I am honoured to be part of the blog tour for ‘Will You Catch Me?’ which has been scheduled to help raise awareness of International Children Of Alcoholics Week (11th-17th February) organised by the NACOA. Inspired by her own childhood experiences of alcohol abuse, Elson penned this title to help highlight the turmoil of those … Continue reading ‘Will You Catch Me?’ by Jane Elson.
This year marks twenty years of the Waterstones Children’s Laureateship, a collection of inspirational individuals committed to promoting a love of reading, books and illustration. To celebrate, Walker Books have compiled this very special anthology which is sure to be treasured by anyone with a love of children’s books. Readers in the U.K. have benefitted … Continue reading ‘Flights Of Fancy – stories, pictures and inspiration from ten Children’s Laureates,’ from Walker Books.
A flying machine, a murder and terrible danger.... Listen to me chat to author, Fleur Hitchcock about all this and more on the latest blog tour episode of my Library Girl And Book Boy podcast (available on all good listening platforms!) Athan Wilde has a dream - he dreams of soaring through the air in … Continue reading ‘The Boy Who Flew,’ by Fleur Hitchcock, cover by Ben Mantle.
An orphan girl, a wealthy stranger and many alternate realities.... Tess De Sousa has grown up in Ackerbee’s Home for Lost and Foundlings, but with her passion for scientific experimentation and pet tarantula, Violet, Tess is not your average orphan. Her arrival at the home was shrouded in mystery - left on the doorstep with … Continue reading ‘The Star-Spun Web,’ by Sinéad O’Hart, cover by Sara Mulvanny.
Heroes come in all shapes and disguises! Zac used to be the least popular boy in school. Until the super-weird Ant arrived. His clothes are filthy, he had a cockroach in his hair and he insists on wearing enormous green sunglasses because ‘his eyes are sensitive to the light.’ So what’s really behind those lenses...? … Continue reading ‘Anty Hero,’ by Barry Hutchison, illustrations by Tom Percival.
Sometimes a child’s emotions can build up inside them until they think thet might pop. This story may help them find away to express their emotions in a healthier way. Cub is angry. His sister keeps getting him into trouble and it’s just not fair! Feelings of anger are building up inside him and … Continue reading ‘The Big Angry Roar,’ by Jonny Lambert.
Morag Hood’s books are instantly recognisable. Her bold, bright style has earnt her two nominations for the 2019 CILIP Greenaway Medal and a shortlisting for the Scottish Book Trust’s 2019 Bookbug picture book prize. Aalfred and Aalbert are aardvarks desperately searching for a friend. They’re practically next-door neighbours but their paths never cross because Aalfred … Continue reading ‘Aalfred and Aalbert,’ by Morag Hood.
It can be a constant battle trying to persuade young children to remember their manners. One of these three picture books may just help make things a little easier. Good luck! ‘Wild Violet’ by Alex Latimer, illustrated by Patrick Latimer (Pavilion Books) Violet was born wild and, despite people’s assurances to the contrary, … Continue reading Mind Your Manners
A mix of myth, magic and fast-paced adventure. Storm of Odin is the youngest storm hound in the Wild Hunt which tears across lightning-filled skies, snapping and howling. Tonight’s the first night he’s been allowed to run with the rest of the pack. But something’s not right, he’s faking behind and before he knows it, he’s … Continue reading ‘Storm Hound,’ by Claire Fayers, cover by Becka Moor.
I absolutely loved Durrant’s previous title, ‘Running On Empty,’ so knew I was in for a treat when ‘Little Bits Of Sky’ arrived. After saving it for a rainy day, I decided the time had come to dive in... This story follows the lives of looked-after siblings Ira and Zac, as recalled through Ira’s childhood … Continue reading ‘Little Bits Of Sky,’ by S.E. Durrant, cover by Rob Biddulph.
Today I am thrilled to be shining a spotlight on the brilliant new title from Amber Lee Dodd, ‘Lightning Chase Me Home.’ This will be followed up by an exclusive interview for the #LibraryGirlAndBookBoy podcast. Named after two fearless explorers, Amelia Hester McLeod has adventure in her blood, but she doesn’t always feel very brave. … Continue reading ‘Lightning Chase Me Home,’ by Amber Lee Dodd.
Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favourite things. Especially when they contain books as wonderful as Little Bird Flies! That’s why I’m so delighted to be part of its blog tour, with not only a review, but also an exclusive interview recorded with Karen especially for my podcast … Continue reading ‘Little Bird Flies,’ by Karen McCombie, cover by Jasu Hu.
Two girls, a century apart. Together they’ll find freedom. This story is told in two parts, over two different time periods: the present day and 1891. The present day: we meet Semira, an Eritrean refugee who undertook a long a dangerous journey across desert and sea with her mother, accompanied by a man who has … Continue reading ‘The Closest Thing to Flying,’ by Gill Lewis, cover by Paola Escobar.
Being good all the time’s not working. Maybe it’s time to try being bad.... Today is my stop on the blog tour for the just-released ‘When Good Geeks Go Bad’ by comedian Catherine Wilkins, where good girl Ella decides it might just be time to try being bad. Ella is fed up of toeing the … Continue reading ‘When Good Geeks Go Bad,’ by Catherine Wilkins, cover by Joel Holland.
The very nature of myths mean that their re-tellings are varied and ever-changing, with tens or hundreds of variations on the same story. Myth Atlas introduces its readers to some of the most fascinating cultures on the planet with beliefs about human existence which are now part of history or still held sacred to this … Continue reading ‘Myth Atlas,’ by Thiago de Moraes.
Book Boy is an absolute fiend for a big chunky non-fiction book. There is nothing he likes better than settling down with a pack of sticky tabs in one hand and a pen in the other, ready to mark the important pages. ‘Timelines of Everything’ is a little different to other books in its category … Continue reading ‘Timelines of Everything,’ from the team at DK
It’s often said that books are actually portals to other worlds and also to other places in our world. These two fascinating books highlight some of our greatest wonders. Wonders of the World’s Museums (Wren & Rook) by Molly Oldfield, illustrated by Harriet Taylor Seed and Peter Malone An absolute treasure trove of some of … Continue reading A World Of Wonders
Following on from the success of their first picture book collaboration, ‘You’re Safe With Me,’ Soundar and Mistry have created another beautiful title in the series. The story begins at the start of winter when two polar bear cubs are born in their icy den. Their mama bear promises to keep them warm and snug … Continue reading ‘You’re Snug With Me,’ by Chitra Soundar and Poonam Mistry.
Mermaids have had a real surge of popularity recently but most titles have been for younger readers or overly sugary and sweet. ‘The Girl with the Shark’s Teeth’ is definitely neither of those things... Minnow had always known she was different from the other children in her town - her powerful affinity with the water, … Continue reading Festive Read #3 ‘The Girl With The Shark’s Teeth,’ by Cerrie Burnell, illustrations by Sandra Dieckmann.
Now I had been saving this book to read whilst snuggled up in the Christmas holidays as I knew Millwood Hargrave’s writing was going to whisk me away to an enchanted, frozen landscape and I wanted to savour it. Going to the in-laws’ to sit by their log fire was the perfect opportunity. Mila lives … Continue reading Festive read #2 ‘The Way Past Winter,’ by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, cover by Helen Crawford-White.
Library Girl and Book Boy 