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.
The Story Shop: Blast Off!
Looking for adventure? Want to be a hero for the day?
Then step inside the Story Shop… Wilbur and Fred can’t wait to meet you!
When a very boastful mouse enters the Story Shop, owner Wilbur and his assistant, Fred Ferret, are sure they can find the perfect adventure for him. They settle on something out of this world- and Mouse becomes Space Mouse. Accompanied by Fred, the daredevil Mouse travels first to the moon, then to Planet Winner before reaching Planet Cog. Narrowly escaping disaster, this rambunctious rodent and poor Fred eventually make it back to the Story Shop just in time for tea!
Who wouldn’t want to visit a Story Shop and mix up an adventure in the Story Pot?! Once again, the incredible Tracey Corderoy has come up with an idea which will capture children’s imaginations and catapult them into storytelling.
Overconfident and somewhat big-headed, Mouse’s attitude is sure to lead to trouble and the story offers plenty of giggles as his antics lead him and Fred into ever-hotter water. Children could easily add to Mouse’s adventures, letting their imaginations fly as they think of new settings and creatures for him to encounter.
The story is a gift for teachers looking to spark ideas and inspire children to write their own adventures. Where would they go if they visited Wilbur and Fred? What ingredients would they drop into the Story Pot- and what emergency items would they add to Fred’s backpack? What characters might they meet and how would they get back home? There are endless adventures they could write, act out and share, perhaps creating a book of ‘Story Shop Adventures’ for the class!
The book is bursting with Tony Neal’s lively, engaging illustrations which add to both the interest and the appeal of the book. Hopefully, this will be the first in a series, offering children many adventures to enjoy. Perfect for younger readers!
The Story Shop: Blast Off! Tracey Corderoy, illustrated by Tony Neal
Little Tiger ISBN; 978-1788953252
Suit Up. Step Up. It’s Time to Become a Hero!
Marvin loves reading about superheroes, but is stunned when his grandad passes on his superhero suit and robot sidekick, telling Marvin the suit is powered by kindness and imagination- two things Marvin has plenty of!
When the school Science Fair is thrown into chaos by a Mastermind supervillain and her giant robot, Marvin must suit up and step up to become the hero of the hour.
‘Marv and the Mega Robot’ is a very engaging and accessible read with plenty of action! Marv doesn’t believe he has what it takes to be a superhero, but as his Grandad says, ‘The sky’s the limit when you just believe in yourself.’ The relationship between them is delightful- warm and supportive- just what Marv needs to build his confidence.
A sweet, good natured boy, Marv is a true friend, making a dream team with his best friend, Joe, as they work together on their science project. As a superhero, Marv is marv-elous and Pixel makes the perfect side kick!
The second book, ‘Marv and the Dino Attack’ is every bit as appealing and engaging as the first. Highly illustrated by the excellent Paula Bowles, they are sure to appeal to those children who enjoying sharing a story with their parents and/or are independent readers, no doubt inspiring them to create their own superhero/ villain figures - perhaps based on themselves! I can see them creating their own ‘Top Trump’ style cards like those shown at the back of these books and using them to play games. The books would work well as guided reading texts, offering much to discuss and enjoy as well as a rich vocabulary to explore. They have a fabulous message at heart about kindness and imagination being what makes a true superhero…something we all need to realise! Brilliant stuff!
I hope there are many more in this series to come!
Marv and the Mega Robot
Alex Falase-Koya, illustrated by Paula Bowles
OUP ISBN: 978-0192780423
Marv and the Dino Attack
Alex Falase-Koya, illustrated by Paula Bowles
OUP ISBN: 978-0192780447
Big Sky Mountain
When Rosa gets off the plane at Big Sky Mountain to live with a grandmother she doesn’t know, everything looks terrifying to someone who has never left the city. With no houses or shops for about 200 miles, her Grandma Nan is going to be her only company- and she seems to have forgotten that Rosa is coming. However, Rosa is soon captivated by the beauty and the wildlife surrounding Grandma Nan’s log cabin.
