Tuesday 17 December 2019

Picture This: Santa's High-Tech Christmas


Christmas Eve deliveries with a twist!

In Santa's High-Tech Christmas, Santa uses his jet pack and techno pad to keep on top of all his deliveries, whizzing from one house to the next in record time. But when Santa drops his tech pad and the screen turns black, he needs help if he's going to get across the world on time. 

This was a fun Christmas story, with a technology twist: when Santa struggles to get to grips with his new tech, he enlists the help of a little girl called Jasmin. The art work was really sweet and the rhyming couplets made us laugh (especially at the end).


Santa's High-Tech Christmas is written by Mike Dumbleton and illustrated by Angela Perrini

Friday 13 December 2019

Picture This: The Night Before Christmas

This is a mini, picture based review for a classic tale with lovely new artwork from Helene Magisson that really compliments the story. I loved the soft, muted colour scheme and the sweet illustrations. We will definitely be reading this on Christmas Eve. Thank you New Frontier Publishing for sending me a copy.




The Night Before Christmas is written by Clement Clarke Moore and illustrated by Helene Magisson

Thursday 12 December 2019

Picture This: Mr Darcy and the Christmas Pudding


I'm almost at the end of the audiobook version of Pride and Prejudice, so this funny picture book was perfectly timed. Thank you New Frontier Publishing for sending me a copy!

Darcy, Lizzie and a host of other favourites are reimagined as farmyard animals, preparing for Christmas by making the mixture for a Christmas pudding. 

This story is about including everyone at Christmas - even Mr Collins the cat, who tries to eat Maria the mouse at the start of the story! - and coming together to celebrate and spend time together. 

It was very sweet and I really enjoyed reading it to my two-year-old. I also learnt about 'Stir-up Sunday', which I hadn't come across before.

It looks like this is part of a series, with two other Mr Darcy books. On the strength of this, I would love to read the first two!


Mr Darcy and the Christmas Pudding is written by Alex Field and illustrated by Peter Garnavas

Tuesday 3 December 2019

Picture This: Santa's Tight Squeeze


I'm really excited to have five lovely Christmas stories to review this month from New Frontier Publishing. First up is Santa's Tight Squeeze.

As Santa travels across the world, the children he visits generously leave out plenty of snacks and treats to help him on his way. But the more Santa eats, the harder he finds it to squeeze down chimneys and through windows! If he's going to make it round the world in time, he's going to need a plan.

This was a sweet, funny picture book about sharing, which features some lovely drawings from famous landmarks around the world. My toddler really enjoyed the pictures of Santa's reindeer eating treats. This is definitely a story we will read again and again.


Santa's tight squeeze is written by Alex Field and illustrated by Karen Erasmus

Friday 29 November 2019

Early Readers: The Princess in Black


While I love Biff, Chip and Kipper as much as every other parent forced to read about them on a nightly basis, it's always refreshing to find a new story that my five year old can help me read. 

We read the Princess in Black together, reading a few lines each and it was a really good level for my early reader. 

The story itself was fun and entertaining, and the bright, colourful artwork ensured her interest was maintained throughout. I picked this up from the library for a half term bedtime story, but we ended up reading it at multiple times a day because it was so enjoyable. 

I was excited to learn that this is the first in the series, and will definitely be getting her some of the other titles for more adventures with the Princess in Black (and the Goat Avenger)!


Thursday 28 November 2019

Picture This: Scruffle-Nut


Scruffle-Nut follows Olivia on a trip to the park with her Nanny Clementine, where she comes across a squirrel who doesn't fit in with the others, as they leave him out and steal his food. Olivia knows what it is like to be an outsider, so she is determined to help Scruffle-Nut. Their meeting is brief, but the episode stays with Oliva throughout her life.

The gentle, lyrical writing and soft, muted colour scheme make Scruffle-Nut a soothing story for the end of the day. It has a lovely, wintery feel so is great for reading under a blanket on a cold day.


Scruffle-Nut is written by Corinne Fenton and illustrated by Owen Swan

Tuesday 26 November 2019

Picture This: Little Spiral


Little Spiral is a soothing, gentle story about a snail moving through a forest, where he encounters a host of woodland creatures, friend and foe. 

Patrick Shirvington's illustrations are beautiful; with detailed depictions of each of the animals Little Spiral encounters. This a great story for learning about the natural world.

The writing is soft and soothing, with lots of sibilance and alliteration, making this a perfect bedtime story for sleepy toddlers.


