Picture This: Ruby's Worry

Ruby's Worry follows a happy girl called Ruby, who develops a worry which grows and grows no matter how much she tries to ignore it, until it takes over her whole life. 

Anxiety is a difficult subject to talk about with young children - it's so big and abstract that it can be hard from them to understand, beyond the physical symptoms which they can easily mistake for being unwell. Ruby's Worry is a clever, refreshing approach to dealing with the worries that make us anxious, told with bright, engaging art work in a way that even young children will understand. 

This is a story I could see working really well at my Rainbows group, so I'm sure I will be borrowing it from the library again when a meeting calls for it - especially as there are activity pages to go with it on the Bloomsbury website. 

Ruby's Worry is written and illustrated by Tom Percival

Picture This: Knock Knock Alien

We already have a few other stories illustrated by Nick East, and as I said in my review of Look Up - we love a book about space! - so I was immediately drawn to this in the library stacks. 

Knock Knock Alien is a slightly different take on a typical counting story, as it isn't restricted by a ridged counting structure and is a bit freer in form. We love the 'Ten Little...' books, but it was really refreshing to read a counting story that wasn't the same on every page. 

The artwork was fun, there's plenty to look at on each page - I had to wait after I'd finished the words so that each page could be properly examined and commented on by my two-year-old before I turned over to the next. 

The alien names are really fun to read aloud, and there's plenty of onomatopoeia too, which always works so well in picture books. 

We've only had this book for two days, but have already read in a dozen times. It's a huge hit and I think we'll be reading it again and again before it goes back to the library. 

Knock Knock Alien is written by Caryl Hart and illustrated by Nick East

Picture This: Look Up

My five year old is going to be an astronaut. I'm pretty certain I've mentioned this already on the blog, but she reminds me about it at least five times a day, so I thought I would pass the message on again to you too. Because of this, I am always on the look out for space-themed stories, especially ones about aspiring astronauts. 

I have seen Look Up going around twitter for a few months and knew she would really enjoy it, so I was very excited when I spotted it in the library! We had recently read the Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls entry for Mae Jemison, so it was a great crossover to find a reference to her in Look Up. 

Look Up follows aspiring astronaut, Rocket, as she prepares to watch an exciting meteor shower. As Rocket walks through the town with her older brother, she tells everyone she encounters about the upcoming event (my physics teacher husband particularly enjoyed all of the scientific facts included along the way). The only person she can't make excited enough to look up into space is her older brother, whose gaze is always glued to his phone. 

Look Up is as much a story about sibling relationships as it is about space, and I'm sure Rocket's predicament is one a lot of young children will find all too familiar. This was a superb story and one we will definitely borrow again. 

Look Up is written by Nathan Bryon and illustrated by Dapo Adeola

Viper by Bex Hogan

Seventeen-year-old Marianne is fated to one day become the Viper, defender of the Twelve Isles.

But the reigning Viper stands in her way. Corrupt and merciless, he prowls the seas in his warship, killing with impunity, leaving only pain and suffering in his wake.

He's the most dangerous man on the ocean . . . and he is Marianne's father.

She was born to protect the islands. But can she fight for them if it means losing her family, her home, the boy she loves - and perhaps even her life? {goodreads summary}

Okay, confession time - I wanted to read Viper for ages (I follow Bex Hogan on twitter and she's so lovely, and everyone kept talking about how brilliant this book is) but I kept putting it off. Why? Because I have a phobia of snakes, and I was worried reading this would give me nightmares, based on the title and cover (I'm currently avoiding Ninth House for the same reason - if someone wants to let me know in the comments if it's safe to read, I would really appreciate it!). Fortunately, I can now confirm that there are no real snakes in the book, it's just the name used for the pirates. So now I feel a little bit silly for putting it off for so long - especially as it was such an exciting story!

Viper follows Marianne, a pirate and trainee-assassin with a secret - she'd rather heal people than cause them pain. When her reluctance to kill becomes too obvious to ignore, Marianne is forced to choose between her father and her conscience. She goes on the run, and discovers that her father has been hiding secrets of his own. He is a dangerous man who needs to be stopped, and Marianne is the only person with the skills to do so.

