The Secret Sunshine Project by Benjamin Dean illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

Posted on March 11, 2022 by alibrarylady

The Secret Sunshine Project is a fitting title for a book that fizzes with positivity. Benjamin Dean’s second middle grade novel is a gentle and understanding look at a family learning to live with loss. A story of kindness, courage and acceptance.

Cover illustration by Sandhya Prabhat

When we first meet Bea and her family they are living in London and are full of joy following a visit to London Pride. The vibrance of the celebration echoing in the happiness of Bea, her older sister Riley and their Mum and Dad. One year later as the school summer holiday approaches things are vastly different for them. The girls’ Dad died shortly after their joyful family day out and since then life has lacked colour and happiness.

Their changed circumstances mean Bea, Riley and Mum must leave their family home in London and spend the summer with the girls’ Grandma in the country. All Bea’s plans for the holidays are spoilt and Riley will miss Pride. Bea is determined to do something to cheer her sister up and with the help of her new friends in the village she sets about recreating the day that brought her sister such happiness. However there is one person who will put a stop to her plans at any price, the formidable local councillor Rita.

Grief is an emotion so overwhelming that to write a book for children centred on this subject could result in a difficult or distressing read but The Secret Sunshine Project is neither. The vibrant cover by Sandhya Prabhat and the rainbow sprayed page edges set the tone and Benjamin Dean highlights in his story the best that can be found in people. Bea and her family despite their loss are close and understanding of each other and the growing friendships in their new home convey the importance of acceptance, kindness and support. It is a reassuring and hopeful theme.

There are some great characters included in the plot and the bond between Bea and Riley has an authentic family feel to it. Grandma is fabulous and Norman would lift the most gloomy of people. There is sadness though and this is dealt with kindly and with quiet optimism. If you were inclined to attach labels to children’s fiction then some would describe this as a LGBTQ title but in reality it is a story about finding the light in what may be a dark place. A book I enjoyed and I know I am not the target audience but at the moment in particular perhaps a book that more adults should read to raise awareness and understanding of the role of children’s literature in supporting all.

I should like to thank Kirsten Grant and Simon and Schuster Children’s Books for my copy. The Secret Sunshine Project is published on 31st March and can be pre-ordered/purchased online at Bookshop.

Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on March 5, 2022 by alibrarylady

Welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. The highlight has undoubtedly been the 25th World Book Day which was celebrated across the country on Thursday in schools, libraries and bookshops. It was a happy celebration of the joy of reading but the most important aspect is the £1 World Book Day books. Research has shown that for many children these books are the first they will have personally owned and that fact alone makes it all the more meaningful.

What I’m reading…

It’s been a picture book week for me. Nour’s Secret Library by Wafa’ Tarnowska illustrated by Vali Mintzi is a beautiful book with a hopeful message and one that resonates particularly at the moment. Inspired by a true story and the author’s own childhood experience, this story conveys the comfort and hope books and libraries offer in times of struggle. It is published this month by Barefoot Books and I would highly recommend it.

This week also saw the start of the blog tour linked to this year’s Federation of Children’s Book Groups Children’s Book Award. I was delighted to be able be first up on the Picture Book Category and you can read about the inspiration for the kind and tender story of Perdu by Richard Jones and to see some of his early artwork here.

On Wednesday morning we learned of the death of the beloved Shirley Hughes. To me she felt much more than an author and illustrator, she was a comfort, a guide and in many ways an inspiration. A remarkable women who was still creating magic through her books in her nineties. I tried to write a thank you to her, it doesn’t say it all really but it helped to put it down in words. She was a special person.

My good news of the week was that an independent bookshop has opened near my Dad’s house last Saturday. To say I’m pleased would be a bit of an understatement. Of course I had to call in on the way home ‘just for a quick look’…this could get expensive! If you are anywhere near Ashtead in Surrey I can recommend Word on the Street, there is a warm welcome and lots of plans for author events, book clubs etc. and it is wonderful to be able to support a new independent.

News, articles and resources…

Phil Earle’s Bookish Appeal – the lovely Phil Earle, award winning children’s author, is ‘Raising money for the Ukraine’ – would you like his 2023 novel to be DEDICATED to you? Or BECOME a character in it? Donate at the link above and you will be entered into a draw for 3 great prizes.

Shirley Hughes, children’s author and illustrator, dies aged 94 – this Guardian article provides an overview of the much loved author and illustrator’s life and work and includes comments and tributes from other authors.

Shirley Hughes remembered: ‘Everything she shone her attention on turned to gold’ – a selection of beautiful memories of and tributes to Shirley Hughes from the world of children’s literature.

Lucy and Tom’s Day by Shirley Hughes – this is a lovely, thoughtful look at just one of Shirley Hughes’ picture books by Jake Hayes that also provides background to her early career.

Six Re-imagined Fairytale Books for National Tell a Fairy Tale Day – I had not realised that last Saturday, 26th February was National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. However, Rachael Davies on the Perfect Picture Book blog was in the know and has shared some great books in this post. Fairy Tales are lovely to share any day so I hope this link is of value even though it is late.

Mathew Tobin’s Klaus Flugge Prize Longlist Slideshow – Mat Tobin, Senior Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, has generously created and shared this wonderful resource providing both his own insights in to the illustrations in these excellent picture books and links to background information about the artists and their work. A resource definitely worth exploring.

