Reviews
There are so many incredible books available at the moment that it is impossible to read them all, no matter how hard I try! Here are my thoughts about some of the books I have read and how I think they could be used in school as well as Q and A sessions with authors and illustrators.
Snow
Every day, the Princess digs in the endless snow of Mistmir, desperately seeking something which will restore her kingdom to what it once was. The sudden appearance of a mysterious girl gives the Princess hope she might be able to undo the foolish wish she once made and she is determined to take the girl- Ela- to her father, the King. But Ela is alarmed to find herself face to face with the Snow Princess whose picture is on the cover of her favourite book- a book her mother has now locked away and won’t let her read. The girls must work together to unravel family secrets and set things right.
With a wonderfully wintery setting, ‘Snow’ is a magical story, perfect for this time of year.
The Princess- Karina-is beautifully captured. Craving attention and affection from her father and confused by her much-loved aunt’s behaviour, she makes a rash wish which leads to chaos for her kingdom. The guilt she carries for this is almost palpable as she strives to correct her mistake and maintain the ‘standards’ of being a princess which have been hammered into her all her life. As the story develops, the ache of her loneliness will make even the most hard hearted reader empathise with her and celebrate the brave choices she makes as the book reaches its climax. Ela is also a lonely child, struggling with school and the loss of her ex-best friend, and eager to learn more about the curious book which her mother now seems so determined to hide from her.
A slow start allows for some excellent world building with vivid descriptions and details, making the perfect backdrop to the story as it picks up pace, whisking readers into an incredible adventure, full of magic and mystery, family and friendship.
A thoroughly enjoyable read!
Snow
Meera Trehan
Walker ISBN: 978-1529528787
Tomorrow’s Ghost
In the summer of 1976, Anna wakes from a strange dream to hear her aunt Maggie making plans to send her away for the summer to help her Auntie Em, who has sprained her ankle. Never wanting to be a burden to her aunt who took her in after the death of her parents, Anna readily agrees despite secret feelings of reluctance. However, Em and her lovely dog, Bob, are welcoming and Anna is full of optimism for the summer ahead. But her strange dreams seem to have followed her to Pear Tree Cottage and when she discovers the ruins of a once-grand house in the woods, Anna is sure it is connected to Etty, the young girl who keeps appearing in her dreams. As she learns more of Etty’s story, Anna is determined to save her…
Set in the long, hot summer of 1976, ‘Tomorrow’s Ghost’ is a wonderfully atmospheric story which connects two girls, both orphaned, across time. Each girl is beautifully captured, making them very relatable and easy to empathise with. After having overheard a conversation, Anna is worried about being a burden on Maggie and so tries to be as helpful and accommodating as possible, usually ignoring her own feelings in the process. Anna also feels lost with her best friend, Suzy, who is now interested in fashion and boys rather than the imaginative games they used to play. Etty has also been orphaned and is sent to live with her cruel and uncompromising Grandfather, who disapproved of her mother. In his house, Etty finds she has to pretend and play the part of a haughty heiress, but dreams of finding freedom and escaping the unhappy life she is trapped in. Her feelings of loss and confusion on arriving at her new home are deeply poignant.
As well as offering a compelling mystery as the connection between the two girls unfolds, the book is also full of historical details, seamlessly woven through the story. The endless, hot summer, fashion ideas, ‘Jackie’ magazine, district nurses, not flushing the loo to save water… 1976 is vividly brought to life for today’s readers with its lack of mobile phones and other everyday luxuries taken for granted today (Auntie Em has a small black and white television with poor reception!), offering plenty to talk about. Readers also learn much about life at the end of the Great War, the flu epidemic and the contrasting lives of the rich and poor. The attitude to women and girls in Etty’s time might not surprise readers, but the pressure Anna feels to be a ‘good’ girl and being sent to look after a relative she barely knows at the age of 12 is sure to cause plenty of comment!
This is a story which has a wide age appeal with plenty to capture imagination and interest. A cracking read!
Tomorrow’s Ghost
Tanya Landman
Walker ISBN: 978-1529519747
Lost Evangeline
When a shoemaker discovers a tiny girl in the toe of a boot, he raises her with love and care. Having named her ‘Evangeline’ - a name that spoke of possibilities- he shares with her his dreams of exploration and adventure. His wife, on the other hand, feels that there is something unnatural about the little girl and is jealous of the closeness of their relationship and the dreams they share. When she sells Evangeline to a rich old lady, the wife loses everything as the shoemaker leaves to search for his child and never returns. Meanwhile, Evangeline, who has escaped with the aid of a marmalade cat, is also seeking her father in an impossibly big world.
