The Boy Lost in the Maze

Whilst learning about the six labours of Theseus in school, modern day Theo sets off on a quest of his own to find his biological father. Both boys feel lost without a father and both are forced to question what being a man truly means.

This is an extraordinary read. Told through a series of poems, the work is completely spellbinding as it effortlessly weaves Theo’s story with that of Theseus. Threads of the myth wind their way into Theo’s story with echoes of names and events linking the boys. Both boys are faced with decisions as they pursue their quests, making choices about which path to choose, a parallel to the maze in the story. In places, the reader is also faced with choices- some leading forward, others hitting dead ends and taking them back to their starting point.

Deeply poignant, the story feels incredibly personal as these boys face a labyrinth of emotions, navigating their lives whilst feeling adrift, seeking a connection, seeking themselves. This is so far from my personal experience yet my heart bled for each as they try ‘to be a different kind of man’. Joseph has also given voice to the Minotaur as he ‘flounder(s) in the darkness, lost’, very much a victim of the actions of others.

Joseph’s love of poetry shines through the work. Poetry helps Theo express himself, it helps the reader to empathise, it helps characters in the story connect. Theo’s teacher encourage him to explore new poetic forms, introducing the reader to ‘Sestina’, using this to once again emphasise the idea of connection whilst forging a new path. Joseph’s command of language, his power with words and his ability to speak directly to the heart of his readers combine to create a stunning work of great beauty, pathos and hope. It is unbelievably good!

The Boy Lost in the Maze

Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Kate Milner

Otter-Barry Books ISBN: 978-1913074333

Published 6th October 2022

Pause for Poetry: Tuesday

This week, I will be pausing for poetry every day in celebration of National Poetry Day on Thursday 6th October. The theme this year is the Environment, offering plenty of poems to choose from and plenty of inspiration for writing.

However, because poetry is not just for poetry day, I will be sharing a couple of favourite poetry books each day this week. It has been very hard to choose…

This is a collection packed with a wonderful range of poems about some of the amazing women and girls who have helped to shape our world. Young (Tallulah Bryan), from the past (Boudicca) and the present (Sara Pickard), well-known (the Bronte sisters) and unnamed (match girls) - these inspiring figures are celebrated in poetic form. There are also poems discussing the role of women in fairy tales and clothing and fashions.

Although about women, this is not a collection just for girls; there is something for everyone here.  Many of the poems start with some background information, placing the character into context and many would make a perfect starting point for lessons across the curriculum. 'Malala' by Michaela Morgan would make an excellent focus for discussion about human rights and could be used in conjunction with the wonderful picture book about her life, 'For the Right to Learn'.

The three poets responsible for this collection each bring their own voice and style, creating a diverse range of work. This is a must-have for any school or library!

Reaching the Stars- Poems about Extraordinary Women and Girls

by Jan Dean, Liz Brownlee and Michaela Morgan

Macmillan    ISBN: 978-1509814282

This beautiful picture book is an emotional tribute to the history and experiences of African Americans, both past and present. Kwame Alexander’s poetry takes the reader on a journey through the little known – the left out- history of those who are unforgettable, unflappable, undeniable and unafraid. Unspeakable events are also recorded in these pages. The images convey the horror whilst the words state that simple fact.

The Undefeated doesn’t just acknowledge familiar names-Martin Luther King, Muhammad Ali, Ella Fitzgerald- it also commemorates the unnamed victims of the slave trade, the black soldiers who fought during the civil war, those held in slavery. The book ends on a positive note- it is for the undefeated, those whose futures are yet to come. Kadir Nelson’s powerful, evocative images adorn each page, each a work of art. At the end of the book, there are biographies of those included in the book, making the perfect starting point for further research.

This is an amazing book – a must for every library and classroom. Its message is powerful and essential: black lives matter.

The Undefeated Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Andersen ISBN: 978-1783449293

‘Shaping the World’ was the idea of Liz Brownlee, who approached poets with suggestions of historical figures they might wish to write about. Many had their own ideas and so the collection was developed.

The poems in this book are a wonderful mix of poignant and humorous: each powerful, each unique. The amount of thought and attention to detail that has gone into each is just stunning. Mat Goodfellow’s poem about Shakespeare brilliantly combines information about the man with Matt’s personal experiences and feelings. In Laura Mucha’s poem about Alexander Fleming’s petri dish, she has chosen to lay the words of her poem out to reflect what his discovery.

This is a collection which lends itself to use across the curriculum. The poems could be used as a starting point for learning about a particular figure, to be shared during a lesson on a particular subject, as the basis of an assembly or for PSHE sessions. Each poem is accompanied by a page with information about the famous figure, their achievement and a quote. A guide for how the poem should be read is also included which is an excellent idea!

‘Shaping the World’ is an excellent, diverse collection of poems, celebrating forty remarkable people and their achievements.

Shaping the World: 40 Historical Heroes in Verse

chosen by Liz Brownlee

Macmillan ISBN: 978-1529036862

More tomorrow!

2023 Nature Month-by Month: A Children’s Almanac

According to the Oxford Dictionary, an almanac is ​a book or digital resource that is released every year giving information for that year about a particular subject or activity. As this fascinating book explains, the first almanacs were created by the Ancient Egyptians about 3,000 years ago, containing lists of dates that were thought to be lucky or unlucky. This ‘ Nature Month-by-Month’ almanac is the perfect accompaniment to having fun, learning and discovering nature as the year unfolds.

Each month starts with a special section outlining the special days and anniversaries ahead before a line or two of poetry introduces more information - the birth signs associated with the month, how it got its name, birthstones and birth flowers, for example. This is followed by a section on ‘Festival Fun’, some activities and- as you might expect- a focus on nature!

Published in collaboration with The National Trust, this is the perfect size for popping in a bag to take on an adventure! Bursting with useful information and fascinating facts, this Month by Month almanac is sure to be a hit at home and at school. I wonder how many eagle-eyed children will spot the references to the Queen’s and Prince Charles’s birthdays and the information about his being next in line to the throne- perfect for encouraging discussions!

There are lots of lovely activities to try, including some tasty recipes, and some colourful pages at the end have been left blank for the reader to add their own notes. ‘2023 Nature Month-by-Month: A Children’s Almanac’ would make a wonderful stocking filler or gift for Christmas. Bright, fun illustrations are scattered throughout the book, this is a book which will encourage children to get active and engage with nature.

2023 Nature Month-By-Month: A Children's Almanac

Anna Wilson, illustrated by Elly Jahnz

Nosy Crow in collaboration with The National Trust

ISBN: 978-1839945380

We Disagree About This Tree

Although Bear and Mouse now appear to be happy sharing both chair and house, it seems that there will always be something they don’t see eye to eye about - and with Christmas on the way, they disagree about how to decorate their Christmas tree. With one wanting too much tinsel and the other favouring flaming candles, how will these two ever manage to enjoy the perfect festive season?

