In the absence of my weekly Reading Matters news letter I decided to take the opportunity to tackle my mountains of books that I had not had time to read. Did I succeed? Well, almost! There are still many wonderful books waiting to be read but I have read some special ones over the last few weeks so I thought I’d recommend just some that you may have missed.

Lulu’s Nana Visits by Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw (Alanna Max) is a perfect book to encourage very young children to discover the joy of sharing books and stories. A carefully structured story highlighting the importance of traditions and cultural identity and bursting with joy and enthusiasm for family connections and loving relationships, this is an absolute delight. Text and illustrations work together beautifully in this latest book in the Lulu series and, as we have come to expect from this partnership, encourage chat and involvement between child and parent or teacher as they share the story.

There is plenty here that little people will recognise and engage with and the vibrant pictures reinforce the message of family bonding and loving inter-generational relationships even when members live far apart. The family spends the week doing different activities like shopping for presents for family back in Tanzania, having dance parties, and learning how to make Nana’s special mandazi doughnuts.

There are so many little thoughtful touches included and the range of activities that the family participate in explore traditions and cultural background enabling children to either recognise their own lives or learn about other children’s. The emphasis on sharing is simply lovely and this is such a comforting book for little people and for their adults too. Full of joy, love and family togetherness this is a must buy for early years settings and libraries for children aged 3+.

Anisha Accidental Detective: Beach Disaster (Usborne Books) is the latest book in this popular, award winning series by Serena Patel and Emma McCann. A winning combination of mystery, humour and friendship in a story exploring environmental themes this is a brilliant holiday read but definitely one that will be enjoyed any time of year. This time we join Anisha and her friends as they embark on their long awaited Year 6 residential trip to the coast where they are going to learn about animal habitats. They are looking forward to three days away from grownups and hoping to win the local environmental competition. Cue the decision by Anisha’s Granny Jas to come along as a chaperone and then attempt to sabotage the children’s entries to the competition. Anisha is soon involved in an attempt to solve the mystery and ensure success for their project.

This jolly adventure is fast paced and full of fun with a likeable protagonist in Anisha who is immensely relatable for young readers. There are clues, plot twists and intrigue to engage, themes of family, friendship and overcoming problems to reassure and a thoughtful exploration of environmental themes too. The book is illustrated throughout by Emma McCann and her entertaining and amusing touch adds to the overall enjoyment. A brilliant book to tempt readers of about 7 and over and a great series to encourage young readers.

Welcome to Dead Town Raven McKay (Everything With Words) is an astonishing debut by Eibhlís Carcione illustrated in gothic style throughout by Ewa Beniak-Haremska and a magical tale for readers who enjoy ghost stories with a mythical touch. When her parents disappear, 12 -year-old Raven McKay is put into foster care with Kitty Stromsoe in the town of Grave’s Pass. It’s not an ordinary town. It’s a town where the living and the dead live side by side and old mistrusts and jealousies lurk beneath the surface. All her parents have left Raven is a battered beige suitcase with a faded black butterfly sticker and a note saying not to open the suitcase until the right time. Raven struggles to resist temptation and to know who she can trust in this strange town.

There is an hypnotic feel to this unusual story with its sinister characters and its deliciously spooky setting with Beniak-Haremska’s stunning illustrations conveying the evil in some style. Even the most mundane of activities such as clothes shopping is imbued with danger and uncertainty in the world of Grave’s Pass. As the plot develops the thrills mount and the grotesque characters increase as the reader wills Raven on in her quest to find out what has happened to her parents. This is a highly original book combining a ghostly thriller with a exploration of loss for readers of about 11 upwards.

Rhubarb Lemonade by Oskar Kroon translated by A. A. Prime ( Hot Key Books) a YA novel originally published in Swedish won the Swedish Arts’ Council August Prize in 2019 and also the 2021 Dutch Vlag en Wimpel award for children aged 12 – 15. Kroon tells the story of Vinga, a girl who feels different to her classmates and dreams of one day becoming a sailor exploring different faraway lands and seas. Distressed by the break up of her parents’ marriage Vinga spends the long hot summer with her Grandpa on the island where he lives and finds comfort in his easy pace of life and the beauty of her surroundings. When a new girl arrives on the island Vinga is wary but gradually a friendship forms with Ruth, a girl so different from herself, and slowly their friendship develops into something more.

This compelling novel highlights the difficulties and insecurities faced by young people on the cusp of adolescence, the awkwardness and also the urge to discover and experience more. The relationship between Vinga and her Grandpa is beautifully drawn conveying their special bond so well. The slightly unusual writing style is both tender and unsettling in turn covering themes of divorce, bereavement, first love and LGBT relationships making this a book for a teen audience of about 14+. A little different to my usual reading choices but Rhubarb Lemonade is a poignant story that will linger in my mind.

The Mind-Blowing World of Extraordinary Competitions by Anna Goldfield and Hannah Riordan (Neon Squid) details the range of challenges that people have competed in through the ages and across the world from the brave to the humorous from the creative to the downright strange. This is the sort of information book that will appeal to lovers of books such as Guinness Book of World Records, a large compendium to be shared and talked about.

Starting with events that date back thousands of years such as Chinese dragon boat racing and ‘wine slinging’ in Ancient Greece readers will learn about the origins and traditions of many sporting events including the Highland Games and African wrestling. Each competition is given a double page spread and the accompanying illustrations are clear with additional detail being provided in text boxes. The presentation encourages browsing but the contents page and index enables reader to look up specific items too. There are competitions involving animals including sheep counting, camel beauty contests and the fattest bear (yes, really!). The section on challenges in mythology is interesting and there are challenges that youngsters may be tempted to try such as air guitar or growing giant vegetables. Lots here to entertain but readers will learn at the same time. I can see this being popular in school libraries for Upper Juniors onwards.