I was very excited to open an excellent bundle of Narwhal and Jelly goodies last week. Nearly as excited as Book Boy Who, despite being ill, grabbed the two graphic novels which had been carefully wrapped up and started reading them immediately. Much giggling ensued! Finding graphic novels suitable for younger readers can be very … Continue reading ‘Narwhal and Jelly,’ by Ben Clanton.
People have long been fascinated with exploring the depths of the ocean and there’s still so much we haven’t discovered. This fascinating book will take you from sunlight coral reefs to smoking deep sea vents. Welcome to the blog tour of ‘Ocean: Secrets of the Deep.’ I’m also honoured to be hosting a special Q … Continue reading ‘Ocean: Secrets of the Deep,’ by Sabrina Weiss and Giulia De Amicis with exclusive author Q&A!
Magazines play a huge role in encouraging reading for pleasure - perfect for dipping in and out of, lots of photos and illustrations, a range of different text types. Perfect! And there is definitely something for nearly every interest. Today, I’m showcasing one of Book Boy’s favourites: Kickaround Magazine. I also have a six issue … Continue reading Kickaround Magazine – Plastic-free and proud.
There has been a huge upsurge in the number of children being referred to mental health services across the U.K. causing an increasing number of schools to take matters into their own hands and teach their pupils about mindfulness and emotional regulation. The titles featured in this post encourage children to process their emotions and … Continue reading ‘Stay Strong!’ and ‘Be Brave!’ by Dr. Sharie Coombes, illustrated by Katie Abey.
It was with great interest that I read this title because it has been written in collaboration with Libby Scott, the 11-year-old girl whose piece of writing, ‘The Life of a Perfectionist,’ about being autistic went viral in 2018. ‘Can You See Me?’ is a blend of narrative story and diary entries written by Libby … Continue reading ‘Can You See Me?’ by Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott, type design by Aaron Cushley.
Inspired by the stories of her childhood like ‘When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit’ and ‘The Silver Sword,’ Catherine decided to write a story of her own, inspired by the unfolding migrant crisis. The result is ‘No Ballet Shoes in Syria.’ A book about a child displaced from her home in Syria, fleeing across Europe and … Continue reading ‘No Ballet Shoes in Syria,’ by Catherine Bruton, cover by Kathrin Honesta.
Following on from my non-fiction post, Blue Planet 1, which was packed full of some stunning new titles, it’s now the turn of some equally fabulous fiction books. ‘Alba the Hundred Year Old Fish,’ by Lara Hawthorne (Big Picture Press) A highly topical picture book about the damage plastic pollution does to the coral … Continue reading Blue Planet 2 – fabulous fiction
Today is my stop on the blog tour for ‘The Fire Maker,’ a story of magic tricks, genies and dangerous ambition. Alex’s life is consumed by his love of magic and his quest to win Young Magician Of The Year which is being judged by one of his idols, Jack Keller. Despite being teased at … Continue reading ‘The Fire Maker,’ by Guy Jones, cover by Helen Crawford-White.
Lantana Publishing are known for their wonderful collection of diverse, inclusive titles, so it’s no surprise that they’re responsible for the publishing of Maryam al Serkal’s empowering story: ‘Mira’s Curly Hair.’ I am thrilled to be part of its blog tour and to be hosting a special piece by Maryam about how her daughter helped … Continue reading ‘Mira’s Curly Hair,’ by Maryam al Serkal, illustrated by Rebeca Luciani.
Following the huge success of the BBC’s breathtaking ‘Blue Planet’ series, taking care of our oceans and the creatures who live in them has never been more topical or more important. I’ve received lots of lovely picture books for readers of all ages which would fit beautifully into an underwater theme - some fiction, some … Continue reading Blue Planet 1 (information books)
A clutch of lovely picture books about our amphibious friends have hopped through my letterbox recently. Prepare to learn plenty of froggy facts to fascinate your friends. ‘Fanatical About Frogs,’ by Owen Davey (Flying Eye Books) Flying Eye Books always produce stunning and stylish titles which appeal to the adult reader as much as the … Continue reading An Army Of Frogs
Today is my stop on the blog tour for ‘The Middler,’ the epic debut middle grade novel by Kirsty’s Applebaum. Make sure you read her exclusive piece about how her own childhood influenced her story. Maggie lives a quiet, protected life in the self-isolated town of Fennis Wick. Her whole world for the eleven years … Continue reading ‘The Middler,’ by Kirsty Applebaum – with guest post! Cover by Matt Saunders.
Today it’s my turn to cheerlead for one of the brilliant nominees for the Federation of Children’s Book Groups (FCBG) Children’s Book Award. The finalists were chosen by the children in the book groups and the overall winners are voted for by their readers. As a fan of funny books, I was asked to represent … Continue reading Vote ‘Funny Kid Stand Up,’ by Matt Stanton for the FCBG Children’s Book Awards!
I’ve been sent a treasure trove of beautiful board books recently. Some are wonderful new editions of classics and some are brand new. We all know the benefits of starting the bedtime story habit with babies - bonding time, language acquisition, fun! So whether you’re looking for a new bedtime read or buying a gift … Continue reading Don’t be bored, get board (books!)
Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the wild and snow-filled ‘She Wolf’ by Dan Smith. Northumbria, 886. Life is harsh. You need to be tough to survive. This is a lesson Ylva has to learn very quickly when her mother is murdered by a three-fingered man, leaving her alone in the world … Continue reading ‘She Wolf,’ by Dan Smith, cover by Jill Calder.
I have been carefully collecting a fantastic range of science-based books (non-fiction and fiction) to share with you during British Science Week- a ten day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths. I’m going to start off with the information books as they are Book Boy’s favourites! ‘Science is Magic’ written by Steve Mould (DK … Continue reading British Science Week – Part 1: Science Fact
Today is my stop on the blog tour for the awesome ‘A Witch Alone’ - the final (at present) instalment in the magical ‘The Apprentice Witch’ series. In addition to this review, you can also listen to me interviewing James about the series HERE on the Library Girl and Book Boy podcast. If you’ve ever … Continue reading ‘A Witch Alone,’ by James Nicol, cover illustration by Daniela Terrazzini – The Blog Tour!
It’s never too early to start teaching young girls (and boys) that they have the power to do whatever they want to. Luckily, girls are no longer consigned to the role of helpless princess in the books available for them to enjoy. I’m going to share with you some of the celebratory and stereotype-busting titles … Continue reading Here Come the Girls! (International Women’s Day)
I’m always very interested to read titles which have been translated from other languages; they often have a completely different style and feel from the children’s books published here in the U.K. The fairy tale, ‘Arnica, the Duck Princess’ has been translated into English from the original Hungarian. Princess Arnica was the daughter of King … Continue reading ‘Arnica, the Duck Princess,’ by Ervin Lázár, illustrated by Jacqueline Molnár, translated by Anna Bentley.
Library Girl and Book Boy 