I have a guest reviewer today: my relation Emmanuelle, an 11 year old, avid reader. Here’s what she had to say:
Star of the Show Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Rachael Dean Puffin Books
Jaqueline Wilson’s latest book is an amazing tale of family and hardship. Tess, from whose viewpoint the story is told, and her family live in Victorian England. Sadly their Ma has just died and their Pa has walked out on the children. The five siblings, Maggie, Connor, Tess, Tommy and baby Ada do their best to support one another, the older brother and sister doing all they can to earn some money. Tess though dreams of being a dancer. but she has to attend The Ragged School where she looks after little Ada. One day she learns of a pantomime that is to be performed at The Grand Theatre and she determines to audition for a role dancing in Cinderella … Can she possibly fulfil her wish?
I really loved reading this story, especially the way in which you are introduced to the characters and gradually learn more about them all as the narrative unfolds. It’s great to see how, from such a bad situation at the start, things get progressively better for every one of them. One thing I found surprising was that readers only truly understand the title in the second part of the book.
A wonderful story and one I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys stories set in bygone days or wants to pursue a dream.
Being Autistic (and what that actually means) Niamh Garvey, illustrated by Rebecca Burgess Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Here’s a book that explains exactly what the title says and does so in such a way that both KS2 child readers and beyond, as well as adults, be they parents, carers, teachers or support staff, can understand clearly. The author herself was diagnosed as being autistic as an adult as was the illustrator and together they have created a warm, gently humorous, very visual book that is affirmative and supportive. The choice to make it visual is particularly ap,t for a great many autistic people are visual thinkers. It’s divided into four parts, the first of which is short and makes plain the terms autism and neurodiversity. Part two, the longest section explores various autistic traits.
I’ll never forget when one of my support staff shouted crossly at a foundation stage child on her very first day who was showing her distress by stimming. Cleary she’d not experienced this before and we’d not been told that the child might react to a new situation in such a way (she stimmed – repeatedly flapping her hands, turning round and round and humming). If only she’d had the opportunity to read this book the upsetting situation might never have occurred.
The third part describes other challenges autistic people might face and the fourth, What’s Next? talks about growing up and some of the possibilities life might offer.
With its emphasis on inclusivity and positivity this is a vital read for children whether or not they have an autism diagnosis, as well as adults everywhere. The latter really do need to be aware of the challenges an autistic person may face and thus be in the best position possible to be supportive.
Ebb and Flo and the New Boat Ebb and Flo: A Blowy Day Kate Canning and Thomas Voigt Graffeg
In the first story, despite it being early in the morning Bird cannot wait to tell Ebb about what she’s found so she sets off beeping enthusiastically to tell Ebb about the discovery even though Ebb dislikes being disturbed at such an hour. Bird’s excitement is on account of the new boat bedecked with greenery that has arrived at the jetty.. So, Bird sallies forth alone and when she hasn’t returned some while later Ebb starts feeling concerned.
The reason for her absence is that she’s made a new friend on board the new boat. Ebb discovers this with help from Flo who approaches the owner of the new boat asking for Bird. The conversation is confusing as the lady speaks German; however Flo, Ebb and Mum go aboard and in the cabin sure enough there is Bird and also a little canary named Zoot, so the boat owner tells the visitors.
Almost inevitably Ebb feels a tad jealous of Zoot, especially as Bird plays with this new friend all day. Ebb considers Zoot to be akin to Mum’s yellow feather duster. Even Flo’s reassurance at bedtime that it’s possible to have more than one friend doesn’t reassure the pooch. However, the following morning the visiting boat has gone and with it Bird’s new friend. Now it’s her turn to feel upset. Can Ebb and Flo find a way to help Bird return to her usual happy self?
In A Blowy Day, the strong wind causes Mum to feel concern for Granny so she, accompanied by Ebb, Flo and Bird, row across to pay her a visit. Granny is taking advantage of the strong wind and is busy hanging out her washing when they arrive. Her mention of a kite prompts Flo to ask about making a new one there and then so she and Granny set to work. Before long they’re ready to go out and test the kite but it gets caught up with the line of washing and Bird flies to the rescue. Then a sudden extra strong gust sees Granny’s clothes flying way up and out to sea. Time for operation rescue …
Both books, based on Jane Simmons’ original characters are part of an animated TV series: with their simple stories, they work well too as read alouds to share with young children (Both titles have notes for adults that include activities and discussion possibilities at the back.)
Running with Wings Sam Squiers and Lara Porter New Frontier Publishing
Frankie absolutely loves running; so too does Mimmi. They both seem to live, eat and dream racing and both dream of running in the most spectacular race there is – The BIG One. First though they have to compete in the school carnival on which day every class races the super sprint, 100 metres. However whenever Mimi goes to participate in a race she gets an attack of nerves.
One day while training on the track she sees Frankie running and later notices that she walks with a limp. Introducing herself, Mimmi asks how she manages to run so well.
Frankie quietly shares her secret with Mimmi, “I imagine I have wings on my trainers.” Mimmi expresses a wish for wings too and so Frankie explains what she does just before she runs. As you might expect Mimmi tries imagining wings on her own heels and it certainly speeds her up. Henceforward the two girls become almost inseparable friends training and running together at every opportunity.
Come the day of the school carnival Mimmi’s butterflies return and she needs Frankie’s reassurance to get herself to the starting line. Who crosses that finishing line first though?
After the race Mimmi learns from her buddy that there’s more than one way of winning and she cannot help but agree with Frankie.
This is an empowering tale of dreaming big and holding fast to your dreams, self-belief, resilience and over-coming challenges. With the 2024 Paralympics about to start, this is a good book to share with young children. In the author’s words, ‘With their wings they can run, / With their wings they can soar, / It’s not about the race, / But so much more.’ This is brought out beautifully in Lara Porter’s illustrations.
In January 1971 an astronaut took a pouch of seeds with him on the Apollo 14 moon mission. On returning to planet Earth he planted the seeds to see whether any would germinate and thrive. Sally Anne Garland’s story tells of one of those seeds – a winged one.
Below the earth’s surface the little seed determined that it would grow so tall it would be able to reach the moon once more. Gradually a small shoot broke the soil’s surface and in the far distance was able to see the moon shining. The seedling decided to sleep during the daytime and waken only at night when the moon was visible. Weeks and months passed and the months became years until that tiny seed was a mature tree with its roots keeping it firm in the ground. After the tree flowered, winged seeds blew on the wind, a wind that caused a dozing bear to ask, “Why are you still awake, Tree?” Bear doesn’t hear the response though, it’s already slumbering once more.
Each night other animals use the tree for shelter and still the tree yearns for the moon. Then one night Squirrel asks the tree if it’s sad and tree responds thus, “I’m sad that I can’t reach the moon, where I once saw the most bright and beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Squirrel then invites the tree to stay awake during the day and together they would see something beautiful.
The following morning bees and birds greet the new day, the tree’s leaves look green against a blue sky
and henceforward the tree slept at night and stayed awake during the day to appreciate and love its earthly home.
The author/ illustrator engenders a sense of awe and wonder in her mixed media scenes of both night and day, be they of the maple tree stretching moonwards, the images of mammals and birds it sheltered, the splendour of a rosy dawn landscape, or our unforgettable blue planet viewed from space.
Autumn Feast Sean Taylor & Alex Morss, illustrated by Cinyee Chiu Happy Yak
This autumnal offering completes the seasonal series by the same team that created Winter Sleep, Busy Spring and Wild Summer. Both Sean and Alex are great communicators when it comes to writing for children and again this one is perfectly pitched for its intended audience.
The narrative is set on a bright, chilly autumn morning and Mama suggests the children accompany her on a walk in the nearby park. Somewhat reluctantly in the first instance they wrap up and off they go into the windy street where leaves are blowing every which way. Cheered by the opportunity to romp in the fallen ones Holly and her narrator sibling are ready to embrace the wealth of sights and sounds that surround them. All the while Mama – a nature brainbox – as the young narrator calls her, gently gives the youngsters information about the various plants and animals they come upon: it was a wood mouse that had nibbled at the hazelnuts and has left tooth marks she’s able to identify and some unusual devil’s fingers fungi they see beside a fallen tree.
Having observed minibeasts down low and birds high above, they stop for a while to collect fallen apples before returning home. There excitedly they show Mum the apples
and the four of them chat, bake and consume delicious apple flapjacks together.
All this and more is shown in Cinyee Chiu’s vibrantly coloured detailed scenes.
Following the narrative, the text changes to a more conventional non-fiction style, posing and answering ‘What is Autumn?’ on one spread, after which are a spread on plants, another on animals, one entitled ‘Rotters’ and there’s a final page giving some ways children can help wildlife during the autumn months.
Don’t Disturb the Pirate! Rhiannon Findlay and Sîan Roberts Puffin Books
Young children will have fun joining the young protagonist in a search for his lively puppy, Patch, that has run away. There’s a need to tread carefully however and keep a watch out so as not to disturb the pirate captain and his crew. Scallywag Island offers plenty of hiding places for both pirates and the missing pup and who knows, you could stumble upon a treasure chest, a magical tree, a mermaid or even a helpful map. After looking high and low
what should our young pup hunter spy through his binoculars? Assuredly it’s something unexpected.
With its touches of magic, clues to follow, unexpected ending and fun, throwaway lines on the final page, young children will enjoy the adventure delivered through a jaunty rhyming text and Sîan Roberts’ exciting, brightly coloured scenes of the search. Make sure to peruse the map at the front of the book before you share the story. and allow time for young children to enjoy the playful details in the illustrations as you read.
These are three Puffin Books graphic novels – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review.
Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed To Earth Judd Winick
Meet Daniel Jackson Lim, known as D.J. His siblings are all high achievers but D.J. thinks he’s no good at anything other than being friends with Gina; but then Gina moved away. So he’s left without anything that makes him special until suddenly one day Hilo crash lands near to where he lives almost destroying his clubhouse. Hilo is clad only in silver underpants of the outstanding kind and has no idea from whence he came or why. He has a tendency to eat anything and everything and somehow manages to get himself enrolled at D.J.’s school. As they’re going into class, who should be there but Gina, Daniel’s best friend, recently returned from New York City; so now the two become a threesome.
