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
My Review: The Chestnut Roaster is a uniquely captivating story - atmospheric Parisian history mixed with a healthy dose of fantasy runs through the mysterious catacombs of this engaging city. The villain is truly evil and the children who are determined to stop him are clever, creative and feisty. The adults are unable to help… Continue reading The Chestnut Roaster by Eve McDonnell ~ Blog Tour
It is wonderful to be back with Libby in one of my favourite places in the world - Scotland! It's Christmas and Libby is visiting her best friend, Connie, in her family's large estate in the Scottish countryside. Sadly, the family has fallen on hard times and must make some tough financial decisions. Connie's mum… Continue reading Libby and the Highland Heist by Jo Clarke
The nights are drawing in and Hallowe'en is just around the corner. It's the perfect time of year for some spooky stories. Here's a collection of picture books, chapter books and middle grade stories sure to give you chills. The Pumpkin who was Afraid of the Dark by Michelle Robinson & Mike Byrne (Scholastic) All… Continue reading Spooky Season 2022
Hal and Uncle Nat are channeling their inner James Bond on this high-stakes journey to the frozen north. With danger around every turn, readers hardly have time to catch their breath before the next threat comes charging down the tracks! Hal (now 13 years-old!) is flying to Stockholm to meet his uncle for a once… Continue reading The Arctic Railway Assassin by MG Leonard, Sam Sedgman & Elisa Paganelli
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
What's your 'Spark bird'? I think mine was probably the Golden Eagle I saw while sitting on top of a hill north of Fort William in 2000. We saw an Osprey from kayaks on Loch Lomond this week and it doesn't become any less magical spotting such beautiful creatures soaring overhead. Spark by M.G. Leonard… Continue reading Spark by M.G. Leonard
The delightful duo of Herbie Lemon and Violet Parma are back in this thrilling Frankenstein - King Kong - Madame Tussauds gone wrong mash-up. My family adores this series but Festergrimm just might be our favourite (keeping a special place in our hearts for the original, Malamander.) This story is laugh-out loud funny (I'm planning… Continue reading Festergrimm by Thomas Taylor
Reading The Unexpected Tale of the Bad Brothers is like being back with old friends. Bastien, Theo, Alice and all the orphans care about each other so dearly. That kindness flows off the page and pulls the reader right into their gang. The addition of the fiery dancer Mathilde adds a new sense of feistiness… Continue reading The Unexpected Tale of the Bad Brothers by Clare Povey
Contemporary Children's Literature for Years 5-6 & Years 3-4 are now available! Featuring some of the best recent middle grade publications, they are packed full of reading lessons that are sure to capture children's imaginations and leave them wanting to read more. Developing Reading Comprehension Skills is a series of eight reading comprehension books for teachers… Continue reading Contemporary Children’s Literature from the Developing Reading Comprehension Skills series
Scope for Imagination 