My Dad is a Tree

Madeline is pretending to be a tree so Dad decides to join in- just for a minute. As they pretend their arms are branches, their bodies are trunks and their legs are roots, Dad finds a sleepy owl nestling on his shoulder, a robin nesting in his hair, a slug on his shoe…Whatever happens, Madeline is on hand to help and support Dad with the experience. When night comes, Madeline acknowledges that they are not trees, but is delighted that they stayed outside all day- and wonders what they might be tomorrow!

This is such a wonderful book! Dad joins his daughter in her pretending, initially ‘just for a minute’, but in the end committing whole-heartedly to her game. Jon Agee has captured the whimsy and innocence of imaginative play and Dad’s dedication to joining in with his daughter is delightful, the love between them perfectly captured.

There is so much humour captured in the collage-style illustrations as Dad’s expression ‘to camera’ offers the audience a dual narrative to the events. But the story also celebrates all the possibilities when adults slow their pace and invest time and attention in their children’s games, nurturing their imagination and listening to their view of the world. This is sure to become a firm favourite for lingering over and sharing again and again- and who knows what games it might inspire?!

My Dad is a Tree Jon Agee

Scallywag Press ISBN: 978-1915252173

Bridget Vanderpuff and the Baked Escape

Bridget Baxter lives at the Orphanage for Errant Childs, an institution run by the evil Miss Acrid, who does everything she can to make Bridget’s life a misery. Although Bridget is more than a match for her, she is delighted when the village baker, Mr Vanderpuff arrives at the orphanage, looking for a child to care for. Although she is talented at many things, Bridget discovers that she is a terrible baker; however, perhaps her unique baking style is just what’s needed to save the day!

I was lucky enough to hear Martin Stewart talk about ‘Bridget Vanderpuff’ at the Federation of Children’s Book Groups’ Conference last month. His lovely sense of humour and obvious love of cake made for a very enjoyable session and ‘Bridget Vanderpuff and the Baked Escape’ quickly made its way to the top of my TBR pile!

Unique and quirky, Bridget is a heroine like no other! From her thick orange hair full of useful tools to her paraskirt, she is bright and brave, smart and sassy. As she outwits the ghastly Miss Acrid, whose deep hatred of irregular plurals is responsible for the unusual name of the Orphanage, with her crazy inventions, the reader cannot help but cheer her on! Miss Acrid is the most detestable villain with no redeeming features who locks her charges in the dungeons, puts their legs in bear traps and generally seeks to make their lives as miserable as possible, but is no match for the wonderful Bridget!

A series of foot notes, which ‘clarify’ and expand upon elements of the text, add much to the humour of the tale which bounces along at a pleasing pace. Although I have only read a proof copy, a selection of David Habben’s wonderful line drawings are included, giving life to Bridget, her friends and foe!

A splash of silliness mixed with a heap of fun, ‘Bridget Vanderpuff and the Baked Escape’ is a brilliant read and I look forward to her next adventure, ‘Bridget Vanderpuff and the Ghost Train’!

Bridget Vanderpuff and the Baked Escape

Martin Stewart, illustrated by David Habben

Zephyr ISBN: 978-1804549094

Out in June!

Leeva at Last

Leeva Spayce Thornblossom only goes into the front yard once a week to collect the newspaper. To do otherwise would be to contravene the rules in the ‘Employee Manual’ her parents make her follow. Leeva’s parents have no interest in their daughter: her mother is obsessed with fame, her father, money and since she brings them neither, she lives a life of servitude. When she finally finds the courage to venture through the hedge, she discovers the library and begins to meet the people of Nutsmore, the town where she lives, trying to find an answer to the question ‘what are people for?’. She discovers that her parents are not well liked- for good reason- and with help from her new friends, Leeva changes the town forever.

There are so many reasons to adore this book! In spite of her loveless and lonely upbringing, Leeva is a lovely girl, resilient and caring, curious and kind. Even her name (Leave a space) is a constant reminder of the lack of care bestowed on her by her callous, self absorbed parents. As she meets others, Leeva discovers that life outside her home is very different to life inside it. First, Harry and his aunt, Mrs Flowers, at the library introduce her to the wonders of books and the joys baking- but also to the fact that the endless budget cuts and taxes that are crippling the town are the work of her parents. Their iniquities and cruelties are highly exaggerated, making them caricature-like in their villainy, easy to despise and laugh at. But the truths of the book shine through- people are important, doing the right thing is important and books and reading are essential.

