This stunning novel about an orphaned puppy and a runaway boy captured my heart and lingered there long after I finished reading. Written in verse and told from Scruffity the dog’s POV, the story is pared back to its very essence and will fully engage your senses and emotions, with no other distractions. And Sean…
What could a boy and an alien chicken from planet Nurgle-7 possibly have in common? Quite a lot as it turns out. Stuck on a stinky farm, alone and far from home, Bertie and Nugget’s chance encounter has earth-shattering repercussions; unless Bertie can help Nugget find the world’s greatest resource, the whole planet will be…
With Christmas around the corner, I wanted to share some recently published gift books that would make wonderful presents for a range of readers, and can be enjoyed all year round. Wild Animals of the World by Dieter Braun My two children ( 6 & 9) loved paging through this gorgeous hardback with its…
With spooky season eerily upon us, I wanted to highlight a few recent titles, both fiction and non-fiction, that have been particular favourites of my own children, handily aged 6 and 9! GHOST GAMES by Jenni Jennings & Hannah Peck The third book in the Malice in Underland series is the perfect…
Feeling very fortunate to have the Uber-talented Sophy Henn sharing her favourite comic strip baddies with us today! Her Pizazz series has plenty of them, and the latest book – Pizazz VS Everyone – sees our reluctant superhero turn to the dark side herself, all because of a litter bug and a spot of toxic gunk. I…
With its illustrious author and illustrator pairing, CRESS WATERCRESS by Gregory Maguire & David Litchfield is sure to delight book lovers young and old. Cleverly written and designed to be read aloud or read alone, the nimble chapters take us quickly into the depths of Hunter’s Wood, and into the life and heart of a…
Autumn is a little nervous for her first day at Sparkledale Academy but with her love of dance and help from her friends she overcomes her fears and she can’t wait for the sleepover that’s been organised. When things don’t go as expected, Autumn and her friends investigate who’s behind the magical elements that are…
‘Just keep your eyes open and some oven gloves and water pistols handy and you’ll be fine.’ Oooo now this is a super clever idea for a book. Seamlessly blending nonfiction and narrative styles, Andy Shepherd brings us The Ultimate Guide to Growing Dragons, with gorgeous illustrations throughout from Sara Ogilvie. Tomas has had…
Aziza is going on holiday with her family and needs to pack her case quickly. Around the secret fairy door in her bedroom she finds shells, sand and everything connected to the seaside. How did they get there? There’s only one way to find out… Stepping through the secret fairy door, Aziza is back on…
If you could have any super power, what would it be? When Marvin and his best friend, Joe, spot a familiar face in an old superhero comic when they take a break from working on their Science Fair robot, he asks his grandad if he knows anything about the man with the M on his…
When ten year-old Weatherling, Rainbow Grey, ends up with not one gift, not two gifts but ALL the rainbow weather magic gifts imaginable – she’s got a lot to learn and FAST! Encouraged to show off her new found skills at a family celebration, she makes a mistake with one of her gifts. When the…
Come and meet Bad Panda – the fabulously hilarious new young fiction novel from Swapna Haddow and Sheena Dempsey. (Psst: at the bottom of this review, you’ll be rewarded with a fun Panda Quiz!). From the dynamic duo that brought us Dave Pigeon, I’m quite sure that Bad Panda is also going to be huge…
All Velda wants to be is a proper viking. She has a helmet, a deadly axe and can’t wait to be involved in Certain Death fights. When The Valkyrie, the ship she calls home, is commandeered by the evil Ethelfled, Queen of Kent, Velda escapes with the sought-after ‘Nowhere Map’. Velda, along with help from…
Publishing in April 2021 and ideal for early readers, THE TINDIMS AND THE TEN GREEN BOTTLES continues the whimsical adventures of The Tindims of Rubbish Island, written by Sally Gardner and illustrated by Lydia Corry, the series features an entertaining cast of miniature characters and expert recyclers, who live by the motto, ‘What is rubbish…
This is a series that I’ve fallen head over heels in love with. I adored the first one in the series – Too Small Tola, by Atinuke and Onyinye Iwu, which introduced the fabulous Tola and her family. This second one – gosh, it really does pull at your heart strings. It’s so full of…
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