The Reader Teacher February 2022 Monthly Must Reads – an interesting selection from Scott Evans this month. I have Escape Room on my bookshelf and am looking forward to reading this, Christopher Edge is a writer whose books I enjoy very much. Scott has also created a poster of his favourites which is free to download.

The Children’s Book Award Short List Announced – This shortlist has been announced this week, with children choosing their favourite books from the last two years after a year-long hiatus. Children across the UK are now invited to vote for their favourite of the ten shortlisted books. The deadline for online voting is 12 noon on Friday 27th May, there are three categories and the selection will appeal to a variety of tastes. A lovely award to follow in schools.

No Shelf Control February 2022 Issue – Teacher Dean Boddington’s monthly newsletter for children, teachers and parents is available to download from his blog. The current issue includes a Q&A with award winning author Elle McNicoll.

CLPE Reading for Pleasure 2021-2022 – In 2021 CLPE published the outcomes of a survey that asked teachers to share their experiences of teaching reading during lockdown and the pandemic restrictions. CLPE decided to repeat the survey in January 2022 to find out what were the pressing issues for schools as they emerge from lockdown and return to full class teaching. This report shares the outcomes of that survey and includes valuable insights into how teachers are working to develop reading for pleasure cultures in their schools and classrooms

Letter from a very small country with big neighbours (no, not Russia) – Luīze Pastore is an award-winning Latvian author whose children’s novel, Dog Town, was published by Firefly in 2018. In this new blog she writes for Firefly readers about her horror at the war in Ukraine, and what it means for the children of Latvia, which was itself part of the USSR until 1991.

The Reader Teacher Books I’m Most Excited About Coming Soon March Video – I know February was a short month but it only feels like two minutes ago that Scott Evans was sharing his last selection but here we are again. March titles include Jo Clarke’s Libby and the Parisian Puzzle which is great fun and The Secret Sunshine Project by Benjamin Dean which I’m halfway through and enjoying very much.

BookTrust New Children’s Books We Love – the BookTrust team have selected the books they like best for the month of March. A wide range of titles for toddlers to teens and this regular feature is always helpful.

IBBY Honours List 2022 Nominees – The IBBY Honour List is a biennial selection of outstanding, recently published books, honouring writers, illustrators and translators from IBBY member countries. The UK nominees are Tom Percival for The Invisible, Katya Balen for October, October and Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp for The Raven’s Children.

Blue Peter Book Award Winners – the winners of this award were announced on World Book Day and Best Story category winner was The Last Bear by Hannah Gold and Best Story with Facts category winner was Invented by Animals by Christiane Dorian, illustrated by Gosia Herba. You can find out more about the awards, the winning books and those in the shortlist in the BookTrust article linked above.

Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye this week…

The River by Tom Percival – Tom Percival has a knack of conveying emotions in his picture books in a gentle and kind fashion and his latest title does this once more. This lovely review by Paul Watson describes it as, “A tale of love, loss and hope – a joy to share with children.”

Split Survival Kit by Ruth Fitzgerald and Dr Angharad Rudkin – A much-needed support for children facing family break up this new book contains practical and positive tips to help children coping with this situation. In her review for LoveReading4Kids Joy Court says, “The positive strategies outlined will be empowering and supportive.” Perhaps a useful book for school libraries.

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tolá Okogwu – this sounds a bit different. A superhero story set in Nigeria and featuring very powerful hair. Tom Griffith’s review is worth a read, particularly as he describes Onyeka as “definitely going to be one of the most important MG protagonists of 2022.” It is published in June and is a book I will be looking out for.

Furthermoor by Darren Simpson – I do like a book with a great villain and Rich Simpson’s description of Featherly has sold this book to me: “Featherly – one of the most sinister baddies I’ve encountered in many a book recently. Sneaky, sly, evil – he really does pervade the events with a sense of absolute evil – an amazing (but very scary) creation”

That’s all for this week and I do hope you have found it helpful. My reading plans for the weekend include finishing The Secret Sunshine Project by Benjamin Dean, a family story that I am finding engaging due to some interesting characters. Happy reading.

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Thank You Shirley Hughes – a legacy of love, kindness and the importance of the little things

Posted on March 2, 2022 by alibrarylady

This morning I awoke to the sad news that Shirley Hughes the beloved author and illustrator had died. The children’s book community online has been united in sadness at the loss of this remarkable woman who has been at the heart of children’s books for so long. It was noticeable to me that alongside the feelings of loss, the admiration and respect shown for both Shirley Hughes the person and her numerous books, there was also an outpouring of love. For generations this kind and perceptive woman had comforted and reassured, entertained and amused readers and her personality permeates all her work ensuring that her kindness and understanding are conveyed to others.

There are others more qualified than I am to discuss the artistic techniques used by Shirley Hughes so I will not attempt to do so here. What I and many others do know however is how her books make us feel. It is that aspect which I think caused the many expressions of love shared this morning.

