Author jillrbennett

I Can See Nature’s Rainbow

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I Can See Nature’s Rainbow
Vicky Woodgate
Scholastic


There’s a kaleidoscope of vibrant colours to be found in the natural world and that’s what author/artist Vicky Woodgate celebrates in this book.


Starting with blue, a spread is allocated to each of eleven different colours. Yes we all know that sometimes the sky is blue but did you know that there is a blue daisy and a blue starfish?
Thanks to chlorophyll, there is an abundance of green in nature’s flora; there are also lots of green insects, quite a few birds and animals. Among the snippets of fascinating information is the fact that ‘the world’s heaviest parrot (the kakapo) weighs as much as a brick. You probably won’t be surprised to discover that kakapos don’t fly.
Keep going through the book and you will come upon lots of other things of interest.


Have you ever thought about why there are so few purple animals? You will find the answer on the relevant spread as well as being introduced to several purple bugs, birds, flowers and a peculiar Indian frog that spends just two weeks above ground each year and clucks like a chicken: it’s not surprising I’ve never seen one on my frequent visits to India.


These are just a few of the delights you will encounter as you turn the pages towards the final spreads, one showing rocks and minerals, which explains how they get their unique colouring and the last pages explain what colour is and present some arty activities.

A visual feast for younger primary readers.

Deadly Deep

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Deadly Deep
Jennifer Killick
Farshore

This is the next instalment in Jennifer Killick’s Dread Wood horror-comedy series.

At the start of their first term in Y8, Club Loser are on a trip to the South of France to study wildlife and the Mediterranean coastline. They are on board the ship Melusine to witness the launch of some new wildlife research technology – ROVs – remotely operated vehicles – that Cyborgs (the tech company Colette’s mum works for) have been working on. These are subaquatic drone-like things that enable researchers to view sea creatures on the console up on deck.

When they depart, the gang members feel upbeat and confident of their safety as their dastardly enemies, the Latchitts are in prison in England, but with that couple, nothing is for certain.
The story is narrated by animal loving, Angelo, who is fascinated by the ROV and endeavours to learn as much as possible from its operator – useful knowledge, we later discover.

As the trip gets under way, it’s evident that an enormous shadowy creature lurks at the bottom of the ocean; add to that a decidedly creepy man on board ship who wants to talk with Colette. Perhaps the gang’s confidence in their safety was somewhat misplaced.

Indeed it certainly was for something suddenly smashes into the Melusine, the boat starts to sink, almost everyone else on the trip manages to board the lifeboats and escape but the Club Loser gang are trapped. So too somewhere, are Colette’s mum and Mr C. – he who firmly believes that hot choccie can solve any problem – and Captain Boyère. The realisation dawns: only Club Loser can save the day, either that or …

This is where Club Loser’s ability to stick together no matter what, while allowing each person to utilise their particular strength is crucial.

Prepare for some gory happenings in this action-packed, nail-biter; you may find yourself needing to pause and take a deep breath from time to time as you read.

Mrs Owl’s Forest School: The Very Big Den / Getting Ready for Autumn

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Mrs Owl’s Forest School: The Very Big Den
illustrated by Seb Braun, written by Ruth Symons
Templar Books

You never know what you will find, if you go down to the woods today, perhaps a forest school in progress.
Herein we join Mouse, Squirrel, Fox and Rabbit in a woodland setting beneath the trees where Mrs Owl holds her forest school. During the process of den building the animals use all their senses to learn about wildlife, both flora and fauna of the surrounding environment, as well as learning an important lesson about friendship and inclusivity. In addition they gain some useful skills such as how to tie knots and how to build a bug hotel. 

Written in consultation with Lizzie Noble, a forest childcare provider with a wealth of experience in running creative, play-based forest school sessions for families, this is a book that may well inspire youngsters to get out into the wild, wonderful world of nature. Seb Braun’s inviting, detailed, richly hued scenes help underscore some of the instructions woven into the narrative and should encourage young children to find and explore their local woodland places and perhaps try their hand at den-building. In my experience, children need little encouragement when it comes to the building of dens.

Getting Ready for Autumn
Kathryn Selbert
Nosy Crow

This seasonal sticker storybook is published in collaboration with the National Trust. Herein readers join a family and friends as they enjoy a range of early autumnal activities. Mum, Dad and two children walk in the woods where the trees now have their rich golden, orange foliage, and they keep their eyes open for woodland creatures such as deer, squirrels and birds. They also spend a fun afternoon apple picking in preparation for some baking and take advantage of windy days to fly kites. 

With the new term about to begin there are the inevitable getting ready activities as the siblings are starting school. On their first day, Grandma comes to meet them and they visit the park to hunt for conkers. As the chillier days arrive, it’s time to put up some bird feeders and with the approach of Halloween, some ripe pumpkins are ready and waiting to be picked. The book concludes with some Halloween activities.

After the narrative come two ‘can you spot’ pages that will send children back to each spread to find the items shown; there are also several pages containing 120+ stickers to add to the relevant spreads.
A useful, book to have to hand as summer ends, especially on a rainy day.

Can You See the Stars Tonight?

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Can You See the Stars Tonight?
Anna Terreros-Martin
David Fickling Books

Most of us are very aware of the need to rein in our use of energy in order to protect the planet, but I suspect that light pollution is not the first thing that springs to mind when the word pollution is mentioned. I live part of my life in a small village near Stroud in Gloucestershire and the other part in suburban outer London: the difference in the number of shining stars visible in the night sky is astounding. Apart from the houses, there are far more street lights, commercial premises lit at night, illuminated advertising etc. in TW12 than in rural Gloucestershire.

Nora the small girl protagonist in Anna Terreros-Martin’s story, enjoys using her telescope and looking at the stars from her bedroom window and she becomes aware that the stars are much less bright than those in her book. She’s remarking about it to Puffin when suddenly a baby puffin – a puffling – comes flying into her room, clearly in a panic. When she goes down to tell her dads, they tell her that it’s the tenth lost puffling that instead of flying out to sea for winter, has flown into the town that week. Why? Nora wants to know.
Dad and Papa suggest they spend the weekend camping on Puffin Island, return the puffing they have and see what is happening on the island.

Once there, with the help of her Papa and Dad, as well as Puffin, Nora learns that pufflings normally use the light of the moon and stars to help them find their way. Then as darkness falls and they sit together under the night sky, Nora realises that light pollution from the town is confusing the little birds.

Back home, determined to find a solution to the issue, she enlists her school friends to join her in making a difference to the amount of artificial light. They make sure all the electric lights are turned off, close the curtains and put up the light shields they’ve made. Now as they look out, it’s clear that the pufflings are flying out to sea, guided by the moon and stars, just as they should be.

An important book that highlights an issue that will be new to many young children. Nora is such an engaging character, let’s hope she is as successful in enlightening and galvanising readers as she is her friends at school.

Too Small Tola Makes It Count / Mermaid Academy: Cora and Sparkle

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Too Small Tola Makes It Count
Atinuke, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu
Walker Books

This is the fourth book in the enchanting series set in Nigeria featuring Tola who lives in a small flat in Lagos, Nigeria, with her older brother, Dapo, and sister, Moji and Grandmummy, the boss. Lockdown is now over and the four are back together and feeling very happy so to be. In the first story, Tola Finds a Solution, Tola’s friend, Mrs Shaky Shaky, who likes to come down and sit on the outside steps and chat to passers by, is having difficulty with the stairs. Tola too is having some difficulty at school because nobody believes that she knows and worked for the most famous Afrobeat musicians in Nigeria. Tola is great at solving maths problems but loneliness is much more tricky. Can she find a way to help Mrs Shaky-Shaky, and perhaps herself too? Tola certainly isn’t one to give up easily

In Tola Counts the Uncountable Grandmummy announces that they are going to take a holiday, something Tola and her siblings have never done before: they’re off to the beach! In the end only Grandmummy and Tola go. Tola is shocked at the amount of rubbish all over the beach, covering a lot of the sand and she realises that she’s found something impossible to count – the grains of sand. Later on she finds two more uncountable things: one is the waves; what could the other be do you think.

In Too Small Tola is a Rock Star, Tola is looking after baby Jide for Mr and Mrs Abdul. Suddenly she realises that he’s crawled off. Where can he be? Can Tola find him?

Readers and listeners will be charmed by these tales, which as always, celebrate family, community and love, as well as trying to find answers to sometimes tricky concerns. Onyinye Iwu’s illustrations are full of warmth and gentle humour adding to the delights of Atinuke’s text.

Mermaid Academy: Cora and Sparkle
Julie Sykes and Linda Chapman, illustrated by Lucy Truman
Nosy Crow

In this second tale set in and around Mermaid Academy the focus is the under-confident Cora and her dolphin partner, Sparkle. Cora has now been at the academy several weeks and still misses spending most of her time close to her twin, Issy. However, she is excited to hear the news that instead of normal lessons on Fridays, the students would participate in ‘enrichment activities’ or clubs. The club of Cora’s choice is music club, despite what her friends select but then she changes her mind and opts for what her sister has chosen. The day doesn’t go well until much later when she’s back with Sparkle and discovers her magic – it’s whirlwave magic, so Sparkle tells her and reluctantly agrees to Cora keeping this to herself until Issy has found out what her magic is. That means that any practice at creating whirlwaves must be covert.

Meanwhile her friends are excited about the repairs they’d been able to carry out on the damaged Glass Ocean reef but anxious to discover who or what is causing the destructive damage. To this end they all pay a visit to the Sea Sphinx,

the result being the possibility of a clandestine night-time adventure. Soon both Cora and Sparkle are heading towards the diminishing reef to find her friends and hopefully, the coral-crunching culprits. Great danger awaits but can the friends finally solve the mystery? And will Cora eventually decide to be true to herself in choices she makes?

Sparkling fun: younger readers will enjoy diving into the world of Cora and her fellow mermaids made even more magical with Lucy Truman’s drawings.

The Concrete Garden

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The Concrete Garden
Bob Graham
Walker Books

The product of covid times, this story starts with Amanda who lives on the fifteenth floor of an apartment block waiting for the lift down and clutching a large box given to her by her mum. As the doors open we see the lift is filled with other children and once they reach the ground they all spill out into the open air, ‘like sweets from a box.’ Last to emerge is Amanda with her huge box full of coloured chalks. It’s been a long, cold winter but it hasn’t diminished the children’s creative skills. 

