Tag Archives: books

Straw into Gold – Fairy tales re-spun by Hilary McKay illustrated by Sarah Gibb Book 5 of #20BooksofSummer

Fairy tales are part of our cultural history. We share these magical, gripping and frightening stories in childhood and their characters, messages of magic and bravery, evil and love stay with us into adulthood. They are referred to in a … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn Book 4 of #20BooksofSummer

My slow progress through the 20BooksOfSummer challenge organised by Cathy on 746 Books took a long detour around the South Western Coastal path with this non fiction best seller from 2018. Raynor Winn tells the story of how she and … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

H is for Harry – and thoughts on literacy, libraries and laureates

On Monday evening I attended a screening of H is for Harry a documentary created by Postcode Films. Through the eyes of an eleven year old boy and his classmates we view what life is like for those children who … Continue reading

Posted in Reading | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Eagle Warrior by Gill Lewis

In her latest book Gill Lewis combines her knowledge, understanding and concern for wildlife with her skill in storytelling to create a thought provoking read that will enthral children and inspire them to think about conservation. Ten year old Bobbie … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Anna at War by Helen Peters (20 Books of Summer -Book 3)

“The British were so magnanimous to welcome us foreigners… truly showing a phenomenal humanity.” These words were part of the inspiration for this enthralling and immensely thoughtful book set in World War 2. They were said by a woman in … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Bookworm – A Memoir of Childhood Reading by Lucy Mangan (20 Books of Summer Book 2)

What is a bookworm? The Cambridge dictionary definition describes it as “Someone who reads a lot.” For Lucy Mangan it means so much more than that. In the introduction to this homage to the joys of reading she says that … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

All the Ways to be Smart written by Davina Bell illustrated by Allison Colpoys

A celebration of what makes each and every child special, this positive and joy filled book acts as a reassuring balance to the message that the only things that matter are those that can be measured and assessed. “I can’t … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr – 20 Books of Summer (1/20)

“Nowadays, my escape from Germany and everything that followed seems far away. I’ve lived in London more than seventy years. I have been happily married and our children are a joy. It has been a wonderfully happy life. But it … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, Reading | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Owen and the Soldier by Lisa Thompson

Owen and the Soldier is a touching story relating how we all need to have someone to listen to us when times are hard but also need to be brave enough to ask. In her first title for Barrington Stoke, … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Special Delivery by Jonathan Meres illustrated by Hannah Coulson – Dementia in children’s books

A book about finding friendship in unlikely places, this gentle story focusing on helping others, provides a kind and thoughtful look at dementia and is suitable for younger readers. Frank would like a new bike. Unfortunately it is not Christmas … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, Reading | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment