Category read aloud

Diary of an Accidental Witch: Magic Ever After / The Story Shop: Detective Dash / Nikhil and Jay Flying High

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Diary of an Accidental Witch: Magic Ever After
Perdita & Honor Cargill, illustrated by Katie Saunders
Little Tiger


The Easter holidays are fast approaching for Bea Black. First though she needs to discover what is wrong with her Dad. In addition there’s the upcoming annual Eggastraordinary Eggy Day and Bea is still working on improving her spelling. To keep her sweet, Bea is helping at Taffy’s teashop and being paid in cakes. You may be surprised to learn that Bea’s Dad is also working obsessively on his spells, which makes his daughter suspect that something is up.


When Taffy takes Bea into her confidence things become clearer but she’s charged with keeping Taffy’s proposal plan a secret, which is far from easy. Why, Dad wants to know, can’t he wear his favourite scruffy jumper to the venue; after all it is supposed to be a newt-watching trip..


Despite near disaster, the couple agree to get married and then there’s just the matter of a wedding and all that entails, to focus on. Bea is definitely going to need lots of help from friends and family.
Without giving too much away, let’s just say that Bea’s final diary entry in this book starts ‘BEST.NIGHT.OF.MY.LIFE’.


You can’t ask for more and readers will certainly be more than satisfied. Team Cargill and Saunders have again created a winner.

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The Story Shop: Detective Dash
Tracey Corderoy and Tony Neal
Little Tiger

When shopkeeper Wilbur and his assistant, Fred Ferret arrive in their shop early one morning they’re puzzled to hear a strange sound. It turns out that a ferret has fallen asleep and is snoring. Once awake she introduces herself as Snoozy Suzy saying she’s eager for an adventure.

Suzy elects to be a detective, Fred adds some ingredients to the Story Pot, stirs the mix, and POP! the two of them find themselves in The Museum of Wonder where they learn, a robbery has taken place. Suzy informs the strange man, Ivar Plan busy with a display of lamps, that they’re there to solve the case of the cursed teeth. It turns out that Ivar is actually a robber and the lamps are part of his clever plan to steal priceless articles from the museum. Can Suzy and Fred save the day?


In episode two I S-Pie Trouble!, the pair are at the seaside where one of the posh hotels is in uproar due to the disappearance of Chef Humble who is supposed to be presenting his delicious new creation, the ‘Whatever You Wish For Pie’ at a banquet that coming Friday. After a night’s sleep Fred and Suzy peruse the clues they’d found the previous day and are about to have breakfast when they learn that a new chef has turned up offering to step in and save the banquet – at a price. Things seem decidedly fishy to the detective duo. Will they find the real chef in time for the Friday night banquet?


The riverside village of Watery Bottom is where the third episode is set. Here Suzy and Fred are tasked with discovering the truth about the Demon Duck of Doom. To do so they need to participate in a Doomseeker Expedition led by young April Button. But what is she up to and why?


Full of surprises, this fourth Story Shop book with its wealth of fun illustrations is again just right for younger readers.

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Nikhil and Jay Flying High
Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Soofia
Otter-Barry Books


The fourth book in the charming series for new solo readers starts one rainy day when Appa goes out to the shed to retrieve to board so the boys can play Dayan but the cat distracts him, he takes a tumble and injures his ankle. Can several rounds of the game, together with a cup of tea and a packed of frozen peas on his foot make him feel better?


Three further stories about the everyday life of Nikil, Jay and their parents follow. They participate, somewhat reluctantly at first, in the local Clean and Green Club at the neighbourhood park and then decide it’s a more enjoyable way to spend a Saturday than they’d anticipated.
Next comes a day of kite flying though they unexpectedly have to make the kites themselves as those that had been ordered aren’t delivered in time and finally, Jay gets himself in a stew about tidying up and soon discovers that doing things without his brother is far less enjoyable than doing them together.


As always bold, cheerful black and white illustrations by Soofiya complement Chitra’s telling of these tales, which are based on her own upbringing.

Stitch / Jane Eyre

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Stitch
Pádraig Kenny
Walker Books


Stitch, a boy made from bits and pieces stitched together, and his friend, Henry Oaf, live in a castle with the Professor who brought them into being from dead things, so they discover from the Professor’s notes – ‘a mishmash of parts of other people’ is what Henry later reads about himself.


Unexpectedly the Professor’s wicked nephew, Giles Hardacre, arrives and takes over his laboratory. Not long after, Alice, the nephew’s ‘adopted’ assistant tells Stitch that his uncle has gone for ever; he’s died. It soon becomes evident that the professor’s nephew wants to use Henry as the subject for his next experiment: clearly to him lives such as that of Stitch and Henry, who are ‘different’ are worth far less that those of ‘normal’ people. Alice however disapproves of her master’s ideas.

Henry sabotages the experiment and the three of them in turn make a break for it. Inevitably, troubles lie ahead, however Stitch’s innate goodness keeps him going, intent on doing the right thing no matter what or to whom.


Finally, having always wanted to be an explorer, Stitch now has the opportunity to be one. But will he go alone?


Exploring difference, prejudice, acceptance and what it means to be human, this is such a powerful, highly accessible fable with gothic chills running through it; especially moving is the friendship between Stitch and Henry. It would make a terrific, thought-provoking read aloud for older KS2 classes as well as a gripping book for individuals whether or not they pick up any echoes of Frankenstein.

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Jane Eyre
abridged by Patrice Lawrence
Walker Books

Expertly abridged, yet staying true to Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel, this skilfully written first person narrative, is a splendid introduction to the original. Patrice Lawrence’s fresh prose maintains Bronte’s powerful atmosphere and key themes while considerably shortening the length of her book making it a highly accessible way of introducing older primary readers (or older students for whom English is an additional language) to ten year old Jane’s journey from that ‘haunted’ room in Gateshead Hall to finally becoming a wife.

Poppy the Pea

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Poppy the Pea
Dr Fuzz
Fuzz Books

Herein we meet a pea that’s ‘one of a kind’; her name is Poppy and the author describes her as “The most unlikely pea you’re likely to find.’ When first we meet her, Poppy is somewhat conflicted: she dreams big but her fears always prevent her taking that vital first leap to follow her dreams. Dreams inspired by tales of one, Percy the Great, a pioneering pea from back in the day

But then something happens that changes things. One lunch time she finds herself, along with her pals, on a plate but whereas they sing of going to a cosy space of a ‘tummy-tum-tum, Poppy resolves that like her hero Percy, she will now take charge of her own fate. It’s time to take that giant leap of faith and go after that dream.

Yes, she faces setbacks but happily during her adventure she encounters a friendly, encouraging character who helps her get back on track … Freedom awaits.

Each page of the rhyming text ends with an italicised refrain that offers an opportunity for discussion, though the entire book is one that is likely to prompt discussion on topics including feeling scared, facing your fears, being brave and the timely help of a friend.

Amusingly illustrated by the author, (who as a young child fled Iran to the safety of the UK with his family during the Iran-Iraq war) this is a quirky, pocked-sized book, for anyone who might need a gentle nudge to take that vital first step, especially.

Casander Darkbloom and the Threads of Power

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Casander Darkbloom and the Threads of Power
P.A. Staff, illustrated by Nathan Collins
Walker Books

P.A. Staff certainly had me enmeshed in her authorial threads of power from the book’s opening chapters.
When first we meet him, Casander wakes every morning outside Crane’s Curiosities shop in London. He has no memory and like the author, experiences random surges of uncontrollable energy in his limbs (a movement condition known as Paroxysmal Kinesigenic Choreoathetosis.) Nobody takes much notice of him until one rainy morning he’s invited into the shop where unaccountably, he brings a stuffed raven to life.

Almost the next thing he knows, Casander is running for his life along with the girl from the shop; her name is Warrior. She leads Casander into the Balance Lands – a world that mirrors the normal one – and to Wayward School, the place that Warrior calls home. Once safely inside away from the Heretics, she takes him to one, Dr Bane, and informs him that Cas is “The One we’ve been looking for.” In short he’s the Foretold, who it’s prophesised will defeat the malevolent Master of All.

Under the school’s protection, where for the first time, Cas feels a sense of belonging, he must learn to master his magical abilities. However it’s not long before he discovers that not all may be quite as it seems. Indeed the boy will need to take control of his destiny if he’s to find the strength to fight and overcome the powers of evil. In so doing he has an ally in Mrs Crane, the librarian and makes some wonderful friends in the Abnormies. As well as Warrior: there’s Paws who uses a wheelchair, Fenix, and a few others who accept him for who he is and are willing to help him learn about this new world

This is an enormously exciting, wonderfully imagined fantasy that celebrates difference, be that a physical disability, neurodivergence or whatever, showing how what makes each person unique is their greatest strength. With its brilliant final twist, readers will be left eagerly awaiting what comes next for Cas et al.

The Great Reindeer Rescue

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The Great Reindeer Rescue
Stephen Mangan, illustrated by Anita Mangan
Scholastic

There will be laughs aplenty when you read this hugely funny seasonal adventure.
A new recruit to Santa’s team of reindeers, Dave, yes that’s really his name, is thoroughly fed up. He’s taken over from Blitzen and is suffering from nerves that make him chatter non-stop too, made much worse on account of Rudolph’s constant bragging about his number one status.

Meanwhile, elsewhere Holly is wide awake, partly because she’s excited it’s Christmas Eve but also
due to exceedingly bright light flooding her bedroom thanks to the decorations with which her Christmas fanatic father, Simon, has festooned the outside of their home as a tribute to Holly’s Mum.

Just as the sleigh draws near to Holly’s abode, with Dave desperately trying to stay awake, Rudolph lets off an enormous fart right in his face. The result is that Rudolph becomes detached from the rest of his retinue and Santa’s sleigh makes an emergency landing on Holly’s pitched roof and out go all the lights. Up goes her Dad, Simon, to investigate and before long there’s a huge explosion that scatters the reindeers all over the world. And of Holly’s dad there is no sign.

With just a few hours before the dawning of Christmas Day, having sorted out the not insignificant matter of retrieving Santa’s magic box, Dave needs to fly with Holly rescuing reindeer from bizarre situations, first stop Cupid atop the Empire State Building in New York.

Thereafter they visit the icy Arctic, alarmingly close to a hungry polar bear, a beach in Tahiti where a relaxing Dasher is totally against being collected,

and then other locations around the globe. A hectic hunt it certainly is, but can they possibly find all the missing characters and save Christmas?
Included in the unlikely cast are the wonderful twins, Dorothy Dithers and Griselda Dithers who will surely make readers smile.

Drama and humour abound in this romp, added to by the illustrations of Anita Mangan, sister of the author. Read aloud or read alone.