Mouse and Bear have been firm favourites since their first spat over Mouse’s chair and ‘We Disagree About this Tree’ is sure to be every bit as popular. The gentle humour of the story coupled with the fabulous illustrations are sure to have children (and adults!) giggling, but also offers plenty to discuss, showing how good friends can disagree about things, but still keep their friendship alive! Managing disagreements and finding compromise is such an important skill and ultimately, the pair agree that being together is the most important thing!

As with the previous stories, the bouncy rhyming text lends itself perfectly to children creating their own sections. Here, they could imagine other creative ways in which Bear or Mouse might choose to decorate the tree -using candy canes, chocolate shapes, gingerbread men, artificial snow, glitter-and build their own rhyming lines to add to the story. These could be illustrated, using Ross Collins’s fabulous pictures for inspiration.

Each book by Ross Collins is something special- and this festive treat is sure to be enjoyed again and again!

We Disagree About this Tree Ross Collins

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839944994

Published 6th October 2022

Pause for Poetry: Monday

This week, I will be pausing for poetry every day in celebration of National Poetry Day on Thursday 6th October. The theme this year is the Environment, offering plenty of poems to choose from and plenty of inspiration for writing.

However, because poetry is not just for National Poetry Day, I will be sharing a couple of favourite poetry books each day this week. It has been very hard to choose…

Poetry can be an incredibly powerful, personal form of expression which allows the exploration of thoughts and feelings or simply their release. Sometimes, we lack the words to encapsulate our emotions or the courage to commit them to paper. Finding that others have also experienced similar feelings can offer great comfort which is why poems like those in ‘Being Me’ are invaluable. Sharing and discussing emotions through the words of others helps us to make sense of our feelings, feel supported and encourage empathy for others.

This is a truly stunning collection of poignant, powerful poems by three outstanding poets, illustrated by Victoria Jane Wheeler. The anthology contains 45 poems exploring a wide range of emotions, worries and ideas. Invaluable for both home and school, this is a collection which should be on every shelf.

Each poem deserves to be savoured and could be discussed in detail, easily being used as the core of a session, for a discussion or read for pleasure, but I have selected just a few to look at here. There are notes at the end of the book written by Dr Karen Goodall, a developmental psychologist, which offer advice for discussions and links for support organisations.

Reading ‘My Head is Full of Hurry’ by Laura eases all the tension in your body as your mind slows with the calming images she creates. The use of alliteration and onomatopoeia help echo the sounds of nature and its healing beauty. Children could easily create their own poems using this as a model, drawing on images, sounds and experiences which help them to regain some peace and feel calm. My head is mostly ‘full of hurry’ - a wonderful description- and this poem is one which I will now mutter to myself at moments of need.

‘A Thought’ by Matt explores a mother’s depression from a child’s point of view. The imagery used is so poignant, yet easy to relate to and perfect for discussing the feelings of both adult and child.

Liz’s poem, ‘What to do with worries’ suggests many ways of sharing the things that are bothering you instead of bottling them up. This is another poem which children could use as a model for their own ideas as well as a starting point for discussing ways to tackle worries.

Other favourites include ‘The Land of Blue’, ‘Being Heard’, ‘In the Heart of a Book’ and ‘First Day’, but each and every poem is a real gem. Highly recommended.

Being Me: Poems about Thoughts, Worries and Feelings

Liz Brownlee, Matt Goodfellow and Laura Mucha

illustrated by Victoria Jane Wheeler

Otter Barry ISBN: 978-1913074654

Whatever your feelings, there is a poem which can help! There are poems which can lighten your mood, poems to calm you down, those which entertain and those which inspire. ‘Everyone Sang’ is a fabulous collection which really has something for everyone and every emotion.

Gathered into four sections, the poems have been selected to help support different moods and capture how the reader is feeling. In his introduction, William Sieghart says, ‘There is a special magic in the perfect poem…’ and there is plenty of magic in these pages. There are plenty of classics- Wordsworth’s ‘Daffodils’, John Masefield’s ‘Sea Fever’ and ‘Silver’ by Walter de la Mare to name a few- alongside more recent treasures like ‘Granny Is…’ by Valerie Bloom

Each section has been carefully considered, offering a balance of older and more modern as well as from a wonderful range of poets from different countries and cultures. There are so many poems in this joyful collection which are perfect for sharing with a class or using for assemblies, encouraging children to reflect on their feelings and showing how poetry can help them to express themselves and understand others.

The illustrations are simply delightful, immersing the reader in the poems. They are full of colour, life and imagination. Each spread could be framed and displayed, but I particularly love the illustration for ‘The Sound Collector’ by Roger McGough and the one for ‘Don’t Go Into the Library’ by Alberto Rios.

A fabulous collection of poems for everyone to enjoy, ‘Everyone Sang’ would make a perfect gift.

Everyone Sang: A Poem for Every Feeling

William Sieghart, illustrated by Emily Sutton

Walker Books ISBN: 978-1406393613

'The Same Inside' is an amazing collection of poems by three very special poets. It is a collection to be shared, discussed and enjoyed again and again.

The opening poem entitled 'The Same Inside' by Liz Brownlee sets the tone of the book perfectly. Look inside any apple and what do you find- a star, and yet they all have different appearances. Cutting the apples, sharing the fruit and planting the seed of the idea could be used as the basis of an assembly or lesson to develop empathy and encourage thought and discussion. Having done this, it is amazing where it led!

There are poems here to help with many situations and each could be used as the basis for work in the classroom so I have selected a few of my favourites to discuss here- but it was very hard to choose!

'Each and Every One' is a poem by Matt Goodfellow which states 'I am human' in a range of languages, starting with Welsh and ending with English. Imagine the fun to be had discovering which language each sentence is written in, the joy of children identifying a language which they can speak. Families could add the same sentence in other languages they speak or are interested in and the poem extended, celebrated and displayed. Children could think of other sentences or phrases which they would like to translate and create a poem of their own along the same lines. This could lead to discussions about how the sentiment behind the phrase is the same, no matter what the language. 

Roger Stevens' poem, 'Boy or Girl?', offers a brilliant starting point for challenging ideas about gender stereotyping. Having listened to each 'riddle', they could be asked whether they think the subject is a boy or a girl and then discuss why. They could then gather ideas about themselves or their friends and write poems exploring the things they love to do, encouraging empathy and understanding and perhaps allowing children to share hobbies and talents that they have 'outside' school that others might know nothing about. 

'Differences of Opinion' by Liz Brownlee would make a great performance poem. Easy to learn, with plenty of humour, it also carries a poignant message about the beauty of friendship and celebrating difference. Children could create their own poems about the differences between themselves and others- but focus on how little this matters. Differences are to be respected and acknowledged, not ridiculed or loathed. 

Each and every poem in this collection is poignant and special- words to carry in your heart and remind us that we are all 'The Same Inside.'

The Same Inside: Poems about Empathy and Friendship

Liz Brownlee, Matt Goodfellow and Roger Stevens

Macmillan     ISBN: 978-1509854509

 Enjoy these- more tomorrow!