In 1977 her picture book Dogger, was published and has since that time become a valued part of family life for many. Awarded the Greenaway Medal at the time and forty years later, thanks to a public vote, becoming ‘the Greenaway of the Greenaways’ its place in picture book history was assured and deserved. Shirley Hughes had a gift for conveying the emotions of small children in their expressions and general demeanour that encourages young readers to empathise with the characters. In Dogger that gift is expressed in a small drama that in reality is an experience that would be a huge trauma for her youngest readers. It was her understanding of that which makes Dogger work so perfectly.

Her wonderful books capture those everyday moments that later become special memories. Sharing her stories is such a treasured part of many family lives. As a young and bewildered new mum Shirley Hughes’ picture books acted as a guide for me. They are full of love, kindness, humour and wisdom just like the remarkable women herself. Sharing her lovely books with two little boys was a whole lot more effective than any self-help manual in reassuring me and helping to keep things in perspective.

Alfie Gets in First by Shirley Hughes

Thanks to her book Lucy and Tom’s Christmas Shirley Hughes has become synonymous with Christmas for me and I suspect for others too. Any re-reading is full of happy memories, of family and special times. I have a video recording (yes, that long ago!) of me reading this book to my elder son on Christmas Eve as he sits in bed with his stocking beside him replicating the illustration of Tom.

Lucy and Tom’s Christmas by Shirley Hughes

Fast forward many years and as a school librarian after a happy school visit by Shirley’s daughter, Clara Vulliamy I was lucky enough to attend an evening marking the publication of the mother and daughter collaboration of Dixie O’Day in the Fast Lane. Clara kindly introduced me to her mother and I had to fight the urge to curtesy to this ‘Queen of Children’s Picture Books’! She chatted, smiled and twinkled and was even lovelier than I imagined. A couple of years later attending an event for Clara Vulliamy and Polly Faber I looked up to see Shirley Hughes coming through the door resplendent in a large brimmed purple hat and smiling at everyone with that now familiar twinkle. Yet again she was patient with questions, kind to every awestruck children’s book lover who spoke to her. She sat and observed and showed interest in everyone and it is perhaps that observation and concern for others that threads through all her books. I am so very glad that I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to say thank you.

Clara Vulliamy shared a beautiful tribute to her cherished Mum this morning saying:

“Shirley Hughes, 1927 – 2022, who showed us that love is kind, brave and loyal, and that the beauty in this world is in the big picture and in the detail. This isn’t goodbye, Mum will shine brightly forever.”

Clara Vulliamy

Rest in peace dear Shirley Hughes and a heartfelt thank you for the stories, the illustrations and most of all for the shared love.

Dogger’s Christmas by Shirley Hughes
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The Children’s Book Award Blog Tour – Perdu by Richard Jones

Posted on March 2, 2022 by alibrarylady

It is an honour to kick off the blog tour today for the Federation of Children’s Book Groups Children’s Book Award, the only book award voted for entirely by children. I am especially delighted that I have been asked to host the first of the four books shortlisted for the Picture Book category, Perdu by Richard Jones. I first reviewed this gorgeous book back in 2020 and at the time thought this tender story of a little lost dog was a soothing book to read and a celebration of the power of kindness. The illustrations are beautiful with gentle colours and are a perfect match for the story. Richard Jones conveys Perdu’s emotions in the small but determined figure trotting along through the fields and in the droop of his head and tail in the city as he cowers after being shouted at. In addition to the small lost dog there are parallels to others who may be trying to find a place where they can belong, be that those displaced from their own countries or people struggling to fit in with others. Over the last couple of years its themes have become even more important to us all and I do think it is lovely that children have recognised that too.

I am delighted to welcome Richard Jones to the blog to tell us all a little about the inspiration for the story and what he hoped readers would take away from sharing the book.

Richard Jones – creator of Perdu

Perdu is a book about a little lost dog and his struggle to find a place in the world – a place to call home.


The theme of longing – longing for a safe place and a sense of belonging – is a universal one and as a basis for a story has been explored in children’s books many times with Paddington by Michael Bond my most loved. I adore the Paddington books; the joy he finds in the sights and sounds around him, his innocence and childlike positivity, but also his determination. My lost dog would view the world in a similar way, I decided. He would take on the search for a new home with optimism and hope. He would be displaced soul, a refugee of sorts, but strong and brave. His scarf would be his only possession, and he would treasure it.

His story emerged over a few months, taking on characteristics and personality from news stories and videos I read and watched.

The media at the time were revelling in imagery of people fleeing persecution and war. There were aid agencies, charities and inspirational individuals helping them too, of course, and it was these people and their kindness that suggested our little lost dog might actually have someone looking out for him on his journey. The character of the little girl with the red bobble hat would take on this role and Perdu would have a friend in the world, though for the sake of the story he might not know it until the end!

The first rough layout and final artwork

There’s a moment in the story when Perdu is scared away from a busy restaurant. In the hullabaloo of the chase, he loses his precious scarf and escapes into a park.

When it’s lost, Perdu feels like he’s lost everything. For him the scarf is a connection to his previous life and it means everything. So when the little girl finds it lying on the road and returns it to him, she is returning to him his sense of self, his status and worth. A small, kind gesture with wonderful consequences.

I chose to name him Perdu at the very beginning of the project. I made a list of a few words that might sound rounded and appealing to a child, but also mirror his story and see how they translated into different languages. Perdu (‘Lost’ in French), seemed to fit the little chap perfectly.

