You may think that life as the owner of a Chocolate Factory is all toffee-tasting and jellybean sampling, but you’d be wrong! Archie McBudge is delighted (and slightly shocked) to have inherited a chocolate factory (as well as a huge house and fortune) from his Great-Uncle Archibald. Surely that will be the end to all … Continue reading ‘The Chocolate Factory Ghost,’ by David O’Connell, illustrated by Claire Powell.
I was thrilled to be asked to participate in the blog tour for ‘Drone Racer’ because I knew that it was just the kind of book that Book Boy would love, and because I knew that Andy Briggs really is a master of science fiction writing. His ‘The Inventory’ series was some of the first … Continue reading ‘Drone Racer,’ by Andy Briggs, cover illustration by Matteo Cuccato.
Book Boy is a huge fan of Top Gear, Formula One racing (and any other type of motor racing for that fact!) so he was especially excited when this new Stig-based adventure dropped through the letterbox, ready for its blog tour. “Some say he is merely a phantom - a figment of our imaginations. And … Continue reading ‘The Stig: Playing a Dangerous Game,’ by Jon Claydon & Tim Lawler, illustrated by Kanako & Yuzuru.
It’s that time of year when minds turn to new shoes, crisp new notebooks and tricked-out pencil cases - Back to School time! And it’s no different at St. Grizzle’s, the boarding school with a difference..... St. Grizzle’s School for Girls, Goats and Random Boys is the very first title in the series and tells … Continue reading St. Grizzle’s School For Girls by Karen McCombie, illustrated by Becka Moor.
Welcome to my specially updated post, all ready for the #TheTrainToImpossiblePlaces blog tour. As well as my original review, I’m also honoured to host an exclusive post by P.G. Bell, explains how this magical tale from orally told bedtime story to published book. “Where impossible, becomes possible....” When Suzy is woken up by strange banging, clanking … Continue reading Holiday Read #3: ‘The Train To Impossible Places,’ with exclusive post by P.G. Bell, illustrations by Flavia Sorrentino
This is the second of my much-anticipated holiday reads. I bought it a little while ago following a lot of good reviews, and now that I’m on holiday, I actually have time to read it! Orphaned Christopher works with Mr Absalom, an unregistered mechanic who specialises in making mechanical children (the creation of adults is … Continue reading Holiday Read #2: ‘Tin,’ by Pádraig Kenny, illustrations by Katie Hickey.
I purchased this beauty a little while ago and have been lovingly looking at it on my book pile ever since. I decided that my summer holiday would be the perfect time to crack open the cover (very carefully!) and enter the wonderous world of Nevermoor. Morrigan Crow is the only daughter of Chancellor Corvus Crow, … Continue reading Holiday Read #1 ‘Nevermoor – The Trials Of Morrigan Crow,’ by Jessica Townsend, illustrations by Beatriz Castro.
Welcome to the blog tour for the brilliant ‘A Chase In Time.’ Can a trip to the past save the future? Alex Pilgrim and his sister Ruby always spend a couple of weeks of the school holidays at Aunt Joanna’s house and by ‘house,’ I mean Applecott House: mansion/ Bed and Breakfast. But it may … Continue reading ‘A Chase in Time,’ by Sally Nicholls, illustrated by Brett Helquist.
Having read, and loved, ‘You Can’t Make Me go to Witch School,’ I was very excited to see what was in store next for Twinkle Toadspit (aka Daisy Wart), Shakespearean actress and mega-witch. Daisy has just discovered that she is a seven of seventh witch, meaning that she is super-powerful and has broken the curse … Continue reading ‘Get Me Out Of Witch School!,’ by Em Lynas, illustrated by Jamie Littler.
Today two new titles from the fab ‘Unicorn Academy’ series are adding some glitter and sparkle to my blog. Ava and Star get caught up in a struggle to save the unicorns’ magic as it starts to fade. The special sky berries that the unicorns need to survive have disappeared! With a little help from … Continue reading Unicorn Academy Series by Julie Sykes, illustrated by Lucy Truman, typography by Joel Holland.