The Puppets of Spelhorst

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The Puppets of Spelhorst
Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Julie Morstad
Walker Books

This story has three acts. It begins with a lonely old sea captain, Spelhorst by name. One day when walking in the city, he comes upon a toy shop. Hanging on display in the window are five puppets: there’s a king, a wolf, a girl, a boy and an owl. Immediately the man is drawn to the girl puppet for it reminds him very much of someone he loved and lost long ago. The shopkeeper however, refuses to sell him just one puppet: they’re in a story and must be bought together he insists and so Spelhorst takes them all. That night, thinking sadly of his lost love, he writes for a long time, folds the letter and tosses it in the trunk with the puppets. He then dies in his sleep.

The trunk containing the puppets is sold to a musical rag and bone man, who sells it to a young man and it eventually ends up in the home of his two nieces, Emma and Martha. Emma, the elder of the sisters ranges them on the mantlepiece and later starts writing a play about them. Meanwhile significant misadventures happen to each of the puppets: two of the wolf’s teeth are wrenched out by Martha; later the maid flings the puppet out the window and she’s taken by a fox running to its den in the woods (running through the woods fulfils her greatest wish).The boy that longs to ‘do a great deed’ is seized by a hawk and dropped in the branches of a tree …

Tension mounts as we join the puppets in wondering if they will ever be together again. Eventually they are reunited and Emma’s play is performed. “We did something wondrous, important,” says the boy afterwards.

Wondrous and wonderful too, is this hauntingly illustrated novella of desires, belonging and identity that demonstrates the power of stories and their role in living one’s life and fulfilling one’s dreams.
The author’s ending elegantly puts all the pieces together, and I found myself reaching for tissues.

Mouse & Mole: Boo to the Who

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Mouse & Mole: Boo to the Who
Joyce Dunbar and James Mayhew
Graffeg

We’re back in the company of the delightful Mouse and Mole for three further episodes.
Here and There starts with Mouse announcing that he’s going for a walk. Mole decides to accompany him despite not knowing the destination. Before long they reach a kissing gate; Mouse is interested in how it works, Mole asks, “Are we there yet?” On they go till they get to a bridge. Mouse pauses to enjoy the water; Mole merely says, “But are we there yet?”
A grassy meadow,

a stile, a windmill, a cornfield with haystacks all offer brief stopping points but Mole still grumbles. Time to return home. Mouse tells his pal it was a very good walk. Mole remains troubled about the location of ‘there’. They consult the map and Mouse points out all their stopping places. A realisation dawns on Mole …

In Boo to the Who the two decide on a cosy night indoors but very soon Mole is troubled by a pair of staring eyes – they belong to the WHO that comes creeping in the night, he tells Mouse. According to hearsay it can squash the breath right out of you. After some discussion, they go out into the darkness to investigate, suitably disguised so as to ‘show this WHO who’s who.’ A strange encounter takes place that ends with pie sharing.


A Sad Moment sees Mole in a state of perplexity. Mouse gives him a bowl of his favourite pea soup to eat with his favourite spoon but instead of tucking in, Mole opens the door and goes outside in the cold, to heighten the pleasure of eating his soup, so he says. Starting to consume his soup, he tells Mouse that it’s the happiest moment in his life; but then he gives a loud sob of sadness. Mouse is somewhat confused. There follows a philosophical discussion, essentially on the topic of savouring the moment as Mole relishes his repast.

It’s all wonderfully droll with Mouse not batting an eyelid over his friend’s overthinking of so many things. James’ witty illustrations capture so well the quirkiness of the relationship between the friends.

The Incredible Adventures of Gaston Le Dog

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The Incredible Adventures of Gaston Le Dog
Michael Rosen, illustrated by Viviane Schwarz
Walker Books


This story is based on tales the author was telling his son on holiday in France where the book is set. When Michael was ill with COVID-19, one of his aims was to get better and finish this book. I found myself smiling all the way through as I followed Gaston’s journey with its multitude of adventures and challenges where danger lurks at every turn.

Determined to return to the wonderful beach he remembers from long ago, Gaston leaves his close friend Hirondelle and has to navigate a world of fairy tale, magic and myth. In so doing he encounters all kinds of intriguing, mostly animal, characters willing to offer help on his journey.

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Readers may well recognise characters from classic stories including Puss in Boots. Which ones can Gaston truly trust and will his adventure finally lead to all that he’s hoping for?


It’s captivating, playful, thought-provoking and multi-layered: a special treasure of a book – made even more so by Viviane Schwartz’s splendid illustrations. Perfect for solo readers but equally an absolute delight to read aloud: it will appeal to a wide age range and is a tale to return to over and over. It’s likely new understandings will emerge at each re-reading.



The Ice Children

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The Ice Children
M.G. Leonard, illustrated by Penny Neville-Lee
Macmillan Children’s Books


With echoes of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen and Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant, this magical fantasy from the author of Twitch and the Adventures on Trains series draws you in from its opening lines: ‘Once upon a warm winter, in the dawning darkness of December, a boy was found in the city rose garden. The boy looked like a statue. He was frozen solid.’ Said boy, Finn, the five year old brother of Bianca is wearing his pyjamas, his hair is full of icicles but he’s still alive – at least he has a heartbeat but nobody can wake him. Bianca is determined to find out what is going on. She soon suspects that the sparkling silver book he got from the library has something to do with it but the book has mysteriously disappeared.


Now whereas one frozen child is indeed puzzling, with the number of ice children increasing day by day, it is imperative that the mystery is solved and Bianca knows it’s down to her to discover the truth. Who or what is behind the freezings? Could it be that strange tall cloaked man with a top hat and a triumphant smile?


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Bianca’s quest takes her into a fantastical winter wonderland, full of beauty and danger where nothing is what it seems: a world splendidly depicted in Penny Neville-Lee’s black and white illustrations


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Make yourself a hot chocolate, snuggle up in your hoodie blanket and prepare to be transported into a brilliantly imagined tale, at the heart of which is a vitally important message about climate change and global warming.

Adventuremice: Mice on the Ice

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

This is my first encounter with the Adventuremice and it mattered not that I wasn’t familiar with their back story. Mice on the Ice is an immediately engaging tale of camaraderie and problem solving, and this book has a decidedly chilly feel to it as overnight snow has transformed Mouse Islands into a sparkling white world. Not only is it white but the sea has already frozen over. Relative newcomer to the group, Pedro, is somewhat confused and finds it difficult to negotiate the icy world. However he is looking forward eagerly to the upcoming Frost Fair for which preparations are underway..

Then comes bad news from the Frost Fair organising committee; the group of mice that had gone to the mainland to collect all the treats for the fair have been stranded on account of the frozen sea and cannot return.


Should they cancel the event or is there perhaps a way that a rescue operation might be staged, after all problem solving is the Adventuremice’s forte. Pedro has an idea … could it possibly save the Frost Fair and bring seasonal joy to the entire town?

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They’ll certainly have to outwit the cat, Fluffykins with her viciously sharp claws and teeth.


Both author and illustrator know just what works with children just starting to fly solo as readers: exciting, sometimes quirky plots with innovative outcomes, main characters that are brave and kind, and illustrations full of fanciful details. This story has all that and more.

Winnie-the-Pooh at the Palace

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Winnie-the-Pooh at the Palace
Jeanne Willis and Mark Burgess
Macmillan Children’s Books

Jeanne Willis’s carefully crafted rhyming text, based on the rhyme of A.A.Milne’s Buckingham Palace poem, tells what happens when Christopher Robin and Pooh embark on an excursion, destination that same palace.

When they depart the train it’s pouring with rain, soaking the sentries and prompting Pooh Bear’s comment, “That must be why they keep changing the guard.” But then the rain turns to snow and they ponder the possibility of gaining entrance to the palace. However the royal butler sends them away telling the two would-be visitors that the King is busy with ‘Royal Affairs’.

Instead Christopher Robin and Pooh Bear embark on a snowball fight, once the Bear’s misunderstanding is cleared up. Before very long though, the snow worsens and as tea is contemplated, who should appear with a sledge? It’s Piglet. Christopher Robin just happens to have some string in his pocket and soon, holding tight, the three whizz off through the ever thickening snow heading straight towards a frozen lake. As they hit the bank the sleigh-riders tumble off.

But where is Pooh Bear? Piglet spies a pair of feet protruding from a snow-pile and out comes the Bear, a crown atop his head. Suddenly they have the perfect reason to return to the palace. Will they gain admission this time I wonder and will Pooh Bear finally have his favourite food?

Despite the weather conditions, Jeanne Willis’ story has all the warmth of the original books as well as the gentle humour. Mark Burgess too, shows respect to Shepard’s original style in his watercolour illustrations.

Animal Tales From India

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Animal Tales From India
Nikita Gill, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat
Nosy Crow

The ten tales in this beautifully presented book are from the Panchatantra, an ancient collection of animal fables written in Sanskrit around 200BCE and now brought to life by Nikita Gill and Chaaya Prabhat. Nikita’s narrative style reflects the fact that she is also a poet and Chaaya’s vibrant illustrations of the various animals in their natural settings are truly captivating.

Among others you will meet lazy lions, a lapwing loth to listen to his wife’s advice, the result being an angry Sea and the washing away of the lapwings’ eggs.

There’s also a crocodile of the cunning kind, a talkative tortoise whose garrulousness results in him plunging headlong from a great height but fortunately landing on soft ground, and an egocentric elephant.

Yes the stories are ancient, but the messages they carry – many about friendship – are relevant to today’s children and Nikita’s warm, gently witty way of telling makes them easy to assimilate when read aloud.
A splendid addition to Nosy Crow’s Classic Series: I strongly recommend adding it to family bookshelves and primary classroom collections. These fables would also make good stories for sharing in assemblies.

Three Tasks for a Dragon

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Three Tasks for a Dragon
Eoin Colfer and P.J. Lynch
Walker Books

Prince Lir is heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Lagin. However as his stepmother tells him in no uncertain terms, he can’t ride a horse, lift a sword, or summon the wolfhounds. Consequently she deems him unworthy to become king; instead her biological son, Prince Delbayne, will inherit the crown. Moreover she banishes her stepson from the kingdom but at Prince Delbayne’s suggestion, he is given a seemingly impossible quest that will likely end in his death: to rescue a maiden Cethlenn, who had once worked in the palace kitchens, from the once fearsome dragon Lasvarg.

Having arrived at the dragon’s island cave, he discovers that the dragon is well past his prime, unable now to fly or breathe fire, and drunk on cherry wine made from cherries stomped upon by Cethlenn, who has become his servant. The prince insists that the dragon, honour tradition by setting him three tasks to perform. First, cure the dragon’s mould-induced ailments, second, fix his broken wing, and lastly restore his fire-breathing power. Little by little while doing these tasks, Prince Lir grows closer to Cethlenn and she to him.

