Chapter Book

The Island Vet: Pirates and Sea Monsters by Gill Lewis & Irina Avgustinovich

Stories by Gill Lewis are always gentle and heart-warming but with an incredibly strong message. A champion of nature, she leaves her readers with a sense of responsibility for taking care of our world. The Island Vet series continues in this manner. It promises to be an absolutely charming series for readers age 7+ full… Continue reading The Island Vet: Pirates and Sea Monsters by Gill Lewis & Irina Avgustinovich

Book Review, Picture Books

Gorgeous Picture Books for Autumn 2023

So many delightful picture books are available in Autum 2023. Here is a selection of really lovely ones to read with your class. Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf by Craig Barr-Green & Francis Martin (Little Tiger) So often we accept stories as they are told to us. But what if there's a better way. Gina… Continue reading Gorgeous Picture Books for Autumn 2023

Blog Tour, Book Review, Non-fiction Books

By the Sea: Life Along the Coast by Judith Homoki & Martin Haake ~ Blog Tour

National Non-Fiction November National Non-Fiction November is the Federation of Children’s Book Groups’ annual celebration of all things factual. Born out of National Non-Fiction Day, the brain child of Adam Lancaster during his years as Chair, the whole month now celebrates all those readers that have a passion for information and facts and attempts to… Continue reading By the Sea: Life Along the Coast by Judith Homoki & Martin Haake ~ Blog Tour

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

Deadly Deep by Jennifer Killick

Deadly Deep is the absolutely brilliant next instalment in Jennifer Killick's Dread Wood series. This is upper middle grade comedy horror at its best. Both my son, Tom, and I devoured this book within about 12 hours, unable to put it down until we got to the gory finish! Jennifer Killick captures Year 8 children… Continue reading Deadly Deep by Jennifer Killick

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

Calling the Whales by Jasbinder Bilan & illustrated by Skylar White

Calling the Whales by Jasbinder Bilan is an inspirational environmental adventure that honours humans' relationship with nature with a call to respect and protect. Set on the beautiful Scottish coast, this story evokes the spirit of majestic whales, the pull of the sea and the magic of the moonlight. It's the summer before secondary school.… Continue reading Calling the Whales by Jasbinder Bilan & illustrated by Skylar White

Book Review, Picture Books

Stories by the Sea

What could be better for bedtime stories at a mermaid-themed Brownie pack holiday than these two gorgeous seaside stories? We combined sea creatures, mermaids, shells and waves with all sorts of camp skills and fun activities. The girls (age 7-10) absolutley loved Sheldon's New Shell by Lily Murray & Sam Caldwell and The Mermaid Moon… Continue reading Stories by the Sea

Blog Tour, Guest Post

FCBG Children’s Book Award Blog Tour ~ Blob Fish by Olaf Falafel

Welcome to my stop on the Children’s Book Award Blog Tour!  The Children’s Book Award is the only national award for children’s books that is voted for entirely by children. It is owned and coordinated by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups and is highly respected by teachers, parents and librarians. It has brought acclaim… Continue reading FCBG Children’s Book Award Blog Tour ~ Blob Fish by Olaf Falafel

Book Review, Chapter Book

Super Seal Stories by Holly Webb & Helen Peters

We're about to go on holiday to the Isle of Skye & the Outer Hebrides. While we're there, we're really hoping to do some seal spotting. These two books are just the thing to help us learn about these amazing animals and help to keep them safe. Holly Webb is one of my daughter's favourite… Continue reading Super Seal Stories by Holly Webb & Helen Peters

Book Review, Picture Books

The Wide Wide Sea by Anna Wilson & Jenny Lovlie

Our children love exploring the sea: swimming, digging in the sand and discovering the creatures who live beneath the waves. We were so pleased to see this lovely book in the National Trust shop at Corfe Castle when we were on holiday in Dorset. This beautiful picture book follows a small child and their gran… Continue reading The Wide Wide Sea by Anna Wilson & Jenny Lovlie

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult

The Deep-Sea Duke by Lauren James

Journey to the amazing ocean planet of Hydrox in The Deep-Sea Duke – the exciting science fiction, alien sequel to The Starlight Watchmaker by Lauren James! Cogwork android Hugo and sentient volcano Ada have travelled to Hydrox with their friend Dorian for the holidays.  This mismatched trio play off each other brilliantly as they grapple with… Continue reading The Deep-Sea Duke by Lauren James