I've had the privilege of reading an Australian edition of The Bravest Word by Kate Foster. It is one of the most powerful, honest books I have ever read. Addressing mental health, anxiety and depression in young people through the beautiful story of a boy and his dog, it helps children to recognise symptoms in… Continue reading The Bravest Word by Kate Foster
Welcome to Your Boobs is a book for every adolescent girl as well as their parents, carers and teachers. It is a friendly, honest and incredibly practical guide to growing up and all the changes it brings. With a chatty style and clear facts, girls will find it very accessible and keep coming back to… Continue reading Welcome to Your Boobs by Yumi Stynes & Dr Melissa Kang
Little Gems books from Barrington Stoke are perfect for children in Reception and Key Stage One who are ready to add some variety to their reading diet. Pitched between picture books and chapter books, these early readers give children the feeling of an older book with accessible vocabulary and spacing to help them on their… Continue reading Barrington Stoke ~ Little Gems
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
Be STRONG, BRAVE and FEARLESS but what does that really mean? The Boy Who Rescued a Rainbow is the beautiful story of a child full of adventures. When he finds a damaged rainbow, he carefully repairs it until it is better than new. Together, they go on many more adventures until, one day, the rainbow… Continue reading The Boy Who Rescued a Rainbow by Corrina Campbell ~ Blog Tour
The Dragon in the Bookshop is a powerful story about childhood bereavement, friendship and finding strength. Ewa Jozefkowiez gives her characters a voice even when they're unable to speak. When Kon's father dies, he finds comfort in quiet. More than anything, he wants to be the intrepid explorer Dad always encouraged him to be -… Continue reading The Dragon in the Bookshop by Ewa Jozefkowiez ~ Blog Tour & Guest Post
Where do I even begin with this incredible book? An adventure woven with mythology, magic and the power of the human spirit, Tyger by SF Said is a story to be internalised and drawn upon again and again. This book is destined to last - it already has a classic feel with its thoughtful exploration… Continue reading Tyger by S.F. Said
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
Scope for Imagination 