Little Spiral is written by Pat Simmons and illustrated by Patrick Shirvington 

Thursday 21 November 2019

Picture This: Twelve Days of Kindness


Twelve Days of Kindness is the story of Nabila and Holly, two friends on a mission to make their entire class kinder and more welcoming. 

When Nabila starts school, she eats lunch alone and is left out of football practice. When she makes friends with Holly, the girls devise a plan to help the rest of their class understand that a good team is kind and accepting of others: the twelve days of kindness. 

Nabila and Holly's 12 step plan would work well in a classroom or youth group - I plan on taking this story along to Rainbows to see what the girls think - as they are a great way to prompt discussions about being a good friend, or to encourage children to come up with their own 'rules' for being kind. 

The bright, cheerful artwork is another great feature of this story.

Thank you so much New Frontier Publishing for sending me a copy to review!


Twelve Days of Kindness is written by Cori Brooke and illustrated by Fiona Burrows

Wednesday 20 November 2019

Diary of a Confused Feminist by Kate Weston


Kat wants to do GOOD FEMINISM, although she's not always sure what that means. She also wants to be a writer, get together with Hot Josh (is this a feminist ambition?), win at her coursework and not make a TOTAL EMBARRASSMENT of herself at all times.
But the path to true feminism is filled with mortifying incidents and when everything at school starts to get a bit too much, Kat knows she's lost her way, and the only way forward is to ask for help . . . {goodreads summary}

I cried with laughter, I cried with sorrow. If I had a time machine, I'd definitely send a copy of this back to my teenage self. Here are three reasons I loved Diary of a Confused Feminist (and think everyone should pre-order it now!)



1) It's laugh out loud funny. I made the mistake of reading it while sitting by my toddler, waiting for him to fall asleep, and had to stop because I was in danger of waking him up even more; I just couldn't stop giggling!


2) It portrays mental health in a very realistic way. I wish I could have read this book as a teenager, because I know how much I would have related to Kat's internal monologue (and I still did in so many ways). This is a brilliant book for teenagers who have ever experienced anxiety, or even ones who haven't and want an insight into what it is like. The coping strategies in the book are ones readers can take on board and I liked the realistic approach to treatment - NHS therapy has a huge waiting list and I know plenty of teenagers who have never managed to start CBT because of waiting times.



3) I loved the way friendship was presented in this story. Kat, Millie and Sam are a brilliant, hilarious trio who felt like real teenagers. I really enjoyed their chat names and would love to be part of their group.



I've got to three points without even mentioning the brilliant feminist messages in this story, or the tips for being a good feminist at the end. At a time when teenage girls are still often wary to refer to themselves as feminists (2 years ago, I listened to a five minute GCSE speaking exam about women's equality where the word wasn't used once!) I think this novel is important and necessary.

Thank you so much BKMRK for letting me review a copy of Diary of a Confused Feminist through Netgalley.

Tuesday 19 November 2019

Picture This: Pip Finds a Home


Pip Finds a Home follows Pip as he tries to fit in with various groups of penguins. He can jump like a macaroni penguin, but he doesn't have a feathered head, and he can swim like a gentoo penguin, but his beak is the wrong colour. All of the penguins Pip meets are friendly and welcoming, but none are quite like him - until another great auk appears and explains that Pip belongs in the Northern Hemisphere instead of the South. 

This story was an unexpected, lovely read. I had never heard of a great auk before, so didn't realise what Pip was until it is explained at the end. It was nice to read a story about fitting in that didn't feature the main character being excluded by groups who aren't quite like him. 

I also loved the fact files at the back of the book, which were really informative and complimented the great facts found elsewhere in the book. 

The art work in this story is beautiful - I would happily buy a picture of Topouzoglou's penguins for my children's walls, they really are lovely.

Thank you so much New Frontier Publishing for sending me a copy to review!


Pip Find a Home is written and illustrated by Elena Topouzoglou

Thursday 14 November 2019

Picture This: Friends Don't Like Roaring


As soon as this book arrived, I knew it was going to be popular with my dinosaur mad two-year-old (is there such a thing as a two-year-old who isn't dinosaur mad?) Thank you so much Little Steps Publishing for sending us a copy to review. 

Friends Don't Like Roaring follows Lap, the little dinosaur, on a trip to the park. He is desperate to play with the other dinosaurs he meets, but quickly discovers that roaring at them isn't the best way to make friends! With some gentle encouragement from his mother to "use his words" Lap tries again, this time with much more success. 