However he turns down her request to stay with her on the island at that time. Instead he sets forth to return and confront his stepbrother in the hope of preventing him receiving the wolfhound crown. Could it be that Cethlenn is the wolfhound queen? How will it all end?

Lyrically written with a fair few thrills and awesome illustrations of the dragon, this is a magical fairy tale that will assuredly keep readers turning the pages, albeit slowly so they can savour P.J. Lynch’s magnificent artistry.

Bear and Bird: The Stars and other stories

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Bear and Bird: The Stars and other stories
Jarvis
Walker Books


Four more tales starring two best friends who have a tendency to misunderstand one another.
The first, The Spoon, tells what happens when the pair fall out over a spoon and as a result, each of them decides a new best friend is needed. Bear writes a letter advertising his need, folds it into a paper boat and sends it out onto the lake. Bird finds it and responds and so it goes on each saying something about themself. Thirteen boat letters later, a breakfast meeting is arranged at Badger’s cafe.

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Both arrive at the venue, seat themselves at separate tables and wait … and wait … What will be the outcome? Could a spoon (or two) lead to a reconciliation?


The Cake refers to one made by Bear after he’s scoffed the one he finds on the way to Bird’s abode. Unsure who the original cake was intended for, Bear tosses ingredients into the mix that could please more than one recipient and the result is, let’s say, revolting. Nevertheless he hides it and when Bird comes along, Bear draws her attention to the ‘surprise’. A surprise it surely is, but not a pleasant one. Will either of the two dare to sample said cake?


The Rock also involves a cake, or rather the desire for one. It begins at the market. where Bear tells Bird to wait while he goes and buys the cake.

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Bird decides to sit on a ‘rock’ so her friend will know where she is. However, the rock isn’t what it seems.


Finally, The Stars is all about dreaming and wishing and the friends decide so doing is pretty close to perfection.


Jarvis has the kind of wry, gentle humour that appeals both to young children and adults. These stories are as seductive as the first four, full of charm, warmth and genuine affection. Perfect for new solo readers or for sharing.



Madame Badobedah and the Old Bones

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Madame Badobedah and the Old Bones
Sophie Dahl and Lauren O’Hara
Walker Books

If you’ve not read the first book, Madame Badobedah, she is a long term resident of the Mermaid Hotel, a seaside establishment managed by young Mabel’s parents. Mabel has taken it upon herself to keep an eye on what the guests are up to and has become firm friends with the wonderfully eccentric Madame Badobedah.

In this adventure the two spend their Saturday on the beach, foraging for interesting things. Mabel discovers a golden coin,

her companion suggests she should make a wish; Mabel wishes for ‘a big adventure.’

The following night the two friends are rummaging through Madame B’s dressing table drawers and come upon something that prompts the owner to tell Mabel about leading an expedition in North America and encountering a Triceratops with terrible toothache. She also talks of another item, which Madame B. has yet to return to its rightful place.

After dinner, the two friends, Mabel holding her coin, set off to the Natural History Museum, Madame B’s pocket containing a precious jewel. There Mabel’s wished for adventure looks set to happen for suddenly there comes a voice. Could it possibly be a dinosaur addressing them? …

Another timeless tale, told in four parts, that celebrates adventure, friendship and the power of the imagination. Lauren O’Hara’s illustrations are full of charm and whimsy – just perfect for portraying the exploits of eccentric teller of tall tales Madame Badobedah and her young friend.

A World Full of Winter Stories

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A World Full of Winter Stories
Angela McAllister, illustrated by Olga Baumert
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

This is a veritable cornucopia of folk tales, myths and legends – fifty in all – gathered from around the world and retold by Angela McAllister. There are six sections: Birds and Beasts, Tricks and Troubles, Ice and Snow, Quests and Journeys, Spirits and Magic and the shortest, Christmas. Each contains stories I was familiar with, but also several new to me. One such was the very first, a tale from Japan telling how snowballs made by the children of the Sky Goddess become the ‘The First Rabbits’. Also new to me, from the same section is an amusing Ukrainian story about a dropped mitten that, unbeknown to its boy owner, becomes a temporary shelter for seven animals.

From the Tricks and Troubles section, a story from Kazakhstan that made me smile was The Marvellous Coat wherein a crafty man tricks another into exchanging coats, ending up with a thick warm coat plus a fine horse, instead of his original holey coat and worn out steed.

Bears feature quite often in wintry tales and this book is no exception. The Long Winter. a Dene story from Canada, in the Ice and Snow section tells how a group of animals struggling from the constant winter climb up into the sky to search for the world’s warmth. There they discover some bear cubs from whom they learn of the whereabouts of that which they seek, although reclaiming it from the mother Bear and restoring sunshine is anything but an easy task.

If you’ve ever wondered why some trees and bushes never lose their leaves, The First Evergreens, a Mongolian tale in section four, offers an explanation that involves a good-hearted swallow.
There’s an Inuit story in Spirits and Magic that took my fancy. It tells how a stolen wife was reunited with her husband, a village chief thanks to an old woman, a special charm and some magic words remembered just in the nick of time.

You might be surprised to learn that a scarecrow features in the final section, in a story from North America, a scarecrow that ends up helping Santa.

This book is a joy to share with children at home or in the classroom during the winter months. The tales are just the right length for a story time session and Olga Baumert’s illustrations, be they large or small, bring an extra touch of magic to each one.

Legends of Norse Mythology / Norse Folktales, Myths and Legends

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Legends of Norse Mythology
Tom Birkett and Isabella Mazzanti
Wide Eyed Editions


This book transports readers way, way back through time to a realm of ice and fire, magic and mischief. There they will encounter characters from Norse mythology including gods and goddesses, monsters, giants, elves, dwarfs, the Valkyries and other mythical beings – over thirty in all.


Starting with Odin, each individual profile introduces us to the character, giving such details as their chief attributes, there’s a story and additional details. Yes, all the well-known deities are there but you will also meet the likes of the bright and shining god, Baldur, renowned for his goodness,

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Sif, goddess of wheat and golden hair, married to Thor, the Norns – Urd, Verdandi and Skull, controllers of the destiny of each and every living being in the world. If your preference is giants then you can search the contents page for where to learn of giant sisters Gjalp and Greip,

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and Fenja and Menja, strong giantesses who grind out the salt on the ocean bottom.
Interspersed with the profiles are summaries of famous Norse tales and events such as that of Thor’s hammer and the story of Ragnarök.


The book is concisely written by Norse mythology expert Dr Thomas Birkett and illustrated beautifully, occasionally aptly spookily, by Isabella Mazzanti who manages to capture the essence of each character in her portrayals.


Altogether a very useful introduction to an endlessly fascinating topic; for KS2 readers and beyond.

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Norse Folktales, Myths & Legends
Anika Hussain, illustrated by Kate Forrester
Scholastic 


Divided into four parts, the book comprises Legends from Norse Mythology, and a selection of folk tales from Denmark, Norway and Sweden, each section having five stories.


As you would expect, Loki the cunning, shape-changing trickster and powerful Thor, his ‘brother’ feature in the first, the Norse mythology section.


Along with lesser-known stories, the Danish section includes a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Thumbelina, the tiny golden-haired girl with the beautiful voice who enchants creatures with her singing including a mole that she narrowly misses having to marry.


New to me in the Norwegian part, using the same folktale structure as Snow White, is The Twelve Wild Ducks wherein a queen who yearns for a daughter makes a deal with a witch: give up her twelve sons in return for a princess daughter.


I read of Jolly Calle for the first time in the Swedish section. It tells of a boy who remains upbeat and positive no matter what, and finds beauty in simple everyday things.


A delightful collection of tales retold in an appropriately direct style; it deserves to be added to KS2 primary class libraries and home bookshelves.

The Panda’s Child

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The Panda’s Child
Jackie Morris and Cathy Fisher
Otter-Barry Books

Left behind by her fellow villagers as they walked in the forest, a mother lies down with her baby boy in the warm sun. She drops off to sleep briefly and wakes to discover the infant has gone. After three days of searching the villagers conclude that the baby must have been taken by a creature of some kind or perhaps the forest spirits.

The mother refuses to give up though and continues searching alone, hope gradually fading the longer she looks. But then, drifting on the wind she hears something: could it be? Wonder of wonders, in a cave beside a large ursine creature lies her child, alive after seven days.

The bear – a she panda – must have kept the baby alive, the villagers decide, and henceforward, they have a strong bond with the animal. They also have a special bond with the little child.

The years pass and on the child’s ninth birthday some strangers ride into the village. It’s evident from their lavish dress these are rich people, accompanied by large hunting dogs and elephants most of which bore cages of animals of various kinds. One cage however is empty. The villagers hope that by ignoring the visitors, they would move on but the boy, attracted to the horses, approaches them and is told they are searching for a black and white creature. Said creature is to be a gift for a great ruler, Alexander. Eventually the riders depart, only to return several days later. This time the empty cage has been filled by a black and white animal: the panda’s child. The boy begs them to take him with them to ensure the creature remains alive and eventually they agree, to the horror of the entire village. But has the child really betrayed all those responsible for keeping him safe? Or does he have another reason for wanting to accompany the wealthy travellers even if it means risking his own life?

Hugely moving, Jackie Morris’s spellbinding tale with Cathy Fisher’s mesmerisingly beautiful illustrations will stay with readers long after the book has been closed. With its environmental and conservation themes it will appeal to a wide age range and would make a wonderful present for a lover of the natural world.

Kevin the Vampire / Victoria Stitch Dark and Sparkling

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Kevin the Vampire
Matt Brown, illustrated by Flavia Sorrentino
Nosy Crow

Having enjoyed the proof I couldn’t wait to see the published book with all the wonderfully entertaining illustrations by Flavia.
Star of this fangciful story is ten year old Kevin Aurelius, not quite the same as other boys his age for he has fangs and being a vampire he’s immortal. Kevin belongs to a family of travelling performers and as the tale begins they are supposed to be en route to Monstros city for the Festival of Fear but instead have wound up in Lower Drudging in the middle of Nowhere. Batnav failure maybe? With them are an assortment of other eccentric monster characters.

Nowhere is human territory and none of Kevin’s family has seen a human. However, a suggestion is made to put on a performance in Lower Drudging – an impromptu one in the hope of earning some gold that will enable them to get back on track to their original destination.

Also in Lower Drudging, suddenly awoken from her slumbers is a young human, Susie Cabbage who lives with two unpleasant aunts. She is eager to know the cause of her rude awakening so out she goes to investigate. Inevitably Kevin and Susie meet and a friendship develops between them.