Lands of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain

Publishing for the 75th anniversary of the partition of India (15th August 1947), ‘Lands of Belonging’ is a unique and balanced exploration of the complex history of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain. This is a much needed addition to school bookshelves for many reasons.

The book starts by exploring some fundamental questions about what it means to belong, what makes you, you and how you define where you are from, challenging the reader to pause and think before reading, using one of the author’s personal history as a relatable example. It challenges historical recording, bias and viewpoint, reminding the reader to consider what has been written about the past in the light of who it was written by.

Beautifully illustrated pages explore the history and inventions of ancient India (the book explains that when referring to India before 1947 it means the lands of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh), its multi-faith society and the empires it was divided into. It is a fascinating read, full of interesting details, building a picture of a vibrant, thriving land.

The book then recounts the rise of the East India Company, its role in the slave trade, its eventual rule of India and the ‘Time of the British Raj’. The succinct text explains the role of significant historical figures of this time as well as giving an overview of events through the World Wars, India’s independence and Radcliffe’s partition. This very complex and significant period of history is clearly explained, including the devastating human cost of these events.

It continues by relating the history of migration from South Asia from the 16th-century through to the present day, with accounts of the achievements and cultural contributions to Britain of these migrants as well as considering the racism they faced and the uprisings- not ‘rebellions’ or ‘riots’- against this treatment.

The book concludes with a section celebrating the culture, customs, language and famous peoples of South Asia. For someone brought up at a time when R J Unstead’s Anglo-centric text books were still widely used in schools, this is the type of history book I always longed for and am now proud to be able to add to the school library. Attractive and informative, it is sure to inspire children to discover more about this period, perhaps by reading some of the excellent fiction available, for example, ‘Never Forget You’ by Jamila Gavin, based on the life of Noor Inayat Khan or ‘When Secrets Set Sail’ by Sita Brahmachari which draws on the experiences of cruelly abandoned ayahs.

Essential reading.

Lands of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain

Donna and Vikesh Amey Bhatt, illustrated by Salini Perera

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839944680

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

Meet Angela McAllister

Author of more than 50 books, Angela McAllister is a very talented and versatile writer of work for all ages. Her series of ‘Full of’ books- collections on different themes- are very popular and it was when ‘A Year Full of Stories’ was shortlisted for the North Somerset Teachers’ Book Awards Quality Fiction Category in 2017 that I met Angela. I was delighted when she agreed to join me on the Bookshelf today.

Photo: Emily Beale Photography

1.       What three things would you like your readers to know about you and what one secret are you prepared to share?

When I was young, I didn’t have many books of my own, but I was often taken to the library. It was a great excitement to carry home a pile of adventures in my arms. Opening the cover of each book felt like opening a door into a new world and I’ve never lost that thrill of anticipation – where will a book take me, who will I meet, what will happen?    

We didn’t have computers when I grew up, or lovely notebooks to write in, but I was so keen to capture the stories in my head that I’d scribble them down on anything I could find - bus tickets, paper bags, old envelopes - and when I had nothing else, I’d take one of my parents’ books from the shelf and write on the blank pages at the end of that!

My greatest passion outside writing is archaeology. I’m fascinated by the past and get involved with local surveys and excavations. I have a precious collection of prehistoric artefacts, one of which – a flint arrowhead - appears in my new book, ‘Once Upon a Hillside’. My happy place is a muddy hole with a trowel in hand.

The secret I’ll share is that I wrote a novel called ‘The Tide Turner’, which is set beneath the ocean - but when I swim I never put my head under the water! That shows where imagination can take you.

 2. Leon and the Place Between and Winter’s Child are two of my favourite picture books. What was the inspiration for ‘Leon’?

Although I’ve written about many subjects, I’d always kept away from magic because it seemed tricky - if you have magic you can do whatever you want in a story so you have to use it with great care. Eventually, however, I couldn’t resist, but I had to find my own way of approaching it. As a writer I’m interested in the edge of things, in boundaries where you meet the limit of what you know, because that’s the place where you can look beyond and discover something new about yourself or about the world, so I started to think about the edge of magic…the boundary between reality and what lies beyond…and that gave me the idea for the Place Between.

3. Your ‘Full of’ series is incredibly popular. Are there going to be more titles in the series?

Yes, I’ve written seven so far and now I’m working on ‘A World Full of Winter Stories’. All through the hot summer I was lost in the icy realms of the Frost King with polar bears, snow maidens, winter witches and Christmas trees! It’s a privilege to share these ancient folktales, which still speak their wisdom and wit to us today. I love the fact that we’re creating a library of stories for families to enjoy and like to encourage everyone to learn one or two and tell them on.

4. Each of these collections must be a massive undertaking. How long does it take to choose the contents, research the stories and then write your own versions?

A long time! It takes several months to find 50 stories for each collection that sit well together and are a good spread geographically. I read hundreds of stories to make each selection. I have to consider the theme of the collection and the age range, ensure a variety of styles and story lengths and avoid repetition of plot or character from a previous book. The shaping of a collection has become intuitive over time. I have to consider how well a story will ‘translate’ into a re-telling and weed out actions and attitudes that aren’t acceptable today. Some of the old tales are very brutal! The ‘spooky’ collection was particularly challenging on this account - I needed to offer that frisson of fear without terrifying the reader! There are choices to make about vocabulary too as I’m aware that some families read these stories with children of mixed ages together - I try to keep vocabulary simple even when the subject of a particular story is complex so that everyone can grasp the sense of it. The books are sold all over the world and it’s important to include a good balance of cultures. Fortunately, I have an extensive library of folk tales to draw on.

5.       Your books have been illustrated by some amazing artists- Grahame Baker-Smith, Christopher Corr, Nathan Reed to name a few. Is there anyone who you would love to illustrated one of your books?

Yes - the masterful Lisbeth Zwerger, who has illustrated many classics. Her draughtsmanship is sublime and her unique vision is always striking. I can’t imagine it would ever be possible but I would love to write for her. It was also a great delight to have ‘The Ice Palace’ illustrated by Angela Barrett and it would be wonderful to work with her again.

6.       What are you working on at the moment?

I’ve just finished a collection of my own stories called ‘Once Upon a Hillside’, which has been a dream to write. I lived for 30 years on the chalk downland of Cranborne Chase, with a fabulous nature reserve for a back garden. One day, before the pandemic, an editor who has been a friend for many years, came to visit and walk with me there and we talked about the stories of that landscape, the skylarks, the wildflowers, ancient barrows and ditches and the evidence of the past beneath our feet. Something of that walk and that place must have stayed with her because a few months later she rang and asked if I’d like to write about it. I must say she opened a door to my heart – it was the most marvellous commission and I was thrilled that she’d been moved by the magic of that place. It also seemed a timely book to write, due to the restrictions of the pandemic when so many of us focused on our local green spaces and found hope and the healing power of nature there. There are seven stories, set in the same valley over six thousand years. The books starts with the first Neolithic people to walk across the hillside and the stories continue through time, with Roman twins who find a wounded hare, a medieval herbalist and her daughter, a seventeenth century shepherd and an orphan boy, a Victorian archaeologist and his granddaughter, three children sent away into the country in the 1930’s and a contemporary family facing a modern challenge. Objects link the stories together and the healing power of nature comes through them all – in fact nature itself is a character throughout. It’s illustrated by Chiara Fedele who has really captured the wild, windy character of the Downs. ‘Once Upon a Hillside’ will be published on 10th November.

