Author jillrbennett

Molly, Olive and Dexter: You Can’t Catch Me! / Dance with Oti: The Turtle Tango

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These are both new titles featuring popular characters from previous stories: thanks to the publishers Walker Books for sending them for review.

Molly, Olive and Dexter: You Can’t Catch Me!
Catherine Rayner

In this third episode in the lives of a trio of residents of a garden oak tree, Molly the hare, Olive the owl and Dexter, the fox, Dexter asks his friends to participate in a game of chase. First to be ‘it’ is Olive but she’s super speedy and soon catches Molly. When she’s the chaser, Molly finds her fast feet and before long she’s got Dexter, well and truly.

The bump leaves the fox feeling all dizzy and after a bit of chasing in a tired tizzy too. Determined to do something to show his vulpine prowess, he does something that perplexes his pals and in so doing proves he too is a worthy participant in the game of catch.

And the winner? What do you think? …

As always, Catherine’s watercolour scenes are superb; every spread makes the reader want to slow right down and linger over it. Young listeners too will appreciate the artistry as well as enjoying the playfulness of the chase.

Dance with Oti: The Turtle Tango
Oti Mabuse and Samara Hardy

Having learned to dance the Bird Jive, the Lion Samba and the Penguin Waltz, Mrs Oti’s pupils have a new challenge.

Prior to their performance at the grand opening of the aquarium, Mrs Oti takes the members of her dance class to see the marine creatures that are kept in its watery world. They enjoy watching the rainbow fish, wobbly jellyfish, scuttling crabs, the enormous shark and the turtle family. One of the class, Poppy, is concerned about the baby turtle and it’s the turtles that give their teacher an idea for the performance.

Back at the dance studio, the children enjoy emulating the fin flapping fish, the wobbly wobbly jellyfish and hear some sound advice from Mrs Oti. Advice that proves to be particularly important come the big day on stage when there’s a mishap just before the titular Turtle Tango grand finale.

After the show, along with congratulation from their teacher, each of the performers receives a special surprise thank you present.

After enjoying the vibrantly illustrated story, listeners too can learn the finale dance by following the step by step instructions on the last double spread..

We Are The Wibbly!

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We Are The Wibbly!
Sarah Tagholm and Jane McGuinness
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

I found myself smiling all the way through this. It’s narrated by a member of the Wibbly community and as the book begins they’re all floating gently along in a relaxed manner encased in their protective jelly coating. But then, ‘OH MY CRIKEYS!’ the narrator’s eggy pals start breaking out of the wibbly and undergoing rapid changes, something our storyteller isn’t keen on doing but feels obliged so to do in order to keep up with the others.

Before long, they’ve all grown tails and become tadpoles, water-flying everywhere. No more relaxing henceforward. Instead there’s this water-flying to become skilled at

and a sudden sprouting forth of new limbs, first back ones and then front ones with which to grab tasty tidbits, after which comes tail shrinkage. Yikes! There are some dangerous furry hungry monsters lurking at the ready on land; this requires some swift water-flying to safety.

Finally – whoopee! Every wibbly is now a frog.
Such a hilarious, heartfelt tale of the narrator’s epic journey from frogspawn to frog, at the heart of which is being ready for change and a fear of feeling left behind

With a bubblesome underwater setting Jane McGuinness’s humorous illustrations are just right: a perfect complement for Sarah Tagholm’s wacky words. Together they offer a wonderfully engaging and memorable rendition of an aspect of springtime zoological ontogeny for the very young.

Girl on the Fly

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Girl on the Fly
Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl
David Fickling Books

The story begins in April 1992 Philadelphia when Kamaria (Kam) and her relay team mates, Luce, Alexis and Neeka have just finished their practising for the day. Determined to win the upcoming championships, the regional and then the big state one, Kam has decided that the team needs something special: a chant maybe that will ensure the team all pull together – and who should write it, she should of course.

Now Kam is a girl who finds change difficult to cope with so when she’s told that her Aunt Rose from Tanzania, who is going through a hard time, has been invited to stay, she isn’t happy. With all the intense running practice, plus school work as well as the fact that she and her best friend, Odie, have stopped talking though she’s not sure why, it seems to Kam that this is just too much to handle all at once. How will she be able to concentrate on anything with her mind in a turmoil and an aunt she’s never met before, sharing her room?

However, largely thanks to Aunt Rose, who tells lots of stories, shares her beautiful kangas and their meanings, cooks delicious meals and offers carefully considered advice, – ‘To hear what is around us is very, very important. To hear what is inside us, maybe more so’ – Kam changes, becoming more placid. It’s not just Kam however, who is affected by Aunt Rose’s four week visit; she has a positive impact on Kam’s Momma and Baba too. She certainly made this reviewer’s heart soar and go ‘boom, boom, boom, boom’ and like myself, readers will find themselves rooting for Kam from the outset of this wonderfully heart-warming story.

The Girl Who Wasn’t There

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The Girl Who Wasn’t There
Jacqueline Wilson
Puffin Books

When Dad drives Luna (nearly eleven), her younger sister Aurora (almost six) and their Mum to the foot of a hill and stops the car, everyone is amazed at the tower perched atop the hill. “It’s like Rapunzel’s tower!” comments Luna. But then Dad announces that it’s to be their new home, their shocked Mum thinks he’s joking. Not so. Having lost his restaurant, Dad has somewhat recklessly bought this crumbling/tumbledown building at a bargain price and to say it needs some work done on it before they can move in is putting it mildly.

With the room at the very top strictly out of bounds, it’s anything but the ‘happily ever after’ fairytale abode Aurora imagined. However Dad promises Luna that they can have a puppy. despite the fact that temporarily they are going to have to live in a caravan. The following weekend he takes the family out to lunch to meet an elderly couple, the Stanleys, who have a pup – Molly – but are finding it too lively. They agree that a new home with Luna and her family is the ideal solution.

As someone who frequently gets her own way, Aurora has never been to school before, though thanks to her big sister, she can read and write well. However at the end of the summer there’s no choice, go to school Aurora must. Unlike her sister who is quick to make friends, Aurora decides that she hates her classmates and prefers the company of Tansy, an imaginary friend. Luna meanwhile worries that Mum and Dad might split up with so little real progress being made on their new home even though Dad now has the help of two new friends. She’s also concerned about her status in the family – is she truly a part of it when Dad isn’t her birth father?

As time passes, Aurora’s make-believe life becomes problematic for all the family, particularly as she insists Tansy is real. Could she perhaps be a ghost? And is there a curse on the tower? If so, can Luna be the one to break it?


I was fortunate that on the day this arrived it was the only book delivered so I was able to indulge myself and read right through to the end. It’s a wonderful mix of magic, the power of the imagination, family life, human resilience and love.

One of my relations, Emmanuelle an avid reader in Y6 was keen to read the book and review it: here’s what she wrote:
Jaqueline Wilson’s new book is a beautifully-written story complimented by delightful illustrations from Rachel Dean.
This book is perfect for anyone struggling with change or anyone finding it hard to be an elder sibling. They will be able to relate to Luna, the main character, who has to adapt to moving to live in an unfamiliar place and, on top of that, has a sister who she occasionally finds hard to deal with.

For fans of fairytales, there is an allusion to the story of Rapunzel because the main character is a girl with blonde hair who moves to live in a tower.
In my opinion, surprisingly, the title does not link to the main theme of the story. I think the theme of the story is Luna’s journey in adapting to a new house, a new school, a new life, whereas the title links to the fact that Luna’s little sister, Aurora, has an imaginary friend who actually used to live in the same tower that they own now.
Because of its cliffhanger ending, I think this book begs for a sequel. The final enigma leaves the reader hungry for more.

The Most Amazing Thing / Footprint

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The Most Amazing Thing
Ian Hayward Robinson and Matt Shanks
Allen & Unwin

Henry is stuck indoors on account of the rain, the other members of his family are at home too: mum is busy working on her novel, his sister Greta is doing an experiment, his father is cleaning his telescope lens and brother Simon is meditating. But Henry with nothing to do, is bored, so he consults his mum who suggests he might draw the most amazing thing. What could that be though? Henry has no idea so he decides to ask his family. Each has a different answer: telling her brother to look down her microscope, Greta says life is the most amazing thing; to Henry, the mind is the most amazing thing, whereas Dad’s response is the universe.

Mum, finally free for a short while, surprises her son with her answer.
Both words and pictures take us through the various parts of the house where Henry goes for inspiration; it’s evident that he learns a considerable amount in his quest for an answer, some of it about himself. Matt Shanks’ watercolour, pencil and gouache illustrations of the images that might be forming in Henry’s brain as he talks to each of his family are full of fascinating details.

A thought-provoking story showing that with an abundance of wonderful things in the universe and a great many different ways to find that wonder, it’s unlikely that two people will have exactly the same view: we all see the world through different lenses. Try asking the children in your class or members of your own family: who or what will they decide is THE most amazing?.

Footprint
Phil Cummings and Sally Soweol Han
Allen & Unwin

There’s a line in a Native American poem wherein the author prays to the Great Spirit of Life to give him the wisdom ‘to walk softly on the earth’ acknowledging that it is the responsibility of each of us to care for our planet and its natural environment.

In this book, author Phil Cummings and illustrator Sally Soweol Han remind us of the wonders all around us and that we should walk carefully leaving only good behind us. The author’s lyrical rhyming text invites readers to join the children in various parts of the world as they wander out into the morning, looking and listening, but also taking time to pause, ponder upon what they see and hear and to breathe in the beauty,

be that of the deserts, mountains, valleys or wherever they find themselves. Each of the environments – a tropical forest with a river flowing through, the (melting) polar ice, the sandy desert, the smoky city and more – is depicted in Sally Soweol Han’s soft pastel and coloured pencil scenes, each of which shows how we can all, like the children depicted, look after our precious planet. Only that way can the young have the rich futures they hope for and deserve.

Wildlife Crossings

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Wildlife Crossings
Catherine Barr and Christiane Engel
Otter-BarryBooks

Human activity has an ever increasing impact upon the natural environment. Deforestation, agricultural expansion and urban development all have adverse consequences for the animals with whom we share our planet. This book looks at some examples of how this disruption is being ameliorated by taking positive action.
Catherine Barr allows readers to track the journeys of seven animals in different parts of the world and discover how ‘wildlife corridors’, together with education programs, are enabling precious wild creatures to survive. The first destination is India, in particular an area where the ancient paths elephants follow to find food and water are blocked by roads and railway tracks, so in order to facilitate their migration, elephant wildlife corridors have been created. Solar powered electric fences help keep the elephants out of crops that are important for the local village people who inform one another when the elephants are on the move.

