The Full Stop that Got Away

Frank is a full stop. He quietly stops things because that’s what a full stop does. However, when a dragon called Dee takes over, things get out of hand and Frank decides he has had enough. But without a full stop, how will things end?

What a wonderful book! ‘The Full Stop that Got Away’ manages to celebrate both the joy of imagination and the power of punctuation in one fabulously funny story. There is so much to enjoy and discuss here- this is definitely a new favourite!

On the punctuation side, teachers can have great fun, using Frank to remind children of what a full stop does and how important this ‘round and small’ punctation mark is for making sense of written text. Of course, by saying that Frank never asks questions or shouts, the story introduces the use of question marks and exclamation marks, but these are not the only punctuation marks used in the telling of the tale, brilliantly illustrating a variety of these and how they can be used in context of the story. There is so much scope for fun and games to be had here!

However, the story also shows the importance of a dash of imagination and creativity when it comes to telling a great tale. Dee’s enthusiastic additions and details to Frank’s very dull sentence story add great life and excitement…although she still needs his help to bring things to a close! The illustrations are equally brilliant, perfectly capturing Frank’s expressions, Dee’s cavortings and everything in between.

Fabulous fun for home and school! I’m off to plan how to use this now!

The Full Stop that Got Away

Laura Baker, illustrated by Nathan Reed

Scholastic ISBN: 978-0702310225

Publishing 13th February 2025

You can read my review of ‘All the Wonderful Ways to Read’ here.

Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improbable

Although Squirrel and Duck have little in common- Duck being jolly and Squirrel somewhat cranky- they live together with Duck’s pet cactus, Mr Spikes, in a fibreglass tree in an abandoned theme park. As talking animals, they need to keep a low profile which is working well until they discover that the theme park is to be demolished to make way for luxury apartments. When they overheard a conversation between two strangers about where they have hidden the most expensive painting in the world, they decide to find the picture with Duck planning to return it to its owner and Squirrel thinking they could use it to buy a new home. What could possibly go wrong?

Wonderfully whimsical, ‘Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improbable’ is bursting with humour. Pacey, energetic narrative is accompanied by lots of illustrations which help to build the different personalities of Squirrel and Duck as their adventure continues. The two friends are nothing alike and yet together they can ‘do anything’, making them the perfect team.

There are many giggle-worthy moments in the story, not least when Squirrel tries to speak to the grey squirrels in the woods, but is out of practice in ‘speaking squirrel’ and utters offensive nonsense instead. Good triumphing over evil, friendship saving the day, and a series of happy misadventures make for an enjoyable story with more adventures to follow.

Squirrel and Duck: Mission Improbable

Tom Percival

Bloomsbury ISBN: 978-1526665638

Yetis Don’t Exist!

When Iggy, the Yeti, hears the news that ‘Yetis Don’t Exist!’, he and his friends decide that they have to set off on a human search to prove that yetis are indeed real. But no matter how hard they look, there’s not a human to be found!

What a delightful romp of joy ‘Yetis Don’t Exist!’ is! It’s a wonderfully wintery read, full of fun and gathering giggles, and although not really a Christmas book, is sure to be quickly added to everyone’s favourite festive reads!

Illustrations and text work together perfectly with the pictures showing many details which the unobservant humans -or yetis- in the middle of the action completely miss, allowing those sharing the story to share the joke and explore the tales of other creatures which don’t exist…or do they?!

Showing new friends can be found anywhere and that there is magic in mystery, ‘Yetis Don’t Exist!’ is just the sort of brightly-coloured, fun-filled story which children- and their adults- love!

Yetis Don’t Exist!

Kate Thompson, illustrated by Loretta Schauer

Templar ISBN: 978-1800788237

Elves On Strike

Trouble is brewing in Santa’s workshop as the exhausted elves decide that they have had enough. The gift wrappers are stressed and fed up with tricky-to-wrap presents whilst grumpy reindeer are proving hard to train for elves who coach them. They all walk out…all except one little elf who is in the workshop when a heart-felt message arrives. The elf take this to Santa who calls a meeting of the elves and with some team work and a sprinkling of Christmas cheer, everything is soon back on track!