7.       And lastly- and most importantly according to my niece- what is your favourite cake?

At the moment, it’s Persian Love Cake, made with rose petals and pistachios, which I buy from our local deli. Utterly moreish!

Many thanks to Angela for joining me today. Can’t wait to try that cake!

You can find her on Instagram @angelamcallisterbooks

You can read my review of ‘A World Full of Nature Stories’ here.

A World Full of Nature Stories

This is the ninth volume in this fabulous series by Angela McAllister and like its fellows, is sure to tempt a wealth of readers to explore the stories within. Gathered into seven sections, the theme of this collection of 50 folk tales and legends from around the world is nature in all its glory.

Each story is retold with great care and attention to detail, staying true to the original whilst making them accessible for a modern audience. Some of these tales are no doubt familiar- ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ and ‘The Little Fir Tree’- but the collection casts its net wide, gathering stories from all over the world. Children will enjoy locating the country of origin for each story and will, no doubt, exclaim over the similarities between versions of folktales they know and those they discover here.

Many of these tales seek to explain natural phenomenon. The reader learns how lightning began in the Khasi story from India, how the sun was made according to some First Nation’s Australians and why the Giant of the Rain showers the Earth with tears in the story from Brazil. Many of the stories have a strong message about respecting, and living in harmony with, nature.

Perfect for dipping in and out of and sharing at home, this series is also invaluable in school. The range and variety of stories, their length, the care with which they are told, make them an excellent resource for guided reading, both for guided and independent sessions. Children love these books with their beautiful illustrations- in the case the work of Hannah Bess Ross- and wealth of storytelling delights. ‘A World Full of Nature Stories’ is also brilliant for story times, perhaps lending a touch of story to another area of the curriculum.

An absolute ‘must have’- like the whole series! Angela McAllister is my guest on the Bookshelf tomorrow -find out more about her and her work then!

A World Full of Nature Stories: 50 Folk Tales and Legends

Angela McAllister, illustrated by Hannah Bess Ross

Frances Lincoln ISBN: 978-0711266452

Pause for Poetry: Scared?

Neal Zetter and Joshua Seigal combine forces in this collaboration of poems which explores the ‘darker side’ of life. Not afraid of tackling uncomfortable subjects, each of these poets offers words which could lead to important discussions, will challenge and perhaps, comfort those who read them.

‘Max is Not in School’ explores the relief felt by a child as they realise that this will be a day when they do not have to endure Max’s constant attacks whilst ‘Bully!’ exposes the lurking insecurity of the bully, offering reasons- not justifications- for their actions. There are poems about family relationships-’Circle Time’, ‘the d I vorce’, ‘When Dad Turns into an Incredible Hulk’ whilst ‘Gifted’ and ‘The Orange Table’ offer insights into life at school. There are so many poems here which open doors to potentially difficult discussions, developing empathy and building understanding as they encourage children to consider things from the point of view of others whilst giving a voice to those who might need it.

Although this sounds deep and dark, there are lighter moments to be found here too. Despite its name, ‘The Seriously Scary Poem’ really isn’t and ‘Skeleton in the Cupboard’ plays with words, not fears. ‘Tyrannosaurus Came to Tea’ is inspired by Judith Kerr’s classic and anyone who has had a cat is sure to recognise their feline friend in ‘Catastrophic’ whilst ‘Exclamation Mark!’ is a light-hearted look at punctuation.

With poems which can be used across the curriculum, this is a great collection for teachers of UKS2 upwards, but is also perfect for exploring at home. Are you brave enough?

Scared Neal Zetter and Joshua Seigal,

illustrated by Zoe Williams

Troika ISBN: 978-1912745142

You can read my review of ‘Yapping Away’ here and ‘When the Bell Goes’ here.

Blog Tour: Secrets of the Dead and The Curse of the Tomb Robbers

I am delighted to be taking part in this Blog Tour. Both of these books are published in collaboration with the British Museum, one of my favourite places to visit and somewhere I have spent many happy hours!

It is home to the Rosetta Stone, a large stelle inscribed with three translations of a single passage, written in two Egyptian language scripts (hieroglyphic and Demotic) and in classical Greek. Named after the town on the Mediterranean coast in Egypt in which it was found, the Rosetta Sone was deciphered largely through the efforts of Thomas Young of England and Jean-François Champollion of France. Champollion made a crucial step in understanding ancient Egyptian writing when he identified the hieroglyphs that were used to write names, deciphering ‘Ptolemy’ and ‘Cleopatra’. He finally announced his discovery on the 27th September, 1822- two hundred years ago today which makes it the perfect day for reviewing these two book!

In ‘The Curse of the Tomb Robbers’, Andy Seed mixes story with problem solving to engage children with learning more about life in Ancient Egypt. Nub and his friend, Iteti, are introduced to the reader at the beginning of the book, along with information on how to use the codebreaker. Full of details of life at this time, the story is not only engaging, but a mine of information about this period of Egyptian history.

The puzzles encourage children to use hieroglyphs, learning in which direction they should be read, how to identify royal names and how to use the number system. Other puzzles are also included and all the solutions are given at the end of the story with explanation when necessary.

The illustrations are wonderful. Sure to instigate conversation about Egyptian life and offering plenty of opportunity for children to practise identifying hieroglyphs, they would be perfect for using as starting points for children to develop their own stories about Nub and Iteti, other figures shown in the pictures or characters of their own invention. Whether being used in class or at home, ‘The Curse of the Tomb Robbers’ is a welcome addition for those interested in or learning about the Egyptians.

‘Secrets of the Dead’ looks at human remains from around the world. Starting in Africa, the book focuses on Egypt and the mummification processes the Ancient Egyptians used to preserve their dead. Starting with the formal burials of Tutankhamun and Rameses the Great, the book also looks at the natural mummification of Gebelein Man and explores what can be learned in each case. Having taught the Egyptians many times, I can vouch for the fact that this is an area which fascinates children and the text is both accessible and interesting.

The book then continues with examples from the other continents showing how the dead have been preserved, offering specific examples such as the Ice Maiden of the Altai mountains and the bodies displayed in the Capuchin Catacombs beneath Palermo in Sicily (somewhere I did not visit when there!)