UK readers may be aware of the disastrous decline in the hedgehog population but thanks to the work of the the UK Hedgehog Street campaign especially, Hedgehog Highways, people have been encouraged to leave holes in their fences to allow hedgehogs safe free passage as well as to create hedgehog friendly spaces in their gardens.

Bird migration flyways around the world with wetland stopovers, aerial bridges to help gibbons across forest gaps in China, fish ladders for migrating salmon to pass dams and weirs,

bear bridges across busy highways in Canada and cougar crossings in the USA are the other examples featured. Each one is allocated two double spreads where Catherine’s words are integrated into Christiane Engel’s detailed scenes of each location, one presenting the problems the second, how they are being solved. A final spread gives brief illustrated paragraphs about seven other animals whose ancient paths have been disrupted.

A book to raise awareness among children who one hopes, will find ways to support the vital work being done. Highly recommended for primary school collections.

I’m Not Sleepy

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I’m Not Sleepy
Raahat Kaduji
Alison Green Books

When Flora, the littlest dormouse stirs from the long winter sleep, she’s raring to go with a head full of questions, unlike her friends; they just want to sleep. She though is ready to explore the big wide world to try and find answers to ‘Why are bees so busy?’, ‘What do caterpillars eat?’ and ‘How do birds build nests?’ for instance. Ignoring the call to nap with her companions, Flora storms out and immediately encounters a duck. She tells him of her urge to see the world; he offers her a lift to the pond and off they soar together. At the pond Flora is intrigued by the wiggly things, which she learns are tadpoles and the duck talks of recently hatched ducklings.

Flora spends the spring learning new things and writing postcards home about what she observes. She follows the development of new baby birds and caterpillars

and watches the bees through the seasons as well as seeing the autumnal pursuits of spiders, squirrels and migrating geese, and despite missing her friends, she doesn’t go home.

Snow falls and Flora starts feeling drowsy. Time for a little nap,she decides, snuggling down among the tree roots where she’s happy to find something fluffy to curl up on. ZZZZZ! Little does she know that her comfy bed is a fox’s tail. Along comes a beetle that immediately realises he needs to get help for Flora before the fox wakes.

Will Flora be rescued or will she become a tasty meal for the fox?

The story has a lovely final twist to it that is sure to make young children and adult readers aloud smile and Flora shares some of the entries from her nature diary, after the tale ends.

Raahat Kaduji neatly weaves facts about the natural world into her story and her illustrations are a delightful mix of the real and the whimsical.

Hugg ’n’ Bugg: The Surprise

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Hugg ’n’ Bugg: The Surprise
Ian Brown and Eoin Clarke
Graffeg

In this third Himalayan tale starring yeti, Hugg, and his fur dwelling flea, Bugg, the former is preparing for his birthday, determined to look his best. However it’s not long before he starts feeling furious at what he sees. All the other creatures are sporting new, ornate hairstyles and Hugg is certain that rather than him being in the limelight, they’ll put him in the shade.

Little does the shaggy creature know, but the reason for all the funky tonsorial touches is a surprise party in his honour. A party with all manner of fancy food, some of it looking far from delectable having been whipped up by the guests

and then modified somewhat in transit.

With Hugg and Bugg’s friendship repaired, everyone gathers round the table to tuck in and start filling their tummies, but there’s another surprise awaiting Hugg. What will be the host’s reaction?

Diverting daftness delivered in Ian’s rhyming text and Eoin’s splendid scenes of the animals’ antics.
Fans of the duo will gobble this up but if you’ve yet to meet them, I suggest you start with Hugg ’n’ Bugg: Finding Home and discover how they got together, and then move on to the new one.

Dirty Bertie Wild! / Puppy Club: Minnie Home Alone

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These are both additions to series popular with new solo readers: thanks to the publisher Little Tiger for sending them for review.

Dirty Bertie Wild!
Alan Macdonald illustrated by David Roberts

The small boy with some disgusting habits returns for three more crazy escapades. The first, from which the book takes its name is an account of a class visit to Go Wild, a trip Bertie anticipates will be the best school outing ever, especially as the children are allowed to get muddy. However his spirits fall considerably when he learns that he’s been assigned to timid Mr Weakly’s group, the worst possible person to have as leader. There’s absolutely no chance that his group will win the prize for the best group – or is there?
Vroom! sees Bertie’s Gran deciding to start driving lessons so she can take her test in her brand new sporty red Mini. A recipe for disaster surely especially with Bertie and dog Whiffler in the car while she’s being instructed and can you believe when she takes her test. Never mind if she fails – there are always alternative ways of travelling.
Finally in Grounded, Bertie goes to great lengths to join his friends Darren and Eugene when they go skateboarding in the park.

Puppy Club: Minnie Home Alone
Catherine Jacob, illustrated by Rachael Saunders

Harper is really looking forward to her first school residential trip – four days away from home. However she’s very concerned about how her puppy Minnie will cope with being left alone when her parents are both at work and with his business taking off, Dad too is quite likely to be out of the house. The last time he’d left Minnie by herself she chewed through the cable of his laptop. She begins to think that perhaps she should pull out of the trip.
Harper and her friends do some research and learn that separation anxiety is a common problem with puppies. So begins ‘Operation Home Alone’ as they call it, with just two weeks to go until that school trip. As Harper tells Dad when they’re out for an early morning walk with Minnie, the business of ‘having a puppy is a learning experience for all of us.’ How true that is: it seems to be one step forward and then several back whenever Minnie is left alone.Then Dad drops a bombshell: he’s going to be on a business trip that coincides with Harper’s time away.
Her fellow Puppy Clubbers rally round doing everything they can, but will it be enough to ensure Minne is okay in Harper’s absence?
Another wonderfully warm story of camaraderie for young KS2 readers especially those who love dogs.

Be a Nature Explorer!

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Be a Nature Explorer!
Peter Wohlleben, illustrated by Belle Wuthrich
Greystone Kids

The author, once a forester and now running a forest academy in Germany, introduces over fifty activities that will help and encourage children to leave their screens and discover the delights of being in the great outdoors. It doesn’t matter the time of year or where they are – city, town, countryside or their own back gardens, youngsters will find something that will get them interacting with the natural world.
First though, one needs to be prepared and the two opening spreads are devoted to what to take when venturing out and some words of encouragement from the author.

As a foundation stage/ primary teacher who has been involved with regular forest school pursuits, many of the ideas are not new to me; however that will not be the case with lots of parents.

Did you know that there are more life forms in a handful of earth than there are people on earth? Wow! Most of these are so small they can’t be seen with the naked eye but why not collect a few handfuls of soil and leaf litter and investigate the different creatures therein? It’s likely there’ll be beetles, worms, slugs, snails, ants, woodlice for starters.

Identifying trees can be tricky – looking at the bark, fruits and leaves will provide useful clues for young investigators and the book contains helpful photographs of some deciduous trees and conifer as well as descriptions of what to look for.

There’s a wealth of fun learning between the covers of this book – something different for every week of the year.

Skylar and the K-Pop Headteacher

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Skylar and the K-Pop Headteacher
Luan Goldie
Walker Books

Skylar and her best friend, Dana, are obsessed with K-Pop, in particular AZ8, but when they’re about to launch a video comeback, her parents ban her from anything to do with the group for a whole week. During the lunch break at school as she’s telling Dana, a furious Skylar grabs her light-up dancing bunny ears from her rucksack and dashes off. But she forgets to remove the hat as she sets off to her next class and encounters the head teacher, Ms Callus who shouts at her and confiscates the precious hat.

Later she makes an excuse, leaves the classroom and confronts Ms Callus. Having grabbed her hat back, Skylar declares that she’s fed up with grown-ups telling her how to live her life. “I wish I was in charge,” she says twice. With that something weird starts happening: green lights flash and Skylar and Ms Callus swap bodies. Skylar is now the 71 year-old, mega-strict headteacher with a new role to try and get used to. When she turns to Dana for advice about what she needs to learn the response is.”something to do with empathy and walking in the other person’s shoes.” But how long will Skylar be like this, neither girl knows, certainly longer that the day and night they first thought.

Alongside this AZ8 announce they’re holding a competition and anyone who goes viral with their version of the ‘Hot Feet’ dance routine will win free tickets to their upcoming gig, and there’s an emergency inspection of the school to contend with. Chaos indeed.

Is it even possible that Skylar and Ms Callus can develop empathy towards one another and their lives, and if so can it be done in time for the weekend gig? It does’t help that Skylar has upset her bestie and the two have fallen out. And what about the inspectors; will they like what they see? Will Skylar repair the rift with Dana?

With lots of laugh-out-loud moments, this is a hilarious tale, at the heart of which is the importance of seeing things from another person’s viewpoint, friendship, self-belief and being true to yourself. Older KS2 readers will love it.

Bear and Bird : The Adventure and Other Stories

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Bear and Bird : The Adventure and Other Stories
Jarvis
Walker Books

The first of the four short episodes about best friends Bird and Bear – The Nothing – takes place on a Tuesday, the pals’ usual day for spotting clouds but on this particular Tuesday Bird is poorly, so instead Bear endeavours to make his friend feel better. However she declines his offers of chewy things and other foodie favourites; it’s also a no to a story, a new wonky stick and dancing. ‘Nothing” is all Bird wants. Bear is on his way out when Bird calls him back with a request. Can you guess what it is?

With Bird feeling somewhat better, the two set off for some cloud searching when they come upon a sign, DO NOT GO IN THE HOLE, Bear reads. Off they go again, Bear with his mind on clouds, Bird preoccupied with wondering what his friend is thinking about. Suddenly Bear realises he’s lost Bird and vice-versa. Bird thinks of The Hole. Could Bear be stuck down there? Bird goes to look and finds a stick that’s just right for a rescue.

But who rescues whom?