First Amanda chooses a green chalk and makes a pattern on the concrete ground. Jackson adds a stalk and it becomes a dandelion. Others add more flowers, a mushroom, a snail slithering on it. Eventually there on the ground is an exotic garden alive with insects, birds and even an alien invader in its spacecraft. Over all of this reigns The Queen of Swirls – Rosie’s idea.

Three days later this wonderful creation becomes the victim of rain; but in the meantime Nasrin, who is missing her mum far off in Iran, captures the concrete creation on her camera and sends the image to her; she passes the image to everybody she knows bringing joy to them too.

Back in their home territory, having received appreciative responses from the apartment residents, 

the children are not bothered by the downpour and its effects and once the rain stops, out they come, Amanda pulling the now empty box. This she tears into pieces and so begins a new inventive activity for her and her pals.

Two good things that re-emerged during the pandemic were community spirit and the ability to find joy in the simple things in life: the latter Bob Graham allows the diverse children (not forgetting the dog) he drew in this story to show us all. His mixed media images of the children and their chalk creations bejewel the pages of the book making it a joy from beginning to end.

Ten-Word Tiny Tales

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Ten-Word Tiny Tales
Joseph Coelho and various illustrators
Walker Books

When explaining how the twenty stories in this book came about, poet and current Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho tells readers, ‘these are not cutesy tales – these are tales of teeth and claws!’ Despite their seeming simplicity, each of these fragmented story bits imply a more elaborate story and to this end, Joseph invited twenty artist friends to provide an illustrative interpretation, each one bringing a unique style to the enterprise. The resulting double-page spreads, through the interplay of words and pictures, are in turn mysterious, surreal, inexplicable or downright sinister.

For instance Nahid Kazemi portrays a moment of serenity as Grandma slumbers in her favourite chair while one of her plants – the Venus flytrap – edges ever closer to the blissfully unaware sleeper.
Equally disquieting is Thea Lu’s interpretation of ‘The X-rays reveal writing etched onto all of my bones.


Meanwhile Flavia Z. Drago’s dining table scene combines touches of the dark humour of cartoonist Charles Addams with Magritte in her dining table scene; and look how Shaun Tan plays with scale in this enormously unsettling rural scene.

No matter where you open the book however, you are likely to find something to spark your imagination. To facilitate that Joseph offers several drawing and writing prompts to inspire and motivate children to extend the tales with ‘new beginnings, endings and middles’. What he says in ‘Take Your Pen on a Journey’ is what one hopes ,all teachers would be doing in the classroom.

A real treasure box this, with endless potential for creativity both at home and in school.

Space Pirate Bears

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Space Pirate Bears
Alastair Chisholm and Jez Tuya
Walker Books

Wet weather, two bored children and a Dad busy working are the starting points for this wildly inventive tale. It’s Dad that does most of the inventing with tragedy in the form of a black hole, a Sniffle attack, a possible wave of alien broccoli, being averted. But there’s also the dreaded Doctor Drab whose aim in life is to turn the entire universe as dull as he is, by means of his terrifying Boron Beam. A hit from said weapon’s beam drained every scrap of fun out of the galaxy 

but there was somebody who just might with help, repel those forces of dullness and that was Princess Leonora and her heroic, multi-skilled, Space Pirate Bears.

At this point in Dad’s story, the two children, Jamie and Abby intervene and have a squabble about the direction it should take. 

Can they come to an agreement that puts paid to the Dok’s dastardly Boron Beam, leaving the Space Pirates to reign supreme and thus, the world able to revert to a place of fun?

A place of fun is an apt description for what is between the covers of this book. Both Alastair Chisholm’s words and Jez Tuya’s pictures epitomise the delights of story making, the former providing a humorous, twisting turning, action-packed adventure for the latter to play around with in his inventive scenes. A smashing book, especially for Dads to share with their offspring: inspired by the family in the story. Who knows what wild storytelling adventures of their own might result?

The Dog Squad: The Newshound / Peanut, Butter & Crackers: River Rescue

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The Dog Squad: The Newshound
Clara Vulliamy
Harper Collins Children’s Books

Eva has always wanted to be a journalist, so when she finds a stray dog almost outside her home, she could have found her first real case. Can she, along with her best friends, Ash and Simone, at the Newshound local newspaper, find the real owner of Wafer, as she names the whippet on account of his thinness. This is necessary because Eva’s mum insists that the dog can only stay with them in their rented flat for one night, partly because their landlord has a strictly no pets policy.

However the search the friends undertake leads to a series of dead ends during which Eva becomes more and more convinced she doesn’t really want to solve the mystery of Wafer’s owner anyway.

This first of Clara’s new series for younger KS2 readers introduces some charming characters: Eva, the star reporter, is compassionate, determined and sticks to her principles. Then there’s Simone who is artistic, and ‘brainy’ Ash who happens to be non-binary.

Can Eva overcome the obstacles she faces, including the landlord and his no pets rule,

and perhaps even get to keep Wafer?

The story includes several issues which are important for children to understand: the responsibilities involved in having a pet being the main one, but also touched on is puppy farming and the treatment of unwanted pets, as well as the aforementioned gender alignment. With plentiful black and white illustrations by the author to captivate and motivate less confident solo readers, this will warm the hearts of youngsters, whether or not they are dog lovers like Eva. Who knows it might even encourage some children to become animal rights activists .

Peanut, Butter & Crackers: River Rescue
Paige Braddock
Nosy Crow

The second of the funny graphic novel series for pooch and cat lovers sees the friends off in their human’s camper van to spend some time in the great outdoors.

When the decidedly indoor moggy, Butter, discovers that said human has not brought a litter tray, he decides to go and search the forest for one. Otherwise, how will he go to the loo. Having clawed an exit hole through the mesh, off he sets accompanied by Peanut the puppy, on a litter tray exploration. However they get lost and then things rapidly deteriorate when Butter hears the sound of running water and misunderstands what this means. What it does mean is that the two friends suddenly find themselves in a river, clinging to a lump of log for dear life.

Meanwhile Crackers has discovered the two are missing and is searching for them. Can he locate and rescue them? Perhaps, with some assistance from a precision-obsessed beaver.

Full of heart, very amusing and just right for new solo readers, particularly those who are keen on visual storytelling. Bonus pages give guidance on how to draw the three characters, a peep behind the scenes and a sneak peep at the next book in the series.

Brilliant Black British History

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Brilliant Black British History
Atinuke and Kingsley Nebechi
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

I wonder how many people know that the first humans in Britain were Black. Migrating from other parts of the world, around 12,000 years ago, they had dark skin, lived in Britain for 7,500 years before the first white Britons came and built Stonehenge and brought farming.

After introducing these first migrants, readers are taken through the Romans, Tudors, Georgians, Victorians, the World Wars, all the way up to the Windrush generation, the colour bar, colonial independence and current Black British culture. Something I discovered was that Dr Charles Drew, a Black American who came to help Britain in World War 2, invented a way to store and ship blood. This saved the lives a thousands of sick and injured Britons, and still does today.

Skilfully interweaving British and world history, the author doesn’t shy away from difficult topics such as slavery

and colonialism, dealing with them frankly.

There’s a spread highlighting Black heroes from World War One, another presenting Black people who make Britain Great, a look at contemporary Black British culture

and there’s a final page on Black Lives Matter, reminding us that there is still work to do to fight racism.

WIth effective use of a variety of layouts, this excellent book is beautifully illustrated by Kingsley Nebechi; it’s informative, eye-opening and a must for every school library.

Ready for the Spotlight!

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Ready for the Spotlight!
Jaime Kim
Walker Books

The younger sibling and narrator of this story, Tessie, envies her older sister for always being in the spotlight at their ballet classes, despite the fact that Tessie has been learning for just a month. Tessie however believes in herself: she’s better than everyone save Maya. Maya danced the Lilac Fairy in last year’s performance of Sleeping Beauty, wore a crown and received three bouquets of flowers.

Mum reassures her younger daughter that with as much experience as Maya, she’ll shine just as bright. Nevertheless, Tessie wants to be the best now, and her jealousy grows. Then come auditions for the autumn show in which she dearly wants to wear that crown. When it’s time for the freestyle, Tessie’s favourite: in this she excels, saying “No rules. No pointed toes. Who needs lessons when you have rhythm?”

Surely this will be sufficient for her to get that lead role. But no, it’s Maya who will be the princess, Tessie and two others are to be bumblebees.

That night back at home. Tessie is angry with her sister, refusing to teach her freestyle dancing because, “You stole my crown.”

Sisterly love saves the day as Maya tells her sister, “You don’t need a crown to be a good dancer.”, and goes on to say that she too had started out as a bumblebee. From then on the sisters practise together, Maya teaching Tessie jumping and balancing, and Tessie teaching her sibling freestyle and grooviness. Come performance day, it turns out two can share the spotlight and receive armfuls of bouquets.

Throughout this tale of personal growth, jealousy and tender sibling bonds, it’s Tessie and her emotions that take centre stage in Jaime Kim’s splendidly expressive illustrations for her story, which is based on her own childhood experiences with ballet and her little sister.

Peekaboo Car / My First ABC

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Both books are Nosy Crow publications – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review

Peekaboo Car
Camilla Reid and Ingela P Arrhenius

Even before opening this, toddlers will likely be captivated by the opportunity to manipulate the car’s headlights on the cover illustration. Going through the book presents them with an oilcan, a drill, a line of cars, a lorry, traffic signs, a petrol pump and other items that can also perform surprise actions when the sliders are used. Then on the final spread , there’s a mirror waiting to be revealed for a ‘Peekaboo … you!’
Offering lots of occasions to develop their fine manipulative skills, little ones meet vehicles, passengers, tools and drivers in this fun game of peekaboo presented through Camilla Reid’s simple rhyming text and Ingela P Arrhenius’s bright, patterned illustrations.

My First ABC
Edward Underwood

This is the latest of the excellent large format 100 First Words series. There are two letters on every one of the thick card pages, on which are various size boxes within each of which is an appealing image and a single word label in a clear, unadorned font. Toddlers will delight in engaging in a ‘point and name’ game with an adult or older child and in so doing will likely learn some new words, as well as seeing familiar ones in print.

Equally, they will enjoy guessing and then looking to see what’s hidden beneath the flaps on every spread – another feature that both publisher and illustrator know appeals strongly to very young children. In this book the hidden object begins with the same letter as that depicted on the flap.

Hours of fun learning potential in this well-designed, attractively illustrated book.