The love of books radiates from the pages of this story as Mrs Flowers guides a very willing Leeva to the joy books bring. As Sara Pennypacker lists some of Leeva’s favourite discoveries, it is as if she (Sara) is offering the reader the gift of suggestions to explore for themselves… Because of Winn-Dixie; Charlotte’s Web; Bud, Not Buddy; A Wrinkle in Time- so many treasures! In response to her father’s comment that people in books are ‘just printed words on paper’, Leeva reflects that he is wrong because ‘… those words became real people, doing real things. By the end of a book, those words left you weeping or cheering or vowing to change your life’- just as her character in this book does! Leeva recognises that words have true power- another reason she enjoys savouring the word of the week from the paper and seeking opportunities to use these in conversation!

‘Leeva at Last’ is at times deeply poignant, frequently humorous, and utterly absorbing. It would make an excellent read aloud or guided reading text, offering as it does so much to enjoy, discuss and explore. It even has a curmudgeonly badger! Matthew Cordell’s line drawings appear throughout the book, capturing the humour of various moments in the text perfectly! I have thoroughly enjoyed each book by Sara Pennypacker that I have read- but I think this is now my favourite!

Leeva at Last

Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Matthew Cordell

Harper Collins ISBN: 978-0008606190

Blog Tour: Mind and Me

I’m thrilled to be kicking off the Blog Tour for ‘Mind and Me’, a delightfully entertaining and humorous story, full of lovely illustrations, with a strong message at its heart. When Maya’s pet rabbit goes missing, she needs some very special help from her Mind to find him. She is surrounded by a very loving and supportive family who, like many multicultural families, have a way of mixing languages- in Maya’s case Hindi and English to make Hinglish, with a few German phrases thrown in! I particularly warmed to Maya’s Aunt Dolly, who ‘had a way of sprinkling happiness over everyone’.

Sunita Chawdhary joins me on the Bookshelf today to answer some questions about her inspiration and her writing.

Can you tell us a bit about your new book?

This book celebrates the mind in all its magnificence and its mischiefs! Mind & Me tells the story of Maya, a British-Indian girl with her multicultural identity, and her developing relationship with her Mind, as she makes her way through a challenging situation – her pet rabbit Pooey has gone missing. I wanted to use humour and an engaging plot that requires problem-solving around the mystery as well as in coping with difficult feelings. Maya and her Mind have to use their five special senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch!), their memory (for some terrific time-travelling!), their unique imagination, and more… all in their quest to find Pooey.

Where did you get the inspiration from for this story?

This story was inspired by the idea that a child’s mind is the ultimate sidekick! I wanted to encourage young readers to get to know and look after their minds. Children in this age group are usually aware of the different parts of the body, including the brain, but less so the mind and what that means for them, their sense of self and wellbeing. Maya’s interactions include feeling at odds with her Mind. She is left feeling unsure of herself and then has to find ways to work through this and find a happy balance.

Who or what inspired the characters and the dynamics between them?

Maya is part imagined, part drawn from my life experiences. I grew up speaking several different languages at home so this was fun to include as a feature of Maya’s multicultural family. She is sensitive and thoughtful by nature. However this doesn’t always ‘work’ in her favour in the real world. She sometimes feels conflicted about wanting to do the ‘right’ thing and the ‘wrong’ thing, as her Mind perceives it. Sometimes, Maya wishes she wasn’t such a worrier and that she could be a bit more like her cousin Tanya, who is impulsive and bold in ways Maya’s doesn’t believe herself to be. The adventure Maya goes on with her Mind to find her missing pet rabbit Pooey, helps shape her and what she thinks of herself.

As you’re both an author and illustrator, does a new story come to you visually or in words first? Do the themes, the characters or plot come first for you when writing? 

I am very character driven, both in terms of writing and picture making. So typically this is where the process begins for me. My stories tend to originate from imagined characters and I am led by their development. I feel as though the key themes are woven into the fabric of the story from the intertwining threads of their individual and overlapping narratives. As an author and illustrator, I find that the thoughts and feelings of characters come to me first and then their circumstances, relationships and settings. I put this down in words and then start drawing to bring everything to life visually.

What is your typical writing / illustrating day like?

