Leo and Ralph

Ralph is Leo’s best friend. The two are inseparable, sharing a deep fascination for space and that comfortable understanding which only comes with a close friendship. But Ralph is imaginary and Leo’s parents feel it is time for him to say goodbye to Ralph as the family is moving to a different town. It’s a time for new beginnings…but it’s not always that easy to move on.

‘Leo and Ralph’ is a lovely, gentle story which focuses on family and friendship. It is a book which highlights how confusing school and navigating the world can be for those who see things a little differently, enjoy their own pace and whose minds are full of their own trains of thought. Leo is a delightful little boy, who finds a best friend created by his own imagination with whom he shares the things he loves.

Leo’s family- his mother, father and little sister, Peg, all try to support Leo in their own ways. They offer well intentioned advice and Leo does try to act on this. However, he finds his own solution to the ‘problem’ of friends by creating Ralph. The author skilfully explores Leo’s feelings of confusion and anxiety as he tries to please his family, feels guilty when he can’t and then his relief when he ‘finds’ Ralph. The warmth and affection of their relationship is a joy.

However, the story is not just about an imaginary friend. In his own time and in his own way, Leo forms a friendship which is just as strong and affectionate as that he shared with Ralph. Although initially he struggles to decide between his two friends, he is able to move on and appreciate a friend who helps him to learn new things whilst listening to and appreciating the things which Leo has to share. Their differences help to make their friendship strong!

I loved this story, and like many teachers, recognise Leo in many children I have taught. ‘Leo and Ralph’ would make a lovely class story, offering reassurance and comfort to some whilst developing empathy and understanding in others.

Leo and Ralph

Peter Carnavas

Pushkin Press ISBN: 978-1782695233

Published on the 13th February 2025

The Twelve

Kit and her little sister, Libby, find themselves with their mother on a winter holiday on the Welsh coast. When Libby vanishes, not even their mother can remember her - it is as if she has been erased from the world. Then Kit meets Story, a local boy, who clearly remembers Libby and determined to solve the mystery surrounding her sister's disappearance, they join forces, embarking on a quest which takes them into a world of myth and folklore, where Kit must face her fears to save her sister.

Deeply atmospheric and compelling, ‘The Twelve’ is a magical read, throbbing with ancient power and mystery. Perfect for those who love something a little different, it is thought-provoking, in places eerie and tense, but also a deeply satisfying adventure.

The relationship between Libby and Kit is really well developed and special. Often animosity and bickering characterise sibling relationships in books, but these sisters have a close bond. Libby is bubbly and energetic, full of passions and impulsive interests, at times exhausting to be around, but the two share wild imaginations and lots of laughter, meaning Kit’s sense of loss is sharp and real when her sister goes missing. Kit is a wonderful character. Tormented by a bully at school, she is vulnerable and full of self doubt; however, her new friendship with Story offers her someone who actually believes in her, someone who sees her worth and allows her gradually to come to see herself in a new light, find the courage she needs to save her sister and, ultimately, to seek help with her tormentor.

Stunning descriptions of the natural world underline the environmental message running through the tale. The beauty of the newly fallen snow, the wonder of the bird life, the power of landscape are all vividly conveyed, forming a magical background to a magical story. A perfect read for this time of year!

The Twelve

Liz Hyder, illustrated by Tom de Freston

Pushkin Press ISBN: 978-1782693987

Storm Child

Maya's life is about to capsize. After her dad's fishing boat is ravaged by a relentless storm, her parents make the decision to start over-by moving to a tropical island.

Far from her friends and her beloved clifftop home, Maya embarks on an adventure that promises sunshine, surf and fresh beginnings. But as she makes friends with local islander Kalani, Maya soon realises that paradise is not always what it seems…

Swept away by a storm much larger than herself, can Maya bring her family back home again?

(Synopsis taken from book)

Ele Fountain has done it again with another compelling, absorbing read which challenges the reader to reflect on many things.

Maya loves the thrill of surfing. As a Penrose, she has salt water running through her veins, living where her family have always done, on the cliffs over the bay bearing her family’s name. They have been struggling and when her father’s boat is destroyed by a storm, Maya’s parents decide to move to the other side of the world, leaving her feeling out of control.

Beautiful though her new home is, Maya is plagued by loneliness and waves of homesickness. And when she meets Kalani, her awareness of the fragility of nature grows and she is forced to reflect on the consequences of decisions, whether made on a personal, on a family, on a community or even a global basis, and the importance of staying true to who you are and what you believe in. The story beautifully weaves together themes of friendship, environmental issues, being a ‘global citizen’ and of being yourself.

With wonderful descriptions throughout the story, the sea- its sights, sounds, dangers and healing- is a constant presence. Although Maya and her family have moved to paradise, events of part two cleverly echo those of part one, showing the grass isn’t always greener on the other side and that it is important to follow your heart.

I have never yet read a book by Ele Fountain that I haven’t really enjoyed, but there is something very special about this one. Highly recommended!

Storm Child

Ele Fountain

Pushkin ISBN: 978-1782693888

Published July 2024

You can read my review of ‘Wild’ here.