It quickly transpires that Hilo isn’t the only unexpected arrival from out of the sky though: there’s the monstrous Rant – a robotic ant that Hilo attacks with his laser-shooting hands before it can consume his friends. This monstrous creature however also gives D.J. an opportunity to discover that he too has powers, powers that he can make use of to assist Hilo. Indeed this self-discovery is an important element of the action-packed drama. Who or what though is this Razorwark that haunts Hilo’s dreams and why is he intent on destruction?
With some terrific one liners from Hilo, this is a gripping visual delight that ends on a cliff hanger leaving readers all agog for the next adventure.
Max Meow: Donuts and Danger John Gallagher
In case readers missed his first adventure, Max Meow opens this sequel with an introductory recap. Now Max’s human friend Mindy, has gained powers and created a superhero persona of her own. The trouble is Science Kitty.is such a perfectionist, she is scared to try being a hero in public. However, there’s explosive trouble at the firework factory, robberies start occurring that quickly become a veritable crime wave with problems really erupting at the Kittyopolis Food Fest. Furthermore it appears that an evil, bushy-tailed being aided and abetted by others, has designs on the world’s donut supply so it’s patently obvious that the entire city is in a seriously dangerous predicament. Surely now is the time for Mindy to set aside her concerns about being perfect and apply her many skills however imperfect she might consider them, to helping Cat Crusader save the day, not to mention the donuts.
My head was spinning after reading the book; there’s a possibility that the brain scrambler belonging to one of the villains has been pointed in my direction. Young fans of Max however will likely not be so affected and lap up this mix of madness, mayhem and mimicking with its themes of friendship, fear, bravery, loyalty and jealousy.
For older readers is
Blood City Rollers V.P. Anderson and Tatiana Hill
Meet Mina Murray, a young figure skater with a pushy Mum intent on her getting a place in the Olympics. But then she takes a tumble, breaks her arm and things change dramatically. Mina is talent-spotted and kidnapped by two vampires who want to try her out as a member of their Blood City Rollers team a paranormal roller derby team. She accepts the drink they offer to heal her arm and then it’s time to put on the gear and start learning new ways of skating. The more she practises, the more Mina feels that as a team member is where she really belongs. Ending on a cliff-hanger, this first of a series. Its mix of comedy, paranormal horror and a diverse cast of characters will appeal to readers around the age of Mina.
Big Red Dragon: Play Rhymes Through the Year Jane Newberry and Carolina Rabei Otter-Barry Books
From dinosaurs to diggers and rattle snakes to robins, this lively collection of fifteen playful action rhymes will soon have young children, be they at home or in an early years setting, eagerly participating in both actions and words.
The festival related rhymes are arranged through the year starting with the titular Big Red Dragon for Chinese New Year, then the Easter Bunny, Halloween Fun and Happy Diwali and Naughty Reindeer. Each rhyme has a ‘Let’s Play’ suggestion set into the illustration giving ideas for ways little ones can join in, although some rhymes themselves will suggest movements and sounds, for instance toddlers might like to emulate the dragon’s paws and wings ‘clap clapping’, and ‘flap flapping’ with possible shouts of “Boing!’ as accompaniment.
Carolina Rabei’s playful illustrations are an ideal match for Jane Newberry’s rhymes;
her visual images are vibrantly coloured, textured, perfectly in tune with the words and sure to appeal to young children.
Definitely worth adding to foundation stage collections: I envisage it being used in lots of story time sessions when it will unobtrusively help develop children’s verbal and visual learning.
Science Is Lit: Crazy Chemistry and Epic Experiments Big Manny, illustrated by Subi Bosa Puffin Books
TikTok sensation, Emanuel Wallace, aka Big Manny, is on a mission: he wants to make chemistry as accessible and fun as possible for children. In this book comprising eight chapters, he presents twenty experiments with differing degrees of challenge from ‘Simple’ to what he calls “Big Science’. First though is an introduction in which there are definitions of what chemistry is as well as brief paragraphs defining elements, atoms and molecules. These are followed by a zanily illustrated look at key elements oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, sodium and chlorine. with portraits by Subi Bosa.
The first chapter starts by introducing readers to the way to approach and carry out an experiment with safety rules and the scientific principles of conducting any experimemnt. Then comes experiment one itself – a comparative test to determine which of three surfaces – sand, grass or concrete – is easiest to cycle on.
The hypothesis (you always need one of these) is that concrete will be easiest, then grass and the hardest will be sand. Now off you go on the bike testing each surface. After this comes the write up: method, results, conclusion and an evaluation.
I won’t go into detail about the other experiments other than to add that I never knew there was a way of turning milk into plastic before reading how to do so in chapter 7. The book concludes with some fun questions, a quiz and a final glossary.
Had I been taught by Big Manny when I was studying O-level and A-level chemistry I certainly would not have been bored like I was back in the day.
The Wild Outside Rachel Ip and Katie Hickey Hodder Children’s Books
There’s nothing little Tulip likes better than to be outside exploring. She observes carefully the flora and fauna using all her senses and never stops asking questions to increase her knowledge. Then she comes upon a trail of muddy footprints on the path and a sign saying Nature Trail. Written in chalk in various places are labels naming lots of the plants, some she’s already familiar with, but lots that are new to her.
Who can possibly have made this trail, she wonders as she catches sight of somebody’s back retreating. Having filled her pockets with flowers and catkins, Tulip and her elder sibling return home and on the doorstep is a parcel with Tulip’s name on and inside is an illustrated botanical guide and a note encouraging her to keep on exploring.
On opening the book, Tulip is excited to find lots of plants and trees she recognises and is inspired to do some labelled drawings. This keeps her engaged until bedtime when she falls asleep wondering where the following day’s explorations will take her. However, come the morning it’s raining hard and so she further explores her book instead, visiting Asian mangroves and forests, the deserts and plains of Australia, African rainforests and grasslands, mountainous regions of Europe,
the North American tundra region, various South American habitats and the cold Antarctic deserts. A clever device this for introducing to readers habitats the world over.
The following day the sun returns but rain has washed away the chalk markings of the trail. However someone has created a new one: who could that be? Tulip chalks a list of plants from the trail, leaving question marks for some she can’t name. On her return walk she discovers somebody else has written the names of those plants and left a trail of footprints. Who could it be? Tulip is delighted to discover the identity of her fellow nature lover and she makes a very special floral thank you using the contents of her pockets and bag.
A smashing way of encouraging young children to emulate Tulip and become natural history enthusiasts. The vibrant illustrations show the abundance of flora Tulip encounters as she explores and the labels are accompanied by brief captions with additional information about each plant. A wonderful combination of story and non-fiction.
One-Button and the Sea Sara Stanley and Viviane Schwarz Scallywag Press
‘Grandpa, tell me the story again of when we went to sea. That’s a BIG story, One-Button. How does it begin? It begins with the uprooting . . .’ And thus, as One-Button sits with Grandpa we share in the story of what happens to a community that suddenly had to uproot and head out to sea in all manner of boats, some of which had several aboard, but Grandpa’s little boat had just the two of them. Leaving their everyday lives far behind, they sang to keep their spirits up as they encounter both calm and stormy waters. The fierce weather badly damaged some boats but this was a community and so everyone did what they could to help those affected, ensuring the safety of all.
There were happy times and sad times for everyone.
After ages on the sea, waiting, waiting, during which they found various creative ways to pass the time,
one day everything changed again. It was safe to return to their homeland, back where they truly belonged. It was time to carry on with their previous way of living, ready to start generating new stories but never forgetting their challenging experience at sea.
Yes, in her quirkily powerful scenes Viviane Schwarz has illustrated Sara’s telling with an animal community but the book would be ideal to share and then discuss, perhaps using a community of enquiry approach when children will likely link it to displaced people in various parts of the world. It’s hopeful and ultimately uplifting and definitely one to add to Foundations Stage and KS2 class collections.
How To Build a Rocket Fran Scott, illustrated by Paul Boston Walker Books
Following How to Build a Racing Car comes another step-by-step guide, to building a rocket, this time. However, this book is much more than a series of instructions; there’s a wealth of information about space-related topics such as an introduction to Isaac Newton and his laws of motion. This is followed by spreads wherein readers meet the various people who work on a rocket and at its launch base. These people then have a related chapter, the first being The Rocket Body wherein both the science behind a real rocket and the making of the model’s body are clearly presented in prose and graphics. Included too is an ’ask an adult’ directive.
Chapter two entitled The Launch Pad is similarly structured and includes some helpful tips.
The next stage is choosing The Fuel (that needed for the model is a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and vinegar). Once the fuel is prepared, it’s time to don your gear, including eye protection, grab an adult head outside to a clear space and prepare for Countdown to launch. Hopefully this is a success but as an integral part of any engineering process, it’s now the Testing and Tweaking should be done. Maybe the addition of fins would make for a better launch; or could an alteration to the weight of your machine improve its flight? Then of course, Personalisation will ensure your rocket is unique. Some designs are offered but why not try creating your own. After all this get ready for the final Blast Off1
What a terrific way to spend time during the summer break and what an amazing amount children who embark on this project will learn.
This story of Richard Barnes is a very personal one for author Ian Eagleton: Richard has OCD, with which Ian was diagnosed in his late teens.
Richard and his mother move into what was Grandma’s house just before the beginning of Year 6 and the likelihood that this is permanent, taking him away from his friends, troubles the boy greatly. Everything about his new room troubles him too: he lies awake on his first night thinking about starting at a new school and listening out for the strange sounds that seem to be coming from the old wardrobe in the corner. He resolves to keep it locked to prevent anything hiding inside from escaping. He checks it many more times before leaving for school, which makes him late but Richard believes it’s the only way to keep him and his mother safe.
One day his mum’s friend, Tony, who has been doing some painting in their house, collects Richard from school, accompanies him home and reveals that the boy’s mum has already told him about there being something in the wardrobe. Moreover, he’s also found its key and insists on unlocking the door. Richard is horrified at his thoughtless attempt to show the boy that his anxieties are unjustified: he fears that the ghost has now been released into the room with the result that he experiences a massive panic attack. However when he tries explaining, both Tony and then his mother tell him that his anxieties about the released ghost are down to his over-active mind.
