Tag Piccadilly Press

Dream Keepers: Whispers of Wishing River / Lunar Grace Girl From Outer Space: Monster Mix Up

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These are both additions to series that are popular with young solo readers and as read alouds: thanks to Piccadilly Press for sending them for review:

Dream Keepers: Whispers of Wishing River
Rebecca Lewis-Oakes, illustrated by Anastasiya Kanavaliuk

Book 4 in this enchanting series set in the sleepy town of Sunny Wood and featuring Fatima and her friends who make sweet dreams for the town’s residents begins with Fatima eagerly looking forward to a day’s kayaking on the lake with her buddies. However as she’s getting ready she hears an announcement on the radio saying that due to a recent surge of pollution, the Sunny Wood Lake will be closed until further notice. She quickly contacts Mai, Paisley and Bella asking them to meet her at the library instead. Garvin the librarian, who arrives late to open up, as well as Bella, wonder why she wants boxes he’s discarded. After emptying out the contents of her bag she announces that they’re going to hold an anti pollution protest and the boxes are needed to make signs.

That night, with the aid of her black stone Fatima meets her friends again and they discover a new favourite part of the wood.
Then a few days later Garvin turns up at the library on foot having left his car at home and walked to work. Could it have been on account of a dream, he suggests. He also offers to put up one of the girls’ protest posters in the library. The girls then visit Joya (who was once a Dream Keeper) owner of the apothecary.

Horrified at the news of the pollution she willingly puts up a poster in her shop and also offers words of encouragement to the Dream Keepers, telling them, “It’s a big job but together you can do it … It’s not just Moon Wood, it’s the magic of the four of you together. There’s a strength in your friendship, you know.” Then Fatima’s mum tells her that she called off her daily run on account of the extra pollution, making Fatima all the more determined. Protest day is rather disappointing but Fatima remains determined, albeit getting a tad tetchy.She also starts to wonder if the Dream River is polluted, realising that if so, it must be the work of The Dark Queen, Queen of Nightmares.

By sticking firmly together, can the strength of the Dream Keepers defeat her once and for all?

The importance of friendships is key in this magical story that is an ideal read aloud for KS1 classes as well as a solo read for those who are confident with illustrated chapter books.

Lunar Grace Girl From Outer Space: Monster Mix Up
Julie Sykes, illustrated by Emily Jones

Luna is super excited to learn that her grandparents are coming to visit from Starbright, their home planet. She’s eager to show them how grown-up she has become since she and her parents moved to Earth and has decided to show them round her school’s Halloween fair.
However things don’t quite go to plan. With minor disasters such as a collapsed castle of the bouncy kind can she remedy her mix-ups? Perhaps, with an occasional sprinkling of subterfuge, some magical assistance at the hoopla stall and lots of determination.

This third story in the series with its generous helping of Emily Jones’s colourful illustrations will captivate younger readers and likely win Luna some new followers too. However those who haven’t met her before should start with Luna Grace Girl From Outer Space.

The Ministry of Manners

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The Ministry of Manners
David Solomons, illustrated by Hazem Asif
Piccadilly Press

This story is set in a dystopian world that may remind adults of 1984. The author’s world-building is superb.

Meet siblings Margot and Alfie Hawthorne who have grown up under the regime of the Ministry of Manners where politeness is not a choice but the law. Just one wrong word can change your life and don’t even think about laughing. Margot has never been one for being quiet and obedient whereas her brother prefers to stay out of trouble and has learned how to survive Both their parents work for the Ministry, which has some perks but means their offspring mustn’t ask too many questions. So when Margot speaks up she is sent to a Manners Retreat, the purpose of which is to reshape her ‘impolite’ tendencies. Can she remain true to herself no matter what?

This leaves Alfie torn between sticking to the rules and love for his sister. Before long he becomes involved with a resistance group called the Unsilenced. He’s also shocked by some of the things he discovers about what his father actually does.

With two terrific protagonists in Margot and Alfie, themes of finding your own voice, courage and bravery, this is a thrilling, absolutely gripping read that on occasion feels just a bit too close to reality. It would make a great class read for older juniors. Just remind everyone to say thank you to the author and illustrator and the publisher or beware!

The Genie Game

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The Genie Game
Jordan Ifueko
Piccadilly Press

The story begins on the thirteenth birthday of the narrator Valentine Adesanya when an unexpected birthday present flies through her window in a box – it’s a purple beret . Also in the box is a note ‘ THE SKY IS BLUE, VALLYBEAN.’ – surely this has come from her twenty three year old sister, Vanessa (aka Mango), who since her disappearance, has been forgotten by everyone in her family other than Valentine. These objects set Valentine off on a quest to find her sister.

All her parents (Nigerian immigrants to the U.S.) are anxious about is the future of Valentine who dreams of becoming a movie-maker, rather than working for the Trio Trust that comprises three mega-corporations which run the U.S. It’s these three – Bumblebell Foods, Gloss & Gleam Beauty, and Farafyte Technologies that Valentine suspects have something to do with the disappearance of her sister.

