Author jillrbennett

Aya Has Never Seen A Bear

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Aya Has Never Seen A Bear
Gerelchimeg Blackcrane and Jiu’er
Greystone Kids

This story translated from the Chinese and set in the 1970s, features Aya and her grandparents who are members of the Oroqen tribe living a traditional life in the forests of Northern China.

One autumn morning Aya is woken by her Grandma’s calls and the return of her Grandpa to the camp with food and plans. It’s the plan that really interests Aya, for Grandpa wants to take her searching for bears in the deep woods after breakfast. Never before has she seen a bear so she’s really excited as she and Grandpa set off together on ponies. On their journey they see the leaves on the trees changing colour, birds migrating southwards and then a hare family in the bushes. Further on they see roe deer, an eagle owl and on the edge of the pine woods, a family of foxes.

As they arrive at the river valley between the mountains, Grandpa indicates the pine woods where the bears live. They dismount and continue on foot. stopping to sit and stare after a while. It’s a long wait till eventually a mother bear and her three cubs appear.

The cubs make for a rotten, mattress abandoned among scattered rubbish and the family snuggle together for a nap.
When the bears leave Grandpa and Aya burn all the rubbish to discourage the bears’ dependence on humans.

In keeping with its theme of patience, Gerelchimeg Blackcrane’s straightforward, gently told story that moves slowly in harmony and Jiu’er’s warm hued illustrations of the humans and the animals, are perfectly in tune with one another, A beautiful book that shows the importance of conservation and the intergenerational bond between Grandpa and Aya.

Further information about the Oroqen people is given in the back matter.

The Brave Little Whale

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The Brave Little Whale
Charlotte Manning
Otter-Barry Books

Fiction and fact come together in this book featuring Uki, a young Humpback Whale. Acting as narrator, Uki explains at the outset that his name means survivor and that his grandpa Yuka has looked after him for as long as he can remember.

One day Yuka informs Uki that he’s going to teach him his sea songs. The reason being that his grandfather isn’t going to lead the pod on the Polar journey that spring but will remain in the warm tropical seas and instead kind, gentle Cousin Amka will act as guide. As they depart Grandpa reminds Uki not to forget his songs and to be brave, but the little whale is feeling anything but brave.

On the journey the whales will face dangers many on their – hungry sharks, noise pollution and storms included.
After a storm, they encounter strange, unfamiliar objects in the sea – plastic pollution is causing a huge hazard to the whales. Amka sings to the other whales doing what Grandpa Yula had called ‘whispering’. Then comes a ‘click-click – squeeeeeak! sound: a pack of hungry Orcas had heard the migrating Humpbacks. Amka calls, “Scatter”, dives down and the other Humpbacks flee in all directions.

When Uki comes up to breathe, he’s safe but alone save for seabirds so he sings a calling song grandpa had taught him and gradually the pod reassembles but there’s no sign of Amka. Later he’s discovered entangled in a piece of fishing net, deep in the seaweed but the Orcas have found the Humpback pod. “Be brave” was what Grandpa Yuka had told Uki and so he sings loudly causing the Orcas to move right close. However rather than attacking, they follow their queen’s instructions and free Amka in return for something Grandpa Yuka had done long ago. The Orca queen also gives another instruction – what could it have been and will it help the Humpback pod to reach their Polar destination?

With bold, collage style illustrations and text with a powerful message about polluting the oceans, this fascinating book is one to add to KS1and KS2 collections

Bear and Bird: The Cloud

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Bear and Bird: The Cloud
Jarvis
Walker Books

This is essentially a prequel to the Bear and Bird short story books and it begins with Bear being a newcomer to Woody Wood Forest where he’s searching for a friend. However, it appears that all the other forest dwellers already have someone, which makes Bear feel sad. However, suddenly he hears a small voice saying “… My name is Bird and I’m looking for something. I wonder if you’ve seen it?” Bird is on a quest for the illusive Puffy Fluffy Octopus Cloud and although Bear has not seen what Bird seeks, he knows this is a chance for him to find the friend he desires.

The two join forces with Bear suggesting various ideas that might help Bird. Together they read a book about clouds,

share a storybook and even organise an octopus party. Thus the cloud search turns into a connection undertaking. Could it be that eventually they’ll discover something far more wonderful than the elusive cloud?

Full of warmth, tenderness and subtle humour, this is a story of yearning for friendship and belonging that young children will relate to while enjoying the adventures the two characters share. Jarvis’s illustrations with their playful details, depictions of Bear and Bird’s expressions and body language, and the pastel colours are a delight and both children and adults will want to spend time enjoying each and every page.

A book to share and talk about both at home and in preschool/ KS1 classrooms.

Mari and the Great Market Swap

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Mari and the Great Market Swap
Janelle Springer-Willms and Juliana Eigner
Barefoot Books

This story is set in Barbados where Mari and her Granny live on a backyard farm.

The ‘cock-a-doodle-doo’ of a rooster in the distance signals that it’s time for the two to load up the rusty van and set off to the market to sell their freshly picked guavas. They drive along narrow roads carefully avoiding the potholes, past fields of sugarcane and brightly painted houses to the small village where they park, unload and are warmly greeted by other vendors who are ‘like one big family, laughing and talking the whole day through.’

After a while, Mari’s friend Wendy arrives with some unwelcome news: “A sugarcane truck toppled upside down and blocking up de main road. So de customers can’t drive into town.” This meant that if they didn’t sell their goods everyone would struggle the following week. Suddenly though, the enterprising inclinations of Mari and her friend set to work: taking a basket each, they walk along to the ‘top road’ hoping to sell their goods to anyone. However, this is not what happens. Mari tries offering free samples but they have competition in the form of “free cane givin’ way up de road.” Suddenly along comes Granny saying she’s going for the van and what Wendy says next gives Mari her best idea yet. So begins a trading operating that everybody then joins in,

swapping with one another for what they need most. On her return Granny is overjoyed at what Mari has achieved

With Juliana Eiger’s vibrant, textured illustrations that are full of details to enjoy and the author’s use of Bajan creole in parts, readers really get the cultural vibe as they read this delightful book with its strong message of the importance of community.
(A final spread provides further information about Barbados, Bajan creole, markets and ways of trading.)

Whirby

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Whirby
Molly Harris and Jacob Souva
Harper 360

Robot, Whirby, loves school where he excels in such subjects as magnetics, circuitry and tinkering (I love the descriptive alliterations used) but his favourite subject is gadgeteering because this provides opportunities to engage in ‘bot battles’ with other students.

One night so excited is Wirby about the prospect of the next day’s battling tournament that he stays awake the whole time practising, rather than climbing onto his charging base for a battery recharge. The following morning he feels less that 100 percent: his gears feel gritty, his buttons ‘busted’ and his cranks ‘extra cranky’. Worse is to follow.

At school Whirby starts to malfunction

and by the time it’s his turn in the sporting ring, his battery is completely flat making him ‘officially wiped out’. His teacher, Dr. Whizzbang sends him back home to recover and recharge.

Devastated at his lost opportunity, that night Whirby focuses on his body and realises that something needs to be changed. He codes a new sequence to follow each night

and makes sure he sleeps properly so that when asked again by Dr Whizzbang if he’s ready for a rematch, a fully charged Whirby should be all systems go against Dottie the Destroyer.

Weaving technical vocabulary into the narrative, Molly Harris’s story reads aloud well and with Jacob Souva’s striking illustrations, makes for a fun book that reminds young readers about the dangers of over-exertion both physical or mental.

The Heart of the Storm

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The Heart of the Storm
Teresa Heapy and Kate Read
Otter-Barry Books

Ruby the fox and Growl the wolf live not far from one another deep in the forest and they’re sworn enemies.
One day a fierce storm hits the forest, ripping branches from trees and hurling them to the ground causing all the animals including Ruby and Growl to run for cover. Then suddenly Ruby trips. After a brief altercation between the two, a tree trunk is damaged and the tree begins to fall. Ruby grabs at Growl’s fur and just manages to pull him out of the way as the tree crashes to the ground.

The erstwhile enemies decide to stick together, temporarily at least. With Ruby on Growl’s back, they travel through dangerously muddy terrain with Ruby giving directions and Growl struggling onwards, eventually skidding and slithering towards a huge tree. Using her paws, Ruby manages to hold on while also grabbing a branch and bringing them to a halt, temporarily. But then a powerful river wave causes Ruby to lose her grip on Growl’s coat and she’s sent spinning upstream in the wind. Growl turns and begins swimming towards her. Still clinging to a branch Ruby, Ruby tells Growl to leave her behind but Growl pays no heed. “Jump, Ruby!” comes his urgent voice

and so she does, right into Growl’s outstretched paws.

Finally the rain stops, dawn breaks in the forest bringing with it promise, hope and appreciation and love between Ruby and Growl forever ridding them of their enmity, and now they live happily together.

Teresa Heapy’s descriptions of the events really make readers feel that they’re caught up in the storm along with the two protagonists, while Kate Read’s collage style illustrations capture the drama of Teresa’s telling brilliantly in this enemies become friends story of courage and kindness.

The Elementals: Wanzu Sets Sail / Marty Moose: The Great Stamp-ede

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The Elementals: Wanzu Sets Sail
Love SSega, illustrated by Erika Meza
Little Tiger

Eight year old Wanzu lives on Sealand with his wise grandma, Jjajja. Every child on this island is linked to one of the elements: air, earth, fire, water but whereas all his friends have found their powers, Wanzu hasn’t. Then one day he notices that his grandma is worried. It’s on account of the unsettled weather and unusually high tides. Out on his raft he starts playing his harp and singing, when a dolphin appears. Mr Dolphin has a message for Wanzu’s Jjajja about the rising waters and an impending storm. The dolphin adds that Wanzu has an important role to play.