Kings & Queens

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Kings & Queens
Marcia Williams
Walker Books

Essentially this is a whistle-stop tour of monarchs, sixty in all, starting with Alfred the Great and going all the way through to our present King Charles 111, presented in Marcia Williams’ trademark comic strip style, with speech bubbles and a wealth of humorous details in both the text (that includes a commentary by royal raven Caw) and illustrations that KS2 readers will really enjoy.

King Caw takes us on a journey along the timeline from 871 BCE to today. Along the way, we learn the dates of each monarch’s reign and any number of quirky facts about them, often relating to their untimely demises.

For instance we read this of William the Conqueror (1066-87) – a thoroughly unpleasant man so we are told: ‘ … he was mortally injured. The wound caused an infection which killed him weeks later. When he came to be buried in France, his coffin was too small and his body exploded.”

This about George 11 (1727-60) made me laugh so much I choked on my coffee: ‘He died on the lavatory after drinking hot chocolate.’

Seemingly the toilet was a dangerous place for royalty: King John (1199-1216) also died on the loo, perhaps due to over consumption of peaches.

A book likely to turn primary age children into history lovers.

The Skull

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The Skull
Jon Klassen
Walker Books

Weird and wonderful is Jon Klassen’s adaptation of a traditional Tyrolean folktale. Klassen brings his wry humour to this sometimes creepy, sometimes comforting and consoling telling of what happens when a runaway girl named Otilla dashes through the forest one night, trips in the snow, falls and having found her way out of the woods, discovers a large, old, seemingly abandoned house.

It’s not abandoned entirely though for inside resides a talking skull. Said skull agrees to let Otilla in; the two gradually form a friendship as the girl assists the bodiless being in doing things it would otherwise be unable to, such as drinking tea,

picking and eating a pear from the garden room; the two even dance together. As they take tea, the skull tells of a headless skeleton that frequents the house each night and Otilla determines to make sure it never catches her new friend.

Drawing on her resourcefulness and ingenuity, she annihilates the skeleton, returns to bed

and next day accepts the skull’s invitation to live with him in the rambling old house. An unexpected and unlikely happy-ever-after if ever there was one.

Klassen’s limited colour palette certainly highlights both the cosiness and spookiness of his telling, after which in an author’s note he tells readers how he came across a story called The Skull in a library. It lingered in his mind, morphed into something rather different and eventually became this book. I can’t envisage many other than he who could envisage a cranium companion for a young girl, unless they were creating an unadulterated horror story. This is anything but and even quite young readers and listeners will love it.

Bears Don’t Share!

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Bears Don’t Share!
Lorna Scobie
Scholastic

With winter fast approaching Bear and Squirrel are having a discussion about the long sleep Bear is soon to have and Squirrel suggests his friend should go with him to find some food. Off they go and soon both animals have found berries. Guess who eats them all. “Save some for me please!” begs Squirrel, “Sharing is caring, you know!” to which Bear responds, “Bears Don’t share!”. The same thing happens when they find nuts – Squirrel’s favourite food. Bear scoffs the lot. He also consumes the carrot, apples, pizza and ice cream without sharing a single morsel.

Eventually the two come upon a picnic laid out on a cloth. This, Squirrel says, is ideal for sharing. Bear however proceeds to stuff sandwiches, smoothies, jelly, cookies and veggie sausage rolls before noticing an enormous cake.

Now Squirrel is at the begging stage and Bear is just about to swallow the entire thing when she notices Squirrel. A funny feeling comes upon the ursine character: what do you think she does next?
Come the spring what will Squirrel do with his stash of berries, seeds and cake?

With a fun final twist, this is a delicious story to share especially during autumn days: I love the expressions on the faces of the two main characters. I suspect some young children will be horrified at what they consider to be Bear’s greed, but in the final spread – Winter in the Wild – the author explains that Bear isn’t really being selfish, just consuming sufficient to get him through the period of hibernation.

When Cookie Crumbled

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When Cookie Crumbled
Michelle Robinson and Tom Knight
Scholastic

Author Michelle Robinson and illustrator Tom Knight seem to have a special propensity to create books with food characters. Their latest stars a cookie named Michael; all the other characters herein are also cookies but Michael is a cookie with a difference. he doesn’t want to match all the rest with their circular, beige spottiness. Instead he likes to sport sprinkles, sweets, have a spicy aroma or even cut a dash with a splash of strawberry jam or chocolate sauce. “Fall in line,” the others tell him.

Eventually he becomes thoroughly dejected, almost at breaking point. “Why can’t I be myself?’ he wants to know. Having one last go at individuality and receiving negative reactions all round, poor Michael crumbles, scattering crumbs every which way.

But then, he listens to what his heart is telling him and he reaches for the tube of icing.

What will the reaction of all the other cookies be?

With Michelle’s highly engaging rhyming text and Tom’s dramatic, laugh-inducing illustrations, this mouth-watering tale celebrates difference, being oneself, acceptance and understanding. Take pride in who you are is it’s vital message.

Stand Up and Speak Out Against Racism

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Stand Up and Speak Out Against Racism
Yassmin Abdel-Magied, illustrated by Aleesha Nandhra
Walker Books

A social activist, broadcaster and engineer, the author of this book visited schools and asked children what they wanted to know about racism and how to fight for social justice: herein she tries to answer their questions impartially. At the outset, she presents life as being like ‘climbing up a big, tall, scary mountain, and when we are born, we all get a different set of tools to climb it.’ For some the way is blocked, some get access to a cable car, while others must use the stairs and the most fortunate get a ‘jetpack’ is how she puts it, immediately drawing readers into the book.

After that, the book is divided into three main sections: how racism started, what racism looks like today and finally, how do we stand up and speak out against racism? There’s a timely reminder to readers to take the book at their own pace and if something gets too much, stop and return to it when it feels okay. I know that I find myself getting really upset when I hear of people’s racist behaviour in the UK and feel ashamed to be British by some of what I see and hear on the news, for instance. The author states here that the English colonisers created slave codes or rules that formed the roots of the racism so entrenched in today’s world and in her conversational style leads readers through to the book’s final part: what to do – how to stand up and speak out. There are lots of practical suggestions such as asking someone who has made a racist joke why they think it’s funny, 

and questioning somebody who has made a judgement about others on account of their race. And of course, if you happen to be the person in the wrong, even by mistake, it’s important to apologise to the one wronged and to try and make reparations.

This is an important book that needs to be in all schools to instigate class discussions; many adults would do well to read it too.

The Princess and the (Greedy) Pea

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The Princess and the (Greedy) Pea
Leigh Hodgkinson
Walker Books

Take a popular children’s song and a favourite fairy tale, play around with those key ingredients then mix them together and the result is this clever and very funny new fairy story.

It begins with a ravenous pea that becomes the subject of a new take on ‘There was an old lady who swallowed a fly’, but now said pea does the swallowing and what he swallows is a Brussels sprout. Don’t ask me how a tiny spherical object managed to gulp down a considerably larger, similarly shaped one but that’s how this story goes.

Now this pea just happens to have found the delicacy among the feast laid out on the table of a royal residence and not content with the sprout, this pea goes on to stuff himself with soup, bread, pie, a fancy cake, pickle

and cheese. Having slurped, munched, wolfed, gobbled, noshed and guzzled all of this, our pea feels the need for a cuppa; you can guess what he needed after that. You’re probably thinking he had not a tincy wincy scrap of space left for more but if so, you’re wrong: despite an apparent lack of teeth, into pea’s mouth goes the chomped up table. Serve him right if he suffers from a terrible stomach ache, but instead , off come pea’s shoes and up the stairs he goes for a snooze beneath the stack of mattresses on a four-poster bed. ZZZZZZ

Now comes the fairy tale princess with a very grumpy expression on her face and a very rumbly tummy. Into the bed she climbs and having spent a considerable amount of time tossing around on account of both lack of food and a lumpy bumpy bed, out she tumbles. What do you think she says as she hits the floor? …

Leigh Hodgkinson’s playful, patterned illustrations that complement her text so well, have plenty to amuse. Pea’s expressions are splendid as he relishes every morsel of the meal; so too are those of the royal moggy and the princess. A delicious offering from beginning to end, but for those familiar with the inspirations for the tale, it will taste even better.

No Worries: How to deal with Teenage Anxiety

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No Worries: How to deal with Teenage Anxiety
Nicola Morgan
Walker Books

Expert on teenage well-being, Nicola Morgan has written a guide to help young people cope with anxiety, according to a survey, the most used word, so she discovered, used when talking about their health and well-being. Nicola’s advice is based upon the latest science and her formidable knowledge and understanding of what makes for a healthy and balanced teenager and she divides her latest book into three parts.

Part One is Anxiety and YOU, part two is called All About Anxiety and looks at what is happening in an anxious person’s body and brain, as well as the effects of anxiety. The third part offers Strategies and Solutions – obviously the most important section. Here you will find among other things, breathing strategies, mindfulness and meditation strategies and suggestions of practical ways to distract from worrying thoughts.

The book concludes with some anxiety experiences shared by people from their own lives and there’s a list of further resources.

Highly practical and written in a language that is both accessible and full of wisdom, this is a book I’d strongly recommend to all young people particularly if they are struggling with pressures and the resultant anxiety in their lives. Assuredly one to add to a teenager’s bookshelf; it’s packed with helpful information and advice.

Welcome to Wild Town

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Welcome to Wild Town
AF Harrold and Dom Conlon, illustrated by Korky Paul
Otter-Barry Books

Have you ever wondered what it means to be truly wild? No? Then you really should pay a visit to Wild Town, for which Korky Paul has provided a map to peruse before arrival. Like the poems, the town is organised into several areas or sections and having, like Dom Condon, signed The Wild Agreement, readers are free to enter therein.

As a vegan, I’m happy to see that our first location is Herbivoreville. However after sampling several of the poems I’m not sure how relaxed I feel here, especially after reading Harold’s Wild Town Proverb #1: ‘A weed’s just a plant / growing in the wrong place. // Tell that to the fly-trap / latched onto / my face.

Playful, yes, as are The Rabbit’s Prayer and Dom’s Elephant Cleaner: ‘ The Elephants empty the bins in twos, / then wash he floors and clean the loos. / They wipe the tops with hairy mops – / one works hard whilst the other stops – / and yet the truth, I must confess, / is that they leave the house a mess.’