I do most of my creative work at a desk in a room upstairs, with my laptop, drawing materials and my graphics tablet that my family got me to support my dream to be an illustrator (for which I’ll always be thankful).

What do you enjoy most about being an author and illustrator? 

Using my imagination to bring characters and stories to life is the best bit about being an author and illustrator. The other is connecting with readers to share a love of reading, writing, illustrating. I learn so much from young readers and amongst the most rewarding things I get sent, are questions from children and their drawings of characters from my books.

Are you working on anything now?

Maybe . . . All I can say for now is ‘watch this space!’

Mind and Me by Sunita Chawdhary is out now, published by Knights Of, £5.99 paperback.

Find @sunitachawdhary and @_knightsof on Twitter. www.knightsof.media

Thank you so much, Sunita, for joining me today and thank you to the team at Knights Of for inviting me to be part of this Blog Tour. I look forward to reading the other posts.

‘Mind and Me’ makes a perfect shared story or as an independent read with plenty to discuss and enjoy! I shall be ‘watching this space’ for Sunita’s next book!

Adventure Mice: Otter Chaos!

Pedro may be small, but he is a mouse longing for adventure. Leaving his home at Hilltop House behind, he sets off for the legendary Mouse Islands. Initially, things go wrong, but when he finds himself in trouble, Pedro is rescued by the Adventuremice, a brave, determined band of mice, each with an area of expertise, making them the perfect team. Perdro dreams of joining their ranks, seeking to prove himself against Mortlake, a mean, hungry otter looking for some lunch…

Every time I read a book by the dream team of Reeve and McIntyre, I realise how lucky children today are in the quality, range and style of books available to them. I have enjoyed everything from ‘Oliver and the Seawigs’ to the latest ‘Kevin’ adventure (I have a particular affection for Neville and Beyonce), but with the ‘Adventuremice’, I have found what would have been my favourite book as a child!

The perfect size for little hands, the cover illustration alone is enough to fire the imagination and excitement for what’s to come. The first page shows Pedro carefully lifting up the corner to show a hint of the spread which introduces the reader to the Adventuremice- and Pedro himself- and this is just a small indication of the attention to detail and holistic approach to storytelling adopted by this team.

In the story, little Perdo learns about courage and teamwork, listening to others and taking advice and learning from mistakes. He also demonstrates the importance of caring and the true bravery needed to do the right thing when it is difficult, empathising with others and truly being ‘good’. He is a delightful character, vividly brought to life by the endearing and whimsical illustrations. The Adventuremice team all have well developed personalities and children are sure to quickly find their favourite. The mice would translate brilliantly into toys, encouraging imaginative play and adventure…

With my teaching head on, the book would make an excellent Guided Reading text as there is much to love and explore. There are plenty of points which lend themselves to writing opportunities, role play, drama and debate as well as a rich use of vocabulary and description to investigate and enjoy. Reading as my inner child, this book would have absorbed me for hours. The cross section of the Mousebase alone would have had me drawing and creating little finger puppets of the characters to play out adventures of my own invention- and the map..! All my life, I have been fascinated by dolls’ houses and miniatures and this plays right into that love as I am sure it will with many children! Instructions for drawing Pedro are included at the end of the story; once mastered, these offer the perfect basis for creating your own mouse characters to join the team should you wish. Sarah and Philip are each depicted in their mouse alter egos which might encourage the reader to attempt the same!

I am not sure how many superlatives I can get away with here, but ‘Adventuremice: Otter Chaos’ deserves them all! Delightfully illustrated, beautifully written, full of adventure and heart, this is a series which is going to be much loved and much enjoyed!

Adventuremice: Otter Chaos!

Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

David Fickling Books ISBN: 978-17884526790

Mort the Meek and the Perilous Prophecy

‘…we don’t like strangers on Brutalia, let alone strangers that are fiendish.’

When the Queen of Brutalia declares that everyone must be alert to the presence of strangers, fear falls over the land ‘like an itchy blanket’. As a pacifist, Mort is more inclined to believe that strangers might be friends than enemies and when he and Weed meet Genia and Vita from the tropical island of Bonrock, it seems he is right. Sent on a mission to Bonrock to learn more, the boys find a warm welcome and a beautiful location …but is everything as it seems?

