Moldilocks and the Three Scares Book Review

I'll be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween. I believe it is something that has more American, and event that we've tried to adopt. However, my children whole heartedly disagree with me. They love nothing more than to dress up, pop face paint on and become their scariest selves.

So you can imagine my youngest's delight when a certain Halloween themed book arrived in the post.

Moldilocks and the Three Scares (as you can imagine) is an interpretation of the classic tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

One chilly night Papa Scare, Mama Scare and Baby Scare take a stroll to let their very hot Alpha-Bat Soup cool. But while they are out, a lonely little zombie named Moldilocks sleepwalks into their haunted house, eats their soup, breaks a chair . . . . and maybe even answers the Scare family's nightmares.

Inclusive Book Round Up from Little Tiger

As little ones navigate their way through life, they are always learning something new and a big thing that comes with growing up is all of the new people that they will meet and as their parent, it isn't always easy to explain emotions and the behaviours that can come with building these new relationships but Little Tiger are here to help.

In my latest book round up from Little Tiger, there is a great selection of paperbacks which are highly accessible for young children and guaranteed to help them be more mindful and better equipped to deal with all the things that life brings.

Happy

We breathe deep and expand like the galaxy. We breathe out many thousands of stars. And if ever we start to feel panicky. This reminds us just who we are.

In a world filled with drama and confusion at every turn, Happy is a book that will help children to really relax whilst being able to explore their own feelings. I think it will be especially effective on days where something perhaps has happened at school and they can't comprehend how to deal with it.

Letting Go by Cat Clarke September Book of the Month

I am a huge fan of author Cat Clarke so when I saw that Barrington Stoke would be publishing and releasing a novella from her, I was eager to get my hands on a copy. Letting Go is a moving, thoughtful and utterly touching YA story.

When Agnes made a promise to her girlfriend Ellie, she thought they would be together forever. One year later, Agnes is keeping that promise and it's put her in a situation she never could have predicted; climbing a desolate mountain, in miserable weather, with Ellie and her new boyfriend Steve. When the weather takes a threatening turn and the sky-high tension between the trio hit its peak, Agnes will have to push herself further than she ever thought possible...

Praise for Cat Clarke!

Letting Go is no ordinary YA story.

Because of You Book Review

Blended families, they are more common than you might think these days. I have quite a few friends who have embraced this way of family life however when it comes to books it still seems more common to feature your 'average family' rather than those that are what I'd described as merged.

Eve Ainsworth is a best-selling teen author as well as being an experienced school speaker, with a background of working with secondary schools in pastoral and child protection roles and she has just published her debut Barrington Stoke novel Because of You which showcases both blended families as well as the topical idea of online bullying.

Poppy's life has turned into a nightmare. Mum's new boyfriend is moving in, along with his daughter, Kayla - the most popular girl in school. Poppy's dad is never around and appears to be drifting further and further away. And when it seems like things can't get any worse, Poppy becomes the target of the spiteful school bullies. As the vicious online comments and humiliating pranks escalate, with even her friends joining in, it looks like Poppy has no one left to turn to.

The Starlight Watchmaker Book Review

If you are new to my book reviews then you won't know just how lucky I am to work with publishing company Barrington Stoke. They provide so many people with books, but not just any books, books that are accessible to everyone including those who may have dyslexia or who might simply be reluctant readers.

This month they are releasing a fantastic story,  so good that they've made it their 'lead title' for July. Introducing the The Starlight Watchmaker.

At an elite academy where the wealthiest students from across the galaxy come to be educated, Hugo works as a watchmaker in a dusty attic room. But he is one of the lucky ones. Many androids like him are jobless and homeless. 

Little Tiger July Book Releases

Little Tiger are one of my favourite children's book publishers and I try to share some of their fantastic releases when I can. May saw some very sweet stories being published and I'm back this month, July, with a whole host of books which include plenty of numbers and some very cute llamas and unicorns.

Let's Find the Tiger

Tiger is hiding. Let's go and find him!

There are lots of animals playing among the trees, but could any of them be Tiger? Peek through the pages and lift the touchy-feely felt flaps to find out.

This book is wonderfully interactive. From the different peep through holes and the beautifully bright felt flaps. There is an abundance if things to catch a child's imaginations. The combined use of sight and touch really work well to capture little one's attention.