The book concludes with drawing attention to the amazing secrets of the past which have been uncovered by studying the bodies of those from the past as well as all the things that remain unknown. A map of the world shows the location of each discovery and a comprehensive glossary helps to explain many of the terms used. The History curriculum at KS2 says that pupils should learn about ‘the achievements of the earliest civilizations – an overview of where and when the first civilizations appeared and a depth study of one of the following: Ancient Sumer; The Indus Valley; Ancient Egypt; The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China’. ‘Secrets of the Dead’ allows for comparisons to be made between death customs and discoveries in various locations around the world, encouraging children to make comparisons between different civilisations.

The Curse of the Tomb Robbers

Andy Seed, illustrated by James Weston Lewis

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1788009652

Secrets of the Dead

Matt Ralphs, illustrated by Gordy Wright

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1788009003

Two excellent books to support the history curriculum or to develop a passion for the past! Many thanks to Catherine Ward for inviting me to take part in this Blog Tour.

Make sure you look at the next posts!

The Treekeepers

Home to thousands, the city of Arborven owes its existence to the Undrentree. A well as the buildings covering the tree, set in rings around it are the city circles where the different layers of society live- the farther away from the tree, the less magic the inhabitants have. As a shapewalker, Liska, training to be a warrior, lives in the noon Fort, nestled on the northern wall. When she overhears a plan which threatens the city, Liska cannot find anyone who will believe her and so with Lug, a vermispex who can summon and control worms, Elowen, a ghost-girl, and Fishbone, a feisty kittimew, she sets off on an epic, perilous adventure to save her home.

When it comes to creating fantasy worlds, there is none better than Kieran Larwood. The richness of his imagination, the evocative details of his world building, the charm of his flawed but endearing characters – all combine to create the most breath-taking, engaging reads which leave the reader longing to return to the world of the book they have just finished. ‘The Treekeepers’ is just glorious- and (in my opinion) even better than ‘The Five Realms’ stories.

Friendship is at the heart of the story, showing the importance of valuing others and appreciating them for what and who they are. At the beginning of the story, Liska is determined to earn stripes- marks of gleaming colour for great deeds of courage and heroism- yet by the end of the story, realises that such marks of honour are not necessary to show what sort of person someone is. As she has come to know her companions, her appreciation of them- their kindness, their courage, their loyalty- has grown as has she in character. Both she and Lug are, at heart, very ‘normal’ children whose hopes and dreams, whose insecurities and vulnerabilities readers will identify and empathise with.

Beautifully written, with almost poetic descriptions at times, the story offers a rich vocabulary, including Larwood’s own ingenious namings- vermispex not doubt drawing on the Latin ‘vermis’ for worm, kittimew (my favourite), Arborven from a place sheltered by trees to name a few- as well as a sprinkling of mythical creatures.

It is impossible to review this book without commenting on the incredible presentation of the book as an object of beauty. The dust jacket illustrated by Fernando López Juárez is tempting enough, but peel this off, and there is a map of Larwood’s world embossed in gold on the hard cover of the book. Chris Wormell is also responsible for the lovely chapter heading illustrations.

Simply stunning!

The Treekeepers Kieran Larwood, illustrated by Chris Wormell

cover by Fernando López Juárez

Faber ISBN: 978-0571364565

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

Bath Children’s Literature Festival 2022

On Saturday, I went to the Bath Children’s Literature Festival, one of the book-ish treats I enjoy every year. Being limited by my crutches, I only managed one event this year, but it was lovely to be back and the perfect place to meet up with book-loving friends.

The Festival fills Bath with a lovely atmosphere- and you never know who you might bump into, particularly when you pop into Toppings for a few sneaky purchases between events! Jacqueline Wilson was as lovely as ever and once we had recovered from the shock of seeing her, she kindly signed Sally’s school author autograph book. I was not surprised that she didn’t remember having had dinner with me when I helped at Bournville Bookfest a few years ago!

The Guildhall is a lovely venue for events. Grade 1 listed, this spectacular Georgian building’s opulent interior is full of beautiful details and portraits. Held in the Banqueting Room, a wonderful space with glorious 18th-century chandeliers and intricate plasterwork on the ceiling, my event was ‘Magic and Mystery with Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Lucy Strange’, two excellent authors.

In a completely absorbing session, which flew past all too quickly, Lucy and Kiran discussed how they had come to writing. Both loved books when they were younger, but as most of the books she read were by ‘dead people’, Lucy felt that books came from the past and didn’t realise that writing was something you could do. Both had gone into ‘the hardest job in the world’ (Kiran’s description of teaching!) before coming to writing. Kiran felt that being married to an artist had a part in her becoming an author as he made her realise that you could follow your passion. He also helped in that he told her she didn’t have the patience to write and she was determined to prove him wrong! Cats are also useful as they ensure that you don’t move for long periods of time once curled up on your lap! After teaching for 15 years, Lucy found herself working in the Middle East and she started writing out of homesickness, writing about what she knew helped.

It was particularly fascinating to hear about the amount of words each lady had written which never made it to the final version of the book. Lucy’s editor helped her to cut 46,000 words from her first draft of ‘The Secret of Nightingale Wood’, getting rid of those bits Lucy described as ‘an indulgence’ whilst Kiran told a similar story about her writing, particularly ‘The Girl of Ink and Stars’.

Lucy told us that ‘Sisters of the Lost Marsh’ was inspired by Romney Marsh, which she described as having a feeling ‘like the sea wants it back’ and the poem, ‘Overheard on a Saltmarsh’ by Harold Monro. With her background in acting coming to the fore, Lucy read the poem so well- it was captivating! Giving advice for those who want to write, she suggested that ideas need to ‘simmer like a casserole’ and said that it helps if you really want to be the character you are writing about.

Kiran spoke of her love of mythology and how this has sparked ideas for her writing. Offering advice to writers, she explained how she doesn’t feel like a ‘main character’ herself- someone who’s always looking for adventure. She’s very content being at home, but if anything threatened those she loves then she would spring into action and do anything she could to save them. These are the sort of character she likes to write about.

It was the most inspiring session with some excellent questions from the audience. The relationship between Kiran and Lucy was warm and relaxed, making their conversation very natural and light-hearted.

Having had my books signed (my copy of ‘Leila and the Blue Fox’ was the first Kiran had signed), Sally and I bumped into some more familiar faces- James Carter and Cerrie Burnell.

My day ended in the perfect way. Having had a little stroll along the canal, I enjoying the afternoon sun sitting in the Pleasure Gardens by Holburne Museum, enjoying the beauty of the surroundings and the joy of a good book!

The Festival continues this week with lots of events for schools and again, next weekend with a programme full of interest for all the family.

Journey Back to Freedom

Snatched from Essaka in Africa, Olaudah Equiano was captured and enslaved at the age of 11. Having spent time in Barbados and Virginia, he then spent the next eight years travelling the world as slave to a British Royal Navy officer, who renamed him Gustavus Vassa. His final master allowed him to buy his freedom for £40 which Equiano had raised through trading himself. Back in England, he eventually became a prominent member of the abolition movement, publishing his autobiography in 1789.