During her investigations, Valentine unintentionally becomes caught up in the Trio Trust’s Genie Game and learns that it’s the wishes granted by the genies trapped in bottles that have been powering her entire world. Having agreed to become a participant in the genie games she rapidly rises to the top of the leader board while also undertaking other quests relating to issues of social justice and the environment as well as capitalism, consumerism and AI. Will she find her sister though?

A powerful, action-packed adventure that leaves readers eagerly awaiting what comes next for Valentine and her family.
Make sure you read the author’s note that follows the story.

Dadbot: Rise of the Badbots / Pandora in Puzzlevale: Call of the Crow

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Dadbot: Rise of the Badbots
Jack Noel
Piccadilly Press

Dadbot returns in a second zany graphic novel story. It begins as Josh and Daisy are going back to school after the summer holidays. However, much as Dadbot would like to join then, Dad assures Josh and Daisy that with the school having banned smartphones, there’s absolutely no chance that “a massive robot with a butt printer” would be allowed so Dadbot must stay at home without them. When the doorbell rings, it’s not as expected their neighbour, but a representative from a company called Rust In Peace showing an interest in and offering loads of money for Dadbot. However Dad sends the rep. packing, but is suspicious of the turtle’s motives.

While Josh and Daisy are at school Dadbot has, with the best will in the world, interrupted Dad and his work but then there’s another ring of the doorbell and a large parcel is left by a delivery guy. It’s not the air fryer Mum has ordered; it’s an AI home assistant, something called a Honey. Dadbot is thrilled to have some company, especially as it’s another robot device. But then things start to go wrong: the internet for the entire town is down and Josh and Daisy are sent home as apparently the school can’t function without whiteboards and computers. Moreover they’re not sure about this new arrival; it feels as though she’s watching them and, her voice keeps on changing. Even worse, Dadbot seems totally besotted with Honey. Things get even weirder.
Dad takes Josh and Daisy to Silicon Valley to follow up on a label that was attached from one of the little robots that has appeared and to discover what exactly is going on.

However they find themselves face to face with a surprising character with a mission; and, Dadbot is definitely in danger. Things escalate and Josh and Daisy need to act super-fast to save not only Dadbot but their whole town; can they do so? Maybe with help from an unexpected source …

With plethora of puns and robots, this is huge fun especially for young tech. enthusiasts.

Pandora in Puzzlevale: Call of the Crow
Paul Duffield, Siobhan McKenna & Poqu
David Fickling Books

We’re back in Puzzlevale, the curious town where virtually everything is a mystery. Trapped there in a weirdly eerie mist that seems to transform whatever it touches, is Pandora, lover of mysteries. She knows that if she’s ever to see her parents again, she must unravel Puzzlevale itself and escape its clutches. There are twenty five mysteries in all to unravel in the story and to do so, she’ll need to crack codes, work through mazes, locate hidden objects and solve riddles, aided and abetted by readers.

This is a graphic novel and puzzle book all rolled into one, with intriguing puzzles that make for a thoroughly entertaining read. (At the end of the book are hints and answers called Pandora’s notes, some of which have visuals.)

Tickets for Murder

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Tickets for Murder
Niyla Farook
Piccadilly Press

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watts & Whiskerton: The Great Glacier Hotel Heist / Dream Keepers: Song of the Midnight Meadow

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Watts & Whiskerton: The Great Glacier Hotel Heist
Meg McLaren
Piccadilly Press

The third in this series sees the two detectives and best friends on holiday with no thought of any detecting whatsoever. However, things don’t quite turn out as they’d planned./ the best laid plans of dogs and cats. Watts’ parents have been hired by the hotel after a string of robberies had taken place at nearby ski resorts and it’s thought that the Ice Crystal, a priceless necklace might be the thief’s next target.

Soon to Watts’ horror, the necklace is stolen and his parents have become the prime suspects. That can’t possibly be right, so who is the robber? It looks as though Watts and Whiskerton have their toughest case yet and it turns out an advantage that the latter has hurt her paw and so is confined to the hotel. She spends her time speaking to the other guests and making notes about everything with the aim of solving the mystery. Cut off by thick snow their objective is to recover the stolen jewels and find the important guest who has disappeared. Can they do so before the snow melts and guests and any suspects depart along with the necklace? Could it be an inside job? A terrific adventure for the young detective duo.

Visual storytelling is a vital element of the tale with the illustrations adding much to the drama, making this book one that will also be enjoyed by younger graphic novel fans.

Dream Keepers: Song of the Midnight Meadow
Rebecca Lewis-Oakes, illustrated by Anastasiya Kanavaliuk
Piccadilly Press

Moon Wood is the magical night-time version of Mai and her friends’ town, Sunny Wood. Having banished the Queen of Nightmares, Mai and friends have become Dream Keepers; they have to craft the sweetest dreams for their sleepy town. Now though, Mai has just become a big sister and however much she loves baby Cam, the cutest most adorable thing ever during the day, she’s having problems sleeping on account of her baby sister’s all night crying. She feels a bit left out: being an only child was much easier, Mai thinks to herself. She even misses out on having one of her parents reading her a bedtime story.