With elements reminiscent of ‘Thumbelina’ and ‘Pinocchio’ , ‘Lost Evangeline’ is a delightful story of enduring love, kindness and adventurous spirit.
The shoemaker has always longed for adventure with his dreams thwarted first by his father and then by his wife. When Evangeline comes into his life, he has someone to share his hopes with, a kindred spirit full of curiosity and wonder. Their separation is the catalyst for his becoming a sailor, determined to continue seeking his lost daughter. Evangeline, tiny though she is, is equally set on finding the shoemaker. Encountering both good and evil characters on her journey, she remains positive and full of courage, an inspiration as she sings her songs of freedom.
The feeling of a fairy tale is enhanced by the very atmospheric illustrations which show the spirals of song which weave their way through the story right to the end. Although there is no instant happy ending with father and daughter reunited once more, it is through the final illustration which the reader is left with a thread of hope that this might yet happen.
I feel this could be a ‘Marmite’ story, provoking strong reactions in its readers, but I loved it!
Lost Evangeline: A Norendy Tale
Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Walker ISBN: 978-1529525892
The Search for Our Cosmic Neighbours
Commander Julia and the crew of the Mission Star Drifter have been searching for signs of life in the universe for ten years. It is beginning to feel like a fruitless mission and relations on board ship are becoming a little strained. They decide to visit one last planet and initially, this seems like all the other harsh, lonely, cold planets which they have been to until their dog, Khan, draws their attention to some yellow beings who open the explorers’ eyes to new beauties and new wonders.
‘The Search for Our Cosmic Neighbours’ is another beautiful and thought-provoking book from Chloe Savage.
The delicately coloured illustrations burst with beguiling details, making the book a joy to linger over and explore. Cross sectional diagrams of the spaceship allow readers to observe life on board ship whilst other illustrations allow readers to be in on the joke and notice that there is life on this ‘desolate wasteland’ before the crew does. The spaceship itself is oddly human, its ‘face’ reflecting a whole range of emotions as the adventure continues.
The story offers the potential for discussing a whole range of topics, making it a wonderful choice for sharing with a class. Having initially been filled with enthusiasm for their mission, the lack of success leads the crew to become disenchanted with their task; however, ultimately, their patience is rewarded. Relationships between crew members become tense due to their close confinement with little things being blown out of all proportion. Initially, the Star Drifters fail to appreciate the space creatures’ way of life, showing how cultures can misunderstand each other, but eventually, they come to appreciate their world and enjoy simply appreciating how wonderful it is to be alive and enjoy the moment rather than searching for a practical purpose. Plenty to ponder on whilst enjoying this lovely story!
Unicorn Post
One day, when a little girl is playing in her tree house, a unicorn arrives. Keen to help her new friend, the little girl takes the unicorn to visit places around the town which might make a suitable new home. From the pet shop to the fair, together they explore until, at last, the unicorn finds its perfect forever home.
Simply delightful from start to finish, ‘Unicorn Post’ is a gentle, heart-warming story, perfect for sharing.
Children will love lifting the flaps to explore the leaflets and letters which are found throughout the book, enhancing the story with lots of additional details and humour. These are so delightful that readers are sure to be inspired to create their own little leaflets and letters, perhaps as part of their own book made in this style. The Funfair map includes a key to help identify the different rides and locations whilst the leaflet from the pet shop is full of ‘purrfect’ puns and and ‘cheep’ offers!
The illustrations are gorgeous and the whole book has a rosy glow which adds to the warm feeling of the story. As the little girl tries her best to find the unicorn a home, the relationship between them blossoms until, although happy she has found the perfect place for the unicorn to live, the little girl is deeply saddened to leave her new friend behind, leading to a long walk home with no singing and a grey tinge spreading across the landscape. Fortunately, the perfect happy ending is just round the corner and the new friends are happily reunited!
Although not many people write and post letters these days, this book reminds us how nice it is to receive something so personal! ‘Unicorn Post’ is a real joy!
Unicorn Post
Emma Yarlett
Walker Books ISBN: 978-1529525175
You can read my review of ‘Nibbles The Very Hungry Book Monster’ here and ‘Dragon Post’ here.
Oh Dear, Look What I Got!
A child sets out to the shop in search of a carrot, but finds he has been sold a parrot. ‘Oh dear, look what I got! Do I want that? No, I do not!’, he cries. Off he goes once more in search of a hat…and comes home with a cat! And so the story continues until an unexpected puppy causes chaos. When the doorbell rings, all the shopkeepers are at the door, bearing the items which has been originally requested, leading to an impromptu party!
‘Oh Dear, Look What I Got!’ is a delightful cumulative tale, full of fun and fabulous illustrations.