In ‘Journey Back to Freedom’, Catherine Johnson focuses on Equiano’s early life, although she adds further information in her afterword. Well known for her excellent historical writing and attention to detail, Catherine has used Olaudah’s autobiography as the basis for her work, imagining dialogue except in places where he states he is quoting from life.

This is a disturbing and emotive subject, but Catherine Johnson’s concise and matter of fact style means it is accessible to a younger audience. The horrors of slavery are evident throughout from Olaudah’s initial capture to the barbarity of the voyage, from his life at sea to the cruelty of the West Indies, but Catherine has managed to maintain a fine balance between including this information and being overly descriptive.

Throughout his sufferings, Olaudah’s determination to regain his freedom is incredible and this is a book which will encourage and initiate conversations, developing children’s understanding of the slave trade through Olaudah’s lived experiences. In her afterword, Catherine recognises that he was a complex character. He was against slavery yet he was involved in the trade. This moral ambiguity, the awful situations he found himself in - all of this will lead to thought-provoking, challenging discussions about this very difficult period of history.

Barrington Stoke once again proving their books are for everyone!

Journey Back to Freedom: The Olaudah Equiano Story

Catherine Johnson, illustrated by Katie Hickey

Barrington Stoke ISBN: 978-1781129227

You can read my review of ‘Race to the Frozen North: The Matthew Henson Story’ here.

Fire Power

It's not easy being an accidental superhero. Aidan (aka Fire Boy) and the circus are in trouble, once again. Aidan's nemesis, the billionaire Clayton Jones, is spreading fake news throughout the world, painting Aidan as the bad guy.

With circus fans dwindling and the world turning against them, Aidan knows it's once again up to him to save the day. But to do see, he'll have to reveal the truth about Clayton Jones - and it looks like Clayton might have some special powers of his own...

The ‘Fire Boy’ books have been incredibly popular in school with children delighting in their quirky humour and very relatable superhero, Aiden.

Jay uses a number of devices- lists, notes from readers, emails- and differing typography to break up the text as well as fairly short chapters to make the book both accessible and appealing to readers whilst keeping the plot moving at a pleasing pace. The tone of the story is light and chatty which adds to this.

Aiden is an appealing main character. Often impulsive- that’s how he became Fire Boy in the first place- he is lucky to have good friends by his side. Sadie, Hussein and he might be very different personalities, but they balance each other well, making a good team whose bond is sure to endure whatever life brings. Granny continues to be my favourite character: cantankerous and dangerous, she is a match for anyone, ‘a freak of nature’.

In addition to the story bursting with humour, it has a generous scattering of facts throughout- bibliosmia is liking the smell of old books, burnt orchids flower in early summer- which add to the overall enjoyment. The book ends with a fact or fiction ‘quiz’ by Miss Spatchcock, focusing on some of the details included in the story and encouraging the reader to find out more about Peru, where part of the story is set, and the Incas.

Every bit as enjoyable as the first two, ‘Fire Power’ is a fitting conclusion to this series.

Fire Power J M Joseph

Hodder ISBN: 978-1444954722

You can find out more about Jay and what he will be writing next in my Q and A session with him here.

Meet J M Joseph

Fabulously funny, ‘Fireboy’ and the sequel, ‘Pants on Fire’ have been hugely popular at school and I had the great pleasure of meeting Jay when I organised some visits for him where the children were very engaged and excited. The ‘flaming finale’ of the series, Fire Power’ came out in August and is sure to be every bit as popular! These books are fast-moving, hilarious - and full of friendship.

I am delighted to welcome Jay to the Bookshelf today and ask him a few questions.

1.       An idea comes to you for a book. Do you:

a)       Jump for joy and rush to your notebook/laptop to instantly capture it?

b)      Run around shouting ‘Hallelujah’ until you realise you have forgotten what it was?

c)       Throw yourself on the floor, gnash your teeth and sob, ‘Why me?’ because you know you now have to write the thing?

(This is the only ‘Fire Boy’ style quiz question, I promise!)

When ideas comes (which isn’t often), I spend weeks writing neat Three-Act plans in new notebooks or drawing narrative arcs in heroic colours. And then ignore them all as soon as I start writing.

I hate plotting.

Characters, however, get me excited – their voices, their reactions, what motivates them or makes them angry. Inserting characters into scenes and watching what they do – that’s what I enjoy most about writing.

2.       ‘Fire Boy’ is Aiden’s alter-ego. What superpowers would you choose to have- and what would your super-name be?

As a writer of a super-hero series, I get asked this question a lot.

My choice would be to control time. Travelling forwards and back through time or making it stop when deadlines near is my ideal super power. The opportunity to play practical jokes on people is endless. And the things I’d do at press conferences at No. 10! If only! Such mayhem would require secrecy, so no name allowed. But it would be a small price to pay.

3.       Is Lemon, cat-that-can-turn-into-a-tiger, based on a cat that you know?

I have two dogs (Winnie, a golden retriever, and Rose, a spaniel-mix) who my children adore. They spent a good part of the Fire Boy series at my feet while I wrote it – the dogs, not my children. Lemon, you might say, is “channelled” through Winnie and Rose. For comedy purposes, I needed a pet who would occasionally walk away from Aidan with her bum in the air so a cat seemed a better fit.

4.       I am fascinated by teaching teachers who are authors. When do you find the time to write and do you think teaching helps shape your writing?

I spent 30 years as a class teacher, a nursery teacher and lecturer before I began a part-time MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. I dropped a day a week to attend classes and complete that. When I got an agent (the wonderful Becky Bagnall of the Lindsay Literacy Agency), I dropped another session. I am currently down to .5, but still teach four days a week.

I had my first break from teaching/writing in five years this summer when I was between books. Previously, if I wasn’t teaching, I was writing. Every school holiday was spent behind a laptop.

I’m not sure if teaching shapes my writing, but the children I teach certainly do. I currently teach English to children aged 10-13 so we talk about stories, poems and plays most days. It’s why I carry on teaching, really. I just enjoy it.

5.       I read the opening of ‘Fire Boy’ as part of an assembly on reading and the children were instantly hooked by the original, and very engaging, idea of starting the book with a quiz. What made you think of this idea?

Flann O’Brien’s At Swim-Two-Birds is one of the funniest books I have ever read. It was written in 1939 and opens with a narrator addressing his reader about possible ways to open a novel. It contains parodies of extracts, a medieval Irish poem, “biographical reminiscences” and characters who imprison their author because they resent what he forces them to do.

I wanted to write a book in a style similar to At Swim, but for children. That’s where the idea of a quiz originated.

6.       What can we expect from you next?

I have two projects on the go at the moment. One is about a little white dog that wants to be a wolf. It’s aimed at 6-9 year-olds and owes a lot to three girls I teach who insisted that my next book should contain a wolf at all costs. The other is a thriller set in the future which I am struggling to plot (See answer to Q1 above).

