New Picture Books Celebrating Nature and our Environment

Posted on May 3, 2024 by alibrarylady

Lenny In The Garden by Ken Wilson-Max

The Lenny series of stories are perfect picture books for the very young, celebrating the everyday life of little ones and their families and great fun to share at home and in early years settings. This latest title, Lenny in the Garden depicts Lenny and his Mum, and the dog Wilbur, experiencing the joy of spending time together in the garden. Mummy is gardening while Lenny and Wilbur explore discovering all sorts of interesting creatures. Lenny delights in the feel of the grass on his bare toes and a butterfly tickling his nose while watching the tiny creatures around him. Spiders, worms, caterpillars, ladybirds, grasshoppers and snails also make an appearance. The book ends with Mummy and Lenny singing the nursery rhyme Tommy Thumb together.

Lenny in the Garden although initially appearing to be a simple story does in fact encompass a great deal, exploring early experiences and routines, encouraging curiosity and independence, inclusive in presentation and a charming way of introducing interactive songs to very young book lovers. My little grandson loves his Lenny books and I’m really looking forward to seeing his reaction to this one. Published by Alana Max in April and I am grateful to the publishers for providing my review copy.

Old Oak and the Wild Flowers by Elena Mannion illustrated by Erin Brown

Following the earlier two books in this series endorsed by CPRE, the Countryside Charity and The Tree Council Old Oak and the Wild Flowers once again celebrates the countryside but this time explores the restoration of nature and habitats that will boost biodiversity. This third collaboration between Elena Mannion and Erin Brown is an appealing blend of traditional style picture book with stunning illustrations and a lyrical text providing a thoughtful depiction of the contemporary subject of farmland regeneration for a young audience.

In this third book of the series good friends Old Oak and Mr Shield are worrying about the weather. The summer has been too hot and it followed a long winter and the two friends are puzzling over the results of this. Meanwhile the mighty Stag Beetle holds a meeting with all the insects and having decided that there are not enough flowers to feed them all the winged insects leave to find food elsewhere. Old Oak and Mr Shield watch and wait as the seasons change, concerned for their home and their friends, but with the arrival of spring comes a surprise and a happy development. The hopeful and positive ending provides evidence of the possible outcome of human actions to help conserve our environment.

This beautiful hardback book would be an excellent present for children of about 5+ but it would also be a welcome addition to school library and classroom bookshelves. The simply stunning illustrations are full of detailed, accurate pictures of farmland creatures and children will enjoy poring over them to spot the different insects and birds making this an excellent learning experience. Old Oak and the Wild Flowers is a positive story which will encourage children to engage with the countryside and increase their awareness and understanding of its importance. Published by Pikku Publishing on 15th May and I would like to thank Elena Mannion for my review copy.

Night Flight by Katie Cottle

Ellie has grown up in a village. It is small and surrounded by green fields, flowers and woods. Each morning as Ellie walks to school she searches to see which birds she can spot. But when Ellie’s Mum gets a new job they have to move to the city and although Mum gives her a new book to help identify birds and a bird feeder for her window no birds come to visit. Ellie searches near her new flat but still she does not find the many different types of birds she was used to seeing in her old home. Then in the middle of the night by a special starling who explains the problem. The birds are lost because the glow from the city’s bright lights has confused them and they can’t find their way without the stars to guide them. Ellie is determined to help and tries to persuade others to join her in persuading people to turn off their lights.

This is another positive book encouraging children that by using even the smallest of voices we can all do our little bit to help. Katie Cottle’s illustrations are gorgeous and there is a magical quality to the story but it is the empowering message that gives this picture book that little bit extra. Without being didactic in tone this book is informative and encouraging and would be lovely way of introducing the topic of light pollution in the classroom and prompting discussion too. Published by Penguin Books on 4th April. I should like to thank Lily Orgill and the publishers for providing my review copy.

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New Children’s Books – a round up of picture books, early readers and novels

Posted on April 29, 2024 by alibrarylady

After an absence from blogging and book reviewing over the last couple of months these are just some of the recently published books for children of all ages that have lifted my spirits or offered hope and kindness. A jolly picture book celebrating the delight to be found in stories, a charming first chapter book for pet lovers, a humorous sci-fi story, a poignant family tale full of care and understanding, an exciting mystery set on the Mediterranean Sea and a wise portrayal of a family coping with trauma and difficulty with hope.

Wild Book Day by Karl Newson and James Brown

Each year in March we celebrate World Book Day and wonderful though the celebrations are it would be a shame if this was the only time we were encouraged to shout about the joy of books. Hurrah for Karl Newson and James Brown who in this joyful picture book reinforce the message that any day can be Wild Book Day!

From its vibrant cover onwards this book is engaging and fun, the text bounces along and is ideal to read aloud. The choice of vocabulary and the placing of the text within the pages all suggest movement and happiness and the message that books are jolly good fun is loud and clear. The illustrations are full of characters for young children to spot and identify and this is a great way to introduce them to a range of traditional tales and classic stories. Wild Book Day is a delightful concept and children will love the idea of stories bursting from the pages when no-one is looking. A lovely idea and well executed this delightful picture book will prompt book chat and encourage a love of reading. A must buy for pre-school and infant book shelves. Published by Owlet Press in February. I should like to thank the publishers for my review copy.

The Missing Bunny by Holly Webb illustrated by Antonia Woodward

This new Little Gem from Barrington Stoke is a delight for animal lovers being a story with just enough mild peril to excite yet gently told by Holly Webb and with charming colour illustrations by Antonia Woodward.

Annie can’t wait to meet her new pet rabbits and introduce them to their amazing new home her dad has built for them. Toffee and Humbug quickly settle in and Annie is delighted. But next morning in a rush to get to school Annie doesn’t check the hutch door properly and Humbug escapes. When Annie returns from school later she is desperate to find Humbug before the neighbourhood fox does! This story will quickly engage newly independent readers and the book is cleverly designed to support new readers. Holly Webb has successfully included guidance on caring for your new pet in the story so that youngsters will learn a little as they read which is a thoughtful touch. I am a big fan of the Little Gems series and this is welcome addition to the range. The chunky format is perfect for small hands and the Can you find Humbug? puzzle on the inside cover adds to the fun. Published on 1st February. Thank you to Barrington Stoke and Poppy McLean for my review copy.

Astrid and the Space Cadets!: Attack of the Snailians! by Alex T Smith

A new series by popular author and illustrator Alex T Smith blasts off with bags of humour in this sci-fi story for young readers featuring 6 year old Astrid, a super Space Cadet on a mission. Astrid goes to bed every night just like other 6 year olds but as soon as it is dark Astrid discards her pyjamas and dons her Space Cadet uniform and sets off on board the space ship Stardust ready for adventure. Accompanied by her friends, pink alien Beryl, Professor Quackers a clever duck and Zoink a small fluffy alien Astrid responds to her mission directed by The Chief and departs to clean up the Milky Way which is full of rubbish. However a nearby alien calls for help with a problem in her garden…giant Snaliens! Astrid as an intrepid intergalactic helper diverts to try to save the day but things don’t go entirely to plan!