For many years I had my own Perdu sleeping besides my desk as I worked. Her name was Megan and she was a sort-of collie mixed with a kind-of whippet. We think she’d been a stray as a puppy before moving between rescue centres and one or two families. She came to us one wet Sunday in 2007 and stayed until she died in 2016. She was sensitive, gentle, and a little bonkers. She was my best friend. A lot of her character is echoed in Perdu’s own and I’m proud and thankful I was the one to tie her scarf back on.

Thank you, Richard for this thoughtful insight and for sharing your artwork. I do love the photo of Megan!

The Children’s Book Award is the only national award voted for solely by children from start to finish. It is highly regarded by parents, teachers, librarians, publishers and children’s authors and illustrators as it represents the children’s choice. Thanks to the support of the publishers, around 800 new fiction titles are donated to be read and reviewed by local FCBG groups across the country every year. This year approx 50,000 total votes were cast, and we expect many thousands more to come in for the Top 10. At the end of each testing year, many of the books are donated to hospitals, women’s refuges, nurseries and disadvantaged schools by our groups.

There wasn’t an award in 2021 – the challenges of getting books out to the child judges in lockdowns meant the award did not run last year. Therefore, this year’s award celebrates the most popular books from 2020 and 2021 so no one misses out.

Don’t forget that voting opens soon and closes on 27th May so please keep an eye on the website for further details. Children have plenty of time to read the shortlisted books and vote for their favourite. The books can be purchased at a discounted price on the Heath Books website.

I would like to thank Richard Jones, Simon & Schuster and Erin Hamilton for their assistance in preparing this post. Please do follow the rest of the blogtour to find out about all the other great books shortlisted for this important award. I’m looking forward to finding out which books the children vote for!

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Nour’s Secret Library written by Wafa’ Tarnowska illustrated by Vali Mintzi

Posted on February 28, 2022 by alibrarylady

Inspired by a true story and the author’s own childhood experience, Nour’s Secret Library conveys the comfort and hope books and libraries offer in times of struggle. The thoughtful text and stunning illustrations work together beautifully to depict the power of the written word and sharing stories with others, even when surrounded by war.

Nour lives in the beautiful city of Damascus among the apricot and cherry orchards and loves playing hide and seek with her cousin Amir, climbing trees and reading stories. The two children long to be like the characters in their beloved mystery books so set up a secret society, a special club for them and for their friends. Then war comes to their beautiful city with planes circling above them and the sound of explosions. Their games and their secret club come to an abrupt end. But when there is a lull in the fighting Amir goes out for food and finds books in the streets, fallen there after the collapse of buildings. The books give Nour an idea for a new secret. It is a secret that will bring people together and give them hope, providing light in the darkness of war.

Illustration by Vali Mintzi

“The world of books is wonderful, Nour thought looking at the piles of books around her. Like a galaxy full of stars. Some are shinier than others but together they make the sky sparkle.”

When I interviewed Wafa’ Tarnowska at the time of the publication of her book Amazing Women of the Middle East she mentioned that she was planning a book that was influenced by her experience of living under the bombs as a teenager for several months in Beirut in 1975, and by an event that happened at the beginning of the Syrian war also involving teenagers. This beautiful picture book is the culmination of that idea. Her writing style flows like the voice of a traditional storyteller and her love of books and stories is evident in the language and phrasing. The vibrant illustrations by Vali Mintzi give Wafa’ Tarnowska’s words even greater impact. The palette is stunning highlighting the beauty of the city of Damascus, warm colours and striking rooftops with flashes of white as flocks of birds fly overhead. The thick gouache of the thriving city scenes and the children’s home life gives way to charcoal for the scenes of war and destruction. The juxtaposition between the two works extremely well.

Illustration by Vali Mintzi

The story itself is an inspiring one and it is beautifully told. The fact that this is based on true events adds greatly to its impact. There is background information at the end of the book, including information about Syria, famous libraries of the Middle East, details of the real secret library of Daraya in Syria and helpful notes from both the author and the illustrator. I can see this being valuable in the classroom.

A final word from the author herself.

“I believe that our souls need books just like our bodies need food. I hope that reading this book has fed your soul, for writing it has fed mine.”

Wafa’ Tarnowska

I should like to thank Rachel Sammons from the publishers, Barefoot Books for providing my review copy. Nour’s Secret Library is published in the UK in March.

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on February 26, 2022 by alibrarylady

Welcome to this week’s catch up with what has been happening in the world of children’s books. Although this weekly round up of news concentrates on aspects of reading, literature, education and libraries any other news round up this week has been dominated by the Ukraine crisis. Inevitably even young children will have been exposed to the coverage so I wanted to highlight a couple of resources that have been shared this week that may be helpful if you have to answer children’s questions, be that at home or in an educational setting. Firstly, BBC Newsround have produced this helpful guide which includes an advice section. First News have also created an “explainer” which is free to download from their website.

What I’m reading…

This month sees the ten year anniversary of the publication of Wonder by R J Palacio, a book that became a phenomenon in children’s literature being followed by related picture books, a graphic novel and a film. It was always going to be a hard act to follow and when I saw the cover of her new book ‘Pony’ and read the accompanying descriptions I initially did not think it was “my sort of book.” However the online book community swayed me. A book recommended by Jon Biddle, Teresa Cremin and Bronnie from independent booksellers, Bookwagon, always piques my interest. I immersed myself in the world created by R J Palacio last weekend and am so glad I did. It is unlike anything I’ve read before and is impossible to apply a label as it is a beautiful mix of historical, western, coming of age and ghost story. By the final pages I believed totally in the character of Silas and cared very much about this young man.