‘Big Sky Mountain’ is a real celebration of fresh air, connecting with nature and the interconnectivity of life on earth. Nature is celebrated on every page and readers are introduced to a whole host of animals, who Rosa is able to talk to and make friends with.
Like Alex’s excellent ‘Hotel Flamingo’ series, this book offers a cast of fabulous characters. Albert the apple loving moose, Little Pig the pygmy owl and Mr Hibberdee the bear are just a few who add much life and laughter to the story. Children would really enjoy creating their own characters to live on Big Sky Mountain, using Alex’s for inspiration. Grandma Nan and Rosa are also well formed and appealing. Rosa gains confidence when facing a completely new life, leaving behind all she knows, and Grandma Nan’s love of the outdoors, her energy and ‘can-do’ nature are an inspiration to us all!
The story also shows the importance of working together as well as looking after our natural world. Nan introduces Rosa to a whole new world of adventure in the outdoors- camp fires, sleeping under the stars, the many beauties of nature- which is sure to inspire Big Sky readers to explore for themselves. The book also includes a ‘can you find’ section at the end, encouraging children to examine the illustrations and identify different types of flora which could lead to trying to find and identify some when on walks themselves.
The book is generously illustrated with delightful pictures, offering plenty to interest and engage younger readers without detracting from the text. Children love a map and there is one at the beginning for children to follow Rosa’s adventures on.
Rosa’s adventures continue in ‘The Forest Wolves’ (out in February) when she and Nan are building an extension to Nan's cabin for Rosa to have her own room. When a storm arrives, so do all their animal friends- including a little wolf cub which leads Nan and Rosa to another adventure in nature.
Once again, the adventure offers much to enjoy and discuss. There are a new set of hidden species to find in the pictures and information about woodlands and ‘megafauna’ to enjoy. This is a series which will captivate young readers and open their eyes to the wonders of the natural world. I look forward to sharing these and any more adventures from Rosa with as many children as possible!
Big Sky Mountain Alex Milway
Piccadilly ISBN: 978-1848129726
Big Sky Mountain: The Forest Wolves Alex Milway
Piccadilly ISBN: 978-1848129733
Dragon Storm: Tomás and Ironskin
There are no longer any dragons in the land of Draconis. Once humans and dragons lived there together in friendship, creating Rivven, the great city, together. But the Dragon Storm, a great battle, changed this, forcing dragons to retreat from the human world, leaving humans believing these great creatures to be myths.
Growing up with these beliefs, young Tomás, a blacksmith’s son, is stunned when he is invited to join the Dragonseer Guild. He discovers not only that dragons exist, but that he can summon his very own, Ironskin. But adjusting to this new life is not easy, leaving Tomás with a difficult choice to make.
Having loved ‘Orion Lost’ and ‘Adam 2’, I had high expectations of ‘Dragon Storm’ - and wasn’t disappointed. Alastair Chisholm has worked magic with this title, managing to offer developed characters (human and dragon), a well imagined world and a convincing storyline in a book which is short and accessible yet doesn’t ‘dumb down’ the language used. Perfectly pitched for younger readers, this is the first in a series which is sure to be very popular.
Tomás is an appealing character who will be easy for children to relate to. Close to his parents, he is keen to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a blacksmith, yet his curiosity is piqued when he is offered the chance of a different life. That he finds himself a member of a secret society with a dragon companion is a dream which will appeal to so many young readers- and the other children and their dragons offer plenty more adventures to come.
Although obviously perfect for independent reading, ‘Tomás and Ironskin’ would also work very well as a guided reading text, readily engaging children’s interest and offering plenty to discuss and explore. Children would love to create their own dragons or create Top Trump style cards for the dragons and their dragonseers. The story’s illustrations are also sure to further engage children and encourage them to draw their own dragons.
Looking forward to reading book 2- ‘Cara and Silverthief’ - which is out now with more titles in the series coming soon!
Dragon Storm: Tomás and Ironskin
Alastair Chisholm, illustrated by Eric Deschamps
Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839940064