It’s not long before he finds himself leading a perilous rescue mission, travelling by sea, that takes him and his friends on a hazardous journey away from the island. They travel to such magical places as Taiaroa Heights where they meet some helpful albatrosses and Beaver Island where they learn useful things, all the while working (and sometimes singing) together to solve the problems they encounter. Can they find a way to prevent the water from rising? Will Wanzu discover his element during the adventure and if so what is it?

Teamwork is key in this unusual story and there’s an important environmental message about managing the waterways, not only for the present but also for future generations. Recommended for readers around Wanzu’s age who are taking off as solo readers.

Marty Moose: The Great Stamp-ede
Claire Powell
Walker Books

This is a very funny follow-up, or should we say chase-up to First Class Mischief starring a Postmouse and his sidekick Nibbles. On any normal day Marty would be setting off on his round but today is not a normal day. It’s the annual Fastest Feathers Race, a strictly birds only event. Little Ditch’s post office is closed. Excitement is extra high as the prize this year is a golden egg, with Betty Beaker the absolute favourite.

With a large number of Little Ditchers gathered on the sidelines, Hurricane Honk official race judge, approaches Marty in a bit of a bother. He hasn’t received the golden egg (apparently he’d gone for a quick quiff and missed the delivery. He asks Marty to retrieve the prize and get it back to the finishing line before the end of the race. ‘Panicking postbags’ thinks the mouse but agrees to go.

Off he sets with loyal Nibbles on a madcap chase that entails navigating a dangerously shaking tree – THUNK, TWACK, negotiating a foggy forest, a set to with a pair of dastardly ducks that aren’t really ducks at all but ferret bandits, hitching a ride on Tank the bull and a surprising prize for the winner.…

A ridiculous romp that races along (in places) with highly dramatic illustrations; it will have readers wriggling on their rears.

Bun / Dog Stayed

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These are both recent Allen & Unwin books – thanks to the publishers and Laura Smythe for sending them for review

Bun
Hana Kinoshita Thomson

When Bun wakes up she brushes her teeth and gets ready to head out to her vegetable patch. There she pulls up some of her very best carrots to use later on – well she can’t resist eating one there and then. Off she goes to visit her friends for other things she requires; first she gets eggs, followed by cream cheese and walnuts. With everything she needs, back she goes to her kitchen where she sets out the ingredients and utensils and starts work. It’s clear she enjoys baking, after which she washes up and hangs some bunting outside ready to welcome her friends who come to share in the tasty treat what awaits them.

Part and parcel of each double spread is a snail and little humans will have fun finding the tiny mollusc in the engaging scenes at every turn of the page. A sweet story about sharing.

Dog Stayed
Tammy Forster and Margeaux Davis

One morning after a slight altercation between gruff old Mr Hindbottom and a door-to-door sales person, a dog appears by the old man’s front door. Despite him not wanting the creature, it stays no matter what Mr Hindbottom does and so eventually against the odds, they become companions and friends. The old man takes good care of the dog and is more welcoming to other people,

but little by little he becomes worn out and he leaves the dog forever.

Dog remains in the house with his quilt promising he’ll never love anybody again. People come and move out Mr Hindbottom’s furniture and new people move in, including a little girl but despite her efforts, things are never the same again. I wonder if Dog ever grows to love the child.

A sensitive story of love and loss beautifully illustrated in watercolour and pencil by Margeaux Davis.

Bad United: Team Spirit / The Gumdrops: Quest for Bravery

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These are both recent graphic novel style books from Little Tiger – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review.

Bad United: Team Spirit
Louise Forshaw

Such are the skills of Bad United that after a series of wins they get some exciting news: Uni-Horn Roamers – a pro league team have invited them to play a friendly match. As you’d expect Bad United are thrilled to bits though manager Serena is not available to coach them; instead she leaves Bones, the captain, in charge of getting them ready for the event. Everyone is enthusiastic until they realise that their captain seems to be taking things rather more seriously than other members of the team, criticising almost their every move. “Up your game” and “Try harder” they’re told.

Tensions rise … and rise as match day approaches. Then when the big day dawns, back comes Serena. Can the team hold it together and make her proud or has exhaustion wrecked their chances. After things have gone badly, come half time Bones makes a revelation and Serena reminds them what matters most in a game. Could this be the turning point of the match and who will win in the end?

The fourth book in the super silly graphic novel series is every bit as fun as the previous ones and will certainly have fans cheering for Bad United.

The Gumdrops: Quest for Bravery
Elissa Elwick

Meet the Gumdrops – Hope, Bubbles, Sparky and Rainbow – guardians of magical Yummy Gummy Land. One day they receive a letter from seven year old Daisy; she’s just moved to a new town and needs an imaginary friend to play with so she feels less shy. The Gumdrops head off to the library where they create a recipe to make her ideal companion. After some investigation they decide on a heap of kindness, a dash of silliness, a pinch of patience and a sprinkle of bravery.

However when they go to the Imaginary Friend Factory to look for the ingredients, they discover a note written by Evilee informing them that she’s destroyed all the Bravery. Intent on helping Daisy, the Gumdrops set off on a quest to find more Bravery, a quest that takes them to the top of the tallest mountain in Yummy Gummy Land.

With its delightful characters (mostly), this brightly illustrated story where interaction is encouraged by the narrator, with readers being asked to do such things as, blowing the page, inverting it, thinking of passwords and shaking the Gumdrops dry after they fall into the Story Swamp, celebrates friendship, determination and creativity.

Mo’s Stick

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Mo’s Stick
Fiona Lumbers
Little Tiger

Mo had a stick, a very special stick, but then it was lost. Without that favourite stick Mouse will be unable to draw very good pictures, fly high in the sky, he won’t have a mast for his sailing boat, no fishing rod, and no implement for poking dragons: in fact nothing amazing at all. Poor Mo feels very sad, certain that no other stick could possibly be its equal.
But Mouse is a creature with a big imagination and uses it in creative play and that is what he’s been using that lost stick to do.

I have often I seen a young child picking up a stick and doing just what Mouse was doing, but though it’s the vital element in their creative activities, it’s the ideas they have, sparked by the stick that open up that wealth of possibilities.

Mo is a very endearing little character and it’s lovely to see how the external narrator gently supports the creature’s ideas so that eventually he’s able to see that it’s him, not a particular stick that is key.

This superbly crafted, uplifting child-centred story needs to be shared in every nursery/preschool setting and in families with young children: it’s simply splendid.

Unexpected Guests / Lion in a Hurry

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Unexpected Guests
Mariajo Ilustrajo
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

This story is told from the viewpoint of a mouse, one of many that inhabit the house that a family of humans move in to. Said mouse calls a meeting and informs all the other mice about the arrival of ‘visitors’. No one knows what to do, though there are rumours about humans circulating thanks to Uncle Rupert’s stories, so the narrating mouse decides to investigate and is assisted by a few friends. What they discover are some interesting objects such as an electric toothbrush and a trainer boot, a whole lot of delicious edibles and a large box of ‘other stuff’. Having explored thoroughly the mice leave everything just as it was, so they say. Really?

The following day, eager to have one more sampling of the ‘yummy’ human food, off they go again. However, there’s a young human around and one of the mice ends up rather too close for comfort. This human then proceeds to get busy with a cardboard box and some bits and pieces. Meanwhile other members of the mouse family plan a rescue operation that seems to the narrator, to be dangerous

and they end up joining the one they were hoping to release from its confinement. Happily though, their captor turns out to be a human of the good sort. Have the mice come to mouse paradise? Maybe …. or maybe not!

With a clever twist in its tail, interactive elements (a gatefold and die-cut holes) this story will have young humans squeaking with delight at these rodent residents, their curiosity and its outcome.

Lion in a Hurry
Tiphanie Beeke
Graffeg

One afternoon when out exploring, Lion notices a sign about the Main Street parade to be held at 6pm. He’s particularly keen to go so he can see the Big Red Truck and as the jungle clock strikes four, off he sets through the jungle in his yellow jeep. Suddenly he hears a loud noise: cheetah has hurt his paw and needs a ride to the parade. Soon after Snake asks for a lift too and then so does Crocodile. By now Lion is somewhat agitated but still he stops to pick up Croc. When they reach the waterfall Elephant is struggling along on his achy legs. Somehow they manage to accommodate the pachyderm too, but then the wheels of the jeep get wedged in the rickety bridge just as five o’clock strikes.

So upset is Lion that his tears fall down towards the river just as Hippo approaches on his raft. Hippo is happy to help so Lion and friends board the raft. Then they hear a small voice calling, “Wait for me!” It’s Potto.

By now it seems that they can’t possibly reach their destination in time to see the Red Truck but nonetheless Lion’s friends tell him to keep going. Lion has a dilemma; should he stop for Potto or not? The jungle clock strikes six. Despite all Lion’s efforts, are they too late or will his kindness be rewarded?
Steamy, soft focus watercolours capture the animals’ anxiety throughout the journey until they finally reach their destination in this tale of good will and friendship. Young listeners will have their fingers crossed for Lion et al throughout the story.