From the very first page this is an attention grabbing story and is full of jolly characters, a slightly bonkers plot, hilarious moments but also Alex T Smith’s trademark kindness and subtle inclusivity. Space stories in books, TV and film have long held a fascination for children and Alex T Smith’s own interest in sci-fi magazines and comics of the 50s and 60s is evident in the illustrative style. Pitched at readers of about 5 -7 years of age this book will appeal to children’s imaginative play and ideas encouraging them to think and explore. The overall design of the book itself may well encourage children who don’t consider themselves to be readers being heavily illustrated and therefore a less daunting challenge. The second book in the series is due to be published in July 2024 and I think many will be on the waiting list for that too. Attack of the Snailians was published on 7th March by MacMillan children’s books and I would like to thank the publishers for my proof copy.

Little House by Katya Balen illustrated by Richard Johnson

Each book I read by Katya Balen impresses me as she is able to write with a deceptive simplicity of style yet her stories possess an almost poetic quality. Little House is another masterly example of her work as she explores complex issues with compassion and subtlety yet ensuring that they are understandable to her young audience.

Katya Balen tells the story of ten year old Juno who is angry that she is being sent to stay with her grandpa for the summer holidays and will be missing all the fun she and her friends had planned for the long break. Perhaps more importantly she will also miss her mum who is travelling to join Juno’s dad to assist in his charity work overseas leaving her daughter scared for the safety of both parents and confused about her place in their lives. Grandpa is kindly and welcoming despite Juno’s resistance and encourages her to join him in his wood carving and cooking with little success initially. Then Juno discovers a long forgotten doll’s house and a small family of dolls in the attic and gradually through her care for the dolls and their home she learns a little more about her mum’s motivation and gains a more mature understanding .

This story conveys beautifully the way in which children may find the decisions made on their behalf by adults difficult to understand and may even rebel against. The added impact of Little House is that the author also depicts in Juno’s character ways children can cope with these difficulties. There are many layers to this story and it could be used as an opening to discussion about the broader picture of our place in the world and the manner in which people may be able to help others. On a smaller scale it also portrays the healing power of craft and creativity to soothe anxious and worried minds. This is another wonderful publication from Barrington Stoke and the pairing with Richard Johnson and his atmospheric illustrations works brilliantly. Published on 14th March and highly recommended. I should like to thank Poppy McLean and the publishers for my review copy.

Mysteries at Sea: The Royal Jewel Plot by A. M.Howell

The second in the Mysteries at Sea series has been eagerly awaited by those who read and enjoyed the opening story, Peril on the Atlantic, last year. A M Howell deftly blends historical detail with an exciting and well plotted mystery in The Royal Jewel Plot, bringing Alice and Sonny back and pairing them with a wonderful new cast of characters.

The story is set on a fictional yacht, the Lady Rose, set against the backdrop of growing unrest in Europe in the late 1930s and includes real characters such as King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. This balance of factual information and imaginative fiction is extremely well done and A M Howell’s research adds a believable quality to the story. The plot centres on a precious jewel stored in a tank on the yacht and guarded by a poisonous octopus and when both go missing mid-voyage Alice and Sonny, our two young detectives, spring into action. As our two young sleuths follow clues and the list of possible suspects grows ever longer it becomes apparent that no-one aboard the vessel is safe from accusations.

This is a fascinating period of history and although children may well have learned about World War 2 in the classroom the build up to this catastrophic event and the background to the abdication are probably less familiar to them. This story provides a little more detail for its readers and may well prompt discussion. The Royal Jewel Plot is a thoroughly enjoyable read and may appeal to lovers of books by Emma Carroll and Robin Stevens. It was published on 11th April by Usborne Books and I should like to thank Fritha Lindqvist and Usborne Books for my review copy.

Me and Aaron Ramsey by Manon Steffan Ros

The Carnegie winning Blue Book of Nebo was a deeply affecting novel for a YA readership and Manon Steffan Ros’s eloquent and insightful writing style is evident once more in this book for a younger audience of about ten to twelve years old. The title highlights its central theme of football but this author has a gift for ensuring her stories are multi-layered, covering ideas and subjects of importance to her young audience and, importantly, offering them hope and wisdom through her emotionally aware, thoughtful text.

Sam and his Dad both love football, bonding over their shared enjoyment of both the game and their favourite team and players. Sam’s ideal pastime is kicking a ball about with his friend Mo after school and at weekends. When his Dad’s dreams of football success go suddenly and horribly wrong Sam’s love of the player he idolises becomes tangled with his relationship with his father affecting family life. Sam is a worrier by nature but the stress his family are now under increases his anxiety and he struggles to cope. His Dad too is trying to cope with his changed circumstances and his illiteracy which he has hidden from many for a long time. All of this turmoil is conveyed in an accessible and relatively short book with the chapters ending with a gripping hook ensuring that this thoughtful story appeals to a wider audience, both football fans and those who find longer, dense novels overwhelming will be drawn to this rewarding read. Despite not being the target audience I thoroughly enjoyed Me and Aaron Ramsey finding it an emotionally satisfying read. Published by Firefly Press on 11th April and highly recommended. I should like to thank Graeme Williams and the publishers for my proof copy.

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Super Questers Blog Tour – The Case of the Angry Sea by Dr Thomas Bernard and Lisa Moss illustrated by Amy Wilcox

Posted on March 21, 2024 by alibrarylady

Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour celebrating the publication on 14th March by QuestFriendz, of the latest book in the Super Questers series, The Case of the Angry Sea. The fourth instalment in this series, explores STEM learning through a unique blend of adventure story and interactive play focussing on environmental themes including recycling, water pollution and sustainability. Readers are encouraged to help solve the new quests in Questland with superheroes, Lillicorn, Bea Bumble and Leo Zoom.

In this newest adventure Lilli, Bea and Leo journey to Questland to research ideas for a machine to clear up the rubbish in their local river. When they arrive in Questland they discover that the Queen is in need of their help to conquer Captain Blackwaters and his pirate bots who are polluting the sea and destroying the marine life habitat. As our heroes tackle this challenge readers have the opportunity to solve puzzles related to the quest and in this way will learn about the impact of water pollution and the importance of recycling and sustainability.