With pirates, assassins and a healthy dose of magic (and magical monsters!) Viper has a bit of everything. Here are three reasons I loved it:

1) Magical monsters. Did I mention those yet? I don't really think I need to say anything more, but I do hope there's more from them in book two!

2) Marianne was a brilliant character who has clear goals and motivations. She thinks carefully about the decisions she makes and is constantly considering the repercussions of her actions; she isn't violent just for the sake of it. Although there are plenty of awesome, gory action scenes, they're never included at the expense of character development - they usually further it. 

3) The world building is rich and exciting. The twelve isles, with their complicated history and differing characteristics, served as a great location in this action-packed story, and I really enjoyed Hogan's vivid descriptions of the ones we have visited so far.

There is also an interesting, rather different take on a love triangle, which I can't wait to see more of in book two. 

Picture This: Goodnight Starry

Thank you Little Steps Publishing for sending us this space-themed bedtime story. It has been a great addition to our growing collection of space/physics based picture books. 

Goodnight Stary combines a gentle, soothing rhyming story with facts about the planets and a touch of humour, as we say goodnight to each of the planets (and Pluto) in turn. 

This was a really lovely story. I particularly liked the little signs that showed how far away Earth is from each of the planets. They are one of a few little touches in this book that will help young readers to learn about the solar system, without feeling like they are being 'taught'. 

The artwork is really striking - some of the planets cleverly resemble the Roman gods they are names after and all retain distinguishing features that will help readers to learn about them. 

The Conspiracy of Magic by Harriet Whitehorn

In a world where magic is so powerful it has been outlawed, Cass is a rare creature ­– an obtuse, someone who is unaffected by magic. But what has always felt like a handicap becomes a strength when sorcerers and magicians begin to perform magical deceptions with malicious intent. The Queen of Minaris is in grave danger and it’s up to Cass to protect her. But how can Cass defeat the sinister magician behind it all with no powers herself? {goodreads summary}

I started The Conspiracy of Magic within days of finishing The Company of Eight - neglecting the other novels I was part way through to do so. I couldn't wait to return to Cass's world of magic and sword fighting. 

In The Conspiracy of Magic, Cass leaves behind the islands of The Company of Eight, travelling North of Minaris to visit foreign lands on a diplomatic mission with Queen Arden. When magical foes keep attacking their convoy, Cass is the only one able to see through the magic's deception, but Cass's status as an obtuse may prove more crucial to what is going on than she realises. 

As with The Company of Eight, the cover and map work are beautiful and I kept flicking back as I progressed through the story to see exactly where we were (and to try and guess where the story was going next!)

Here are three reasons I loved The Conspiracy of Magic: 

1) The world building from the first novel is expanded on in interesting and exciting ways. I loved that there was an entirely new setting for this story, which was rich in history and had some interesting parallels with real-world wars and politics. Veraklia, with its post-war poverty, was depicted with sensitivity and nuance; despite Queen Vegna's role as the story antagonist, the people of Veraklia are overwhelmingly helpful and kind. 

2) The events of this novel take a heavy emotional toll on Cass. What she goes through affects her greatly, and it was nice to see this addressed in the text, rather than glossed over to move the story forward. 

3) The plot is really twisty and unexpected! There were plenty of moments where I felt like I knew what was going to happen next, or understood how the plot was progressing, only to have the narrative take a completely unexpected turn. 

Thank you Stripes Publishing for sending me a copy of this fantastic fantasy adventure. I can't wait to find out what Cass does next!

Picture This: Hey Awesome and Hey Warrior

Thank you so much Little Steps Publishing for sending me these two brilliant stories about anxiety! While they are aimed at children, I also found them really informative as an adult - I had never heard of the amygdala before, and these books explained what happens to your body when you're feeling anxious, and how best to cope with it, in a way that's clear and easy to understand. 

The message in these stories was really empowering, and perfect for a time when school children are facing more pressure and stress than ever before. Not only is the way these books describe and explain anxiety brilliant, but the steps they suggests for coping when you feel anxious were simple and effective - the sort of things you could do at home or in the classroom.