Luna Grace Girl From Outer Space: Sea Safari

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Luna Grace Girl From Outer Space: Sea Safari
Julie Sykes illustrated by Emily Jones
Piccadilly

Luna Grace, her Earth scientist parents, little brother, Leo, and Twizzle, her moon cat and best friend who communicates with her tail, are settling in to life on Earth having come from Starbright, their home planet. As this second story opens, Luna is excited about their visit to Puffin Island. Her Mum and Dad want to investigate the flora and fauna – dolphins and puffins included – respectively; Luna though has decided to look for a mermaid.


All the family, especially Luna, get excited when dolphins appear as they cross to the island. Once there some misunderstandings become evident, what it says about puffins in their Galaxy Traveller being one. Puffins do not puff, rather as the Graces and we readers learn, they make a purring sound. Another is that mermaids use empty mermaid’s purses to keep their coins in.

After lunch, when ‘pesky gulls’ make themselves a big nuisance, Luna has to wait for her swim and passes the time crafting a sand mermaid but at last she and Dad are ready – Dad to make notes on the shore, Luna to look for a mermaid in the sea. Some time later Luna hears a terrified squeak; a little dolphin is caught up in a rope. It’s an emergency so she decides to take matters in her own hands. Can she, with Twizzle’s help, rescue the creature before the tide is too far out and the boat is stuck in the harbour mud? And seeing a mermaid? What do you think?

This story is a delightful combination of words and pictures that together show much about Luna’s family and their relationships, mixing in gentle humour and a little risk-taking. With pops of colour in the illustrations and no spread without a picture, it’s just right for new solo readers.

Whack A Moley / Follow The Leader

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These are both recent books from Little Tiger – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review.

Whack A Moley
Bethan Clarke and Anders Frang

This is a laugh-out-loud sequel to Holey Moley that features Mavis Mole and Gus Goat. The two are an unlikely pair of friends: Gus exudes energy whereas Mavis only likes static activities. So, when Gus asks if they can play a game Mavis chooses tiddlywinks – her favourite. Gus wants something much more bold and active – ouch-inducing Whack A Moley. That or various alternatives that sound not dissimilar such as ‘quack a moley’, ‘snack a moley’ and stack a moley.

A wonderfully crazy comedic concatenation of suggestions that rely on wordplay and rhyme combined with the deadpan humour of Anders Frang’s splendidly stylish, deliciously dramatic scenes of the fun and games.

With a final twist, Bethan and Anders’ nonsensical, giggle inducing book is just the thing to show children that language is fun. Definitely one that will be enjoyed over and over.

Follow The Leader
Harriet Howe and Ariel Landy

It’s a sizzling hot morning in the jungle so Bear, Monkey and Armadillo decide to take a trip to the lake to cool off. The three enthuse about their destination and as it was Monkey’s suggestion, he insists on leading the way. This results in a bit of squabbling but after a while the other two fall in line, especially as Monkey has the map. Then though, a mishap occurs that ends up with Panda becoming leader and some time later, the map is ruined. Further disagreements occur, and three very sweaty animals eventually reach their destination where they finally come to understand about the importance of teamwork.

This rhyming tale is full of energy and fun and the illustrations of the animals and their somewhat hazardous journey ramp up the drama.

RT

The Street Art Mystery / You vs The Poison Plot

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The Street Art Mystery
Sharna Jackson
Puffin

It’s nearly the end of the holidays and Margot (narrator), Wesley and Josephine have planned an exciting weekend before they start secondary school. Nothing they insist, will get in the way of their plans in London; it’s going to be a big adventure. However, when they’re staying in Notting Hill with Margot’s mum and her new boyfriend, Teddy, something happens that they can’t possibly ignore. The three children follow clues across West London on the trail, they hope, of a very creative murderer and also some amazing street art.
From skate parks and tower blocks to canal towpaths, their investigations take them to the Notting Hill Carnival where they become part of a float. Can the three connect up all the bits of evidence in time to solve this mystery?

I’d not read Sharna’s previous novel but I certainly will do so now and I recommend that readers around the age of Margot, Wesley and Josephine read this twisting, turning story.

You vs The Poison Plot
Josh Hicks
Walker Books

It’s up to the reader to decide how this, the first instalment in the author’s new interactive mystery series unfolds. On the eve of the school talent show (the biggest event of the year) the drama teacher, Mr Rosso collapses suddenly – poisoned maybe?
You the reader, as the school newspaper’s main investigative journalist and editor, must crack the case. You’ll need to make the right decisions, decide who to interview, what evidence you collect, where you explore, watch out for red herrings and eventually unravel the mystery before tomorrow’s show.

With a wealth of clues to follow, characters to profile and avenues to take, humour that prevents things getting too heavy, as well as lots of black and white illustrations, many acting as puzzles or clues. this book is just right for fans of graphic novels and comics, especially murder mysteries and choose your own adventure stories. Prepare to be gripped from the outset.

The Subject Society: The Pythagoras Puzzle / Ham Ed and Chips

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These are both new titles from Tiny Tree Books – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review

The Subject Society: The Pythagoras Puzzle
Sarah Surgey, illustrated by Larisa Ivanković

Seven year old Mabel, who aspires to be a doctor, is fed up with being bossed around by her brothers Tom and Stan. She decides to turn the small shed at the bottom of the garden into a clubhouse. Her Dad agrees so long as it’s a place that grows her mind. Mabel ponders on this not really understanding what he meant. Science doesn’t seem to hold the answer but what about other subjects? Maybe her friends could help: on Monday morning Mabel’s Subject Society is formed. But do any of them have a problem to solve?

In dashes Theo telling his friends that he has a violin exam in a week and his teacher has told him he’s out of pitch with his violin. Being deaf, Mabel thinks this is something she can help with. At last: a problem that needs solving. Then Uma picks up a book called Pythagoras and Pythagorean Tuning. The latter ‘is all about the number 5. To find the perfect pitch, you have to count in fives (fifths) Nora writes in her notebook. Could this be the answer to helping Theo? If so, come exam day, will he be able to remember what he’s been told and not let his nerves get the better of him? Could maths help him pass?

STEAM, friendship, teamwork and determination are all important elements of the Subject Society in Sarah Surgey’s tale and with illustrations by Larisa Ivanković adding to the fun, this book is ideal for those just taking off as solo readers.

Ham Ed and Chips
Tom Phipps

This story is set in, around and over the village of Ham Green in the countryside of SW England. Therein reside a cat-like, squirrel-like alien, Ham, that crash landed on Earth, Ed, a blue-tit and Chips, a small dog that lives in Ham Green Pub and Restaurant with his family – Mum (i/c the business) , Dad (i/c the kitchen) and young Molly who views rules as things to be broken, especially those in the rule book Mum has compiled for her.

Ham too has rules, the first being, Saturday must include an egg and cheese sandwich. She’s also quite inventive (when needs be anyway) and her latest invention is a remote controlled sofa. It’s on this contraption that, much to Molly’s alarm, Chips is sent into space and lots of other dogs have also gone missing, seemingly vanishing into thin air. The following morning chaos breaks out on the Green and Molly is accused of being responsible for the dogs’ disappearance and confined to her room. Things get curiouser and curiouser and we meet the said villain of the story, one Treacle, a little pug that insists on being called Tre and owner Petunia Botton-Wells aka peculiar Bottom-Smells.

Eventually Molly’s time runs out and she has to face the now, exceedingly angry villagers in the pub restaurant when suddenly the old barn full of dogs floats past the window. How will all this end? Will the floating barn crash land on the pub or elsewhere? And the dogs – stinky or not?

The whole thing is decidedly daft with a smattering of canine logic. Altogether it’s lots of fun, has a fair few rules, is an easy read, and its presentation is spot on for new solo readers

Big Bear is Coming!

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Big Bear is Coming!
Anuska Allepuz
Walker Books

In the heart of the forest lives a family of four bear cubs and at sunset, their senses alert, they hear ‘shuffle-shuffling, scratch-scratching, stamp-stomping’ and a low sounding “GRRRRRR!” Surely that signifies Big Bear is coming. Down to the river to hide scramble the cubs and jump, jump across the stones, thinking they are safe. Wait though; they smell ‘fishy breath, a very stinky bottom and the strong stench of wet. soggy fur’. That must certainly mean BIG BEAR is coming!

Up the rocks they scamper and then down the hill they roll. Now there’s no sound of Big Bear and no smell of Big Bear but just to be on the safe side, so they can spy Big Bear’s lumbering approach, they climb up to the top of a tree. There they spy a scary creature with large staring eyes, a sharp beak and they hear “TWIT-TWOO!” It must be a monster, but what? Down jump the cubs, down, down to where something big and soft cushions their landing and helps save the day.

Part of the fun for young listeners is that to begin with Big Bear is a shadowy being but little by little as the tale progresses he becomes visible. Perhaps the observant among them will guess the true identity of Big Bear.

Anuska Allepuza’s green, purple and blue hues really bring the forest to life and little humans will love joining in and shouting the repeat refrain. This tale is great fun, full of suspense and contains a gentle life lesson: use all your senses when trying to interpret what is going on around you. I envisage repeat reading being demanded by young audiences.

Death by Chocolate

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Death by Chocolate
Anna Brooke
Chicken House

Having to move to France and leave her best friends Kate and Rose behind in England is only the start of Coco Bean’s limited new life. Her Francophile parents have given up their teaching jobs, taken a bank loan and bought a run down French hotel in a village named Mont-Lavande, surrounded by lavender fields. Her mum and dad describe it as full of potential but to Coco it has nothing to offer, especially as she’s unable to speak French. That at least is when she first arrives but it’s not long before weird things begin to happen: for a start an icy wind, a swinging lampshade and the smell of chocolate in her bedroom during the night. It’s not a ghost surely, Coco tells herself, but her parents are too busy preparing for the opening of Hotel Framboise and trying to get themselves noticed on social media to take much notice.

