Book reviews by Joanna Hadley
Ethel the Penguin by Ursula Dubosarsky and Christopher Nielsen
Ethel the Penguin has a familiar, repetitive, rhythmic feel that young children aged 3–6 will enjoy. Who wouldn’t want a wild, fun penguin living next door in an iceberg semi-detached?
A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet by Ali Rutstein and Tommy Doyle
A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet includes snippets of clever, playful scenarios, such as a child playing hide and seek with a tiger—after all, most of us would hide from a tiger!
All Aboard the Bedtime Bus by Karl Newson and Tim Budgen
All Aboard The Bedtime Bus is an ideal read for preschoolers before nap time or bedtime, helping their eyes grow droopy and guiding them into a tranquil slumber.
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
The Wild Robot is a charming story of artificial intelligence, an orphaned goose, wildlife, and climate change storms entwining to show loss, disaster, growth. This spirited story explores the possibilities when robot and nature collide and grow together.
The Time Travellers: Secrets and Spies by Sufiya Ahmed, illustrated by Alessia Trunfio
Time Travellers – Secrets and Spies is an exciting, gripping adventure story that educates through curiosity and excitement and could inspire the next generation to avoid past mistakes and consider ethical behaviours.
Dance Just Like So by Annemarie Anang and Natelle Quek
Dance Just Like So has its own fast rhythm that carries you through the story at a fast pace and quickens your pulse. Any children who are a bit musical, theatrical or like to dance, will love this.
Maggie Sparks and the Fang-tastic Fairground by Steve Smallman
Maggie Sparks and the Fang-tastic Fairground is a good read for 5-9-year-old children. And if they love it, it’s just one of a growing collection of Maggie Sparks magical adventures.
I Am a Courageous Cub (I Am Mindful) by Shoshana Chaim, illustrated by Lori Joy Smith
I Am a Courageous Cub is a good social storybook to promote self-regulation and positive well-being in young children and a great resource for preschools and schools.
I Hear You, Mountains (Sounds of Nature) by Kallie George, illustrated by Carmen Mok
I Hear You, Mountains is a lovely read if you’re planning on going to the countryside, park or any outdoor space. Appreciating the outdoors using senses and mindfulness techniques is very therapeutic to mind and body.
Pizza Pete and the Missing Magic by Carrie Sellon
Pizza Pete and the Missing Magic is packed full of talk of pizza, flapjacks, funny names, and bizarre, beak-growing moments that will really appeal. Carrie Sellon has created relatable characters and developed personalities.
Little Bear Lost by Jane Hissey
Little Bear Lost brought memories flooding back to me of reading Jane Hissey’s earlier books to my children many years ago. I recognised the characters in this book immediately, as did my 23-year-old daughter.
This is Happy! by Anna Ross and Debi Gliori
This is Happy! Explores happiness and how to find it, combining things all children love with bear hugs and an array of family fun. This book encourages young children to find happiness all around them and appreciate the little things.
Poo in the Zoo: The Super Pooper Road Race by Steve Smallman and Ada Grey
Poo in the Zoo: The Super Pooper Road Race has hilarious illustrations, rhyming text, and a touch of wordplay take the reader on an adventure to find out whose poo can be used to fuel madcap vehicles.
Don’t Disturb the Pirate by Rhiannon Findlay and Siân Roberts
Don’t Disturb the Pirate is a great bedtime story with an exciting, explorer/adventure style beginning following through to a calmer, sleep-inducing ending. The illustrations are engaging with glistening fish, tiny turtles and a cute and quirky seagull.
100 Things to Know About Sport by Usborne
100 Things to Know About Sport is part of an award-winning series that is educational, fun and good value for money. The clear explanations and bright illustrations make this a book that is easily accessible and one that you can dip in and out of.
She Sold Seashells. The curious Mary Anning by Wolfgang Grulke
She Sold Seashells … and Dragons. The curious Mary Anning is a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging read for children interested in interested in dinosaurs, palaeontology and geology.
Lily Halfmoon: The Witches’ Council by Xavier Bonet
Lily Halfmoon: The Witches’ Council is an easy, enjoyable read for 7-11-year-olds with flying paper dragons, sphinx riddles, taming kelpies, flying races, animal guardians and diary entries.
Max Magic: The Incredible Holiday Hideout by Stephen Mulhern with Tom Easton
Max Magic: The Incredible Holiday Hideout is Dyslexia friendly with clear, spaced-out font and straightforward language combined with pace and action. Children will find it hard to put this book down.
Sar Wylda & The Legendary Goldbreaker by Jake R Wilson
Sar Wylda and the Legendary Goldbreaker is a feast for the imagination. With inspirational characters, a touch of science, fast-paced life-and-death situations and bags of adventure for children aged 8 years and up.
High Top: Sole Mates by Tom Lacey
High Top: Sole Mates is a persuasively positive and bright using colourful illustrations. It’s a brilliant model for young children to understand the concept of being considerate of others and most importantly, to spread love.
Your Brain is a Lump of Goo by Idan Ben-Barak, illustrated by Christopher Nielsen
Your Brain is a Lump of Goo is an amusing and informative “book made by brains, about brains, for brains.” The illustrations are clever, fun, bright and engaging, encouraging children to absorb the information playfully.
Bad Panda: Mites, Camera, Action! by Swapna Haddow
Bad Panda: Mites, Camera, Action is a hilarious stand-alone story in itself but, there are others in the series. So, don’t be surprised if your child wants to read the rest of the series after they have finished!
Countdown to Bedtime Sleepy Unicorn by Candy Bee, illustrated by Tom Knight
Countdown to Bedtime Sleepy Unicorn will help young children slow down, relax and drift off to sleep, hopefully dreaming about the fluffy bunnies, tiny fireflies or some of the other lovely characters they have seen throughout the book.
Bird is Dead by Tiny Fisscher and Herma Starreveld
Bird is Dead is a great book for adults to share with a child and explore this important subject. There are amusing moments mixed with the colourful illustrations that give the subject a lighter note.
Elki Is Not My Dog by Elena Arevalo Mellville, illustrated by Tonka Uzu
Elki Is Not My Dog will encourage children to consider things from an animal’s point of view and consider compassion and the care a dog needs. The expressions of the characters enhance the empathy and kindness theme which, runs through the book.