Meanwhile shock horror: – the mayor and his council members have noticed the sign put up about the performance to be held that very evening. This is horrifying because nothing fun has happened in Lower Drudging for seventy five years on account of the ‘You-Know-What’ that lives inside Cold Mountain. Is this something that Kevin and Susie can investigate and discover the truth about? It might just save the town …

With its wealth of wordplay, this is a really funny start to a new series with some serious underlying themes about acceptance, friendship and not judging others by their looks. Add to all that a number of monster fact cards strategically placed throughout and a final monster themed alphabet and the result is a cracker. Bring on book two.

Victoria Stitch Dark and Sparkling
Harriet Muncaster
Oxford Children’s Books

Heavily laced with gothic glamour, is this third in the series starring the unstoppable young Victoria Stitch recently made co-Queen of Wiskling Wood along with her twin sister Celestine. As the story opens there’s also news of a soon to be born new royal baby. Fast forward eleven months and Princess Minnie Stitch, next in line to the throne, bursts forth from her crystal and in the blink of an eye is making Victoria Stitch’s heart glow.

With Wiskmas approaching, Victoria Stitch takes a trip to Spellbrooke where she encounters a pair of Sapphire Society members who are clearly far from pleased to see her. She then learns that the group meets regularly and being Victoria Stitch, she just can’t stop herself using some invisibility dust and going to listen in on their next get together. What she hears makes her think a plot is afoot.

Shortly afterwards Princess Minnie disappears, followed fairly soon by news of a prison breakout. That means two of Victoria Stitch’s greatest enemies are at large again and it’s likely that the two events are connected. Moreover, their destination is the human world. The police tell her to remain in the safety of the palace but feeling as though she’s inflicted a terrible wound upon herself, Victoria Stitch certainly has no intention of so doing.

With her sister’s blessing, off she goes over the magic boundary wall on operation rescue Princess Minnie and recover the stolen Book of Wiskling. The following morning she and her human friend, Naomi, set out, destination Pinks Rock. Can she pull off a very difficult task, or even two?

Another absolute delight despite the setbacks; Victoria’s character continues to develop interestingly the more challenges she faces and as always, the book explodes with magical images.
I know a lot of children will be jumping for joy at the chance to read this.

Future Hero: Escape from the Clay City

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Future Hero: Escape from the Clay City
Remi Blackwood, illustrated by Alicia Robinson and Deise Lino
Scholastic

Jarell is the ancestor of an Ulfrikan warrior hero called Kundi.and as this third story opens, he is in his cousin’s South London barbershop, Fades undergoing training from barber Legsy to become a mighty warrior.. He’s eager to return to Ulfrika to find the rest of the Iron Animals and reassemble the staff of Kundi. Suddenly he hears the voice of Kimisi calling seemingly from Ulfrika but convincing Legsy of its importance takes some doing. Legsy tells Jarell his hair hasn’t regrown sufficiently to have another symbol shaved into it but on account of the urgency, Legsy agrees to use some special sacred paste instead; however, there is a time limit to how long this will last and without the symbol Jarell will be unable to return from Ulfrika.

Almost the next thing he knows, Jarell is back in the kingdom of his ancestors. There he’s greeted by a small boy, Bo-de, a member of Kimisi’s family who is determined to be in on the journey Jarrell and Kimisi are to undertake. A journey that takes them to Keesah, the underground city of clay. There deadly creatures, Asanbosams, await.

Again Jarrell and Kimisi must work closely together if they are to overcome those with evil intentions, reunite Iron Snake with the Staff of Kind, save the people of Keesah and enable Darrell to return home in time before his symbol wears off completely.

It’s possible to enjoy this as I did, without having read the previous books in the series, but young readers might do better to start with Race to the Mountain and Mission to the Shadow Sea. Black and white illustrations by Alicia Robinson and Deise Lino make it even more dramatic.

Sona Sharma: Wish Me Luck / The Feeling Good Club: Be Kind, Shazmin!

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Sona Sharma: Wish Me Luck
Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Jen Khatun
Walker Books

With its Tamil Nadu setting, the Sona Sharma series is one of my very favourites for younger readers. In this fourth story, Sona’s much-loved teacher is getting married and the entire class has been invited. This she learns on the last day before a mid-term break. So far so good, but then Sona sees on the invitation that Miss Rao’s husband to be comes from a place called Vijayawada that’s several hours away by train and by tradition the bride moves to live in her husband’s city. Definitely not good and Sona and her friends want to try and stop this happening so they start making a ‘lucky’ plan to keep Miss Rao as their teacher.

With this in mind, despite her list of things to do during the break, Sona is preoccupied with the possibility of having to bid farewell to her teacher. So. aided and abetted by Elephant, she begins to search for lucky charms . The night when her Amma hears about all of this, her response is, “Fortune favours the brave, Sona. … If you want something, go and make it happen.”

Sona’s way of doing so is to write a petition, get all her friends to sign it, as well as others at the wedding and then after the ceremony, hand it to their teacher. She puts a great deal of effort into this project; but what will be the outcome?

With its theme of embracing change, this enchanting story exudes warmth and family love throughout and as always, Chitra has woven several South Indian Hindu customs into her narrative including some details of the Kanyadaanam ceremony at the wedding

and Paatti’s story about Rudraksha beads, prompted by the seeds Sona’s friend Renu adds to their collection of lucky charms. Whether read aloud or alone, Jen Khatun’s illustrations add to the delights of the book.

The Feeling Good Club: Be Kind, Shazmin!
Kelly McKain, illustrated by Jenny Latham
Little Tiger

‘Sometimes I miss the old Charita so much it actually makes my stomach hurt.’ So writes her younger sister, Shazmin in her journal at the start of this third episode in the series wherein Bella, Archie and Shazmin help one another to face and cope with the things that worry them by means of supportive friendship and mindfulness activities.

Shazmin is upset that her elder sister, Charita, now a teenager, no longer wants to hang out with her. In a desperate attempt to impress Charita, she persuades Bella and Archie to participate in the making of a video with her, but she keeps the real reason for so doing to herself.

The three friends start working on the video but things keep going wrong, there are misunderstandings and squabbles and the project seems to be heading for the scrap heap.


Is there any way that what started out as a potential prize-winning video, can be rescued, even if that means it taking a rather different direction. And can harmonious relations be restored both in Shaman’s family and with her two Feeling Good Club buddies? Perhaps, but it will take some mindfulness by all concerned.

Children’s well-being has really come into focus since covid and Kelly McKain’s series of highly accessible stories with personable characters openly sharing their emotional ups and downs in situations that children can relate to, provides gently humorous, warm much-needed mentoring in book form.

Drew, Moo and Bunny, too

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Drew, Moo and Bunny, too
Owen Sheers and Helen Stephens
Walker Books

In this magical tale three endearing characters, a boy Drew and his companions Moo and Bunny take off on a red rug for an adventure that sees them travelling around the world. They find themselves aboard a pirate ship whereon they encounter Captain Jacqueline (Jack for short) and her piratical crew – a scary meeting if ever there was one.

When they’re confined to the space below deck they are astonished to discover all kinds of caged creatures; these so the captain informs them, have been captured thanks to her ‘rare-o-scope’, an instrument she produces and proceeds to demonstrate how it works. However instead of being impressed, Drew is horrified the animals have been removed from their natural habitats as trophies, ‘rarer than any of the jewels on Earth.’ and increasingly precious. When Drew goes on to mention that he and his friends too have something uniquely special, in the form of their flying rug, the Captain is eager to add it to her treasure collection and tries to take possession of the rug. In so doing she makes a startling discovery causing her to utter a word that’s never before passed her lips. ‘L_ _ E’.

This is a story that ends happily: Drew proffers some wonderfully wise words that have the desired effect on the pirate captain and her crew; and the three adventurers return to the warmth and safety of their bedroom.

With Owen Sheers’ longish poetic text and Helen Stephens’ richly imagined illustrations, this is a wonderful book to share over several bedtimes. The story was inspired by the true story of Drew Barker-Wright, who aged just four, lost his life to paediatric chordoma – a rare form of childhood cancer. Sales from this book go to raise funds for The Drew Barker-Wright Charity

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 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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.

Princess Minna: The Best Princess / Dragon Storm: Skye and Soulsinger

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Both these books are additions to Nosy Crow series that are hugely popular with fantasy loving newly independent readers: thanks to the publisher for sending them for review

Princess Minna: The Best Princess
Kirsty Applebaum, illustrated by Sahar Haghgoo

For those not familiar with Princess Minna, she lives in Castle Tall-Towers with the King and Queen, wizard Raymond and Lorenzo, the princess’s best dragon friend. Princess Minna loves to sort things out when something isn’t right in the kingdom and she also loves to hear her magic mirror say that she is the best princess of all.

One day though, when she asks the mirror her usual question, she is first puzzled and then very upset at its response: “Well, at the moment, Princess Sky-Blue is the best princess in all the kingdom.” Said princess is apparently on holiday in Princess Minna’s kingdom. Time for the resident princess to put her sorting out skills to use and get rid of this visitor.

Little does Princess Minna know however, that the rival princess also has a number of special skills for sorting things out and she is able to counter each of the brilliant ideas Princess Minna tries with one of her own. It’s only when a unicorn emergency suddenly hits the town that Princess Minna realises that she must reveal what she’s being trying to keep hidden from Princess Sky-Blue.

Will she be happy with what happens thereafter? Let’s just say that those doves are once more swooping around Castle Two-Towers, which once again has that delightful aroma of tutti-frutti ice cream.

These stories are deservedly popular with young first-chapter book readers and her latest adventure will win Princess Minna many more fans as well as pleasing her established followers.

Dragon Storm: Skye and Soulsinger
Alastair Chisholm, illustrated by Eric Deschamps

When Princess Skye returns to Riven, she discovers changes are afoot in the city. Quickly she learns that the kingdom of Draconis is under attack from two previously friendly kingdoms and the king himself has been hurt by dragons. As a result citizens of Draconis are preparing to go to war with the Dragonseer Guild. Skye though, is against the war and knows there is no threat from the Guild. So, when her brother is at a meeting, she creeps into Prince Harald’s room, locates the Dragon’s Eye and asks a question of it.

However, she is discovered in the act by her returning brother and has to postpone her anti-war plan until later. This she then sets in motion with the help of her friend and maid, Moira, eventually finding herself face to face with Mira.

Before long Skye meets Lady Bernie and is told that she’s a dragonseer whose dragon is Firedreamer, about which the princess has serious doubts, doubts which are later justified. Eventually with the danger of dragons disappearing for ever, thanks largely to her brother’s reckless warmongering deeds, Skye brings about a transformatory action and there before her is Soulsinger, her dragon.

How this story ends, I won’t divulge, but with Alastair Chisholm’s exciting storytelling and Eric Deschamp’s splendid illustrations, it will surely satisfy readers.