Charli is a model and body activist so is well-placed to write a book for middle grade readers which is aimed at encouraging a healthy body image. In a time where children are constantly bombarded with unrealistic photos of what a body ‘should’ look like, it’s even more important that they are reassured that bodies … Continue reading ‘Splash,’ by Charli Howard, illustrations by Lucy Davey.
Help! Aliens have invaded my blog! This is all thanks to the blog tour for Matt Brown’s latest book: ‘Aliens Invaded My Talent Show!’ Make sure you read Matt’s lowdown on his favourite aliens (good and bad!) Eric Doomsday just loves doing magic tricks. His best friend, Vinnie Mumbles, thinks they’re ace - even if … Continue reading ‘Aliens Invaded My Talent Show!’ By Matt Brown, illustrated by Paco Sordo.
One of the things I love most about children’s authors, is the seamless way they blend challenging and sensitive issues with humour to make the subject matter approachable for children. ‘Walls’ fits brilliantly into this category with its main character Ned struggling to come to terms with his parents’ divorce and break-up of peer friendships. … Continue reading ‘Walls,’ by Emma Fischel, cover by Sarah Darby.
“The world is filled with millions of miracles that no one sees.” Max finds life at St. Goliath’s difficult for a range of reasons - being made to sit on the ‘SPECIAL SEAT’ during assemblies, the constant noise and chaos. None of this made it easy for Max, with his hearing aids, to fit in … Continue reading ‘Max and the Millions,’ by Ross Montgomery, cover by David Litchfield.
McTavish is a rescue dog with a mission - to save the Peachey family. After mum resigns from her duties to practise yoga, The Peachey family is in chaos. They are always late for everything, sock go unpaired and take-away pizza for tea is de rigour. Cue, McTavish, the rescue dog and organisational mastermind who’s … Continue reading ‘GOOD DOG McTavish,’ by Meg Rosoff, illustrated by Grace Easton.
This stellar adventure is packed with pirates, circus boats and far-flung islands. In fact, everything you need for a thrilling read! Cass dreams of a life aboard Ravellous’s circus boat, making her living as an acrobat. With plans to audition when the boat arrives at Minaris, Cass is confident that a life of adventure awaits … Continue reading ‘The Company Of Eight,’ by Harriet Whitehorn, cover by Maria Surducan.
‘Sing your own song.’ Jamie and his family have relocated to the island of his mother’s birth, a remote and tiny island in the Outer Hebrides. Rugged and wild with surging tides, Jamie has never been happier living a wilder life. But he has a secret - he’s afraid of the sea. A chance meeting … Continue reading ‘To The Edge of the World,’ by Julia Green, cover by Helen Crawford-White.
A beautiful cloth-covered reissue of Shakespeare’s classic tale, originally published in 1945. When the Fairy Queen, Titania, and King of the Fairies, Oberon, argue about who should be responsible for a little changeling boy, Oberon and his servant, Puck, cast a mischievous spell on Titania. This spell causes her to fall madly in love with … Continue reading ‘Titania and Oberon – A Fairy Tale,’ written by Jo Manton, illustrated by Phyllis Bray.
It seems like I’ve been waiting for a lifetime for the second instalment in James Nicol’s ‘The Apprentice Witch’ series. But now it’s here and I’ve read it! Well safe to say, I wasn’t disappointed! In this second book, things have taken a darker turn in the village of Lull with a host of supernatural … Continue reading ‘A Witch Alone,’ by James Nicol, illustration by Daniela Terrazzini.
Today, I have the pleasure of rounding off the ‘Hopeless Heroes’ blog tour with an author spotlight. Book Boy has long been obsessed with Greek Gods so was thrilled to discover a new series of books from Stella Tarakson - ‘Hopeless Heroes.’ Our full review of two books in the series can be found here. … Continue reading Author Spotlight – Stella Tarakson and ‘Hopeless Heroes,’ illustrated by Nick Roberts.
Library Girl and Book Boy 