With its bright, colourful illustrations, plenty of flaps to lift and bouncy, rhyming text, ‘Elves on Strike’ is a real seasonal treat! Children will love exploring the chaotic clutter of the workshop and will find different details to giggle over each time the story is shared.

Amid the frenzied preparations and stressful expectations of the ‘perfect’ Christmas it is easy to forget what Christmas is all about- love, hope, sharing and kindness. Many adults will empathise with the overworked elves and sharing the story might lead to some teamwork in the build up to the ‘big’ day! At the very least, it will provide a fun-filled break and some laughter!

Older children might be inspired to create a lift-the- flap scene or card for younger siblings or friends and the pictures offer many opportunities for imaginative story-telling. Each elf is bursting with personality and could easily be the star of their own tale!

The flaps will need careful handling so the book is not spoilt, but this is one which can appear year after year and become a firm festive favourite!

Elves on Strike

Nicola Edwards, illustrated by Pauline Gregory

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1838916411

Betty’s Birthday

It’s Betty’s sixth birthday and she is having a party! Readers are invited to join her in her preparations and for the celebrations!

Bright and colourful, ‘Betty’s Birthday’ is a fun-packed read which engages little ones on every page. Betty is introduced as living in a ‘big house’, a cross section of which is shown to allow readers to guess which is Betty’s room. There is plenty to discuss here with a helipad and a hot air balloon on the roof, a swimming pool room complete with sauna and a cinema and lots of other things to notice! Having located her room, she then needs to find her glasses amongst all the clutter and mess strewn across the floor before choosing an outfit for the party. At each step, the reader is encouraged to help her out or offer their opinion, encouraging little ones to use different skills as they explore both text and illustration.

The page showing Betty’s wardrobe is sure to inspire some readers to create a paper doll of Betty and trace her clothes, adding tabs before cutting out and colouring so that they can play at dressing her up or creating their own outfits to add to her collection!

Once her guests arrive, there are all manner of games to play and things to find as the party gets underway. Children can join in with the dance competition as they are asked what their ‘best moves’ are before it’s time for party bags and home and Betty is left to open her presents and go to bed! With so many ways to interact with the story, this is possibly not one for bedtime, but would be great fun to share with siblings or friends!

Betty’s Birthday

Celine Ka Wing Lau

Cicada Books ISBN: 978-1800660496

Nibbles The Very Hungry Book Monster

Nibbles the Book Monster has gone searching for snacks, but he can’t seem to find a book to satisfy his tastes. One’s too slimy, one’s too sweet and the next is too smelly- will he ever find a book which tastes just right?

‘Nibbles The Very Hungry Book Monster’ is the fifth adventure for everyone’s favourite mischievous monster. Like the other stories, there is so much for little children to enjoy as they follow Nibbles, peeking through die cut holes, lifting flaps and following trails of footprints, making this certain to become an ‘again, again!’ story.

This book about books is perfect for starting discussions about other stories and different types of books. In his search for a tasty snack, Nibbles eats his way through a recipe book, the story of ‘Hansel and Gretel’ and a version of ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm’ which is certain to get readers giggling, but there are plenty of other books to explore in the pictures, offering many little jokes along the way. As Nibbles eats his way into the ‘Cats Pop-Up Book’, for example, he leaves them an escape hole, making a mouse in ‘Hansel and Gretel’ look very worried! Children could suggest other books which Nibbles might enjoy tasting and perhaps create their own pictures exploring his adventures. They might like to make mini books, complete with holes for a Nibbles finger puppet to pop through, allowing them to develop their own stories about this loveable monster.

Readers are sure to enjoy spotting little details in the illustrations, like the wanted poster for Nibbles in the library or all the things he has nibbled on his way across town! Like each of the previous books, ‘The Very Hungry Book Monster’ is sure to become a firm favourite, to be read again and again!