The Disconnect Book Review

I always get excited when Barrington Stoke send me books to read and review. Ok they are aimed more at the children than me but there are some that manage to resonate well with adults too. One of the most recent stories that had such an affect was The Disconnect by Keren David. I was kindly sent an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Could you last six whole weeks without your phone? Six weeks without sharing photos, without group messages, without being kept in the social‑media loop?

An eccentric entrepreneur has challenged Esther’s year group to do just that, and the winners will walk away with £1,000.

For Esther, whose dad and sister live thousands of miles away in New York, the prize might be her only chance to afford flights for a visit… 

But can she really stay disconnected long enough to win?

One Shot Book Review

Last year I was lucky enough that Barrington Stoke sent me a copy of a very poignant book, One Shot by award winning author Tanya Landman. I've impatiently held off writing my review but this incredible story is being released this week (finally) so I feel like I can now share my thoughts with all of you.

After the death of her beloved father, Maggie and her family are thrown into a life of destitution. With little income and no way to live off their poor land. Maggie tries to provide for her family the way her father always had - with his hunting rifle and whatever animals the forest would provide. But when her mother is confronted with her "unladylike" behaviour, she abandons Maggie to a life of unthinkable cruelty and abuse. With no one to care for her and only the hope of escape, all Maggie can do is survive.

The blurb alone is powerful!

Bagel in Love by Natasha Wing - February Book of the Month

Sometimes a book comes along and it manages to put a smile on your face without you even delving into the many exciting pages that it so happens to hold. 

And that's just what my book of the month did for me. Bagel in Love by Natasha Wing is a brilliant example of a picture book that can actually capture the attention of both the young and old.

Poor Bagel! He dreams of entering the Cherry Jubilee dance contest, but no one wants to be his partner!

Can he find a sweet-tart who doesn't think his steps are half baked?

The Kiss Book Review

Something I have always tried to in-still in my children is to be kind to others, and the notion that it isn't just achieved by the things you do but by how you act and what you say too. Linda Sunderland's latest picture book, The Kiss goes to show just how far one small act of kindness can travel ...

When Edwyn blows Grandma a kiss, she catches it and puts it in her pocket. The kiss brings smiles, laughter and dancing!

But a rich man wants the kiss all to himself - and he'll do anything to get it!

The Girls Book Review

Friendship - it's a tricky sort of relationship. One that changes as you get older and seems to become even more complicated. I'm always trying to teach my girls the importance of having friends, that doesn't mean being popular with everyone, but having someone close who you know you can always lean on when necessary.

Once there was a tree that grew little girls . . .

Four girls meet under an apple and sow the seeds of a bond that will last a lifetime. Follow their friendship as the years pass by and the girls become women.

Before I tell you what I think of this picture book, my eight year old has her own review that she'd like to share;

Thunder Pug Book Review

My girls would really love to have a pet dog but unfortunately with work commitments, money etc, so far their dream hasn't come true. So to help with this problem, I've tried to find replacements in the forms of cute, cuddly toys and different books. 

The latest story to grab their interest is Thunder Pug by Kim Norman. And let me tell you if dogs came as cute as this one I might be persuaded to get one ...

Percy the pug and Petunia the pig love doing almost everything together . . . until Petunia wins a blue ribbon at the county fair. Suddenly, she's too busy to play anymore. So when lonely Percy finds a faded comic book, he takes on a new identity: THUNDER PUG!

He's great at helping other animals out of sticky situations, but it turns out that being a superhero by yourself is not always easy.

Will Percy find a trusty sidekick to join his heroic team?

This story is a wonderfully, charming tale from the get go.

Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast Mission Defrostable Book Review

If you haven't heard of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast before then where have you been? These loveable characters have made appearances twice before in author Josh Funk's books and now they are back for a third adventure in their latest picture book, Mission Defrostable.

Everyone's about to become frozen food . . .

Someone has put a chill on the fridge that's hardened Pudding Pond and frozen Yogurt Falls. Agent Asparagus is on the case, and she needs Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast to join her superspy mission to the freezer. 

But when Asparagus disappears, there's only one man for Pancake and French Toast to turn to: Baron von Waffle! 

Will he help them save the fridge, or will they be stopped cold?

Firebird by Elizabeth Wein Book Review

I love that a lot of children's books these days have a focus on history, and Firebird is just that. Based on the authors real life research on female pilots in the Soviet Union in the WW2, this is the story of Nastia, who is the daughter of revolutionaries and a brilliant pilot. 