Marv and the Killer Plants / Mirabelle Wants to Win

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These are new titles in series popular with new solo readers: thanks to Oxford Children’s Books for sending them for review

Marv and the Killer Plants
Alex Falase-Koya, illustrated by Paula Bowles

When Marvin and his classmates take part in a competition to design a new garden for the school grounds, he’s eager to win, and to give him some ideas his Grandad takes him to the botanical gardens. There he sees some Venus flytraps in the hothouse and makes a drawing of one. Later on he encounters one of his class friends, Eva. She has come to get some ideas for her design too. But when the competition winner is announced and it’s Eva, he wonders if she has copied his design and he later accuses her of so doing.

It’s not long before that is the least of Marv’s worries: the partly completed school garden has become a jungle thick with creeping vines and it appears that the school too, not to mention the whole town, could be overrun with writhing tendrils.

Time for Marv to don that superhero suit

Suddenly atop a thick vine, Marv spies a figure calling herself Violet Vine, a supervillain, so Marv’s side-kick robot Pixel, tells him. Moreover when a gigantic Venus flytrap shoots up out of the ground right before his eyes there’s a strong likelihood that for Marv, it’s a case of be careful what you wish for.
His first task though, is to rescue his friend, Joe, who is entangled upside down in a thick vine. With this done, he has a second rescue to attempt – this time from the mouth of the gigantic Venus flytrap. Having succeeded in task two, Marv’s work is far from finished. Assisted by his super-suit accoutrements, can he finally outsmart the wicked Violet Vine and rid the school of her killer plants?

Fast paced, fun and with a lesson about jealousy, this fifth of Marv’s challenging adventures shows him at his invincible marvellous best (almost all of the time). Paula Bowles has done a fantastic job with her dramatic illustrations.

Another favourite series continues with drama of a different kind in

Mirabelle Wants to Win
Harriet Muncaster

Mirabelle is excited to hear one morning that famous footballer, Chrissy Gold, an ex pupil of her school, is coming to watch the students play football. First though, Mirabelle et al have to learn how to play human football, which means strictly no magic. Mirabelle is extra happy when she learns that Chrissy is only half witch, just like she is.

PE teacher Miss Toadflax assembles all the pupils on the field and explains the rules and basics of the game. Then the practice session gets under way and Mirabelle quickly discovers that human football is more difficult than witchball. Could a teeny tiny touch of magic help her play well and thus impress Chrissy Gold; maybe her side could even win the all important game.

Needless to say, where Mirabelle and magic are concerned, things don’t go smoothly.

Mirabelle ends the session soaking wet but still wanting to win that glittering trophy that’s been promised. She’s even more eager, having met Chrissy, so much so that she forgets to check her kit before going onto the field for the crucial match.

By the end of what proves to be a highly eventful game, refreshments and some very sound advice, from Chrissy, our little half witch, half fairy has learned a very important lesson.

With sprinklings of mischief and a large dollop of mayhem, this latest instalment starring Isadora Moon’s cousin is as sparkling as ever and will have Mirabelle’s fans cheering from the touch sidelines.

The Horse who Came Home / The Lost Bear Cub

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The Horse who Came Home
Olivia Tuffin
Nosy Crow

Hannah and her elder sister, Millie live at Heartwood, a pony farm and stables. Their dad, an ex-showjumping champion, trains and sells on only the most exclusive ponies; though in reality this means he leaves much of the day to day business to a young man, Ashley, who Hannah increasingly distrusts, despite him being the son of the highly trustworthy old Johno.

Already we see that this is no run-of-the mill pony book merely about winning rosettes and cups at gymkhanas and championships – although that is part and parcel of the story. So too is the fact that film makers, Horsetalk, want to make a six-part documentary about Heartwood.

Then Hannah rescues a dirty, thin pony, Bella, which seems to recognise their stableyard and she suspects her father recognises the pony although he denies it. However nobody appears to want to help care for the pony so Hannah decides to do so herself. She’s supported in her endeavour by her pal, ace photographer, Freddie and riding friend, Gaby.

Unlike pony books back in the day when the young me loved reading them, the internet, mobiles and social media play an important part in this one. There’s a fair bit of wheeling and dealing as Hannah discovers the further she digs into Bella’s history and she realises that Heartwood stables is not the perfect place she had always believed it to be. Can she unscramble what is going on and if so, where will her loyalties lie – with her family or with the horses she loves?

A gripping read, that includes a rescue, some heart-breaking revelations for Hannah and Millie, and an optimistic ending for the sisters.

The Lost Bear Cub
Holly Webb, illustrated by David Dean
Little Tiger

Lucy is thrilled to be spending her summer holiday in Canada, staying with cousins and her Uncle Pete and Auntie Cass. She’s fearful though, at the possibility of encountering bears, cougars, coyotes and eagles on their first hike and even more so when she goes camping with her relations, but without her parents.

Wandering along the waterside alone at the campsite looking for pebbles, Lucy suddenly has the feeling that she’s being watched. There just a few metres away, she sees a small black bear and thinks it’s most likely a cub that’s got separated from its mother.

That same evening after a pretty wet end to their camping expedition, Lucy looks through an upstairs window of her cousin’s house and there she spies a bear trying to drink from the water feature in the grounds – a small bear that looks familiar. Now it’s definitely the bear she feels frightened for, not herself. The trouble is, nobody else believes her.

The following day, after an exchange of feelings between Lucy and her cousin Kitty, the girls have a narrow escape from a cougar after which the girls see a very angry adult black bear that starts taking swipes at the big cat. Some very scary moments follow but there’s not just one, but two happy reunions, one human and one ursine.

With several nail-biting episodes, some of which are shown in David Dean’s black and white illustrations, Holly Webb’s latest story offers something rather different from her cat and dog books. Confident new solo readers will enjoy Lucy’s adventures on the wild side..

Genie and Teeny Wish Upon a Star

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Genie and Teeny Wish Upon a Star
Steven Lenton
Harper Collins Children’s Books

This is adventure number four in the cracking Genie and Teeny series for newly independent readers.
After another case of incompetence Grant is back in Genie World but hiding at home in the tea-lamp with his family, having been banished from Wishaluzia by Queen Mizelda because he accidentally turned her into a snake. With her royal guards always on the lookout for the little genie, others in his family have just disguised him as a guard when trouble appears in the form of a huge fire-breathing cat monster. Before you can say ‘chaos’ , which is what immediately ensues in Wishazulia, Grant is swept away with some of the royal guards and finds himself face to face with the Queen and promising to protect her from the monster.

He quickly learns that his ‘Alaka-blam-a-bumwhistle’ incantation is not going to get rid of the beast

and that another plan is required. A plan that involves his family (including some of Dad’s ‘Jim-a-jam-a-jumplebumps!’ chanting and a helping paw, or four, from his best friend in the entire universe, Teeny the Earth dog.

As with previous titles, this thoroughly engaging story has a plethora of puns, some burps and farts, those splendid chants and Steven’s wonderful drawings at almost every turn of the page. Those new to the series can start here as the events of previous books are outlined in an introduction before the story begins, and I imagine having read this, newcomers will want to seek out the first three and giggle their way through those too. They also work well as read alouds to those not quite ready for their first chapter books. Steven concludes this one with a lesson on how to draw Queen Mizelda.

The Moon is a Ball

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The Moon is a Ball
Ed Franck and Thé Tjong-Khing
Gecko Press

This book contains nine short interlinked episodes featuring best pals, Panda and Squirrel. The two have misunderstandings, there’s a bit of bickering, a fair bit of playing, some philosophising but there’s no doubt that their relationship means the world to each other.

In the first story, the two lie gazing at the moon. Panda surmises that the moon is a ball, since she often sees village children playing with something just like it. Squirrel offers to get the moon for Panda. Together they make a ladder, but inevitably they don’t succeed in reaching the moon. The chapter ends with a hug and the two start singing ‘A quiet song about the moon.’

In A Long Journey, the pair take a snail’s-paced approach to adventuring, and discover, thanks to Snail, that an inquisitive mind can transport you just as far as steps along a path.

Fight is just that with the two having a serious falling out over a game of acorns

and ends with them sitting silently side by side watching the sun setting.

Dollop sees the two friends rescuing a duckling, naming it Dollop, taking care of it for several weeks until it’s big enough to go back to the river and as they release it, naming their feelings.

Finally Panda decides to part company with her bestie, calling Squirrel ‘a chicken’ for not wanting accompany her on a trip to follow the sun and find out where it sleeps. Having walked for hours, Panda has a new feeling

which, thanks to Owl, she learns is homesickness so you can guess what happens next.

The straightforward, sometimes gently humorous narrative is captivating and a delight to read aloud. There’s plenty of amusing dialogue: “You’re too heavy, Panda! … You ate too much Bamboo. That’s what you get for being greedy!” “Careful!” Squirrel squeaks,. “You’re squashing me! I won’t be much of a friend if I’m squashed.” … “I’m never bored with you,” – Squirrel to Panda after a not very successful game of , err, nothing much at all.

Equally delightful and complementing the words perfectly is Thé Tjong-Khing’s delicate art executed in pen and ink and watercolour.

This new animal partnership is worthy to sit alongside Lobel’s Frog and Toad stories and Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie.

Uncle Pete and the Polar Bear Rescue

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Uncle Pete and the Polar Bear Rescue
David C. Flanagan, illustrated by Will Hughes
Little Door Books

The third exciting adventure for Uncle Pete and his sidekick TM (Tiny Mouse) sees them preparing to undertake an expedition to the Arctic in the hope that they can reunite Berg, the little polar bear, with his family. Having gathered together all the crucial cold weather gear (and making the odd item such as miniature fleecy, bright red ‘jammies’ and a padded jacket for TM, not to mention a somewhat superfluous orange woollen scarf for Berg), Uncle Pete pours jars of stardust fuel into the plane and affixes a large pair of skis onto the wheels. They line the plane with hot water bottles, load the camping equipment and food and then they’re ready for take off.

When they arrive at the spot where Berg’s family were last ween, the snow and ice have melted and of polar bears, there is no sign. Uncle Pete explains to TM that the snow’s disappearance is because of the Earth’s temperature rising due to human action and they postpone further searching until the following morning. After supper the three travellers are thrilled to see the Northern Lights and they decide to sleep outside their tents to watch he dancing lights.

The following morning the friends have an encounter with a passing whale that seems to be trying to communicate something important to them.

Berg understands that it’s trying to say that his family have been taken by a ship.

Off they go to track it down and having located it, the three find themselves under fire from men with guns on board the sinister looking vessel. There follows a series of exciting and sometimes alarming incidents including the capture of TM by the ship’s evil captain, another encounter with the whale and, joy of joys, the emergence from the ocean of a wooden submarine crewed by their squirrel friends from the forest.