Episode three sees Bear and Bird at Leaky Lake where they come upon The Mole, a creature whose jokes Bear finds funny. Soon Bird starts to feel left out and so she decides on a get rid of Mole plan. However, things don’t quite go as she hopes as it’s Bear who feels upset. Can they remain bestest
friends or will Mole come between them?


In the final episode Mole is still waiting when the two return to the lake and he has a surprise in store: a little boat – just the thing for The Adventure under Mole’s captaincy. No matter if they encounter such things as pirates and sea monsters, they’ll surely keep each other safe.

As with previous titles in the series, this delightful duo will amuse both emergent readers and young listeners with their ups and downs and silliness that are beautifully captured in words and pictures by the inimitable Jarvis.

Rex Dinosaur in Disguise: Undercover Alien

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Rex Dinosaur in Disguise: Undercover Alien
Elys Dolan
Walker Books

Life is going well for dinosaur Rex, now a P.E. teacher, but then he upsets a human participant over a decision he makes at a competition. This is soon followed by the disappearance of every single one of the guinea pigs … ‘Ninny pig(s)’ … ‘Grumpy pig(s)’ … ‘Gwent squid(s)’ from the school pet show as a result of an accident when Rex was trying to be helpful; you can guess who gets the blame.

With the anti- monster humans determined to prove him guilty and Rex (undercover) and his friends Sandra, Anish and Bigfoot determined to prove his innocence by solving the case of the missing guinea pigs, this mission is not going to be a walk in the park, especially as it soon transpires that further guinea pig vanishings are happening all over the city. The crux of the matter is discovering who really is to blame, first stop a meeting with mayor, Jimmy Prigg: a surprise revelation awaits. The next stop is for coffee …

There follow further encounters with disguised creatures, a daring intergalactic undertaking and fyet more wild adventuring back on Earth.

Like this reviewer, I’m sure child readers will laugh out loud all through this crazy caper with its hilarious dialogue, fantastic illustrations and chapter headings such as BUM CRAC (you’ll need the book to work that one out). Let’s hope there’s a third story in the offing soon.

Pop!

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Pop!
Matt Carr
Scholastic

If you’re looking for a wacky way to encourage small children to practise counting to ten then get your hands on this rhyming story that begins to explode one rainy afternoon when the contents of a packet of popcorn is sent tumbling into a pan atop the stove. On goes the lid and happy to be out of the bag, the corn pieces are in party mood despite the rising temperature. Suddenly there comes a POP! It’s Dave delighted at his muscly new shape.

There’s no time to brag about being unique though, for almost immediately comes POP! number two; Monique has joined Dave making a ‘pair of superhero corn’. Small explosions continue as Shaun, Clare, Dean, Debbie, Ben, Sue, Wendy and Brian. joined the pair in rapid succession. A hip-hop popping party if ever there was one.

Eventually those pops stop and onto the popcorn pals there comes a shower of sugar.

Then from their new resting place the crew settles down to watch – wait for it, a movie. The kind of movie will perhaps make adult sharers cringe at it’s punny nature.

Ridiculous, irresistible fun: this book is sure to become hugely POP-ular with little humans who will want to hear it over and over as they eagerly join in with all the popping.

Number Garden / Noisy Construction / All the Things a River Can Be

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These are all new Little Tiger interactive board books: thank you to the publishers for sending them for review.

Number Garden
Sophie Ledesma

A group of animal friends are shown around the number garden by Marigold the tortoise. With a fold-out to explore on every spread, small children will enjoy accompanying them and in so doing they can practise their counting skills to ten and respond to the other questions too.
First stop is the orchard, followed in turn by a hot-house and a rockery, then it’s off to the pond, a vegetable patch and the tour finishes in the meadow with a picnic.
Vibrant art work with just the right amount of detail for the very young (including minibeasts to spot), together with the interactive nature of the words make for a fun book to share with tinies. There’s a final spread whereon Marigold gives some extra facts about the six locations visited.

Noisy Construction
text by Lauren Crisp

It’s time to visit the construction site and meet some of the large machines at work in this touchy-feely textured sound book. There’s an excavator, a backhoe, a chug, chugging digger, a dumper truck that makes a crashing noise, a very tall crane lifting and cranking a heavy load. Then little ears can listen out for the smash, smash of the bulldozer blade as it moves along on its clanking track, enjoy the rumbling sound of the road roller drum as it carries out its flattening work.
The final spread presents all the vehicles at the site and invites little humans to press the button in the corner to hear all the sounds again.

All the Things a River Can Be
James Carter and Nathalia Takeyama

A rather unlikely subject for a board book but when shared with young children, this one, with its moving pieces and flaps, will likely lead to lots of learning.
In its half dozen spreads little ones can find out what makes a river special. People sometimes think of a river as a road, an inland waterway whereon they can travel in various kinds of boat. It also provides a watery habitat for lots of animals including many kinds of birds, fish, mammals and amphibians as well as plants, some aquatic, others that grow along the river banks. Some humans too make their home on rivers, choosing to live in houseboats. On its journey from source to mouth a river moves at different speeds, sometimes a slow trickle, at other times fast flowing and fierce. People who explore river beds can find all manner of interesting things such as coins, jewels and possibly even ancient remains.
The final spread brings together many of the activities people might do on a river visit, things that give them pleasure including boating, swimming and watching wildlife.

My Baby Sister is a Diplodocus

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My Baby Sister is a Diplodocus
Aurore Petit (translated by Daniel Hahn)
Gecko Press

Adapting from being an only child to having a sibling is seldom easy as we see in this book.
It begins with a visit to the hospital to collect Mum and the new arrival. Once home the small boy narrator eagerly dangles his soft toy elephant over his baby sister, he plays her guitar music and then shows her around the house. However, before long his initial enthusiasm starts to wane, partly on account of his being told “No!” frequently and when Mum asks, “So, do you like being a big brother?” he replies firmly, “No!” and storms off to his bedroom where he dons his T-Rex pyjamas and proceeds to turn the room upside down.

Warm-hearted Dad comes in, picks up ‘big dino’ and carries him to the parental bedroom (there’s a caption informing us that big brother is a tyrannosaurus) where, snuggled up with Mum and Dad he falls asleep.

‘My baby sister is a diplodocus’ we read on the next spread, presumably feeling somewhat empowered as a much bigger T-Rex. On waking. big brother sees his new sibling in a different, much more accepting light; the two have much in common after all, he now realises.

Concisely written and illustrated with simple images in bright hues that go well with the sympathetic, engaging telling, this is a book to share with a young child in a similar situation to the
child narrator.

Frank and Bert: The One With the Missing Biscuits

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Frank and Bert: The One With the Missing Biscuits
Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Nosy Crow

Best friends Bert the bear and his foxy pal Frank (our narrator) are off for a picnic in the countryside, something they love to do but all too frequently something goes wrong. On this occasion Bert has brought a special tasty surprise and Frank is eager to find out what it is but his friend tells him he must wait a while.
Having consumed their picnic, Bert settles down for a postprandial nap. Frank decides that there’s no harm in taking a quick peep inside the box and whopee!

Bert has cooked his friend’s very favourite biscuits. It won’t matter if I eat just one, Frank tells himself; but they are so yummy that – well you can guess what he does. What will Bert’s reaction be when he wakes up? Frank thinks up a less than honest explanation for the empty box; but having lied he feels guilty, especially when Bert is so concerned for him.

There’s only one way to sort out this mess: Frank owns up and promises that the next time they go on a picnic he will make up for his wrongdoing; but the best laid plans …

This double act is a deliciously diverting delight and this tale of friendship and forgiveness is sure to make young listeners ask for more.

Isadora Moon Helps Out / Emerald and the Lost Treasure

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These are new titles in hugely popular Oxford Children’s Books series for new solo readers. Thanks to the publishers for sending them for review.

Isadora Moon Helps Out
Harriet Muncaster

When Isadora’s Mum is in bed with fairy flu, the little half fairy half vampire excitedly takes on the role of nurse. It’s not long though before her enthusiastic helping starts going wrong – very wrong. The special breakfast of strawberries is over creamy, the bathroom is awash with pink bubbly water and Dad finds himself sitting in the middle of a mess on the bathroom floor. Feeling rather guilty, Isadora offers to make amends by doing something ‘really helpful’ for her mum. However Dad’s instruction to tidy her bedroom isn’t quite what Isadora meant by ‘anything’. Instead she heads outside to Mum’s greenhouse where she accidentally spills some special soil that makes things grow extra big, extra fast. It turns out that it’s not just plants it has that effect on though.

Is there anything Isadora can get right? Happily yes and all ends perfectly.
It hardly seems possible that this is book nineteen in the highly illustrated series that has worked its special magic to help countless young children make the transition to early chapter books.

Emerald and the Lost Treasure
Harriet Muncaster

This is the first story in which Isadora Moon, Mirabelle and Emerald appear together. As it begins Emerald is preparing for a school trip. As part of an environmental project, Finders Keepers, she and her class are to spend the day sea combing – picking up rubbish dropped by humans that ends up on the ocean floor. Each pupil must keep one of the objects they find and write about it in a story later on. Emerald’s classmates soon find exciting jewellery type treasures for their stories; Emerald finds a teddy bear in the seaweed. She thinks it’s cute and is tempted to keep it but it has a tag saying it belongs to Jack who lives in Scallop Bay lighthouse: ‘finders-keepers’ is the rule under the sea, her friend Marina reminds her so Emerald takes it, promising Bertie bear that she’ll look after him. However, that evening Marina is having dinner at Emerald’s home and Emerald tells her friend that she doesn’t feel right about keeping the teddy and asks if her friend, land dweller Isadora Moon might assist them in returning Bertie to Jack.

Off goes a letter to Isadora requesting her help and on the Sunday morning they both set off to the suggested meeting place in the hope that Isadora will turn up. She does and together the three plus Mirabelle’s aunt embark on operation find Jack.


Happily Jack is sitting on the rocks by the lighthouse and he’s overjoyed to see his bear again. He shows the visitors around the lighthouse and a friendship develops which leads to Jack demonstrating his drawing prowess. Can you guess what Emerald decides is the best treasure of all?