Barrington Stoke have several new books being published at the moment and this week I read and reviewed The Raven Riddle by Vashti Hardy illustrated by Natalie Smillie. I am delighted to see this series continue to develop and do believe that Grace and Tom’s adventures will hook many young readers and encourage them to read for pleasure.

Turning to information books I have enjoyed many of the recent titles from b small publishing and their Big Book of Boats by Luogo comune translated by Catherine Bruzzone is published next week. I learned a lot from this well presented book and would highly recommend it for primary school libraries.

News, articles and resources…

Jan Pieńkowski obituary – the children’s book world was united in sadness last weekend at the news of the loss of Jan Pienkowski and also in celebrating his wonderful work. The power of pictures in stories was evident, they are lodged in our memories and is a reminder if one was needed of the importance of illustration. This Guardian obituary tells the story of his life and beautiful work.

Jan Pieńkowski – BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award – In 2019 Jan Pieńkowski was awarded the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award and SF Said, one of the judges, this week shared the text of the speech he made at the ceremony. It summarises beautifully his contribution to children’s literature.

Michael Rosen BookTrust’s latest Writer in Residence – this news lifted our spirits on Tuesday. On Tuesday 1 March, Michael Rosen will become BookTrust’s next Writer in Residence – a project that has been running since 2009 – and he will be using the residency to promote the importance of reading and rhyming with children in their early years. I am sure he will inspire many.

An evening with Catherine Barr: Protect Freshwater and special guest Katie Alcott – on Mar 3, 2022 at 7pm Catherine Barr will be in conversation with Nikki Gamble about her new book Protect Freshwater to Save Life on Earth with special guest Katie Alcott, CEO FRANK water. Nikki and her guests will be talking about plans to mark World Water Day, on 22nd March, in school.

Updated Reading Roads from Dean Boddington – Dean’s popular Tube Maps were made to encourage children to read different genres and broaden their reading, these Roads help children to find progression within a genre. There are several different genres including animals, magical, science-fi and mystery in a variety of styles. For more information and to download a copy please visit Dean’s blog via the link above.

5 ways to show your library some love (and stop it becoming a store cupboard) – the latest #LifechangingLibraries tips from BookTrust identify some common problems and give advice on how to fix them even when time and space is limited.

World Book Day What to Read Next – This is a good resource. Find fresh reading ideas based on the 2022 World Book Day titles with a couple of follow on suggestions to each of the special £1 WBD books. A free to download poster from the National Literacy Trust that is perfect for schools.

Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2022 – The Hans Christian Andersen Award is the highest international distinction given to authors and illustrators of children’s books. Given every other year by IBBY, the Awards recognise lifelong achievement and are given to an author and an illustrator whose complete works have made an important, lasting contribution to children’s literature. The shortlists were announced this week and you can view them and find out more about the award and past winners via the link above. Like many others I’m sure, I was delighted to see Sydney Smith feature on the illustrators list.

Great School Libraries Campaign launches Phase 2 – CILIP, CILIP School Libraries Group and the School Library Association have announced the second phase of the Great School Libraries campaign, responding to the increasing educational and literacy gaps brought about by the Covid pandemic. This second phase will position great school libraries as a key part of academic recovery and the successful provision of formal education.

The school library: A powerful weapon in the battle for wellbeing – this is a wonderful article by the co-chairs of the Great School Libraries Campaign (see above) highlighting the vital role the school library and librarian play in pupils’ wellbeing. From my own experience as a school librarian I know that this is true and also that it can be overlooked. A must read piece, thank you Alison and Caroline.

World Book Day and the Importance of Translated Texts – this is an excellent article by librarian Roy James for Just Imagine highlighting the value of translated books for children. Perfectly timed for World Book Day I really like how this emphasises the global nature of reading for pleasure and learning.

Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels – Two vivid picture books from noted poets – plus Loki’s secret diary, the return of Mayor Bunny, and the pick of the new middle-grade and YA fiction all selected by Imogen Russell Williams for the Guardian.

Reading for Pleasure: Responsibility, Rigour and Relevance – free webinar hosted by Oxford Primary on Wednesday 2nd March at 4pm. Professor Teresa Cremin will focus on the benefits of being a reader in childhood, and the 3 R’s of reading for pleasure: responsibility, rigour and relevance. Those who register will receive a link to a recording of the event so you will be able to watch later.

David Fickling Books Virtual Showcase – this sounds fabulous. These publishers have some exciting books coming out this year and this event promises to be a treat. Hear more about new books from all the amazing authors on the list including S F Said, Lissa Evans, Julia Green, Philip Reeve. March 8th at 6.30pm. RSVP pr@davidficklingbooks.com for Zoom invitation.

Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye this week…

One Camel Called Doug by Lu Fraser illustrated by Sarah Warburton – I have a soft spot for The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser illustrated by Kate Hindley and this new picture book sounds to have a similar appeal. A lovely combination of bedtime story and counting rhyme that gets the thumbs up from Rachael on her Picture Book Perfect blog (and her daughters!) Her review also includes an interview with the author and the peep at the illustrations made me smile.