This series is extremely well pitched for children in the Year 2 and Year 3 age group, about 6-8 years old, with its bright, appealing and inclusive illustrations by Amy Wilcox and of course the puzzles which are carefully produced to encourage problem solving and coding skills. The content supports the KS1 National Curriculum but would also appeal to slightly older children so this would be useful to those children moving from Infants to Juniors too. Most children are exposed to screens on a daily basis, and books provide a great outlet to give them a more calm and focused time to learn. Super Questers are interactive but in a screen-free way allowing children to experience STEM learning first-hand. Each individual ‘quest’ has a double page spread devoted to it and when children have read the narrative text they can concentrate on the related puzzle. The use of reusable stickers, a tried and tested reward system, increases the appeal and the interactive element. These are the sort of books that young children enjoy sharing together either at home or in a school library or classroom providing the opportunity for children to explore together.

The Case of the Angry Sea is a welcome addition to this series combining fun, adventure and learning in an appealing package. As an added bonus the creators, husband and wife team Dr Thomas Bernard and Lisa Moss have provided some fun SuperQuesters’ STEM activities on the publisher’s website which you can find here.

I would like to thank Claire Morrison and QuestFriendz for inviting me to participate in this blog tour and for providing my review copy. The Case of the Angry Sea was published on 14th March and can be purchased on the publisher’s website above or via uk.bookshop.org

“Disclosure: If you buy books linked to this site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.”

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FCBG Children’s Book Award Blog Tour – Press Start! Game On, Super Rabbit Boy! by Thomas Flintham

Posted on March 14, 2024 by alibrarylady

I am pleased and honoured to be taking part in the blog tour celebrating the recent announcement of the Children’s Book Award shortlists.

The Children’s Book Award is the only national award for children’s books that is voted for entirely by children. It is owned and coordinated by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups and is highly respected by teachers, parents and librarians. It has brought acclaim and strong sales to past winners such as J.K. Rowling, Patrick Ness, Andy Stanton, Malorie Blackman, Anthony Horowitz and Michael Morpurgo, who has won a record four times. The award has often been the first to recognise the future stars of children’s fiction and has the ability to turn popular authors into bestsellers.

Press Start! Game On, Super Rabbit Boy by Thomas Flintham is one of the books shortlisted in the Younger Readers category. This cleverly designed first chapter book is just right for gaming enthusiasts as its appearance resembles both Minecraft and Lego games giving it an eye catching and familiar look. With short chapters, a punchy writing style and the use of present tense newly confident readers will be able to read this by themselves and gain a real sense of achievement. As well as being lots of fun Thomas Flintham gently encourages his young readers to learn to persevere if at first they don’t succeed.

I am delighted to welcome Thomas Flintham to the blog today to tell us a little about his inspiration for the series, his love of gaming and his reasoning for how he styled the artwork for Press Start! 

There have been a lot of books about characters from video games, but I never found anything that really captured what it actually felt like to play video games. When I started to develop the Press Start series I was really keen to include the player in the story.

Each story focuses on Super Rabbit Boy’s latest adventure unfolding as a young boy called Sunny plays the latest Super Rabbit Boy game. When Sunny gets stuck, so does Super Rabbit Boy. When Sunny succeeds so does Super Rabbit Boy. My favourite thing about Super Rabbit Boy is that no matter how many times he gets knocked back he never gives up. He keeps coming back until he has saved the day. He faces every challenge with a determined smile and will do anything to protect his friends.

I think the series can be fun for non-gamers, but I think it would have a big appeal to readers who love video games and that are just like Sunny. I hope I capture something that they can really relate to. I discovered Nintendo and video games when I was 10 years old and as a kid I was drawn to anything and everything video games related. I still have my collection of Super Mario books! I also used to buy piles of video game magazines. Repeatedly looking at every page and article really helped improve my relationship with reading.

I wanted to make sure the characters were clearly in a videogame and so making everything pixelated was a clear choice from the start. I didn’t want the artwork to be too stiff though, so even though everything is made of flat square shapes and straight lines, I bend, squish and rotate them where needed to bring everything to life. To contrast the scenes in the video game to the scenes where we see Sunny playing, I tried to make everything in the real world as round and squishy as possible.

I think kids are always drawn to books and stories that celebrate and explore things they are already interested in. Although I hope the Press Start books are fun for all readers, they’re also full of gaming references that I think would be a lot of fun for gaming fans to find. 

I’m so pleased that Press Start! Game On, Super Rabbit Boy has been shortlisted for the FCBG Children’s Book Award and I hope readers have as much fun with Sunny and Super Rabbit Boy as I do!

Thank you Thomas and I think your readers are going to have great fun with Sunny and Super Rabbit Boy!

Who Will Win?? FCBG groups are voting within their group and non-members can vote online via the link at https://fcbg.org.uk/cba-2024/. The deadline for voting is Friday 18th May. The category winners and the author of the best children’s book published in 2024 will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on 8th June, attended by representatives from all our local groups.

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Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons by Abi Elphinstone illustrations by Kristina Kister

Posted on February 12, 2024 by alibrarylady

Adventures are a bit like hiccups. They can happen to anyone at anytime…”

Mrs Rickety-Knees page 3 Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons

For as long as she can remember ten year old Ember Spark has yearned for adventure and the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of her comic book heroine Gutsy Wonder. However Ember lives in the sleepy, Scottish seaside village of Yawn where there is little in the way of excitement. Ever since her Dad left Ember has withdrawn from her old friends spending time at home with her Mum meaning that life is even more dull than previously. But then one day her teacher, the wonderful Mrs Rickety-Knees, gives Ember a rather unusual assignment and everything changes.

Abi Elphinstone has a knack of creating believable magic in her books and with kindness and understanding is able, through her adventurous stories, to encourage children to be curious and to tackle the unexpected with courage be that saving mythical beasts or coping with family break up. In Ember and Arno Whisper, the boy who accompanies Ember on the adventure, she has created characters with whom her young readers will readily empathise. Ember is gutsy and determined and Arno is more timid and thoughtful but they complement each other well and this unlikely team form a growing bond as they face daunting tasks and danger together.

There are aspects of the story that readers of Abi’s books will recognise, such as the wonderful character names and the importance of the landscape to the plot and of course the magic. Children will encounter dragons both large and small, a meringue eating unicorn, a hamster-like sidekick, and a flying bath tub plus a villain they will be willing Ember and Arno to overcome. The setting itself is based upon the author’s home in the east of Scotland and the descriptions bring the landscape to life for her readers. When animal loving Ember is recruited by Rusty Fizzbang to be an Apprentice Vet to Magical Beasts she instantly rises to the challenge. Arno, despite his initial panic has hidden depths and the two children work together to complete their mission. As the story progresses Ember, reluctantly at first, accepts the hand of friendship that Arno gently and kindly offers and he too gains from Ember’s determination and curiosity. In the author’s note readers learn that Ember is inspired by Abi Elphinstone’s own little daughter, giving the character an added appeal and relevance. Through an exciting adventure both the lead characters and the young readers learn how important true friendship is and its value in everyday life. Abi Elphinstone blends the magical, dangerous challenge Ember and Arno face with contemporary difficulties such as school room bullying and marriage breakdown in a manner that will inspire her readers with optimism and hope.