Scared and very angry he decides to enlist the support of his new school friends. They are willing and together settle on calling it ‘The Whisperer’. Meanwhile Mum reveals something about his Grandma and Richard wonders, could she be the Whisperer?
Richard’s friends come to a sleepover with the aim of banishing the spirit once and for all. They reveal lots about themselves during the night but they don’t see the ghost. Then things go disastrously wrong, Mei is hurt and Richard ends up falling out with them, albeit temporarily. Now he feels totally isolated and desperately in need of help. Can Richard finally admit he needs to find somebody to talk to about what is going on and the debilitating voices in his head? Only then might he be able to live comfortably with himself.
Written from the heart, with themes of acceptance, confronting fear, family, friendship and mental health, this powerful story needs to be read widely by older KS2 and KS3 readers as well as adults, many of whom have little or no understanding of OCD. It made me feel I should have been far more empathetic towards a teacher I once worked with who has OCD and frequently turned up late for school. There’s humour and laughter in this book too and in the author’s notes at the end of the book, he pays tribute to his dad who loved jokes, using humour to help him and others deal with their worries.
You’re a Poet Sean Taylor, illustrated by Sam Usher Walker Books
In a clever amalgam of story and non-fiction, author Sean Taylor has created a guide full of poetry-writing tips. There are five short stories starring Piglet, his family and friends, each of which shows children a different way to write a poem.
The first, Piglet … You’re a Poet starts with mum and Piglet in happy mood out walking along a puddly track towards a hill. Piglet, stops, picks up a large stone and drops it into a puddle causing a word-splash. ‘Sunshiny, earthy, wet, fresh, splashing puddle, ‘ says Piglet. Piglet has just created a poem, his mum tells him. This special happening reoccurs as they continue their walk, which culminates in the dizzy delights expressed as the two of them roly-poly down the hill and Mum’s confirmation that her son is a poet. Integral to Sean’s narrative is a demonstration of how to make a Puddle Poem and there are two spreads after the tale with a helpful lesson and ‘writing secrets’ aimed at children.
Of the remaining four stories, the second As Loud As Thunder Booming, introduces figurative language in the form of similes during a seaside family holiday on which Piglet’s pal Squirrel accompanies them.
The Breeze Is My Friend sees Piglet and Squirrel getting a soaking but not before the former has invented a descriptive poem about the seemingly playful breeze. The next tale has Piglet and Squirrel sharing a swing, the to-ing and fro-ing of which gives rise to Piglet’s ‘If I Was a Tree’ poem. Finally, on a day of rain showers Piglet invents an ‘I Would Give You’ poem especially for his Mum while the two paint his bedroom walls together; it’s his special way of saying thank-you to her and she in turn compliments Piglet on his ‘amazing imagination’.
With its compelling narrative, writing possibilities and Sam Usher’s playful and dramatic watercolour illustrations that instantly endear the story characters to readers/llisteners, the message ‘poetry writing is fun’ comes across loud and clear. An inspiring, must have book for foundation stage and KS1 classes.
Love in the Library Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Yas Imamura Walker Books
It’s possible to find love, even under the worst situations and so it was for Tama and George in this story based on the experiences of the author’s grandparents who were put in Minidoka incarceration camp during the second world war just for being Japanese Americans. (An author’s note explains the reasons for this terrible unjust treatment at the end of the book.)
This particular love blooms in a desert library in Minidoka incarceration camp where young Tama works. Every day George visits the library; he too is a lover of books, or so it seems as he always takes away a pile of them and always has a smile on his face. ‘Constant’ Tama calls George and his smile
as helped by books, she tries not to spend all her time thinking of the life before incarceration. Instead she thinks of the gift of the books she is surrounded by.
Gradually, struggling to describe her overwhelming feelings, she opens up to George. He offers her a word – human – and it helps her feel less alone; he also uses the same word to explain why he vistis the library daily and takes so many books. Hope and love blossom – a miracle for sure. Tama and George marry and their first child is born in Minidoka – another light in their lives.
Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s telling is beautifully crafted and together with exquisitely illustrated scenes by Yas Imamura in muted tones showing the harsh realities of the camp, highlight the injustice while at the same time celebrate the treasure of hope and love humans can find against all the odds.
Yomi and the Curse of Grootslang Davina Tijani, illustrated by Adam Douglas-Bagley Little Tiger
In this third fantasy adventure in Davina Tijani’s Nkara Chronicles series with Adam Douglas-Bagley’s dramatic illustrations, Yomi and her younger brother, Kayode, accompany their Uncle Lou ( a researcher for the Sacred Beast League) to South Africa. Shortly after they arrive the siblings meet the Vilha Treasure Hunters, a group of children who have heard about their bravery when they rescued a Senegalese dragon king and saved a city. The Treasure Hunters believe the qualities the siblings exhibited are exactly what will be required if they agree to join them in their quest to find the Tusk Diamond and bring it back to the rightful owners as well as hopefully, to break a curse issued by the elephantine serpent, Grootslang in whose cave the jewel is hidden. Yomi and Kay agree and so begins their adventure.
On finding the cave the adventurers try bargaining with Grootslang using the pyronite Kayode had brought in exchange for their freedom and the diamond.
When this fails can they come up with something else to persuade her and ultimately help bring peace and harmony to Vilha?
The author weaves mythology, culture and details of South African landscapes into her fast-paced story which also demonstrates the importance of camaraderie and working together, leaving it neatly set up for the next adventure in the series, set in the Congo. Bring it on. There’s mythology too in
Let Sleeping Gods Lie Thiago De Moraes David Fickling Books
Following her adventure with trickster gods in Old Gods New Tricks, Trixie dos Santos is settling back into her usual way of life, this includes school. She manages to tolerate the boredom of lessons but hates the taunting from some of the pupils, so on some days she spends her time elsewhere, wandering in the woods for instance. It’s on one of these occasions that she loses track of time and reaching home late, is greeted with the news that her grandmother has died and they have to go to Norway for the funeral.
Shortly after arriving there’s some talk of Grandma’s magical cauldron but it isn’t where it’s supposed to be. Trixie notices some strange marks on the kitchen floor. She decides to take a look outside and with Bragi the dog, she sallies forth into the freezing cold. In a clearing in the wood she encounters Baba Yaga.
It turns out that the witch knew Trixie’s grandmother and knows about her magic cauldron. Thus begins Trixie’s next mission: to travel to the Land of the Dead and search for the cauldron.
While in the underworld, having met her dead grandma, Trixie comes upon Hel (goddess of death) and her father Loki, the latter she already knows. Can she trust the trickster when he offers to help. her? Not only he but all the other tricksters that offer assistance as her quest continues taking her through many underworlds. There’s really no choice if Trixie is to prevent the evil army from taking over the world.
A breath-taking tale with plenty of humour, that introduces mythology from various cultures. It will have readers on the edge of their seats as they root for Trixie at every twist and turn. The author’s black and white illustrations are superb – striking, often intricate and very powerful. I can’t wait for Trixie’s next foray into the world of mythology; her emergence from this quest has left her mentally stronger.
The Shy Book Howard Pearlstein and James Munro Graffeg
This interactive picture book is a novel way of introducing young children, particularly those about to start nursery or school, to a way of coping with their fears about meeting new people and coping with new situations. Its narrator is the titular book and it really does want to be read despite its extreme nervousness. It’s worried, sometimes to the point of dizziness, in case a reader finds it laughable, silly or much worse, boring …
‘go ahead … pick a different book’ it suggests. But what if instead a reader keeps turning the pages? Could they come upon the narrator’s suggestion and gently discover a non-threatening way to feel brave, despite feeling shy as the book does, especially at the outset?
Howard Pearlstein’s clever idea is simply presented, and brought to life by James Munro’s droll illustrations. Empowering and amusing.
One Up Ben Sanders Little Tiger
Blue and Green are tortoises and they’re best friends. But which is the bestest? That is a cause for competitiveness as each tortoise adds to his shell, making it bigger and bigger, until things get more than a bit out of hand, not to mention out of shell. Both Blue and green are way, way up in the sky
whereas their places of residence remain on the ground and the who is best issue is still unresolved. For a reason unknown to both characters, Blue and Green start craving gelato. But they might have to wait a long while before that desire is satisfied. What in sky’s name can they do? And will they remain best friends?
With inventive, increasingly detailed illustrations of the competitive craziness resorted to by Green and Blue, plus the fun final twist, this is an amusing read aloud that shows the inventiveness of the characters (and the book’s author/artist). With an abundance of visual humour, both children and adult sharers will find themselves laughing as things get progressively precarious.
It’s clear from the outset that Paul considers himself an entitled peacock. He has the biggest nest, the most loyal friend and his pride and joy – the most beautiful feathers in the forest. His trusty pal Noris the loris ensures that Paul receives plenty of pampering every single day until one evening a fierce storm blows up. Norris is sent out for more branches to strengthen Paul’s nest but the loris has had enough of his feathery friend’s arrogance and bossiness.
The following morning Paul wakes to discover disaster has struck: he no longer has a home, Norris and worst of all, his feathers have gone – every single one.
For the first time ever, the peacock heads out on his own to search for those missing feathers; Paul is nothing without his plumage so he’s determined to retrieve every single one. Now politeness is not a quality Paul possesses so he goes about demanding the animals he comes upon with one of those feathers to return it immediately; either that or he attempts to snatch it back.
Hmm, you’ve a lot to learn Paul and you’re going to have to do it the hard way, and eventually he does. Could those same creatures that he’s treated so badly enable Paul to discover that there’s something even more important in life than himself and his appearance?
Tilly Matthews’ fun fable demonstrates the importance of considering the feelings of others as well as being able to show humility and value one’s friends. The illustrations are full of drama and details that will amuse both young listeners and adult sharers of the book. Lots to think about and discuss here.
Have an air freshener close at hand when you share this malodorous book with youngsters for you’ll be paying a visit to an exceedingly pongy place.
At this unique zoo (make sure you read all the signs at the entrance) you will encounter more than twenty fart varieties so wearing a nose peg or a face mask might be a good idea. Read too the signs relating to the beastie(s) in each enclosure. Thanks to Leigh Hodgkinson’s narrative and madcap visual portrayals you will quickly discover they come in all shapes and sizes including those sneaky, cheeky …
shlumpy and grumpy, squeaky and freaky, even posh farts (though how that’s possible I truly wonder) and several others.