With a solo performance in the upcoming show in Sunny Wood, Mai is set on becoming the centre of attention once more.
However on the night of her first performance, after promising to be in the audience, Mai’s Mum has to stay at home to look after Cam. Then during the show Mai’s prop- an umbrella – malfunctions and later on when she goes to meet her Dream Guardian, Crystal, in Moon Wood, the creature is missing. Has she done something to annoy her, Mai wonders. Everything appears to be going wrong: is the Dark Queen of Nightmares meddling with their dreams again?

Can Mai and her friends get to the bottom of things and prove that there’s power in kindness before it’s too late and Moon Wood’s magic fades away?

With magical moments aplenty, fantastical creatures and characters, this latest in the Dream Keepers series will be a winner with young fantasy fans.

Woodland Magic: Fox Cub Rescue / The Smidgens Crash-Land

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Woodland Magic: Fox Cub Rescue
Julie Sykes, illustrated by Katy Riddell
Piccadilly Press

This is the first of a new series about a community of tiny sprite-like beings residing in the depths of Whispering Wood in Hidden Middle, out of sight of the Ruffins (humans) who live on the edge of the woods. Living off the land, seeking out and collecting their food and useful objects discarded by Ruffins, these tiny folk are called Keepers. Early every morning the Keepers head off into Ruffin territory to repair and protect the environment from the actions of the Ruffins.
The main protagonists of this story are Cora and Jax, would-be Keepers in training who are excited about their very first venture in the Big Outside where they’ve been asked to reseed land bulldozed by the Ruffins, and if possible to collect various natural items. They must complete this work by dawn or risk being sent back to school.
The two friends think they’ve plenty of time to do the bidding of Scarlet Busybee, but once in the Outside they’re soon distracted, first by a mother fox and her cubs and then a shiny metal slide and only just make it back in time. They’re given another chance and the following day set out, full of good intentions, with two specific jobs to do.
Again the two are distracted in part by something that’s happened as a consequence of their previous day’s actions. Seemingly it’s going to take more than a mere sprinkling of Cora’s woodland magic to put things right 

but perhaps some timely unexpected assistance by fellow Keepers could yet help save the situation.
Julie Sykes cleverly weaves the actions and consequences thread into her enchanting story while Katy Riddell’s sprinkling of black and white illustrations imbue the telling with a misty magical feel.
New solo readers, especially lovers of nature sprinkled with woodland magic, will delight in this book and eagerly anticipate the further titles in the series mentioned after the ‘create your own wildflower meadow’ instructions that follow the adventure.

There’s more magic with tiny beings in:

The Smidgens Crash-Land
David O’Connell, illustrated by Seb Burnett
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Since her previous adventure Gafferty Sprout has been very good but this hot-headed young Smidgen seems to have a nose for trouble. In this second adventure it isn’t long before trouble is what she finds as she and new best friend Will take to the air but only briefly; a mishap with their glider plunges them down right by Noah who is out shopping at the ‘Big Folk’ market with his mum.
Even bigger trouble soon turns up in the form of another Smidgen, one Crumpeck, who claims to have discovered the location of the third Smidgen clan’s home, a place called Burrow. ‘… even more Smidgens to get to know – and more friends’ thinks Gafferty. But is it really that straightforward, for Crumpeck steals Gafferty’s precious magical knife and starts heading for the Burrow. What else can she do but follow him, harmless Smidgenologist or not?
However when Gafferty eventually finds a way into the Burrow she discovers that these Smidgens are not the friendly folks she’d anticipated.

Meanwhile the evil Claudia Slymark is on the prowl, still searching for a piece of that magical mirror.
In the end (though happily not the end of the series), Gafferty must rely on Smidgen rule 4 to extricate herself from a very very tricky situation. Can she do it?
Superbly illustrated once more by Seb Burnett, this is another of David O’Connell’s wonderfully exuberant mixes of humour, adventure and magic. It’s sure to leave readers and listeners eagerly anticipating Gafferty’s next adventure: perhaps therein the three Smidgen clans will be reunited – you never know …

The Ogress and the Orphans

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The Ogress and the Orphans
Kelly Barnhill
Piccadilly Press

Hugely moving and sublimely written with carefully considered pacing, this is a book for everyone at all times, but especially these troubled times through which we’re living.

It’s set in Stone-in-the-Glen, a once idyllic town that after a fire destroyed its library, has undergone many changes for the worse: the school also burned down, other fires led to the loss of the town’s trees. Rather than the close community it was, rumours spread easily as people are now focussed on their own problems, suspicious of one another and reluctant to do anything for the benefit of neighbours. There’s a flashy self-serving mayor who manipulates any attempts at discussion leaving those of his constituents who go to him for help unable to recall what their problems are.

In the town too is the Orphan House: home to a group of fifteen children cared for by a loving elderly Matron and her husband Myron. Now no longer supported by the townsfolk, they do their best to stretch their meagre resources. In the orphanage though is a wonderful resource of a different kind: a fantastic reading room.

Living on the town’s edge is an Ogress. She’s a gentle loving soul who delights in leaving vegetables and wonderful goodies made from the produce grown in her garden for the residents as they sleep. However being different, she’s become the townsfolk’s scapegoat, so when one of the orphans, Cass, decides to run away, the Ogress is held responsible for the girl’s disappearance. In fact it’s she who rescues Cass tending her and bringing her safely back to the orphanage, but her return is seen and misinterpreted by a man as confirmation of the wickedness of the Ogress.