Nibbles The Very Hungry Book Monster

Emma Yarlett

ISBN: 978-1801046541

PUBLICATION DATE: September 5th 2024

You can read about how to make a Nibbles pencil topper here and see an idea for a Nibbles book balloon here.

Hank Goes Honk

Hank the goose spends a lot of his time being obnoxious. His selfish behaviour and unpleasant manners upset others and mean that Hank can get lonely. So, he decides to change his ways and learn how to be an im-PECK-able goose, but it’s not as easy as it seems!

Published just in time for back to school week, ‘Hank Goes Honk’ is absolutely perfect for school assemblies and class discussions with children of all ages as well as for sharing at home! The text uses the words ‘obnoxious’ and ‘considerate’, clearly explaining what they mean and giving examples of Hank’s behaviour to demonstrate whilst the illustrations clearly show the impact of his actions on those around him. There are so many moments where children will naturally want to pause to discuss Hank’s behaviour, offering the perfect opportunity to develop empathy with the other characters. The impulse for Hank to pop Bunny’s balloon is sure to resonate with many little ones and the story gently shows the affect this has, not only on Bunny, but also on Hank.

One of the best things about the story is that Hank does not instantly become a saint. He tries really hard, but somehow the big, red balloon is just too much for him. This results in his becoming very frustrated with himself, but the story makes it clear that this does not mean that he is irredeemable. This again is a really important point to discuss with children- a one off incident can happen to anyone- support and encouragement is what is needed, not condemnation and shaming!

The illustrations are wonderful with so much to notice and enjoy. I love the little caretaker mouse who spends most of the book scurrying round tidying up after Hank- I feel there is a whole book yet to be written about him! There are so many little details to enjoy which add plenty of humour to Hank’s tale and I’m sure many will want to meet his high five to congratulate him on his improved behaviour!

Full of gentle humour, ‘Hank Goes Honk’ is perfect for encouraging children to be kind and considerate to others.

Hank Goes Honk

Maudie Powell-Tuck, illustrated by Duncan Beedie

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1801046527

Published 5th September 2024

You can read my review of ‘The Christmas Department Store’ by Maudie Powell-Tuck here and ‘No Sleep for Bear’ by Duncan Beedie here which also has links to reviews of some of his other books.

A Riddle for a King

Philo (rhymes with high-low) has always longed for adventure, but when he follows a strange creature called Mr Spronkel through the oak door of the grandfather clock, he finds himself in a very strange place indeed. To find his way home, he must somehow pass through the Penguin Gate to the Flying Castle to ask the King for help, somehow avoiding drop-bears, answering the Bridge-Riddler’s puzzle and not being turned into a teapot by the Midnight Witch along the way!

Completely surreal and utterly entertaining, ‘A Riddle for a King’ is a quirky adventure, full of friendship and fun. As I read it, the crazy characters, weird and wonderful places and constant riddling reminded me of Alice’s Adventures, yet this is a tale all of its own!

It’s also very hard to review! It is a quite delightfully bonkers adventure which is full of humour and riddles, keeping the reader entertained to the very end! Reading the author’s ‘Afterthought’ offers plenty to think about and plenty to investigate should interest have been piqued, but the plot tumbles along at a pleasing pace so many may just enjoy it in the moment. After all, what’s not to love about chapter titles like ‘wronger than a conga’?!

Often bemused by his new surroundings, Philo’s friendship with Verity, a girl he meets on his quest to get back home, helps him to find confidence and start to see things differently. Her strong sense of right and wrong, her loyalty and quick wits are essential to his success, but this is a very real friendship with some misunderstandings and bickerings along the way which mean nothing when the chips are down and they need each other!

Perfect for those children who are looking for something a little different, ‘A Riddle for a King’ is great fun!

