After an absence from blogging and book reviewing over the last couple of months these are just some of the recently published books for children of all ages that have lifted my spirits or offered hope and kindness. A jolly picture book celebrating the delight to be found in stories, a charming first chapter book for pet lovers, a humorous sci-fi story, a poignant family tale full of care and understanding, an exciting mystery set on the Mediterranean Sea and a wise portrayal of a family coping with trauma and difficulty with hope.

Wild Book Day by Karl Newson and James Brown

Each year in March we celebrate World Book Day and wonderful though the celebrations are it would be a shame if this was the only time we were encouraged to shout about the joy of books. Hurrah for Karl Newson and James Brown who in this joyful picture book reinforce the message that any day can be Wild Book Day!

From its vibrant cover onwards this book is engaging and fun, the text bounces along and is ideal to read aloud. The choice of vocabulary and the placing of the text within the pages all suggest movement and happiness and the message that books are jolly good fun is loud and clear. The illustrations are full of characters for young children to spot and identify and this is a great way to introduce them to a range of traditional tales and classic stories. Wild Book Day is a delightful concept and children will love the idea of stories bursting from the pages when no-one is looking. A lovely idea and well executed this delightful picture book will prompt book chat and encourage a love of reading. A must buy for pre-school and infant book shelves. Published by Owlet Press in February. I should like to thank the publishers for my review copy.

The Missing Bunny by Holly Webb illustrated by Antonia Woodward

This new Little Gem from Barrington Stoke is a delight for animal lovers being a story with just enough mild peril to excite yet gently told by Holly Webb and with charming colour illustrations by Antonia Woodward.

Annie can’t wait to meet her new pet rabbits and introduce them to their amazing new home her dad has built for them. Toffee and Humbug quickly settle in and Annie is delighted. But next morning in a rush to get to school Annie doesn’t check the hutch door properly and Humbug escapes. When Annie returns from school later she is desperate to find Humbug before the neighbourhood fox does! This story will quickly engage newly independent readers and the book is cleverly designed to support new readers. Holly Webb has successfully included guidance on caring for your new pet in the story so that youngsters will learn a little as they read which is a thoughtful touch. I am a big fan of the Little Gems series and this is welcome addition to the range. The chunky format is perfect for small hands and the Can you find Humbug? puzzle on the inside cover adds to the fun. Published on 1st February. Thank you to Barrington Stoke and Poppy McLean for my review copy.

Astrid and the Space Cadets!: Attack of the Snailians! by Alex T Smith

A new series by popular author and illustrator Alex T Smith blasts off with bags of humour in this sci-fi story for young readers featuring 6 year old Astrid, a super Space Cadet on a mission. Astrid goes to bed every night just like other 6 year olds but as soon as it is dark Astrid discards her pyjamas and dons her Space Cadet uniform and sets off on board the space ship Stardust ready for adventure. Accompanied by her friends, pink alien Beryl, Professor Quackers a clever duck and Zoink a small fluffy alien Astrid responds to her mission directed by The Chief and departs to clean up the Milky Way which is full of rubbish. However a nearby alien calls for help with a problem in her garden…giant Snaliens! Astrid as an intrepid intergalactic helper diverts to try to save the day but things don’t go entirely to plan!

From the very first page this is an attention grabbing story and is full of jolly characters, a slightly bonkers plot, hilarious moments but also Alex T Smith’s trademark kindness and subtle inclusivity. Space stories in books, TV and film have long held a fascination for children and Alex T Smith’s own interest in sci-fi magazines and comics of the 50s and 60s is evident in the illustrative style. Pitched at readers of about 5 -7 years of age this book will appeal to children’s imaginative play and ideas encouraging them to think and explore. The overall design of the book itself may well encourage children who don’t consider themselves to be readers being heavily illustrated and therefore a less daunting challenge. The second book in the series is due to be published in July 2024 and I think many will be on the waiting list for that too. Attack of the Snailians was published on 7th March by MacMillan children’s books and I would like to thank the publishers for my proof copy.

Little House by Katya Balen illustrated by Richard Johnson

Each book I read by Katya Balen impresses me as she is able to write with a deceptive simplicity of style yet her stories possess an almost poetic quality. Little House is another masterly example of her work as she explores complex issues with compassion and subtlety yet ensuring that they are understandable to her young audience.