When the grownups won’t listen to Cass and the other children, they must find another way to help their generous neighbour and repair their broken community. This means getting the townsfolk to ask key questions such as ‘What and who is my neighbour? Is that possible? Perhaps yes, with the help of some crows, the ogress, one or two empathetic townsfolk and a stone. Happily, in the end, it’s knowledge, story and books, community, kindness and sharing that wins out. So it is in Stone-in-the-Glen and so we hope, can it be again in our own fractured world.

It’s impossible in a short review to do full justice to this powerful story: the author leaves space for readers to form their own opinions on some of the book’s philosophical questions and I suspect we’ll all bring different things to this allegorical tale.

Monster Doughnuts: Cyclops on a Mission / Real Pigeons Nest Hard

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Monster Doughnuts: Cyclops on a Mission
Gianna Pollero, illustrated by Sarah Horne
Piccadilly Press

The sequel to Monster Doughnuts sees crotchety cyclops, Mr Harris, back for another delectably daft mission with ten year old Grace and her family from Cake Hunters bakery.
(In case you haven’t read about fearless Grace in the first book, her special monster-destroying technique involves baking cakes with a large sprinkling of an explosive kind of baking powder.)
The 360 year old cyclops has become Grace’s partner in crime on this new assignment from the Secret Service – to rid the city of the dastardly Bottom Biter that is creating let’s say, extreme discomfort in the nether regions of anybody unfortunate enough to become its victim.

It’s possible that the one-eyed member of the team could be an asset but during training sessions all that Mr H seems interested in doing is consuming not only monsters but doughnuts from the bakery and any other delicacies he can lay his hands on too. He does however appear to have quite an aptitude for baking but then as well as gobbling up his own fairy cakes, his passion for the sweet stuff causes him to visit Monster World where a potentially useful encounter takes place and some ‘valuable evidence’ is acquired.
Time to head off to the Natural History Museum …

Then from HQ comes news of another development concerning those the BB has attacked. Catching the creature has just become even more crucial.

KS2 readers looking for something wacky, witty and wonderfully wild with lashings of laugh-out-loud moments need look no further. Once again Sarah Horne has done a smashing job illustrating the various monsters and there’s further fun provided in the monster glossary that follows Gianna Pollero’s tasty tale.

Real Pigeons Nest Hard
Andrew McDonald, illustrated by Ben Wood
Farshore

The city-protecting crime fighting pigeons Rock, Frillback, Grandpouter, Tumbler and Homey return in a third set of loosely linked cases.
First, Beardy Vulture persuades them to take on the search for his missing extra large nest, which he claims has been stolen by humans; it’s either that or, so they think, risk getting cursed by the bone eating bird. Disguises are definitely required for this.
Episode two sees Rock et al discovering a beastly human child but why is she roaming in the park without her humans? According to the little one she’s escaping from a horrible monster. Now all they need to do is to return Kid X to her family – almost all anyway.

Awoken by their rumbly tummies, our crime-busting birdies learn that Homey’s family is being held hostage – It’s a case of bird-knapping! Heroic as ever, the pigeons resolve to find the relations he’s not seen since he was a baby. Thus begins another rescue mission and it’s not long before they discover some of their previous adversaries.
Episode three of this fun book that’s ideal for new solo readers, ends on a cliff hanger that paves the way for book 4 so there’s more to look forward to.

Bursting with humour, and with a great cast of characters (COO-l and otherwise) brought to life in Ben Wood’s zany visuals that also up the pace, this graphic novel/ picture book hybrid is huge fun. The book concludes with some words of ecological wisdom and a couple of drawing activities.

Nell and the Cave Bear

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Nell and the Cave Bear
Martin Brown
Piccadilly Press

This story is the first of a series by Horrible Histories illustrator Martin Brown and it features a young Stone Age girl Nell, and her Cave Bear. Nell has no parents and lives in a cave with her tribe, and her pet and best friend the titular bear.

Everywhere the girl goes, the bear goes too, keeping her safe and comforting her whenever the chores and bossing around she receives get her down.

When she learns that her clan plan to give her beloved Cave Bear away to the visiting Sea Clan cousins, Nell decides that it’s time to run away.

Together girl and bear embark on an adventure which takes them along the stream that passes their cave and soon, as they follow wherever the stream leads, the two become not runaways but explorers. They face thirst and hunger, mammoths and scary hunters

but never give up hope as, joined by a kitten, they keep looking for a safe place where they can be together.

Martin Brown writes simply and beautifully with warmth, a gentle humour and plenty of excitement.

Superbly illustrated this tale of long ago is just right for new solo readers who will be swept along with the adventurers relishing every moment of being in the company of Nell and Cave Bear. This adult reviewer most certainly did.

Edie and the Box of Flits

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Edie and the Box of Flits
Kate Wilkinson, illustrated by Joe Berger
Piccadilly Press

Eleven year old Edie Winter, a rather lonely girl, helps her dad with his job at London Underground’s lost property office where strange items often turn up. However, travelling to the office one day during half term she’s certainly not expecting to find a mysterious wooden box: a box that’s home to a family of tiny winged beings – The Flits.