A Riddle for a King

Mark Forsyth, illustrated by Matthew Land

David Fickling Books ISBN: 978-1788453165

One Up

Green and Blue are best friends, nut they can’t help wondering who is the bestest? As they start to compare their shells, each becomes determined to outdo the other until, having reached the heights of absurdity, they decide they need an ice cream…

Fabulously funny, this tale of two tortoises is an absolute hoot! Although Green and Blue are friends, enmity builds between the two as they go to ridiculous lengths to eclipse one another. Each illustrations bursts with visual humour as they keep adding ‘improvements’ to their shells and there are so many little details to notice and enjoy- the teapot for one! Even when they decide to abandon their creations to make having gelato possible, they still find themselves noticing something which they think is better!

The story is a wonderful way of starting conversations with children about the dangers of comparing yourself to others. There is plenty to laugh at as they try to outdo one another and neither seems to actually enjoy their home as they spend all their time focusing on what they other has and what they do not, offering much to discuss. The lovely illustrations are sure to inspire children to create their own tortoise - or perhaps snail- characters with their shell creations!

One Up

Ben Sanders

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1801047005

Published 1st August 2024

Montgomery Bonbon: Mystery at the Manor

Bonnie Montgomery, and her alter-ego, Montgomery Bonbon, is back with a new case to solve. Having delivered a mysterious package to Adderstone Manor, she meets Fergus Croke, an ‘oddly charming’ villain, who introduces her to his gang of apprentice crooks, a wrought-iron cage full of monkeys and the contents of the package, the legendary Adderstone Diamond. But when Croke croaks it and the magnificent diamond goes missing, Bonbon is ready for action!

‘Mystery at the Manor’ is the third in this series of surreal mysteries, solved by the brilliantly bizarre Bonnie Montgomery whose fake moustache, beret and foreign accent disguise as the detective Montgomery Bonbon.

There is so much to enjoy in this story! The fact that Bonnie passes as the great detective by adding her flimsy disguise and that no one notices her jumbling of French and German phrases includes readers in the joke from the outset and willing her to succeed where the bumbling detectives are sure to fail. The text is full of wordplay and puns and the illustrations bring Bonnie’s antics to life brilliantly, adding much humour to the story. As Bonbon gets to work, there are plenty of clues and red herrings to keep the reader guessing and trying to solve the mystery.

Dana, Bonnie’s friend, and Grampa Banks are also on hand to support her as she detects. Brilliant detective she might be, but in this story, Bonnie shows that she can be a very thoughtless friend, leaving Dana upset and causing a rift between them. However, without her friend’s help, Bonnie would have made a huge mistake and she willingly admits how much she values Dana’s help.

Whimsical and whacky, ‘Mystery at the Manor’ would make a great read for class story time or any time!

Montgomery Bonbon: Mystery at the Manor

Alasdair Beckett-King, illustrated by Claire Powell

Walker ISBN: 978-1529518290

Who Ate Steve?

An unknown narrator sets about trying to teach a lesson about size by using a bird called Marcel (he’s big) and a worm called Steve (he’s small). However, as we all know, teaching is never easy, particularly when one part of the lesson keeps trying to eat the other!

This is a fabulous book! The teacher/ narrator of the story speaks directly to both the reader as she (there is no indication of gender so I have chosen to use female pronouns) take the lesson and interacts with Marcel. As she grows increasingly frustrated with Marcel disrupting her lesson by trying to eat Steve, different styles and sizes of fonts are used to convey her feelings to the reader. A wonderfully tongue-in-cheek use of teacher-style phrases are used - I’m not going to tell you again…We are all waiting… and many teachers will recognise (and sympathise with!) her growing exasperation as she strives to finish her lesson!

The illustrations are just wonderful. Steve is small, sporting a little neckerchief and a red woolly hat whilst Marcel is comparatively big and smartly turned out with his plumage giving the effect of a tail coat and red trousers to go with his natty bowler and yellow scarf. The range of expressions their faces show are incredible, allowing the reader to seemingly beat the teacher in understanding/ predicting what is going on. The ending is just purrr-fect, leaving readers to either create their own sequel or decide whether they think Marcel got his just desserts!

As well as being a brilliant read, the book could be used to develop character profiles of Steve, Marcel and Felicity, developing inference skills through both pictures and text, and then draw and create their own characters and situations which they might be involved in. They might also enjoy creating a pop-up model where Steve comes out of the ground and then hides below it again or a Marcel whose wings flap and whose beak opens and closes! The possibilities are endless!