Moving on, the Fluttertown offers an opportunity to stay at Chrysalis Hotel, though after reading this in Harold’s description, “Squeeze in and relax // Relax so much you turn to mush – / become a soup filling the room.” I might just give it a miss and move on with some trepidation to the Carnivore Quarter, stopping only on account of Dom’s The Rule Breaker because I tend to be a rule breaker: here are a couple of the verses:’We crept outside when it was dark / We climbed the fences int he park / We did the things they said we couldn’t / We didn’t stop at things we shouldn’t . … We wouldn’t eat the food they grew / We wouldn’t learn the things they knew / We ran and played and sang out loud / We stood up tall and were not bowed’.

All manner of animals reside in this environment, significantly the lions and cheetahs – they feature in several poems; the ducks in Wolf Park are a pretty intolerant lot causing a to do on account of the streaker in Harald’s Going Green or A Worrying Sight in Wolf Park wherein you’ll meet a man who, so he says, has started photosynthesising. He’s so doing to save the planet.

Next stop is The Quiet Side of Town and there I loved He Lives on Slow Lane where in the final verse Dom says, “He’s the oldest of the wild ones / he’s the freest of the free / he’s the calmest in the forest / and he’s often called a tree.’ – a wonderful description of my favourite thing in the natural world, Wild Town or wherever.

It’s now time for Leaving Wild Town but first I certainly will do as Dom asks: ‘Let this landscape / draw itself upon your skin / marking the heart // with an X’. That shows just how much this reviewer has enjoyed a foray into such a special place where both the verbal and visual pictures leave an indelible memory. May the wild go with you too.

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: Train Trouble

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Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: Train Trouble
Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton
Nosy Crow

It’s almost impossible to believe that this is the tenth anniversary of the robbers turned bakers/cum mystery solvers, Shifty and Sam. Now the delightful dogs are off to bake on the deluxe train, The Pawrient Express, destination Venice for Carnival Night.

Little do the duo know but their old adversary, Kitty Claw, is also aboard the train ,masquerading as a porter. However just as the pooches have served supper – of their very highest quality of course –

out go the lights and there comes a cry, “I think we’ve been robbed!”. That’s when they realise the identity of the thief.

The chase is on; but manipulating a gondola through the carnival crowded canals is difficult as they pursue Kitty on water, and then on paws through the city square

and even through the air. But can the dogs retrieve the stolen gems and will they be able to apprehend the criminal?

Tracey’s rhyming text bounces along in the jaunty fashion one has come to expect of this smashing series and Steven’s illustrations are as delicious and zesty as ever, whether or not they include any actual confectionery items.

An action-packed read aloud that fans will relish, and if you’ve yet to savour their canine capers, you are sure to be wanting more.

Keisha Jones Takes On The World / Stink: Superhero Superfan

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Keisha Jones Takes On The World
Natalie Denny, illustrated by Chanté Timothy
Little Tiger

Having learned of her Great Aunt-Bee, a lawyer and activist, from her Grandpa Joe while he was hiding away to avoid the celebrations for his 70th birthday, Keisha decides that she too will become an activist, standing up for equal opportunities, striving to fight against injustice and making the world a better place; and she’ll do so in memory of her aunt.

To help her in her endeavours, she shares her plan with her best friends Paisley and KD and together they form the Bee Squad in honour of Aunt Bee. She also asks the advice of her teacher who suggests she look for an issue of concern in the town and go from there.

Now being a spirited girl with a big heart, Keisha can’t wait to get started. So, after school when she accompanies her Dad to Manny’s pet shop and sees that the cost to buying a male rabbit is double that of a female, she realises that she has found the Bee Squad’s first cause. She dismisses the owner’s reason for this disparity and spends the next week working on a Rabbits’ Rights plan.

With a promise not to cause any more trouble in the pet shop, she enlists the help of her Aunt Marie who, not knowing what’s about to happen, takes her fellow activists and her younger brother back to Manny’s Pet Shop and carries out her rather outlandish stratagem.

A fair bit of mayhem ensues. But that’s not quite the end of this story, though I will add that our young hero’s indomitable spirit results in her declaring, “ justice for female rabbits was served.”

It’s great to have empowering characters like Natalie Denny’s Keisha in stories for young readers and with Chanté Timothy’s zesty illustrations to bring the world of Keisha to life, this is a book to encourage primary children to stand up for what they believe in.

Stink: Superhero Superfan
Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Walker Books

In this thirteenth story Stink is super-excited when he learns that the next topic for his Saturday Science Club is superhero science. Immediately he starts imagining himself in a cape with the titular words emblazoned across it.

Returning home full of enthusiasm, he finds his family sorting things to put in their yard sale and he adds some of his own items.

Next day at the sale, Stink discovers a box full of old comic books about Super Gecko, a superhero he’s never heard of: What could be more fantastic – GROOL in fact – than a part-man, part-lizard with superpowers? Moreover, said superhero has a sidekick, Gecko Girl.

Then Stink hears that there are real geckos in his vicinity and he and his pals decide to go and investigate the creatures that very evening. The hunt yields no geckos but they do find a note supposedly from Super Gecko – hmmm, mysterious.

Could it mean that Super Gecko is set to make a comeback? There is certainly a brand new Super Gecko comic book due to be published the very next Saturday. How will Stink manage his next Science Club meeting and getting to the bookstore to buy a copy before they run out, even if he can raise the money he needs for his purchase? Seemingly the boy faces much that will test his own deductive super powers; can he manage everything? Possibly, with the help of family and friends.

I love the gentle humour, the endearing characters and the mix of sleuthing and science; so too will young solo readers and listeners whether or not they have already met Stink et al.

April’s Garden

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April’s Garden
Isla McGuckin and Catalina Echeverri
Graffeg

It is evident from the lack of bright colour in Catalina Echeverri’s first three spreads, that April is feeling downcast, living with her mum in a room in temporary accommodation. There is a garden – something Mum refers to as contributing to the ‘silver lining’ she keeps talking about, but it always seems to be raining, making her daughter feel even more confined.

When Mamma suggests drawing the garden of her dreams, April creates a colourful scene.
Eventually the rain stops and April heads outside for some fresh air, but it’s not long before down comes more rain so in she goes, to learn that attached to the magazines the neighbour ladies have given them. are some packets of seeds.

Despite the rain, April heads back outside with the seed packets and some cups. She plants the seeds and goes back inside. Then comes a long, long wait during which April, despite Mum’s words of wisdom – “Lovely things are just around the corner,” – feels more and more dejected. She rushes out into the garden to give vent to her emotions, after which she feels slightly less angry.

Some months later, it’s time for the two of them to move to their new home, With them they take all the cups with the seeds April had planted and joy of joys, she notices in them something is starting to sprout.

Finally, after several weeks, beautiful flowers are blooming in every cup: at last April is filled with happiness.

Hope is key in this moving, superbly and sensitively told and illustrated story of the healing power of nature, finding solace in the seeds and renewal.

Lionel is just like Dad / Look / Friend

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These are recent Gecko Press publications – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review.

Lionel is just like Dad
Éric Veillé

This celebrates the relationship between a father and small child, lion style.

Little Lionel closely watches his father’s every move, copying his actions carefully.
When Dad combs his hair. so too does Lionel, Dad taps his teeth, Lionel does the same, Dad scratches an itch, ditto Lionel, Dad sings a song very loud, Lionel reciprocates. Then after a brief break, Dad throws things into the air, Lionel does likewise; 

however something that Lionel throws falls on Dad’s head. with a THUNK! causing the parent to cry out in alarm, as does Lionel. Now Dad is not so impressed with his little one’s copying behaviour and they turn away from one another. After a think on Dad’s part and on Lionel’s the two go and hide themselves. Not for long though for all ends happily with forgiveness from Dad and hugs all round.

Charming, reassuring and a fun portrayal of a parent’s unconditional love. Ville’s seemingly simple illustrations show so clearly the emotional changes of both characters.

Look
Friend
Gavin Bishop

Essentially Look , a wordless concertina fold out, opens one way to reveal a sequence of ten faces, nine human and one a dog. Opened the other way, you find a series of seemingly random objects likely to be familiar to an infant – a bird, a bunch of keys, a doll, a ball, a pair of spectacles, a toy bear, a snail, a ship, a dog, a rabbit and a truck – each one simply depicted centre stage in bold bright colours.
Unfolding to almost 2 metres this simple ‘tummy time’ book is sturdily built to withstand the frequent use it might well get.

Friend features a child narrator – the owner of a dog – who clearly loves the animal , calling her ‘My best friend’ on the final spread. Words are kept to a minimum with four being the most on a spread, and several have just a single descriptive word: happy, angry, rowdy, sad, shy, each of which is mirrored in an expressive picture of the pooch.
Little ones will enjoy the sequence relating what unfolds when the dog discovers an unwanted visitor in her food bowl, 

expresses how she feels about it by howling at an adult, receives a ticking off from the girl causing the creature to tuck herself under the table for a while.

An opportunity for small humans to learn new vocabulary as they follow the action and interactions. showing that real friends don’t always need to say much; their expressions speak volumes.

Mason Mooney Supernatural Sleuth

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Mason Mooney Supernatural Sleuth
Seaerra Miller
Flying Eye Books

This is the third and final story of the world’s greatest paranormal investigator, Mason Mooney.

With his heart currently in another dimension thanks to Nosam, Mason’s evil Doppelgänger, Mason and his best friend, Iris, are bemused by the sudden appearance of pits around Grimbrook. Despite the foul stench, they realise they must follow the person who disappears through a manhole and enters a warren of underground passages.

Before you can say, ‘Emerald Palm’, the two friends are on a mission to get hold of the Hand of Glory before Talitha finds it and creates total havoc. However, Iris has just been handed a necklace – the only one available – welcoming her as a member of the Order of the Emerald Palm; this causes Mason to get a fit of jealousy, the two get separated and end up in different dimensions. Mason then faces a number of challenges against Nosam in order to obtain he thinks, the Hand of Glory.

However things go badly wrong for Mason. Then he meets Constance, chats and realises that only by overcoming his jealousy can he stand a chance of getting his heart back, finding Iris and saving Grimbrook. With nothing more to lose, your favourite investigator will give it his all.

Thoroughly engaging, fast-paced and presented with panache, this series finale will surely satisfy Mason’s followers.

