Life was simple for feisty ten-year-old Robyn Silver, until she suddenly started seeing strange creatures around her town. Creatures that were invisible to anyone else... Robyn is the often-ignored middle child of five. Her main worries are how to secure the last slice of pizza and survive sharing a bedroom with her annoying little sister. … Continue reading ‘Robyn Silver – The Midnight Chimes,’ by Paula Harrison, illustrated by Renee Kurilla.
Author: librarygirlandbookboy
Book lover, sniffer and hoarder. Teacher, parent and all-round book superhero! I can be found on Twitter and Instagram as @BookSuperhero2 and produce the #LibraryGirlAndBookBoy podcast - let me know if you take a listen!
Previously a #Lollies18 (The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards) judge and creator of monthly twitter chat #FunnyBookChat. So far this year, I’m presenting workshops at: Reading Rocks South West, Educating Northants, and The Oxford Reading Spree. I’m also presenting a talk at The London Book Fair.
I am sorry but I cannot accept self-published books for review.
‘Full Speed Ahead! How Fast Things Go,’ by Cruschiform
Have you ever wondered just how quickly a tortoise actually goes? Or just how fast you'd need to be to be faster than a speeding bullet? Then this is the book for you! This glorious picture book is crammed full of striking illustrations and fascinating facts to tantalise young minds. My my trusty sidekick dived in headfirst … Continue reading ‘Full Speed Ahead! How Fast Things Go,’ by Cruschiform
‘Kings of the Castle,’ by Victoria Turnbull.
What happens at the beach when all the children have gone home and night starts to fall? Why, the monsters come out to play, of course! But George is bored trying to build an amazing sandcastle all by himself and his pet, Boris, is not being very good company. When the strange, Nepo first emerges from … Continue reading ‘Kings of the Castle,’ by Victoria Turnbull.
‘Six,’ by M.M. Vaughan.
Parker Banks has moved with his family from London to New York and is struggling to fit in and make friends at school, unlike his younger sister, Emma (who happens to be deaf.) His dad is at the forefront of pioneering technological advances and is constantly at work for a top-secret corporation. It seemed like … Continue reading ‘Six,’ by M.M. Vaughan.
The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2016!
A fortnight ago, Book Boy received a phone call saying that he had a won a class trip to the Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2016 (or 'The Lollies.') Obviously, we were skipping round the library in excitement as it meant we'd get to see lots of authors and illustrators whose books we loved! The … Continue reading The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2016!
‘The Emergency Zoo,’ by Miriam Halahmy
I love books with a historical setting, particularly the Second World War. When 'The Emergency Zoo' arrived through my post box, I was intrigued to see it centred around real events of the run-up to the Second World War that I knew nothing about - households being advised by the government to have their household … Continue reading ‘The Emergency Zoo,’ by Miriam Halahmy
‘My Dad Used to Be so Cool,’ by Keith Negley
After falling a little bit in love with the style and message of 'Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too),' I was delighted to be sent Keith Negley's newest book to review by the Guardian Book Club. This book centres around a small boy's suspicions that his dad may, at one time, have actually been quite cool. Evidence is … Continue reading ‘My Dad Used to Be so Cool,’ by Keith Negley
‘Wolf’ by Tommy Donbavand
#TommyVCancer I'm writing this review as part of a month-long blog tour packed with special features, reviews and giveaways to raise awareness of author Tommy Donbavand as he battles cancer. Tommy is the author of the popular 13-book Scream Street series for 7 to 10 year olds, published by Walker Books in the UK and Candlewick … Continue reading ‘Wolf’ by Tommy Donbavand
‘Rent a Bridesmaid’ by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt
We were delighted to be sent a set of the fabulous new Jacqueline Wilson book before it had even been released on general sale, but not as delighted as the book group who got to review it. You should have heard their squeals! Thank you so much to the Times Educational Supplement and Scholastic who … Continue reading ‘Rent a Bridesmaid’ by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt
‘L is for London’ by Paul Thurlby
Planning on visiting London Town for some royal birthday celebrations? Then you need this fabulous A-Z guide crammed with all there is to know about our capital city! For those of you who need to 'step into the map' to navigate around a city, the first thing you're greeted with when you open the cover … Continue reading ‘L is for London’ by Paul Thurlby