Brilliant fun!

Who Ate Steve?

Susannah Lloyd, illustrated by Kate Hindley

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839946226

Torla and Smorla and the Lower than Average Cloud

Torla and Smorla are giraffes. Torla is taller than average whilst Smorla is smaller. One day, while out for a longer-than-average walk together, Torla encounters a lower-than-average cloud and finds she can’t see anything! But with the help of her best friend, she manages to navigate this tricky situation.

I’m not sure what I love most about this one! Let’s start with the names…I’m ashamed to say that it took me until my second read to ‘get’ the joke there. In my defence, I wasn’t reading the story out loud and there is so much else to enjoy because how else could I miss it!

The story is bursting with humour as Smorla leads Torla through a series of hazards which introduces the reader to the wonderful sight of crocodiles doing yoga and lazing lions amongst other things. Torla trusts Smorla and her faithful companion leads her safely past everything, showing the strength of their friendship and the importance of kindness and supporting others.

Some of the pages fold out - or up - allowing readers to fully enjoy the adventures of Torla and Smorla as they head off on their walk. The book would be wonderful to use to support early maths work as they can compare the two giraffes and begin to use mathematical language to describe this. To extend this as needed, pictures of more giraffes of different sizes could be added and children encouraged to order these from tallest to smallest and vice versa. Pictures of other animals from the story could be added to help children compare other (clearly specified) attributes as developing both informal and formal mathematical language in the classroom allows children to take an active part in learning and helps them to develop a better and deeper understanding of mathematical concepts. The story is also perfect for exploring positional language as with Smorla’s guidance, Torla walks above some hippos, over an elephant and across a bridge. With older children, this would make a great introduction to prepositions in English as well!

Children might also have great fun creating and navigating obstacle courses and perhaps plotting their route around these on a basic map just as the giraffes’ footprints indicate the path they have taken in the illustrations. This could be done as part of a book group session with children creating large giraffe pictures of different sizes, a simple slider mechanism behind a picture which would allow them to raise the umbrella over Torla’s head or perform a simple trust exercise based on the friend’s journey! There are so many ways to develop a book hook with this one in addition to just enjoying it as a brilliant story! Loved it!

Torla and Smorla and the Lower than Average Cloud

Kes Gray, illustrated by Chris Jevons

Happy Yak ISBN: 978-0711288072

Huxley and Flapjack: Trouble at Sea

One hot day, when Flapjack is keeping cool, reading his book in the bath, Huxley has one of his bright ideas and decides that they should go to the seaside. Once there, they meet Winston, Wizz to his friends, who invites them aboard his submarine to search for a shipwreck called the Isabella. Huxley is keen to look for treasure, leading the more cautious Flapjack into trouble.

Adorable as ever, best friends, Huxley and Flapjack continue to demonstrate that opposites really do attract! Huxley is as impulsive and ever, seizing every chance to seek adventure with little thought to the consequences whilst Flapjack remains quite timid, far more reflective and often giving into his friend’s whims. But whatever their differences, their friendship remains true, strong and affectionate!

The story moves at a pleasing pace, keeping readers entertained and engaged whilst the plentiful illustrations are a joy to ‘read’ alongside the text. Readers will delight in noticing all the little jokes in the pictures and there are plenty of places where the illustrations are perfect for encouraging conversations to develop empathy and recognise where Huxley is mis-reading his friend’s feelings about situations.

A brilliant bedtime or class story, ‘Trouble at Sea’ also lends itself perfectly to being used to inspire a book group session. Huxley, Flapjack and their new little crab friend would all make lovely ‘jumping jack’ figures or stick puppets which could then be used to retell - or reinvent - the story. The story might inspire a sandcastle building competition, going on a picnic or creating a plastic-bottle submarine…

Like ‘Race to the Rescue’, ‘Trouble at Sea’ is a wonderfully funny, enjoyable story, perfect for newly independent readers and thoroughly enjoyable for adults too! Can’t wait for the next one!