It’s only people under thirteen who can see these magical little creatures, and Impy, Speckle and Nid need Edie’s help. Help that takes the form of food supplies including chocolate spread, raisins, digestive biscuits, rice crispies sunflower seeds and sugar sprinkles, somebody to look after them, but their brother, Jot, has run off looking in the Underground tunnels for Flum and other missing Flits, and Edie’s assistance is required to find him.

All manner of strange things are happening though, not least, sightings of strange sharp-eyed birds; there are complaints from passengers about missing jewellery or other small, expensive items after a journey.
Utterly intrigued by the tiny creatures Edie immerses herself in the Flits’ world, even hiding them in her school bag and they’re all determined to find the missing beings. But the Flits Edie is caring for are not easy to control; she has a tricky task to prevent them being discovered by the watchful magpin birds – a sinister lot – as well as the far from friendly Vera Creech, receptionist at the Lost Property Office who looks after a crow and is interested in the wooden box.

Kate Wilkinson has constructed the Flits’ small world brilliantly and it’s impossible not to be enthralled by her magical story of friendship, family and focussing on life’s little things. Joe Berger’s black and white illustrations are a delight be they whole page scenes, small or very small close ups.

A terrific class read aloud for older KS2 listeners as well as for individuals who like books with a touch of enchantment or a classic feel. I can’t wait for the next one in the series.

Fearless Fairy Tales

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Fearless Fairy Tales
Konnie Huq & James Kay, illustrated by Rikin Parekh
Piccadilly Press

If like me you’re fond of fractured fairy tales, then this subversive collection of seventeen is a must have. Even the titles made this reviewer splutter with giggles and as for the important note before the contents page, I’ll say no more.

On closer reading it’s probably true to say the stories have been not so much fractured as entirely pulverised, pounded and then reconstituted adding new magic to the mangled mores of old, replacing them with modern reinventions for a more demanding, “I can change the world” generation.

I couldn’t resist turning first to Trumplestiltskin and sure enough there is the easily identifiable ‘Trumple’ hailing from the United States of Kraziness. Said little man is obsessed with gold and power mad. No need for me to regale the whole sorry story – it had me in stitches throughout – but having thrown the king and his daughter, Princess Marla into a dark dungeon, an aide lets slip that Marla can spin straw into gold.

Needless to say, Trumple cannot resist making the girl an offer and the princess being a pretty savvy person, eventually manages to out-trumple the Trumple. (Love the postscript.)
Rumplestiltskin has been my favourite fairy tale since as a youngster, I heard the late Sara Corrin tell it at a book event. She’s in my head narrating this new one even now.

There’s also Sleeping Brainy (‘a flipping genius!’) who aspires to become Chancellor of the Exchequer and does so – against all the odds.

Absolutely cracking is Mouldysocks and the Three Bears in which he of the stinky foot attire is computer crazy. This almost causes his complete undoing when Mummy Bear, Other Mummy Bear and the little baby bear return from their forest foray –

that and the disgusting pong emanating from a certain pair of socks bad enough to put Baby Bear off his porridge. All ends happily however with everyone, including Mouldysocks (newly named) living spotlessly ever after.

It’s impossible to talk about every story in this review but I must  mention that The Princess and the Snog is written entirely in verse. Herein we meet pink-haired Pandora and the frog that catches her punchball when it lands in his boggy residence. Does she want to grant him a kiss – err … not quite and the outcome is, ‘A very wise rule for a mister or miss: / You choose who you / hug and you choose / who you kiss.” No coercive control for this wily young miss.

Finally, another princess – Zareen by name – is only a princess because that’s what her stepmother Tania (a goodie rather than the usual kind) calls her. Actually she’s a normal girl residing in the ‘magical suburb of Crystal Palace and dead keen to follow the latest school playground craze and get a Zoom Peashooter (basically just an overpriced paper straw). Hence the title The Princess and the Peashooter.

She ends up having got her mitts on one, with a rather funky eyepatch due to an errant flying shot – not hers – and being the leader of the anti-peashooter side for the next school debate. Bring on the Zoom Bands, say I. Much less dangerous, or maybe not …

Make sure you read this corker of a book right past THE END, including the small print. I’m wondering who would score higher on the enjoyment scale, team Konnie and James and illustrator Rikin, or readers who guffaw their way through its pages, relishing every satirical story,

Butterfly Brain

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Butterfly Brain
Laura Dockrill and Gwen Millward
Piccadilly Press

Gwen Millward’s cover for this book is absolutely delightful; don’t be beguiled by this however. What’s inside is a story about a boy dealing with his grief. There’s even a warning on the first page informing readers that what follows is ‘rather strange and gory.’

Time and time again, Gus gets into trouble; he breaks the rules at school, is rude to his teachers, angry towards others and is always leaning back on his chair, taking not one scrap of notice of warnings about injury from those in school or at home whose anger he’s aroused.

Then one day, the inevitable happens …

CRACK! and that crack becomes a large gap through which Gus’s brains with his dreams, understandings, feelings and memories are exposed for all to see.

A butterfly appears – his very own brain butterfly – a guardian guiding light, it says, but that too flies away. There’s only one thing to do.