The bouncy rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud and children will enjoy predicting what comes next as well as joining in with the repeated refrain of ‘Oh dear, look what I got! Do I want that? No, I do not!’ which comes after every mistaken purchase. The illustrations offer little clues - a bear’s clawed paw poking from one bundle, a forked tongue from another- adding to the fun of predicting what is about to appear. The story lends itself to creating additional trips to the shops, with children adding rhymes of their own before joining in with a chorus of ‘Oh dear, look what I got! Do I want that? No, I do not!’!
The illustrations are wonderful! On each journey to the shops, the child (I chose to use ‘he’- no indication is given as to whether it is a boy or girl) is followed by all the previous creatures acquired and there are so many details to notice and enjoy. The story starts and continues on the end papers, offering children the opportunity to continue the tale with their own ideas about what happens next!
Simply delightful!
Oh Dear, Look What I Got!
Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Walker ISBN: 978-1529510898
Small Wonder
Tick lives in a secluded cabin at the edge of Ellia with his little brother, Leaf, and their horse, Pebble. Since their Grandfather died, Tick has taken on the responsibility for looking after them all and is trying to prepare for the approaching winter when they see thousands of warships, coming across the water from the Kingdom of Drene, their deadly enemy. Tick knows that he has only six moons to get them to the safely of King’s Keep, a mighty fortress built by the previous ruler of Ellia, Good King Avery. Pursued by a ruthless Hunter, a deadly Drene assassin, they set off on an incredible journey, full of peril, to reach safety.
‘Small Wonder’ is an outstanding adventure story. Pace perfect, it will keep readers on the edge of their seat whilst cheering on Tick, his brother, Leaf, and, of course, the incredible Pebble.
Told from Tick’s perspective, it is very easy to empathise with this young lad as he grieves for the loss of his grandfather and tries to honour his last words. He questions himself, worrying that he is not good enough, not strong enough and yet, at every turn the reader sees him make kind, thoughtful decisions and constantly strive to do his best. Initially, although he loves Leaf, Tick feels the burden of responsibility, but as the story progresses their brotherly bond, their love for one another, deepens and is a joy.
Each character is skilfully developed so much so that even though their Grandfather dies before the book begins, he feels like a real presence, a significant personality in the story. Despite meeting with some unpleasant and evil characters on the way, Tick remains honourable, true to his grandfather’s wishes and so deserving of the fate which awaits him.
There is plenty of tension as the story romps along, but there are also tender moments and touches of humour as well. I love Ross Montgomery’s writing, but this might just be my new favourite of his books! It would make an excellent class story- except I can’t see any class letting the teacher stop reading!
Small Wonder
Ross Montgomery
Walker ISBN: 978-1529526127
You can read my review of ‘Spellstone’ here, Penguin Huddle here and The Thing at 52 here.
The Appletree Animal Agency
Wishing on a shooting star for the puppy she desperately wants, Mattie knows it won’t happen as her Dad just doesn’t believe she is responsible enough yet to properly look after one. However, when she and her friend, Zoe, find a tiny, scruffy puppy in need of help, she rises to the challenge and meeting the new vet, Dr Polly and her son, Casper, all three children become her apprentice vets. Together, they care for all manner of pets, but soon realise that these creatures need to find homes of their own. That’s when Mattie has one of her madcap Mattie schemes…
‘The Apprentice Animal Agency’ is the first book in a new series which is sure to be a huge hit with young animal lovers. It offers a wonderful blend of gentle adventure, humour, friendship and mishaps, making it perfect for those who are after a well-written, engaging tale which is not packed with peril or fart jokes!
Mattie, Zoe and Casper are three really nice kids who are not fixed to their phones, but are keen to be hands on and active by helping look after animals. Zoe is highly organised, Casper ‘knows everything’ about animals and Mattie has a way with them, making the perfect team. However, not everything goes smoothly, showing each child’s flaws as well as their strengths. Each problem is overcome and the friends emerge stronger than before, offering reassurance and showing the importance of seeing things through and solving problems.
There is a real focus on care for animals which shines through this story. Mattie is desperate for a puppy, but Dad is keen to make sure she is responsible enough to look after one. On finding the puppy, who Mattie calls Luna, the children show great patience and understanding, waiting for it to be ready to come to them rather than rushing it. Each of the pets being rehomed is carefully matched to their new owner, considering the needs and well-being of both. It is not often that the thought needed when considering adopting a pet is shown in children’s stories so this is wonderful to see!
I look forward to seeing the second book in the series, ‘Collie Chaos’!
The Appletree Animal Agency
Katya Balen, illustrated by Gill Smith
Walker Books ISBN: 978-1529519181