Huxley and Flapjack: Trouble at Sea

Alan MacDonald, illustrated by Francesca Gambatesa

Little Tiger ISBN: 9781788956208

Published 4th July 2024

You can read my review of ‘Huxley and Flapjack: Race to the Rescue’ here.

Watts and Whiskerton: Buried Bones and Troublesome Treasure

Watts comes from a family of great detectives, but he is not sure he has what it takes to be one. So when his parents head off on their next case, he goes to stay with an old client of theirs at Whiskerton Manor. Here, he meets Pearl, Count Whiskerton’s daughter, a very curious kitten who really wants to be a detective. When strange things start happening in the Manor grounds, Pearl persuades Watts to investigate…

Proving that opposites attract, Watts and Pearl make the purrr-fect team! This is a delightful story, full of lovely illustrations, gentle humour and a brilliant mystery to solve!

Watts is such a sweet character. Thoughtful and steady, but somewhat lacking in confidence, he believes that he will never be as good at solving mysteries as his parents. However, his new friendship with bubbly, talkative, impetuous Pearl helps him to realise that he is a skilful detective in his own right! So many of us can feel overshadowed by the achievements of others, but like Watts can find our own way in life and come to appreciate the skills we do have!

The story is really carefully plotted and Watts’ notes will help readers to follow each stage of the investigation as it unfolds. A perfect balance of text, illustrations, comic strip, labels and speech bubbles makes this an incredibly appealing book for younger readers, as engaging for those reluctant to read as much as those who devour books! There are many jokes to enjoy- for adults as well as for children- with plays on words like Dr Arty Fact and plenty of visual jokes in the pictures! I particularly like the fact that vocabulary like ‘archaeologist’ is also explained in the context of the story- and readers are given a little insight into how archaeologists work!

Both at home and at school, the book could be used as a starting point for many enjoyable activities. The little finger puppets (pictured above) help to make the story even more interactive as readers can act things out as it progresses or create their own little plays and mysteries and perhaps put on performances! Sections in the story where speech bubbles have been used are perfect for teachers to use to support their teaching of speech punctuation as well as developing speech clauses, drawing on the wonderfully detailed visual clues the pictures give to add the characters’ feelings/ actions. The book would also make the most wonderful prompt for a book group or library session, encouraging children to solve a mystery by following clues- or one which encourages children to create their own comic strips perhaps!

I love Meg McLaren’s picture books (The Station Mouse is my favourite!) and am delighted to discover that her talent for creating endearing characters through gorgeous illustrations and engaging storylines will support children in the next stage of reading. I can’t wait for the next case for Watts and Whiskerton!

Watts and Whiskerton: Buried Bones and Troublesome Treasure

Meg McLaren

Piccadilly ISBN: 978: 1800786592

The Beanstalk Murder

When a dead giant falls from the sky and crushes her village, Old Stump, trainee meadow-witch Anwen’s bad day suddenly becomes much worse. On examination, the body of the giant leads Anwen and her grandmother, Eira Sedge, to suspect he has been murdered. Anwen and a trainee sorceress, Cerys, take a message to the land above, via a beanstalk, where they find themselves tiny in a land of giants and determined to solve the crime!

‘The Beanstalk Murder’ is a fantastic read, combining a classic murder mystery with hints of a fairy tale favourite! Engaging characters and a twisty plot keep the reader guessing to the very end!

The relationship between Anwen and Cerys adds much to the story. Initially enemies, when the two girls find themselves thrown together in a land so completely alien to their own, they are forced into an uneasy truce. Cerys has been accepted at the Academy of High Magic whereas Anwen believes Cerys sabotaged her entrance exam. The two are at loggerheads with Cerys referring to Anwen, a Meadow Witch, as ‘ditch witch’ and Anwen causing a seagull to follow Cerys around and poo on her! As the girls spend time together, each learns more about the other, discovering the importance of looking beyond first impressions and working as a team. Anwen is impulsive and instinctive with a warm heart and insatiable curiosity and her skills as a Meadow Witch play a big part in solving the mystery, leading her to value what she has and what she is rather than envying Cerys.