Finally, however comes an empty enclosure: seemingly a fart has done a runner but where could it possibly be? Chaos rapidly ensues. With the zoo gate wide open the escapee might be anywhere, but it’s not actually left the venue. A couple of eagle-eyed security staff eventually apprehend the whiffer (Evade Fartum), put it back on its recliner and lock the gate but how long will it remain there is anyone’s guess – check out the final scene.
Replete with silly speech bubbles, this is fetid fun for little ones and any adult with a sufficiently strong constitution to read aloud Leigh’s rhyming rendition. (Wearing my science studies hat, the final User’s Guide to Farts is not strictly correct as a classification. For instance ‘Escaping farts should be Fartum evado and ghostly farts should be Fartum umbrabilis and so on … ie only the genus name is capitalised, not the species.)
Another subject with great appeal for young children is:
Not Another Unicorn Book Laura Baker and Chris Jevons Scholastic
The unicorn narrator of this book is anything but pleased at the possibility of being in a unicorn book, vowing she would ‘never, ever ‘ do so but fate takes its course …
There’s nothing for it but to escape its covers as soon as possible. Try as she might with her chomping, poo-dodging and running, her search for adventure doesn’t match up to her expectations. Maybe being in a unicorn book is not actually so bad after all. Assuredly it has its compensations.
Undoubtedly countless little human unicorn lovers will fall for the protagonist in this rainbow coloured setting with its sparkly starry sprinkles that even hover over the poo piles and delicious-looking confections shown in Chris Jevon’s dramatic scenes
Max & Chaffy: Hunt for the Pirate’s Gold! Jamie Smart David Fickling Books
From the creator of Bunny vs Monkey and Looshkin books, the Max & Chaffy books (this is the fourth), are a less demanding read. Set on Animal Island they feature Max and her pal cum sidekick Chaffy who, having now become official members of the chaffy finding club, are very enthusiastic about sallying forth on their next chaffy hunt. (For the uninitiated Chaffies are small spherical beings with one and a half ears and like to eat lettuce, most of them anyway.)
As they’re wandering on the beach the friends come across Foghorn. He offers to take them in his boat to a secret part of the Island, reachable only by sea. Once there, the threesome rapidly becomes a foursome when Chaffy finds a bobbly creature that the rather curmudgeonly Foghorn insists is not actually a chaffy. Max suggests it’s a Puffa Chaffy and soon encased in special underwater bubbles,
Puffa Chaffy, Max and Chaffy embark on an underwater foray involving a map in a bottle, the possibility of treasure and a pirate captain related to Foghorn. It’s an adventure that Foghorn cannot resist joining once he discovers a personal connection. He even lets his kindheartedness come to the surface whenever Puffa Chaffy feels scared and all ends happily with the finding of not one but two new chaffies.
With its vibrant colour palette and a text almost exclusively in speech bubbles, this is a delight – engaging and full of charm. Included too are some puzzle extras..
Rather more complex is
Magic Pickle and the Roots of Doom Scott Morse Scholastic
Herein you will find the titular Magic Pickle that flies around sporting a large star on its head, and his young human sidekick, Jo Jo. She wears a purple onesie with a unicorn horn.
When Magic Pickle is approached by Herb Cloverson, a decidedly malodorous character that is far from happy with life as a garlic clove, Pickle is rather dismissive. Then the clove is itself approached by the evil tuber, Square Root, who says he’s looking for a friend. So Herb Cloverson becomes Square Root’s sidekick and the two set about removing the star from Magic Pickle and thus taking away his power. With the goal achieved and the star on Square Root’s head, he sets about amassing an underground army.
Meanwhile the powerless Pickle is thoroughly downcast and it’s left to Jo-Jo to encourage him to fight back. By now Herb Cloverson has realised that he’s being used and hence is still looking for a friend. So too is Magic Pickle, so can they put things right between them? And will justice finally prevail? Perhaps, with some input from the Information Leek who offers assistance to Jo-Jo, together with the power of teamwork
Replete with veggie-related puns, it’s funny, clever, crazily compelling and diverting in a daft way.
The Dictionary Story Sam Winston and Oliver Jeffers Walker Books
A little dictionary’s realisation that she’s merely a list of definitions whereas the other books lined up beside her on the shelf contain stories, makes her decide that things must change: she resolves to ‘bring her words to life’. Thereupon an alligator of the hungry kind makes an appearance by opening the definitions enclosing him and proceeds to the D pages from where a delicious smell emanates in the form of a doughnut (donut is used here). The tasty confection sees him coming and rather than being consumed rolls off, accidentally right into Ghost – make that through him – and wakes the apparition. Donut continues on its way hotly pursued by Alligator, to the moon. As said moon starts interrogating the two, Ghost appears scaring the moonlight out of them all and prompting Alligator and Donut to rush off until midway through the dictionary the former catches up, only to collide with the Queen who ends up flat on her derriere.
Where will this all end, you might be wondering. Let’s just say total chaos ensues mainly due to the appearance of a tornado, spilled ink, a Viking, an umbrella and more.
In order to restore some semblance of order to the situation and the dismayed dictionary, she calls upon the help of her friend Alphabet whose song solves everything leaving all the words back in their proper places at last. PHEW!
Make sure you read all the tiny print on the dictionary pages ; those definitions are frequently hilarious and very clever, seemingly serving as a stage upon which the alphabetic characters perform. The definition of marmalade for instance is ‘A sort of jam made from citrus fruit, usually oranges. Marmalade is perhaps the main reason that the universe came into existence.’ Vacuum cleaner is defined thus, “An electrical machine that is used to clean floors by sucking up dust and dirt. It’s great at cleaning the house, but you’d best leave the dishes to something else.’
Sam Winston’s comic pacing of the tale – a meta celebration of words – is superb. Superb too are Oliver Jeffers’s naive style illustrations showing the shenanigans of the characters. Totally immersive and brilliantly created right from the real dictionary shown at the front of the book. The more you read it the more delights you will discover, it’s a veritable wordy wonder.
These are both Little Tiger board books: thanks to the publishers for sending them for review.
Cows Are Pink! Becky Davies and Gareth Lucas
Down on the farm, the animals have all got their colours muddled up. Small children will enjoy predicting what is behind each cut out section before the page is turned to reveal in turn which animal is pink, yellow and red. What about cats though? They’re a bit more problematic and they certainly aren’t green, one of the colours visible through a cat diecut. So what is orange, black and green? The final spread shows eight different farm animals and each is appropriately coloured, to the satisfaction no doubt of the little mouse character. With bright, textured illustrations by Gareth Lucas this is a playful book for the very youngest.
How It Works: Fire Engine Molly Littleboy and David Semple
Curious learners, especially those with an interest in vehicles will enjoy this addition to the How It Works series. Nee-naw! Nee-naw! goes this emergency vehicle but first come explanations for little ones about where fire engines are kept; what firefighters do at the fire station when not out on call,, as well as what their uniform comprises. When the crew receives an alarm call it’s a case of off as fast as they can go, sirens and flashing lights warning other vehicles to give way as they approach. Once the scene is reached it’s masks on and out with the hoses.Sometimes though fire engine crews have to perform acts of rescue for such things as cats stranded high in trees, or they might pay a visit to a nursery or primary school to teach the children the importance of fire safety. Perhaps some of them will be so enthused they go on to join the fire service themselves.
With cutaways, ‘did you know?’ questions, labels and a simple narrative there’s plenty to engage small children.
Wildlife in the Balance Dr Sharon Wismer and Terri Po Flying Eye
In this latest Flying Eye natural history offering author Dr Sharon Wismer introduces readers to the concept of keystone species and their impact upon various ecosystems.
There are introductory spreads explaining ecosystems, food chains and webs, and outlining the work of Professor Robert Paine whose experiments along the Washington State coastline in the 1960s demonstrated how the removal of a top predator from rock pools resulted in the collapse of the biodiversity of the ecosystem. He identified the ochre sea star as top predator and keystone species responsible for the biodiversity of the rock pools.
We learn that apex predators are not the only keystone species: herbivores, plants, prey, insects and habitat modifiers can also be keystone species maintaining the ecosystem in which they live.
Readers are then introduced to a dozen keystone species across the globe’s five major biomes: aquatic, desert,
grassland, forest, and finally, tundra. These include salmon, the saguaro cactus, European rabbits of the Iberian peninsular, green-backed fire crown hummingbirds and krill. Terri Po’s illustrations of the landscapes, flora and fauna are at once stylish, arresting and informative and expand and make accessible, the considerable scientific information conveyed by Sharon Wismer in her text, which concludes with a spread on how humans can help these vital keystone species. Backmatter comprises a glossary and index. Altogether a fascinating book for KS2 readers and beyond..
For readers with a particular interest in the underwater worlds or for reference in a cross-curricular ocean topic is:
Factology: Oceans Button Books
This highly visual book presents a wealth of facts about the ocean and its flora and fauna. In addition there is information on various topics such as the history of exploration and how people navigated their ships, subaquatic exploration of the ocean depths in the hope of finding treasure among the sunken wrecks.
Readers visit coral reefs and submarine volcanoes, see some of the wonderful deep-sea fishes and other creatures – giant squids, anglerfish, blowfish and the spooky-looking barrel eye fish and the fang tooth fish that has the largest teeth of any ocean species, find out how tides work, why the sea is salty and discover how tides and currents work. There’s a gallery of deep-sea deities and a spread introducing marine monsters such as the Kraken and a look at some of the horrendous outcomes of marine pollution
All this and much more, so imagine yourself into a submersible and take the plunge..
The Secret of Golden Island Natasha Farrant Faber Children’s Books
Yakov has had to leave his war ravaged home country and now is staying with relations. He struggles to fit in at school and cope with being away from his loved ones. Skylar’s struggles are with how she feels after her grandfather’s stroke (he’s always been her rock) and a bullying incident at school for which she is suspended.
