Tag Archives: Friendship

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

The Longest Night of Charlie Noon by Christopher Edge

How to review a book as clever as this one without giving away its secrets has given me pause for thought. Perhaps it could be summed up like this…I read this in one sitting, utterly captivated, and as I read … Continue reading

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

Rumblestar by Abi Elphinstone

As a child I sometimes used to sneak inside a wardrobe and push gently on the back wondering if I could reach my beloved Narnia. This wonderful, epic adventure by Abi Elphinstone will have a new generation of children trying … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

We Won an Island by Charlotte Lo

Islands have featured in fiction and in particular in children’s fiction for many years. From Kirrin Island in Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series to Stephenson’s Treasure Island, the islands in Kensuke’s Kingdom and Robinson Crusoe and also in picture books, … Continue reading

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

The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum

This debut set in a dystopian near future is an absorbing story of boundaries tested, forbidden friendships made, propaganda and questioning, and developing the courage to find your own voice and speak the truth. Eleven year old Maggie is a … Continue reading

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

Super Readable Children’s Books

Book post from publishers Barrington Stoke is always a treat and February got off to a good start when these two books arrived through my letter box. Both titles have a dyslexia-friendly layout, typeface and paperstock so that even more … Continue reading

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

The Boy Who Lived With Dragons by Andy Shepherd illustrated by Sara Ogilvie

The Boy Who Lived With Dragons by @andyjshepherd illustrated by Sara Ogilvie @PiccadillyPress. There is never a dull moment in this welcome sequel to one of my highlights of 2018. Perfect for newly confident readers Continue reading

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

Book Advent – Children’s Books for Christmas Week 1

The Dog That Saved Christmas by Nicola Davies illustrated by Mike Byrne  Award winning author Nicola Davies tells this story, of a boy for whom Christmas is a strain rather than a joy and the dog that helps him to … Continue reading

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

The Skylarks’ War by Hilary McKay

A wonderful story, characters you grow to love, a plot that carries you along with families as they grow from young children to adulthood set against the backdrop of a terrible war that affected so many, this is a book … Continue reading

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

Secrets of a Sun King by Emma Carroll – Review and Link to Resources

Five years ago this month I reviewed Emma Carroll’s debut novel Frost Hollow Hall for The Bookbag. At the time I said that the ten year old me would have loved the book. Each of her subsequent novels has reminded … Continue reading

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