The murder is so well constructed with clues and red-herrings skilfully threaded through the story, encouraging the reader to don their deerstalker alongside the girls to uncover those responsible. Their size in a giant world both helps and hinders their investigation, but nothing deters them in their quest. Although the giants of the Sky Kingdom and the humans below are alienated, the two sides develop a new understanding, seeing past their differences.

I really hope there will be more adventures set in this wonderful world!

The Beanstalk Murder

P G Bell

Usborne ISBN: 978-1805312536

Published 1st August 2024

You can read my review of ‘The Train to Impossible Places’ here, ‘The Great Brain Robbery’ here and ‘Delivery to the Lost City’ here.

Happy Hills: Attack of the Giant Danger Kittens

When Ace the unicorn gets lost, he stumbles on Happy Hills, a place where anything can happen. Soon, all the residents are keen to share their own version of The Legend of Happy Hills whilst ‘the hills are alive with the sound of Giant Danger Kittens’! But in the end, Ace decides to stay with his new friends in Happy Hills.

Packed with Sophy’s amazing illustrations and zany humour, ‘Attack of the Giant Danger Kittens’ is bursting with fun and energy! Each character is full of personality! From the exuberance and perkiness of Mimi to the feather-fearing Duckie, children will quickly identify with their favourite and no doubt have fun both creating their own new characters and more adventures. Sophy’s how-to guides for drawing Mimi and Ace at the end of the book are perfect for helping with this.

These quirky characters, colourful comic strips and zany humour offer the perfect mix of nonsense (in a good way!) and fantasy, which Sophy Henn’s magic touch turns into a fantastically enjoyable read! Children will be counting the days until the next book appears…

Happy Hills: Attack of the Giant Danger Kittens

Sophy Henn

Simon and Schuster ISBN: 978-1398524606

You can read my review of Pizazz vs Perfecto here and Pizazz and Pizazz vs the New Kid here and Pizazz vs the Demons here.

Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Hockwold

When they decided to retire, Hera chose to live in a little village called Hockwold-cum-Wilton with her husband, Zeus, King of the Gods. Gradually, they were joined by many of the other gods which is how Hannah Messenger, granddaughter of Hermes, and her friends ended up living there. On the day, Hannah gets her powers, something weird happens and the protections on the village which make it impossible for mortals to see anything ‘godlike’ going on disappear and all the Gods and their descendants completely lose their memories. Hannah, Dylan, Amy and Alastair alone can remember who and what they are. When the God’s objects of power start to go missing, they need to stop the thief at all costs!

Fabulously funny, ‘Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Huckwold’ is a brilliant read. It’s the sort of story I love to read aloud to a class, offering plenty of opportunities to ‘do the voices’ and one which is sure to have them moaning when you stop reading! It’s the sort of book where a burst of discussion, sharing ideas about what might happen next, thoughts about particular characters or just saying how much they are enjoying the story follows every session and children regularly ‘remind’ you that it’s nearly time to read!

The plot offers a pacy adventure, a touch of mystery, plenty of humour and a tortoise called Dolio! Children are sure to be inspired to discover more about the Greek gods from the snippets which are threaded throughout the story and enjoy seeing the links between the gods and their descendants- for example, Hermes was the messenger to the gods (amongst other things!), explaining Hannah’s surname. Dylan’s poem is a great way of remembering who’s who in Zeus’s family tree and is sure to become a popular one to learn by heart!

Friendship, teamwork and trust are central to the story as Hannah comes to better understand both her family and friends as she seeks to save the objects sacred to the gods which are being stolen from houses around the village. I would love there to be more adventures for Hannah and her friends as this was such an enjoyable and engaging read!

Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Hockwold

Briony Pearce

UCLan Publishing ISBN: 978-1915235978

Published on the 6th June 2024

How Many Dinosaurs is Too Many?