Marv by Alex Falase-Koya illustrated by Paula Bowles – Jo Cummins introduced a brand new series of highly-engaging first chapter books featuring a new hero, Marv (and his robot sidekick, Pixel.), this week. Jo says, “The well-spaced text and action-packed illustrations make this series the perfect read for anyone aged 5+ who’s looking for a wordier read alongside continuing to enjoy picture books.”

You Are 25% Banana by Susie Brooks illustrated by Josy Bloggs – I had missed this new non-fiction book published last month but it sounds great. A funny first guide to genetics that is perfect for children aged 5 years and over and described by Joy Court in her review for LoveReading4Kids as “not just an important scientific concept beautifully explained, but, through words and images, it carries the message of understanding, empathy and tolerance for others.”

Nick Sharratt’s Super Silly Museums – another non-fiction book for younger readers this time reviewed by Ben Harris and this sounds fun too. Ben says he was “completely won over by this quirky and utterly child-centric approach to non-fiction.” His review has completely won me over too and I will be buying this for a little person I know.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Di Camillo – Tom Slattery’s Books I Should Have Read feature on his blog continues with one of my personal favourites. As a school librarian I have frequently recommended this kind and thoughtful book to teachers and they have read it aloud to their classes with great success. You can read Tom’s lovely review to find how why this book is rather special.

That’s all for this week and I do hope that something included here is helpful to you or you have noticed a book that you would like to read. Happy weekend and I hope you have time for some reading.

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Big Book of Boats by Luogo comune translated by Catherine Bruzzone

Posted on February 25, 2022 by alibrarylady

The Big Book of Boats is a information book for children with high shelf appeal. Its bright and clear cover draws the eye and tempts you to open the book and discover more. There is a lot to discover within its pages too. The reader embarks on a voyage around the world learning as they go, exploring ships of all sizes and types from cruise ships to cargo ships from submarines to kayaks, from oracles to ice breakers. We learn about the history of boats, the adventures they have enabled and the battles they participated in. A book to enjoy, to share and to learn from.

The Big Book of Boats is crammed with information and yet also has considerable browsing appeal due to the vibrant illustrations. Luogo comune is the pseudonym of Jacopo Ghisani, an Italian illustrator and street artist and his distinctive style incorporates a great deal of detail. The text conveys much of the information in a readable and involving way and additional facts are displayed in captions and numerical keys to the double page spreads. This is not only relates to the boats and ships but related aspects such as maritime wildlife and people both historical and current who use these vessels. I learned a great deal from this book and it would be a valuable addition to primary school libraries and classrooms.

Originally published in Italian Catherine Bruzzone has done an excellent job in ensuring that this translation is appealing to a young audience. She wrote an article for the publishers, b small publishing, last year which I found interesting and you can read it here.

I should like to thank the Naomi Weeks at b small publishing for my review copy. The Big Book of Boats is published on 1st March and can be pre-ordered/purchased via the publisher’s website.

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The Raven Riddle by Vashti Hardy illustrated by Natalie Smillie

Posted on February 23, 2022 by alibrarylady

The third instalment of this steampunk fantasy series by Vashti Hardy for Barrington Stoke is another large scale adventure told in just over one hundred pages. As we return to Moreland our heroes attempt to solve a new mystery and have to face their greatest challenge yet, one that will be a test of courage and teamwork as they try to overcome prejudice and fear within a community.


Grace is now a fully fledged warden of the Griffin map, alongside her mother and brother, using its teleport technology to fight crime across Moreland. She has been joined by her new friend Tom Eely who has been training hard to become a warden and join the team. Despite their enthusiasm Grace’s mum thinks that the pair are not ready for a dangerous mission just yet and sends them instead to a quiet mountain village where a flock of ravens have been pestering the locals. Shortly after Grace and Tom arrive the situation becomes more involved than they had expected and with tales of a mountain witch and a spooky house in the woods they realise that this may not be the low key expedition they anticipated.

Vashti Hardy builds on the world she created in The Griffin Gate and the new character introduced in The Puffin Portal is developed further in this action packed sequel. The adventure encourages children to try to solve the mystery alongside the characters and as the tension mounts young readers will explore themes of friendship and the importance of teamwork. Key to the plot is the villagers’ suspicion of anyone a little different from themselves and the prejudice shown to outsiders. The author deals with this sensitively and the resolution is thoughtful and kindly in tone.

Helping Grace and Tom in their exploits is Watson the Robot Raven and this little trio make a good team. Grace is a wonderful female lead character and role model being both brave and thoughtful and Tom develops as a character in ways that will encourage children. The appealing cover and the black and white illustrations throughout are by Natalie Smillie and bring the imaginary world of Moreland to life adding to the enjoyment.

It is great to see Barrington Stoke pursuing this as a series. As a publisher they have done a great deal to widen access to quality fiction and I know from experience how important it can be for readers to develop a love of series fiction. That sense of familiarity and reconnecting to old friends as they follow characters through their adventures adds to the enjoyment of reading for many so I am delighted to see that there is another adventure, The Weather Well to look forward to.