Pick A Story: A Superhero + Mermaid + Dragon Adventure

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Pick A Story: A Superhero + Mermaid + Dragon Adventure
Sarah Coyle and Adam Walker-Parker
Farshore

This is the third in the interactive picture book series that encourages children to read in a different way, inviting them to use their imagination and direct the route the story takes. Herein Sarah Coyle and Adam Walker-Parker have integrated a superhero, mermaids and dragons into a tale to recover an important drawing of a bicycle.

It begins as Davy is on his way to school proudly clutching his best ever picture for Show and Tell when suddenly the picture vanishes. Was the taker a superhero stuck for creative inspiration, a fiery dragon, marauding mermaids perhaps; and can any of these be of assistance in Davy’s search for the missing article?

Along with enjoying Sarah’s lively text with its word play aplenty and choosing the narrative direction, readers are invited to give thought to a number of questions that relate to the text and Adam Walker-Parker’s zany, eye-catching scenes: ‘What would you buy if you had five sea gems to spend?, ’What’s your super-cool handshake?’

and ‘What’s your favourite thing to do with a friend?’

Decision making is an important skill for children to learn and this story and the previous ones are a super way to foster this; with a diverse cast of characters, the book will appeal to a lot of readers. Add to family bookshelves and KS1 class collections – I wonder what might happen if two children read the book together?

Leif the Unlucky Viking: Saga of the Shooting Star

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Leif the Unlucky Viking: Saga of the Shooting Star
written & illustrated by Gary Northfield
Walker Books

Leif is a little wolf pup of the Viking variety. Despite being small in stature, he has big dreams. he wants to be an explorer just like his dad, Eric the Red. However, it’s certainly not going to be plain sailing for there are certain things that might get in his way. First of all, he has a habit of tripping up, which means he splits his trousers on average once a week, and sometimes he even falls down holes. Far from an auspicious beginning for an aspiring explorer, albeit a determined one.

It’s his determination that leads him to attempt to unravel the riddles of a witch, find a rock shard fallen from a shooting star and then wield its magical powers. Now this journey won’t be smooth sailing but that’s not unusual for the best explorers; he will need to battle with snow and ice, enter polar bear country,

pit his wits against giants and trolls, as well as extricating the team from within an enormous whale-like creature with a top resembling an island,

not to mention sorting out his errant sister. All of which means he’ll need every morsel of luck he can get.
What he does have for company though, are Olaf the irritated duck, Toki, a foolish puffin and Flora the decidedly whiffy muskox Shame none of them is any good at map reading.

Prepare for one calamity after another as you laugh your way through this tempestuous tale, liberally illustrated with Gary Northfield’s comic book style drawings that serve to render his writing even more anarchic than ever. Utterly and absurdly brilliant.

Our Earth is a poem

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Our Earth is a poem
Little Tiger

Another exciting collection of poetry in the publisher’s highly illustrated series, this time one that celebrates nature’s bounties through the work of twenty poets from different parts of the world, mini biographies of each being given at the end of the book, along with those of the four illustrators. Some of the work is familiar but it’s like encountering them anew, for each poem asks the reader to look at the familiar in a different way. Diana Hendry’s What Is the Pond Doing? (illustrated by Masha Manapov) particularly caught my attention having just returned from a walk that took me past a very large millpond surrounded by trees and vegetation. Here’s how her poem starts: ‘Wobbling like a jelly / Being a bucket for the rain / Sending flash-backs to the sun / Cheeking the sky . Giving the moon a bath , Letting swans, ducks and winter leaves ride on its back/ Licking the lollipop reeds’ …

Another poem – almost a prayer to nature – that I found particularly captivating today is Nature Nurtures by Jay Hulme. Here is the opening verse: Let me walk in forests, / and climb up all the trees; let me walk in fields, / and lean into the breeze.’ and the final one, “Let me make my promises / to stone and dirt and tree, / to give myself to all these things / that made humanity.’ Just beautiful. And what immersive and captivating colours Nabila Adani has used to illustrate this.

I have chosen to mention these two poems on this particular day but there isn’t a single poem that I wouldn’t gladly turn to and enjoy either for myself or share with a class of children; and each illustration too is deserving of close attention. With its kaleidoscope of colours used in the illustrations and verbal imagery that makes the reader ponder upon each subject, this is definitely an absolute must to add to home and class collections, to be visited and revisited.

Shine

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Shine
Sarah Asuquo and Nadia Fisher
Scholastic

After the end of the summer holiday, Kai’s enthusiasm for returning to school and meeting his friends again, is quickly dampened on the very first day. The reason for this, he tells his mother, is because having participated in building a den, which he understood was for everyone, the other children told him he was too tall to fit inside. “I wish I wasn’t tall.” he says.
His mother responds, “Be proud my son, that you are tall; stand as high as you can be.” His height, she continues, enables him to see beyond what other children can. Yes, Kai is different in this respect but he should be true to himself, letting the special light that is within us all, shine through.

Next evening at bedtime, Kai is upset again, this time on account of being laughed at for the small scar beneath his eye. He feels this imperfection stops him from being normal.

Now dad speaks, gently telling his son to be proud of his scar for it adds to his shine. Then he opens the curtains and asks whether it’s possible to say that either the stars or the moon is best. ‘Everyone is different, son. You must be true to you. // Within us all is a special light. / Will you let yours shine through?” Kai nods in assent and then it’s time to say goodnight. The boy now realises that the very things that make him different also make him special.

At school the following playtime, Kai’s friend, Sam, is upset: she had been told she was too small to join the game of basketball. Kai shares his parents’ wisdom , likening her speed when she plays to a shooting star. An ideal complement for his height – the perfect team. Moreover the two impress their classmates and the boy who had laughed at Kai’s scar realises that he needs to apologise for his unkindness.

Then when he asks to join their game, Kai’s affirmative response is “we all can shine if we just unite.”

Kai underwent a big change as, with his parents help, his low self-esteem was transformed into inner confidence, and an ability to understand the importance of both individuality and inclusivity.

Sarah Asuquo’s narrative is presented in prose and the text breaks into rhyme whenever a character speaks. Nadia Fisher’s mixed media, digitally worked illustrations shine a light on Kai’s feelings as he navigates the first week back at school and a steep learning journey.

Diary of an Accidental Witch: Stage Fright / Emerald and the Sea Sprites

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Diary of an Accidental Witch: Stage Fright
Perdita & Honor Cargill, illustrated by Katie Saunders
Little Tiger

Eleven year old Bea Black, resident of Little Spellshire returns for a fifth sharing of her journal.

Her Dad is now totally smitten with Taffy so home life is somewhat different.
Excitement is high in Bea’s class at the School of Extraordinary Arts when Teacher Madam Binx, an ex actor – famous so she says – announces that the pupils are to put on a play and they have just a few weeks to prepare. The decision is that they’ll perform a very special version of Hansel and Gretel in front of the entire school, adapted and directed by Winnie.

After what seems like an age Winnie has finally finished writing the play and then come auditions for the various roles and every single member of Bea’s class wants to try out for a part. However acting is only one element of a performance; there is also the matter of a song and dance coordinator, stunt coordinator and assistant and a set designer. With all these tasks duly assigned and the cast chosen, it’s a case of work, work and more work. Some pupils will have to hone their ‘behaving like animals’ skills and Bea’s Dad is chuffed to be asked to make all the costumes.

How much spell making of the transformation kind is going to be involved in all of this? And with anywhere inside the school out of bounds following an unfortunate incident, whereabouts will this dramatic enterprise actually take place?

With Bea’s ever more endearingly earnest writing style and Katie Saunders’ even funnier illustrations, this is sheer delight from start to finish.

Emerald and the Sea Sprites
Harriet Muncaster
Oxford Children’s Books

Emerald, a princess since her mum’s recent marriage to King Auster, is now spending half her time living in the palace and the other at her dad’s house on the other side of Scallop City. 

As this second story starts, she’s reading quietly when suddenly into the room bursts her stepsister, Delphina, wanting to play. It’s not long before Delphina has persuaded Emerald to go with her on an adventure to search for sea sprites, something that means sneaking out of the palace which is strictly against the rules. None the less, with backpack stuffed with the necessities for their mission, Emerald swims out of the palace, meets up with her stepsister and off they go into the deep open sea to a coral reef where they pause for a snack. It quickly becomes evident that sea sprites are just as fond of sea biscuits as the little mermaids.

After a playful encounter, Emerald realises it’s time to head back but the sea sprites start to follow them. 

Eventually, back in the palace, the little visitors settle into Emerald’s doll’s house where they spend the remainder of the evening all playing together. 

However, the following morning, the sea sprites look decidedly sickly and the little mermaids realise it was wrong to take them from their habitat. They must return them to the coral reef, but can they reach there in time to save the sprites? And if so, will they ever be able to see them again?

An enchanting story about letting creatures stay in their habitats, stepsisters bonding, and having the courage to do what’s right and kindness, that young solo readers, especially those who enjoy Harriet’s other series, will love plunging into. (I’d not read the Emerald and the Ocean Parade but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of this story.)

Doggy Dance Off

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Doggy Dance Off
Steve Smallman and Robert Starling
Little Tiger

There’s plenty going on should you care to join the cool canines and pay a visit to the Doggy Dance Off. However, despite the flea-ridden Superstar DJ Patch who’ll immediately get you a’scratching, all disco dancers are having the time of their lives.

There’s golden retriever, Eva, the dance floor diva, Dynamite Doug, the body popping pug

and Duke Doggy Doo a punk rocker cockapoo bounding up and down kangaroo style. The newbie Lenny Labrador is so super-excited he leaves a puddle on the floor so beware should you feel like kicking your shoes off and joining the masked dancer that just can’t wait to perform the boogie woogie and several other show-stopping dances,

unaware of where she was putting her paws. However, despite her prowess, this masked marvel isn’t all she seems as a sudden slip sends her mask flying skywards, likewise her hat, and a splendid surprise awaits both readers and the movers and shakers at the Doggy Dance Off. Moreover should you subsequently pay this venue another visit, you’ll find it’s been renamed.

Steve’s rhyming text goes with a real swing when you read it aloud and coupled with Robert Starling’s funky disco dance scenes of the pooches strutting their stuff, you’re guaranteed a fun-packed time if you venture between the covers of this full-on canine caper.

