'One dark night, the music and singing woke a monster from a swamp....' Aaaaand, I'm hooked! This gorgeous re-working of the classic Anglo-Saxon tale, 'Beowulf,' is cloaked in dark magic and mystery from the very beginning. I defy any reader not to be sucked into this tale of maniacal monsters, malevolent magic and heroism after … Continue reading ‘Monster Slayer’ by Brian Patten, illustrated by Chris Riddell
Tag: Upper KS2
‘Rebel Science’ by Dan Green and David Lyttleton
It is brilliant to see non-fiction books starting to be produced in the same eye-catching way as many picture books and fiction titles already are. Authors and publishing companies are beginning to understand that today's young readers want innovative layouts and great illustrations in the books they choose to read. 'Rebel Science' aims to introduce … Continue reading ‘Rebel Science’ by Dan Green and David Lyttleton
‘The Girl of Ink and Stars’ by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
** DOUBLE NEWSFLASH!!! ** More congratulations in order - the author of this fabulous bbook has just won British Children's Book of the Year at the #Nibbies Awards! Absolutely not surprised! *NEWSFLASH!* Huge congratulations to Kiran Millwood Hargrave on being awarded the prize of overall winner of the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2017 last night.* … Continue reading ‘The Girl of Ink and Stars’ by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
Dear Diary…
Diary-style stories are incredibly popular amongst young readers at the moment, mainly thanks to the 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' series. If you're looking for looking for some new books to explore, you might like one of these: Diary of a Taekwondo Master by Shamini Flint After some prompting from his dad (and against … Continue reading Dear Diary…
‘Creaturepedia’ by Adrienne Barman
I was zooming round the local library when this beauty leapt off the shelf and into my arms. Initially, it was the amazing illustrations on the front cover which caught my eye. The quirky creatures and vibrant colours made it a real attention-grabber. Upon opening the book, I was pleasantly surprised by the unusual category … Continue reading ‘Creaturepedia’ by Adrienne Barman
‘Swan Boy’ by Nikki Sheehan
Johnny has a lot to deal with: he and his little brother, Mojo, are still struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of their father; he's had to move to a new house in a new neighbourhood; and the school bully just can't seem to leave him alone. After a strange encounter with a … Continue reading ‘Swan Boy’ by Nikki Sheehan
‘The D’Evil Diaries – Hell’s Belles’ by Tatum Flynn
Tommy's in Hell. Literally. Ever since she was sucked down into the afterlife, all the locals have refused to accept her. She may have saved Hell from carnivorous carousel horses and hoardes of hell-beasts, with the help of her best friend, Jinx (the actual spawn of Satan) but the other demons just won't accept a … Continue reading ‘The D’Evil Diaries – Hell’s Belles’ by Tatum Flynn
‘Return to the Secret Garden’ by Holly Webb
I'm so excited! I love the classic book,'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson-Burnett and have just ordered an amazing-looking sequel by the talented Holly Webb. In this story, a group of children are evacuated to Misselthwaite Manor during the Second World War and find a mysterious diary written by a girl called Mary. They learn … Continue reading ‘Return to the Secret Garden’ by Holly Webb
‘My Brother is a Superhero’ by David Solomons
*NEWSFLASH!* Overall winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2016! I have just finished 'My Brother is a Superhero' and it's as funny as I'd hoped! Full of subtle (and not-so-subtle) superhero gags, a fantastic read for all those hoping to start out as a superhero and save the world one day! Long reign Star … Continue reading ‘My Brother is a Superhero’ by David Solomons
Library Girl and Book Boy 