7.       And lastly- and most importantly according to my niece- what is your favourite cake?

My favourite cake is my mother-in-law’s Chocolate Biscuit Cake. For any Irish readers out there, that name alone might suffice. For the rest of you, Chocolate Biscuit Cake is a little like Tiffin but without the cherries or raisins and it is absolutely scrumptious.

Many thanks to Jay for agreeing to take part in this Q and A session. I’m really looking forward to reading both of your up-coming projects!

I will be sharing my review of ‘Fire Power’ tomorrow- it’s one not to be missed.

The Arctic Railway Assassin

Hal is flying off to Sweden to meet his Uncle Nat. Together, they are going to make a special Christmas trip to the Aurora Sky Station to see the Northern Lights. Uncle Nat’s friend, Mortimer, has just won a Nobel Prize, and has been scared by a series of inexplicable events since the announcements. Although she is supposed to be accompanying them on the Narvik train, Morti has a sudden change of plans, leaving Hal and Nat to board alone.

But as they leave Stockholm, Hal and his uncle realise that they are being followed and things take a sinister turn as Uncle Nat’s past returns to haunt him, putting them both in danger.

This is definitely the most tense and fast paced trains adventure yet- and my new favourite! In this story, we learn more about Uncle Nat’s mysterious past and it seems that danger is catching up with him. There are moments of real peril and suspense as the action builds, raising serious concerns for the safety of all involved.

As readers have come to expect, ‘The Arctic Railway Assassin’ is full of wonderful descriptions of the trains and railways- a gift for any railfan. This attention to detail really makes you want to visit the locations involved- Kungsträdgården Station and the metro, Stockholm, the journey north to the Arctic Circle- leaving you with a strong sense of wanderlust, a longing to see the Northern lights and stay in the Ice Hotel! A section of notes at the end of the book offers more information about these places if the reader is interested.

Hal’s art work continues to be central to each story, but in this one, I feel there is a real sense of the development of his talent. The reader is told that he has been practising drawing at speed and is now ‘able to get down all the important lines at a breakneck pace’, loosely sketching in ‘a series of eggs for heads’ and other marks to guide his drawing. The addition of these details really adds to the story as it is through Hal’s considerable skill that the crimes are solved. Elisa Paganelli’s wonderful illustrations continue to give life to his sketches, allowing the reader to see each scene Hal captures and glean the same clues- if they can!

I love the face that the Sámi people have been included in this story. Katarina, who Hal meets on this trip, is a great character with observational skills and courageous spirit to match Hal’s. Details about the fascinating culture of her people, including clothing, food and their reindeer, add great interest to the story. I have been lucky enough to visit Sápmi and am ashamed to say that I did not know the Sámi people find ‘Lapland’ offensive. You really do learn - and should learn- something new every day.

The success of this series is not at all surprising as every book not only introduces the reader to a new location- and a new train- but also a brilliant new mystery to solve. I can’t wait to see what Hal gets up to next!

The Arctic Railway Assassin

M G Leonard and Sam Sedgman, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli

Macmillan ISBN: 978-1529072761

Published 13th October 2022

You can read my review of ‘Sabotage on the Solar Express’ here and ‘Epic Adventures: Explore the World in 12 Amazing Train Journeys’ here.

You can read a multi- review of each of the other four books here.

Pause for Poetry: Let’s Chase Stars Together

‘Let’s Chase Stars Together’ is a stunning collection of poems, reflecting a whole range of emotions. Matt Goodfellow is an exceptionally talented poet who has the knack of selecting just the right words to capture and reflect feelings and thoughts which we all share and giving them voice and energy.

Every poem is worth pausing at and commenting on. For a teacher, there is a wealth to draw on, adding poetry to story times or to provoke thoughtful discussions in other subjects. For children reading independently, there are many which will resonate with their personal experience and feelings.

‘Callum’ is a particularly poignant poem which I had the great pleasure of hearing Matt perform and many teachers will recognise pupils of their own in Matt’s words. There are poems about difficult aspects of home life- ‘A Thousand Hours’, ‘The Wolf’, ‘Hey, Mum’ and ‘Jake’; school life- ‘It’s Always the Same’, ‘I Hope It Rains Today’ and ‘Transition’; poems about feelings, relationships, life and love. Yet Matt manages to achieve a delicate balance of emotion and humour, ensuring the broadest appeal for his poems- and surely encouraging others to express themselves through this form.

I could enthuse about this collection for hours- but the best thing is for others to enjoy it for themselves. A couple of my favourites are ‘The Democratic Republic of Me’ and ‘The River’- you might like to start there!

Let’s Chase Stars Together Matt Goodfellow

Bloomsbury ISBN: 978-1472993847

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone. Make sure you investigate Matt’s other poetry collections- you won’t be disappointed.

Blog Tour: Gender Swapped Greek Myths

The myths and legends that the Ancient Greeks created are amongst the best known and most retold. Elements of these stories have permeated our everyday life and language- Achille’s heel, Herculean strength, having the Midas touch. These are stories which have stood the test of time- stories of heroes, monsters, gods, goddesses and mortals filled with tragedy, mystery, adventure, envy, courage, vengeance and love.

Although the versions written for children are generally sanitised and simplified. It is not often, for example, that Medusa’s rape in the temple of Athena is included, nor the fact that Athena then punished Medusa for this. Rooted in a patriarchal society, women in these stories are depicted in accordance to the beliefs and values of these times. Whilst the men are generally portrayed as heroic and powerful, women tended to their needs and gave birth to their children or waited passively to be rescued- with the stories emphasising the dire consequences for any who might think otherwise.

In this new collection of re-tellings, the roles are literally reversed. With each of the myths presented here, the gender of each character has been switched, making the reader pause and reflect not only on the original tales, but on how this bias affects our everyday lives. It is amazing how a different name and pronoun impacts the reader and changes perceptions.

So, here we meet Pandorus as he opens his casket ‘just to peep inside’ and releases all the ills of the world; it is Thesea who kills the Minoheifer, Queen Aegea whose death names the Aegean Sea; Arachnus who is transformed into a spider. The book starts with an authors’ note which explains the ‘story behind the story’ with both Karrie and Jonathan contributing. In this, they discuss their reasons for this work, the sources they drew on and explain any adaptations they had to make.

The book- a beautiful hardback with a red ribbon bookmark- is full of colour illustrations, bringing these new characters to life. This would make a welcome addition to school libraries and classrooms, perfect for generating discussions and challenging thinking about the role of different characters and relationships are altered in the different versions.

Gender Swapped Greek Myths

Karrie Fransman and Jonathan Plackett

Faber ISBN: 978-0571371327

Many thanks to Bethany at Faber for inviting me to take part on this tour.

Make sure you read the rest of the tour posts over the next few days.

Blog Tour: The Shadow Order

Today, I am delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour for ‘The Shadow Order’ by Rebecca F John. This is a story you will not want to miss!