With themes of caring for our planet and doing the right thing, this magical story will delight young readers and give them plenty to think about. Harriet’s illustrations are gorgeous and she also provides some ‘fintastic’ activities at the back of the book.,

Tourmaline and the Museum of Marvels / The Rock

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Tourmaline and the Museum of Marvels
Ruth Lauren
Little Tiger

Since falling into the Source of all magic on the island of Elsewhere during a mission to rescue her mother, Tourmaline has developed magical powers that are almost uncontrollable, the result being chaos. Her powers are virtually impossible to hide from others though her loyal buddies George and Maia are well aware of her plight.

When Tourmaline unexpectedly receives a postcard addressed to her, offering answers she heads off by airship, despite her friends’ reservations, to the market rendezvous mentioned on the card – the Dark Market – so the Living Archive informs her. She’s accompanied by Mai, her Mum Persephone and George, who stows away..

So begins a mysterious new adventure for Tourmaline, one wherein she finds it hard to know whom to trust, that sees her visiting incredible places where she receives further postcards, has some surprising and unexpected encounters, takes huge risks and makes astounding discoveries.
The final chapter of this thrilling fantasy neatly sets things up for the next book in the series due to be published early in 2025. I eagerly anticipate it.

The Rock
Ann Bryant, illustrated by Josephine Birch
Graffeg

Twins, twelve year old Finola and Zane and their mum from planet Sevent, have crash-landed on Earth. Eager to be reunited with Dad, they have begun to search but after several months they’ve heard nothing other than the telepathic message Mum received when first they arrived. The twins know they have to keep themselves out of sight from prying eyes. Mum has found a job in hospitality, and now the twins’ desire to stop hiding from everyone is becoming overwhelming, especially when Zane reveals that he’s received two cryptic messages – pictures of a rock – from Dad. On hearing what the children want to do, Mum says they must sleep on it, but that night on the news is an announcement from a scientific research company offering the ‘alien family’ 250,000 euros to participate in their ‘research programme’ and the same sum to anyone with information about the whereabouts of the ‘aliens’.

Next morning, an anxious Mum gives her blessing to the twins, now disguised, to teleport themselves to Albrigart, a rocky place with a conservation park. No matter what they do or where they go, it seems that eyes are on their every move. Can anybody at all be trusted?

Eventually Zane decides they should to go back to the flat but they become separated. With her energy depleted Finola finds herself alone, left to her own devices to return to Mum and Zane. Once reunited, the three talk and conclude that thus far, as Finola puts it, they only have one truth: “We want to find Dad and he wants to find us.”

As the book ends they know nothing of what the future holds but are sure that no matter what, they’ll undertake things as a team. This cliffhanger leaves the way open for the search to continue.
I suspect that like myself, child readers will be eager to discover if the family is finally reunited.

I Can Do That Too / No, Nancy, No! a Dog Chase in New York

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I Can Do That Too
Britta Teckentrup
Prestel

The delightful Hedgehog duo return in a new story.
Eager to do everything Big Hedgehog does, Little Hedgehog enthusiastically helps gather all the fallen leaves. Having collected a huge pile there’s just one leaf remaining and that’s on a high branch of a tree. Unable to reach it by leaping, Big Hedgehog decides to climb up the trunk. “I can do that too!” cries Little Hedgehog. However Big Hedgehog is back on the ground with the leaf by the time Little Hedgehog reaches the top branch. Thereon is a ladybird and of course Little Hedgehog unable to resist copying the insect’s actions launches itself skywards.

This is only the first of the animal actions Little Hedgehog tries and before long a whole host of animal friends starting with a mole,

have been shown what the little prickly creature can do, including swimming in the lake. That’s where during an afternoon of fun, Little Hedgehog learns that not all animals have the same set of skills and abilities. Come nightfall, it’s fortunate that the turtles are willing to offer a lift all the way home to the Hedgehogs’ residence where an owl’s hoots send Little Hedgehog off to sleep but not before a final “I can do that too!”.
Beautiful, textured scenes in Britta’s characteristic style and a gentle tale show little humans that it’s good to be eager to embrace new things but equally, it’s fine to discover that you’re not quite ready to accomplish all you try.

No, Nancy, No! a Dog Chase in New York
Alice Tait
Walker Books

Nancy and her canine best pal Roger are in New York ready to head off to the theatre to see Dogs! The Musical. On arrival Nancy spots Candy the star of the show on a lead outside and in her enthusiasm she accidentally unravels the lead and off goes Candy … through the city and into a cab destination Central Park. Nancy and Roger chase after her but Nancy can’t resist stopping several times as they pursue her into the zoo, past a parade and downtown to the Hudson River where Candy has been blown attached to a bunch of balloons. Eventually she ends up dangling from the Statue of Liberty.

As ever more of the dogs of the city join the chase young followers of the story will enjoy adding their voices to that of the long-suffering Roger with “No, Nancy, No!”

and amused to discover the total chaos Nancy has caused by her thoughtless action. Can she possibly succeed in scaling the heights, rescuing Candy and getting her back in time for the show? Happily with lots of assistance, she can and that night Candy (stage fright overcome) isn’t the only one in the spotlight.
With a final fold out map, lots of famous landmarks, a surprise pop-up, a plethora of flaps and a wealth of detail in the busy scenes, there’s plenty for youngsters to explore in this interactive travellers’ tale.

Pirates of Darksea / Interdimensional Explorers: Alien Apocalypse

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Pirates of Darksea
Catherine Doyle
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

One night Christopher writes a letter to Captain O’Malley, legendary pirate and ruler of Darksea, a secret kingdom deep in the Atlantic Ocean, begging for adventure for himself and his younger brother Max, but he receives no response. Two years later a parrot appears at Max’s bedroom window with a letter for Christopher – a letter from Captain O’Malley who is to embark on a perilous quest. But Christopher is now ill in hospital fighting for his life. What would you do if there was a possibility of a job with a reward that could help cure your brother? Max joins the parrot in a rowing boat heading for a rendezvous on the Stolen Sunrise.

Imagine the boy’s surprise when he discovers that the captain is a Pirate Queen. She offers him a deal if he’s willing to take the risk and join the crew right away, destination Darksea before the ‘Rogue Wave’ a powerful enemy comes. Of course, Max agrees. However it turns out that the Captain hasn’t told him the whole truth: the magic has dwindled drastically, this monstrous enemy is gobbling up the Darksea island of Maremaris, and the Captain needs a particular sword – the Curse Cutter. A bargain is struck: if Max helps the Captain acquire the sword, he can take some magic for his brother. A perilous task awaits.

What follows is a gripping adventure with mutiny, wraiths, fleeing mermaids and a monstrous shark man. Max’s bravery and love for his brother is the fuel that keeps him going as he faces at times, seemingly impossible challenges. After all he puts himself through though, is it even possible to save his Christopher? I just couldn’t put this down until I found out and I suspect many child readers will do the same. I love how Catherine Doyle ( a new writer to me) weaves humour and the importance of camaraderie into this thoughtful tale; the characters she’s created – human and otherwise – are truly memorable.

Interdimensional Explorers: Alien Apocalypse
Lorraine Gregory, illustrated by Jo Lindley
Farshore

At the start of this second adventure Danny’s Grandad does two things: he announces that he’s going on a cruise with Maureen, his ‘fancy woman’ as Danny’s Mum calls her. He also hands Danny a small package containing a key that means he’s now an official Apprentice Caretaker of the secret Interdimensional Lost Property Office.

Off goes Grandad leaving Danny, his best friend Modge and cousin Inaaya to cope with Returns Day in his absence. Very soon they discover that a very special star has been stolen from the vaults, it’s up to Danny and his team to expose a conspiracy and hopefully, save the whole universe. To do so they have to contend with Goregotha hordes and weird cult members: are they up to it? And who can be trusted? As this quirky intergalactic adventure twists and turns it will surely keep readers riveted as they are sucked into the fantastic world that Lorraine Gregory has created and Jo Lindley illustrated. What I enjoyed most though, was the strong bond between Danny, Inaaya and Modge who have each others’ backs no matter what.
Highly recommended.

Help! We Need a Story

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Help! We Need a Story
James Harris and Mariajo Ilustrajo
Little Tiger

The jungle animals are, so they say, bored, very bored; much too bored to take much notice of what Artie the macaque is drawing with his crayons

until eventually after hearing so many complaints, he starts creating anew, giving full rein to his imagination.

With his work almost complete, he writes two final words and then announces to his friends, “Guess what? You’re in a book.” The initial reactions to the title are less than enthusiastic; but then June Baboon starts reading; reading about dragons, a magic bear and much more – robot sharks and zombie hens even and guess who is fighting all these baddies. It’s none other than Captain Artie and his mighty mates. By the time the story is concluded, the other animals are enraptured and truly thankful. From Artie they receive a knowing smile and an anticipation that next morning more magical tales will start to unfold and all because the listeners will start to look at their world in a totally different way.

A splendid story told in rhyme wherein words and pictures show the power and vital importance of the imagination and creativity. It’s one I strongly recommend foundation stage and KS1 teachers share with their classes as well as a book parents and children read and talk about together. Make sure there are pens, crayons and paper to hand for children to use for their own story making.

Cactus Kid: The Battle for Star Rock Mountain

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Cactus Kid: The Battle for Star Rock Mountain
Emmanuel Guerrero
Flying Eye Books

In this first of a new graphic novel series Cactus Kid is in self-imposed exile in the Neverending Desert. His aim is to master magic and show his all-powerful father back in Florencia that he’s the best wizard of all time. For starters he needs a small piece of star rock, the stardust of which will upgrade his starter potion to master-grade. However others are also searching for the same thing and they’re not at all friendly. Though Cactus is a tough character, will he be put off by the mention of the Moto Brawl, a no holds barred race one of the competing teams wants him to participate in?

So begins a wacky adventure bursting with motor bikes and mayhem. There’s also a dark bounty-hunting lizard, armed with an other-worldly compass scouring the land for magic and the encounter between that lizard and Cactus Kid is pretty prickly.

During the course of the race Cactus Kid learns something very important: going it alone isn’t always the best way to go: An ally that has your back is sometimes what you need, especially one willing to part with one of their special possessions as a farewell offering.

As Cactus Kid heads off into the sunset in search of more magic, it’s good to discover that it’s not the last we readers will see of him. If your taste is for wacky magic, a lovable protagonist and terrific world building, then this dramatic offering delivered in powerful colours, comic book style, will surely fit the bill.

