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
When Ice Cream had a Meltdown by Michelle Robinson & Tom Knight (Scholastic) When Ice Cream had a Meltdown is a super sweet story about friendship and loving yourself for who you are. Plain Ice Cream is worried because none of the children choose her from the freezer. Her friends try to be encouraging and… Continue reading Picture Books Not to be Missed – Autumn 2022
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
Scope for Imagination 