Rachel Delahaye’s ‘Day of the Whale’ is one of my favourite books and the contrast in style between that and the ‘Mort the Meek’ series shows what a talented and versatile author she is. And yet, amid all the humour and horseplay, punning and pacifism of the Mort books, some fairly serious points are being made.

Children love these books for their fiendish humour and deliciously dark happenings. Each chapter begins with Ratty and Ratto the rats sharing a joke (with a gust appearance from Larry and Bruce the lobsters), relishing in the word play and punning which is a key feature of each book. The use of homophones and grammar in a playful, entertaining way is perfect for using to illustrate spelling and grammar lessons, making it relevant and lighthearted. There are points at which the characters help to clarify the words which Mort and Weed are sure have been made up and help to correct their grammar, helping the reader to understand along the way. It’s beautifully done- and skilfully!

As the boys explore a different world, Mort continues to hold onto his pacifist principles and Weed develops a serious crush whilst events thunder to their exciting conclusion. Any of the books in this series would make an excellent read aloud with plenty to discuss and enjoy with a class, for a fabulous bedtime story or as a most enjoyable independent read. George Ermos’s illustrations are the perfect complement to the story.

Mort the Meek and the Perilous Prophecy

Rachel Delahaye, illustrated by George Ermos

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1788955706

You can read my review of ‘Mort the Meek and the Monstrous Quest’ here and ‘Day of the Whale’ here.

Pause for Poetry: A Ticket to Kalamazoo!

Bursting with energy and exuberance, ‘A Ticket to Kalamazoo!’ is the perfect collection for encouraging and developing a love of poetry. These are poems which are crying out to be shared, performed and discussed time and time again, whatever mood you are in! Although pitched for younger readers, there are poems here to be enjoyed by all ages, including those which would work brilliantly as models to inspire children to create and write their own.

The collection is wonderfully interactive! Families or classes could invent their own actions for each of the creatures as they practise counting to ten without realising. As the poem suggests, ‘it might be nice just once or twice to do the ten again!’ There are fun riddles to solve and plenty to laugh about as you have a ‘handful of fun’, do the ‘Goldilocks Rap’ or visit the bug hotel.

Full of colour and fun, each poem is brilliantly illustrated by Neal Layton, making the book instantly appealing. Equally excellent for home or school, this is a must have collection for inspiring poets of the future and kindling a life-long love of words and their playfulness.

A Ticket to Kalamazoo! Zippy Poems to Read Out Loud

James Carter, illustrated by Neal Layton

Otter-Barry Books ISBN: 978-1913074104

I Really Really Love You So

Bush Baby is back- and just as adorable as ever! She has something really important to say…and explores more and more extreme ways of declaring her love and expressing how it makes her feel.

It is impossible to read this story without a huge smile on your face! Bush Baby’s enthusiasm is infectious and shows the importance of expressing how you feel in which ever way makes you happy. The text is a complete delight to real aloud as it trips along, building in pace in places and leaving moments to pause in others. Humour mingles with the poignancy of the message, making it a perfect book to share again and again with all those you love.

As with the first book about Bush Baby, ‘I Really Really Need a Wee’, there is no indication of gender (I have chosen to use ‘she/her’) allowing anyone to identify with Bush Baby and empathise with how she is feeling. Children are sure to add their own declarations of love as they read the story and find their own ways of sharing how they feel which is so important for us all.

The illustrations are as delightful as ever! One child told me previously that Duncan’s characters feel like ‘they are my friends because they look at me as if inviting me into the story’ and you can instantly understand what they mean when you look at Bush Baby. Her little face bursts with a vast range of emotions as she seeks to share her feelings and those eyes say it all!

‘I Really Really Love You So’ is a complete and utter joy. I can’t wait to see what Bush Baby gets up to next- tackling school, new food, bedtime…who cares?! Whatever she does, it is sure to be the basis of a wonderful story from this very talented duo!

I Really Really Love You So

Karl Newson, illustrated by Duncan Beedie

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1801044080

You can read my review of ‘I Really Really Need a Wee’ here and my Q and A session with Duncan Beedie here.