This book is a terrific introduction to a new series and I imagine many children will be keen to find out what happens to Ember and Arno from now on. Luckily the second in the series, Ember Spark and the Frost Phoenix, will follow in October. Ember Spark and The Thunder of Dragons is suitable for readers of about 8+ and will be published on 9th May by Simon and Schuster and I would like to thank Jess Dean for my proof copy.

If you would like to try another book by Abi Elphinstone I can recommend them all but would particularly draw attention to Sky Song a stand alone novel full of courage, hope and acceptance. Rumblestar is the first in the Unmapped Chronicles series and will have children searching for the magical world she has created in the manner previous generations have tried in to reach Narnia.

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News from CLIPPA The Leading Award for Poetry for Children

Posted on February 7, 2024 by alibrarylady

The boom in children’s poetry continues with more and more children becoming enthusiastic about poems and poets. It is lovely to share some more positive news on the subject. Today, 7th February the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) announced the judging panel for CLIPPA, this country’s leading award for poetry published for children, together with plans for this year’s poetry celebrations. Award-winning poet Liz Berry will chair the 2024 judging panel. She is joined by teacher and writer Darren Chetty, Billie Manning of the Poetry Society, Imogen Maund, teacher and UKLA representative, and Laura Mucha, who was shortlisted for the CLiPPA in 2022. Established in 2003, the CLiPPA highlights the best new poetry for children. Past winners include Michael Rosen, John Agard, Jackie Kay, Roger McGough, Valerie Bloom and current Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho.

The unique CLiPPA Shadowing Scheme brings the poets and poetry on the shortlist into classrooms across the UK and encourages children to perform their favourite poems out loud. CLPE anticipate that over 40,000 children will participate in 2024.  The shadowing scheme encourages schools and teachers to grow that love of poetry. Teachers are invited to choose one of the collections shortlisted for the CLiPPA and share with the children using dedicated teaching sequences produced by CLPE as well as videos of poets performing their work. Children choose a favourite poem from a shortlisted collection to work up into a performance, which is recorded and sent to a CLPE judging panel.  Winning schools are invited to perform live at the award ceremony.  The 2024 CLiPPA Shadowing will open on 8th May, with a live announcement beamed into schools and featuring the shortlisted poets. The award ceremony will be held at the National Theatre on Friday 12th July.

Liz Berry says, “If we’re lucky enough to meet poems when we’re children, we come to them with an open heart and never learn to feel afraid of them but to see them as companions on our journey. The best poetry meets young people where they are and then carries them off to dreams and possibilities. As a teacher, parent and a poet, I love reading and sharing poems with young people and seeing that magic happen. I’m delighted to be chairing the CLiPPA this year (honestly, what poetry job could be more joyful?) and discovering the books which will be enchanting the next generation of dreamers.”

The CLiPPA is delivered in partnership with the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) and supported by Arts Council England. For further information about the award and the shadowing scheme please visit the website.  You may also be interested in this article for the Children’s Poetry Summit website written by Charlotte Hacking from the CLPE in which she shares some of what CLPE achieved in The Big Amazing Poetry Project in partnership with Macmillan Children’s Books and the impact of the training on teachers and children.

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Reading Matters – Children’s Book News

Posted on February 3, 2024 by alibrarylady

Welcome to this month’s look back at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. It has been another busy few weeks with a focus on school libraries and librarians, awards shortlists, longlists and winners plus events and resources linked to children’s books and reading to catch up with.

What I’m reading…

A new picture book tiger to love, an action packed story of superheroes, a paperback version of an award winning information book and the first in a brand new spooky series have been part of my reading over the last month. You can read my reviews here and I hope that one of the titles included will tempt the young readers in your life. Thanks to Ben Harris suggested read along for January I have read a children’s classic that I had missed out on before. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper was an enjoyable read and I was struck by how the story developed in ways that I wasn’t expecting. The first chapter lulls the reader into thinking it will be a traditional holiday adventure yet the themes of good versus evil gradually came to the fore and this was a book with depth. I do hope I can find the time to read The Dark is Rising, the second book in the sequence.

A quick update on my Christmas present reading that I mentioned last month. I thought that The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman was the best one of the Thursday Murder Club Mysteries so far. Regular readers now know the characters well and this latest instalment was profoundly moving at times and the storyline taking in grief, loss and dementia was treated with great understanding. The elderly gang tackled heroin dealers and murderers with their usual aplomb and the warm humour balances the poignancy throughout. If you have not read this series yet I would recommend reading them in order as the characters and the development of their relationships is key to the enjoyment.

News, articles and resources…

‘School libraries and librarians matter’ – Thursday 8 Feb 2024 – there may still be places available for this free Literacy and Social Justice Centre Research Seminar next week. In this presentation, Loh Chin Ee will share about the various factors that contribute to a successful primary school library, drawing from a case study of one exemplary school library in Singapore. Find out more and book your place via the Open University Reading for Pleasure website above.

Children’s Mental Health Week 2024 – Children’s Mental Health Week will take place next week from 5 to 11 February 2024, with the theme of My Voice Matters. It was set up by children’s mental health charity Place2Be and shines a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health. The National Literacy Trust had partnered with Penguin Random House UK and Charlie Mackesy to create KS1/P2-3 and KS2/P4-P7 cross-curricular literacy and PSHE resources to help you mark the event.

Scholastic UK Launches Graphic Novel Prize – The Graphic Novel Prize joins Scholastic’s other competitions such as the Laugh Out Loud Awards and will be awarded in three categories: Graphic Novel for Younger Readers; Graphic Novel for Older Readers; and Graphic Novel for Teens. Representatives from BookTrust will select the longlist and a judging panel will select the shortlist. The final winners will be chosen by children’s votes, using Scholastic’s school channels to promote the titles, create class resources, voting packs and a virtual shortlist showcase.

The Portable Magic Dispenser – this regular newsletter from school librarian Lucas Maxwell always includes excellent tips, ideas and book suggestions. The latest issue highlights, How Dungeons & Dragons Can Help Members of The Neurodivergent Community, a downloadable poster for fans of One of Us Is Lying and How to Spot a Fake News Story.

Adrien Prize 2024 – Shortlist Announced! – The shortlist for the Adrien Prize 2024 was announced on 9th January. Now in its second year, the Adrien Prize was set up by best-selling author Elle McNicoll to celebrate middle grade and YA fiction that provides a positive portrayal of a protagonist with a disability.

