The Story of Babushka

This is the story of one very special babushka doll and her five bodies.

There was the outermost body, Antonia. She was pure beauty and everyone who saw her raved about her good looks. Beneath that body of beauty hid the second body, Loretta, who was richly adorned. She wore gold ornaments, and her robe was decorated with many different gems that glittered like the ocean on a sunny day. Hidden within the rich body was Paula the body that held all the talents. Whatever Paula did, she was sure to succeed. She knew how to work and always did so with joy and determination. Under the shell of the talented body was Viola, the body of wisdom. Viola knew a lot about the world and learned very quickly. She was always full of brilliant ideas and had clever solutions for every problem. The last body, the innermost and smallest of all, was Mary, the embodiment of love. Mary had a compassionate heart and was very helpful. She had the special ability to dry tears and mend broken hearts.

One day Babushka decides she wants to find out the meaning of life, so she sends her bodies out of the forest and into the world to search for answers.

The Story of Babushka is lovely and I really enjoyed reading it. It has a classic, fairytale feel, which sweeps you into its world and makes it wonderful to read aloud.

Babushka's five very different bodies are vividly described, beautifully illustrated and each important in their own, unique way. Together, their story is touching and heartwarming. 

This story explores what it means to be happy, and to feel valued and loved. It has a really sweet message and I loved the ending. 

The illustrations are exquisite, filled with beautiful detail and colour, and I could spend ages looking at each page. You can take a closer look at them on the story's website which really helps to bring this world to life, with interactive images and free colouring sheets. 

Thank you to the author for sending me a copy to review. 

The Story of Babushka is written by Catherine Flores and illustrated by Ana Beatriz Marques

Macbeth United

12 year old Macbeth dreams of football success, but as his ambition (and his mum) pushes him to betray more and more of his teammates, he seems more likely to destroy his team altogether than impress footballing scouts. 

Macbeth United is an extremely clever reimagining of Shakespeare's Scottish Tragedy which young readers will love. It's so well done, including all of the key moments and little details, reimagining the events of the play in a way that remains faithful to its new genre, as a contemporary football story. I loved the way the porter is re-imagined as a local odd-job man, and Lady Macbeth (aka Mrs Macbeth, Macbeth's mum) is another brilliant inclusion. 

This is definitely a novel you can enjoy if you've never read, or even heard of, Macbeth before. It will also help children to follow the plot of the original play if they later come to read or watch it. I can think of lots of YA Shakespeare retellings, but I don't think I've read any aimed at younger readers, who are usually left with abridged versions of the original. Macbeth United, on the other hand, makes the plot of Macbeth exciting and relevant. It is filled with football-match feuds, text messages and, of course, plenty of on-pitch action. 

I flew through this story and found it really engaging. I can see it being very popular in school libraries this year.

Macbeth United is a fantastic adaptation, bringing this classic tale of ambition and betrayal to life for a younger audience. 

Thank you so much Scholastic for sending me a copy to review. 

Macbeth United is written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Tony Ross

The Humans

 

A brilliant children's non-fiction title which explores ancient civilisations from across the globe. 

The Humans is packed full of fascinating facts about the ancient past, including former uses for now-common objects, the origins of things like drains and toilets, and even untranslatable languages (and I learnt about all three of these on just one double page spread!)

There are things to entertain children of a range of ages - my six year old likes finding the different locations on her globe and learning about objects like buttons and umbrellas, but older children will enjoy delving into this book in greater detail. From female pirates to ancient mummies, there's something in here to capture the interest and imagination of every child. 

With the now ever-present risk of homeschooling, I think a book like this is a great one to have on your bookshelves, to bring history to life without resorting to scrolling through the internet for age appropriate and useful websites. 

The artwork is colourful and striking, giving The Humans a very modern feel, which makes it engaging and exciting (this is definitely not a dusty old reference book!)

Thank you Little Tiger for sending us a copy to review. 

The Humans is written by Jonny Marx and illustrated by Charlie Davis

The Court of Miracles

There is no character in all of literature I dislike more than Marius Pontmercy. 

I'm all for unlikable characters - some of my very favourite books are filled with characters I would hate to meet in real life - but Marius is the only character I've ever read who makes my blood boil with fury and who makes me throw books across the room. I get the feeling Kester Grant must feel the same way. Eponine deserved so much more. 