Skylar: ‘I’m not crying.’ Yakov: ‘I know.’ These are the very first words the two children exchange and somehow this brief interaction is the beginning of a friendship, one they both desperately need. Both of them too have a strong desire to change things for the better and not just for themselves but for those they love. It’s this that brings them even closer to one another as they enter a competition, the prize for which is the ownership of the nearby Golden Island. How though can two children compete successfully against adults with schemes and plans of their own?
Certainly, the call of the island is very strong but the quest they embark upon must be kept secret from family members and they only have one another to rely upon for their safety. As the adventure progresses Skylar and Yakov’s friendship deepens, they reveal more about themselves allowing things they’ve kept deep inside to be exposed.
Trying to solve the clues they’ve been given, the pair come up against some competitors who will go to any length to achieve what they want. Can they overcome all the obstacles that arise during their quest, including a desperate race against time with way more at stake than the competition?
Totally gripping, compassionate and exquisitely told, this book swept me away and as I reached the final paragraphs I felt tears welling up, such is its power.
A wonderful read for older KS2 readers and beyond.
Right from the cover illustration, young children will love being in the know as to the whereabouts of Bear’s glasses but the ursine character decides that he’s left them at Giraffe’s house so off he trots. Now sans specs, as he tells us, he ‘can’t see a thing’ but nevertheless he comments on various objects he passes en route to his friend’s, misidentifying them in turn as a deer, a crocodile, an elephant, a flamingo, each of which astonishes him.
He even fails to recognise Giraffe who is taking it easy on his lounger, calling him instead a snake. Bear apologies and explains his plight; Giraffe then ‘returns’ the glasses to their owner, which allows Bear to uphold his original notion.
Bear goes on to tell his pal of the unusual sights he’s seen en route and eager to see them for himself, Giraffe accompanies the now bespectacled Bear as he makes his way back the same way he came. Of course, neither spots the flamingo nor the elephant,
the crocodile or the deer though a confused Bear blames his glasses. These he then removes and goes on to point out to Giraffe, three lions nearby.
A terrific, tongue-in-cheek comical delight that puts forward the possibility that seeing with one’s imagination is preferable to viewing reality. Little ones will relish Timmers’ tale of discovering – albeit accidentally – new ways of seeing the world and loudly correcting him with regard to the misidentifies flora and fauna.
The Little Worried Caterpillar Christine Pym Scholastic
Little Green is on the brink of change. However she’s not aware of this when she wakes early one morning ready to play with her caterpillar pals, but she can’t find them anywhere on the ground. Then a call tells her that they have morphed into butterflies and are way up above her. “You’ll be next, there’s no doubt!” they tell her. However rather than sprouting wings, she sprouts fear, a fear of change that brings with it worries about the unknown. Her friends reassure Little Green that change is what they were born to do and it’s exciting but this makes her feel even worse.
Along comes bee with what is meant to be some helpful advice; she gets momentary relief but that’s all.
Other creatures also offer suggestions but nothing works until Rabbit appears on the scene. Rabbit listens and what her new friend tells Little Green enables her to feel ready to embrace and prepare for that transformational change
and become … Butterfly Green.
Some young children take change in their stride, others needs considerable support from empathetic friends and understanding adults. A book such as this one is particularly valuable for sharing with the second kind. Christine Pym’s illustrations capture so well Little Green’s fearfulness and eventual delight.
Dig Dig Dinosaur Professor Anjali Goswami and Maggie Li Nosy Crow
Three intrepid little explorers with their kit at the ready are on an expedition in the hope of finding something, something ‘REALLY big’. Dig! Dig! Dig! they go till one person discovers some remains of a sharp clawed dinosaur. These claws make the finder conclude that they belonged to a Velociraptor.
A second child’s Dig! Dig! Dig! digging unearths three large horns: young readers can perhaps guess from which dinosaur these came..
Still intent on finding something even bigger, they continue hunting till the third explorer tells of a dinosaur with a very long tail. and a tiny head supported by an extra long neck.
Little ones can have fun guessing what this might be before the big reveal fold out … They will also enjoy the peep hole pages showing the skeletal remains the young explorers find during the dig.
Worry Boots Lisa Thompson and Aysha Awwad Scholastic
It’s Connie’s first day at school and after putting on her shiny new boots she, her mother and younger sibling set off for the bus stop. Before long Connie stops and calls out to her mum, “There’s something in my boot!” Having wriggled her foot around, her tummy feeling like a dinosaur’s bumpy bottom, she then, declares that it’s a dinosaur and consequently she can’t go to school because everyone will stare at her.
Mum reassures her that this won’t happen and they continue on their way, Connie now not feeling the lumpy bump.
Having boarded the bus, Connie feels the thing in her boot again only now it seems hard and spiky. It must be a unicorn’s horn she decides, informing her mum of the situation and again saying she cannot go to school. Now her tummy feels hard and spiky. Mum tells her all will be well but as they approach the school gate Connie feels another visitation – sharp and pointy this time. There’s no way she’s going into school with a shark in her boot. She’ll frighten everyone out of their wits.
With a sharp pointy feeling in her tummy Connie then sees her teacher welcoming the children as they arrive in the classroom and she has a big smile on her face. Maybe it’s not a shark then, but still that boot and Connie’s tum don’t feel quite right. Before she says goodbye, quick thinking Mum suggests they remove whatever is in her daughter’s boot; she upends it and out falls … What do you think?
Feeling so much better Connie then goes to join the other children in the classroom. With so many new friends perhaps her day won’t be nearly as bad as she had been anticipating.
Acknowledging young children’s first day anxieties, this reassuring story is perfect for sharing with little ones. With her powerful imagination, Connie is a delight and Aysha Awwad’s portrayal captures her feelings beautifully.
The Great Crisp Robbery Pamela Butchart, illustrated by Thomas Flintham Nosy Crow
The latest story narrated by Izzy unfolds on a night train from Aberdeen to London. None of the young travellers has been on a sleeper train before and the realisation that it means bunk beds adds to the excitement. A BIG ADVENTURE indeed: Gary Petrie even has his silky dressing gown and judging from the enormity of her suitcase it would appear that Maisie thinks she’s going to be away for ages. Why though has Miss Yu and not Miss Jones been designated ‘teacher in charge’ when the children have only known her for a few days? Surprising to Izzy is that Jodi suddenly appears on the train having escaped early from the wedding she’s been at and she’s still wearing a floaty pink bridesmaid dress.
As the journey is about to get under way Izzy looks out the window and gasps in horror: on the platform stands a hooded figure watching them: surely it has to be a train robber. Those familiar with Pamela Butchart’s child characters know that it doesn’t take much for imaginations to run wild and their misunderstandings to become suspicions that lead to them being way off beam as they become certainties. Here we have a group of hysterical youngsters on account of Gary’s sixteen missing packets of crisps, albeit Tesco Finest varieties, not to mention all the spending money.
How on earth – make that on railway lines – is this all going to end? Actually it doesn’t exactly do so for puffing and panting and puzzling over what Miss Yu will say in her ‘quick chat’ readers leave the train about an hour from its destination.
Primary readers will devour this faster than Gary’s crisps and the sandwiches from the refreshments trolley and then want more. With its multitude of twists and turns, this adult reviewer was left decidedly dizzy especially at the impending BIG TROUBLE facing Izzy and her pals.
The Majorly Awkward BFF Dramas of Lottie Brooks Katie Kirby Puffin Books
Presented in diary form as usual, with plenty of Lottie’s amusing doodles, this one relates the events from New Year’s Day to the day after Valentine’s day.
January 1st sees Lottie in high spirits about her new boyfriend, Daniel, but as readers might expect, Amber is jealous and makes plenty of mean remarks about the relationship. She even starts giving out application forms at school for the role of Amber’s boyfriend, and then holds auditions.
With regard to Lottie however, she has an abundance of hugely embarrassing moments due to eyebrow alterations and style icon attempts with over-size earmuffs, just to name a couple. Then comes brother Toby’s announcement of his new year’s resolution: to get a dog and for once in her life, Lottie is in agreement with him, even going so far as to aid and abet his plan for mum persuasion. Eventually there comes a new member of the household: enter five-month old golden cockapoo, named Snookers, though that soon gets changed to Pot Noodle, thanks to a remark by Mum. Said pooch is adorable but there’s a major snag, he’s full of mischief, destructive and definitely, despite what Dad was led to believe, NOT toilet trained. How on earth is Lottie meant to cope with a new boyfriend and a new dog that insists on leaving deposits of poo all over the carpet and in other extremely annoying places.
Assuredly she has a whole lot less time to spend on other people – her gang especially, one of whom, Jess, shares the news that she might be gay.
My goodness all that and more in just a few weeks. It’s easy to see why the Lottie Brooks books have become so popular with’tweenage’ girls. I have no doubt fans of the series will eagerly devour this and readers new to Lottie will be equally enthusiastic after reading this one.
A Mystery At The Incredible Hotel Kate Davies and Isabelle Follath Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
We’re back at the Incredible Hotel for a second story which begins one autumn afternoon when manager Mr Starch announces that the World Baking Contest is to be held in the hotel and the head judge will be Chef Tartine, owner of the Stupendous Restaurant. Moreover Chef Stefan has been chosen to represent the city of Delaunay in the event. Stefan works and works until he’s invented a new secret recipe but come the morning of the contest, shock horror! His recipe has disappeared.
Fortunately ace detective, aka Matilda, the hotel’s bellhop, Stephan’s best friend is at the ready to solve the case. But who can the thief possibly be? It turns out that a chef’s hat has also gone missing as well as a cushion.
As Matilda continues trying to find a thief, the police are busy interrogating various suspects. She follows footprints but suddenly is apprehended and accused by Mr Starch of being the thief herself. Just in time however, the determined Matilda discovers the whereabouts of the recipe and the other missing articles. All is forgiven by a very shame-faced manager
and she’s given a new role; but by now there are only ten minutes of the competition left. Surely Stefan can’t bake his cake in time for the judging – or can he …
Another truly tasty treat from team Davis and Follath. Children will delight in joining Matilda as she follows clues to the surprise revelation of the culprit, as well as savouring the delicious details in Isabelle Follath’s mixed media scenes of the unfolding events. Watch out for the antics of the cat and mouse as you peruse the pages.
One Day at a Time Rachel Ip and Natalle Quek Hodder Children’s Books
Robin and Poppy couldn’t be happier with their family life; their days are full of fun and adventuring together. And every springtime the children and their parents plant sunflower seeds together and watch them grow and bloom in the summertime. Then one summer Daddy tells the children that their parents are separating and will be living in different homes.. “We’ll always be a family, and we’ll always love you,” Dad reassures them. Poppy and Robin don’t want this to happen but despite the tears and talking, and the hugs, happen it does.
As you would expect both brother and sister are emotionally mixed up;
they also show this in different ways. Robin shares his worries with his friends at school whereas Poppy keeps everything to herself.
Both of them though ask their parents lots of questions and they all choose sunflower blooms to take to their parents’ new homes. Homes that are very different too.
Come the following spring Robin finds the dried out sunflower heads in the garden shed; they are absolutely full of seeds and give them an idea. Before long they have more than enough to sow in both mum’s and dad’s gardens. Little by little both Poppy and Robin have accepted their new way of life and realise that they will be okay; They are able to laugh more, hug more and of course, there is more than enough love for everyone; after all they are still a family no matter what. A sensitively written and illustrated story that is full of hope and love, a story that offers an optimistic view of separation. However Poppy and Robin are fortunate in the way their parents separate; not all families are so amicable; indeed some children’s parents are downright hostile toward each other and this takes its toll on their offspring.
Also about changes in family circumstances is:
Roots of Love Sarah Asuquo and Ruthine Burton Scholastic
Subtitled Families Change, Love Remains, this story starts with a happy little girl, Tia who has just enjoyed the best day at school ever. But that evening after dinner her mother tells her to leave her project about her family and come and join a talk with her mum and dad. She knows they have been keeping something a secret recently and realises quickly that this isn’t going to be cheerful chat. Instead she learns that her parents are going to separate and that her dad will move out. “We’re still a family, we’re just changing to something new,” her mum tells her. Devastated little Tia rushes upstairs and cries herself to sleep.
Next day at school her class are to present their projects about families; inevitably Tia is worried about how her classmates will react to what she says. However what she hears from some of her friends about the variety of families they have, surprises, reassures and empowers her, enabling her to share her project too.
Using the apt metaphor of a tree Tia explains how her family has changed.
Ultimately reassuring, Sarah Asuquo’s story with its inclusive illustrations by Ruthie Burton is one for KS1 class collections as well as for sharing with individuals.
All You Need To Know About Dogs Fred Blunt Happy Yak
Now I’m no lover of cats, far from it – they bring me out in an itchy rash, neither am I a dog lover (having been mauled by an Alsatian as a child). However I am a fan of Fred Blunt’s picture books. which is why I read this. It’s told by a matter of fact cat and indeed there are actually two versions. The first is extremely brief, blunt you might say and is over in one spread; the second is the extended one for which our narrator employs rhyme to talk about the various breeds of dog
and to inform us of the many reasons dogs are stupid. For instance despite their having an excellent sense of smell, they use it for ridiculous activities. Then there’s what they do with their poo and as for the fur … It’s hard not to agree with all that moggy has said thus far.
In contrast when you come to cats, they are just cats,
only with some felines you get rather more than you bargained for and when a scary moment arises dogs come into their own. It’s assuredly the case here for loyalty reigns and a dog might just turn out to be the best friend of all.
Both cat and dog lovers of all ages will lap this up; so too will those who enjoy wit and a good laugh.
A Boy Called Book Vincent Ralph and Aaron Cushley Scholastic
When a mother and father decide to call their newborn baby Book, it bothers a variety of people and puzzles the little boy he becomes. One day he asks his mum, “Why am I Book?” “Because your life is a story … You can write it however you want,” comes the reply.
First Book decides to become an adventure story, full of exciting chapters. When he turns four, Book starts school but for him, this feels like being part of a scary story. Until that is, his mum’s mention of heroes and being brave leads to Book making his very first friend.
A friend who loves to have fun and laugh a lot – a joke book.
Gradually Book learns such a lot that he aspires to become an encyclopaedia but not all his book types bring him happiness; he also faces sadness, loss (an emptiness inside) but then he receives a special something in the post that makes him forget his sad feelings for a while. So too do pictures of different kinds and gradually back come Book’s smiles. Eventually Book sees that his life is much more than a book; it’s an entire library and one that will keep on growing and growing …
Vincent Ralph’s picture book author debut is an unusual and powerful one that shows the power of story to shape us, inspire us and also to heal us. Powerful too are Aaron Cushley’s scenes of the boy’s developing competences and supportive family life. On a similar theme is
Reading Together Robert Broder and Melissa Larson Blue Star Press
Having an adult or two in your life who are passionate about reading and share books with their baby from the outset, will likely set that infant on the road to becoming a reader and lover of books and stories too. So it is for the mother and father narrators of this book who read to their little one from birth. We are party to various developmental stages such as sitting up and eating solid food, alongside various kinds of books – an abc, flap books the child can manipulate independently, books of nursery rhymes. We see how stories come to life on the page with their elements seemingly becoming a part of the home environment too.
We see too the joys of visiting a bookshop and coming out with arms full of new picture books to enjoy together at every opportunity, so much so that after reading and loving them so much they needed to be mended; books such as wordless ones, rhyming ones and fairy tales. Sometimes no book at all was needed, instead a story would be co-created using family members’ imaginations.
Such was the power of all this book/story experience that eventually two readers in the family become three as the child grows up to be an independent reader herself. Job done, you might say; hopefully not, for confident solo readers too should have stories read to them and I suspect it was so in this family.
Melissa Larson’s portrayal of family life in this household certainly shows how memories are created and emphasises the importance of sharing books together right from the start. What a wealth of connections are created by so doing.
Rosie Raja: Undercover Codebreaker Sufiya Ahmed Bloomsbury Education
Rosie Rajah’s third adventure is possibly even more exciting than her previous two. As the story starts, Rosie and her papa are parachuting over the Belgian countryside. On landing they are met by Brigitte, an American. The Americans have recently joined the war but it soon appears that Brigitte has her own agenda when it comes to the Nazis. Both of them though are involved in rescue missions; and there’s also a meeting up between Rosie’s papa and an old school friend.
Pretty soon, Papa announces that they need to head back to England, but first Rosie must change her appearance as the Nazis have issued an alert regarding her . Once safely on English soil, Papa’s mission is to find the Nazi spy operating undercover at Station X aka Bletchley Park. His first stop though is at RAF Abingdon where he’s been asked to check out something and while so doing, Rosie meets Noor Inayat Khan. She’s working there as a radio operator deciphering messages and is a descendant of Tipu Sultan.
One of the amazing codebreakers Rosie encounters is Alan Turing who despite his genius, is a shy retiring character. But, there are also resistance fighters and double-crossers so Rosie has much to contend with and decide whom to trust especially when her father is in very serious danger. Can she keep her head and do something to save him?
Meanwhile back in pre-partition India, Rosie’s aunt, Rani-K is very involved in Gandhi’s Quit India Movement that is working to gain independence from British rule – another important piece of political history children will be made aware of.
Another truly gripping episode in the life of a girl who occasionally lets her emotions rather than her mind guide her actions. I was enthralled throughout.
Fly Free! Roseanne Greenfield Thong and Eujin Kim Neilan Astra Books for Young Readers
Using a chain of simple interactions between a variety of people and the repeat refrain, “Fly free, fly free, in the sky so blue. When you do a good deed, it will come back to you!” the narrative of this story comes full circle.
Set in Vietnam, the story opens with young Mai who visits the temple early one morning. Before going inside she feeds the birds kept in a cage near the entrance. As a Buddhist, it is her hope that someone will be able to do what she cannot afford: to pay for the release of the birds. On this particular morning Mai notices another girl Thu, who removes her red slippers before going in; Mai waits and when she comes out, offers her some bird seed so she too can feed the birds. She also whispers the “Fly free …” refrain. This sets off a concatenation of good deeds and having performed a kind action each person sings the same refrain as a kind of suggestion to pay it forward when an opportunity arises.
Eventually the chain comes full circle and as Mai watches, a man pays for the birds’ release, nodding to her to open the cage.
In a final note the author explains that her story of the characters’ actions is based on the Buddhist doctrine of karma as well as the principle of the wheel of life.
Using earthy tones and subtle texturing Eujin Kim Neilan’s striking scenes show the gentle joy each character experiences as they perform a kind act. It’s vital that all children come to understand the importance of empathy and generosity and sharing this heartwarming tale of selfless actions and having a circle time discussion is one way of demonstrating these qualities.
For Mo, the narrator of this story, things are changing way too fast. She’s just started secondary school where one of the teachers in particular doesn’t understand how to work with what they call her disruptive behaviour, sending her out of the classroom frequently. Mo is neurodivergent and has trouble making real friends; they tend to be bemused by her stimming and annoyed by her tendency to correct factual things when others, teachers included, get them wrong. Add to this, the fact that her body is developing she hates the ‘rubbery blobs that have appeared seemingly overnight’, on her chest.
Then Mo meets Carys, preferred name Onyx; who appears to like her; could this be the true friend she’s been hoping for. She certainly encourages Mo to go to drama club.
During history the class hear of a disused Victorian asylum in the locality. This sparks Mo’s interest but Dad tells her Denham is private property and exceedingly dangerous. However after school one day she and Onyx manage to get in, albeit only for a short while. So, despite Onyx’s father having told his daughter that Mo’s a bad influence they resolve to make another visit, at night this time, fuelled by the possibility that her great uncle had been kept there. Meanwhile rehearsals for the drama club’s forthcoming production take up some of Mo’s time and energy.
When Halloween night comes the friends keep their promise to each other and return to the asylum. There Onyx opens up to Mo about the issues she’s dealing with, but as they proceed disaster strikes: the floor and Onyx vanish down into blackness. What will be the outcome of the accident?
Mo is a very endearing character and her friendship with Onyx/Carys is really well portrayed, which is no surprise as the author, Chloë Heuch is herself neurodivergent, a part-time teacher and a parent. Highly recommended for older readers.