I especially liked the exercise in Hello Awesome for helping you to focus on the present moment, rather than unhelpful or out of control thoughts:

"Focus on what is happening around you. Name 5 things you can see; 4 things you can touch; 3 things you can hear; 2 things you can smell; 1 thing you can taste."

It's a simple, easy activity to centre yourself that even young children can do. I will definitely be trying it with my five year old next time she feels worried about something. 

Hey Awesome and Hey Warrior are written by Karen Young and illustrated by Norvile Davidonyte

The Unadjusteds by Marisa Noelle

Sixteen-year-old Silver Melody lives in a world where 80% of the population has modified their DNA. Known as the altereds, those people now possess enhancements like wings, tails, and increased strength or intelligence. Although Silver’s parents created the nanite pill used to deliver these genetic modifications, Silver is proud of her unadjusted state.

However, when the president declares all unadjusteds must take a nanite, Silver has no choice but to flee the city with her father and some friends to prevent the extinction of the unadjusteds.

With Silver’s mother in prison for treason, Silver’s father is the unadjusteds’ only hope at finding a cure. But time is running out as Silver’s father is captured by the president’s almost immortal army. Vicious hellhounds are on Silver’s trail, and her only chance to recover her father involves teaming up with a new group of unlikely friends before all humanity is lost. {goodreads summary}

Thank you so much Marisa Noelle for sending me a copy of this action-packed novel to review. I was excited from the moment I read the blurb and this story didn't disappoint for a moment. The (very believable) sci-fi elements of this dystopian narrative was superb.

In a world where 'normal' means being enhanced to super-human levels, unadjusted Silver has a hard time fitting in. Her life gets even tougher when nefarious President Bear changes the laws about remaining unadjusted, sending Silver on the run. But Silver is determined not to hide forever; with the help of allies she never expected to make, she resolves to go on the offensive to save her parents and end President Bear's reign of terror before there's nothing left to save.

Here are three things I loved about The Unadjusteds:

1) The romance and relationships in this story were really well done; believable and realistic, they drew you in, but never overshadowed the central, action-packed narrative. 

2) It's fast-paced and full of action. It reminded me of YA heavyweights like the Hunger Games and Divergent - it would make a superb film!

3) I really enjoyed thinking about the nanite technology, wondering what I might pick given the choice. I think a lot of the best YA books do this - give you a selection of clubs, houses or teams to leave you wondering which group you would like to be part of. The animal DNA nanites also fed really well into my topic for my MA last week, where we discussed connections between humans and animals in children's fiction - something The Unadjusteds dealt with in a very different way.

This is the second Noelle novel I have read this year (you can read my review of the Shadow Keepers here) and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

The Unadjusteds comes out on the 1st November. Want to find out which ability suits you best? You can take a quiz here.

Picture This: The Mystery of the Missing Cake

On a visit to the library over the summer, my husband and I independently picked out Claudia Boldt stories from opposite ends of the picture book section, despite not having heard of her before. There must have been something about the bold, quirky artwork on the covers, or the immediately engaging titles that drew each of us to these stories. We enjoyed both Melvin the Unluckiest Monkey in the World and The Mystery of the Missing Cake, but the Missing Cake was definitely the story we had the most requests for at bed time. 

Harold is a fox who likes cheese and mysteries. He doesn't like parties, or cake, so when an invitation to Donkey's birthday party arrives he is reluctant to attend. It's lucky for Donkey that he does, because when Donkey's cake vanishes and the party becomes a crumb-filled crime scene, Harold is the only guest without a motive, and with the skills to get to the bottom of a mystery in which everyone is under suspicion. 

My five and two year olds both loved this story, and I can see us borrowing it from the library again at some point soon. 

The Company of Eight by Harriet Whitehorn

When Ravellous's Circus Ship comes to Minaris, Cass is determined to audition despite her guardian Mrs Potts's disapproval. But when her chance is snatched away from her, Cass refuses to give up. She sets out to follow the Circus Ship and the journey leads her into dangers that challenge even her adventurous spirit. Will she succeed in following her dream, or is her destiny something altogether different? {goodreads summary}

I was so excited when The Company of Eight arrived (thank you Stripes for sending me a copy to review) - the cover is stunning and I knew from the blurb that this was a story I would love.