Charlotte Hacking: Poetry in Primary – What We Know Works – in this article for the Children’s Poetry Summit website Charlotte Hacking from the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) shares some of what CLPE achieved in The Big Amazing Poetry Project in partnership with Macmillan Children’s Books and the impact of the training on teachers and children.

Inclusive Books for Children Awards 2024 Shortlists Announced – on 15th January Inclusive Books for Children revealed the 13 brilliant books that made it onto the shortlists for their new inclusive children’s book awards. The inaugural Inclusive Books for Children Awards recognise the best new inclusive books published in the UK across three categories: books for babies and toddlers aged one to three, picture books for ages three to seven and children’s fiction for ages five to nine. Do please visit the Inclusive Books for Children website to find out more about the background to the award and browse their great book lists.

Books For Keeps January Issue – a great way to kick off 2024 this online magazine is a brilliant resource for anyone interested in children’s books. In addition to the regular reviews there is the Authorgraph interview with Debi Gliori; Steve Small Windows into Illustration; new Beyond the Secret Garden; Satoshi Kitamura interview; Fabia Turner on Inclusive Books for Children and their new awards plus new year predictions and the childrensbooks to read in 2024. There is a wonderful positivity about this issue that is heartening.

Oxford Children’s Word of the Year – For over a decade lexicographers, publishers and editors from Oxford University Press have been tracking changes in children’s language, vocabulary and self-expression and providing insights into children’s evolving use of language. The word of the year for 2023 is ‘climate change’. You can download the full report on the website above.

Reading Together: BookTrust joins forces with all 12 Children’s Laureates to call for investment in early years reading – on 17th January Book Trust launched the Reading Together campaign highlighting the importance of early years reading. All 12 Waterstones Children’s Laureates have joined the charity a call to make sure no child misses out on reading’s life-changing benefits. Please do read the article linked above and the link to the letter from Book Trust’s CEO to find out more about this important initiative.

Michael Morpurgo backs call to ensure poorer children have access to books – a Guardian article linked to the campaign mentioned above in which former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo highlights the detrimental effect that the closure of libraries has had on children’s access to books and reading.

What to Read After… Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll – Emma Carroll’s historical novels for children are immensely popular in schools and the Book Trust team and Emma herself have put together some great suggestions that young readers may like to try if they have enjoyed her books.

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Reading for Pleasure Resource Bank – Professor Teresa Cremin has created a series of useful articles and downloadable resources to support the development of a Reading for Pleasure culture. These include an introduction, audit guidance, finding suitable books and much more all supported by reliable research.

Annual Indie Champions Awards Winners – these awards recognise the top individuals and organisations that have supported independent bookshops with Bookshop UK in the past year. Children’s Author of the Year is Katherine Rundell, author of Impossible Creatures and Innovative use of Bookshop.org is Books For Topics run by Alison Leach. Congratulations to them both.

The Winners of the 2024 Newbery & Caldecott Awards Announced – the John Newbery Award was first awarded in 1922 and this year’s winner is The Eyes and the Impossible written by Dave Eggers and illustrated by Shawn Harris. Started in 1938, the Randolph Caldecott Award is awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the United States in the previous year and the 2024 winner is Big by Vashti Harrison.

The Branford Boase Award Longlist Announced – Founded in 2000, 2024 marks 25 years of this unique award set up in memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase. The Branford Boase Award is given annually to the author of the year’s outstanding debut novel for children and the longlist of 25 titles announced on 24th January features three verse novels, detective stories, YA romances and contemporary dramas. Exploring the longlist is a great way of keeping up to date with new talent. The shortlist for the Award will be announced on Thursday 25April 2024.  The winner will be announced on Thursday, 11July 2024 at an award ceremony at CLPE in London.

The Reader Teacher: Monthly Must Reads for January – each month Scott Evans selects fiction, picture book and information must reads from books published that month and shares them via a free downloadable poster that you can find on the link above.

Where the Heart Should Be: Sarah Crossan Book Launch – This is a rare opportunity to listen to leading figures in the field of children’s and YA literature discuss Where the Heart Should Be. Sarah Crossan’s new YA novel (published on 14 March 2024) is described as an outstanding novel; thought-provoking and incredibly moving, it explores love and family during The Great Hunger in Ireland. Sarah will talk with Sita Brahmachari and Michael Rosen about how the novel took shape and writing about the Irish famine for a YA readership. 18th March 6:00pm – 8:00pm hosted by the Children’s and YA Literature Research Forum and Centre for Language, Culture and Learning at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Read for Empathy Collections Announced Thursday 8th February – EmpathyLab has produced a Read for Empathy Book Collection, with accompanying Read for Empathy Book Guides, annually since 2017. The eighth collection consists of 65 books for 3-16-year-olds – split between primary (3-11 year olds) and secondary (11-16 year olds). Each title has been chosen by a panel of judges to do a specific empathy-building job. Please look out for the big reveal next week and you can find out more on the website above.

Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels – A snail in space, dinosaurs on the beach, a fresh take on Jane Eyre, and a kebab-eating incarnation of Otis Redding are among the tempting titles in Imogen Russell Williams recent selection for the Guardian.

Nero Book Award Winners – this week the category winners for the inaugural Nero Book Awards, celebrating outstanding books and writers from the UK and Ireland of the last 12 months across four categories: Children’s Fiction, Debut Fiction, Fiction and Non-Fiction were announced. Many congratulations to all the winners in particular the Children’s Fiction winner – The Swifts by Beth Lincoln (Puffin). Illustrated by Claire Powell.

Live digital broadcast of Michael Rosen’s Big 50 Years Show – are you looking for a wonderful event to mark World Book Day? This may be the answer. Join schools across the country to watch Michael Rosen’s Big 50 Year’s Show live streamed to the whiteboard in your classroom from the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich on World Book Day. This very special show marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Michael Rosen’s first book for children, Mind Your Own Business, and 50 years of Michael inspiring generations of children, teachers and families with his poetry and live performances. Thursday, 7th March Time:1:30 pm Duration: Approx. 1 hour Suitable for Key Stage 2 Tickets:£10 per log in. Booking details on the link above.

Authorfy Free New Author Videos for World Book Day – in partnership with World Book Day, Mel Taylor-Bessent of Authorfy has asked authors and illustrators about their stories, why they love reading, and what books they’d recommend. You can watch the videos and download a free ‘5 Questions With…’ worksheet on the resources page to have a go at answering the questions yourself too.

The Reader Teacher: February 2024 Children’s Books I’m Most Excited About – in this video Scott Evans previews the children’s books being published this month providing a taste of what to expect.

Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye recently…

A Penguin Like Me by Marcus Pfister – I love the sound of this new picture book from the creator of The Rainbow Fish that is published in March. In her helpful review Catherine Friess says “A Penguin Like Me is a fabulous picture book to use in the classroom to introduce the concept of diversity. It can stimulate discussions about how our differences can also be our strengths and that whatever our differences are we are all special.“

Pirate Academy New Kid on Deck by Justin Somper, illustrated by Teo Skaffa – a brand new series from the author of Vampirates is launched with this new book published next month. Veronica Price’s review makes this sound extremely tempting and as she says, “At just over 200 pages, with short chapters broken up with cartoon-style illustrations by Teo Skaffa, I am certain that Pirate Academy New Kid on Deck is destined to be a bit hit with readers of 8+.” I imagine this is going be added to many shopping lists.

The Wrong Shoes by Tom Percival – author and illustrator Tom Percival’s first middle-grade novel is a sensitive exploration of child poverty. Having already been impressed by Tom’s thoughtful picture books this title due to be published in May by Simon and Schuster was already on my wish list but this review by Tom Griffiths has highlighted how important and valuable this story will be. Please do read Tom’s review to find out more.

That’s everything for this round up and there is quite a lot to get through! I hope you have found something here useful or have been tempted to try one of the books mentioned. This weekend I will be reading Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons by Abi Elphinstone which is published in May. I am halfway through the story and I am lifted by the customary hope and enthusiasm always found in Abi’s books. Stories for children are a wonderful way of rekindling that feeling in adults battered by worrying and depressing news from home and abroad. Wishing everyone a happy February.

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Children’s Books – Reading Round Up for January

Posted on January 31, 2024 by alibrarylady

A new picture book tiger to love, an action packed story of superheroes, a paperback version of an award winning information book and the first in a brand new spooky series have been part of my reading over the last month. I hope that something here will tempt the young readers in your life.

There’s a Tiger on the Train written by Mariesa Dulak illustrated by Rebecca Cobb

This debut from Mariesa Dulak accompanied by illustrations by award winner Rebecca Cobb has a delightful appeal and reminded me a little of a well-known and much loved classic tiger picture book. There’s a Tiger on the Train follows a father and son as they go on a train journey to the seaside and highlights the very different ways the two of them experience this outing. Dad is so engrossed in his phone that he misses all the fun on the way so there is relevance and a message conveyed here but thankfully there is a happy and fulfilling ending.

This is an enjoyable book to read aloud with repetition and a rhythm that matches the sound of the steam journey’s travel. Dulak’s text bounces along with touches of humour too. Rebecca Cobb has a distinctive illustrative style which captures and conveys both the excitement of the small boy, the chaos of the journey and the father’s distance from it all. The busy pictures of the hippos, crocodiles, piglets and pugs who join the tiger, the boy and his father are perfect for talking about with a young child. Along with fun this is also a celebration of the imagination and the importance of the parental bond with their child. A charming book full of joy, humour and family. Published by Faber Children’s Books on 1st February. Thank you to the publishers and Simi Toor for my review copy.

The O.D.D. Squad: Rise of Invisidog by Stuart Heritage illustrated by Vincent Batignole

The first in an action packed series featuring an unlikely trio of superheroes, or maybe that should read ‘would be superheroes’ this is utterly bonkers but with bags of appeal to younger readers. A clever blend of graphic novel and early chapter book this will probably appeal to fans of Bunny vs Monkey and could well convert reluctant readers.

Invisidog is determined to clean up the streets of Justice City and wipe out crime. He is brave, good and kind and he is stalking the streets to stop evil villains with the help of his superpower. However his superpower is that he is invisible which turns out is not quite as useful as he hoped it would be. The deadly and dangerous Trouble Gang led by Captain Bad aided by his sidekick Daniel are under surveillance by Invisidog but unfortunately as they can’t see him his attempts to foil their dastardly plans are unsuccessful. The dog decides he must team up with super hero Quack Attack and genius Detective Octopus to finally defeat Captain Bad. What could possibly go wrong?

Stuart Heritage’s narrative style with many asides and explanations to his readers adds to the fun and this would be a joy for an adult to read aloud either at home or in school, particularly if they enjoy “doing the voices”! The visual impact of Vincent Batignole’s vibrant illustrations, the varying typeface and the overall presentation give this additional appeal. Batignole has a background in comics and has studied cinema history and this is apparent in his style. I have a feeling the O.D.D. Squad will be a hit with many children so it is good news that the second adventure is due out later this year. Published by Puffin on 18th January. Thank you to Liz Skelly for my review copy.

How Does A Lighthouse Work? by Roman Belyaev

The hardback edition of this appealing information book published in 2018 won the STEAM Children’s Book Award in that year and was also nominated for the 2019 Kate Greenaway Medal. This new paperback published by B Small Publishing on 1st February brings the book to a new audience and would be a valuable addition to both school and home bookshelves.

How Does a Lighthouse Work? provides a fascinating insight into both the science and the history of lighthouses around the world as the reader accompanies a group of school children as they ask questions such as What are the most unusual lighthouses in the world? When and where did lighthouses first appear? and How are lighthouses built? Each of these questions and others have a double page spread devoted to them and the answers are interesting, informative and clear alongside some excellent illustrations in a slightly retro style. We learn how they have helped sailors to navigate dangerous seas for hundreds of years, how modern technology has changed how they work and how they still provide a vital service to those at sea. As an adult I learned a great deal from this well presented book and it is an absorbing read as well as being a useful source of information. Although slightly different in that there is no contents page or index the style ensures that this book is a valuable tool to share both in school and at home and curious children will lap this up. The accompanying publicity material suggests a suitability of age 5+ however I think children quite a lot older will enjoy this book too. Highly recommended. Thank you to Naomi Weeks of B Small for my review copy.

Shadowhall Academy: Whispering Walls by Phil Hickes

The first in a spooky new series by Phil Hickes, the author of the popular Aveline series, Whispering Walls introduces readers to the mysteries of Shadowhall Academy with its noises in the night, ghostly sightings and troubled history. A brilliant blend of Malory Towers and Point Horror this is a treat for young lovers of creepy mysteries.

Lilian Jones is nervous about starting at boarding school and leaving her family behind. Shadowhall Academy is creepy, cold and large and Lilian worries about finding her way around and making new friends. When the other girls in her dormitory tell her the school is haunted she thinks they’re just trying to scare the new girl. But then strange things start happening, first tapping and whispers in the walls at night then tales of missing students and strange figures in the woods. Lilian discovers that not only are the school ghost stories true, but her new friends could be in danger. So she sets out to uncover the secrets of Shadowhall Academy.