I should like to thank the publishers Barrington Stoke for my review copy. The Raven Riddle is published on 3rd March and is available to purchase online at Bookshop.org.

Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

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Reading Matters – children’s book news

Posted on February 19, 2022 by alibrarylady

Welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of children’s books. Long lists for the Carnegie, Kate Greenaway and Klaus Flugge Awards have attracted attention over the last few days as have the winners of this years LOLLIES. World Book Day is approaching rapidly and I have included links that may help schools planning to mark the day.

What I’m reading…

Unfortunately once again life has got in the way of my reading time this week however I did manage to read and review Jo Clarke’s debut Libby and the Parisian Puzzle. This is delightful and has all the ingredients to encourage young readers to feel part of the fun and the puzzle solving, ensuring that Libby’s first adventure will be a welcome addition to school and home bookshelves.

I do want to mention a couple of great new picture books that I did have time to savour this week. The Comet by Joe Todd-Stanton is a kind and thoughtful story that will reassure young children who may be moving house, starting a new school or experiencing a change of some sort. It is also a lovely celebration of the power of a child’s imagination. The artwork is stunning and this is a book to linger over. The title of the second book was impossible for me to resist. Nour’s Secret Library by Wafa’ Tarnowska illustrated by Vali Mintzi is inspired by a true story and conveys beautifully how books, stories and libraries offer a source of hope and comfort in times of struggle. I also love how it is the young people who are making the difference in this heartening tale. I will try to get reviews of both of these up on the blog next week.

News, articles and resources…

S F Said World Book Day 2022 Video – A message from popular children’s author S F Said for World Book Day 2022 about reading for pleasure – and writing for pleasure too.

Tom Palmer – A short film for World Book Day 2022 – another useful video to share in schools for World Book Day. Award winning author Tom Palmer tells us why one particular book is his favourite and you will find his explanation interesting.

25 Ways to Celebrate World Book Day – the organisers of World Book Day together with their partners, The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, The National Literacy Trust and The Open University have created a strategy to nurture a life long love of reading. This excellent resource is full of suggestions, tips and ideas plus links to research, book lists and more. It is free to download.

Open University Reading for Pleasure February Newsletter – if you haven’t already signed up for this brilliant resource I can wholeheartedly recommend it. The current issue includes the World Book Day feature above plus news of awards, the Empathy collection, top texts selected by Miranda McKearney, author of the month and a poster to download.

Yoto Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Award Long Lists Announced – The UK’s longest running book awards for children and young people, the Yoto Carnegie Greenaway Awards, announced the longlists for 2022 this week. 33 books have been selected in total – 18 for the Yoto Carnegie Medal and 15 for the Yoto Kate Greenaway Medal – with themes of community and connection, shared humanity and friendship all explored in the titles. Many congratulations to all the authors, illustrators and publishers. I’m particularly pleased to see Phil Earle’s and Lesley Parr’s books included, both of which I loved.

The Klaus Flugge Prize Long List Announced– this award celebrating outstanding newcomers to picture book illustration was established in 2016. Previous winners include Jessica Love for Julian is a Mermaid and Francesca Sanna in for The Journey. It’s a wonderful long list this year containing several I have rated highly and others that I’ve had my eye on for a while. A list worth exploring!

Open University- Building a Culture of Reading for 2022-23 – Thursday 24 February 4.00-5.15pm – a free briefing for schools led by Professor Teresa Cremin to find out more about this successful, research led programme. Suitable for school leaders in primary, junior and infants schools

Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature Exhibition V & A Museum – if you are within travelling distance of London this family friendly exhibition sounds interesting. Visitors go on a journey to discover Potter’s life as a scientist and conservationist and explores the places and animals that inspired her most beloved characters. It opened last weekend and continues until January 2023.

Diversifying children’s literature: whose worlds are we sharing? – an incredible line up for this event at Oxford Brookes University on Tuesday April 5th 6pm-7pm. Hosted by lecturer Mat Tobin and with a panel featuring Darren Chetty, Alice Curry, Sita Brahmachari and Ken Wilson-Max this should be a fascinating and enlightening evening. I do wish I lived nearer!

Books for Topics: Children’s Fiction: 10 You Might Have Missed – I think this is such a good idea. With so many new children’s books published each month, often just a handful of key titles claim the spotlight. The review panel at Books for Topics have selected some titles they think should not be missed.

An Interview with Alex Wheatle – Imogen Russell Williams interviews this author for Books for Keeps asking about his new historical novel, Kenosha of the Caribbean in this interesting feature.

The National Teen Book Club – this free club run by Speakers for Schools brings together 14 to 19-year-olds from state schools and colleges across the UK, to a shared, virtual book club. You can sign up to the next club taking place on Wednesdays, 3.30-4.30pm, from the 9th March to the 30th March 2022 via the link. The book will be Darren Charlton’s award-winning Wranglestone.

Reading for Pleasure Padlet – teacher Andrew Rough has created this excellent resource which will be of particular value to librarians and teachers. It includes helpful websites and blogs, review sites, literacy organisations and book related resources. A treasure trove of valuable information.

The Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2022 (the Lollies) – this award celebrates the best and funniest children’s books in the UK and Ireland, voted for by children. Congratulations to the 2022 winners who were announced this week: 101 Bums by Sam Harper and Chris Jevons, Cats React to Science Facts by Izzi Howell and The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson and Rob Biddulph.