Huxley and Flapjack: Trouble At Sea Alan MacDonald and Francesca Gambatesa Little Tiger
This is the second story of best friends, Huxley, an outgoing koala and Flapjack, of a somewhat nervous disposition who prefers staying at home whereas his bestie likes to seize every opportunity for a new adventure.
It’s a hot summer’s day and the two are spending the day on the beach, Flapjack hoping to be able to finish reading his book. It seems unlikely this will happen as the rescue of a wildly thrown ball (you can guess by whom) results in a meeting with underwater explorer, Winston, or Wizz for short.
Wizz invites the two to join him aboard his submarine to search for the shipwreck of the Isabella on board which he suggests they might find some treasure. Needless to say Huxley immediately starts imagining the possibilities whereas Flapjack is rather worried, especially when his friend takes over steering the craft. This almost inevitably leads to a troublesome situation but also a discovery; make that several, not to mention a shark encounter
when the two friends try to untangle the submarine’s propellor from the seaweed. Do they find treasure though? That rather depends on what you call treasure.
Full of drama and with one of Francesca Gambatesa’s illustrations on every spread reflecting the humour of each situation, this is ideal summer reading for new solo readers.
As is:
Wigglesbottom Primary: The Pirate Cat Pamela Butchart, illustrated by Becky Moor Nosy Crow
This latest in the Wigglesbottom Primary series is, like its predecessors, pitch perfect for newly independent readers. Like the others too, it contains three zany episodes, the first being the titular The Pirate Cat which starts when Miss Riley announces a Y2 class trip to the beach. However it’s not for the purposes of paddling, sand castle building and picnics. Rather the children are to spent their time participating in a beach clean up project. The possibility of a prize makes things rather better but then what should appear on the sand but a black and white cat; a cat Jayden King immediately suggests could be of the piratical kind.
It isn’t, but it certainly ensures that the litter grabbers are put to good, if unexpected, use; moreover the moggy – Carlos – is actually a regular passenger on the bus used for the class trip. Episode two, The Tallest Pupil in the World is so called because Miles suddenly has a growth spurt that gets rather out of control. Can this really be so or is there another reason that his trousers are way, way too short when he puts them back on after PE? The Halloween Disco concludes the book and inevitably its announcement causes MEGA excitement but ends up with one of Class 2 in a decidedly sticky mess thanks to ‘ghost slime’ no less.
Brilliantly funny, laugh out loud silliness conjured up by an author with a wonderful imagination, abetted by an illustrator who accentuates the drama in every situation.
The Seal on the Beach Mara Bergman and Brita Granström Walker Books
This treasure of a picture book celebrates the delights of a British seaside holiday: sand dunes, cliff walks, bracing salt water bathing, beach huts, a pier, a boat trip, ice-cream and the littoral wild life to be seen. It’s also a story of a young girl, Maggie’s anxiety; about missing her Mum, her new-born baby brother sick n hospital and the seal pup abandoned on the beach, which she finds stranded among the pebbles while out walking with her Uncle Jack and Aunt Jean.
It’s the most amazing thing she’s ever seen and she feels very protective towards it, so much so that it haunts her dreams.
Her aunt and uncle, as well as the lifeguards to whom they report their find, reassure Maggie that the seal mother will return. That doesn’t happen however and a very sickly little seal has to be rescued and cared for by the RSPCA.
There’s a happy ending though both for Maggie’s own family and the seal pup, named after her, which she sees returned to the sea.
Mara Bergman’s episodic, poetic prose is every bit as elegant as Brita Granstrom’s beautiful watercolours, which are a joy to behold. Feast your eyes on the seaweed, snail and shell strewn endpapers before reading the story with children. For adult sharers it will likely bring back memories of their own childhood summer seaside adventures.
The Boy and the Octopus Caryl Lewis and Carmen Saldana Puffin Books
The arresting cover image of a small child snuggled up with an octopus immediately drew me into the pages of the book. Meet Stanley whose favourite toy is that octopus and who in his dreams sees its skin change colour according to various feelings. Particularly important is Octopus’s ability to camouflage himself and hide when something scary comes along; indeed when beset by anxiety and fear Stanley would really like to be able to disappear.too.
There’s the occasion when other children mock him as he walks in the park leaving him unable even to talk with his dad about what happened. That night though Stanley and Octopus have a dream encounter with a sea monster and when he wakes from the experience something feels different. The following morning Stanley sets about using his creativity to convey his feelings
under the watchful eye of his supportive dad. Thereafter having made a promise to his dad, Stanley is ready to step out and face up to difficult situations with a new-found confidence, empowered by his artistry.
Being bullied is a topic that many children find hard to talk about, often thinking when it happens that it’s somehow their fault. In her text Caryl Lewis makes it clear this isn’t so.
Carmen Saldaña’s arresting underwater sleep scenes are awash with pinks and blues in contrast to the family and park pictures that have been executed with a much more varied colour palette.
As an Early Years teacher I have encountered many traumatised children from different parts of the world: they would frequently reveal their feelings through their art so this story particularly resonated with me. It’s one to share and talk about in Foundation stage settings and at home.
Here’s a case of ‘anything you can do’ as an adorable baby bear copies the actions of a series of animals, for instance ‘If the frog jumps … Tiny Bear jumps too1’ This ursine character is certainly energetic for it also seeks to emulate cat’s stretch, snake’s wriggle and five other actions in turn. Tiny humans will certainly enjoy demonstrating their own rolling, standing on one leg, flipping over kicking their feet up and hugging a loved grown-up. Equally they will delight in lifting the flaps – two per spread – as an adult reads aloud the simple repetitive text.
I envisage this interactive little board book being read to destruction.
Where Do You Sleep? Agnese Baruzzi minedition
Each of the featured young animals has a different place to sleep that suits them (eight if you count the owl in the hollow of the tree on the cover illustration revealed by pulling the tab.) Small children will also discover a baby fox beneath the roots of a tree, a kitten in a basket beside the couch, a hedgehog with adult under a pile of fallen leaves, a bat dangling in a cave, a fledgling snuggled in a cosy nest, a husky in a den beneath the snow and a squirrel in a tree trunk hole. The final spread addresses the little listener who, as expected will fall fast asleep in a cot.
Each of the tabs stands out from the full page scene as the artist has used a colour that contrasts with the background and to keep the toddler’s interest, it’s not located in the same place on every spread. Interactive fun that can also help little ones develop their fine motor skills. Agnese Baruzzi’s text, four lines per animal, is written in rhyme that won’t cause the adult reader to cringe when they read it aloud and she also makes effective use of texture throughout.
Aisha and her parents live in Jakarta. It’s the summer holidays so they are going to spend the time at Grandma’s in a countryside village as they always do. However, Aisha’s not happy: she longs to go somewhere different like her friends.
Once in the car, Aisha talks of her friend Jennie; she’s off to a snowy place: what does snow taste like? Recounting Jennie’s description to her parents gives Mum an idea and they stop for a while and savour a special sweet crispy, crunchy treat – es campur.
As they continue Aisha talks of the blue sky another friend sees when in his holiday home swimming pool, prompting Dad to point out the stunning blues visible through the car window.
The car engine overheats and they have to pause their journey. At her mum’s behest Aisha and Dad go and lie down in a grassy field where the little girl describes the wonderful hues of tropical fish in an aquarium, another of her friends saw on his holiday. Suddenly the sky is filled with multi-coloured kites soaring above.
When they resume their drive, Aisha contemplates the beauty of the colours she’s seen on the way until they finally reach their destination. There Grandma stands;
Aisha is so excited to see her, but she’s even more excited when Grandma serves up her favourite meal. Could its predominantly yellowy colour be Aisha’s favourite? She’s not sure but of one thing she is certain: henceforward she is going to savour the amazing colours in her own life rather than compare her experiences with those of others.
Appreciating what you have is an important theme of this book wherein Nabila Adani’s illustrations engulf readers in a kaleidoscope of colours as they join Aisha on her journey of discovery.
Olu’s Teacher Jamel C. Campbell and Lydia Mba Walker Books
Understandably Olu is very nervous about starting nursery school. His Dad reminds him that his friends Akeem and Sarah will be there, but what about the teacher? As he contemplates this new person, imagining all kinds of scary possibilities, he suddenly says, “MACARONI!” This is the word Olu uses when he’s really nervous. His worries get the better of him several times despite the reassurances from his Dad and Mum; and they reach the nursery building all too soon for our little narrator. However, it’s a really warm, friendly face that greets him and introduces himself as ‘Jay”. When Jay smiles he shows his shiny gold tooth, which he does all the way to the classroom. Once there he invites Olu to sit with his friends and make some pictures.
Mum gives her son a goodbye hug and departs leaving him in Jay’s care. Olu could not have had a better teacher that Jay: he plays the boy’s favourite reggae music on his guitar
and at story time, dons a special cape before sharing a book with the children. Olu is surprised at how quickly the session has gone and it’s time to leave. Before so doing, however, a realisation dawns: Jay actually looks like Olu – another reason he’s eagerly anticipating returning to nursery the next day.
A smashing, hugely reassuring book by a smashing teacher (the author is himself an Early Years educator) and as he writes after the story, he knows that starting nursery is one of the big, and most important, transitions in a child’s life and it’s vital everything possible is done to ensure that for every child, it’s a positive one. Lydia Mba’s illustrations of the diverse community Olu joins when he starts nursery certainly make it look an exciting, enabling place to be.
In this allegorical tale about migration, a group of once happy dandelions is forced to move in the face of tools, machines and weed-killing chemicals.
With their spirits low, they hear the words of a calling breeze that gives them the courage to move from the persecution of their homeland field and float upwards. They drift over the walls, fields, meadows of the countryside, higher over city rooftops, up, up traversing mountains, cliffs and seemingly endless seas of blue.
Finally they find a peaceful place and with hope renewed, land in a green grassy environment to begin life anew;
a tranquil place where the bees and other minibeasts make them feel welcome and where in time, they will become a part of a thriving community of wildlife once more.
The watercolour illustrations are touched by whimsy whenever a minibeast is depicted, helping to keep the fable light in tone throughout the book. The penultimate page gives factual information about dandelion plants – their importance and various uses.
A seemingly simple story about seed dispersal that offers a good starting point for talking with very young children about humans who, in times of crisis, see no option but to flee their homes and seek sanctuary in another country.