Phil Hickes takes all the familiar tropes of boarding school stories, cold dormitories, cross country runs, miserable school food and comforting biscuit feasts and adds a mystery that develops from intriguing, to spooky to utterly scary. The plot romps along and this will keep young readers well and truly hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed this, Lilian is a likeable protagonist and the developing friendship between the very different characters of the four girls is well drawn. Set in the 1980s Hickes also neatly gets round the issue of the internet and mobile phones allowing the friends to try to solve the mystery themselves. And there’s a helpful school librarian! I particularly liked that aspect. A mention too of the great cover by Keith Robinson which captures the mood of the story well. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series. Published by Usborne on 1st February. Thank you to the publishers and Jessica Feichtlbauer for my proof copy.

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Reading Matters – Children’s Book News

Posted on January 6, 2024 by alibrarylady

Welcome to the first Reading Matters newsletter of 2024 and I hope that everyone had a happy and healthy Christmas holiday. This round up includes both a look back at the best of 2023 and a preview of some books we can look forward to at the start of this new year. There are events and resources too so why not settle down and explore.

What I’m reading…

Since my last round up my reading has been affected by both Christmas preparations and Covid which arrived in our house on Christmas Eve and is still with us as we start 2024. However books have been a welcome escape and I have several gems (that autocorrected to germs which is appropriate!) that I would like to share with you. My December reading round up included a couple of titles that had languished on my shelves for far too long and two new books published by Everything With Words. All of them were enjoyable reads. Moving on to 2024 one of my favourite publishers, Barrington Stoke, have several new books coming out at the moment and I reviewed three this week that have got the year off to a happy start. All three are books I would recommend.

My Christmas presents included the latest Richard Osman, The Last Devil to Die, and despite the body count this has been just what I needed. It may have been induced by my overuse of Lemsip and the resulting brain fog but I even found myself trying out the online quiz shared by Richard Osman to see which character I’m most like. It turns out I am 53% Joyce with “a little bit of Elizabeth” and “hardly any Ron at all”. Perhaps I need a dash more Elizabeth. Sorry, this will only make sense if you’ve read the books! Returning to children’s books I have just started reading Susan Cooper’s Over Sea, Under Stone prompted by Ben Harris’s online read along. It is lovely to discover a classic that I had missed.

News, articles and resources….

‘A hero to millions’: Benjamin Zephaniah remembered by Michael Rosen, Kae Tempest and more – just days after my last newsletter the awful news of Benjamin Zephaniah’s death was announced and it prompted a wave of tributes to this much loved poet. This article by just some of his fellow writers shows why he was so respected and admired.

The best children’s and YA books of 2023 – From a bear who stockpiles dreams to a sisterhood of knights via a tiger sea captain, the Guardian’s children’s book critics pick their favourite titles for children and young adults. There are some gorgeous picture books included and I was delighted to see some of my personal favourites included in the chapter book selection and one of my many resolutions is to try to broaden my reading in the teen and YA category so this is helpful.

Books For Topics Best Children’s Books of the Year 2023 – the community of primary teachers, TAs, librarians, authors and children’s book lovers were asked to vote for their favourite children’s books published in 2023 and the winners were announced last week. There categories include, Best Classroom Read Aloud, Children’s Favourite and Best Curriculum Support in four different age groups.

Just Imagine Favourite Reads of 2023 - Nikki Gamble and Jo Bowers of Just Imagine asked their review panel to pick their most enjoyable read of the year. And you can find out which books they selected in the video linked above. It is a good idea to visit https://justimagine.co.uk/childrens-books-reviews/ for trusted reviews throughout the year.


CLPE Staff Picks for 2023 – CLPE staff and their children recommend their best children’s books in 2023. A really lovely selection including poetry, picture books and first chapter books.

The Reader Teacher January 2023 Books I’m Most Excited About – now looking ahead, Scott Evans previews some of the books for children due to be published this month in his Coming Soon video and the year is getting off to a cracking start!

The Literacy Year– this online calendar of events created by Sian of The Literacy Hive is invaluable. I’ve linked to the calendar home page above where you can search by month, event type or age. It is definitely worth bookmarking the site and signing up for the newsletter to keep up to date.

6 brilliant bookish New Year’s Resolutions to try in 2024 – If you’re looking for ways to start a fresh chapter in 2024, check out Book Trust’s great suggestions of book-themed New Year’s resolutions to try. There are some ideas here that families may enjoy together.

Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels – A determined rodent’s search for nuts, a guide to Terry Pratchett’s witches and moving stories by adoptee authors are among Imogen Russell Williams’ latest selection for The Guardian.

Tom Palmer’s Holocaust Day Memorial Day Resources – Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on Saturday 27th January and award winning author Tom Palmer has once again collaborated with the Literacy Trust and created a new story based on the lives of Holocaust survivor sister and brother, Mala Tribich MBE & the Late Sir Ben Helfgott. The development of the accompanying resources are in the final stage and will be a available soon. Mala Tribich will be joining Tom in an online Q&A event for schools in the run up to Holocaust Memorial Day on Friday 26 January 2024 09:30 to 10:15 to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. You can find out more about the event, how schools can get involved in the Q&A and sign up for reminders for the event on Tom’s excellent and helpful website linked above.

How a Bay Area librarian became an Instagram star – if you are not already following wonderful Solano County librarian Mychal Threets on Instagram or Twitter please do have a look now. His videos of interactions with some of his library users are a total joy. He believes that libraries are for everyone and his delight in sharing everyday happenings of the book related variety is infectious. Guaranteed to make book lovers smile.

The National Literacy Trust: National Reading Champions Quiz – Do you have students aged 10 to 14 who love reading and enjoy sharing their knowledge with friends? Or, perhaps you have students who like being part of a team and having fun? The National Reading Champions Quiz provides a fantastic opportunity for students to enjoy a book quiz with their peers and compete with other schools in their region. The heats will run from 22 February to 25 March. 25 teams are able to sign up and compete in each regional heat. Winning teams from each of the 22 regions will go forward to a star-studded, national final on Wednesday 5 June 2024 held in central London, where one team will be crowned National Reading Champions 2024. Find out how your school can get involved on the Literacy Trust website above.

We Wonder: Journey into Space Reading Challenge – another great National Literacy Trust initiative. They will launch their STEM reading challenge, We Wonder: Journey into Space on 16th January 2024. This is aimed at children aged 7 to 14 who will be encouraged to design their own rocket and journey into space. The challenge aims to promote reading for pleasure, reading diversely and engaging with non-fiction. There will be teacher resources available and a competition for the children. Find out all about it and register your interest to take part.

Register for the 2024 Yoto Carnegies Shadowing Scheme – a reminder that you have until 8th February to register for the shadowing scheme linked to these prestigious awards. You need to register for your group to submit their reviews and artwork inspired by the shortlisted books and to vote for their favourite books to win the Shadowers’ Choice Awards. Shadowing can take place in any location in the world through access to our online resources and there is also a publicity pack available.