When a child meets a lovely orange dinosaur, they are delighted. But one dinosaur is never enough and soon they have ten colourful, energetic dinosaur friends. However, the disruption and chaos caused by these messy, cheeky characters is soon just too much and so the child decides that they all have to go. Once alone, the child is left feeling sad…until they are reunited with their original friend. One dinosaur is perfect!

Full of energy and humour, the rhyming text is a delight to read aloud as the antics of the dinosaurs at first delights and then worries the little child. There is no indication as to whether this is a boy or a girl, making it easy for readers to identify with the character as the adventure develops. Children will enjoy counting along as each new dinosaur appears and the book is sure to inspire counting and matching games with toys or pictures of dinosaurs.

The illustrations are wonderful, offering plenty of opportunities for finding the different dinosaurs in each picture and noticing all their antics. Children are sure to notice the worried expression on the little orange dinosaur’s face as things get out of hand and the child realises that, perhaps, what they wished for is not as good as they thought it would be! In the end, the two friends are reunited, realising that two makes perfect company!

A lovely story for home and school!

How Many Dinosaurs is Too Many?

Lou Peacock, illustrated by Nicola Slater

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839945519

A Better Best Friend

One day, Squirrel finds a best friend, a mushroom called Pock. Together, they explore the forest, watch the leaves fall and although Pock doesn’t say much, having a best friend makes Squirrel very happy. But then Spring arrives bringing them a new friend, Moo, and Squirrel finds himself caught in a dilemma -who is his best friend? And then Gunther arrives…

Narrated by Squirrel, ‘A Better Best Friend’ explores what makes a ‘best’ friend and whether it is possible to have more than one. Full of charm and humour, it offers an excellent way to start conversations about friendship with children. Like many teachers, dealing with children who are hurt because their special friend wants to play with someone else is a common part of school life and sharing Squirrel’s quandary might well help to resolve things, encouraging them to widen their friendship group.

The book ends with a picture of the four friends playing a game of cards with the words ‘The (Better) End’ beneath, leaving the reader with an open-ended story perfect for conversations, role play and storytelling to help resolve- or not- Squirrel’s concern about having more than one ‘best’ friend and equally to consider the question from the other friends’ points of view.

Although the narrative is purely Squirrel’s, the wonderful range of expressions given speak volumes for how each character is feeling, giving each a distinctive personality. The dry humour of the text and the charming illustrations make this an engaging and thought-provoking book!

A Better Best Friend

Olivier Tallec, translated by Antony Shugaar

Gecko Press   ISBN: 978-1776575732

Published 1st May

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

Zooming the Zoo

‘Zooming the Zoo’ is packed full of a fabulous collection of poems, ranging from the light-hearted and humorous to those which are more poignant, using a range of poetic styles and techniques.

‘Poetry Rules’ is the opening poem of the collection, welcoming the reader with an understanding of the ‘rules’ of poetry- that there are none! It sets the tone for the joy which follows and is sure to appeal to poetry lovers and the poetry reluctant alike!

There are so many poems here worth commenting on. ‘Just Let Me Read’ is a real treat, celebrating the joy of books and reading for pleasure whilst ‘Learning to Walk’ offers excellent advice! ‘When You’re a Kid’ is great fun- sure to keep kids - and their teachers- giggling! And O agree wholeheartedly with ‘The Problem With Acrostics’!

But there are also plenty of poems which offer pause for thought. ‘Yellow Group’ breaks my teacher’s heart as each child should feel valued for any and all of their talents and not diminished by any perceived weaknesses. In ‘The First Time I Went to Scotland’, John shares a childhood memory which I’m sure will shock many, just as it shocked me! ‘If Somebody Hurts You’ is wonderfully empowering, a mantra to learn and share with everyone.

An excellent collection for home or school, ‘Zooming the Zoo’ is a treasure trove of poetic delight!

Zooming the Zoo

John Dougherty, illustrated by Tom Morgan-Jones

Otter-Barry Books ISBN: 978-1915659217

You can read my review of ‘The Hare-Shaped Hole’ here.