Katya Balen tells the story of ten year old Juno who is angry that she is being sent to stay with her grandpa for the summer holidays and will be missing all the fun she and her friends had planned for the long break. Perhaps more importantly she will also miss her mum who is travelling to join Juno’s dad to assist in his charity work overseas leaving her daughter scared for the safety of both parents and confused about her place in their lives. Grandpa is kindly and welcoming despite Juno’s resistance and encourages her to join him in his wood carving and cooking with little success initially. Then Juno discovers a long forgotten doll’s house and a small family of dolls in the attic and gradually through her care for the dolls and their home she learns a little more about her mum’s motivation and gains a more mature understanding .

This story conveys beautifully the way in which children may find the decisions made on their behalf by adults difficult to understand and may even rebel against. The added impact of Little House is that the author also depicts in Juno’s character ways children can cope with these difficulties. There are many layers to this story and it could be used as an opening to discussion about the broader picture of our place in the world and the manner in which people may be able to help others. On a smaller scale it also portrays the healing power of craft and creativity to soothe anxious and worried minds. This is another wonderful publication from Barrington Stoke and the pairing with Richard Johnson and his atmospheric illustrations works brilliantly. Published on 14th March and highly recommended. I should like to thank Poppy McLean and the publishers for my review copy.

Mysteries at Sea: The Royal Jewel Plot by A. M.Howell

The second in the Mysteries at Sea series has been eagerly awaited by those who read and enjoyed the opening story, Peril on the Atlantic, last year. A M Howell deftly blends historical detail with an exciting and well plotted mystery in The Royal Jewel Plot, bringing Alice and Sonny back and pairing them with a wonderful new cast of characters.

The story is set on a fictional yacht, the Lady Rose, set against the backdrop of growing unrest in Europe in the late 1930s and includes real characters such as King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. This balance of factual information and imaginative fiction is extremely well done and A M Howell’s research adds a believable quality to the story. The plot centres on a precious jewel stored in a tank on the yacht and guarded by a poisonous octopus and when both go missing mid-voyage Alice and Sonny, our two young detectives, spring into action. As our two young sleuths follow clues and the list of possible suspects grows ever longer it becomes apparent that no-one aboard the vessel is safe from accusations.

This is a fascinating period of history and although children may well have learned about World War 2 in the classroom the build up to this catastrophic event and the background to the abdication are probably less familiar to them. This story provides a little more detail for its readers and may well prompt discussion. The Royal Jewel Plot is a thoroughly enjoyable read and may appeal to lovers of books by Emma Carroll and Robin Stevens. It was published on 11th April by Usborne Books and I should like to thank Fritha Lindqvist and Usborne Books for my review copy.

Me and Aaron Ramsey by Manon Steffan Ros

The Carnegie winning Blue Book of Nebo was a deeply affecting novel for a YA readership and Manon Steffan Ros’s eloquent and insightful writing style is evident once more in this book for a younger audience of about ten to twelve years old. The title highlights its central theme of football but this author has a gift for ensuring her stories are multi-layered, covering ideas and subjects of importance to her young audience and, importantly, offering them hope and wisdom through her emotionally aware, thoughtful text.

Sam and his Dad both love football, bonding over their shared enjoyment of both the game and their favourite team and players. Sam’s ideal pastime is kicking a ball about with his friend Mo after school and at weekends. When his Dad’s dreams of football success go suddenly and horribly wrong Sam’s love of the player he idolises becomes tangled with his relationship with his father affecting family life. Sam is a worrier by nature but the stress his family are now under increases his anxiety and he struggles to cope. His Dad too is trying to cope with his changed circumstances and his illiteracy which he has hidden from many for a long time. All of this turmoil is conveyed in an accessible and relatively short book with the chapters ending with a gripping hook ensuring that this thoughtful story appeals to a wider audience, both football fans and those who find longer, dense novels overwhelming will be drawn to this rewarding read. Despite not being the target audience I thoroughly enjoyed Me and Aaron Ramsey finding it an emotionally satisfying read. Published by Firefly Press on 11th April and highly recommended. I should like to thank Graeme Williams and the publishers for my proof copy.