Once Upon a Journey

Percy has rescued a rusting old car and converted it into a ‘sailing car’ which is powered by the wind. He decides to take all his friends on a camping trip to Wildwood Heath. After one of Percy’s fantastic picnics and some fun and games, they think it’s time to settle down for the night. But Percy had forgotten to put the brake on and the car is now in a pond! Luckily, Percy’s friend, Randolph the reindeer, arrives in the morning, just time to give them a hand and they are soon on their way again!

I have a huge soft spot for Percy the Park Keeper! Along with ‘Kipper’, most bedtimes featured these wonderful, stories about the animal-loving park keeper and his friends. Full of gorgeous illustrations and gentle humour, every story is a delight and ‘Once Upon a Journey’ continues this tradition.

In this story, hardworking Percy has left his park and is off on an adventure, taking all his animal friends with him. Children love the gentle humour of these stories- like how Hedgehog is scooped up in a net by Fox so he can join the trip. Although things go wrong, Percy’s calm manner and reassuring presence quickly dispel any fears readers might have.

The illustrations are so beautiful and there is a fold out picture, showing the magic of the night sky about their heads as they settle down for the night. The story would be perfect to share before, or whilst on, a camping trip as it subtly celebrates the joys and beauties of the outdoors and the fun to be found there! Children might also enjoy creating their own wind-powered vehicles like Percy’s car and experimenting with these.

The book ends with everyone setting off on a new adventure in the wind-powered car so perhaps there will be more stories centred around where the car takes them all and what they find there! I hope so… we all need a little Percy magic in our lives!

Once Upon a Journey: A Percy the Park Keeper Story

Nick Butterworth

Harper Collins ISBN: 978-0008536053

Watts and Whiskerton: Sabotage at the Fete Cake Bake

Watts is looking forward to seeing Pearl again at the Little Gossip Village Fete where his parents, the world’s greatest detectives, are judging the cake baking competition. However, disaster strikes when cake mix explodes out of the ovens and accusations of sabotage start flying around. Can Watts and Whiskerton crack the case?

I really enjoyed Watts and Whiskerton’s first case and so was delighted to read ‘Sabotage at the Fete Cake Bake’. Highly illustrated and colourful, this story is every bit as enjoyable as the first!

Watts and Pearl are very different personalities, but together, they make a great team, working together to solve this mystery. Pearl is impulsive and full of confidence whilst Watts is more cautious and methodical, but each contributes to solving the case and together, they expose the culprit. Having kept his detective activity secret from his parents, Watts - or rather Pearl!- shares this with them and is delighted by how supportive and encouraging they are.

The illustrations are an absolute joy, adding much to the appeal of the story and so much detail to linger over. They are completely integrated into the story, with speech bubbles being used. The teacher in me loves using stories like this to teach how to punctuate speech, using the illustrations to decide on what type of reporting clause to use to convey the action.

Watts’ notes at the end of each chapter help to summarise the action, allowing children to keep pace with the mystery and solve it alongside our two heroes. Let’s hope there are more adventures for Watts and Whiskerton to come soon!

Watts and Whiskerton: Sabotage at the Fete Cake Bake

Meg McLaren

Piccadilly Press ISBN: 978-1800786615

Published 24th April 2025

You can read my review of ‘Buried Bones and Troublesome Treasure’ here.

Adventuremice: Mice, Camera, Action!

When a letter arrives from Hollybush, the Adventuremice learn that a film is being made about their adventures. The team travel to the film set to watch the filming where things get a little too confusing for Pedro, who attempts to rescue the actress playing Juniper from the pretend otter threatening her. Luckily, Ivy is on hand to repair the otter, saving the day and the movie…but it turns out that the otter is very real, meaning a real-life Adventuremice rescue is needed!

I absolutely love the ‘Adventuremice’ books and this latest adventure- ‘Mice, Camera, Action!’- is every bit as enjoyable as the others. Fun, pacy stories and appealing characters mixed with incredible illustrations and quirky humour make these stories a joy from start to finish.

At the heart of these lovely stories are positive messages about teamwork, collaboration, friendship and self-belief. Characters learn from their mistakes and are prepared to take risks, showing perseverance and determination. These elements enhance the stories rather than intrude on them and there is plenty of humour to enjoy as the Adventuremice swing into action and save the day!

The perfect size for little hands, with illustrations- and drawing tips!- which are sure to inspire budding artists, this series is really is something special.

Adventuremice: Mice, Camera, Action!

Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

David Fickling ISBN: 978-1788453363

You can read my review of ‘Otter Chaos’ here, ‘Mice on the Moon’ here and ‘Mice on the Ice’ here.

Six Queens

Like the author, I have always been fascinated by the women who were unlucky enough to be married to King Henry VIII. In ‘Six Queens’, Lydia Monks sets out to show that they should not just be remembered by the rhyme, ‘Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived’, but as individuals with their own stories.

The book opens with a foreword from historian, Suzannah Lipscomb, who explains that being a historian is like being a detective. Giving an overview of the available evidence, source materials and bias, she sets the scene for Lydia Monks’ biographies whilst offering inspiration for budding historians and piquing curiosity about Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Katherine Parr.

Each biography begins with an overview of the queen, her life dates, motto and key information before telling their story through a combination of text, illustration and comic strip. Although each section covers the marriage to Henry VIII, the focus is very much on the queen with relevant details about life in Tudor England- fashion, medicine etc- where appropriate.

Although not currently a specified period in the History curriculum for KS2, the Tudors has long been a favourite period of history taught in primary schools with Henry being almost celebrated for having ‘had’ six wives, women he married and disposed of at will. This book does much to redress the balance. For example, Catherine Howard- so often dismissed as promiscuous, foolish or even as ‘a natural tart’ - is viewed in a far more sympathetic light whilst Katherine of Aragon and Katherine Parr are given full credit for acting as Regent in Henry’s place.

The book concludes with the fact that despite Henry’s desperation for a son and all he did to achieve this goal, his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, both came to the throne, proving that women were capable of ruling England- and doing so successfully.

Dealing with the complex issues surrounding these women, including arranged marriages, accusations of adultery and incest, brutal state murder, abuse, coercion and control, and presenting these in an age appropriate manner is no mean feat, yet in ‘Six Queens’, Lydia Monks has very successfully achieved this, offering an excellent introduction to the lives of these women, who deserve to be remembered as so much more than wife to a king.

Six Queens

Lydia Monks

Macmillan ISBN: 978-1529095289