The Boy Who Loves To Lick The Wind

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The Boy Who Loves to Lick The Wind
Fiona Carswell and Yu Rong
Otter-Barry Books

This story features two boys – the narrator who is dark haired, and his blonde neighbour. Puzzled by the blonde boy’s behaviour, the narrator speaks to the boy’s mother who responds thus, “He’s licking the wind. You should try it.” She goes on to invite the inquirer to join them on a visit to the beach, the place where the best winds can be found. Off they go with ‘the boy next door showing his excitement by his actions and the sounds he makes. Once at the beach he dashes onto the sand stands still and begins his licking ritual, ignoring an invitation to collect shells, Instead he picks up a stone and tosses it into the water.

The two boys then spend time throwing stones until mum calls them for lunch. The boy bites into his sandwich, tosses it away and shows distress, which his mum deals with calmly.

Meanwhile the narrator starts collecting smooth stones and using them to make a castle. Just as he finishes the boy next door runs up, grabs the top stone and hurls it into the sea. The boys then take turns dismantling the castle splash by splash till nothing remains. They jump, spin and yell into the wind till Mum calls to give her son a five minute warning before it’s time to return home. This prompts both boys to dash into the sea and dance around.

The beeper sounds indicating it’s time to leave, which causes the boy to cover his ears and cry. Again Mum is empathetic and they head towards the car but before they reach it, both boys give one final tongue swirling lick of the wind. How wonderful it feels.

The following day in school the narrator tells his class during a circle time session about their day at the beach; his friend demonstrates and then they all lick the wind together.

Some child listeners and adult readers aloud will understand from the outset that the narrator’s new friend is neurodivergent. That means that his brain works in such a way that he experiences and interacts with the world differently from neurotypical people. The story, related and illustrated with great empathy, is an ideal way to introduce neurodivergence to primary school children.

Adventuremice: Mice on the Moon / Dream Weavers: Roar of the Hungry Beast

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Adventuremice: Mice on the Moon
Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
David Fickling Books

Strap yourselves in ready to blast off into space for another Adventuremice experience.
It begins one spring night as Pedro et al are sitting on deck watching the moon rise when suddenly a beetle arrives with an important message from Millie’s uncle, Professor Bernard Quartermouse summoning the Adventuremice to his laboratory right away. Off they go to Scrabble Island and almost before you can say, ‘space capsule’ Pedro, Millie and Fledermaus are in a rocket shooting into the sky, destination the moon. Supposedly, but that’s not quite what happens.

Instead they crash land on what they learn from Pontiki, another mouse who crash landed months earlier, is the minimoon, and was helped by those she calls starmice. These mice are welcoming; unlike Earthmice, they have green fur and pointy ears and offer their visitors a delicacy they call moonflower cheese as well as singing to them.

However, this place does not appeal at all to the Adventuremice who soon despair of ever seeing their homeland again. Then a realisation dawns: perhaps there is a way back after all … Time to make contact with Ground Control and inform them of their possible return to Earth. Will they make it safely back to Mousebase?

Another immersive addition to a super-silly series characterised by not too dangerous, pacy adventure told with gentle humour by Philip Reeve and delicious colour illustrations by Sarah McIntyre.

Dream Weavers: Roar of the Hungry Beast
Annabelle Sami, illustrated by Forrest Burdett
Little Tiger

Tito and Neena are now firm friends and Tito loves to spend nights dreamweaving with Neena. He enjoys seeing how his dreams come to life – they seem so real. But now something isn’t right. The teachers at their school are acting strangely and are uncharacteristically cranky. Could this be anything to do with that dastardly Bhoot. Should the friends enter the dreams of a teacher to find out why school is becoming nightmarish? Yes they decide and first it’s to be Ms Branberry’s dream – and it’s not a good one, as they find out; neither is that of headteacher Mr Tulley. In both there’s a very loud growling and the appearance of a huge, wolf-like beast.

After Tito’s encounter with the beast and his head injury, it seems to him that the veil between the dream world and the waking world has started to break down, which is exactly what the Darkweavers want. Nevertheless Tito knows that it’s up to him to face up to the beast and make sure it goes back from whence it came? Can he do so? Possibly, with the help of Neena and her cousin in Pakistan, a portal could be created.

This dramatic tale ends on a cliff-hanger indicating that Tito and Leena will be back to continue the fight against the Bhoot.

Come Out, Come Out, Chameleon!

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Come Out, Come Out, Chameleon!
Jonty Howley
Happy Yak

“I have a pet chameleon,” announces the white-haired man standing outside his home on the first spread. Beside him is his dog whose gaze is directed towards a rooftop weathervane whereon, as observant readers/listeners will see, is said chameleon. Turn over and the chameleon’s owner tells us, “The only thing is … I’ve never actually seen him.” Surely this guy needs new specs.

He continues sharing with us his possible sightings, each of which he immediately dismisses: “I thought I caught a glimpse of him among the flowers. But it must have been a trick of the light.”
All the while the chameleon is hiding in plain sight: the dog can see it, so too can we readers. On one spread the creature is sitting in the fruit bowl disguised as a banana;

turn the page and he’s lurking among the socks strewn across the bedroom floor.

Audiences will delight in both the playful way the pastel illustrations contradict the words and the dog’s attempts to help the man spot his chameleon: canine body language and facial expressions speak volumes. Eventually the owner succumbs to the possibility that his chameleon doesn’t actually exist. This prompts the dog to come up with a way to solve the chameleon conundrum and hurrah! it works – for a while at least.

Brilliant interactive fun for the very young and their adult story sharers. The simple text also makes this a good book to offer children in the early stages of their reading journey

Can You Find My Eid Presents?

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Can You Find My Eid Presents?
A.M. Dassu and Junissa Bianda
Scholastic

Panic sets in when, on the day before Eid-ul-Fitr, while her Mum is busy with preparations for the festival, Hana is sent up to her parents’ bedroom to collect the Eid presents ready for the family visit to Nani’s the following day. Having searched high and low in places both likely and unlikely, she hasn’t found a single one. Could they be outside in the garden, she wonders going out to check; but no luck. Without gifts this will be the worst Eid ever, she thinks to herself that night.

In the evening when her dad comes back in the car she rushes to ask him what to do, but is told to go and ask her Nana for help instead. Off she goes next door and …

As the story unfolds and young listeners join Hana in her present hunt, they will sense her mounting panic at her failure to locate them; this is captured in Junissa Bianda’s expressive illustrations of the little girl.

With Eid coming up in April, this book, with its search-and-find element, is one to share with young children at home or in an educational setting prior to the celebrations. You might also consider buying it as an Eid gift for a youngster you know who will be celebrating the festival.

The Secret Life of Bugs

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The Secret Life of Bugs
Moira Butterfield and Vivian Mineker
Happy Yak

In the latest of The Secret Life series Luna the ladybird takes readers on a journey into the world of insects that includes traditional tales as well as information. She begins by presenting her own life story starting when she was one of a cluster of tiny eggs on the underside of a leaf through her metamorphosis until she became a bright red ladybird with seven black spots. I was surprised to learn that there are over 5,000 different kinds of ladybirds in the world. On the next spread, using herself as exemplar, Lily presents the body parts that are similar in all insects as well as talking about some of the differences such as mouthparts. Did you know ladybirds and many other insects smell by means of special organs on their feet?

After this is a traditional tale (one of the five included in this book) How the Butterflies Got their Colour, based on a legend told by native American People living in the Arizona desert.

Insect homes, night fliers, nesting habits are the topics of the next three spreads.

I laughed as I read The Puzzle of the Honey Tree, a traditional tale from southern Europe wherein the bees and the wasps in a woodland kingdom argue over the ownership of a honeycomb containing yummy honey. The idea of the rival factions having to go before an arbitrator really amused me.

Other spreads offer facts on swimming bugs, noisy ones, very large and very small bugs, how bugs see,

some insect ‘superpowers’ and more, concluding with pages encouraging young readers to get involved in helping insects survive so they can continue their vital work on our planet. There are also bug stories from Ancient Greece, Brazil and South America.

In my experience most young children are fascinated by insects; this book will surely further fuel their interest in and understanding of, these important creatures.

Lola and Larch : Fix a Fairy Forest

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Lola and Larch : Fix a Fairy Forest
Sinéad O’Hart, illustrated by Rachel Seago
Nosy Crow

Lola’s mum is a forest ranger and during the working day she and her little brother Noah are often looked after my Grandma. One stormy night on the way home from Gran’s in Mum’s car, something causes Mum to brake suddenly, something that looks like a rabbit but has a kind of shine to it. They take the little thing home to care for it overnight and the following morning the rabbit isn’t in the cage, instead there’s a tiny fairy wearing a rainbow pendant … a tree fairy, albeit with mixed up magic, and she urgently wants to get back home. This sometimes rabbit, sometimes fairy tells Lola that she’s called Larch Mugwort, she’s lost and must protect the other fairies from Euphorbia Spurge, the “baddest fairy in the forest”. Larch is also a bit of a rebel and having seen a strange dark thing the previous night in the forest, suspects it’s something malevolent to do with Euphorbia. Meanwhile Lola’s mum has started putting up ‘FOUND’ posters of a rabbit in the hope of finding Larch’s owner.

Next day Lola takes Larch to school in her bag and it will come as no surprise that at her teacher’s behest, Lola’s Gran comes and collects the creature; the problem is she arrives with a strange woman who claims that Larch belongs to her.

Lola has to think quickly to avoid having to give up Larch and once they’re back at Gran’s, Larch tells Lola that the stranger was in fact Euphorbia Spurge.

There follows a lot of shape changing, the marching of a beetle army, a pitting of wits, a coming together of fairies, a confrontation between Euphorbia and King Ash (Larch’s father) and more. However all ends satisfyingly with a declaration by Larch about being different and a final picnic.

With friendship and magic aplenty, this is funny, sweet and a great start to a new series for younger readers. Rachel Seago’s plentiful black and white illustrations are a quirky delight and help break up the text for the less confident. Anyone for pancakes?

My Friend Andy

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My Friend Andy
Emma Chinnery
Little Tiger

Fluffy the dog, narrator of this story tells how every day s/he walks through the city to the park with best friend Lilly and her Mum. Each morning they walk past Andy, another dog but Fluffy is never allowed to stop and play with him.