Rabbit On the Rampage Lorna Watson and Rikin Parekh Walker Books
Like many young humans, Rabbit has a favourite object that accompanies her to lots of different places and like adults, young children get very annoyed when they can’t find that special thing. Rabbit’s favourite thing is a carrot; this she takes to swimming with her every Sunday but rather than plunge said carrot into the pool, Rabbit deposits it in her coat before entering the water. One Sunday though, shock horror! When she goes to retrieve Carrot it’s not there. A search of the pool and changing room prove carrotless and Rabbit is convinced it’s been stolen.
Following the suggestion of the swim coach, she retraces her steps; first stop Badger’s home where she’d had lunch. In storms Rabbit accusing her friend of Curly Carrot theft. Badger’s response is to remind her he doesn’t like carrots and instead offers one of his garden peas. This infuriates Rabbit and wow does she let Badger know.
Next Rabbit returns to the dance school where she’d had a lesson with Madame Mouse. Once again she makes a dramatic entry and accusation. This is met by the offer of a cauliflower from the dance teacher, which again infuriates Rabbit causing her to hurl the crunchy crucifer out the window.
A further revisit results in an awful outcome,
though now Rabbit is starting to feel just a tad bothered about the way she’s treated her pals. Off home to bed she goes and there garment by garment she removes her outdoor attire …
Time for Rabbit to make amends to her innocent friends …
Hilarious! Lorna Watson’s debut as picture book author is definitely destined to be a big hit with young children. Her rhyming text is brilliantly complemented by Rikin Parekh’s wonderfully dramatic scenes of Rabbit and her outrageous behaviour as she storms around on her search.
G.O.A.T. Kate Temple, Jol Temple and Rebel Challenger Scholastic
Goat considers himself the Greatest Of All Time: none of the other creatures comes anywhere near him when it comes to greatness. Take Duck for instance; Duck is the Deadliest Underwater Crumb King and Donkey is Devourer Of Nice Kind Easter Yams.
Donkey needs correcting on G.O.A.T. for thinking it stands for Grunts Often At Termites, something Goat denies doing, though the Termites disagree on that. And so the discussion goes on until it appears that all the animals have ways of being GOAT, well maybe make that all but one.
Totally bonkers though if you’ve met books written by Kate and Jol Temple this probably won’t surprise you. Deliciously daft too are Rebel Challenger’s colourful portrayals of the animal characters – an ideal complement for the text.
Now should you want to introduce acronyms to children, this book offers a great starting point; however first and foremost it should be shared for its hugely playful content. I imagine it going down really well in a KS1 classroom: the most important thing children will get from it is that language is fun.
Max Meow: Cat Crusader John Gallagher Puffin Books
There’s a feline superhero on the prowl It’s Max Meow, resident of the ‘furr-ociously cool city of Kittyopolis’. Max is an aspiring vlogger and podcast host and his best friend is human scientist Mindy Microbe whom he visits in her secret lab, the intention being to make a science video. Mindy has acquired a rare space meatball, which is suddenly snatched away. by a robot. The friends give chase, seize it back and when Max takes a bite of it, he finds himself with superpowers; with the ability to fly, super strength and a fiery tail, he becomes the Cat Crusader.
It transpires that the robot Reggie was sent by the villainous Agent M, a mouse, and Big Boss who want the meatball for their own heinous purposes.
Max finds that being a super hero is hungry work and so he and Mindy head for their favourite restaurant to sate their appetites. This leads via some hot sauce, to a falling out between the two of them and they stop speaking to one another.
Both tricky and sticky situations occur with the result that Max realises that superpowers alone will not be sufficient to save the day and indeed, save Kittyopolis itself.
Action-packed, and with pawsful of wacky humour, this pacy tale cleverly sets the scene for the second book in the series. Fans of visual story-telling especially will lap it up.
Bunny vs Monkey: The Impossible Pig! Jamie Smart David Fickling Books
I’m sure for readers of comics and graphic novels, the name Jamie Smart and his anarchic Bunny vs Monkey series needs no introduction and this is a paperback edition of a previously published hardcover documenting the wild and wacky escapades of Bunny et al in the woods through the four seasons from spring through to winter, concluding with a gathering for Christmas lunch. With its frenetic pacing and giggle-inducing gags throughout, enthusiasts will relish the on-going daftness.
Off-the wall comedy for primary readers doesn’t get better than this.
The Bison and the Butterfly Alice Hemming and Nancy Leschnikoff Ivy Kids
Free to roam wherever she chooses and well fed, Bison should feel happy but she doesn’t. Woodpecker suggests that she needs a friend. Woodpecker’s place is in the treetops so off sets Bison in search of that “Someone to trample through the woods with”. But why would any creature want to befriend a big hairy animal like her, she wonders. Woodpecker explains how Bison’s stripping of bark from the trees, provides access to food, a great help for a bird seeking breakfast.
As she goes about her regular daily activities, Bison encounters some of her smaller forest neighbours – Dung Beetle,
Lizard – in particular but although both say they benefit from her actions, (Dung Beetle eats her poo and Lizard enjoys sunbathing in the bare patches of earth the large animal makes as she rolls) neither is that special friend.
Suddenly Bison hears what sounds like crying; she stops and asks, “Is everything all right?” Resisting the ‘Go away” instruction because the voice sounded so sad, Bison responds thus, “It sounds like you need a friend.” .
Now despite not wanting to trample through the woods, it turns out that this lonely butterfly is the ideal companion for woodland rambles. So begins a wonderful friendship …
Produced in collaboration with Kent Wildlife Trust, the author uses a sweet tale of searching for a friend to show how an ecosystem works. Backmatter gives information about Bison’s role as a ‘keystone species’ that helps keep nature in balance enabling key plant species to flourish, which act as a food plant for heath fritillary butterflies. Following that is an outline of The Wilder Blean Project launched two years back – an exciting success story so far.
With its expressive illustrations and narrative style writing, sharing this story containing messages about the impact we have on those around us, and the importance of kindness, empathy and friendship.with young children would provide a good starting point for learning about ecosystems.
Secret Factopia! Paige Towler, illustrated by Andy Smith What on Earth Books
You never know where you might end up when you open this book. Readers will discover all kinds of weird, wonderful and sometimes downright disgusting facts as they explore the various trails presented in this latest Factopia extravaganza. With 400 mysterious facts trails to follow, there are revelations of secrets relating to a whole gamut of topics from fashion to forensics, creepy crawlies to camouflage and cryptography, and toilets to theme parks, all in bite-sized chunks.
Did you know that the spiky tropical durian fruit has a powerful smell that is said to resemble sweaty socks and rotten onions? I think I’ll pass on that one despite its nutritional value.
This, like the previous six titles in the series, acts as a great springboard to further research on topics that capture a reader’s interest. I found myself looking several things up as I worked my way through the pages, including that about clothing with hidden solar panels that can charge a phone battery and the reference to a lady slipper orchid so rare that it’s given its own police guard.
This is one of the spreads that integrates photography and Andy Smith’s (often comical) art. Another is that where a photograph of a place in China where 1437 people participated in the largest ever hide-and-seek game has numerous faces peeping out. Readers will surely enjoy seeing how many they can count.
Back matter includes an index, and a list of information sources. Fun and immersive; it certainly deserves a place in primary school collections.
Perla The Mighty Dog Isabel Allende and Sandy Rodríguez Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Isabel Allende’s debut picture book is narrated by Perla, a pooch with self-attributed superpowers. The first is, ‘I can make anybody love me.’ The second is ‘I can ROAR like a lion.’ The latter is pretty astounding given Perla’s diminutive size.
When the Rico family arrives at the animal shelter looking for a guard dog, Perla employs superpower number 1, which makes young Nico Rico fall for the pooch. For him no other will do but to convince the other Ricos, Perla uses the lion-like roar and that seals the deal. Once in the Rico’s residence – a big old house that once ‘belonged to a wizard’ who still apparently visits leaving sprinklings of magic dust behind – Perla gets to know the family members better. That includes forming a pact with Lucy, the somewhat lazy moggie.
What would satisfy Perla the most though is to be able to help Nico, who unbeknown to the humans in the family, is being bullied at school.
Then one Saturday when playing ball with Nico, an incident with a squirrel results in Perla facing up to a very large, fearsome dog by roaring and charging, the result being celebrity status for Perla.
This prompts Nico to ask magnificent Perla to teach him superpower number 2, aka the mighty roar; this the obliging pooch promptly does with some slightly alarming but ultimately satisfying results for both Nico and Perla.
It’s the latter’s winsome narrative, with its vital message about finding the courage to stand up to bullies, which makes this book such an enjoyable read aloud. That and Sandy Rodríguez’s spirited, splendidly expressive ink and watercolour scenes.
Around the World with Friends Philip Waechter Gecko Press
When Racoon decides he’s ready for adventure he anticipates his round the world trip will be a solo one. However, having visited Badger to borrow his boat and paddle, he’s persuaded that his friend should accompany him. Before long Racoon has also collected Fox with a supply of eggs, Bear to keep jellyfish and marine monsters at bay and Crow to act as lookout. Off go the friends in upbeat mood down the river. It’s not long before they encounter what Fox decides is a poisonous water snake but is quickly put right by Racoon’s reassurance that it’s a grass snake. On they go,
only to be caught in rapids which fortunately don’t capsize the boat, eventually reaching a sandy bank where they decide to make a camp and eat. Wasps make a nuisance of themselves but Bear gets rid of them while Fox cooks a delicious meal. After this they play football and take a cooling swim.
Then down comes the rain and with night descending they realise that it’s time to head home.
Agreeing that it’s been ‘a proper adventure’ they gather up everything and agree to have another expedition in a few days time.
A perfect day, thinks Raccoon as he lies abed reading the same book that prompted him to undertake the trip in the first place.
Waechter’s illustrations created mainly with pen and crayon, be they of the animals’ homes, the locality or the areas the friends pass through on their adventure, are full of details that will cause readers to pause and spend time looking closely at each one. With its gentle humour, this is just the story to share with children on a warm, lazy summer’s day.
Red Reading Hub - Jillrbennett's Reviews of Children's Books 