Then comes a temporary return to the forest , a journey through underground tunnels, the drawing up of a new rescue plan, a daring deliverance of the ship’s captives and a parting of the ways for Berg and his rescuers.

David Flanagan weaves the global warming issue through this latest compelling Uncle Pete fantasy which, with its themes of collaboration, kindness, determination and creative thinking, and Will Hughes splendidly quirky illustrations, makes a great read aloud as well as a solo read for those gaining confidence as independent readers.

Wigglesbottom Primary: The Sports Day Chicken / The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink

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Wigglesbottom Primary: The Sports Day Chicken 
Becka Moor and Pamela Butchart
Nosy Crow

Herein are three more splendidly daft episodes in the life of a certain class at Wigglesbottom Primary whose mildly anarchic behaviour fueled by their wild imaginations, frequently has repercussions far outside the classroom as well as inside.

In the first story, the school chicken is absolutely determined to be a participant in the school sports events, first inside its pen and then, after the egg and spoon race – but don’t ask how – in the BIG RUNNING RACE actually on the grass. I wonder who wins the trophy in that one.

The second episode, The Ant Queen begins when the headteacher gives the class an ‘Educational Surprise’ in the form of an ant farm. 

What rapidly ensues is an escape, a frantic search for the escapees and a case of misidentification of the ant queen.

Finally we have another puzzler, The Green Slime Mystery, which begins in the school canteen, quickly becomes a toxic shock inducer for Joel Jack, and results in one or two rather green faces, not all on the pupils.

Giggles galore assured thanks to Pamela’s hilarious storytelling and Becka’s equally hilarious illustrating, this time using liberal amounts of day-glo green.

The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink
Shannon & Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Walker Books

In this tenth book in the popular series, Princess Magnolia (aka the Princess in Black) and her royal friends are celebrating the annual Flower Festival, the season’s biggest event. Princess Snapdragon has asked Princess Magnolia to take charge of the Festival Ball to be held in the evening and it’s a pretty big responsibility. As she starts unpacking the decorations there comes a scream and an angry emu stomps through the festival wrecking everything in sight, 

including Princess Magnolia’s boxes of decorations most notably the one containing her special secret surprise. 

Along comes a knight in shining armour and sees off the bird. Now Princess Magnolia, is not used to being rescued and the knight, Prince Valerian, is not keen to stay around and leaves. However he returns later eager to try out his special skills and for this he becomes the Prince in Pink. Then together he and Princess Magnolia create something beautiful from the shattered special secret decoration.

Meanwhile Emu, who loves to dance as much as to kick out, recruits her feathered friends, the Ostrich Twins and the Flightless Bird herd sally forth to crash the ball, arriving with the dancing in full swing. Is there any way that everyone can be accommodated happily without wrecking the dancing? One thing is certain, this will definitely be a party to remember.

Full of action, gentle humour, kindness and teamwork and with a new multi-talented superhero who sometimes likes to wear pink, as ever the Hale’s latest story gently subverts gender norms and with LeUyen Pham’s energetic and expressive illustrations, will please established fans of the series and surely win plenty more followers among new solo readers too.

Isadora Moon Under the Sea / The Feeling Good Club: Say How You Feel, Archie!

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Isadora Moon Under the Sea
Harriet Muncaster
Oxford Children’s Books

The endearing little half-vampire, half-fairy, Isadora Moon ’s latest adventure begins when she receives an invitation to a sleepover with her mermaid friends. The prospect of spending the night away from her parents that takes her beneath the sea makes her a bit anxious but having been reassured by her parents, she accepts Marina’s invitation and as the time draws nearer she gets really excited. This excitement continues once she gets to Marina’s home and she finds herself becoming friends with another of the guests, Marina’s step sister Emerald who is rather standoffish and Isadora thinks it could be because she’s unhappy.

Later on, lying in the adjacent clamshell bed, Isadora hears what sounds like Emerald crying and knows she must go and see what’s troubling her.

What she learns results in a late night swim to the home of Emerald’s Dad. (Her parents are separated) and eventually everything is put right.

Beautifully heartwarming, this adventure touches on the subject of living in more than one home and the problems this might lead to for a child; but it’s lightly done and the most important themes are listening to one another, friendship and acceptance.
With its mix of the alluringly different and comfortingly familiar, this magical story is perfect for its intended audience of new solo readers and includes the usual offering of activities at the back of the book.

There are further Isadora things to do in Isadora Moon: Summer Fun Activity Book. Therein are lots of activities based on the world of Isadora and of course, Pink Rabbit.

The Feeling Good Club: Say How You Feel, Archie!
Kelly McCain, illustrated by Jenny Latham
Little Tiger

In this the second in the Feeling Good Club series, it’s Archie’s turn to share his journal with readers. Archie’s family consists of his mum, a marine biologist and so often away for extended periods, his dad who seems to have little or no time for his oldest child what with his work and looking after the six year old twin brothers who are a bit of a handful.

As the journal opens, it’s a Tuesday. Archie is preparing his exhibit for the school Science Fair; it’s on his favourite topic, space, about which he is passionate and he’s really looking forward to Dad hearing his talk about it at the event the following day. But when he fails to turn up Archie is understandably pretty upset; how could he have forgotten? However Archie tries pretending it’s okay, but of course it isn’t and his real feelings come out in a torrent of fury at the next Feeling Good Club meeting as the friends are working on creating a clubhouse. Archie is hugely embarrassed and storms off in a huff.

Clearly this is a time when club members need to help Archie find a way to spend sufficient time with his Dad to talk about the way he is feeling. So begins operation Surprise Camping Trip. There are many ons and offs and it seems the expedition just isn’t going to happen

but eventually Shaman and Bella come up with a plan that turns things upside down and the trip is on again. The three friends practise some of their mindfulness techniques and on Saturday it’s a camping they will go …

To discover more about that camping trip and to learn about the mindfulness activities the clubbers use, you will have to read more of Archie’s journal in a copy of the book. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable exploration of feelings, facing your worries and the importance of sharing how you feel with trusted friends, with smashing illustrations by Jenny Latham.

Mermaid Academy: Isla and Bubble / The Magic Faraway Tree: A New Adventure

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Mermaid Academy: Isla and Bubble
Julie Sykes and Linda Chapman, illustrated by Lucy Truman
Nosy Crow

Fans of the Unicorn Academy books will love this, the first of a magical new series set beneath the waves of Wild Sea. Just as the pupils of that establishment have captured the hearts of countless younger readers, I’m sure those of Mermaid Academy, led by headteacher, Dr Oceania, will do likewise, starting with Isla and the twins, Isobel and Cora who join the school on the same day.

Once the new pupils have been allocated their dorms, rather than lessons, they all participate in a treasure hunt intended to enable them to get to know one another, the dolphins and their new environment. Isla is a spirited character with a tendency to be headstrong, so when it comes to saving the woolly seahorses, even if that means breaking one of the Academy’s strict rules and venturing beyond its walls, she feels compelled to do so, however much danger that puts her team in.

Can she perhaps use her bubbliness to extricate them all from an emergency situation?

With adventure, friendship and discovering their magic and bonding with a special dolphin awaiting, (not to mention Lucy Truman’s black and white illustrations) who wouldn’t want to join Isla as she dives into this underwater world and helps protect its fauna and flora.

The Magic Faraway Tree: A New Adventure
Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Mark Beech
Hodder Children’s Books

The Faraway Tree is a series of popular children’s books by British author Enid Blyton. Blyton’s classic The Magic Faraway Tree, first published in 1939, was Jacqueline Wilson’s own favourite book as a very young child. Now the accomplished, popular contemporary children’s author, Wilson, has woven a new story that revisits this much-loved magical world in A New Adventure, that is just right for the next generation of young readers.

Those familiar with the original classic will remember some of their favourite characters, Moonface, Silky the fairy and The Saucepanman who loves to make up songs (and is now selling his wares on-line); but it’s the turn of a new family to experience what the magical tree has to offer.The family – dad, mum and three children are to spend their six week holiday staying at Rose Cottage and almost immediately, Birdy the youngest of the children meets a fairy outside her window. She invites the little girl to the Faraway Tree and so begins their adventure.

The next day Milo (10, the oldest), Mia about a year younger and Birdy (fourish), led by a talking rabbit, venture into the Enchanted Wood where among the whispering leaves stands the Faraway Tree: the tree that offers those who climb to the top, the opportunity to discover extraordinary places. Newly created by Jacqueline Wilson, the places the children experience are the Land of Unicorns – Mia absolutely loves this one,

the Land of Bouncy Castles, the Land of Princes and Princesses and finally, the Land of Dragons where a dangerous encounter awaits one of their number. This fourth story ends somewhat suddenly, I suspect to leave the way open for another Wilson sortie into the Enchanted Wood.

While keeping a strong sense of the original place, Jacqueline Wilson has challenged the stereotypical Blyton attitudes and language, one example being the way Mia is quick to admonish Mr Moonface: “Why on earth should it be Silky’s job to clean up after you … It’s terribly old-fashioned to expect a woman o keep a house tidy, … My mum and dad share all the chores and we have to help too.”

Also helping to give the book a modern feel that is just right for 21st century readers are Mark Burgess’ lively, often gently humorous illustrations.

The Unbelievable Top Secret Diary of Pig

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The Unbelievable Top Secret Diary of Pig
Emer Stamp
Scholastic

If you didn’t read the original black and white edition of this crazy story when it was published some ten years back, then you need to know that Pig’s assertion, ‘I is 465 sunsets old’ definitely needs updating although the creature does supply a kind of get out clause in his introduction. This version has colour on every spread : I’m not sure if that makes it even sillier but it certainly makes it a whole lot brighter. Pig’s grammar hasn’t improved however.

Essentially it’s a hugely funny book written in diary form by a farmyard pig called Pig who has a best friend called Duck, another so he thinks friend, Farmer, and some dastardly enemies, the Evil Chickens. They, Duck reports, are secretly building a space rocket from a broken tractor. A trocket, so the Super Evil Chicken informs Pig and proceeds to ask the porcine diarist to fly the thing to Pluto. 

At first Pig refuses but then, having learned something horrifying about Farmer’s intentions, decides to reverse his decision and grab the chance to escape the terrible fate that otherwise awaits.

Now this machine is poo powered so rest assured there will be a fair bit of poo involved in the story, farts too, so if that bothers you and you choose not to read the book, you are missing a treat. It’s exuberant and so well imagined, Yes, the mission goes somewhat awry but all ends satisfactorily for Pig and Duck, more or less, anyhow.

Fairytale Ninjas: The Glass Slipper Academy / Slugs Invade the Jam Factory

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Fairytale Ninjas: The Glass Slipper Academy
Paula Harrison, illustrated by Mónica de Rivas
Harper Collins Children’s Books

You’ll meet some favourite fairytale characters in this, the first of a new series, starring friends Red, Snow and Goldie who are pupils at the Glass Slipper Academy; Red rather reluctantly as she considers there are plenty of more exciting things to do than learning how to pirouette – things such as fighting trolls and riding dragons.