Nastia is no traitor. She is a daring pilot, the daughter of revolutionaries, and now, as the Second World War descends on Russia, she must fight to save the glorious Motherland. But all is not as it seems, and when the battles begin, secrets are revealed and everything that she once knew is challenged... A thrilling adventure brimming with historical detail and powerful female characters.

My eldest took great pleasure in reading this tale and here is what she has to say about it;

My First Book of Quantum Physics April Book of the Month

If you're like me then you may be of the opinion that science can be a little on the boring side. Science writer and educator Sheddad Kaid-Salah aims to change that opinion for the younger generation with My First Book of Quantum Physics. And I tell you what my eldest daughter and I were so impressed that we chose it as my April book of the month.

What this book does is break down what a lot of us will call the techno-babble. It lets the reader in on the science beyond the atoms and quarks, explaining the subtle differences between waves and particles, and where they overlap, and much, much more!

I Really Want the Cake Book Review

I don't think it will come as a surprise to you all when I tell you that I REALLY like cake, I mean as long as you put fruit it then it can even become one of your five-a-day right? And I mean I don't just like cake because it tastes good (and that of course puts me in a good mood), no I also enjoy everything cake like because it means I can bake them with my children and what better activity to do together with your kids when you get such a delicious ending!

So of course when I was emailed and asked if I would like to take a look at Simon Philip's latest picture book, I Really Want the Cake, well I could hardly resist now could I. 

How on earth do you resist the most amazing cake?

One little girl is about to find out just how hard that can be.

Town Mouse, Country Mouse Book Review

It's funny how certain stories stand the test of time. Aesop's Fables are stories I remember reading with my Nan and I've still got my book full of those fables at home. My seven year old recently done some work on these tales at school, she had to pick her favourite fable and write a review about it, my book got dusted off and it was so nice to see a new generation getting to experience these old tales.

The Red Dread Book Review

My youngest two are still very much into picture books, they have their favourites that they'll tend to read over and over again but then every so often a book comes along that really grabs their attention and this is precisely what Tom Morgan Jones' debut picture books, The Read Dread has managed to do.

Thump thump... Thump thump... Thump thump... The Read Dread is on the loose! Is anyone safe?

This is a book that is literally full of surprises. When you look at the front cover and ask the children what they think it could be about, they're replies are perhaps monsters, something spooky, it could be a little bit of a scary tale. The question we should all be asking is, "what is the red dread and just what does it want?".

Michael Morpurgo's Animals Book Tour - Born to Run #MorpurgosAnimals + Giveaway

Last week happened to include World Animal Day and in late celebration I have teamed up with nine other bloggers alongside author Michael Morpurgo to bring you activities and giveaways whilst also taking a look at some of Michael's best-loved animal stories.

My eldest daughter has the privilege of telling you more about the heart-warming tale that is Born to Run:

The bag wasn't just drifting gently along, it was turning of it's own accord. There was something inside it, squeaking and squealing in terror. Patrick didn't think about it. He shrugged off his school bag and leaped into the canal.

For Best Mate, being rescued from drowning as a young puppy is only the start of his adventures. From unwanted burden to favourite companion, and from pet to champion race dog, this remarkable greyhound proves that it's not just cats who have more than one life. Cast aside, kidnapped, adopted or living rough on the streets, Best Mate can always find a way to survive. But will he ever find a real home?

Dinotastic Books For Fans of Dinosaurs

I am a mum of four girls and I've not failed to notice all the news lately going on about genders and how we shape a child with the things we give them. Just to go against a lot of what has been said, my daughters are fairly stereotypical, they love princesses, make-up, there is a lot of pink in our house (although daddy wears pink too). 

But that's not stopped them liking other things, they like getting dirty whilst exploring, they go out with their dad whilst he goes shooting with his air rifle and they enjoy playing with Lego, dinosaurs and other things considered more boy friendly. They've always made their own choices when it comes to what they like.

Now last week saw the launch of two fantastic dinosaur themed books from two of my favourite publishers, Little Tiger and Buster Books and my girls were most thrilled when we were gifted with a copy of each book (so was I), I can't be the only one that gets excited at a bit of book post can I? And what I noticed straight away is that they can't be criticised of being aimed at a particular gender as the colour of the books are what most people would consider neutral.

The Book of Prehistoric Beasts from Buster Books