Free virtual author events with ReadingZone Live – ReadingZone Live events are aimed at Primary and Secondary groups. You can find the full programme for 2024’s online Author Events via the link above. Each Zoom event includes a half hour author event, followed by an author Q&A via Chat, giving students the opportunity to put their questions to the author. Discounted copies of each author’s books are made available. Highlights this term include Liz Flanagan and Sarah Crossan.

Julia Donaldson and Bookspace join the Great School Libraries Campaign – Former Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson has thrown her support behind Great School Libraries campaign, by recording a film explaining why parents should support the this important initiative. BookSpace, the library furniture and design company, have joined as the headline sponsor. Do please support this campaign and share the video, if families join with school librarians and their supporters it could make a big difference

KM Peyton obituary – Kathleen Peyton, who has died aged 94, was a prolific writer for children under the pseudonym KM Peyton. She was best known for the highly regarded and popular Flambards series, which was adapted for television in 1978.

National Storytelling Week 2024: ideas and classroom activities for storytelling – National Storytelling Week takes place at the end of January every year and is a celebration of the power of sharing stories. Join the National Literacy Trust between 27 January and 4 February 2024 to dream up brilliant new worlds. From picture books to video games, there’s something to spark every child’s interest. There are flexible storytelling activities – designed for learners across a wide age range covering Early years, KS1, KS2 and KS3.

Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye recently…

Great Graphic Novels! – Erin Hamilton has reviewed a selection of new graphic novels on her blog and there is something here for a wide range of tastes. Thank you, Erin.

You Are 25% Banana by Susie Brooks Illustrated by Josy Bloggs – The title alone is one that encourages me to read this but if you are looking for non-fiction for the Early Years and Infant age group this definitely sounds like a book that you should explore. Roy James in his review for Just Imagine explains how the author and illustrator make a complicated subject interesting to the youngest readers.

City of Spies By Iszi Lawrence – historical fiction always tempts me and this review by Andrea Reece for Love Reading 4 Kids has highlighted an author who is new to me. The story is set in the American Revolution and Andrea says that “Readers will finish the book knowing much more about this fascinating and important period of our history than they did before and eager for more adventures starring Aiden.”

That’s all for this month’s round up and I do realise that there will be things I have missed but I hope this selection will provide a taste and be helpful to you too. Happy reading and see you next month.

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New Children’s Books From Barrington Stoke

Posted on January 3, 2024 by alibrarylady

Regular readers will know how highly I rate the publishers Barrington Stoke for all they do to encourage reading for pleasure for every single child. These three new books written by acclaimed authors published this week are a wonderful example of this publisher’s growing success and I would recommend each of them.

Sidney and Carrie Have a Party by Lisa Thompson illustrated by Jess Rose

The Little Gems series by Barrington Stoke are perfectly put together for younger readers aged 5+ being presented in a chunky format with a well designed layout. They are ideal for new readers just gaining confidence. This is the third of the stories featuring Sidney and Carrie and is both charming and wise. Lisa Thompson’s books have been featured in Empathy Lab’s Read for Empathy Collections in the past and her approach to storytelling encourages understanding and empathetic responses to everyday problems in her readers of all ages.

In this story best friends Sidney and Carrie are looking forward to their birthdays and as they celebrate them during the same week their parents suggest a joint party. This idea is met with delight by the two children until they gradually realise that they want different things from the party. From the invitations to entertainment to the cake they cannot agree on anything. This dilemma is testing their friendship until a lesson in the classroom encourages them to try a different approach. The delightful illustrations by Jess Rose help to convey the emotions felt by Sidney and Carrie and this gentle story demonstrates the importance of compromise and negotiation in friendships. A really thoughtful and kind story that will engage young readers incorporating everyday situations they will recognise.

Marvin and the Book of Magic by Jenny Pearson illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff

Jenny Pearson has a knack of blending a great sense of fun with a thoughtful understanding of children, their lives and their worries in every book she writes. Marvin and the Book of Magic, her second book for Barrington Stoke, is a treat for fans of funny stories however it is threaded through with wise kindness too. The illustrations by Aleksei Bitskoff, who also illustrated Bertie and the Alien Chicken, bring Jenny’s characters to life with great humour and add to the fun.

Marvin’s grandad once told him that he had the gift of magic but after the humiliating events of his attempts on a national TV show involving a badly behaved squirrel Marvin has decided that being a magician is not for him. With his dreams in tatters he feels that he has let his late grandad down and the ridicule he receives from a couple of school bullies increases this feeling for poor Marvin. Luckily he has the support of his kind Dad and his enthusiastic best friend Asha, who is most definitely a glass half full type of person to help him recover. However when he visits a rather special shop he becomes the owner of a mysterious book and encouraged by Asha he is tempted to have one more try. Will his comeback at the school talent show be a success? The carefully structured plot demonstrates how magic can be found in friendships too and perhaps also in self belief and perseverance. This is an absolute delight of a story, with pitch perfect dialogue between the two children and some extremely funny moments but I particularly like its gentle and kind message to its young readers. Jenny Pearson has worked her magic yet again. Suitable for readers of about 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Northern Soul by Phil Earle

Award winning author Phil Earle has in the last couple of years gained a new fan base due to his excellent historical fiction so for those readers this hilarious but warm and wise story of first love may be a bit of a surprise. I also think that it may encourage many young people who think books are not for them to read for pleasure. Northern Soul is laugh out loud funny but balanced with understanding and experience making it a perfect read for its intended audience.

Fourteen year old Marv loves football and hanging out with his best mate Jimmy. But then one day new girl Carly walks into his classroom and into his life and everything changes. On the same day Marv also discovers the music of Otis Redding thanks to his single parent Dad who owns a local record shop and has what Marv considers extremely dodgy taste in footwear. (I will not enter the crocs debate online!) Although Marv fears that Carly is out of his league he really wants to win her over and make a good impression. When the ghost of Otis Redding appears in his bedroom and offers to help Marv initially is delighted. However this Otis, with a Yorkshire accent and a craving for fast food, may not be quite the help that Marv expected. The ensuing attempts to woo Carly “aided” by Otis are both hilarious and cringe making in equal measure.

Phil Earle has said that “there’s a fair bit of me in Marv” and that I think is what makes this work so brilliantly. The dialogue, the relationships and the situations are given an authenticity that ensure Northern Soul will resonate with many. Readers will empathise easily with Marv as he lurches from one embarrassing crisis to the next and even though I’m far from the intended readership I loved both the story and Marv himself. There is a need for fiction such as this which is both funny and relatable for teen readers, especially boys. Barrington Stoke and Phil Earle make a great team so let’s hope there is more of this to come. Suitable for readers aged 11+ and this accessible book is edited to a reading age of 8.

Thank you to Poppy McLean and Barrington Stoke for providing my review copies.

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