‘Mac and Bob’ by Alan Windram, illustrated by Dave Sutton
Firstly, I'd like to say a big thank you to Alan Windram for sending us these fab books to share with some young children that we know. They have been thoroughly road-tested by the pupils; their thoughts will follow later. Mac and Bob - The Unexpected Visitor: This is … Continue reading ‘Mac and Bob’ by Alan Windram, illustrated by Dave Sutton
‘Petunia Paris’s Parrot’ by Katie Haworth, illustrated by Jo Williamson
Petunia Paris's life is practically perfect in every way - perfect parents, perfect birthday parties and perfect presents. Until, for her fifth birthday, she asks for a parrot... Every birthday, whatever Petunia asked her perfect parents for she got: a swimming pool, a personal chauffeur, a bicycle. By her fifth birthday, she had no idea … Continue reading ‘Petunia Paris’s Parrot’ by Katie Haworth, illustrated by Jo Williamson
‘The Whispers of Wilderwood Hall,’ By Karen McCombie
We are thrilled to be kicking off the blog tour for the fabulous Karen McCombie's newest book, 'The Whispers of Wilderwood Hall,' with an awesome giveaway! **One lucky reader is in with the chance to win themselves a brand new copy of this brilliant book! To be in with a chance of winning, all you … Continue reading ‘The Whispers of Wilderwood Hall,’ By Karen McCombie
‘100 Facts’ series from Miles Kelly Publishing
Following a plea for more non-fiction books to review, Miles Kelly were generous enough to send us some of their best books - all in the name of science. We're going to kick off by reviewing not one, but three of the brilliant books from their '100 Facts' series. 100 Facts: Stars and Galaxies - In … Continue reading ‘100 Facts’ series from Miles Kelly Publishing
‘Caramel Hearts’ by E.R. Murray
This delicious book came with me on holiday - even superheroes need a break! I whiled away my time on the plane dreaming of Lovers' Lemon and Choc-Chip Shortbread and Raspberry Fool - all the time hoping that life would soon get better for Liv. As if life for a fourteen-year-old girl isn't complicated enough, Liv … Continue reading ‘Caramel Hearts’ by E.R. Murray
‘Self-destructing Science – Space’ by Isabel Thomas, illustrated by Nikalas Catlon
My Super Sidekick was very excited when we received a copy of this fantastic interactive book to review from Bloomsbury. Thank you! 'Self-destructing Science - Space' allows budding astronauts to explore wormholes and the big bang theory through a series of amazing interactive challenges and games. Cutting, scribbling, folding and experimenting - it cleverly combines … Continue reading ‘Self-destructing Science – Space’ by Isabel Thomas, illustrated by Nikalas Catlon
‘The Story of a Seagull and the Cat who Taught her to Fly’ by Luis Sepulveda, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura
I was very excited to receive a copy of this newly re-illustrated translation from Alma Books. 'The Story of a Seagull and the Cat who Taught her to Fly' was originally written in Italian and has been translated into over 40 different languages! Its author, Luis Sepulveda, was born in Chile and worked for several years … Continue reading ‘The Story of a Seagull and the Cat who Taught her to Fly’ by Luis Sepulveda, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura
‘The Inventory – Iron Fist’ by Andy Briggs
We are very excited to be included in the blog tour for the action-packed, 'The Inventory - Iron Fist' by Andy Briggs. Thank you to Faye Rogers and Scholastic Publishers for inviting us to participate. In this post, we bring you a review of the book and an awesome Question and Answer session with screenwriter, producer … Continue reading ‘The Inventory – Iron Fist’ by Andy Briggs
‘Elspeth Hart and the Magnificent Rescue’ by Sarah Forbes, illustrated by James Brown.
I was very excited to be sent a review copy of this third and final instalment of the amazing Elspeth Hart series by Sarah Forbes. Thank you to Stripes Publishing for my copy. For those of you who've missed the first two books, Elspeth Hart is a clever and resourceful heroine who embarks upon a series … Continue reading ‘Elspeth Hart and the Magnificent Rescue’ by Sarah Forbes, illustrated by James Brown.
‘Monster Slayer’ by Brian Patten, illustrated by Chris Riddell
'One dark night, the music and singing woke a monster from a swamp....' Aaaaand, I'm hooked! This gorgeous re-working of the classic Anglo-Saxon tale, 'Beowulf,' is cloaked in dark magic and mystery from the very beginning. I defy any reader not to be sucked into this tale of maniacal monsters, malevolent magic and heroism after … Continue reading ‘Monster Slayer’ by Brian Patten, illustrated by Chris Riddell
Library Girl and Book Boy 