Meanwhile on the staircase there sits a ghost contemplating how he can get rid of the family that’s just moved in. Then, Coco encounters a boy named Louis at the boulangerie who asks her if she’s seen the ghost. Unsurprisingly she starts to feel confused and a little scared.

The ghost, Monsieur Isidore Framboise, knows a great deal about chocolate and agrees to share his famed skills with Coco and her new found friend Louis in exchange for their help in finding out the truth behind his murder.
Enter Atticus Carmichael, celebrity chef and presenter of Coco and her friends Kate and Rose’s favourite TV baking show, Bake the Day. He tells Coco’s parents that he’s looking for ideas for a new TV show and was considering featuring their hotel and straight away he’s given a room and made welcome. Are his motives exactly what he says though? Could there possibly be a link between Carmichael and Monsieur Framboise?

To say this is a sweet story would be inaccurate although chocolate is one of its main ingredients, it’s also a race against time and an intriguing mystery in which love plays a part. It should go down well with older KS2 readers, many of whom, like this reviewer will devour it in a single day.

Where Are You, Eddie?

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Where Are You, Eddie?
Michael Rosen and Gill Smith
Walker Books

Michael Rosen has already given us the Sad Book about the loss of his son Eddie and now he’s written another picture book wherein having asked himself, “Where are you, Eddie? Are you here?” he talks to the cat, Meg, about his feelings.

To begin with the author feels that Eddie is not coming back. He’s not anywhere. “Is that the end?” he asks Meg. Meg’s response sends him out and onto a bus where he sits and thinks. He thinks about how Eddie wriggled on bus rides and played a special tickling game. “Are you there, Eddie” asks the author. He’s not there physically on the bus, nor is he tossing chips and catching them in his mouth as they walk along past the fish shop. He’s not being mischievous on school photo day, nor playing goalie in the hockey game, not building sandcastles on the beach with his siblings, nor playing a trick with the cat food.

However, the boy’s father sees that because he is remembered and loved by everyone who knew him (and still is to this day), Eddie is still with him.

Essentially, then, rather than a loss or an ending, this is a special way to keep a loved one forever close. This is a deeply profound book about grieving and remembering that will likely bring tears to your eyes, so make sure you have a box of tissues to hand. Your loved one has left things in the world as a message that says, I’m no longer visibly there but I will always be there for you, in your mind and your heart. Gill Smith captures sadness and happiness both, in her touching scenes of the special memories.

This is a book to share with all children not just those who may have lost a loved one.

Bear Worries

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Bear Worries
Natalia Shaloshvili
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

The bear protagonist in this tale is a worrier and always anticipates the worst when he undertakes something. On this occasion we first meet him with an almost empty packet of cookies in his paw, worrying in case he’s eating the last one. On discovering it is, he rushes out, already worrying about the shop being about to close, missing the bus and having to walk through the scary forest. This all happens and our narrator finds himself lost in the forest. He then starts a new concatenation of what ifs, finally arriving at the end of a very long line of customers waiting outside the cookie shop.

As luck would have it, the very last cookie is sold to a duck; poor Bear. However, Duck has a kind heart and a generous nature so decides to share his purchase with Bear; but that isn’t quite the end of the story. There’s a surprise final twist …

The lesson Bear learns in this story is that keeping your worries to yourself can make them grow, but sharing them with another person will likely make them shrink. This is an important life lesson for young humans to learn too. Natalia’s book with its ursine character and expressive smudgy mixed media illustrations offers a good starting point.

Tick-Tock Around the Clock

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Tick-Tock Around the Clock
Ruth Brown
Scallywag Press

The pendulum clock strikes seven bongs rousing Tick-Tock a marmalade moggy, from his slumbers. Having munched and crunched through breakfast, he exits the house through the cat flap, out into the garden with its abundance of wildlife. Squirrels bombard the cat with acorns, some of which are consumed by a little mouse but unfortunately, it’s too quick for the cat that pursues the rodent into the shed.

There, the cat pounces causing all manner of paint tins, flower pots and garden tools to come cascading down, while the mouse dashes away as fast as its tiny legs will carry it – wheeee! Eventually the cat, now covered in what looks like compost, comes out into the descending darkness of the garden and has a wash. An adult appears to call the moggy in for tea, which is followed by a cosy snuggle and then it’s time for bed, purr, purr, purr.

With its minimal onomatopoeic text that echoes the ticking of the clock and Ruth Brown’s realistic depictions of Tick-Tock and the surrounding environment, this is ideal for sharing with an individual or small group who will enjoy joining in with all the sounds and perusing the detailed scenes of Tick-Tock’s day.

Locked in the Museum

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Locked in the Museum
Leisa Stewart-Sharpe and Acapulco Studio
Templar Books

When Liam is accidentally left behind on a school trip readers, along with the boy, are taken behind the scenes of the Most Marvellous Museum as new rooms and artefacts mysteriously appear. There follows a surprising adventure visiting nine galleries and exploring more than one hundred artefacts from almost forty countries.

The fascinating items encountered in the Nature Gallery include an enormous African elephant that lets out a loud trumpeting sound and comes to life before you, as does a Japanese spider crab with a leg span just under four metres, and a giant squid.
In the Ancient Egyptian Room an Egyptologist introduces some mummies and moving on to the Art Gallery there’s Maman – a massive steel spider nine metre high (taller than a giraffe)

as well as some other wonderful works of art including a painting by Mary Cassatt and a ginormous world-famous masterpiece by Michelangelo. In the Transport Gallery travelling by air, sea and land are covered and it was great to see mention of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott and its outcome.

Exhibits from all over the world are gathered together in each section and each item’s real location is given at the end of the book in the Museum Credits spread. Ideal for encouraging children to visit them for real should they be in the appropriate place.
It’s good to read that many countries and museums now recognise that some items in their collections including human remains should be returned to their rightful owners and precious objects are gradually being returned to their original homes.

With several fold out spreads extending the number of objects available to view, there is an absolute wealth of fantastic exhibits to discover and linger over, and readers are also introduced to the conservators, palaeontologists and others who work in the museum.

A book to add to home and school collections.

Terrible True Tales: Saxons / Terrible True Tales: Victorians

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Both books are published by Bloomsbury Education: thanks to the publisher for sending them for review.

Terrible True Tales: Saxons
Terrible True Tales: Victorians
Terry Deary

Continuing the Terrible True Tales series, Horrible Histories author Terry Deary presents two new four in one titles, each accessibly written in his chatty style.

The four Saxon Tales are set in turn in Yorkshire, Maidstone (Kent) and the Kingdom of Mercia (the Midlands of today). The first is related by Ardith Hutton whose father, a tanner died from plague. Ardith, narrowly escaped being burnt alive in their home and was taken in by Wilfred a kind neighbour, became his apprentice and then almost got burnt alive again. Eventually after Wilfred died, Ardith took on his role and in turn found an apprentice.

Fictional children are the main focus in each of the other tales so readers are given a glimpse of what it was like to be a youngster in Anglo Saxon times. Figures from history include King Offa (of Mercia), King Athelstan (of England) and the foolish King Vortigern and topics mentioned are medicine, magic and healing, bandits and the work children did.
Following each story comes an afterword that puts the tale into a historical context and some ‘You Try’ activities for children.
With Tambo’s black and white illustrations further illuminating the text, this is a smashing way to encourage primary age children to engage with history that could otherwise perhaps be dull and dry.

Also told in Deary’s captivating style and bursting with information is Victorians wherein the focus is on travel during the Industrial Revolution.
The stories are about in turn, the first powered airship set in Paris invented by Henri Gifford, the first steamship the Sirius, to travel to America, the Staplehurst rail crash in Kent (Dickens features herein) and finally, the Big Stink that tells the story of the London sewers and related to it, the invention of the London Underground.
Like the previous book, children play an important role in each tale and this book is illustrated in an appropriately dramatic style, by Helen Flook

The Lost Robot

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The Lost Robot
Joe Todd-Stanton
Flying Eye Books

Not so much lost as deposited in a rubbish dump has been the fate of the broken robot at the heart of this story. Said robot has no idea from where it came but knows that it doesn’t belong on the dump so it starts walking. On its journey it passes a woman wearing an eye-patch; she has a baby on her back and is sorting through rubbish. Continuing on its way, the robot goes through a hole in a wall, on the other side of which are lots of people. This reminds the robot that it once had a person too but it wasn’t any of these. Then up on a billboard, it notices a robot not unlike itself and it’s advertised as ‘Your new best friend’. Seeing this initiates a memory of when the robot was given to a boy as a present and the exciting things the two did together.

But then the robot recalls a less pleasant memory: the boy’s parents gave their son an updated version of the robot. Now the protagonist is determined to find its friend but would he recognise his old robot? Perhaps a quick fix might help?

After a long, long walk the robot reaches a house that it remembers; however something is different. Inside, the boy is having fun with one of the new robots. Telling himself he had woken up right where he was supposed to be, back goes the little robot to the piles of rubbish where it falls fast asleep. When it wakes up, several years have passed: the baby seen on its mother’s back is now a little girl; she notices the robot, claims it and she and her mother drive the long distance to their home where they transform their find into a colourful robot full of love and joy, just like its new family.