Orphan Cass dreams of following in her father's footsteps and becoming a famous acrobat, but when she misses her audition, she fears her dream is slipping through her fingers. In search of a new adventure, Cass set out for the mysterious Island of Women, but her journey there is anything but smooth. Along the way, Cass encounters charismatic lords,  fearsome pirates, and expert swordswomen - as well as a few invaluable friends. She also learns about the Company of Eight - a group of women tasked with keeping the Longest World safe. 

The Company of Eight was a joy to read, and here are three reasons I loved it:

1) The Company of Eight has a bit of everything: magicians, pirates, slavers, circus acts. There's so much going on, and it makes for an exciting story where each chapter brings something new to discover. 

2) The world building is clever and detailed, and I especially loved the maps, both at the start of the book and at the beginning of each chapter. They helped to centre you in the world and emphasised that this is an adventure story, with Cass going to far off places in the Longest World. I also really loved the place names, especially in Minaris (the Square of Disbelievers, the Quay of Thieves, the Mansion of Fortune). They're intriguing, but also easy to picture and understand, which will appeal younger readers. 

3) The relationships Cass forms on her journey are important and often unexpected. Old characters reappear in interesting new places, and characters who at first appear to be friends can prove the complete opposite.

I loved reading the Company of Eight and it feels as if there is so much of the Longest World, and Cass's role in it, still to explore, so I'm really looking forward to its sequel, A Conspiracy of Magic. 

Picture This: Engibear's Dream

Thank you Little Steps Publishing for sending us a copy of Engibear's Dream to review. It was a huge hit in our house (especially with my husband - who spent ages looking at the detail in all of the diagrams!)

Engibear's day is full of dreams - in fact, he has so many dreams and ideas that he doesn't have time to work on them all. So he decides to design and build a robot to help him get more done. Like any good engineer, he goes through multiple designs (and failures) until he finally creates the perfect robotic helper. 

My favourite thing about Engibear's Dream was that it teaches readers the importance of resilience: just because your first attempt at something goes wrong, doesn't mean that your idea isn't good, or that your dream isn't worth another go. Engibear is always improving and learning from his mistakes. He doesn't give up and always believes in himself, even if he has to keep going back to square one. I think this is such an important, positive message and it's great to see it in a picture book.  

The detail in this story is phenomenal, and made each page so exciting to read. The rhyming scheme was clever too, and ensured the words flowed. This is a story I can see us reading again and again.

Engibear's Dream is written by Andrew King and illustrated by Benjamin Johnston

Picture This: A Home for Luna

Thank you New Frontier Publishing for our gifted copy of this sweet story about new friends and finding where you belong.

When Luna the cat is washed up on an unknown beach, having fled from her previous home, she isn't sure what she will find. The penguins who inhabit the beach aren't sure what to make of her either.

After some close observation and some careful mimicry, Luna and the penguins strike up a tentative friendship which is further cemented when a fisherman tries to take Luna away.

We really enjoyed this heartwarming picture book and it's beautiful seascape illustrations, and I am sure it is a story we will read again and again.

A Home for Luna is written by Stef Gemmill and illustrated by Mel Armstrong

Picture This: Who's Afraid of the Quite Nice Wolf?

Thank you New Frontier Publishing for our gifted copy. We've had lots of fun reading about Wilfred, the quite nice wolf, who doesn't like scaring sheep or eating rabbits. 

When the rest of his wolf pack plan to attack the sheep, Wilfred needs to decide if he can ever be big or bad, and if following his pack is more important that his sense of right and wrong. 

With his friend Mildred on his side, and a flock of sheep who aren't going to go down without a fight, Wilfred is able to find his place, and learns that being "quite nice" isn't such a bad thing after all. 

We enjoyed Who's Afraid of the Quite Nice Wolf from our very first reading. It was really fun to read aloud, and my two year old went to bed still shouting the pep-talk Mildred gives to her fellow sheep before the wolf attack.

The art work was also very sweet and really complimented the story. My son particularly enjoyed the sheep's facial expressions when they were practicing being fearsome and bold.

Who's Afraid of the Quite Nice Wolf is written by Kitty Black and illustrated by Laura Wood