The Court of Miracles was therefore billed as the PERFECT novel for me: a YA retelling of a story I have adored since I was six years old, centring on my favourite character in said story, and completely removing a character I can't stand from the narrative. 

It's safe to say I had very high hopes for this novel! I am so pleased that, far from disappointing my expectations, The Court of Miracles exceeded them on every page. 

This novel is filled with wonderful characters (and no Marius), all with their own strengths and weaknesses, and lots of secrets and betrayal. Nina was superb, but I also loved Ettie (who was much more interesting than Cosette has ever been), St Juste and Montparnasse. There were hints of romance and lots of flirting, but this novel was always a story about sisterhood, which I loved. 

The location was also superb. This is the third book set in revolutionary France that I've read in the past two years and it is a setting and time period I will never tire of. It's so much fun to read about - filled with drama and danger and politics, and there are endless stories to be told. 

The court of miracles itself was very well developed. I loved its intricacy and detail and I could happily read more stories about characters in other guilds. The royal court was equally intoxicating, with a strong focus on social injustice. 

If you love Les Mis, in any of its many forms, you should definitely read this book. There are lots of little nods to the original story in chapter headings, and dialogue. Grant retains the intricacy, the character names and the social themes of the original story, but turns them into something that is entirely her own. However, I also think readers with no knowledge of Les Mis at all will fall in love with the characters in this story. 

The Haunting of Aveline Jones

A chilling Halloween treat that's perfect for snuggling down with on a stormy October night. 

The Haunting of Aveline Jones is a fast paced, spooky read which kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down!

It will delight fans of ghost stories, thanks to it's fantastic, eerie setting and chilling conclusion. I will definitely be thinking about this atmospheric story next time I'm near the sea during a storm... If you like to be scared, it would be a great story to read on holiday, while staying in an unfamiliar place!

It is also full of great characters and some lovely, if unusual, friendships. The adults were as well developed as the children, which it was great to see too. 

Robinson's spooky illustrations add to the unsettling atmosphere. 

The Haunting of Aveline Jones is a brilliant, quick spooky read that opens what is sure to be a fantastic series. I will definitely be ordering the next one. 

The Teeny Weeny Genie

Old Macdonald had a farm - so far so familiar. But did you know that on that farm he had a teapot? And in that teapot he had a genie? Well Old Macdonald didn't either. This is the story of what happened once he did.

This story is packed with chaotic, wish-filled fun! There's lots of opportunity to make noise throughout, and I can see it working well in nurseries and classrooms thanks to all the onomatopoeia. 

I enjoyed the rhyming letter spells, which were fun to read aloud. This was a silly, sweet story which my three-year-old really enjoyed. Everybody (or everything!) wanted to wish for something, and I'm pleased the genie got his own wish granted at the end.

Currey's artwork is lovely, with pretty farm yard backdrops, colourful characters and plenty of magic. 

Thank you Macmillan Children's Books for sending me a copy to review

The Teeny Weeny Genie is written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Anna Currey

Blog Tour: Mina Mistry Investigates

 

Today is my stop on the Mina Mistry blog tour!

Perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Tom Gates, Mina Mistry is a fun mystery which children will love.

Mina's school is keen to promote healthy eating, but the school dinners contain more sugar than a chocolate factory. Luckily, future private investigator, Mina Mistry, is on the case - in between listening to her best friend Holly's dreams of superstardom and helping her Granny Meera with her unusual recipe combinations. 

Mina Mistry investigates is full of laugh out loud moments. Mina is a great protagonist, and I loved her assistant, Mr Panda (who is very into his extreme sports). Mina is determined and independent, and young readers will warm to her immediately. I also loved her unusual friendship with Holly, who brought a lot of laughter in her scenes. The friendships and dynamics between the characters are really strong. 

This book is full of food related fun, with marshmallow fritters for school dinner, and Granny Meera's strangely unpopular lentil custard. Readers won't stop laughing at the interesting food combinations. 

Mina Mistry also has a great layout and style, with speech bubbles, case files and plenty of pictures. The font is large and easy to read, making it accessible and easy to enjoy. 

I can see Mina Mistry being really popular in school libraries this year. I'm really looking forward to more books in this series.