A wonderful fable of renovations and restoration wherein Joe Todd-Stanton provides lots of visual cues in his illustrations so that readers can make connections as the story unfolds. This is a treasure of a book to seek out and return to over and over.

I am Ray’s Imaginary Friend

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I am Ray’s Imaginary Friend
Brian Moses, illustrated by Bethan Welby
Scallywag Press

Written in verse by poet Brian Moses, this is an intensely moving, sensitive story about coping with change. Its narrator is one of the star pupils from the School for Imaginary Friends who is given the name Jacob when he responds to eight year old Ray’s call of distress.

Ray loves his life in Pratts Bottom village but then he overhears his parents talking about moving away because his Dad has a new job. Horrified by the idea he even contemplates running away. Instead he calls into being an imaginary friend. Jacob. Jacob takes his role very seriously, even going so far as to deliver difficult messages to Ray, knowing that in the long run they will help the boy. In addition to being there for him, Jacob particularly likes to say ‘yes’. ‘I like to say yes, / even if I ought to say no. / Saying yes makes Ray feel good / and makes me feel good too.’ we read.
To begin with Ray does lots of everyday things with Jacob as well telling his mum off when she almost drives into him. It’s merely a phase, is what his parents think.

A little while later at his new school, Ray’s teacher talks about what’s happening in Ukraine and this leads to two things: first Ray writes a poem about it which is put on the school website and then his family decide to open their new home to two Ukrainian refugees.

As he hears about and processes what the mother and son have endured, Ray realises that his own problems are not so bad after all and it’s then that Jacob knows it’s time for him to find someone else to help.

Quietly brilliant, this is a book that explores coping with change and becoming mentally stronger and the powerful influence of empathy. The latter in particular is brought out beautifully in Bethan Welby’s black and white drawings. It’s a must read for older KS2 readers either at home or as a shared class book.

Wirtz / We

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Wirtz
Matt and Tom Oldfield
Dino Books

This latest addition to the Ultimate Football Heroes tells the story of current Liverpool star Florian Wirtz and his footballing journey from the school playground to the hallowed turf of Anfield.
Liverpool fans and avid young followers of football alike, will doubtless enjoy reading how having become the youngest goal scorer in the history of Bundesliga, Wirtz later went on to win the German title with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Having grown tremendously as a player under the management of Xabi Alonso, Wirtz was signed by Slot’s Reds in the summer of 2025 and is now seeking to take his place in Merseyside folklore. I highly recommend you get you hands on a copy of the book and discover how you too might be able to follow in Florian’s footsteps.
(This review was written by 10 year old Sam who is an avid soccer fan.)

Interestingly the first woman featured in the next book is a soccer player too.

We
Yu Yi, designed by Yu Rong
Fox & Ink Books

This picture book focuses on women who have become highly successful in a wide range of fields from maths to music and space travel to soccer.

First off we meet world-famous footballer Marta Vieira da Silva who grew up in the Brazilian town of Dios Riachos and played football in the streets with the other children. She always yearned to be a football player and her favourite player was Rivaldo. She became her school soccer team’s top scorer and as a teenager saved up and travelled to Rio to try out for the Vasco da Gama club. Since then she’s played in five world cups, scored seventeen goals and become the top scoring player in World Cup history. Described as the biggest name in women’s football, she was honoured as FIFA’s Player of the Year six times – amazing!

Other women featured include Wang Yaping who became China’s first woman space walker and Nobel prize-winning scientist Carolyn Bertozzi.
All these women and the others included – the titular ‘We’ – followed their dreams, took risks and their contributions have changed the world we live in today. A book to inspire young readers to dream big too and not be put off by naysayers.

Igor and the Mending Mice

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Igor and the Mending Mice
Alexander Mostov
Ivy Kids

In a little town where fashion was everything, people threw clothes away that weren’t perfect and bought new ones. That meant anything torn, faded, stained or no longer fashionable enditfked up on the scrap heap. This meant that for Igor, the owner of the towns’s biggest garment factory, business was booming.

However unbeknown to him, as he worked, a family of mice studied his techniques through a crack in the wall. What they saw inspired the mice to teach themselves to darn, sew, embroider and hem using the abandoned garments. Soon their cupboards were full of amazing made-to-measure clothes.

The mice then decided on a new challenge – mending the discarded clothes – so they set to work creating funky garments from them. The townsfolk were thrilled and gave the mice delicious cheese to thank them. Moreover they stopped buying brand-new clothes, which meant that Ivor’s business started to fail.

One night when everyone was asleep, Igor crept out and set a trap for the mice comprising mendable clothing outside his factory. The following morning there was a chase as the mice hurried through the town with Igor hot on their tails and just as he was about to catch them, he tumbled into a thorny bush, tearing his favourite coat that had been passed down through generations of his family. The sight of the heartbroken Igor is a turning point for both the mice and the factory owner: can you imagine what happened?

The importance of re-using and re-cycling is at the heart of this story. A sharing of the book could well be the starting point for a discussion with young listeners; it’s never too soon for them to become responsible citizens aware of how crucial re-using and recycling are for the environment.

My Tiger

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My Tiger
Joy Cowley and David Barrow
Gecko Press

We first encounter the young boy narrator’s tiger as the two of them are wandering down the road just outside a cake shop. The window is full of the tiger’s favourite food: cake. They enter and the baker is anxious to know whether the tiger is dangerous. “He only eats cake”, his friend replies and the feline proceeds to sample some of the cakes. Almost inevitably after a diet of sweet confectionary, the tiger gets a bad toothache.

Time for a visit to the dentist. Clearly alarmed like the baker, the dentist inquires whether the tiger is dangerous. She receives the same assurance as the baker and so the tiger is coaxed into her chair. The drill makes the patient howl and growl but eventually the tooth is fixed. “Tell him he’s not to have cake again,” the dentist tells first the boy and then the tiger.

So what is the tiger supposed to eat: what do you think is best suited to his needs? …

The hilarious, dark ending will likely satisfy young human listeners to Joy Cowley’s dead pan, simple but very funny telling, In contrast David Barrow’s wonderfully expressive watercolour illustrations portray the tiger as truly intimidating with its vast size, and those jagged teeth that we see in some close up views.

Rumpelstiltskin

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Rumpelstiltskin
retold by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Carson Ellis
Scholastic Orchard Books

In this retelling of the classic fairy tale, Mac Barnett uses a modern chatty stye. and understated humour. ‘Her father , a poor miller, was a nice enough guy, but he had a big mouth. He told wild stories and bragged all the time. Here, I’ll give you an example.’

One morning, said miller was on his way into town to sell his wares when he encountered the king coming the opposite way. The two got talking and in an endeavour to impress the king, Tom (as he introduces himself to the king) tells a big lie, claiming that his daughter can spin straw into gold. Unsurprisingly the king wants to meet the girl and then comes the classic tale about demands to use the spinning wheel and spin the straw she’s given into gold; if not she’ll have her head chopped off. (How can any woman be stupid enough to marry so cruel a person, one wonders)

Three times this happens, with the girl doing a deal with the little man who conveniently appears on each occasion. On the third night the king promises to make the girl his queen. And in true classic style she becomes a queen, bears him a son and in her joy, forgets that she’s promised this child to the straw spinner. However her happy life is about to be disrupted for back comes the little man and seeing the queen’s tears makes one more deal. The name guessing starts the next morning after the queen has collected a long list of names. Failure ensues twice and a thoroughly distraught queen decides to take a walk in the dark forest with her little one.

On the way back she hears the vital information she seeks and on day three, well, you know what happens. Thank goodness her highness enjoys walking in the woods.

Carson Ellis’s painterly gouache illustrations, inspired by 18th century fairy tale art and portraiture of the Renaissance era are a great complement to the telling, while the black and white illustrations resemble wood-block prints.

Doubtless both old stagers and youngsters will enjoy this, though for different reasons and the latter will likely demand re-reads.

The Call / Control Alter Delete

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The Call
Peadar O’Guilin
David Fickling Books

Vanessa Doherty (Nessa) is fourteen and attends Boyle Survival College, an Irish institute the main purpose of which is to teach its attendees how to survive The Call of the Sidhe. Young humans start training to survive The Call from age ten. Long, long ago the Sidhe were banished from Ireland to live in a hellish underworld and in their quest to win back Ireland from the humans, have placed a magical seal around the whole island.

To get revenge the Sidhe use The Call to kidnap Ireland’s young and transport them to a horrendous underworld. However, if a pupil can evade the faerie Sidhe for a whole day (three minutes in the human world), their life is saved, though they may well be sent back badly maimed.

Nessa, a fiercely determined, quick-witted, brave hero, permanently disabled from polio who does her training using crutches, and wants to be treated like her fellow students is less likely than most to survive the ordeal but she’s spent all her life preparing, so maybe … It’s from her viewpoint that much of the story is told. But will she or will she not survive The Call. And will the Nation survive?

Well paced, with credible characters and excellent world building, this is a truly gritty tale that blurs the boundaries between Irish mythology, fantasy, science fiction and horror, and will appeal to readers around Nessa’s age.

Control Alter Delete
K.L. Kettle
Little Tiger

Thanks to tech genius Francis Knox and the pioneering work done by her company, Halcyon Green (Hal) lives in the seemingly perfect World 2.0 and is fully engrossed therein, having pretty much everything she wants apart from her family. There’s one thing remains that Hal really desires though, to win the hugely competitive Knox Cup; however she lacks to funds to enter. Then, unexpectedly, her guardian challenges Hal to prove herself and arranges for her to compete.