It quickly becomes evident that Red is a headstrong character who doesn’t always think before she acts; so when she grabs Snow’s penny and throws it into a supposedly broken wishing well, it might just be a case of be very mindful of what you wish for.

Once inside the academy, Red continues with her thoughtless behaviour and one of her wild acts results in her discovering a secret door in the studio behind which is a small storeroom full of clothes, silver armour, swords and a rolled up carpet. Just the kind of things for an adventure, thinks Red.

Madame Hart catches them red-handed and as a result agrees to give them sword-fighting lessons, telling the girls that the moves are very similar to dance moves. She also tells them that the most important thing she can teach them is self-belief.

Some weeks later during a lesson, Madame Hart is arrested for supposedly kidnapping little Prince Inigo and a group of soldiers take her away. Before you can say Diamond Palace, the three girls have stashed what they think they’ll need in their backpacks, ninja suits included, and along with wolf pup, Tufty, are off to find the real villain responsible for the young prince’s abduction.

Highly enjoyable either as a read aloud or as a chapter book for emergent readers, especially fairy tale fans, who will delight in discovering some of their favourite characters in different situations. Black and white illustrations by Monica de Rivas add to the fun.

Slugs Invade the Jam Factory
Chrissie Sains, illustrated by Jenny Taylor
Walker Books

This is the third adventure for inventor, Scooter McLay, his little alien chum, Fizzbee and his human friend Cat Pincher. Between them they have transformed McLay’s jam factory into a tropical jam glasshouse wonderland.

Now they have a problem: an attempted take over of the sluggy kind. In fact the slimy creatures have found several ways to infiltrate and moreover appear to be well-organised. How on earth is this possible?

Equally seemingly impossible is that Scooter’s mind has gone blank: he doesn’t have one single idea that might help the situation. With slugs leaving their slimy trails everywhere, feasting on the fabulous fruits and most likely causing the factory to fail its imminent hygiene inspection, on account of slug infestation, the situation is pretty desperate.
Daffy diagnoses Scooter with having creative block but has no knowledge of how this might be fixed; but could some of Fizzbee’s Cocoa Bean Creativity Jam help?

Something needs to be done and fast to thwart chief slug, Mucus’s plan to turn their factory into the first ever slug cafe and wellness spa. He seems to be taking the place over completely so the jam clan must pull out all the stops to halt his dastardly scheme and save their beloved establishment..

Did anyone say Brussels Sprouts? And be prepared for a surprise announcement before the end.

Hugely funny and equally silly, with Jenny Taylor’s illustrations adding to the enjoyment, this tasty offering concludes with a spread giving information about cerebral palsy, the condition that Scooter has.

Clutch / Dragon Storm: Connor and Lightspirit

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These are additions to two exciting series:thanks to Walker Books and Nosy Crow for sending them for review

Clutch
M.G. Leonard
Walker Books

This is the third story of the Twitchers and for me it’s even better than the previous two.

Twitch and Jack are alarmed to hear that somebody has been stealing eggs from the nest of a peregrine falcon in Aves Wood. As the Easter holidays start, all the Twitchers come together for the first time in a while and are determined to solve the mystery of the missing eggs before the thief strikes again.

In the knowledge that the thief’s actions are both against the law and immoral, the gang set off to find clues and learn what they can about any possible suspects. With the police involved Passerine Pike is now a crime scene, but is the criminal a local or somebody from outside come to participate in the Canal Masters fishing competition? With the competition only lasting a few days and a pair of Spoonbills nesting on the edge of the pond in the locality, time is of the essence in catching the thief.

However, suddenly Twitch receives a visit from the police and learns that he fits the suspect profile and evidence places him at the crime scene. Now it’s not only the nesting birds but Twitch in need of saving and the evidence against him seems to be mounting.
With several red herrings and wrong turns, the friends finally succeed in their mission: all ends well for Twitch, the real crooks are unmasked and there’s a new member of the Twitchers too.

With its superb mix of mystery, crime and environmental issues, this is another cracker for established fans of the series but others new to the Twitchers will quickly find themselves engrossed too. Whither next for these conservationists? I can’t wait to find out.

Dragon Storm: Connor and Lightspirit
Alastair Chisholm, illustrated by Eric Deschamps
Nosy Crow

This is the seventh of the author’s Dragon Storm series for younger readers and what a gripping tale it is. Relatively new to life in the Dragonseer’s Guild, Connor and the other children are told by vice-chancellor Creedy of a code that needs solving. But how trustworthy is Creedy? Connor thinks he’s OK but not all the others agree. The boy sets about cracking the code, which he does, helped by a clue about some of the symbols from Cara.

However the more involved he gets with Creedy, the more troubled Connor is by doubts that he’s doing the right thing by helping him, especially when under cover of darkness Creedy leads him to the Royal Palace. Moreover, Lightspirit is far from happy about what is happening: the truth is what matters to this dragon. Is King Godfic up to no good, or is it his son, or somebody else?
The Dragon Storm grows ever closer but can trust and truth save Draconis from a horrific war?

The story, with its atmospheric black and white illustrations by Eric Deschamps, ends on a real-cliffhanger leaving readers eager to discover what it is that Connor knows.

Mirabelle and the Magical Mayhem / Magic Keepers: Spirit Surprise

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Mirabelle and the Magical Mayhem
Harriet Muncaster
Oxford Children’s Books

Cousin of Isadora Moon, Mirabelle, has a witch mother and her dad is a fairy. What anybody who has encountered Mirabelle in her previous stories will know and others quickly discover, is that she seems to create mischief wherever she goes. Here she and her brother Wilbur visit their fairy grandparents for a sleepover. With Mirabelle goes her little pet dragon, Violet. No magic without the supervision of the grandparents is the promise the children make to their parents.

After just one night at Granny and Grandpa’s both Mirabelle and Wilbur have broken that promise and the result is messy and mucky. 

Surprisingly Granny, who inevitably finds out about the disasters they’ve created, isn’t furious. Instead she is thoroughly understanding and helps her grandchildren put things back in order before Grandpa wakes from his nap. ‘Mirabelle you must never try and hide who you are just to fit in with who you think other people might want you to be,’ she tells her granddaughter. Wise words indeed. Moreover she doesn’t let on what has happened when Mum and Dad come to pick up their offspring.

Another sparkling story that Mirabelle fans will absolutely love and newcomers to the series will enjoy too and likely want to go back and read all her other books.

Magic Keepers: Spirit Surprise
Linda Chapman, illustrated by Hoang Giang
Little Tiger

Life has changed since Ava and her mother moved into Curio House, the large Victorian villa left to them by Great Aunt Eva, Ava and her friends Sarah and Lily have discovered a magical world that surrounds the curios left in the house and are determined to keep it secret from the world at large. At the start of this story the three friends are exploring the magical energy of the crystals – the first magical things Ava found in her new home.

Outside the house and in the surrounding town, strange things start to happen. Despite it being late autumn, pollen has become so prolific that Ava’s mum is suffering badly from unseasonal hay-fever and plants are growing amazingly fast with vines shooting up everywhere.

Could the girls have accidentally unleashed some kind of nature spirit during their crystal investigations that is causing all this? 

If so, with Sarah’s mum far from happy about the influence the other two girls are having on her daughter, can they set things to rights before any of their parents or the townsfolk discover the cause of the out of control flora?

A second engaging episode for new solo readers with just the right amount of suspense.

Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories / A Rabbit Called Clover / The Railway Kitten

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

Bear and Bird are best friends and like most close pals they have their ups and downs:there are jealousies, misunderstandings and some tetchy words but fundamentally each of them wants to make the other happy. Consequently their friendship is strong enough to withstand the downs and focus on enjoying each other’s company. 

In four short stories with Jarvis’ super-cute digital illustrations, readers learn of a rather unfortunate misunderstanding with a talking flower that results from a toppling Bird; a picnic, the preparations for which Bear isn’t completely honest about, the result being the outing doesn’t quite go as intended; an afternoon of painting when Bird feels his talent isn’t quite up to the standard of Bear when it comes to representing a tree,

and finally, a warm, snuggly, fluffy blanket that is very hard to stir from under.
A lovely book for bedtime (especially curled up under a cosy blanket), for foundation stage classroom sharing and discussion; and it’s ideal for those just starting to gain confidence as independent readers.

With a rather more challenging text::

A Rabbit Called Clover
Helen Peters, illustrated by Ellie Snowdon
Nosy Crow

It’s the start of the Easter holidays and Jasmine, daughter of a vet mother and farmer father is anticipating spending lots of time looking after animals, especially keeping things trouble free. But early one evening Jasmine spies two pet rabbits and so begins ‘operation rabbit, the aim being to catch and return the two creatures, which she and her little brother name Clover and Dandelion, safely back to their owner. Not such an easy task as Jasmine first thought but with a bit of help from her best friend, Tom, it might just be possible at least to get them safely into a cage and home to Oak Tree Farm.

It becomes evident that Clover is ace at escaping and they only manage to catch Dandelion, so the hunt is on for the elusive Clover. Moreover, finding the person who is responsible for looking after the pair is only part of the battle.

Delightful, gentle storytelling once again by Helen Peters whose writing is supported by Ellie Snowdon’s plentiful black and white illustrations.

The Railway Kitten
Holly Webb, illustrated by Sophy Williams
Little Tiger

Cat lovers especially will enjoy this heartfelt tale of Scarlett and her friends. On the way to school they notice a kitten at the railway station and are so enchanted by Whiskers as they name her, that when she gets run over, they decide to do everything in their power to save her. 

They take her to the vets and are told that an expensive operation is needed to mend Whiskers’ shattered leg. Her owners can’t possibly afford the vets’ bill but Scarlett and her friends are not going to give up easily. Is there a chance they can raise the money needed to prevent Whiskers from being put down? If so what will happen to her afterwards.

Determination and friendship are key in this gentle story of a Tortoiseshell kitten for younger primary readers. Occasional black and white illustrations by Sophy Williams show just how those involved with Whiskers are feeling.

Yesterday Crumb and the Teapot of Chaos

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Yesterday Crumb and the Teapot of Chaos
Andy Sagar
Orion

Apprentice tea witch, Yesterday Crumb, she who adds the double portion of T to attitude, returns.

At the start of this sequel Yesterday, who is trying to find her mother, is London bound. Despite warnings that it’s dangerous, she is eagerly anticipating seeing the Wild Feast cooking competition, but that isn’t quite what happens.
There’s an unexpected turn when suddenly her beloved Dwimmerley End is stolen with Miss Dumpling inside and in order to regain it Yesterday must enter and win the competition.

