It’s here! The third instalment in the hilariously bonkers series about Knight Sir Louis and life in Castle Sideways. Read on to find out more and to discover author Myles McLeod’s piece about writing funny, working with your brother, AND some top reading recommendations. King Burt the Not Bad is in a huff with his … Continue reading ‘Knight Sir Louis and the Sorcerer of Slime,’ by The Brothers McLeod.
Having previously read ‘Darwin’s Dragons’ (also by Galvin), I was eagerly awaiting the publication of her next book, hoping for more fast-paced historical action with heart and humour. That is exactly what I got! Twelve-year-old Vinnie Fyfe works in the tea-shop at Brighton aquarium, and waits for her milliner mother to return from Paris. The … Continue reading Blog Tour: ‘My Friend the Octopus,’ by Lindsay Galvin, cover by Gordy Wright.
I am sure that many of you will already have been transported back in time with Emma Carroll’s incredible historical adventures, or have been enchanted by Eva Ibbotson’s transportative writing. Lots of you who work in schools may also have used ‘Journey to the River Sea’ as part of a topic on rainforests. Well, now … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Escape to the River Sea,’ by Emma Carroll, cover by Katie Hickey.
I am always keen to read titles by debut authors, particularly those which have had a real buzz around them. ‘Zo and the Forest of Secrets’ was definitely one of those books, and I was not disappointed! When Zo decides to run away from home, she isn't scared; after all, she knows the island like … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Zo and the Forest of Secrets,’ by Alake Pilgrim.
I have to admit to having read this some time ago but only now posting the review! I had been very eagerly anticipating this title, having previously read and loved Chisholm’s novel, Orion Lost, so had high expectations of his next futuristic adventure. ‘The robot Adam-2 has been locked in the basement of a lost … Continue reading ‘Adam-2,’ by Alastair Chisholm, cover by Dan Mumford.
Today I’d like to introduce you to the first in a brand new series of magical reads full of charm, pluck, and malevolent fae. If you’re looking for a new series for middle grader readers to get stuck into, look no more! Cassie Morgan has run away. After seven years spent waiting for her mother … Continue reading Blog post: ‘Hedgewitch,’ by Skye McKenna, illustrated by Tomislav Tomic.
If you haven’t already had the pleasure of reading Farook’s previous titles (‘The Girl Who Stole an Elephant’ and ‘The Boy Who Met a Whale’), then you must make sure you go and find yourself copies after you’ve read her latest adventure: ‘The Girl Who Lost a Leopard.’ “Selvi is a wild child who loves … Continue reading ‘The Girl Who Lost a Leopard,’ by Nizrana Farook, cover by David Dean.
Kiki Kallira is more of a worrier than a warrior - but today she will learn to be a hero. The mythical beasts she loves to draw have come to life, and she is the only one who can defeat them. A middle-grade fantasy inspired by Hindu legends about anxiety, creativity and finding your own … Continue reading ‘Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom’ by Sangu Mandanna, illustrations by Nabi H. Ali.
With costs of living rising dramatically, more families are struggling to pay their bills and other essentials. Unfortunately, this may result in more families losing their homes and having to live in temporary accommodation or sofa surf. This hidden homelessness is explored in this touching but humorous tale about what happens to a young boy … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Has anyone seen Archie Ebbs??’ by Simon Packham.
For those of you who’ve read Benjamin’s debut novel, ‘Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow,’ it will come as no surprise that his second title is equally as joyous with a LGBTQ+ theme appropriate for its middle grade audience. It’s one of those books that will leave you with a huge smile … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘The Secret Sunshine Project,’ by Benjamin Dean, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat.
Monster Max is back in another community-minded adventure. If you missed the first instalment in this chucklesome series, you can take a look here. Make sure you read Robin’s thoughts on why ‘funny’ is so important. Max is an ordinary boy, except that he can turn into a monster when he burps... Max and Peregrine … Continue reading ‘Monster Max and the Marmalade Ghost,’ by Robin Bennett, illustrated by Tom Tinn-Disbury.
I think we all found our own ways of coping when the U.K. went into its first lockdown back in March 2020. In this brilliant new title, we meet Max who finds a novel way to distract himself as lockdown means his doctor father has to stay at a hotel for the family’s safety. Little … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Max Counts to a Million,’ by Jeremy Williams, cover by Thy Bui.
Today I have the absolute pleasure of kicking off the blog tour for author, librarian, and superstar blogger, Jo Clarke. I have known Jo for a long time and she has exquisite taste in books so I knew before I’d even read it that her debut was going to be a corker. And I wasn’t … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Libby and the Parisian Puzzle,’ by Jo Clarke, illustrated by Becka Moor.
I am a huge fan of Kieran’s writing (if you haven’t read his award-winning Legend of Podkin One-Ear series, you need to immediately!) so I was very happy to hear that he had embarked on an entirely new endeavour - Carnival of the Lost. ‘Sheba the wolf girl joins an unusual troupe of performers that … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Carnival of the Lost,’ by Kieran Larwood, illustrated by Sam Usher.
Oh my goodness, if you’re looking for a new title to fit with a WW2 topic, or for an atmospheric ghostly class read, then this is absolutely the book for you! Make sure you scroll down to read Dan’s Q&A about the inspiration and process behind writing Nisha’s War. Malaya, 1942. Nisha’s home is destroyed by … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Nisha’s War,’ by Dan Smith.
You are in for an absolute treat if you decide to pick up this outstanding debut from Lisette Auton. And you definitely should! I was Haven Point's first Wreckling, but I certainly wasn't the last. There are forty-two of us now, not including the mermaids. When you're a Wreckling, you mainly spend your days squabbling, … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘The Secret of Haven Point,’ by Lisette Auton, illustrated by Valentina Toro.
It’s here! The second instalment in the brilliantly funny and marvellously magical series which started with ‘The House at the Edge of Magic.’ Nine and her friends have broken the curse on their marvellous, magical House, and are free to travel the worlds once more! Their first stop: The Wizarding Hopscotch Championships. There's only one … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘The Tower at the End of Time,’ by Amy Sparkes.
Woo hoo! There’s a brand new graphic novel in town featuring an unlikely secret agent and his loyal sidekick. Make sure you read my Q&A with author, Mo O’Hara to find out more about the inspiration behind Agent Moose and the process behind writing a graphic novel. Agent Moose, the best (worst) secret agent in … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Agent Moose,’ by Mo O’Hara, illustrated by Jess Bradley.
Introducing a super-funny blast around the galaxy featuring some very empathetic aliens! Make sure you read author, James Bishop’s piece on how he set about creating and unusually empathetic alien race. Meet Mylan - an ordinary blue alien. He's travelling the universe, looking for someone having a bad day, to help them. Meet Chloe. She's just … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘The Worst Day Ever,’ by James Bishop, illustrated by Fay Austin.
Well my first read of 2022 was an absolute belter! Get ready to step aboard the Anthos and set sail on a thrilling adventure… Nico Cloud desperately wants to be an explorer, but her parents think adventures aren’t for girls. Fate intervenes when Nico chases a kitten on board a ship . . . and … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘The Ship of Cloud and Stars,’ by Amy Raphael, cover by George Ermos.
Library Girl and Book Boy 