Friend's Don't Like Roaring introduces the concept of approaching others and making friends in a way that all young children will be able to relate to. It's a sweet story that is clear and easy to follow, and is fun to read aloud (lots of roaring required!)

The art work is also lovely: bold, bright and friendly, my two-year-old was immediately drawn to it.


Friends Don't Like Roaring is written by Antje Taylor and illustrated by Matt Howorth

Tuesday 12 November 2019

Picture This: The Caveman Next Door


The Caveman Next Door is a fun story about fitting in and embracing your differences.

Penny's new neighbour is a caveman. He's a bit confused about how life works in Penny's street, so Penny takes him on a tour of her town to help him learn how to fit in. After a disastrous trip to the library and a mishap at the park, Penny decides it might be safer to take Ogg the caveman to school for show and tell. Ogg struggles to follow the rules at school, but his knowledge of the natural world makes him a surprising hit with Penny's headteacher, with unexpected results.

We really enjoyed reading this story. It's unusual premise meant there was lots of humour and it was a lot of fun to read aloud. My two-year-old really enjoyed following Ogg's adventures and we loved the bright, colourful artwork. There's so much to look at on every page.

Thank you so much New Frontier Publishing for sending me a copy to review!

 

The Caveman Next Door is written and illustrated by Tom Tinn-Disbury


Thursday 7 November 2019

Picture This: Going to the Volcano


I picked up Going to the Volcano from my local library after being drawn to the bright, cheerful artwork on the front cover. My five-year-old loves making vinegar volcanos, so I would confident she would find this as exciting as the space stories I also picked up. 

Going to the Volcano is a fun, rhyming story about a journey to a volcano with a colourful collection of characters. When they get there, their trip doesn't quite go as expected!

Ordóñez's artwork is distinctive and amusing, and I will definitely be on the lookout for other stories illustrated by him - they made this story a treat to read!

Every time we have read this book so far (and we've read it quite a few times already!) we have spotted something else in the artwork. The illustrations are so clever and busy, and you can read this story on repeat, following a different character's progress each time. 

The story itself is also very funny - the front cover promises readers it's "so funny you'll erupt with laughter" and this was definitely true in our house. 


Going to the Volcano is written by Andy Stanton and illustrated by Miguel Ordóñez

Tuesday 5 November 2019

Picture This: Somebody Swallowed Stanley


I spotted Somebody Swallowed Stanley on twitter a little while ago and knew we would love it.

When Stanley sweeps into the sea the other creatures aren't sure what to make of his - is he a jellyfish, or something else? Whatever he is, he looks tasty, and in no time at all the other creatures are trying to take a bite. But who has swallowed Stanley? And what damage will trying to eat a plastic bag do? 

This story is a clever, moving way to explore the danger of plastic pollution in the ocean. It features some lovely artwork and the rhyming scheme makes it fun to read aloud. The questions about 'who swallowed Stanley?' have prompted an enthusiastic response every time I've read this so far too.

We took part in the Future Girl Acts Plastic Challenge at Rainbows last month, and I read 'Somebody Swallowed Stanley' to the girls to help explain the problem of plastic pollution. The story fitted in brilliantly with our theme, and inspired lots of jellyfish and turtle making during our activity.


Somebody Swallowed Stanley is written by Sarah Roberts and illustrated by Hannah Peck

Thursday 31 October 2019

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

Tuesday 29 October 2019

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

Thursday 24 October 2019

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

Wednesday 23 October 2019

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. 

Tuesday 22 October 2019

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. 


Friday 18 October 2019

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!

Thursday 17 October 2019

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

Friday 11 October 2019

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.

Thursday 10 October 2019

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. 

Wednesday 9 October 2019

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. 

Tuesday 8 October 2019

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

Thursday 3 October 2019

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

Tuesday 1 October 2019

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 

Thursday 26 September 2019

Picture This: Little Puggle's Song


Thank you New Frontier Publishing for our gifted copy of this lovely picture book. 

Little Puggle's Song is the story of an echidna called Puggle who dreams of joining in with the chorus of animal voices he hears around him, but is unable to make a sound. Puggle is a warm, sympathetic character who it is easy to root for. 

Helene Magisson's illustrations are incredibly sweet and I especially loved all the reds and pinks in the flowers. 

Little Puggle's Song reminded me of Giraffes Can't Dance and would work well in nursery/school as a way of teaching children about fitting in and celebrating their own unique talents. 



Little Puggle's Adventure is written by Vikki Conley and illustrated by Helene Magisson