One Little Word

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One Little Word
Joseph Coelho and Allison Colpoys
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books


Two friends are playing in the park when suddenly an unspecified incident happens between them. There’s face pulling, shouting and a monster appears – The Argument – that keeps on growing as the quarrel escalates and the two children separate. Still the beast grows involving all the other children and making the most of the situation to keep on getting bigger and bigger

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until the two that triggered things stand face to face and the girl who is narrating gives the other one a nasty push, immediately resulting in her feeling ‘sad and angry, mixed-up and confused’. He retaliates with a push too and both children end up in floods of tears. Those tears prove cathartic and the two are able to exchange just one tiny but crucial word. The effect on The Argument is dramatic: it gradually shrinks

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until it disappears completely and very soon the park is full of happy, laughing children once more.


This is absolutely brilliant, both verbally and visually. Allison Colpoy’s attention to detail is superb, capturing the changing expressions of the two protagonists and their concerned, supportive pals. Her colour palette is hugely effective in highlighting the emotional journey and accompanying physical changes of the engaging adversaries especially : what a superb complement for Joseph’s lyrical telling.

This terrific book needs to be in every primary classroom to be shared over and over, carefully considered and discussed. The potential of its impact is tremendous – like that of The Argument at its most monstrous.

Huxley and Flapjack: Race to the Rescue

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Huxley and Flapjack: Race to the Rescue
Alan MacDonald, illustrated by Francesca Gambatesa
Little Tiger

Koala bear, Huxley, who finds possibility in each new day, and his best friend, Flapjack, a penguin that worries rather a lot, share a tree house on the edge of the woods.

One morning a delivery from the postwoman includes notice of a new store opening in the town so they decide to go and pay a visit to this Jolly Goods establishment. It’s an enormous place and things are a tad confusing for the pals but Huxley quickly gets into his stride and enjoys trying out or trying on lots of the gear on sale. While the koala is deliberating what to spend his pocket money on, somebody on a skateboard whizzes past the pair.

The bear eventually decides on an outfit that makes him look just like a superhero. Unfortunately though back comes the skateboarder wearing a mask just like the one Huxley has just bought, there’s a collision causing watches and jewellery to spill from his sack, and the skateboarder retrieves the goods, snatches away Huxley’s purchase and off he zooms.

There’s a case of mistaken identity by the store manager who thinks Huxley is a thief. Off pedal the two friends in pursuit of the person they’ve decided is the real thief, with the manager scooting behind.

A chase ensues through the town and eventually the pals are apprehended by the manger who takes them back to his office. Eventually a plan is devised to catch that actual skateboard thief but can Huxley and Flapjack outwit Fast Fingers Frankie and arrive home in time for tea?

A fast-moving fun story, ideal for new solo readers with zany, dynamic full colour illustrations by Francesca Gambatesa on every spread. I suspect this duo will gain lots of young followers who will eagerly anticipate their further adventures.

Cracking Cricket

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Cracking Cricket
Robin Bennett, illustrated by Matt Cherry
Firefly Press

Written with humour and bursting with facts and advice on how to be an ace bowler, batter and fielder in any combination and much, much more.

The author begins with the history of the sport that includes some wacky theories about how it started, the favourite being that it was made up by bored shepherds some time between 1300 and 1600 – hmm! And like most of the chapters, this ends with a focus on a favourite player; there’s also one or more ‘cool quotes’ in each chapter. I particularly liked this from Stuart Broad, ‘people talk about cricket being an individual game, but I really don’t agree; everything is done in a partnership.’ and had to laugh at this said by Aussie, Greg Chappell, ‘ I can’t say I’m batting badly . I’m not batting long enough to be batting badly.’

We meet the members of a team – opening batters, the top, middle and lower orders, bowlers – fast and spin, the fielder (every team member must be one of those) and the wicket-keeper, and learn about the task of the nightwatchman (that name needs updating) and the joy of being an all-rounder.

One thing I often get confused about is all the different fielding positions and illustrator Matt Cherry provides a helpful diagram of these, complete with several fielders.

There’s a chapter on skills and tactics, another on the future of the game that looks at diversity, masses of stats, plus explanations of key terms.

Wisden it isn’t, but it is a smashing little book (the 3rd in the Stupendous Sports series), for young readers be they players or not. I learned a lot despite being a keen follower of the game.

Deep

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Deep
Stephen Hogtun
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

In this wonderful story we follow a mother whale and her little one from the time the infant takes his first breath. Guided by his mother, the calf learns to swim alongside her and is keen to travel without her, but first, mother and calf must take a long journey together. We accompany the pair as they head into the unknown on a swim that is sometimes stormy and challenging,

but with his mother close at hand to offer reassurance and protection, the calf learns to face his fears as well as see beauty in the peaceful nights they spend together.

Eventually of course, as it is for all mothers, she realises that it’s time for her offspring to set out and make his way alone in the world,

safe in the knowledge that should he need her, his mother is always waiting.

Wise, gentle, lyrical and exquisitely illustrated, this is a book that truly expresses the devotion and love of the mother whale and her young one. Capturing to perfection the beauty of the ocean world, it not only conveys the feelings of the two whale characters, but also the universal bond of a human mother and her infant – what greater gift than knowing you are loved?

An immersive tale to open up discussions about growing up and life’s journey; this is one to share at home or in a KS1 classroom.

Don’t Mix Up My Farm / What’s Scarier than a Spider? / I’m Not Scared, You Are!

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These are three brand new board books from Little Tiger – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review.

Don’t Mix Up My Farm
Rosamund Lloyd and Spencer Wilson

Five farm animals – a sheep, a donkey, a cockerel, a pig and a duck offer tactile fun in this matching game of a book. Little ones will enjoy creating strange-looking creatures by mismatching one of their features using the wheel. Although none of the creatures will be impressed to be given wrong horn, beak, tail or comb, so they should make sure they also match each with the small pictures on the back cover; otherwise a lot of braying, bleating, crowing, grunting and quacking might break out down on the farm.

What’s Scarier than a Spider?
Amelia Best and Becky Davies

The scorpion, wasp, cockroach, mosquito, and spider more than meet their match in this altogether different peekaboo game. The aforementioned creatures are anticipating in turn, dinner, a fight, a tasty treat, being the boss

and upsetting something or someone. However as the fly on each spread delights in announcing, each one has an unexpected confrontation of the alarming kind.
There’s some delicious alliteration – ‘massive mantis’ and ‘biting beetle’ for little ones to try getting their tongues around, along with the delightfully shocking creepy crawly surprises revealed by lifting the flaps, especially the final extra large one to revel in. Amelia Best has portrayed some terrifying minibeasts in her arresting illustrations.

I’m Not Scared, You Are!
Patricia Hegarty and Thomas Elliott

With a plethora of scary sounds waiting to spook your little ones at the press of a button, we join two child characters on a foray out into the night. Their journey takes them deep into a forest wherein bats and owls are ready to alarm with their flaps and yowls. They board a passing ghost train that drops them off outside a cottage wherein a witch is busy stirring something that’s bubbling in her enormous cauldron. Hearts thumping, on they go over the bridge, under which lurk not one but three growling, grunting trolls, as they head towards a huge haunted house. Inside they are met by rattling skeletal sounds, followed by clangs and clanks sending them hurtling towards the door once more. After a frantic dash our adventurers arrive back home safely and of course, they confirm “No, we’re not afraid!’ But are they? …
Patricia Hegarty’s rhyming text reads aloud really well offering lots of opportunities for action as well as noise making and Elliott’s scenes are jocular rather than of the shivers-down-the-spine- sending scary.

Little Chimpanzee / Little Whale / Little Monkey / Tiny Tadpole

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Little Chimpanzee
Anna Brett, illustrated by Rebeca Pintos
Little Whale
Anna Brett, illustrated by Carmen Saldaña
Words & Pictures

These are the latest additions to the Really Wild Families series of fun, informative interactive books for children and adults to share.
Having introduced itself, Little Chimpanzee invites readers to spend a day exploring its African rainforest home and meeting the sociable family community comprising father, mother, older brother, aunts, uncles and cousins. The creature narrator explains how chimpanzees care for and groom each other and talks about the social structures and relationships in the group , including how they communicate with one another.There’s a spread about chimp conservation and another about the vital work of Jane Goodall and the chimps in Gombe Stream National Park.
The narrative is followed by a quiz and a craft activity. A charming, effective way for young children to find out about our nearest relative, while gently reminding them of the importance of caring for creatures in the wild; vibrantly illustrated with gentle humour.

The Little Whale of the title introduces itself and the rest of its pod of humpback whales and readers join their annual journey from warm waters to search for the cold waters of the Antarctic Ocean where there’s plenty of food. On the way we learn about how the creatures move, their external features, breathing, breeding, diet and feeding,

possible predators and whale song.
Following the story are the usual factual spread, a look at conservation, a craft activity, a quiz and we meet Migaloo, a albino humpback that lives off the Queensland coast of Australia. Carmen Saldana’s underwater illustrations are beautiful and really add to the book’s appeal.

Narrative works really well as a means of transmitting information to young children and these are additions to the Amazing Animal Tales series that also successfully use this approach along with straightforward facts found beneath the flaps.

Little Monkey
illustrated by Caroline Rabei
Tiny Tadpole
illustrated by Qu Lan
both written by Anne Rooney
Oxford Children’s Books

Little Monkey is a spider monkey and we first encounter him high in the rainforest treetops clinging round his mother’s tummy as she moves from branch to branch. Lifting the full-page flap reveals two pages of information and a simple question to further engage listeners.
As the story continues there is information about feeding, what this entails.and how it changes as he becomes more independent, an independence that makes him want to go off exploring by himself.

Anne Rooney’s way of presenting the information is appealing and perfectly pitched for an Early Years audience, the special skill being the combination of the two styles, with Caroline Rabei’s delightful illustrations containing just the right amount of detail.

The Tiny Tadpole also lives in the rainforest but further south than the monkey family. Herein we follow the transformation from tadpoles hatching out of the protective jelly eggs and the growth and changes that ensue in their habits and in the care provided by the mother frog,

until the tiny black dot has become a froglet. This one is illustrated using a rich colour palette by Qu Lan and every picture is bursting with life.

How To Feed An Elephant

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How To Feed An Elephant
Sam Wilde and Sarah Horne
Oxford Children’s Books

In the unlikely event that an elephant should be able to read and thus, respond to a wanted poster in the same way as the one in this story did, then you will definitely need to be able to provide the creature with an appropriate diet and know how to take care of it too. With regard to food, both quality and quantity are important

and since elephants are thirsty creatures, you will need access to at least 200 litres of water daily and that doesn’t include that required for washing your pet unless it insists on having mud baths.