One day though, Fluffy chases a ball out of the park and gets completely lost in the city. In all the hustle and bustle Fluffy’s cries for help are drowned; but then Andy comes along with his Dad. Realising that the little dog is lost, Andy’s Dad takes Fluffy in his arms and they walk to a quiet place for a sing song that eventually lulls them all off to sleep.

Next morning they start searching for Lilly and having spent the whole day so doing as night descends on the city, Andy’s Dad spots a ‘Missing’ sign giving Fluffy’s address tacked to a lamp post.

So they head straight there and a joyful reunion takes place. Sadly Andy is not asked in to play and as Fluffy and Lilly snuggle together in bed it’s clear to Lilly that something is still upsetting the dog. Fluffy tries to explain but is unsure Lilly’s understood. However, the following morning on their way to the park something special happens …

Emma Chinnery’s poignant story will surely make readers aloud especially, think deeply about how they view homeless people. Non-judgemental child listeners I suspect, will be more intent on rooting for Fluffy, hoping for a reunion with Lilly and later with new friend, Andy. Emma’s watercolour scenes of everyday life in the busy city capture so well what is never said about how people perceive the homeless.

Be My Sunflower

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Be My Sunflower
Kathryn Simmonds and Rosalind Beardshaw
Walker Books

Vernon is a sunflower seed, one of many in the packet Miss Okoro has for the children in her class to plant. All Vernon’s fellow seeds are excited about being released into the world, a world Vernon knows a considerable amount about – scary things like birds, slugs and stormy weather – and thus he feels apprehensive.

Come the next morning a little girl named Carla is given Vernon. Her enthusiastic response , “Be my sunflower” makes the seed feel somewhat more relaxed. Time passes; Carla waters Vernon, the sun shines, warming him and it’s so snug and safe in the soil. Meanwhile the other seeds have begun to germinate

and they encourage him to do likewise, extolling the delights of the stars. Their enthusiasm makes Vernon curious: perhaps he could just have a teeny peep. The stars glitter in the night sky but just as Vernon is reconsidering his opinion of the big wide world, something large swoops by, scooping him up and then dropping him way way down into a sandpit. There the frightened seed stays all night. In the morning a little boy picks him up and hands him to Carla. Carla immediately recognises Vernon and puts him back in his pot.

By the end of the week, Vernon is the only seed that hasn’t sprouted. Carla feels devastated and cries lots of tears right over his flowerpot. The ungerminated Vernon knows that he must act: he spends the night pushing through the soil. Is he brave enough when morning comes to remain exposed? For Carla, yes he is and she is overjoyed. So begins a new way of being in the garden: Vernon grows and flowers and yes, he still knows about the scary things, but now he also knows about some of the wonderful things the world offers, the most important of all being a very caring little girl.

What a lovely story about finding the courage to emerge from your comfort zone and take on the world. Its warmth and reassurance shine through like the sun that sends its rays down to Vernon. Young children will be amused at the seeds having names and the way they talk to one another; will certainly empathise with Vernon and be rooting for him to emerge and reach for the sky. Rosalind Beardshaw’s mixed media, digitally worked illustrations of the personified plants are such fun.

Counting Sheep

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Counting Sheep
Michelle Robinson and Nikki Dyson
Walker Books

Sheepdog Sam has had a tiring day and he’s more than ready for sleep. Not so the sheep; they’re still way too lively. Sam suggests they should try counting sheep ie themselves to make them nod off. He starts “One, Two …”; the sheep try to continue but clearly need lots more practice, so Sam notices as he dashes off towards other wakeful animals. He gives the horses the same ‘count yourselves’ instruction, which results in Sam feeling more drowsy and the horses uttering letters of the alphabet.

It soon transpires that all the farm animals are still wide awake even the cows and Sam leads them into the barn urging them to demonstrate the sleep-inducing counting to the entire farmyard contingent.

The result is only a lot of mooing: it’s time to visit the hen house to seek an answer to the wakefulness epidemic. It’s there that Sam finally discovers the insomnia explanation; it’s also another counting opportunity for the other animals.

Michelle Robinson’s comical bedtime story and counting book with a difference, in combination with Nikki Dyson’s wonderfully expressive illustrations of the farm animals, will surely make wide awake young children giggle. It also offers lots of counting occasions – albeit sometimes slightly chaotic ones – on almost every spread.

My Mother’s Tongues

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My Mother’s Tongues
Uma Menon and Rahele Jomepour Bell
Walker Books

Sumi’s mother speaks two languages, Malayalam because she grew up in Kerala and English because she learned it at school and having emigrated to the USA ten years back, continues doing so now sometimes using both when she talks to her daughter. Sumi the narrator was born in the United States, uses Malayalam at home with her family and as a result of listening carefully to others at school and around the neighbourhood, describes herself as having two tongues like her mother. She goes on to say that when she visits Kerala with her family each summer she uses Malayalam with her relations and her ability to understand and speak it is improving.

She explains that as her family tell her, if she stops using a language she might forget it. I know that to be true with my speaking of Hindi. The more languages a person learns and speaks, the more people s/he is able to converse with: Sumi’s aunt for example is able to use Malayalam, English, Hindi and Spanish.

But imagine how many opportunities a person might have who is multilingual: that’s what Sumi aspires to. I love that she concludes by saying ‘Having a tapestry of tongues will be my superpower.’

This celebration of learning and using new languages is superb, showing how it helps overcome differences and borders of all kinds as we connect with people from all over the world.

Using canvas backgrounds and quilted textures, Jomepour Bell emphasizes the weaving theme of Uma Menon’s lyrical text in this illuminating book. Everybody should read this especially those who say such things as ‘English is spoken all over the world, so why bother to learn another language.’

Kevin the Orange

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Thank you to Alan and Little Door Books for inviting Red Reading Hub to be part of the blog tour for this picture book:

Kevin the Orange
Alan Windram and Olla Meyzinger
Little Door Books

One day Kevin the orange’s best fruity friend Brian the pear – a wise bibliophile by nature – discovers that Kevin is having a colour crisis. Fed up with a life that seemingly lacks fun, he’s decided to turn blue. But how? Brian suggests that by visiting the North Pole and immersing himself in the snow for some time, he will become blue. Suitcase in hand, off goes Kevin.

On arrival he selects a suitable spot, sits in the snow and waits. BRRR! Yes he turns a blue hue but quickly realises it’s not for him. Back he goes, seeks out Brian and asks his advice once more. Now red is his must-be colour. You can probably guess what he’s told to consume to make him sufficiently hot for that to happen. And oh my goodness! it certainly has a powerful effect but not a pleasant one.

Kevin continues consulting his friend and trying other colours

until eventually after a series of further mishaps, he realises there’s really only one colour that’s right for him.

Being true to yourself and the best version of that self you possibly can is an important life lesson for children to learn. Alan’s funny story together with Olla Meyzinger’s zany, exuberant scenes of Kevin’s colourful capers will induce giggles aplenty when you share this with young children.
Four year old Faith with whom I shared the book (several times at her request), was particularly tickled at the sight of a pink Kevin sporting his swimming trunks and arm bands as he pedals off to join the jolly grapes in their swimming pool. 

Be sure to check out the other posts in the blog tour.

Future Hopes: Hopeful stories in a time of climate change

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Future Hopes: Hopeful stories in a time of climate change
ed. Lauren James
Walker Books


‘… dreams and stories are the real seeds of change.’ So says Nicola Davies in her foreword to
this book, a collection of nine compelling short stories edited by Lauren James, the theme being the climate crisis.

First we have Eyeballs, Tentacles and Teeth by Oisin McGann’s exciting tale of plastic eating bacteria and geoengineering with its unintended consequences – there’s a giant squid in this one. Next comes Tolá Okogwu’s Saving Olumide, a tale of community food production using a farm created on the roof of an apartment building, family love and neighbourly kindness. All the stories are thought-provoking and each has its own appeal. I laughed at Louie Stowell’s playful comic strip They Came Back with its rewilding theme and fanciful elements; but I think my absolute favourite is M.G. Leonard’s Food of the Future which tells how two friends win their school competition which asks that pupils create a sustainable, preferably innovative dish; the Bug Burgers that Borneo and Francesca make are assuredly that, but they taste delicious too.

Lauren James follows each story with a summary and the facts behind the fiction, together with observations and ideas about how each of us, through our lifestyle choices, can make a difference. In so doing, having read this optimistic book, one hopes today’s children feel galvanised and sufficiently empowered to become part of the change that saves our precious planet Earth. With its terrific cover art by David Litchfield, it’s a must have collection that needs to be in every upper primary and secondary class collection.

Maisy Loves Bees / Maisy Loves Trees

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Maisy Loves Bees
Maisy Loves Trees
Lucy Cousins
Walker Books

Young children’s favourite rodent Maisy Mouse has turned green – not literally of course: rather, she’s become a champion of helping to protect our precious planet.
In these Maisy’s Planet interactive board books, little humans are invited to join Maisy as she finds out about two of the most important organisms of the natural world. Maisy Loves Bees begins in her garden where she learns the basic characteristics of those stripy little insects and discovers why bees are so vital, what they need, what’s their role in nature. She also visits a beehive, finds a honey bees’ nest and finally invites her friends to join her in the garden where they all watch the bees busy at work.

In Maisy Loves Trees, she finds out what a tree is, how it grows, investigates different varieties of leaves, learns about seasonal changes through the year, discovers that not all kinds of trees undergo these changes and visits the park with Cyril the squirrel and Tallulah the chick to see examples of trees from all over the world.

With bold, bright illustrations, a final fold-out scene and simple explanatory texts, these are just right for encouraging tinies to become lovers of nature. Share and then go and do some investigating outdoors.

Keep Up, Duck!

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Keep Up, Duck!
Ivan and Rachel Bates
Walker Books

Puck , the smallest of Mamma Duck’s brood has trouble keeping up with the others as they make their way to the lily pond. By the time they reach the boating lake Puck is way, way behind so Mamma calls, “Keep up, Duck!” Puck looks around at the boats and being an astute little thing, comes up with a solution that sees him hopping and plopping to rejoin the rest of his family.

However he soon falls behind again and again he responds to the titular “Keep up, Duck1” from Mamma by hop, hopping onto a skateboard, then a child’s seat on an adult’s cycle and plopping back with his siblings. But then barking dogs cause another distraction

so Puck hop hitches a ride from one dog then another until with a final plop! he reaches the lily pond at last. And guess what: despite being smaller than all his siblings, diminutive duckling Puck has become the speediest.