If she manages to win, she will meet Frances Knox and then there’s a possibility that her real wishes might come true. As she moves through the competition rounds, Hal finds some thoroughly unpleasant things buried deep beneath the world’s seemingly perfect facade. As a result she must decide what it is that she truly wants.

A hugely thought-provoking, timely Young Adult story, superbly crafted, with great world-building that really draws you in, and a wonderful protagonist who finds herself in a complex situation.

Murder at the Ivy Hotel

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Murder at the Ivy Hotel
Emily Hourican, illustrated by Paula Escobar
Scholastic

Sisters Macy (ten) and Meredith (twelve) love living in Dublin’s Ivy Hotel where their mother is the General Manager and the hotel staff feel like their extended family. The girls’ mother has been feeling very stressed because the new owners are business people who want to make a lot of changes – it’s a case of profit over keeping the hotel’s friendly character – and that puts her job at risk. Clearly it would impact on their family’s lives if they lost their home.

Then one night an unknown elderly man books in and is found dead in his room the following morning. Nobody knows who he is, from where he’s come or how he died. However a post-mortem shows that there’s been foul play and everybody is a suspect. Meredith and Macy with their intimate knowledge of the hotel, and their new friend, Colin (the note-taker) who also lives at the hotel, decide it’s up them to take the lead and solve the mystery as well as discover the truth about some of the peculiar things happening in and around the hotel. No easy task as they’re supposed to keep a low profile.

A pacy, thoroughly intriguing, twisting, turning story with red herrings, suspense, danger and a cleverly constructed plot. Cosy crime for KS2 readers to lose themselves in.

Amari and the Metalwork Menace

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Amari and the Metalwork Menace
B.B. Alston
Farshore

In this fourth book we find 8th grader, Amari, one of the very best magicians ever, deciding she’s had enough of magic. Unexpectedly she’s found swimming has a calming effect on her and has had an offer to take the sport further, so she’s decided to retire as a Junior Ranger from the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. She’s still traumatised by having lost a mentor on her last mission and retiring will assuage the feeling of terrible grief. However so doing will also mean giving up on her friends in the face of a huge crisis: the Metalwork Menace is overtaking the supernatural world and she’s already seen the Bureau’s recruitment and also retirement officer, Mr Ware’s hand suddenly turned to metal.

It’s when a close friend starts turning to metal and is sent to the clinic, that Amari decides she must defer her decision and plunge back into the supernatural world. If she’s to save those she loves from disaster, she will have to work with Dylan Van Helsing, her arch enemy, break all the rules made by both the Bureau and the Government, and generally create chaos. However breaking rules may be the only option if she’s to save the world. With ever more people being truck by the terrible curse, what will be the outcome?

The action is truly gripping though sometimes unpredictable and readers will be on the edge of their seats, rooting for Amari throughout the book.

Something that struck me particularly was part of a speech given by Elsie towards the end of the book: “None of us are born good or bad. It’s our experiences that shape us. We shouldn’t look only to punish those who’ve done wrong but also to rehabilitate them. If we remove the negative, sometimes even traumatic, experiences that push our worst offenders on to the wrong path, they can become better citizens, and our world will become a safer place to live.”

A marvellous mix of magic, mystery, friendship and danger: the whole thing ends on a cliff-hanger that will leave everyone eagerly anticipating the final book.

Poetry Pizza

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Poetry Pizza
Simon Mole, illustrated by Tom McLaughlin
Otter-Barry Books

There’s a plethora of playful poems and some more serious ones to be found in this first collection for older children by Simon Mole.

Of the light-hearted offerings, one I particularly like is The Blop. It starts by describing a hot bath and its effects: ‘When the bath’s so hot / that your cheeks turn pink / and the steam is so thick / you can’t see.And your eyes are only half open anyway / because they feel so droopy / because you feel so droopy / that you can’t get out of the bath / … In our house, we call that / The Blop.’ If anything should encourage children to invent their own words for things, that’s surely it.
I love too the playfulness of LOL, which begins thus: Lemurs On Lawnmowers! LOL! / Labradoodles on Lavatories LOL!’
There’s further fun in BRB, a great demonstration of the use of abbreviations: examples given are ‘Baking Raisin Biscuits’ and ‘Babysitting Ryan’s Buffalo’.

Of the more feeling centred poems my favourites are I Need A Hug and 60 Second Spell For Being Here And Being You – that’s one for people of all ages.

I could go on enthusing but I’ll finish by saying, there’s lots here for everyone, some accompanied by a fun drawing by Tom McLaughlin and whether or not you’re already a poetry enthusiast, get your hands on a copy of this, it’s full of tasty offerings.

The World’s Worst Alien Fights Back

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The World’s Worst Alien Fights Back
Alice Primmer, illustrated by Fred Blunt
Walker Books

Having created planet Earth for a school project, eleven year old Sky left it with a lot of problems – war, climate change, corruption and more. Now though, she must revisit Earth and clear up the mess so that she can get a pass grade from her teacher.

No easy task as she has only a day (3 weeks in Earth time) but at least she has one friend, Zana Jackson, on Earth, and so it’s to Zana’s bedroom that she returns, only to find her fast asleep. Four hours later though. both girls are awake and ready for school. Once there she receives a somewhat hostile welcome from the head teacher but Zana smooths things over.

After school that day Sky accompanies Zana and some others to a cricket match against another school, one that turns into a fight.

Before long, despite getting clonked on the head by a ball, Sky finds herself with an apology to make and several fights to stop.

However, one fight leads to another. So, what about a peace-making plan instead? Hmm! Several more fights later, Zana suggests apologies followed by peace talks. Could this be the answer? Or would pillow fighting be better?

Bursting with humour, added to by Fred Blunt’s black and white illustrations, this second story in the series is a great read for those gaining confidence as solo readers as well as a fun read aloud for KS1 classes.

100 Goats and Granny!

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100 Goats and Granny!
Atinuke and Lauren Hinds
Walker Books

‘Granny’s got a goat! / Granny’s got a goat! // Not 1, not 2, not 3, /not 4, But more and more / and more and more!’ Granny is sitting on a crate with laundry drying on the line behind her as she looks benevolently at a little white goat. However, every turn of the page reveals more goats engaging in mischief of one kind or another until 99 goats grace the spread, several of which are shown pooing while others cavort on roofs, clamber up trees, chew the pages of books and more: ’20, 30, 40, 50 … / 60, 70, 80, 90 … // Till 99 …’ we read. Where though is Granny’s goat? Imagine what ensues when Granny digs in the garden, visits the tailor, spends a day at church. Moreover on the return journey, one stays on the bus having a great time beeping the driver’s horn; another visits the salon for a trim,

the baby ones chew the aunties’ panties and one takes it upon himself to guzzle whatever he feels like. Where will all this end?

At round up time where will Granny’s 100th goat be and what might it be up to? A considerable bit of mischief somewhere in the town,

but will it ever be caught and if so, who will be the catcher?

With Atinuke’s playful, rollicking text that cries out for young listeners to join in, and Lauren Hinds’s highly detailed, exuberant scenes both large and small, this book is an absolute delight to share with a pre-school/KS1 class or group. It’s glorious goatish gleefulness.

Animals / Josephine

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Animals
illustrated by Dawn Machell
Little Tiger

The very youngest children can enjoy meeting all the creatures in this slightly larger than usual board book. Seven spreads in turn introduce animals from different habitats entitled In the Jungle, Into the wild, Wonderful Woodlands, Farmyard Friends, Watery Worlds, Perfect Pets and In the Mountains. Each animal is clearly labelled, occasional animals have a speech bubble (tiger says, ‘I can run very fast’), and there are flaps to lift and touchy feely features on every spread as well as on the cover.

The final spread shows fourteen of the featured animals and asks, “Can you remember their names?’

In addition to becoming familiar with the animal names, little ones can develop their manipulative skills. Playful, interactive fun learning for tinies.

Josephine
Chloé Alméras
Gecko Press

Josephine the giraffe is an optimist and with her nose in the blue sky and her hooves in the green grass, always makes the most of what she experiences in her daily life. She finds new friends in a ‘peculiar’ tree, plays games with the clouds and makes rings in the water. The choppy waves and rippling bushes are places wherein to lose herself, treetops provide something to nibble when she’s hungry and she’s ‘curious about the world down below’ so sticks her nose into a burrow to watch a family of creatures. Josephine is awed by a tall mountain and enjoys counting small ones. She’s never lonely for long, finds wonder in both autumn and spring and becomes playful on snowy winter days and in the ocean’s bubbles when summer comes. In fact, not a day goes by that isn’t a source of awe and delight.

With stylised ink illustrations, this is mindfulness for toddlers. Sharing the book with a small group may encourage them to think about and talk about the everyday things they love to experience.

Sticky Mildred

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Sticky Mildred
Alastair Chisholm and Rikin Parekh
Walker Books

Mildred Honeyfur is a creator of chaos of the messy kind. She absolutely loves sticky things such as pond slime, glue and purple goo and she loves being sticky all over. However, she absolutely loathes having a bath. Despite her despairing parents, Mildred sets off to look for the stickiest thing in the whole world

and it’s not so long before having declared herself the stickiest creature in the world, her sticky trail is so huge that arriving at the top of a hill, she trips and tumbles all the way back down – what ‘a big sticky, runaway ball’ she has become. Unstoppable rolling Mildred passes a jelly shop, a glue factory and a glittery quarry as she heads straight for the cliff edge where she grabs a tree and clings on for all she’s worth, stretching and stretching until …

What happens thereafter turns out to be a surprise, one which causes Mildred to feel somewhat different about stickiness. Young listeners however, will be in for an altogether different surprise on the final page.