Out of the window and up into the night sky goes the pyjama clad boy in pursuit.

During their journey Gus learns how important memories are, be they good or bad, including those buried deep within. He revisits long gone, alarming dreams, learning of one that should not be left behind, and discovers the vital importance of the imagination.

Is he ready finally to own the secret and the painful fear of loss?

Enormously moving, forthright, and written in rhyme, this is a truly heart-rendingly incredible book that can speak to everyone, child and adult, through its words (Laura’s) and its powerful pictures (Gwen’s) rendered in mood-invoking hues.

A definite keeper this.

Marie Curious Girl Genius Saves the World / Cookie and the Most Annoying Girl in the World

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Marie Curious Girl Genius Saves the World
Chris Edison
Orchard Books

This is the first of a proposed new series featuring twelve-year-old inventor Marie Curious.

Marie is mega-excited when she receives an unexpected parcel containing a message from one Sterling Vance head of a high-tech corporation in California, inviting her to spend her summer holidays at Vance Camp in his high-tech headquarters. Marie can hardly believe that her robot project has won her a place among thirty other mega-bright young scientists and the theme of the camp is to be robotics. Perfect.

There she and the other campers get the opportunity to attend tutorials and workshops given by the world’s top scientists, test some incredible gadgets and to build robot entries for the competition, the winner being given a year’s apprenticeship and an all expenses paid trip to the world’s biggest tech fair.

Something’s not quite right though. First there’s Marie’s roommate who is very standoffish and then it appears that somebody is sabotaging the campers’ robots. Vance had told Marie when she arrived that there was a spy in the camp but who could it be?

Next comes talk of a computer virus that will create havoc the world over. Competition or no competition, Marie decides that teamwork is key if they are to outwit the culprit and prevent a catastrophic outcome. No pressure then …

A gripping story that will keep readers guessing almost to the big reveal.

Cookie and the Most Annoying Girl in the World
Konnie Huq
Piccadilly Press

Cookie returns and now, as she celebrates her tenth birthday, she finds herself having to cope with the world’s most annoying girl, Suzie Ashby.

Disappointed in discovering that Suzie is holding her birthday party on the day of Cookie’s actual double figures birthday, the day she intended to hold her own party, and even worse, that she is inviting everyone in the class, is only the start of Cookie’s problems.

Next she discovers that her own mum has already committed them to spend the day at Uncle Mehdi’s house for a family reunion making matters worse. Plus, instead of the bike she really, really wants from her mum and dad, all she gets is a token for £25 for the local bike shop.

But then she’s given two tickets to see popstar, Aliana Tiny: perhaps things will start looking up after all.

Or perhaps not: enter Mrs Edmonds, supply teacher, who seems intent on dishing out detentions to Cookie and her pals – except that they’re not really all her pals right then for she’s managed to fall out with both her besties Keziah and Jake.

Then said teacher starts a misleadingly titled club that isn’t at all what Cookie et al. are anticipating. Turns out though that, ex army Mrs E. isn’t quite as awful as they’d first thought, especially as she organises a weekend camping trip; and pretty eventful that proves to be.

But can Cookie manage to win back Jake and Keziah, save the planet and get that much longed-for bike? Now telling would be story-spoiling so I’ll say no more other than there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in this enormously appealing sequel throughout which Konnie Huq has liberally strewn hilarious drawings to accompany Cookie’s narrative.

Return to Roar / A Most Improper Magick

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Return to Roar
Jenny McLachlan, illustrated by Ben Mantle
Egmont

It’s half term; Rose and narrator Arthur are excited to enter the folded-up camp bed portal in Grandad’s attic that takes them back to the Land of Roar.

Their first stop is to see Win, a wizard ninja whose wizarding skills leave something to be desired. Rose leaves the two boys together and aback a dragon, heads off to look for her merwitch friend Mitch.

She has no success and returns bringing Mitch’s spell book and tattoo kit.

During the night Arthur is woken by a rather sinister presence and hears a whisper asking, ‘Arthur, take me to Home’ that he persuades himself is a dream. But next morning, painted on the wall outside Win’s cave in letters, still wet, he sees WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

Arthur makes an immediate link to the villainous scarecrow, Crowky and convinces the others that he must be out to find The Box (an old cardboard one containing those things the twins most fear) and thus be able to travel back through the tunnel into Grandad’s house.

There’s only one thing to do: they must find the box before Crowky and so begins their next adventure.

What a thrilling, sometimes dangerous, one it is as they encounter a number of their old friends including the Lost Girls (lovers of loom bands and rather wild). There are dragons, unicorns – some more obliging than others – pirate baboons, honey badgers, orang-utans; and eventually Mitch; plus a fair few spells, wolves and a rather unpleasant character, Hatai Skoll.

Readers will certainly feel frissons of fear at times as they become swept up in the dramatic events as they root for the children and their real friends.

Can they find the Box or will it be Crowky? Will Rose and Arthur get back to Grandad’s before their parents arrive to collect them?

Like this reviewer, young readers will find it well nigh impossible to put down this superbly written book, before they’ve discovered the answers. What a testament to the power of the imagination in children it is. Superb too are Ben Mantle’s illustrations – sometimes scary, sometimes gently humorous; and the front cover is truly powerful.