The Minute Minders

Stevedore Clipper (Stevie) and her father are fidders, tiny beings who spend their time helping humans. Humans can’t see fidders and there are all sorts of rules governing how fidders are supposed to deal with those they are helping. Stevie isn’t very good with rules, but she is excellent at helping others.

‘The Minute Minders’ is a completely captivating, thoroughly enjoyable read, full of warmth and humour. Having lost her mother and siblings in a terrible accident, Stevie is reluctant to leave her father and go off to boarding school and so begins to accompany him whilst he works as a Truth Revealer. However, Stevie cannot resist ‘helping’ which leads to problems, ending up with them having to leave their home near Linbradan and move to the town of Tassimity where her father has to work as a Minute Minder- a job he is not keen on!

Stevie is a wonderful character. Told from her viewpoint, the story captures the importance of considering how we approach others, how we tackle situations and above all, caring for them. Her curiosity and enthusiasm are infectious and she often notices things which others don’t, recording these as ‘vitally important points’ in her notebook. Her relationship with her father is beautifully captured, full of warmth and love.

Mary Murphy’s world building is brilliant, full of details of the fidders’ world and the role they play in caring for humans. There is plenty of humour in the story which is accompanied by lovely illustrations.

I can’t wait to read more books about these lovely characters!

The Minute Minders Mary Murphy

Pushkin Press ISBN: 978-1782694229

Published 18th January 2024

The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor: A Christmas Mystery

Flora and her mother are spending the Christmas holidays in a cottage found in the grounds of a decaying mansion in he seaside town of Helmersbruk. It’s their first Christmas without Flora’s father and things are strange and difficult for them so her mother thought the break would do them good. However, Helmersbruk is dark and rainy and when they arrive at the Gatekeeper’s Cottage, the gate seems locked and no one is around apart from Fridolf, who lives next door in the Washhouse. But as Flora explores the Manor grounds, her imagination runs wild and she comes to love it there. Strange whispers, mysterious porcelain figures and the occasional appearance of a boy called Egon increase her fascination with the place and she starts to uncover a fascinating mystery which links the past and the present.

The story is told in twenty-four chapters, making it perfect for reading as an advent book in the countdown to Christmas Day- but I challenge anyone to be able to read it like this! The story is so compelling and absorbing that it is impossible to put down! Carefully placed clues, engaging characters and evocative writing make this a fabulous read- one which is sure to be enjoyed again and again despite the mystery having been solved!

Each chapter beings with a black and white illustration, adding to the atmosphere of the story. Flora is drawn to the Mansion and there are shivery moments, carefully placed to intrigue and pique the reader’s interest and imagination as the Manor’s secrets are revealed. Flora is reeling from the loss of her father, struggling with the rejection of her once-best-friend, Johanna, and the bullying of the horsey girls at school and Helmersbruk Manor offers her peace and a feeling of belonging. She learns to trust again, finding friendship as she strives to save the Manor from a threatened re-development as a hotel complex.

An excellent story, ‘The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor’ is a brilliant, gripping story- perfect for Christmas, but a great read at any time of year!

The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor: A Christmas Mystery

Eva Frantz, translated by A A Prime, illustrated by Elin Sandstrom

Pushkin Press ISBN: 978-1782694182

NNFN2023: Honeybee

Combining poetic language, storytelling and factual information, ‘Honeybee’ is a delightful read, following the life of a bee from emerging from her waxed cell to the end of her life. With the scientific name Apis mellifera, the author names this new bee Apis as she emerges into a ‘teeming, trembling flurry’.

Everyone knows that bees fly, bussing around busily, but the author skilfully builds tension within this life story, ending each page with the expectation that Apis will fly off on the following spread. In truth, each new spread explores one of the many activities honey bees perform within the nest- cleaning, nursing, queen tending…the list goes on as the reader learns of all the tasks which must be completed until on the twenty-fifth day of her life, Apis leaps from the nest and flies.

The illustrations are stunning. Those depicting life within the confines of the nest are in darker hues with golden highlights contrasting with a spectacular double gatefold spread showing Apis’s first flight over a meadow peppered with the yellows and pinks of wildflowers. Although Apis dies at the end, the lifecycle continues with a new honeybee shown chewing their way from its cell. A labelled diagram of a honeybee and pages of additional information are included at the end of the book. This is a real beauty of a book, certain to engage and inspire!

Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera

Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann

Pushkin Press ISBN: 978-1782694090

Within my Branches

This beautiful book follows the life of a single tree, from acorn to mighty oak and the fate that befalls it at the hands of men. Red text on stark white pages tells the story accompanied by gorgeous black and white illustrations, making the book a thing of beauty to be lingered over again and again.

The book celebrates the tree’s role in nature, the many creatures and birds it shelters and feeds, the many seeds it scatters which in turn grow to be trees as the world changes around it. Steadfast through storms, it is man’s actions which ultimately topple it, launching the tree into a new, unfamiliar life on the seas, carrying adventurers on their journeys.

The illustrations are just beautiful. The endpapers show the acorn’s germination as it grows to a small sapling, spreading its leaves to the light and each picture tells a story of its own, offering much to discuss and explore. It is a very special book, focusing attention on the beauty of trees and the essential role they play in our world.

Within My Branches Nicolas Michel

Pushkin Press ISBN: 978-1782694083