Rikin Parekh portrays the chaos caused by Mildred brilliantly in his detailed, sometimes scribbly style illustrations and Alastair Chisholm’s slightly surreal telling that sometimes breaks into rhyme is a cautionary tale of the adhesive kind that could just coerce young listeners into having regular baths and enjoying so doing. A really fun read aloud.

Isla and the Sky

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Isla and the Sky
Greg Stobbs
Oxford Children’s Books

Isla sees Sky differently from other people and this is reflected in her paintings. Sky has a variety of moods: sometimes she is rainy and people complain about her dreariness and grumble about the awful weather. Isla however loves the sky on the days when it rains – those dancing, swirling clouds – and with her paintbrush she creates swirls of purple, white, brown, blue, pink and many kinds of black she sees. She loves the sunset on such days and brushes gentle pink and pale yellow across her page. Equally she loves the deep inky black sky on a cloudy night and paints that too.

Come morning Isla’s bedroom is filled with sunlight and this bright blue delights everybody. “If only every day were like this,” Isla hears them say. This is a day to use her bright blue paint. The sky that night is gorgeous – star filled and stunningly beautiful. Several days and nights like this ensue: Sky smiles and Isla paints, again and again and …

The lack of rain causes the landscape to change, Sky’s smile starts to fade and Isla’s paintings are boringly the same for she misses the variety of weather. The girl is just about to give up painting but decides to try something different first. She climbs high up a mountain and calls to Sky offering her help. Sky finally sees Isla and explains why she’s been people pleasing rather than being true to how she feels. Isla’s encouraging words and her paintings might just change this.

How will the people react if Sky reverts to expressing her true emotions? And will Isla start painting again?

A touching tale of emotions and artistic representation, gorgeously illustrated by the author showing how important it is for big feelings to be understood and supported.

The Awesomely Adventurous Librarians

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The Awesomely Adventurous Librarians
Donna David and Victoria Stebleva
Oxford Children’s Books

Rida’s Grandad works in Sleepy Creek Library and Rida absolutely loves to help him. She dusts shelves and finds books for all the visitors: Grandad being of the opinion that there’s ‘a perfectly perfect book for everyone’ and their job is to find it. Rida would observe the visitors, make a list of their requirements and when everyone had gone home, she’d pass the list on to Grandad. Then having slid back a large bookshelf, off he’d go to visit the Land of Books. Bedtime stories were to be found among the clouds, books about marine life required him to dive deep down in the ocean and for those about tiny animals, he’d crawl around. A good system until Arun comes to the library saying he’s eager to read Awesome Adventures at Lava Falls. Despite Grandad’s efforts to offer him other books, Arun stands his ground and Grandpa explains it was an impossible task, leaving the boy to go home feeling sad.

That night Rida recalls Grandad’s remark about there being a ‘ perfectly perfect book for everyone’ . She takes it upon herself to fulfil Arun’s request. Grabbing Grandad’s map she goes on her first visit to the Land of Books, heading to the outermost edge where the book is waiting up in a tree. Rida takes out her lasso, fastens it securely around a nearby tree and chases the book

through rapids, up a mountain and over bubbling lava pools. Just when the book is about to go up in flames Rida performs a daring rescue for which the book is very grateful. As a thank you, the awesome Adventures at Lava Falls agrees to the request Rida makes and everyone is happy at last – for a while anyway.

Featuring two very special librarians, this is a fun story about the power of books and the worlds they open up to readers, the delights of libraries and being kind. The illustrations are full of delicious details to linger over.

Reggie Rabbit and the Metro Mice / Toby and the Pixies: How To Be Cool

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Reggie Rabbit and the Metro Mice
Swapna Reddy and Becka Moor
Oxford Children’s Books

This is the 4th of the Reggie Rabbit series and it appears that Reggie isn’t quite as sharp as usual and is missing bits of information here and there: could those high-alert detective skills be getting a tad rusty?
As he and Pipsqueak head out of the school gates one afternoon, they are approached by Mo, a shy mouse asking for their help. His home, the warren-like metro tunnels beneath Bearburgh, is under threat, putting the metro mice in great danger. Cracks are appearing in the metro’s structure but equally, the mouse community isn’t united in wanting help from members of ‘The Aboves’ so Mo’s Aunty Mona says.

Mo isn’t going to give up on their help though and he takes Reggie and Pipsqueak to a tunnel beside the council room where they hear strange sounds and see more cracks appearing. Once back on the surface Reggie and Pipsqueak hear a scream for help. They rush down the city street to where a jeweller tells them that he’s been robbed. Maybe the two things are connected with the criminal activity of racoon, Nora Masque, Reggie’s nemesis, and her brothers. It looks as though it’s up to Reggie and Pipsqueak to discover what is afoot.

Part chapter book, part graphic novel, this funny tale is ideal for new solo readers particularly young comic lovers.

For slightly older readers of graphic novels is:

Toby and the Pixies: How To Be Cool
James Turner and Andreas Schuster
David Fickling Books

In this 4th book featuring the accidental king of the pixies Toby is endeavouring to reinvent himself as T-Train. However, it doesn’t work so the pixies step in to help by using a memory orb, telling Toby that it will ‘make sure that everyone gives you a completely clean slate.’ This is clearly a step too far as now, not even Toby’s dad recognises him and sends the boy packing from his home.

A fresh start or an utter mess? Can the pixies sort out this particular disaster. Maybe but that’s only the beginning of the mayhem. Then come the hairy problems and a whole lot of more besides.

Ridiculously nonsensical silliness but highly hilarious: Toby’s fans will gobble it up and ask for more.

Ten Tiny Squirrels

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Ten Tiny Squirrels
Kael Tudor and Marc Boutavant
Scholastic

A zany counting book wherein readers, along with the bear narrator, are supposed to count back from ten to zero one joining in with the rhyme. That isn’t quite what happens however. It starts off thus: ‘Ten tiny squirrels sitting in a line, / One ran away, / and then there were … ‘ but it’s not just one squirrel that runs away – it’s all of them.

A squirrel hunt ensues during which we encounter a diminishing number of other creatures – nine budgies, eight geese, seven polar bears, six chameleons (particular hard to spot), five mice, four very belligerent ducks,

three rocks – oops! make that tortoises, a couple of budgies AGAIN! and one very large tiger snacking on – phew! not squirrels. At journey’s end sitting atop a park bench are the runaways, all ten of them. Let the counting game begin. Err …

There are plenty of counting opportunities in this tale but so much more. I thought- I saw some of the squirrels hiding in plain sight among the other animals but were they?

With Bear’s various different expressions and those of the other animals engaged in all manner of unlikely occupations, Marc Boutavant’s illustrations give readers and listeners so much more to enjoy.

Home Away from Home

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Home Away from Home
Nazneen Akbari and Rashin Kheiriyeh
Barefoot Books

Nuha is anxious about the prospect of going to spend the summer with her Jadda (grandmother) in Oman; however she takes comfort in her favourite doll, Mary, that she’s taking with her. That is her intention at least but on arriving at the airport Nuha realises that she’s left Mary behind in the car.

Consequently when she arrives in Oman, Nuha is sad and grumpy. Fortunately Jadda knows what to do: she takes her granddaughter straightway to the souk to choose a new doll. Despite her reluctance, Nuha goes along but remains unimpressed with the Omani dolls that look nothing like her Mary.

Lured by the smell of roast chicken, they then proceed to the place where the meat is being cooked and eventually Nuha decides to taste a bite of shawarma (a Middle Eastern street food) and approves of the snack. After this they continue exploring the alleyways full of stalls and shops in search of dolls. While so doing Nuha is distracted by women applying henna and is reminded of Eid celebrations at home. She sits down very still and after a while is excited to see her name in henna on Jadda’s hand.

This proves to be a turning point and henceforward the little girl discovers joy and fun in her new environment: she plays a drum and dances before finally sitting with her Jadda and feeling that after all, this place truly is ‘home away from home’. As they walk back to Jadda’s through the market, an Omani doll catches Nuha’s eye and she loves it for lots of reasons. Jadda buys the doll and Nuha names her Maryam.

This tenderly told, delightful story, provides a glimpse of every day life in Oman. Rashin Kheiriyeh’s warm, detailed mixed media illustrations extend the text. I love that Nuha names her new doll named Maryam, the Arabic equivalent of her favourite doll, Mary.
(Notes following the story add further details about some of the things Nuha experiences and there’s a short glossary.)

Rock and Roll

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Rock and Roll
Ruby Amy Thompson
Little Tiger

Meet Rock and Roll. Rock is grey and hard; he also hates attention. Roll is a golden yellow colour, squashy and loves attention. They always appear on opposite pages – Rock on the verso, Roll on the recto. They don’t seem to have much in common but wait. Despite coming from very different worlds,

they are both great team players; they both look fabulous in green; both love fancy dress and both remain calm when under pressure

Yes they’re always on different pages but though strong as a rule, sometimes Rock is soft, Roll, on the other hand has the strength to give comfort. It appears that this is a friendship that can rock and roll. Assuredly, these two have found common ground.

With its seemingly simple text, and clever layout, this is a picture book that’s bursting with heart and can initiate deep thinking on the part of listeners. Wise and wonderful is what I’d call the creator’s debut picture book.