Friends Teddy James, Betsy Blue and Effie Hart live in Copperwell, a city which has lived for a year under The Shadow Order, a law passed to prevent its citizens from seeing their shadows which have changed and now reflect each person’s true self. It’s been a long dark year in which only the Constabulary- law enforcement- are allowed to move outside in daylight hours.

When the three children decide to break the rules and climb to the top of the Observatory to see the sunrise, they witness the arrest of a woman who is shouting about the government, accusing them of being responsible for the change in the shadows and telling anyone who will listen to ‘find the orrery!’ Determined to find out what the government is really up to, the friends set off on a quest brimming with peril, excitement and adventure.

‘The Shadow Order’ is a gripping read, perfect for those children who like to be challenged in their thinking. Darkness lurks in Copperwell, not only because of the Order, but because the population are being controlled and manipulated by those in power. They are constantly being fed misinformation to make them behave in a way which suits their leaders- sounds familiar? Stories like this are so important to encourage children to think for themselves and question things, looking for a balanced view rather than blindly accepting the ‘party line’, whatever your party might be!

As with the other hosts on this blog tour, I have a snippet of exclusive content to share. I am delighted by this as it allows me to ‘show, not tell’ Rebecca’s skill in both world building and character development.

Limpet’s Lane
Swindler’s Quarter is the poorest part of Copperwell. And the poorest part of Swindler’s Quarter is Limpet’s Lane. On Limpet’s Lane, each room houses at least two families, who cram top-to-toe into beds six or eight people at a time. One early morning, Teddy and his father collected a fare from Limpet’s Lane in the cab. Teddy could tell his father was nervous by the way he kept glancing over his shoulder, wrapping his hands tighter around Jim’s reins. The tall narrow houses blocked out the rising winter sun. ‘Stay alert,’ Teddy’s father said. ‘Desperate people do desperate things sometimes.’ Teddy clamped his gloved hands together. ‘Then we shouldn’t be here,’ he said. ‘It’s frightening.’ His father replied in a murmur. ‘It’s impossible to live a life without fear.’ And clicked Jim on into the shadows.

The three children- Teddy, Betsy and Effie-are very different children, each with their own secrets and challenges. The strength of their friendship and their loyalty to each other supports them through the many challenges, emotional and physical which they face whilst trying to expose the truth. I have a particular fondness for Teddy and am delighted to see a sensitive, caring male character who doubts himself for not being brave enough, yet when needed, finds the courage to do what needs to be done.

‘The Shadow Order’ is the perfect book for the ‘moving on’ stage of readers- those able readers around Year 6/7/8 who are looking for something to challenge them, but are not ready perhaps for the content of novels aimed at older readers. I really hope there will be more books so we can follow Teddy, Betsy and Effie further as their lives continue.

The Shadow Order Rebecca F. John

Firefly Press ISBN: 978-1913102951

Many thanks to Rebecca and the lovely Karen at Firefly- it was a pleasure to meet you at the YLG Conference!- for inviting me to be part of this tour. Make sure you catch the rest of the posts about this brilliant book.

Meet Martin Brown

It is a joy to welcome Martin Brown to the Bookshelf today! The ‘Horrible Histories’ books have been engaging, entertaining and informing children (and adults!) for many years now and the series owes much of its success to Martin’s illustrative genius. I first met Martin at a FCBG Conference and was delighted when his ‘Lesser Spotted Animals’ won the NSTBA 2017 Information Category.

Photo: Emily Beale Photography

1.       You are probably best known for illustrating the incredibly popular ‘Horrible Histories’ books, but have you illustrated many books for other writers as well as having written and illustrated books of your own?

I’ve only illustrated a few books with other authors. Before the Horrible Histories I was doing similar cartoony things with Peter Corey for the Coping With… series. And I was lucky enough to illustrate the re-issue of Philip Pullman’s The Adventures of the New Cut Gang. More recently I’ve illustrated a sort of fairy story all about chess for Mark Price and worked with John McLay on the Dragon’s Dentist series of early reader books.

2.       The ‘Lesser Spotted Animals’ books are hugely popular with children I have taught. How did you decide which animals to include? Are there any you haven’t written about which you would like to?

Growing up in Australia I knew about lots of animals that were unfamiliar here, so that was a start. But I’ve always had a love of wild creatures, and over the years I’ve heard about all sorts of wonderful beasties. That’s one of the reasons I wrote the book. I couldn’t understand how some of these beautiful and amazing animals could be so unknown. Then it was books and the internet to learn about even more. The trouble is, I’d like to write about them all – and just for mammals, that would be 237 more books!

3.       Tell me a little about the next adventure for Nell and Cave Bear.

Hmm, I’m not sure if I’m allowed to. OK then, just a bit… It starts just after the last book ends. Nell and Cave Bear are living with the Sea Clan – but it’s time to head back to the Cave and then on to the hunting grounds on the Great Plain. And Nell’s not sure if she wants to go. Meanwhile the bear-hunting Woodland Clan are plotting revenge. Once more Nell and her bear best friend are thrown into danger. However, this time, there’s help.

4.       Which artists/ illustrators inspire you and your work?

When I was starting out my heroes were cartoonists like Jeff MacNelly, Pat Oliphant and Johnny Hart. These days I am constantly inspired by just about every illustrator I have ever met or who’s work I have ever seen. We are so lucky to have approximately a gazillion wonderful artists working in the Children’s Book world at present. Chris Riddell, Sophy Henn, Shaun Tan, Helen Stephens, Sarah McIntyre, Oliver Jeffers, Adam Stower, Axel Scheffler, Helen Oxenbury, Ian Beck, Alex Latimer, Lauren Child, Jim Field… the list is endless.

5.       Which of your pictures/illustrations are you the most proud of?

As a lot of my work is really cartooning rather than illustration, to me, some of my best drawings are gags I’ve done for the Horrible Histories books – like for Angry Aztecs. It was considered good luck to attach a severed finger from a dead person to your shield before a battle. So how do you attach a severed finger to your shield? With a finger nail of course!

6.       It’s the 30th anniversary of Horrible Histories next year. Do you have plans to celebrate this?

Yes, wonderful plans are afoot. But no-one’s told me what they are yet. However, there will be a special new Horrible Histories book to go with the anniversary. And after that it’ll be back to writing the next adventure for Nell and the Cave Bear.

7.       And lastly - and most importantly according to my niece - what is your favourite cake?

Um… I haven’t got a particularly sweet tooth – coffee and walnut perhaps? But honestly, I think I’d rather a Portuguese custard tart.

Many thanks to Martin for sharing his answers with me. I am very excited about the new Nell- I believe the cover is being released today- and am looking forward to the special Horrible Histories 30th anniversary book.

You can read my review of Nell and the Cave Bear here and Lesser Spotted Animals here. You can also read about Martin’s exhibition at Weston Museum here.

My guided reading notes for Nell and the Cave Bear are here and I will be adding my notes for Lesser Spotted Animals soon.