You can always rely of DK for engaging, good quality information books packed with diagrams, timelines and photographs so I was pleased to see that they have produced which looks exclusively at timelines from the perspective of Black history. It is compiled from updated material from their previous timeline books along with new content to … Continue reading ‘Timelines From Black History: Leaders, Legends, Legacies,’ with foreword by Mireille Harper.
After the end of the Second World War, British citizens from the Commonwealth were invited to relocate to Britain to help rebuild the country. Not all were made welcome and many suffered discrimination and racism because of the colour of their skin. Due to various changes in law, and the government’s determination to be seen … Continue reading The Windrush Generation
There’s something rather magical about cracking open a brand new encyclopedia and immersing yourself in the knowledge within. Although people can now find any answer they want with a click of a button, I think there will always be a place for wonderful books like this - they contain worlds of possibilities and undiscovered wisdom … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Britannica All New Children’s Encyclopedia,’ from Britannica Books, edited by Christopher Lloyd.
With the Stone Age a firm fixture on the primary school national curriculum, it’s always useful to have some new texts up your sleeve to use along with tried and tested favourites. Today I’m going to share with you a selection of titles I’ve been sent which would fit well with a Stone Age topic … Continue reading Stone Age, Bone Age
If you loved last year’s award-wining title, ‘The Umbrella Mouse,’ you are going to love this gripping sequel full of treachery, distrust and the power of hope. Following their legendary escape from the Nacht und Nebel camp, Pip and the other members of the Noah’s Ark resistance movement have regrouped and are honouring their fallen … Continue reading Blog Tour: ‘Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue,’ by Anna Fargher, illustrated by Sam Usher.
I really enjoy reading a good historical fiction novel, especially if there’s an element of mystery afoot. If you’re anything like me, you’ll thoroughly enjoy A.M. Howell’s new title which was inspired by a notable clock collection housed in Bury St. Edmund’s Moyse’s Hall museumS. What would it be like to live in a house … Continue reading ‘The House of One Hundred Clocks,’ by A.M. Howell, illustrations by Saara Söderlund.
Nowadays, women’s football is shown on the television and some of its star players are household names. It seems difficult to believe that in 1921, the Football Association decided to ban women’s football. But who was playing? And why had some women been allowed to play in the first place? ‘Trailblazer’ may just give you … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Trailblazer: Lily Parr the Unstoppable Star of Women’s Football,’ by Elizabeth Dale, illustrated by Carolina Coroa.
I’d like to introduce to a new series of historical information books from Nosy Crow, in association with The British Museum. The ‘So You Think You’ve Got it Bad?’ series is packed with all things hilarious and fascinating about several ancient civilisations. This series has a very distinctive, informal narrative tone which I think it’s … Continue reading The ‘So You Think You’ve Got it Bad?’ series by Chae Strathie, illustrated by Marisa Morea.
Recently, we’ve enjoyed a lot of excellent books about human heroes (watch out for a blog post coming soon!), but today the blog is celebrating some rather remarkable creatures who have earned their place in the history books. Let me introduce ‘WildLives’ by Ben Lerwill - Make sure you scroll down to read his exclusive … Continue reading Blog Tour: ‘WildLives: 50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History,’ by Ben Lerwill, illustrated by Sarah Walsh.
Anna Fargher’s brilliant middle grade title ‘The Umbrella Mouse’ is currently Waterstones Children’s Book Of The month. It tells a tale based on the true stories of some of the animals caught in the conflict of the Second World War, a tale of courage, friendship and resistance. When the Umbrella shop which is the London … Continue reading The Women Who Helped Make D-Day Possible by author of ‘The Umbrella Mouse,’ Anna Fargher.
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.
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.
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
Having loved Lucy’s first book, I was very excited to see that she had written a new title set on the Kent coast during the Second World War. I couldn’t wait to dive in... ‘Our Castle by the Sea’ is about a family being torn apart amid rumours of espionage whilst enemy planes fly overhead. … Continue reading ‘Our Castle by the Sea,’ by Lucy Strange, design by Helen Crawford-White.
I finished this poignant title just in time for Remembrance Sunday so wanted to share it beforehand incase any of you were looking for some books set in the time of the First World War. As Evie’s parents struggle to come to terms with the death of their youngest son, Alecky, his older (but underage) … Continue reading ‘Evie’s War,’ by Holly Webb.
Introducing ‘Absolutely Everything! A History Of Earth, Dinosaurs, Rulers, Robots and Other Things too Numerous to Mention,’ a book of true wonderment which has been long-listed for the Blue Peter Book Awards 2019, in the ‘Best Book With Facts’ category along with some other stunning titles. Devised after a camping trip where Lloyd released that, … Continue reading ‘Absolutely Everything!’ by Christopher Lloyd, cover illustration by Justin Poulter.
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Harriet Tubman. Herstory is a gorgeous collection of biographies featuring some of the world’s most inspiring women and girls. Drawn from all walks of life and … Continue reading ‘Herstory – 50 Women and Girls Who Shook the World,’ by Katherine Halligan, illustrated by Sarah Walsh.
Today we’re travelling back in time to the realms of the Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Romans with two book from an excellent new non-fiction series by James Davies. Meet the... Ancient Egyptians The book starts off with a map and background information which explains how Egypt was united into one Kingdom by Menes. This … Continue reading Meet the Ancients…
This is the second hilarious story about Pod and his creative ideas (Stone Underpants being the first.) The Stone Age is so boring! All people do is hammer away at rocks all day and take naps. Pod decides to invent a new game for him and his brother, Hinge, to play. However, living in the … Continue reading ‘Game of Stones,’ by Rebecca Lisle, illustrated by Richard Watson.
Library Girl and Book Boy 