I wish to break the rules…a blog by Ben Harris – at first I was going to link to this article in the review section below as it features the forthcoming book by Lissa Evans, Wished, which does sound wonderful. However Ben also provides a fascinating insight into children’s literature looking back on the work of both Nesbitt and Aiken and the relevance to today’s fiction for children. This is definitely worth a read. Thank you, Ben.

Mr Dilly Meets World Book Week Bonanza – Celebrate World Book Day in your School as Mr Dilly Meets a whole host of amazing children’s authors and illustrators including Joanna Nadin, Rikin Parekh, Christopher Edge, Mel Taylor-Bessent and many more. The event is free and takes place on Tuesday March 1, 2022 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Full details and registration via the link above.

Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye this week…

Dogs in Disguise by Peter Bently illustrated by John Bond – I don’t think you would have to be a dog lover to be tempted by this review in Books For Keeps. “A visual treat, a joy to read aloud, and a doggy delight!” One for early years story-time and library read aloud sessions by the sound of it.

The Lost Whale by Hannah Gold illustrated by Levi Pinfold – The Last Bear was recently shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Award so expectations are high for this follow-up published next month. Emma Kuyateh’s lovely review reassures us that The Lost Whale will be a success too. Definitely one to watch out for!

Amazing Animals by Sabrina Weiss & Paul Daviz – in the school library it is often information books that children enjoy reading for pleasure as they browse and learn at the same time. This new book published by What on Earth Books has been put to the test by reviewer Kate Heap’s children and has passed with flying colours!

Serendipity edited by Marissa Meyer – I wish I had noticed this review in time for Valentines Day. This collection of stories inspired by romantic tropes features a range of diverse characters and Joy Court in her review for LoveReading4Kids says, “As well as being a thoroughly enjoyable read this collection could find uses in the classroom for analysis of genres, styles and tropes.” The collection is suitable for readers aged 13+

That’s everything for this week and I do hope that something included here will be helpful to you. I am hoping that this weekend I can start reading Pony by R J Palacio, a book recommended by both Jon Biddle and Teresa Cremin so it must be good! Happy reading.

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The Travelling School Mysteries: Libby and the Parisian Puzzle by Jo Clarke illustrated by Becka Moor

Posted on February 15, 2022 by alibrarylady

Jo Clarke’s debut for children, Libby and the Parisian Puzzle, is an appealing combination of adventure, detective mystery and boarding school story. It has all the ingredients to encourage young readers to feel part of the fun and the puzzle solving, ensuring that Libby’s first adventure will be a welcome addition to school and home bookshelves. Fully illustrated throughout by Becka Moor this will appeal to the younger middle grade audience and as the first in a series will help set these readers off on the road to reading for pleasure.

Cover illustration by Becka Moor

Libby loves a good mystery. Inspired by Isobel from her favourite books, Isobel Investigates, she is irrepressibly curious and continually alert to what is is going on around her. As Libby says goodbye to her mum as she sets off by train to live with her Aunt Agatha in her Parisian boarding school she is already appraising her fellow passengers with a beady eye. From the first page onwards Jo Clarke is dropping small clues for her readers to notice and remember.

Aunt Agatha’s boarding school is rather unconventional as it travels the world, moving each term to a new location so that the pupils can experience the local culture, language and traditions as part of their education. The streets of Paris are brought to life throughout the story with mentions of famous monuments, tourists sites and local food. French treats such as hot chocolate, melt in the mouth macarons, crumbly croissants and delicious cheeses are frequently enjoyed by Libby and her friends and made this particular reader quite envious.

The plot whizzes along and Libby soon makes a new friend in fellow new girl Connie and when Aunt Agatha is arrested, accused of a fiendish jewel robbery, the two girls set out to solve the mystery, find the true culprit and save Libby’s aunt. The trail of clues, both real and imaginary, will enthral young readers and provides the opportunity for them to try to use their own detective skills to guess the ending. That sense of involvement will add to the enjoyment of the story for many.

Libby is a delightful character, full of enthusiasm for everything and naturally chatty and inquisitive balanced by Connie’s slightly more reserved personality. I liked Connie who has hidden depths and is both thoughtful and helpful towards her more impetuous friend. I am looking forward to following these two on their next adventure.

The published version will be fully illustrated by Becka Moor and even from those included in my proof copy it is apparent that they have captured the spirit of the story well. From my experience as a school librarian I know that this will broaden the audience adding an appeal to many. Illustrated fiction for this age group is both important and popular and Libby and the Parisian Puzzle is a lovely example of why that is so. As a school librarian Jo Clarke knows which books children enjoy and I bet they will enjoy hers!

I should like to thank the publishers, Firefly Press for my proof copy. Libby and the Parisian Puzzle is published on 3rd March and is available to pre-order/purchase on Bookshop.org.

If young readers enjoy reading about Libby’s adventures I think they may also enjoy the Violet stories by Harriet Whitehorn, also illustrated by Becka Moor, the first of which is Violet and the Pearl of the Orient. You may also like to try Anisha Accidental Detective: School’s Cancelled by Serena Patel illustrated by Emma McCann.

Finally, Firefly Press have created this trailer to give you a taste of what to expect…

“Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.” 

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