Told using a repeat pattern text with a wealth of onomatopoeia and splendidly expressive watercolour and pen scenes of the adorable ducklings and their journey, this problem-solving tale is a delight to read aloud to young children. I suspect it will become a storytime favourite with foundation stage listeners. It would also be a great book for early readers to try for themselves.

We, the Curious Ones

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We, the Curious Ones
Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Hari & Deepti
Walker Studio

Story and science and their unlikely interconnectedness help us all find meaning in human existence. This symbiotic relationship is explored in the author’s lyrical prose and the two illustrators’ dreamy cut paper art in this book. They take readers on a sweeping journey through time that looks at our evolving understanding of the universe starting from creation mythology …

right through to our current and still growing understanding and knowledge.

We see that to humans, Earth was once considered the centre of the universe, then it was thought of as a planet that revolves around the Sun, next the Sun was considered to be one of billions of stars

and eventually, Earth became seen as one of numerous planets, a medium sized one ‘circling an average star in an ordinary galaxy in an unimaginably vast universe’ a universe that is ‘mostly dark and seems almost empty.’ The designer’s considered choice of a small font might be seen as a metaphor for how very tiny human beings are in this universe and the whole book invites us to think deeply, ask big questions and keep an open mind as new ideas continue to emerge. Awe and wonder – yes but so much more.

There’s a lengthy afterword that finishes thus: ‘We are the storytellers. / We are the curious ones.’ May it ever be so. A book to share and discuss with readers in primary classrooms and beyond, as well as in the home.

Snack Please!

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Snack Please!
Georgie Birkett
Walker Books

Along with many little humans (including some of my relations), Gertie mouse has gone from an eager devourer of all kinds of food to a constant demander of snacks – many varieties of snacks especially her favourites. The result is that she feels too full when it comes to meal times and the sharing of the delicious meal her daddy has so painstakingly prepared.

And, no matter what she and Daddy do together, Gertie would always say, “Snack, snack”. Feeling totally frustrated her dad decides something must be done so he takes his little snacker to see Grandma at the community garden. Surprisingly little Gertie gets so involved with helping the workers there that she barely even thinks of snacks. Moreover, when her gran asks what Gertie would like to do with the fruits of her labours, she surprises her dad with her idea.

What a delicious celebration of preparing and sharing food: any parent who has a snack fanatic like Gertie would do well to get their hands on this fun story that looks at young children’s food habits.
Georgie Birkett’s illustrations are full of wonderful details that both adult readers aloud and young children will enjoy exploring; and her mouse characters are SO endearing.

Zooming the Zoo

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Zooming the Zoo
John Dougherty, illustrated by Tom Morgan-Jones
Otter-Barry Books

There are over sixty poems in this splendid collection. Most are light-hearted in tone but nonetheless the author often uses humour to put across serious ideas, my most favourite being Just Let Me Read, which wearing my teacher’s hat, is spot on and absolutely in the spirit of a recent Guardian report about the joy having been sucked from the education system by the present government. The poem begins thus: ‘Just let me read / Without counting commas / Identifying idioms / Noticing nouns / Analysing analogies // Just let me feel a sense of wonder / / Without asking me to wonder / How it was achieved.’ Himself an ex-teacher, Dougherty doesn’t say that this should never be done, rather that it should not be the raison d’etre for asking children to read something.

I’m sure children will be amused by When You’re a Kid about them being able to sit on a loo seat the wrong way round and pretending to be riding a motorbike, whereas teachers cannot do this. I guess it rather depends where the loo happens to be: this teacher is able to do so in the privacy of her own bathroom.

Another poem I particularly like is the three-liner In the Library, which says so much in so few words. Another is Learning to Walk about the importance of risk-taking in learning.

The author’s early life in Ireland is the subject of both Taking My Children to Larne in which he recalls a time during The Troubles when bombings were as he says ‘normal’. It’s also mentioned in The First Time I Went to Scotland wherein he remembers being searched before entering shops in Northern Ireland.

Finally, I suspect everyone will be amused at the titular poem about a Zoom meeting that doesn’t quite go to plan on account of animal mishaps.

Whatever your children’s feelings about poetry, it’s definitely worth sharing some of John’s work with them; I’m sure you’ll find poems to please everybody. Individual readers will enjoy Tom Morgan-Jones’ black and white illustrations.

The Dolls’ House

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The Dolls’ House
Tanya Rosie and Claudia Ravalli
Oxford Children’s Books

When Mia finds an abandoned dolls’ house in the street near to her new home, she immediately decides to take it back to her house. Once there she straightway begins operation renovation by giving it a coat of bright yellow paint and because the paint hasn’t dried by bedtime, Mia has to leave it outside overnight.

Next morning to her surprise she sees a boy looking at the dolls’ house and he asks to play with her. Mia agrees and she and Aaron spend the day making things for the dolls’ house. The following day Aaron appears again, accompanied by his sister who has an offering for the house and also wants to play.

Gradually that dolls’ house becomes a meeting place where lots of children enjoy playing together – the whole summer long.

Then one evening Mia notices a face briefly staring out from behind the curtains of the house opposite and during the rainy autumn days she waves at the boy who merely smiles. As winter approaches Mia’s mum suggests bringing the dolls’ house indoors but although Mia agrees, she asks to leave it outside for just one more night. She carefully positions an umbrella over the house – just in case – and the following morning the precious dolls’ house is in rather a state. Then she hears a sound and there is the boy from behind the curtain offering shyly to help her fix the house. In his outstretched hands he holds something special.

But Mia too does something special …

With themes of friendship, sharing and empathy, this is a wonderfully heart-warming story to share. If you read it aloud to a class, make sure you have plenty of time for your listeners to explore the details in Claudia Ravalli’s illustrations, large and small. The final fold-out spread of the house interior shows the fully furnished dollhouse with its diverse residents – a visual treat – and a reminder of the enduring fascination of small world play for children.

The Princess and the Pee

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The Princess and the Pee
Effua Gleed and Juanita Londoño Gaviria
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

This is a modern fairy tale wherein young Princess Amma struggles with a problem that will resonate with lots of families: she wets the bed and is constantly fretting about so doing. The Queen, the King, and the palace staff all have ridiculous suggestions: eating dry toast just before bedtime to soak up all the pee, sleeping with lemons beneath her pillow, and putting feather dusters by the loo so that the princess can “giggle all her pee out before she goes to bed.” Needless to say none of these work: the princess’s worries remain and she wakes to a wet bed every morning.

Fortunately wise Grandma Grace is much more supportive in her approach; “Let’s take our time. Let’s be steady. / She’ll stop when she is good and ready.” is what she urges.

One morning having shooed the other adults out of Princess Amma’s bedroom, Grandma gives her a bubble bath, then sits beside the child and with an encouraging smile tells her, ““My darling Amma, a little bit of pee will NEVER come between you and me.” That evening Grandma Grace snuggles beside her granddaughter and together they let their imaginations grow into magical stories

after which Amma is lulled into slumberland by her Grandma’s calming singing. Come the morning Amma’s bed is to her delight, dry. The palace residents are surprised. other than Grandma Grace, of course; she knows that Amma’s journey to dry nights has just begun and that eventually it will become the norm.

This is a delightfully whimsical, lighthearted way to approach a tricky, often embarrassing issue for younger children, the humour and fantasy nature of which should help make it easier to cope with. Juanita Londoño Gaviria’s textured illustrations are splendidly expressive and convey the changing mood of the story well throughout. I love the portrayal of the supportive relationship of Grandma Grace towards Amma: just what any child in a similar situation needs.

Wanna See A Llama? / We’re Going on an Egg Hunt

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Wanna See A Llama?
Simon Philip and Ian Smith
Oxford Children’s Books

In this equally entertaining sequel to Wanna See A Penguin? the same young animal expert, so she says, now includes llamas in her field of expertise. She invites her friend to accompany her on a llama-spotting expedition around the city. As they walk, they encounter all manner of creatures – humped, scaly, furry with spots, shelled,

very long-necked, soft and woolly, but a llama? Not around here declares our self-dubbed expert who evidently hasn’t noticed any of the posters advertising a parade as she leads her long suffering friend who identifies each animal, on a wild-llama chase.
Asserting on the penultimate spread, ‘There can’t be any llamas round here’ our leader heads homewards.

Young listeners will delight in the final spread whereon Ian shows a Llama Parade just behind the two children. Those same listeners will also have enjoyed spotting a llama (or two) in the background of every other double page illustration.

We’re Going on an Egg Hunt
Goldie Hawk and Angie Rozelaar
Nosy Crow

Unashamedly using the nursery favourite ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ as the basis, Goldie Hawk sends her three young child protagonists, springing into action in search of eggs, baskets in hand. As they walk, the children encounter pecking, clucking hens, munching-crunching bunny rabbits, hopping frogs,

rustling-swishing plants until eventually – yippee! They discover ten eggs. Having loaded their baskets, it’s time to make the return journey back the way they came, arriving just in time to take part in a joyful Easter parade.

Angie Rozelaar’s vibrant scenes with splashes of day-gio pink and luminous green convey the freshness and joy of springtime and of the search. Just right for sharing with very young children as spring and Easter approach. I suggest buying to give instead of an Easter egg; its pleasures will last SO much longer.

High-Five Me! In the Jungle / High-Five Me! At the Farm / Ancient Greece Pop Ups

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High-Five Me! In the Jungle
High-Five Me! At the Farm
Jess Hitchman, illustrated by Carole Aufranc
Happy Yak

These are the first two in a new board books series. Each has five double spreads, a simple, bouncy rhyming narrative written by Jess Hitchman and a sequence of vibrant, uncluttered scenes by Carole Aufranc.
In In the Jungle little ones will meet Tiger, Chimpanzee, Parrot

and Sloth, each one peeping from a large flap waiting to be high-fived by a young child and the final one has a mirror hidden beneath its flap. This will encourage little humans to high-five themselves.
Equally playful, At the Farm, Horse, Cow, Sheepdog, and Sheep await a little human’s high-five and sometimes introduces the sound the animal makes.
These are just right for the very youngest children; they will love the playful nature of the books and I suspect, want to share them with an adult (or older sibling) over and over again.