Boy vs Reality

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Boy vs Reality
James Fox
Scholastic

Ethan Lacey’s family – mum, dad and elder brother Mason – are influencers. They film pretty much everything they do and upload it onto their vlog, Meet the Laceys. However Ethan detests the performative nature of his life at home and doesn’t even consider them a proper family, let alone a perfect one, any longer. All they’re obsessed with is ‘likes’ and pleasing their million subscribers, not real life. Real life is not just about freebies and having fun. Ethan has Fidget, a toy monster with a zipped mouth that he keeps in his pocket. He writes all his worries on paper and feeds them to Fidget and it’s no surprise that Fidget is nearly full.

Then Mason posts his first video on his own channel showing Ethan reacting to a ridiculous prank he’d set up concerning news of an alien invasion. Some days later Mason posts another video entitled Secrets From My Brother’s Anxiety Toy’. It’s time for Ethan to retaliate.

Add to all this the fact that Mum and Dad Lacey have been arguing a lot for some while and have decided to get divorced. That’s an awful lot for anybody to cope with and that’s without visits to Grandad at Sycamore Village when it’s likely as not he won’t even remember who Ethan is.

With cracks appearing all the time Ethan is set on persuading his family to focus on fixing the real world and not so obsessively on the online one. Can he do it?

Funny and full of heart, this is a hugely moving story about the importance of making the most of real, everyday life and its highs and lows. With children becoming ever more screen obsessed, it’s a timely book showing the adverse effects social media can have on people, whatever their age.

Ribbit Rabbit

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Ribbit Rabbit
Philip Ardagh and Gareth Conway
Scholastic

Bob is a frog and the rest of his family are rabbits so Bob does things rather differently from the others.

He’s smaller than the others, far greener, his manner of eating is slurping whereas the rabbits chew, and his diet is insects – carrots bring him out in spots. When it comes to hopping, they’re all good but Bob out hops all the rest; he also out swims them and at lily pad leaping the rabbits are no competition at all.
However, if any of the woodland creatures bully Bob, they have to face up to his entire family.

Certainly not something to be recommended.

The combination of Philip Ardagh’s bouncy rhyming text, which is the perfect fit for the movements of his characters and Gareth Conway’s splendidly expressive illustrations make a thought-provoking, funny, heart-warming story of family, difference, acceptance and love. It’s a book that is rich in potential for Foundation stage/ KS1 discussion after a class read aloud. 
Definitely one to add to your collection be it family bookshelves or a class library.

Tomorrow I’m in Charge!

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Tomorrow I’m in Charge!
Jörg Mühle
Gecko Press

When Weasel comes home he’s surprised (and a tad annoyed) to find his pal Bear playing with Badger. “We’re in the middle of a game,” says Bear. “Would you like to make us something to eat?” So begins a long row between Bear and Weasel about who should be friends with Badger, what games they should play – house,

football, memory, hibernation or hide-and-seek, as well as what role each should play in each one.

It’s no surprise when a thoroughly disgruntled Badger, announcing that it’s time to go home, decides to leave them to it and not return the following day; tomorrow will be a play day with Fox.

A story showing a battle of wills if ever there was one. Jörg Mühle’s straightforward, direct text is very similar to what a child’s emotions and exchanges would be. His watercolour and pencil illustrations of the characters stand out against the white background and are in prefect harmony with the words.

Negotiating social interactions is an important life lesson and young children still working out when they should be assertive and when to acquiesce will surely relate to Weasel and Bear. It won’t surprise them that Bear is jealous of Badger and empathise with Badger and his dilemma.

A sharing of this book with Foundation Stage/KS1 children will surely lead to a lively circle time discussion

Don’t Do It, Doug

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Don’t Do It, Doug
Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie
Little Tiger

Doug is a hamster with insatiable curiosity. Nothing wrong with that you might think, but with Doug, the result always seems to land him in trouble. Lacking self control, he does things such as shaking cans of fizzy drink, disturbing a nest of bees – ouch!

and touching a tall pyramid of canned beans, causing an avalanche. (I seem to remember my partner being similarly tempted by a tall stack of bean bag seats in Habitat with similar catastrophic results, causing the floor staff considerable angst.)

Having pressed the lever on a reclining chair that his insect friend has taken him to for relaxation purposes, he ends up flat as a pancake, between the halves so his pal takes him skydiving, followed by wakeboarding and lastly, roller-coaster riding.

After these experiences, Doug appears to have gained control of his impulses. He slurps his drinks, ignores red buttons and handles the tiny saucepan with surprising care. His friends even award him a rosette.

Could it be a case of no more temptations for Doug? Errr! What do you think? The last we see of him he’s wielding a stick …

Duncan Beedie’s illustrations are absolutely bursting with humour and are an ideal complement to Maudie Powell-Tuck’s to the point narrative. Young listeners will delight in admonishing Doug by repeating, ‘Don’t do it, Doug!’ when an adult shares the book.

You Can Do It, Bert!

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You Can Do It, Bert!
Ole Könnecke
Gecko Press

We meet Bert on his big day. Having prepared himself both mentally and physically he’s going to jump out of the tree. He’s ready, well almost, though he needs to check everything … just once more. Yes, got it! He’ll do a running start but … hang on, he’s going to snack on his banana first. With that finished, surely he’ll jump. Maybe some loud encouragement from the narrator and little humans will do the trick.

Yeah! Off he goes dashing along the branch and wheee! After worrying on the way down, into the water he plunges and there to greet him are his other avian friends. Time for another jump: Who’s going first?

A spare text, which makes a great read aloud and simple. bold illustrations that show so well Bert’s feelings throughout, provide a story that contains a powerful reassuring message about overcoming your reluctance to try something new. Young listeners will certainly relate to Bert’s internal struggle and the book offers a great starting point for discussion on risk taking.

One for both home bookshelves and class collections.

Stop the Ball!

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Stop the Ball!
Susanne Strasser
Gecko Press

Duck kicks the ball at the goal but it misses and goes sailing over the bar. Duck gives chase as it bounces … BAMM right into and off the large tree, startling Owl out of his hole. Owl then joins the chase as the ball hurtles through the bushes WHOOOSH! dislodging a spider from its web. Spider joins the chasers and the ball, now on a downward trajectory, thumps onto a dog’s head. Somewhat stunned, Dog too pursues the ball: that’s four animals running after the ball as it splatters into a muddy patch surprising Rat before rolling under a bench.

Now ‘Duck runs. Owl runs. Spider runs. Dog runs. Rat runs.’ BOING BOING BOING down the steps goes the ball and splash it lands in the water. Therein we see a pair of crocodile eyes. The crocodile moves towards the ball … Errr… But that’s not the end of the ball, and not quite the end of the story.

This slightly larger than usual board book is great fun and will stand up to lots of re-readings with little ones who will delight in joining in the repeat patterned text with its surprise final twist.. There’s lots to enjoy in Susanne Strasser’s illustrations; they flow from one spread to the next, and sometimes include details not mentioned in the text.

The Chase

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The Chase
Jenny Bloomfield
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

What starts as a straightforward game of chase on the beach involving a child and her dog quickly escalates. The girl tosses a red ball and as she says chase, a plethora of pooches of all kinds join in. The chase that takes the ever increasing number of canines dashing through a museum creating mayhem in their wake. After the elusive ball they go, to a construction site and onto a beam that gives them a free ride to the top of a tall building, then down they dash again racing, chasing and CRASH! through a bandstand

and splash splash into some moving water narrowly missing cascading over a waterfall.
Eventually they end up right back where they started on the beach, where stands the child with her ball ready and waiting to start all over again.

Jenny Bloomfield’s jaunty rhyming text imitates the rhythm of the bouncy ball and the chase: ‘It’s a hustle, a bustle, a running tussle’. A playful pooch story that works really well as a read aloud but make sure you give your audience time to peruse each of the illustrations with their amusing details.. They’ll enjoy seeing one dog caught up in a tuba and removing it from the bandstand. Which breeds of dogs do they recognise from the many in the chase? Who can spot the one with wheels assisting its hind legs?

Tickets for Murder

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Tickets for Murder
Niyla Farook
Piccadilly Press

This story is told from alternate viewpoints: Ani’s and Riri’s. It’s about six months since twins Ani and Riri solved the Mrs Kossas murder mystery, and have now become good friends as well as siblings. However with Riri and her mum living in LA and Ani and their Dad living in Yorkshire, staying close is anything but easy, particularly as Ani appears to have lost interest in sleuthing.

Now though, it’s the summer break and they’re all together in LA to enjoy an exclusive holiday in Deadwood Manor theme park but from the outset tension between the siblings starts building. Why Ani wonders has Riri’s best friend, Adora, plus their elder sister Valentina and her boyfriend Simon come on what is supposed to be a family trip. Then there’s the issue of Riri being on her phone so much: who is she calling? And why has Ani stopped sleuthing?

On their first evening everyone is to meet Finn Glynn, their personal VIP tour guide for Deadwood Manor Park so that he can set up their personalised itinerary, but for some reason he’s late to arrive and when he does so, he seems preoccupied.

The next day as the twins are in the maze they hear a scream, followed by glass shattering and having run out they see before them a body: it’s Finn and he’s dead. Accidental death or murder? That is the question. Riri and Ani think it’s murder and so begins their next investigation.

There are so many twists and turns in the story that like the twins, readers have to keep their wits about them all the time until the murderer finally is unmasked.

With humour, great characters and surprises aplenty, this is terrific sequel to Murder For Two.