Poo, as you might expect, will be plentiful but it won’t go to waste as it helps to add vegetation to your garden.

Comfortable sleeping quarters are another important consideration, and despite elephants only sleeping for a couple of hours per night, you really don’t want your neighbours complaining about a lack of sleep on their part on account of its noise.

It’s more than likely however, that having given it a go, you and your family will decide that despite the affectionate bond you’ve formed with your colossal pet pachyderm, it would be better off living back home with its own family; and who knows, a more suitable pet could turn up at any time …

Totally silly but enormous fun, especially with that final farewell spread, Sam Wilde’s straightforward text and Sarah Horne’s hilarious illustrations, many of the latter including the silent bit part playing resident moggie, work really well together.

After the story is a ‘top elephant facts!’ spread. This might result in some children having even more fun envisaging a few of these facts using the characters from the story. Furthermore, did you know that elephants can be either right- or left-tusked, I certainly didn’t.

Curious Creatures Talking Together

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Curious Creatures Talking Together
Zoë Armstrong and Anja Sušanj
Flying Eye Books

It’s common knowledge that humans spend a considerable amount of time communicating with one another in various ways, mostly though not always using words, but less well known is that all manner of animals communicate wordlessly by means of movements, sounds and smells.

In this latest Curious Creatures book, Zoe Armstrong presents in her relatable style, some of the ways this happens in the animal kingdom. Many times I’ve stood in Bushy Park and watched what the two hikers in the highlands of Scotland are witnessing: two stags roaring, stamping and bellowing. This happens during the mating season when males compete for females and one wants to prove himself stronger. Having described their mode of communication, the author briefly compares their actions with ways we humans might sort out a disagreement. I especially like this feature, which is part of each section.

The next couple of spreads present examples of other creatures that communicate by means of visual signals, the peacock spider being one. I love the description of the male’s dance vibrations as ‘rumble rumps’ ‘crunch rolls’ and ‘grind-revs’. 

The book continues with spreads each focussing on in turn, sound signals, 

chemical ‘smelly’ signals, tactile or ‘touching messages’. There’s also a spread on ways some domesticated animals communicate with humans and finally comes a reminder that if we pay close attention to signals from animals, we can discover what they want, need and perhaps, feel, and thus develop empathy with them, which should emphasise the importance of protecting the world’s fauna and treating them with respect.

Anja Sušanj’s vibrant illustrations augment the text and will help to entice children into exploring the information. A worthwhile addition to primary class collections and libraries.

Nabil Steals a Penguin

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Nabil Steals a Penguin
Nishani Reed and Junissa Bianda
Nosy Crow

On the last day of a holiday in France with his parents, Nabil is at the zoo watching the penguins when one of them addresses the boy introducing itself as Pierre. The penguin goes on to complain about his dull diet – fish, fish and more fish, saying he’d love to sample something more exciting. Obligingly, Nabil offers to share his lunch with Pierre and before you can say ‘spicy’ the penguin has scoffed the lot.

As the family are departing, Pierre bids farewell to his fellow penguins and dives into Nabil’s backpack and eventually, after a somewhat worrying journey for Nabil, the family plus penguin reach home. Very soon Nabil’s sister suspects something strange is going on: how on earth is the boy going to conceal his increasingly lively guest from his parents?

The answer is, he can’t. Into the bathroom comes Mum;

what will her reaction be? Young readers and listeners may well be surprised at what happens thereafter. I’m sure they’ll approve however.

Deliciously daft, this tasty offering is author Nishani Reed’s debut picture book. Junissa Bianda’s wonderfully expressive illustrations capture Nabil’s consternation at the antics of the lively stowaway and the delight of the entire family in the final few spreads.

Vegetable biryani anybody?

The Story of Conservation

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The Story of Conservation
Catherine Barr and Steve Williams, illustrated by Amy Husband
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Catherine Barr and Steve Williams present an overview of the interaction of humans with planet earth. They take readers on a journey from prehistoric times to the present, highlighting the changes in people’s habits, the ways nature has been harmed, the natural resources used, and the ways people have worked to counter those changes to protect nature, citing Rachel Carson’s work as key when it came to the use of chemicals on crops in North America.

As well as highlighting the importance of changing global habits, the book also gives examples
of problems that different countries are facing – the consuming of ‘wild-caught’ meat in some parts of Africa being one, and the displacement of indigenous people.

Along with scientists’ attempts to stall the onslaught of global warming and pollution, the book discusses protests and attempts at conservation solutions.

Amy Husband’s gently humorous illustrations and the integral timeline show how human life has changed, and the way we use natural resources has evolved over time as practices like hunting and farming have altered the way we live. All of this should help children to develop their understanding of climate change globally and hopefully accept the authors’ final challenge to join in and make a difference.

A terrific introduction to the most pressing issue currently facing us all; this is a book to share and discuss in primary classrooms, and this, one hopes, will galvanise children into taking action.

Hamster Heroes

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Hamster Heroes
Peter Bently and John Bond
Harper Collins Children’s Books

Following on from their terrific Dogs in Disguise and Cats in Chaos, team Bently and Bond present another pet-themed picture book. Here a team of courageous hamsters respond to calls from Hero HQ and proceed to take on alien gerbils invading from outer space. Those are immediately seen off by PomPom aka Hammerham and her trusty massive mallet.

But a second threat soon follows in the form of giant chinchilla, Chinzilla. This time Jiffy, transforms into Superham and sends the monster packing.

Snack time is underway when their broccoli feast is rudely interrupted by another call: their worst enemy Goldenpaw Guinea-Pig is on the screen with his dastardly weapon threatening to vamoosh with the entire world supply, right under the noses of the snackers.

However he’d reckoned without Pushkin morphing into The Bulk and along with the other super hamsters, giving chase. Hurrah for those hamster heroes and hurrah for pulling off an awesome rescue of this reviewer’s favourite vegetable – bonus accolades for that and have a good snooze, you super-pets.

Peter’s deliciously silly rhyming narrative combined with John’s wacky scenes of the super-hamsters in action, deliver what will surely become a story time favourite with young listeners at home, or in the classroom or nursery.

Hello Me!

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Hello Me!
Dr Naira Wilson and Elisa Paganelli
Little Tiger

Positivity is key in this gentle book wherein the author, a child psychologist, presents a young boy narrator explaining and showing how he gradually learns self-care and self-acceptance.
He begins thus: ‘Sometimes I think my mind is like a house. Just like a house, I need to treat my mind with love and care.’

Like all of us, this child has flaws and makes mistakes, but just like us all too, he acknowledges those mistakes using them as a powerful learning tool.

When jealousy rears its head, our narrator accepts that nobody is perfect and everyone is different. The important thing is to be flexible in your attitude to routines, make the best of what you have and not to be afraid to ask for help when it’s needed. Friends and their love are key but so too is learning to love yourself for who and what you are.

The final spread breaks down the key points in the narrative, augmenting them with vignettes taken from Elisa Paganelli’s beautiful larger illustrations.

Accessible and easy for young children to relate to, this would be a good book to open up a classroom circle time discussion on looking after and loving oneself.

Yomi and the Fury of Ninki Nanka / Fairytale Ninjas: The Magic Crown 

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Yomi and the Fury of Ninki Nanka
Davina Tijani, illustrated by Adam Douglas-Bagley
Little Tiger

Yomi (soon to go into her final year in primary school) and her brother Kayode, two years younger, are supposed to be on the trip of a lifetime visiting The Gambia with their Uncle Olu. But thus far their holiday has been boring, boring, boring, and involved something to do with their uncle’s research.

However after despairing there will be anything like an adventure, or the sight of any Nkara, Yomi’s sleep is disturbed by a terrible roaring and she witnesses Ninki Nanka, the Dragon King being kidnapped from the sky. From then on, things become a whole lot more exciting. Determined to rescue him, the siblings encounter magnificent beasts, unearth a number of secrets, meet a reckless boy hunter

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and face dangers aplenty. Yomi and Kayode are highly motivated and resilient, but can they save Ninki Nanka?

Vividly told, by an author who clearly has a great depth of understanding for, and love of, African mythology, this fast-paced West African-inspired fantasy adventure is the first of a new series – The Nkara Chronicles – and with Adam Douglas-Bagley’s striking illustrations, deserves to be a winner with primary readers. I thoroughly enjoyed it.


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Fairytale Ninjas: The Magic Crown  Paula Harrison, illustrated by Mónica de Rivas Harper Collins Children’s Books

This second story set in the kingdom of Waybeyond begins with Red wishing for another adventure with new magical creatures when suddenly a fireball drops from the sky and becomes a fiery little golden bird, followed not long after by a large ice dragon. Now there’s no need to go seeking adventures, instead one has found Red, Snow and Goldie (aka the Fairytale Ninjas). In fact pretty soon the entire town is full of frost fairies too.

With trouble afoot, it’s time for a visit to Redrock Canyon, dwelling place of sand dragons and firebirds declares Snow. Having, with the help of their gingerbread supplies, persuaded a unicorn to take them, they’re off at a gallop only stopping at the edge of a cliff beneath which goblins and rats are busy digging holes in the rock with saucepans and spoons. Why? They don’t stop long enough to find out though and instead continue to the icy mountains region, but now clad in their ninja suits to blend in.

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This allows them to overhear a conversation about a wooden box hidden by an old king the contents of which will make their master the most powerful person in the entire kingdom. They must be working for Sir Scallion surely? But an untimely sneeze results in the three being discovered and they have to dash for their unicorn, stopping briefly to rescue a tiny ice dragon. Whither now? Goldie has an idea and they soon find themselves in a mysterious library. I’ll leave them there and merely say ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ and recommend you get a copy of the book and find out how the magical tale ends.

With its wealth of illustrations by Mónica de Rivas, emergent readers will devour this twisted fairytale, along with some gingerbread.

The Quickest Bedtime Story Ever!

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The Quickest Bedtime Story Ever!
Louise Fitzgerald and Kate Hindley
Nosy Crow

Most young children will go to extreme lengths to delay getting into bed and this behaviour is what debut author, Louise Fitzgerald, plays on in her story.
According to our narrator, the story contains just ten words: well that’s as maybe, but there’s a whole rigmarole to go through beforehand. First, we – the listeners and the four little animal characters herein – need to promise to go to sleep at the end of the book. Then, in fairness, the grown-up reader aloud must promise to use their best reading voice and of course that will only be possible if said voice has done a whole-hearted warm-up. Comfort is crucial for all parties involved, so pillows must be plumped up,

a check kept so no pages are skipped (as if!). It’s vital too, for all the toys to be tucked in (they love a bedtime story and you can devise a way of doing this) – check they’re all present as the odd one could still be lurking unnoticed. Oops! almost neglected a bit of a razzmatazz,

but that over – hurrah! We can begin – we’re on the way … zzzzzzz.

