Published in 1905, this is a classic tale (not tail, although many of those feature in this story) of an accidental cross-breed of wolf and dog – White Fang. Although it was written over 115 years ago, this book retains is excitement levels, relevance and its punchy tenacity. There’s not many upper middle-grade books I’ve…
“Be careful when you throw something bad inside your black hole. You may find you’ve gotten rid of the good as well.” This is without doubt one of the most wonderful middle grade books I’ve read for a long time. Stella Rodriguez, a space mad eleven-year-old, is followed home one day by a black hole.…
Not for the fainthearted The Ice Sea Pirates by Frida Nilsson is a chilly tale with a warm heart published by Gecko Press. It is set amongst the snowy skerries in the Ice Sea where legend has it that the evil pirate, Whitehead, scours the islands and steals children to work in his diamond mine.…
Sky Song from Abi Elphinstone is a beautifully rendered, magical adventure featuring the quietly confident Eska, and her initially reluctant side kick Flint. And let’s not forget the eagle – oh the eagle!! Step into the snowy kingdom of Erkenwald. It used to be full of tribes who talked, helped and supported one another. Now.…
The lovely Frida Nilsson, Swedish author of The Ice Sea Pirates, a classic children’s adventure of icy seas and cold-blooded pirates, wolves, mermaids is stepping into My Book Corner. Here she tackles our questions, including our infamous Just for Fun section. Tell us about you in 25 words or less. I am a person that is completely…
The Island At The End of Everything is the latest novel from Kiran Millwood Hargrave. Ami lives with her mother on an island no one ever wants to visit. They say once you go there, you never leave. When the government decides to turn the island into a colony to stop the spread of leprosy,…
The Light Jar is Lisa Thompson’s second novel, the first being the incredibly popular The Goldfish Boy. Meet Nate. In the middle of the night, he and his mum, leave home. Suddenly. Bags packed… without telling Gary, mum’s boyfriend. Gary must never know where they are going. Nate and his mum arrive at a tumble…
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, a classic American children’s book, came as a recommendation from a good friend in California. It’s a book written during the 1950s and is about a much simpler time and way of living a rural life. And this “roam amongst the forests” life is led by the…
A swashbuckling Victoriana expedition through the skies Brightstorm, a debut novel by Vashti Hardy published by Scholastic in March 2018, is something of a Northern Lights crossed with sky-ships. I have always loved the notion of flying in a hot air balloon but, being afraid of heights, this book has given my imagination the freedom…
This short, specially-written World Book Day story by David Almond is a little gem. Written in Almond’s signature poetic, ethereal prose it’s a story of a girl called Louise and her father visiting the northern island of Lindisfarne. They go every year to remember the memory of her dead mother. On the way to the…
During World War II, children from families who lived in the cities were evacuated to the countryside but what happened to all the pets? When the war comes, who will save the animals? Miriam Halahmy’s The Emergency Zoo is an adventure story with fantastic leaps and turns, the reader is taken on a journey to…
This sumptuous, epic Young Adult novel is firmly rooted – with its glorious prose and tone – in the Deep South of 1838. It’s a nuanced, wonderful Gone-With-The-Wind type adventure that conjures up sticky, humid nights laced with fear and fun. The Floating Theatre is, in fact, a Jane Austen novel set in America and…
Katherine Rundell (The Wolf Wilder, Rooftoppers) and Emily Sutton’s (Lots) One Christmas Wish is heart thumpingly beautiful, tender and uplifting. It is THE book to gift on Christmas Eve. Without a doubt. ‘It was Christmas Eve, and Theodore was fighting a cardboard box.’ …and so the story begins. Theo is alone, apart from a snoring babysitter.…
It’s another fabulously funny caper from Tom McLaughlin, thanks to his Accidental series. The Accidental Father Christmas is a great novel which doesn’t fail to hit the festive funny bone. Ben is a curious kid. Does Father Christmas really, really exist? Ben has sent him plenty of letters over the years, all nicely written, asking for…
WARNING: AN ELVES ONLY PICTURE BOOK REVIEW Let’s talk about stocking fillers. I’m always a bit flummoxed when online stocking filler searches offer up bulky, bank-busting suggestions. Although wonderful, a helicopter, a personalised football and an engraved child’s bracelet (with birthstone!!!) are not, to my mind, stocking fillers. Traditionally, Christmas stockings were stuffed with small…
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Alan Windram, Director of award-winning children’s publisher, Little Door Books.
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Ooh, this sounds fantastic!
Great review, thanks for posting the pictures. Really makes a difference with picture book reviews. Will order for the store…
I often hope to find interviews with Margaret Wild who fascinates me and whose work I adore. Thoroughly enjoyed this…