Fear not, a thrilling finale to the Roar series is promised – coming soon.

A Most Improper Magick
Stephanie Burgis, illustrated by Hannah Peck
Piccadilly Press

This reissue of the first of the ‘Improper Adventures’ of twelve-year-old narrator, Kat Stephenson is set in Regency England. It’s a blend of Jane Austin and Georgette Heyer, together with magic and adventure.

Rather than doing what proper young ladies should, Kat eschews embroidery, chops off her hair and decides to go to London. But then Kat is not an ordinary young lady: although her father is a respected clergyman, her late mother was a witch whose magical powers, her youngest daughter seems to have inherited.

Then she discovers her mother’s magic books and mirror, which is not your everyday kind of item; this golden object has powers of its own. Now for sure Kat is determined to learn how to use her magical talents for the good of her own family, no matter what her Stepmama says.

How will she deal with the decidedly sinister Sir Neville, her elder sister’s intended fiancé, as well as her other sister Angeline with her own style of witchiness, not to mention a highwayman?

Can the indomitable Kat succeed in saving her entire family from ruin and win her sisters the true loves they so much desire?

Bursting with charm, mystery and humour, this tale of high drama will appeal most strongly to confident female readers around the age of its chief character.

Mermaids Rock: The Floating Forest / The Time Travel Diaries: Adventure in Athens

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Mermaids Rock: The Floating Forest
Linda Chapman, illustrated by Mirelle Ortega
Little Tiger

This is the second title in Linda Chapman’s Mermaids Rock series featuring some animal-loving mer friends. They have formed their own special Save the Sea Creatures Club, their aim being to come to the aid of animals in trouble.

As the story starts Coralie and Dash enter a whirlpool and find themselves in a wonderful forest with sea lions. Therein Coralie discovers among the fronds a bottle containing what looks like a rolled up message.

On returning to her friends she learns from Marina (whose dad is a marine scientist) that the place she’s just visited is a kelp forest. The others are eager to see it too so they schedule a visit the following day.

In the meantime Naya manages to open the bottle; inside is a map with a rhyming message.

Next day with 4 clues to solve, operation treasure hunt begins.

But one of their classmates, the sneaky Glenda is determined to find out what the others are up to and starts watching their every move.

The following week when the club members return to their search they discover that the kelp forest has been destroyed leaving the animals unprotected and in great danger.

Saving them becomes much more important than the treasure hunt but can they do it before it’s too late?

Mirelle Ortega’s expressive illustrations add further interest to the narrative and help break up the text for newly independent readers.

After the story are pages with information about the kelp forests and the animals living there, as well as some marine-related jokes.

A tale that’s ideal for young nature-lovers and environmentalists who like their adventures bubbling with mermaid magic.

For slightly older readers, also the second in a series:

The Time Travel Diaries: Adventure in Athens
Caroline Lawrence
Piccadilly Press

With her outstanding, expert knowledge of classical history and superb storytelling skill, Caroline Lawrence immerses readers in ancient Athens circa 400BCE when her heroes Alex and Dinu, on a luxury holiday in Athens, time travel – at the behest of Solomon Daisy – to the time of Socrates. Unbeknown to the boys, Dinu’s younger sister has followed them through the time-travel portal and is also swept up in the adventure.

It’s no time at all before having arrived at the Temple of Athena, Alex and Dinu are taken by the Scythian archers – the equivalent of the police in ancient Athens.

As with the previous book, the story is pacey, gripping and rich in historical detail.

Here’s what Daniel (nearly 11) thought:
‘This book was action-packed and a great read. The plot involves a group of characters who travel back in time in search of Socrates, the wisest man in the world. The main characters are really interesting because of their individual personalities.
Through their journey we learn about an ancient time and some historical dates. My favourite part is when the main characters go inside a public house and they play music through holes in a bone.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to 9-11 year olds.‘

The Boy Who Dreamed of Dragons

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The Boy Who Dreamed of Dragons
Andy Shepherd, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie
Piccadilly Press

Dragon dreamer Tomas is back for a fourth tale. Now his special dragon Flicker has gone to live in his true dragon home in the frosty North and only comes on occasional short visits but the dragon-fruit tree in Grandad’s garden has just produced a bumper crop of fruits and that means more potential dragon adventures.

As this story starts Tomas and another of the superhero squad, Ted, discover an unhatched fruit on the ground that narrowly escapes being squashed to oblivion.

When it eventually hatches, a tiny sky blue and silver creature suddenly whizzes into action appearing to be super-charged as it zizzes about like there’s no tomorrow. There is of course, and one of the things Tomas must do is to nurture all those little dragon-fruit seedlings to keep alive the hope of another dragon-fruit tree that actually grows dragons.

Before long it’s evident that the recently hatched, havoc wreaking blue dragon has taken a liking to Tomas and is sticking with him.  Little sister Lolli, aptly names the creature Zing.

Not only has Tomas to contend with Zing, there’s also the question of his own dragon costume for the school dress up day and then a new girl shows up wearing an absolutely amazing one.

