The transition from Year 6 into Year 7 is and exciting (and possibly worrying) time in any young person’s life. Luckily, there are so many good books out there which can help guide them through the highs and lows of life as small fish in a big pond. Below is a selection of some that … Continue reading Moving Up (to Secondary School)
This is truly an endlessly fascinating and engaging series. Hooray for a new instalment packed full of extreme facts! “Follow an ingenious trail of 400 facts about daredevils, death-defying stunts, world records, wacky weather, extreme sports, unusual animals and so much more – all of which are connected in fun and unexpected ways. On this … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Epic Factopia!’ by Rose Davidson, illustrated by Andy Smith.
There is a growing selection of books available which help children understand how their developing brains work. This one, from teacher Scott Evans, has a super-engaging format and eye-catching illustrations. “Discover all about your Very Important Brain! The brain is the boss of your body. But it’s more than anatomy. You might not always understand … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘All Brains are Wonderful,’ by Scott Evans, illustrated by The Boy Fitz Hammond.
There is so much to learn as you travel with Ayo on his whirlwind adventure across the globe discovering more about how African peoples and culture are spread across the world. Be sure to read Ain’s piece about the challenges she faced writing balanced ABC book about the African Story. “When Ayo struggles to fall … Continue reading ‘Ayo’s Adventure Across the African Diaspora from Afro to Zulu,’ by Ain Heath Drew, artwork by Erin K. Robinson.
The vastness of Space is a topic which continually fascinates people, young and old. ‘A Little Blue Dot’ is the perfect introduction to the planets in our solar system and their unique qualities. “Somewhere in our vast universe floats a little blue dot. This dot is Earth and she is surrounded by lots of impressive … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘A Little Blue Dot,’ by Maren Hasenjäger.
As a teacher, it can be difficult to source high quality texts to use in your reading lessons. Luckily, the titles in this brilliant series have been carefully compiled to include a wide and varied range of extracts to engage readers and encourage deeper comprehension. Today, I’m showcasing the Year 2 Fiction and Poetry collection. … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Developing Reading Comprehension Skills: Year 2 Fiction and Poetry,’ by Kate Heap.
I don’t know about you but when I was younger, I used to love those choose your own adventure books where your fate could change with the turn of a page. I was particularly fond of a Famous Five one which had special dice, a code key, and a magnifying glass! There don’t seem to … Continue reading Choose your own adventure…
I will never cease to be amazed by this super-clever series of information books which read like a classic ‘choose your own adventure’ story. This newest instalment contains over 400 historical facts for readers to navigate their own path through. “In this blast-from-the-past adventure you’ll discover hundreds of the most mind-blowing facts from history. Hidden … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘History Factopia,’ by Paige Towler, illustrated by Andy Smith.
I was totally blown away when I opened up the package containing this stunning book, my imagination completely captured by the fantastical creatures dreamed up by Raoul to inhabitant a hidden continent completely unspoilt by mankind- Terra Ultima. The entire book is based on the premise that a mysterious new continent has just been discovered … Continue reading ‘Terra Ultima: The Discovery of a Hidden Continent,’ by Raoul Deleo.
You may have heard lots of schools proudly stating that they’re ‘Rights Respecting’ schools, but have you ever wondered what that actually means? Well, it means that children's rights are promoted and realised, adults and children work towards this goal together. There are four key areas of impact for children at a Rights Respecting school; … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘I have the Right,’ by Reza Dalvand.
It’s always a good time to share a wonderful new picture book which celebrates the maths which surrounds us day in and day out. Linking learning to children’s everyday lives is such a powerful way of helping them make connections in their learning and develop sound understandings of mathematical concepts. That’s what makes this book … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘That’s Mathematics,’ based on lyrics by Tom Lehrer, Chris Smith, illustrated by Elīna Braslina.
I’m always happy to be a part of the Federation of Children’s Book Group annual celebration of all things non-fiction. Born out of National Non-Fiction Day, the whole month now celebrates all those readers who love nothing more than learning an obscure fact to pop into conversation to surprise people or dipping in and out … Continue reading #NNFN ‘Animal Superpowers: The Most Amazing Ways Animals Have Evolved,’ by Dr Nick Crumpton, illustrated by Viola Wang.
This is the first of my blog posts helping The Federation of Children’s Book Groups spread the word about some amazing information books during National Non-Fiction November. Today, I’m sharing ‘Every Word Tells a Story’ - a fascinating title about the origins of over one hundred words. ‘See how the English language evolved in this … Continue reading #NNFN ‘Every Word Tells a Story,’ by Tom Read Wilson, illustrated by Ian Morris.
Britannica are renowned worldwide for their comprehensive encyclopedias. These are perhaps, a little in-depth for the very smallest knowledge-seekers which makes it doubly brilliant that they’re released a brand new toddler version with sturdy board pages and beautiful full-colour illustrations. ‘The first-ever Britannica Encyclopedia for children under three, in a beautifully illustrated, large-format board book. … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Britannia’s Baby Encyclopedia,’ by Sally Symes, illustrated by Hanako Clulow.
I love this growing series of seriously fascinating fact-filled finds. First there was Factopia, then there was Return to Factopia, and now there’s Gross Factopia! too, which is (as you may have guessed) crammed to bursting point with some of the most disgusting facts known to mankind! ‘Did you know that sloths poo only once … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Gross Factopia!’ by Paige Towler, illustrated by Andy Smith.
For this review, I stepped a little out of my comfort zone and recorded a reel! Luckily, I managed to edit in several of the gorgeous spreads from the book so you don’t have to look at my face too much. I hope you love the book as much as I do. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CirnDe-qc8L/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= ‘Join brilliant … Continue reading ‘A Wild Child’s Guide to Birds,’ by Dara McAnulty, illustrated by Barry Falls.
The arrival of the Windrush in 1948 is celebrated every year on Windrush Day, 22nd June. Until recently, there were very few children’s books about the influx of men, women, and children from Caribbean countries coming to the U.K. to start new lives and fill post-war labour shortages. Award-winning Dr Benjamin Zephaniah has previously written … Continue reading ‘We Sang Across the Sea: The Empire Windrush and Me,’ by Benjamin Zephaniah & Onyinye Iwu.
Books about animals will always pique a child’s interest, but this one’s just a little bit different as it focuses on all the weird and wonderful features animals have evolved to gain an advantage over the years. Tails, toes, necks, and noses all star in the most unusual ways! “A delightful compendium of all the … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Funny Bums, Freaky Beaks and Other Incredible Creature Features,’ by Alex Morrs & Sean Taylor, illustrated by Sarah Edmonds.
Get ready for a brand new series of books which cleverly use gamification to encourage readers to apply their powers of logic and problem-solving to a series of STEM-based challenges. Questers will develop their coding skills and understanding of algorithms as they follow the interactive story, collecting stickers and rewards as they go. I can … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘SuperQuesters – The Case of the Stolen Sun,’ by Lisa Moss & Dr. Thomas Bernard, illustrated by Amy Wilcox.
There have been such huge advances in how we travel over the centuries and these three wonderful books are sure to entice the mechanically-minded or car curious. My sons certainly both enjoyed seeing how train travel has evolved and what a huge variety of boats there is. “In this beautiful, gift-worthy hardback book on a … Continue reading Science Week: Boats, Trains, and Automobiles.
Library Girl and Book Boy 