Annalynn the Canadian Spy: Terrible Tissues by Shawn Robinson is a slightly wacky and 100% fun Canadian mystery! This early chapter book for age 7+ is a welcome taste of home for Canadians living in the UK! 10-year-old Annalynn is just going about her everyday life and trying to look after her poorly family when,… Continue reading Annalynn the Canadian Spy by Shawn Robinson
Eloise Williams writes with magic and passion. Her latest book, Wilde, is the perfect combination of the everyday trials of Year 6 and a wonderfully mystical story. Wilde is a young girl with a whole collection of troubles. When she arrives at her aunt’s house in the town of Witch Point in Wales, she knows… Continue reading Wilde by Eloise Williams
Sherlock Holmes meets Dickens in this heart-stopping Victorian mystery. It is the perfect book for anyone who loves to explore the dark, haunted side of a historic city. There are new twists at every turn as Zinnie strives to uncover the truth. This is a wonderful story of challenging female stereotypes and finding strength in… Continue reading The House of Hidden Wonders by Sharon Gosling
Mystery and intrigue step up a gear in Kidnap on the California Comet, the highly-anticipated sequel to The Highland Falcon Thief by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman. This second Adventures on Trains story doesn't disappoint as 12 year-old Hal Beck is back riding the rails with his Uncle Nat. This time, they’re in America on… Continue reading Kidnap on the California Comet (Adventures on Trains) by M.G. Leonard & Sam Sedgman
Girl by day, Cat by night, Ready for Adventure Kitty is ready to be a superhero and use her feline powers to help others! With the wonderful ability to talk to cats, Kitty and her cat crew of Pumpkin, Figaro, Pixie and Katsumi make sure their neighbourhood is happy and safe. She is as charming… Continue reading Kitty and the Treetop Adventure by Paula Harrison & Jenny Lovlie
I first fell in love with the mysteries of Venice many, many years ago. As a child, I listened to the audio book “Vivaldi’s Ring of Mysteries” with gondolas, masks, music and the Island of the Dead. In 2017, I was so fortunate to visit this floating city myself. I was enchanted by the maze-like… Continue reading The Mask of Aribella by Anna Hoghton
Take yourself back in time to Edwardian Cambridge: a city of learning and invention as well as hardship and loss. It’s 1905 and Helena finds herself moving to a strange house full of all kinds of clocks. The owner, Mr Westcott, is obsessed with keeping these clocks ticking. They must never stop. Helena’s father is… Continue reading The House of One Hundred Clocks by A.M. Howell
In April 2020, I asked this question to teachers, authors and book reviewers on Twitter. Over the next two days, I received the most wonderful array of recommendations that will keep us reading for months! Most recommended (Click on the titles to read my reviews): Crater Lake by Jennifer Killick (Sequel - Crater Lake: Evolution)… Continue reading What is the best new children’s book you’ve read recently?
Since reading Malamander by Thomas Taylor, I have been waiting to return to Eerie-on-Sea with great anticipation. It’s sequel, Gargantis, did not disappoint. In fact, it is even better than the original with more monsters, strange happenings and heart-stopping moments! From the very first moment, readers are pulled into the magical, other-worldly town of Eerie-on-Sea.… Continue reading Gargantis by Thomas Taylor
It’s the summer of 1914 and there is news of assassinations and potential war coming from far away. For the children at Longbarrow House, it’s incredibly exciting but also incredibly frightening. They dread the thought of their fathers having to go away to war but every sign seems to say it’s going to happen. When… Continue reading The Ghost Garden by Emma Carroll
Scope for Imagination 