This hugely funny take on the bedtime formalities will surely strike a chord with vast numbers of humans, young and adult but it’s difficult to know which category will like it more. I really, really, really wish I’d had this book yesterday when I was putting a very reluctant three year old relation to bed; a procrastinator of the first order, she could give Louise Fitzgerald more than a few additional ideas. I know young Faith and countless other preschoolers will love exploring the plethora of funny details in some of Kate Hindley’s spreads and joining in with the actions depicted on many others (more opportunities for delaying tactics).
I suspect sharing this story will become part of the bedtime routine in many a household.

Sunny and the Birds

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Sunny and the Birds
Wendy Meddour and Nabila Adani
Oxford Children’s Books


Sunny and his family have only recently moved to a new country. Almost inevitably there are things his dad misses. Every evening when they watch the birds through the window and Danny’s father asks him if he can name them, Dad’s response refers to similar ones “back home”. His son’s reply is “But this is our home!”

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It’s evident that Dad doesn’t yet feel at home where he now is. In the middle of the night both Sunny and his Dad are wide awake and the boy acknowledges his father’s sad feelings.


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After school the following day, Sunny’s Nanna meets him and the boy asks if they can go and buy Dad a present – a surprise. Can his bird-related plan help his father begin to feel at home in this new country?


As always Wendy Meddour’s story is written with great sensitivity. Presenting what for many immigrant families is a challenging time, she shows how with love, support, kindness and nature’s healing power, the process of adjustment to a different life can begin.


The richness and beauty of the natural world – real and remembered – is elegantly captured in Nabila Adani’s misty illustrations and you can read the changing emotions in her portrayal of the two main characters.


With more and more schools having immigrants as part of their community, this book would help children understand how newcomers might be feeling. Share at home, share in the classroom and invite listeners to participate in discussion, whatever the setting.

Dirty Bertie: Splash! / Dirty Bertie: Mighty Mishaps / The Trapped Puppy

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These are additions to popular young fiction series – thanks to publishers Little Tiger for sending them for review.

Dirty Bertie: Splash!
David Roberts, illustrated by Alan MacDonald

This is Bertie’s 35th set of escapades and some people will be surprised that he’s still as full of crazy ideas as ever. In the first Bertie and pals, Darren and Eugene are finally being treated by Bertie’s mum to a visit to Splash City, the new waterpark. However they hadn’t reckoned on arch enemy Know-All Nick also being there and worse still, Nick’s cousin, Alex is one of the lifeguards. Alex is quick to point out the set of rules that must be obeyed or serious consequences would result.

Can the three friends still have the fun time they’d anticipated, that is the vital question.

Moggy! sees the three friends, aided and abetted by Whiffer, searching high and low for neighbour, Angela Nicely’s missing moggy, Pusskins, with a reward of £50 on offer to the finder. Eventually they find what Bertie is sure is Angela’s cat but it turns out to be a case of mistaken identity. Somebody else has found Pusskins; but who and what happens to the promised reward?

In Breakdance! Miss Boot announces that to celebrate the school’s seventy-fifth anniversary, Class 3 will dance for the parents – and rehearsals get under way immediately. Bertie is determined not to participate and comes up with a clever plan. It turns out there’s more than one way of Breakdancing: game, set and match to Miss Boot.
Ridiculous as ever, but that’s what makes these stories such fun.

If readers have missed previous high jinks of the Bertie kind, the publishers have recently released another single volume bind-up Dirty Bertie: Mighty Mishaps: containing Yuck!, Loo! and Toothy!

The first contains episodes wherein Bertie turns green at the fair, causes mayhem while dressed in his costume for Victorian Day and teaches a toddler her very first word, “Bum”.
Loo! presents a toilet emergency on the way back from a school outing; a sandcastle competition that is nothing but a damp squib; and the possibility of a house move, something Bertie will do his utmost to prevent.
Toothy! has Bertie suffering from severe dentist-itis; jetting off on holiday and having loo queue trouble during the flight and finally, some ice-cream issues of the worrying kind.
Bertie is one of those characters who, despite everything he does, is a real charmer.and all the books are great promoters of the vital ‘reading is fun’ message.

The Trapped Puppy
Holly Webb, illustrated by Sophy Williams

Amelia, her parents and older brother are out walking on the rocky hillside with their dogs, Mickey and Poppet. Amelia throws a stick for Poppet to retrieve, slips over and is a bit dazed. Coming too she realises that Poppet has disappeared but nobody noticed what happened to the puppy. They spend some time looking but with dusk descending they return home hoping to discover Poppet waiting for them. However, the puppy has fallen down an abandoned mineshaft and is unable to get out.

The following morning the search resumes, with the aid, later on of some Mountain Rescue volunteers. Eventually they hear scuffling sounds from underground. Now all they need is to work out a way of extricating little Poppet safely.

The narrative switches between the view point of the rescuers and that of Poppet, which keeps readers on tenterhooks and there are some tense moments – Sophy Williams captures several in her illustrations, but the rescue team are determined. Will Amelia go home with her beloved puppy?

An exciting addition to Holly Webb’s hugely popular puppy series.

Going to Big School / Come To School Too, Blue Kangaroo!

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Going to Big School
Laura Sieveking and Danielle McDonald
Scholastic

Told alternately from the perspectives of Ava and Jack, this is an account of their first day at ‘big’ school.
Ava, is excited, enthusiastic and has butterflies fluttering in her tummy, Jack, in contrast is shy and nervous; he has moths flapping around in his tummy. On arrival in the noisy playground, Ava is eager to get involved whereas Jack hangs back, upset by the busyness. Happily however, the kind reception teacher, Miss Moloney notices Jack’s shyness and whispers to him that everybody – she included – has first day nerves.

As we follow the two children through their first day we see how they react differently – at story time, 

fruit time, during a colouring session, at lunchtime and during the afternoon of free play: there’s no sense that one set of reactions is right or wrong (better or worse). By hometime, Ava’s actions have helped Jack feel more relaxed 

and they both depart as happy friends, eagerly looking forward to tomorrow.

The author includes things that by their very newness, might be a challenge for young children – a big, round hat and a lunchbox with clips so stiff they require the help of a buddy to open, both of which are shown in Danielle McDonald’s bright, inclusive illustrations. Whether or not children are moving from a preschool setting or going straight into a reception class, this book will reassure them that the going to big school milestone will be unique for them all, and that everything will be fine.

Come To School Too, Blue Kangaroo!
Emma Chichester Clark
Harper Collins Children’s Books

This is the ideal book for children about to start a new school and with its brilliant, wonderfully warm art and enchanting telling, it remains my very favourite starting school story.

Blue Kangaroo’s owner, Lily is off to a new school and decides to take Blue Kangaroo too. Ready with new bags, both child and toy anticipate the big day: Blue is excited about school – the fun things to do, the friends waiting to be made and new experiences. Lily on the other hand is worried that Blue might be frightened about getting lost, or feel too shy to talk to anybody.

Having been greeted warmly by her teacher, Lily is soon happily engaged in the busy school day, 

and Blue watches thoughtfully from the windowsill as Lily enjoys painting, playing and joy of joys – story time. 

Come hometime, Lily is so excited about her day that the almost inconceivable happens: Blue Kangaroo is left at school all by himself . However, his sadness quickly gives way to happiness because now he can do all the things Lily did during her fantastic school day including reading Quentin Blake’s dancing frog story. 

He also leaves a surprise for everyone to discover the following morning.

It’s so clever the way the author makes Lily express her anxieties and fears about starting school by putting them onto the unworried Blue Kangaroo.

The Ocean Gardener

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The Ocean Gardener
Clara Anganuzzi
Little Tiger

The author/illustrator of this book was raised in the Seychelles where this tale is set.
Ayla and her mum’s beautiful island home is surrounded by a coral reef and one morning while out swimming with her mum, Ayla notices that as she goes further out, something is wrong: the colours of the coral are faded and the fish are disappearing.

The girl is upset and asks her mum why these things are happening. Surely it can’t be too late to save this wonderful part of the ocean’s eco-system.

Fortunately, Mum, a marine biologist, has a plan and the very next day she and Ayla start working bringing tiny pieces of coral from the sea into their home and so begins operation coral reef rescue. It’s a lengthy process and eventually after some time Mum decides the coral growths are ready to return to the ocean and they create their ocean garden.

That place is Ayla’s destination each day for what feels like forever; she tends to the coral and awaits the return of the fish until at last …

Clara Anganuzzi’s gorgeous illustrations capture so well the beauty of the coral reef and at the same time present the highly complex issue of global warming in a positive manner that will appeal to young readers, while also offering hope that the work of marine biologists such as Chloé Pozas, whom we meet after the story in a spread giving more information about coral nurseries, can restore these precious parts of our oceans’ ecosystems.

Victor, the Wolf with Worries

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Victor, the Wolf with Worries
Catherine Rayner
Macmillan Children’s Books

Victor is a young wolf beset with worries: he worries about almost everything. He considers himself to be not ‘wolfish’ enough, not brave enough, not big enough, nor fierce enough, so he resorts to pretence.
However this leads to worries about how his shortcomings will impact upon other wolves; for example if he attempts to act fiercely, he could end up accidentally frightening his fellow wolves. And so his worries just keep on growing.

Fortunately, Victor has a best friend, Pablo. Empathetic Pablo notices Victor looks worried and with his help and understanding, and some coping strategies, Victor’s worries gradually recede. He begins to feel braver, bigger, fiercer and increasingly wolfish.

Not only does Victor’s anxiety wane but he also learns something else important: he is not the only one who worries about these things, so too does Pablo and all their fellow wolves.

As it is with wolves, so it is with humans. The practical ways Victor was shown to handle his anxieties, are equally effective with young humans, and not so young ones, so this story offers an ideal starting point to help children deal with issues affecting their mental well-being.

In Victor and indeed Pablo, Catherine has created hugely engaging characters with wonderfully expressive eyes. Those winsome wolves stunningly portrayed in her ink and watercolour illustrations will surely win the hearts of any reader or listener.