A special edition of a well-loved classic makes for a timeless Christmas gift. Below, are some of the latest titles I’ve received which bring classic tales to life in new and surprising ways. Please – draw me a sheep. I blinked. The voice belonged to a charming little prince. The characters of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's … Continue reading Classics for Christmas
We are absolutely huge fans of Caryl Hart’s awesome series of Albie picture books. Each story is a leap into the imagination of a young boy with a habit of attracting adventure and mischief! When my own boys were younger, we’d have Albie’s adventures on bedtime story repeat. They had several favourites, one of the being … Continue reading Albie’s 10th Anniversary Tour! ‘How to Win a Monster Race,’ by Caryl Hart, illustrated by Ed Eaves.
Today, for your reading pleasure, I have a brilliant twist on the classic cautionary tale ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf.’ Introducing ‘There’s a Lion in the Library!’ Little Lucy Lupin has the most adorable dimples, a little button nose and a very charming scattering of freckles. She looks as though butter wouldn’t melt in her … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘There’s a Lion in the Library!’ by Dave Skinner and Aurélie Guillerey.
I’ve recently been sent several beautiful new editions of classic children’s stories which I think would make excellent Christmas gifts for established fans or new readers. To stand the rest of time, these classic stories have to have a timeless appeal that will entertain future generations and the titles I’m about to show you will … Continue reading Pick a Classic for Christmas
Morag is well-known for her best-selling, eye-popping picture books with wry humour and characters you could fall in love with. It’s for this reason I squeaked in excitement when I spotted ‘Brenda’ peeking out of the Jiffy bag. Book Boy snaffled it first and was sniggering away to himself as he read, but it wasn’t … Continue reading ‘Brenda is a Sheep,’ by Morag Hood.
I am always on the look out for classic stories retold in a simplified style and I’ve got two gorgeous ones plus a classic song for you to enjoy in picture book form. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, retold by Caryl Hart, illustrated by Sarah Warburton (Nosy Crow) This is an absolutely stunning re-telling of … Continue reading Picture a Classic…
One day, when Julian is on the way home with his Nana, he spots what looks like the most beautiful mermaids. Their long flowing hair and shimmering tails spark something inside Julian. When he gets home, Julian styles his hair, make-up and clothing to transform himself into one of those dazzling creatures. But what will … Continue reading ‘Julian is a Mermaid,’ by Jessica Love.
We are great fans of Duncan's books in this household ('The Lumberjack's Beard' was on a bedtime loop for quite some time!) so we were all thrilled to receive a copy of his newest title - 'The Last Chip' so we could be part of its blog tour. I was also delighted that Duncan was … Continue reading ‘The Last Chip,’ by Duncan Beedie.
These next three books are perfect for fans of all things dinosaur. We have some fabulous fiction, non-fiction and a gorgeous colour and discover book. 'The Book of Prehistoric Beasts,' from Angela Rizza and Jonny Marx (Buster Books) This gorgeous book is a clever mix of facts, profiles and fearsome creatures to colour in. … Continue reading Dinotastic Discoveries!
'Grab your hard hat, tie your boots. Pack your lunch. Let's get to work!' Dog and his friend, Bird, have a busy day ahead of them. Planning, digging, hammering and sawing - there's lots of work to be done. But can they finish their job before the sun goes down? Jarvis' exhuberant illustrations leap off … Continue reading ‘Ready, Set, Build!’ By Jarvis and Meg Fleming.
Ernest the Earwig has been thinking. And he's not happy. All sorts of creatures appear in books, but not earwigs. Why not?! Outraged, Ernest decides to right this wrong. After a restless night's sleep, Earnest heads off to the local bookshop and straight to the children's literature section. He then seizes his chance to slip … Continue reading ‘The Importance of Being Ernest the Earwig,’ by Nanette Newman, illustrated by Lindsay Branagh.
In today's political climate, we are constantly being told how different we all are from each other. That's why I was delighted to be sent this clever book which not only celebrates our differences but also points out how we are all the same. This book was inspired by Matt Lamothe's own experiences as he … Continue reading ‘This Is How We Do It – one day in the lives of seven kids from around the world,’ by Matt Lamothe.
Did you know that there was once an enormous snake called a Titanoboa which was over 14.5m long?! Find out more about this, and many other, prehistoric animals in the fascinating pages of this book. Organised into four subsections (plant-eaters, sea creatures, predators and creepy-crawlers), Animasaurus is absolutely packed full of the most terrifying and … Continue reading ‘Animasaurus-Incredible Animals that Roamed the Earth,’ by Tracey Turner, illustrated by Harriet Russell.
My last festive review for the year, but a great one. There's still time to grab yourself a copy before the big day. Princess Eliza is an inventor. There's nothing she likes better than making new gadgets and toys but her parents would rather she was out making new friends. Eliza tries hard to make … Continue reading ‘The Princess and the Christmas Rescue,’ by Caryl Hart and Sarah Warburton.
Are you looking for some great Christmas reads this year? Well, you could follow the Twitter hashtag #bookelves16 or take a look at my festive purchases so far (a more in-depth blog post to follow):
Another awesome idea for the month of December – The fabulous Book Trust organisation launched an on-line advent calendar featuring a different author everyday. It may be from last year but it’s packed full of fantastic titles. Follow along at home if you need some festive inspiration!
Challenge yourself to try an new author and find a festive favourite!
Follow the link below for details:
Library Girl.
"When a child loves you...REALLY loves you, then you become REAL." This beautifully re-illustrated volume is the first title in a new series if classics for Nosy Crow Publishers. The gorgeous fully-foiled cloth binding and cover make it the perfect Christmas gift for old and new fans alike. Fed-up of being teased by Boy's mechanical … Continue reading ‘The Velveteen Rabbit,’ by Margery Williams, illustrated by Sarah Massini.
Stockton is a very clever cat and he knows it. Playing the violin, juggling, rhythmic gymnastics, all come easily to him. But knitting? Now that's a different matter entirely! Stockton has a very fancy party to go to and he simply must knit himself a fancy scarf to wear. If he's as good at knitting … Continue reading ‘I Am a Very Clever Cat,’ by Kasia Matyjaszek.
Library Girl and Book Boy 