To further add to his troubles, two of the squad, twins Kat and Kai announce that they’re shortly moving to China and next day Aura claims to ‘know all there is to know about dragons.’
Her claim soon leads to an explosive outburst from Tomas.

This results in the revelation of a secret he’d intended to keep quiet about, the details of which I won’t divulge. Instead I’ll mention that streams of sweet-scented farts and a fair spattering of poo are part and parcel of subsequent events.

Like the previous adventures, this is a delightful mix of zany humour, warmth, mayhem, touches of magic and more. Once again Sara Ogilvie’s wonderful illustrations add to the book’s appeal and another good thing: by all accounts, the series isn’t over yet.

Hotel Flamingo: Fabulous Feast

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Hotel Flamingo: Fabulous Feast
Alex Milway
Piccadilly Press

It’s always a huge treat to pay a visit to Animal Boulevard’s  Flamingo Hotel where now as winter recedes Anna and T. Bear are outside enjoying themselves while hoping that business will pick up after a slack period.

Suddenly into their midst from high above crashes their first new season guest in the form of a stunt pigeon named Alfonso Fastbeak.

Over a warming cocoa in the lobby Alfonso explains that he was working on his routine for a forthcoming record-breaking attempt when things went a little awry. Hence his unexpected mode of arrival.

Mightily impressed by the hotel, Alfonso decides to book a room for the duration of his recuperation and this prompts Anna to realise something needs to be done to improve business – something like a ‘Battle of the Chefs’ competition. Their very own chef Madame Le Pig is the greatest chef in town; they just need to prove her superiority over the chefs of rival establishments.

Ever the grumpy one, Madame Le Pig needs a bit of persuasion but having won her round, Anna and T.Bear set about the task of getting Peston Crumbletart and Laurence Toot-Toot on board too.

Meanwhile Ms Frangipani is enlisted to facilitate the recovery of Alfonso

and T. Bear finds a judge for the cooking competition.

As news of the event with its promised accompanying feast spreads, room bookings rise rapidly and pretty soon guests start showing up.

A pretty demanding lot they prove to be too. There’s Norman and Petal Horntop intent on sampling all the regional grasses, not to mention octopus Simon Suckerlot who insists on having a constant supply of brine. But even the most exacting guests must have their needs attended to, even if that means getting rid of any cowpats that appear on the carpets at the most inopportune moments

and procuring large amounts of precious sea salt from the kitchen.

When the competition eventually gets underway, things get pretty tense especially when Madame Le Pig gets an attack of stage-fright.

But who will be declared the final winner? And what of guest Alfonso: he too needs to summon up all his confidence for his big day.

Camaraderie, determination and self-belief are key in this deliciously offbeat drama. Add to the mix a generous garnishing of Alex’s brilliantly expressive two colour illustrations (20 with bees hiding in plain sight to find) and the result is a mouth-watering read that’s sure to satisfy young readers.

Eating Chips With Monkey / Super Stan

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Eating Chips With Monkey
Mark Lowery
Piccadilly Press

Ten-year-old Daniel absolutely loves fish and chips, almost as much as he loves his soft toy Monkey; and when the two are part and parcel of the same experience – like his family’s annual Chip Shop Championships, then things really can’t get much better.

They can however get a whole lot worse for during a trip to find the winning chip shop one November day, the lives of Daniel and his family are shattered by a terrible accident when the boy rushes out of the shop straight into the road.

Following his accident Daniel becomes withdrawn while members of his family struggle to cope with the accident’s impact on their own lives.

Then Dad decides to stage a kidnap or as he put it ‘just borrow’ the entire family and redo the Chip Shop Championships mentioned in Daniel’s notebook and in an effort to stimulate the boy’s senses revisit the five contenders. That entails driving all over the country from Norfolk to Bedfordshire, to Yorkshire and thence to Camden Town and finally King’s Cross.

Mark Lowery has created a story that is highly affecting and also funny – think chip-guzzling giraffe, Grandma ‘seizing the day’ with a Major, and designer food. His characterisation of all family members is such that each one truly comes to life on the page, while the portrayal of Daniel (who has autism) is empathetic and might surprise readers who have little of no experience of what this might mean in terms of behaviours.

No matter which way you like your chips served, you cannot but be swept up in this highly unusual family drama.

Super Stan
Elaine Wickson, illustrated by Chris Judge
Oxford University Press

This is the third episode in the life of Stan. All the space enthusiast boy wants to do is to be left in peace so he can watch the total solar eclipse that’s coming up soon but his younger brother Fred has a much more important mission that threatens to eclipse any plans that big bro. might have for the near future.

Fred has donned an eco-warrior hat and is determined to solve the plastic pollution crisis. Moreover he wants everyone else to get involved too.

Add to that Gran’s big announcement regarding her and a certain salsa instructor as well as a certain umbraphile named Roberta Macklin who Stan is determined to meet.

And what’s all that about a certain King prawn vandalising the local supermarket?

Readers will be amazed at how all these threads are woven so neatly together by the author in such a highly entertaining manner; not only that, for Chris Judge’s inventive infographics

are an integral part of this SUPERb adventure that is once again much more than the SUM of all its parts.

Go Stan, go! and, go Fred go! The planet needs you both.