On top of that the Faerie Queen accuses Yesterday of being responsible for the disappearances of some of the Faerie Court, so at the order of the Queen, she has her innocence to prove too. Can things get any worse?As Yesterday and her loyal friends start to investigate, she realises the entire magical world is at risk.

We meet lots of new characters including villains aplenty, but always lurking near the surface is Mr Weep (who happens to be Lord of the Underworld and Yesterday’s father). What can our junior tea witch do in the face of so much adversity?

As good battles against evil, the story bubbles over with tension, wild magic and dramatic, sometimes perilous, twists and turns, all wonderfully brought to life by Andy Sagar through his excellent world building and elegant use of language. Underlying the whole tale are themes of identity, prejudice and acceptance, all of which Yesterday struggles with as a ‘neither-nor’ endeavouring to carve out her own identity; fortunately though she has the support of good friends.

There are issues in Yesterday’s world that readers in our world will recognise and relate to – the effects of water pollution on mermaids, tree dryads having to contend with a lack of green spaces, for example.

Utterly thrilling, this soul-stirring page turner leaves us on a cliff-hanger, a-boil with eager anticipation for the third story.

Rudy and the Secret Sleepskater / Isadora Moon and the New Girl

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These are additions to popular Oxford Children’s series : thanks to the publisher for sending them for review

Rudy and the Secret Sleepskater
Paul Westmoreland, illustrated by George Ermos

Rudy is a wolf boy; his good friends are ghost girl Edie and Femi the mummy and they love to skateboard together. In this story, Rudy and Edie are invited to Femi’s home for a sleepover, something Rudy is eagerly anticipating until he’s told he must leave his beloved pet wolf cub Wolfie behind.

When he gets there, Rudy finds the food, let’s say, somewhat unusual and certainly not to his taste; but then one of Femi’s older sisters divulges something even more unusual about their young brother: he’s a secret sleepwalker. 

At bedtime, unable to sleep on account of Femi’s grandmother’s snoring, he climbs out through the skylight and howls to his Wolfie; he then embarks on a game of hide-and-seek with Edie. However Rudy has failed to close the window and not long after, the two of them notice Femi sleepwalking on the roof. 

Not only does he sleep-walk though: a fall lands the young mummy on his skateboard and off he goes at considerable speed. Can Rudy and Edie steer Femi back safely from a nightmarish situation? Perhaps, with a bit of assistance from a certain wolf cub. Moreover can the friendship between the three transcend the differences that make themselves apparent during the sleepover?

I’ve not met these characters in their previous adventures but certainly found this one, with its important messages and splendid illustrations by George Ermos, a fun, snappy read.. The series is ideal for bridging the gap between picture books and solo reading of longer chapter books and I have no doubt Rudy et al will find a place in the hearts of younger newly independent readers. The power of Rudy’s pack clearly extends well beyond his family.

Isadora Moon and the New Girl
Harriet Muncaster

Isadora doesn’t take to Ava, the new girl who joins her class wearing snazzy, sparkling boots, thinking her standoffish and mean. Nevertheless, at the insistence of her Mum and Dad Isadora agrees to make an invitation for Ava along with all her friends for the party she’s going to host for her beloved Pink Rabbit.

The following day she hands out almost all the invites but somehow can’t find the right time to give Ava hers and in fact Ava’s behaviour seems even meaner so she keeps her invitation in her bag.

Back at home she eventually confesses to her Dad saying she feels really mean about the way she’s acted. He suggests two things: first that Isadora gives Ava the invitation the next morning and second that they take a pre evening breakfast fly to help his daughter clear her head. As they swoop over the park, Isadora spots some ducklings; so have other people – Ava and her parents are watching them too. 

Suddenly Isadora spots something else, something small that Ava has just taken from her pocket. From that moment the little vampire fairy starts to change the way she treats the new girl.

Don’t make judgements about people too quickly; get to know them first is the message that emerges from the latest Isadora Moon story. As always, it’s an Isa-delight to be in the company of the Moon family, but young solo readers new to the series might want to start with the first book, Isadora Moon Goes to School.

The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice

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The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice
Rachel Chivers Khoo, illustrated by Rachel Sanson
Walker Books

This debut novel is a tale of belonging, wishes, family and self-belief. set in a magical world of wishkeeping.

One day when his sister hasn’t turned up to collect him, feeling lonelier than ever, ten year old Felix Jones tosses a penny into Whittelstone’s wish fountain and makes a wish. To his surprise almost immediately he notices a very unusual man fishing for his coin in the fountain. It turns out that this is none other than the town’s wishkeeper, Rupus Beewinkle, who shows surprise that Felix can see him and then invites the boy to partake of some hot chocolate with him. It’s then that the elderly man reveals his identity and announces that Felix is to become his apprentice saying, “The future of Whittlestone depends on you helping me. And I do believe fate has brought us together.”

Thus begins a new education for Felix who takes home the book Rupus gives him entitled A Complete Guide to Wishkeeping and that evening begins reading it.

Well, Felix had been wishing that things were different and now perhaps he’s got his wish. There are new things to learn about such as wish grades from one (‘highly suitable’) to four (‘ungrantable’); but he also learns of the malevolent presence of the Wishsnatcher. This menacing being is intent on reversing existing wishes and preventing any future ones being made.

A wishless world is a very bleak place with inconceivable threats to Rupus, Felix and indeed Whittlestone town. Felix has a quest: to fight for good: what a roller-coaster of a ride he’s embarked on.

The imagery in the story is superb: Rupus’s home, Snugwarm, is chaotic but has lots of unlikely magical objects including a wishofax machine, the vanquisher (fire extinguisher to defeat the villain), and the messaging wishfulness gauge.

Emerging above all from the book are the comments Rupus makes to Felix, “I remembered there is more to life than darkness and despair’ and “A creature capable of great wonders could turn into the greatest monster of all when deprived of hope.” Pertinent in our world assuredly and vital for today’s young readers.

Add to Rachel Chivers Khoo’s superb storytelling, Rachel Sanson’s black and white visuals, which add even more sparkle to this book: it’s a cracker either shared with a class or as a solo read.

The Book of Legends

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The Book of Legends
Lenny Henry, illustrated by Kenos Ferrell
Macmillan Children’s Books

Fran and Bran are twelve year old twins who live with their mother in a small town in the Midlands; she is the storyteller at the Once Upon a Wow bookshop and loves to tell them stories, some of which are woven into the narrative of this book. During a camping trip four years previously, their Dad disappeared suddenly in a lightning bolt and since then Mum’s stories – the Tales of Koto Utama and the Nine Dominions, have become even more important.

Then history repeats itself, for on another camping trip Mum too vanishes, seemingly snatched up in a bolt of lightning. This leaves Fran and Bran in the care of Auntie Madge from the bookshop. Bran is deaf and both children go to a British Sign Language school where Bran is often in trouble because of the way he responds to being teased. The one thing that helped calm him down was to hear one of Mum’s stories; but when Madge is called into school to hear that Bran is threatened with expulsion she decides it’s time they went away to a boarding school.

However, that doesn’t happen thanks to Mum’s book of stories which provides a portal through which they are transported on a quest to solve the mystery of their parents’ disappearance. What an amazing adventure it proves to be. Along the way they face evil princes, murder fairies, mud monsters and even Vikings. Fortunately, though they receive help from Wilma, the Wizard’s Wife, and Zachary, the wisecracking Zebracorn.

There is SO much to love about this book: the interweaving of stories within the overall narrative, the strength and determination of the twins and their use of groan-worthy jokes, the diverse representation and inclusive nature of the characters, the author’s wit and humour, a satisfying finale and Keenon Ferrell’s black and white illustrations. Also included is a BSL alphabet chart so readers can learn to sign their own names.

A cracking tale to share with a KS2 class and for individual readers.

The Story Shop: Dino Danger! / Little Rabbit’s Big Surprise

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The Story Shop: Dino Danger!
Tracey Corderoy, illustrated by Tony Neal
Little Tiger

It’s always a treat to enter the Puddletown High Street establishment run by Wilbur and his ferret assistant, Fred. This unusual place sells stories but it’s not a bookshop, rather it sells stories you can actually be in. Dino Danger is the third in Tracey’s – if my experience is anything to go by – very popular series and offers three adventures, together with suitable costumes and characters, that are just waiting for a scaredy Bear to participate in.

Somewhat surprisingly, Fred and Wilbur suggest he dons a dinosaur outfit as does Fred who will accompany Bear. Our ursine character will definitely have to find a whole lot of courage if he’s to face a lot of prehistoric beasties, starting with a T.Rex and companions -Stegosaurus, Diplodocus and Apatosaurus. Can he avoid ending up as lunch for the terrible tyrannosaurus? Perhaps if he can outplay Big T. in a game of crazy golf …

In the second episode Bear turns baby sitter for three mischievous little Triceratopses that are leading their teacher, not to mention Bear and Fred, on a merry dance, after which the latter need to make a hasty exit.

Story three sees the adventurers on the trail of the real Veggie Nibbler(s) with just three days to catch them or they could well end up popping endless amounts of pea pods at the dinos’ Famous Allotment Club.

With plenty of amusing black and white illustrations by Tony Neal to break up the text, these stories will please followers of the series and likely win lots of new fans for The Story Shop.

Also for newly independent readers and just out in paperback is:

Little Rabbit’s Big Surprise
Swapna Haddow and Alison Friend
Little Tiger

One of the first in the publisher’s short fiction series with full colour illustrations, the original hardcover was reviewed four years back on this blog.

Winnie-the-Pooh and Me

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Winnie-the-Pooh and Me
Jeanne Willis and Mark Burgess
Macmillan Children’s Books

Inspired by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard, author Jeanne Willis and artist Mark Burgess have created a new story featuring the favourite classic characters, the inspiration being Milne’s poem Us Two from Now We Are Six, which is printed before this book’s title page.

We join Pooh and Christopher Robin one fine day as they head off on a tricycle and endeavour to discover which of their friends – a ‘what’ or ‘who’ – is following them. It definitely isn’t Kanga and Roo; they are sailing a boat, bound for Timbuktu. Nor is it Rabbit – the maths doesn’t add up, so what about Owl? He’s certainly at home

and he does offer a couple of suggestions, one regarding possible followers and the other concerning Pooh’s favourite food.

Off they go again further into the Hundred Acre Wood, intent on getting rid of pursuers: but is that possible? Perhaps Eeyore has the answer …

Jean Willis’ rhyming narrative with repeat refrains, together with Mark Burgess’s delightful illustrations that include all of Winnie and Christopher’s friends in one way or another, make this sequel one that will captivate both adult readers aloud and young children to whom the characters may perhaps be new.