Penguin Huddle

Every day, the penguin pack plays on the frozen southern pole, but when the sun goes down, they squeeze together in a penguin huddle, warm and cosy, all night long. However, one morning, after a freezing gale, the penguins wake up to find themselves stuck together. Luckily, Pipsqueak, the smallest of them all, has the biggest ideas…

Perfect for the chilly winter evenings, ‘Penguin Huddle’ is a delightful tale of friendship and helping others, full of Ross Montgomery’s humour and Sarah Warburton’s charming illustrations. There is so much to discuss and enjoy on each spread that this will quickly become a firm favourite with young- and old(er) readers everywhere.

So many creatures step up to help the huddle in need, showing the importance of kindness and lending a helping hand -or paw-or claw-or flipper- whenever you can. Pipsqueak’s positive nature and good ideas lead the penguins to work as a team, eventually solving their problem. The wonderful illustrations lend themselves to children inventing their own stories- the mouse family being aided by the fire-giraffe, for example! There are also plenty of touches of humour to explore in the posters about town and in the Doctopus’s surgery!

The book also lends itself to inspiring creative activities- penguin skittles (made from toilet roll tubes), making lollies, using the features of individual penguins to create new ones- perhaps in a game of Build-a-Penguin! So many possibilities!

That said, this is simply a delightful story, packed with personality and penguin power! One not to be missed!

Penguin Huddle

Ross Montgomery, illustrated by Sarah Warburton

Walker Books ISBN: 978-1406389838

Fire Power

It's not easy being an accidental superhero. Aidan (aka Fire Boy) and the circus are in trouble, once again. Aidan's nemesis, the billionaire Clayton Jones, is spreading fake news throughout the world, painting Aidan as the bad guy.

With circus fans dwindling and the world turning against them, Aidan knows it's once again up to him to save the day. But to do see, he'll have to reveal the truth about Clayton Jones - and it looks like Clayton might have some special powers of his own...

The ‘Fire Boy’ books have been incredibly popular in school with children delighting in their quirky humour and very relatable superhero, Aiden.

Jay uses a number of devices- lists, notes from readers, emails- and differing typography to break up the text as well as fairly short chapters to make the book both accessible and appealing to readers whilst keeping the plot moving at a pleasing pace. The tone of the story is light and chatty which adds to this.

Aiden is an appealing main character. Often impulsive- that’s how he became Fire Boy in the first place- he is lucky to have good friends by his side. Sadie, Hussein and he might be very different personalities, but they balance each other well, making a good team whose bond is sure to endure whatever life brings. Granny continues to be my favourite character: cantankerous and dangerous, she is a match for anyone, ‘a freak of nature’.

In addition to the story bursting with humour, it has a generous scattering of facts throughout- bibliosmia is liking the smell of old books, burnt orchids flower in early summer- which add to the overall enjoyment. The book ends with a fact or fiction ‘quiz’ by Miss Spatchcock, focusing on some of the details included in the story and encouraging the reader to find out more about Peru, where part of the story is set, and the Incas.

Every bit as enjoyable as the first two, ‘Fire Power’ is a fitting conclusion to this series.

Fire Power J M Joseph

Hodder ISBN: 978-1444954722

You can find out more about Jay and what he will be writing next in my Q and A session with him here.

Dread Wood

Detention has never been so deadly…

Forced to attend a weekend detention, Angelo, Hallie, Gustav and Naira think that things can’t get any worse. However, when their teacher is dragged underground, things start to get really scary. With danger all around, their only hope of survival is to work as a team as they try to escape.

What a read! Jennifer Killick is well known for her excellent ‘Crater Lake’ stories, but she has completely outdone herself with this one. Managing a perfect balance of humour, suspense and creepiness, ‘Dread Wood’ is gripping from page one.

Jennifer Killick excels at capturing characters- getting their ‘voice’ just right so they are believable- and developing them so that the reader cares about what happens to them. Not a natural friendship grouping, Hallie, Angelo, Naira and Gus yet find themselves bound together by circumstances, forging a deep bond. Friendship and ‘fitting in’ are at the heart of the story, challenging initial perceptions and considering the reasons behind someone’s actions as well as their consequences. Although people do the wrong thing, their actions shouldn’t define them.

These characters are launched into a series of nail-biting moments where they are fighting for their lives. In places the tension is palpable, yet the story is pitch perfect for children in Y6/Y7, never becoming too gory or disturbing, but offering a regular frisson of excitement.

Another excellent read from the ‘queen of horror’!

Dread Wood Jennifer Killick

Farshore ISBN: 978-0755503711

Published March 31st 2022