For much older children is:

Ancient Greece Pop Ups
David Hawcock and Javier Joaquin
nuinui kids

Ancient Greece often forms part of the upper KS2 history curriculum for it gives children an opportunity to gain some understanding of the culture of an ancient civilisation and how this has influenced the way life is lived today. In Ancient Greece for instance, only Athenian men aged 18 and over were able to make laws by debating and voting; neither women nor slaves could participate in decision making in the direct democracy practised in Athens.

Elements of Greek mythology are also taught to 10/11 year olds and this too is the subject of two of the dramatic pop-up spreads in the book. Included as well are brief facts relating to Athens (circa 500 BCE), trade, war and heroes. With its diorama style art by Javier Joaquin, primary teachers may like to include this in their resources to whet the appetites of learners.

Rudy and the Ghastly Gathering / Press Start: Super Rabbit Boy Blasts Off!

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Rudy and the Ghastly Gathering
Paul Westmoreland, illustrated by George Ermos
Oxford Children’s Books

When Rudy and Femi are invited to Edie’s birthday party they are warned that ghost parties are ‘a little different’. It’s in a haunted house after all, but why has Edie been keeping the event under wraps? Nevertheless the two are determined to make it her best birthday so far. Come Saturday the friends skate their way to Edie’s home taking with them her special present, a present they decide won’t compete with the super bike her dad conjures up. As expected Edie wants to try it out at the Skateway immediately, so off they go, with Edie’s little spirit-sister Holly tagging along.

Once there Holly straightway starts drawing attention to herself pretending to vanish and it becomes difficult to tell which disappearances are pretence and which real. It’s down to the friends to work out what’s what and find Holly before she’s washed away by raging river water. Can they do so and what about Edie’s birthday party? Will a spookily special celebration be shared by all?

This latest exciting adventure wherein friendship and teamwork are vital will be eagerly seized by fans of the series. Those who have yet to discover the joys of Paul Westmoreland’s gothic-inspired early readers, powerfully illustrated by George Ermos, would be better to read the first story Rudy and the Wolf Cub beforehand.

Press Start: Super Rabbit Boy Blasts Off!
Thomas Flintham
Nosy Crow

I know many Super Rabbit enthusiasts who will want to join Sunny and Super Rabbit Boy on another adventure. As the book opens a party is under way in Animal Town in celebration of the dastardly King Viking having gone away for ever, destination outer space. But suddenly in the middle of town a rocket lands from which disembarks a green alien calling itself Glob Glorp. The message is that King Viking and his army of robots is causing a lot of trouble in outer space. The alien lends Super Rabbit Boy his Level 1 rocket and off zooms the rabbit to deal with things.

Tasks entail overcoming mega Rocket Robots and their bosses and saving lots of aliens including Flobs and Roo-Roos, in order to upgrade his rocket to higher levels, till he has a Level 10 rocket, but he still hasn’t found the evil King Viking. Eventually with a Level 11 rocket, Super Rabbit Boy lands and comes face to face with the being he thinks is the one he seeks. But could it be somebody else? If so, then what?

This fifth episode moves at a rapid pace that will please young video game enthusiasts as well as fans of the series. It’s also a good one to offer older reluctant readers.

Sounds Good!

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Sounds Good!
Hans Könnecke and Ole Könnecke
Gecko Press

Over fifty musical instruments including the voice and computer are introduced in this book originally published in German and here translated by Melody Shaw.. Each one is allocated a double spread whereon there’s an amusing illustration of an animal instrumentalist, the instrument is briefly described and there are additional details sometimes on its origin, sometimes about how it’s played. Many of those featured – the guitar, violin, recorder, piano, triangle, castanets,

drums – will be familiar to young children and I suspect they will be fascinated with some of the others – pan pipes, accordion, concertina, and the sheer size of the organ, for instance.

Young readers may also be surprised by the inclusion of the computer and four different types of human voice.
Each spread also includes a QR code which, when scanned, links to a short music clip composed by Hans Könnecke—sufficient to give a taster of the range, mood and power of the particular instrument. All the instruments can be heard together by scanning the QR code on the book’s back cover.

I love Ole Könnecke’s quirky comical illustrations of the instrumentalists be they strumming, plucking, blowing, drawing a bow, tapping sticks or whatever. Who wouldn’t be amused by a snake playing a glockenspiel or an otter entertaining a snail by playing a concertina?

A clever combination of learning and listening: what a fun way to introduce young children to music be that in the classroom or at home.

I Love Books

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I Hate Love Books
MariaJo Ilustrajo
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

On the last day of term, the girl narrator along with her classmates receives this parting comment from her teacher, “Enjoy your holidays, and don’t forget to read a book!” This girl, we then learn is a total bibliophobe. Nonetheless she’s duly taken to the library but nothing there appeals in the slightest

so it’s left to mum to make the choice for her.

Back home, the girl makes herself comfortable and reluctantly, opens the book. To her surprise, she’s almost immediately drawn into the story, a wonderful adventure story wherein she meets a furry guide

who leads her on a search for special ingredients. And what are these ingredients for? The most powerful of all spells …

If ever a child needs convincing of the magical power of books and stories – give them this, Mariajo’s new picture book that has everything you could want – adventure, magic, a demonstration of the power of the imagination and terrific illustrations with clever colour changes. I love the sneaky insertion of the author’s previous two picture books on the class bookshelf on the first spread, as well as a certain polar bear who, along with several other book characters, appears on the final page. Don’t miss out on the endpapers either. As a life-long bibliophile, I love everything about this story.

Once Upon A Storytime / Grandmas are the Greatest

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These are both Bloomsbury Children’s Books publications – thank you to the publisher for sending them for review.

Once Upon A Storytime
Gareth Peter and Natelle Quek

Every night Nia and her mum lose themselves in a bedtime story, usually featuring the story components Nia likes most. One night after the story ends, Nia asks, “What if I get lost, like the children in that book?” She describes a scary scenario from a fairy tale, going on to ask if her mum would rescue her and her mum explains just how she’d rescue her. Nia continues conjuring up scary scenes and for each one her mum describes a rescue operation prefacing her plan with a reassuring “Yes, always!”

Nia comments on how brave her Mum is.

Mum then turns things around asking Nia, “But what if I was lost?” Her daughter responds positively and having established that they are both brave and always there for one another, it’s time to switch off the light, Mia safe in the knowledge that their adventures will always have a happy ever after ending.

With dragons, unicorns, wicked witches,

brave princesses, treasure and faraway lands, this is an enchanting bedtime book and one that shows young children stories can empower them. Natelle Quek’s scenes call forth wondrous images and with her clever use of dark and light hues, truly bring the nicely flowing story to life. Young listeners will love identifying the classic fairy tales from which Nia gets her storylines.

Grandmas are the Greatest
Ben Faulks and Mia Tudor

Taking little ones through every type of brilliant grandma, author Ben Faulks and illustrator Mia Tudor’s elevating book is a heartfelt celebration of intergenerational love. Prompted by a question from one small child to her Grandma, readers are introduced to all kinds of grans, each one special in her own way. Among others we meet an actor, a gardener, an ambulance driver, an acrobat and a mountaineer, there’s even a secret spy grandma. The important thing though, is that every one of them shares a relationship with her grandchild that is as precious and dependable as the Grandma who responds to the opening query.

Joyfully written and illustrated, this is a delight for any Grandma to share with her own grandchild or grandchildren.

Fairy vs Wizard

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Fairy vs. Wizard
Jenny McLachlan
Farshore

Eleven year old Danny, has just started at a new school and, so he writes in his diary, he’s desperate for people there to think he’s cool and funny. The problem is that when he opens his lunch box what does he discover inside but fairy, Stink. She says she’s returned to the Humanyworld for a short break and will go home the following day.She does so but only briefly; next day when Danny returns from school there she is sitting on his bed crying. Danny decides to let her stay till the weekend and so begins another spectacularly silly story.

With an agreement by Stink to keep three simple rules, off go Danny, his friend Kabir and Stink to school next morning and almost immediately on arrival Stink breaks one of the rules causing embarrassment to Danny. Then comes news from Danny’s teacher, Miss Nichol, that his form group is to do an assembly and she has written a play for them to perform. It’s called Nelly the Element and the Wizard of Doom and everybody wants to be the wizard.

However a Stink initiated disaster happens in a different assembly and Danny gets labelled as Disco Danny by his classmates, as well as a lot of others when a video of his dance goes viral. As compensation, Miss Nicol tells Danny he’s to play the wizard and by so doing earn a new title, Danny the Wizard. Then comes an announcement from Stink: her good deed is to invite her wizard friend Rufus Nobeard, to come and give Danny wizarding lessons.

With the revelation that Rufus has changed, and on account of crimes committed is now a wanted wizard, things get increasingly chaotic. (I won’t spoil things and reveal what happens thereafter.) Amazingly though, everything ends happily, but I hope, not, ever after, as the series is such fun. I found myself giggling at every turn of the page and so will primary school readers of this second hilarious book of daft diary entries liberally sprinkled with author Jenny’s comical black and white illustrations.

Please!

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Please!
Simon Philip and Nathan Reed
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Deliciously anarchic and utterly bonkers, this is the story of what happens to young Bill who stops at an ice-cream van, forgets to be polite and say please. He’s kidnapped by alien toads and taken into their spaceship, which crashes in the middle of a jungle. Surprisingly the crocs that lurk therein fix the spaceship, climb aboard too and off they go again.

Soon Bill feels hunger pangs and wants to stop for a snack but guess what: he forgets to say the vital words and oops! they all tumble on top of a yak. Will he ever learn to be polite? Not before the yak charges into a fairy-tale land with witches, knights, wizards and others, some decidedly bellicose …

Further chaos follows of a very wet kind, which seems to jump start the politeness cells in Bill’s brain: “Just stop this now, PLEASE!” he yells. Lo and behold, almost before you can say farewell, the lad finds himself back where he started, beside Mr Simon’s ice-cream van where again he now knows to say please. However, there’s another very important little word that he forgets to use. Uh-oh! …

Simon Philip’s hilarious text and Nathan Reid’s equally hilarious scenes of Bill’s lesson-learning journey will certainly have children and adult readers aloud, laughing at every turn of the page and the former one hopes, will not be forgetful when they request lots of re-readings of the book.