NNFN2023: The Story of Conservation

Long ago, our planet was blanketed with dark forests, dripping rainforests, frozen deserts, mighty mountains, sun-baked grasslands and rich blue seas.

Called ‘The Story of Conservation’ for good reason, this lovely book explains the changes in the human relationship with the planet and how we have come to better understand our relationship with, and responsibility for, our planet. Clearly written in accessible language, the text does indeed tell a story, which, although not shying away from the damage being done, ends on a note of hope for the future.

Laid out chronologically with the date clearly shown on each spread, the story moves from prehistory to the present day. Throughout the book, respect is shown for Indigenous peoples, living in traditional ways and keeping in harmony with nature, who were often moved from their lands to make way for ‘development’ and even for conservation when Yellowstone became the world’s first national park. The book also celebrates actions being taken by local communities- those in Japan which blocked coal-fired power stations which polluted the environment, those in Ghana which keep snails, rabbits and bees instead of hunting, those in Oslo who have created bee-friendly gardens- offering inspiration for those reading the book.

The glossary at the end of the book is perfect for supporting children’s understanding of the terms used in the book. This attractive and informative book is perfect for reading multiple times, allowing children to take something more from it with each read.

The Story of Conservation: A First Book About Protecting Nature

Catherine Barr and Steve Williams, illustrated by Amy Husband

Frances Lincoln ISBN: 978-0711278035

‘The Secret Life of Oceans’ written by Moira Butterfield is a perfect book for this year’s Wonderful Water theme and a guest post by Moira is being shared on the FCBG blog today. As well as celebrating life in ocean, it also shares some watery traditional tales from around the world.

The Secret Life of Oceans

Moira Butterfield, illustrated by Vivian Mineker

Happy Yak ISBN: 978-0711278691

You can read my review of ‘A Turtle’s View of the Ocean Blue’ by Catherine here and ‘The Secret Life of Bees by Moira here.

NNFN2023: Celebrate

Today kicks off a month of non-fiction reviews to celebrate National Non-Fiction November! There are so many fantastic information books on offer that it has been very hard to choose, but here we go!

‘Celebrate!’ from Nosy Crow and the British Museum is a joyful book, offering an introduction to 50 festivals from around the world. The bright red cover with its tumbling letters just invites readers to discover more about the little illustrations surrounding the title.

In terms of traditional non-fiction text features, the book has an excellent contents page which organises the festivals into those which are Worldwide and then by continent, a clear glossary and a comprehensive index, making it easy to locate information quickly and with ease. As it says in the introduction, ‘It would be impossible to include every festival from around the world…’, but the author, Laura Mucha, has done an amazing job of including a very diverse and fascinating range, making this book a joy from start to finish!

Each festival is given two pages, bursting with appealing illustrations which reflect the spirit of the occasion. The date and location of each festival is given and information is presented in accessible chunks, spread across the pages with an explanation of why and how celebrations take place. Touches of humour are added through speech bubbles and the pictures where appropriate.

I learned so much from reading this book and would happily add it to any school, class or home library, confident that children would both enjoy it and gain much from it. Beautifully presented, it is a real celebration of celebrations- a lovely gift!

Celebrate!

Laura Mucha, illustrated by Hannah Tolson

Nosy Crow and the British Museum ISBN: 978-1839940415

You can read my review of ‘Welcome to Our Table’ here- another book from Nosy Crow which celebrates the diversity of food around the world- and the 2023 Nature Month-by Month: A Children’s Almanac here, a lovely book which guides you through the year!

All That It Ever Meant

Devastated by the loss of their mother, Mati, her siblings and father set off on a trip back to their father’s home in Zimbabwe. Each member of the family is struggling with their bereavement. Their father struggles with his own grief as well as the responsibility of looking after his children; seventeen-year-old Chichi is getting in trouble at school and picking on her siblings; ten-year-old Tana seeking escape, drinking Heineken to help him sleep with Mati, the thinker and observer of the family, tries watches everything carefully. Whilst on the trip, Mati finds herself joined by Meticais, a rather grumpy, mysterious and fabulously dressed gender-neutral figure who only Mati can see and talk to. Reluctantly, Mati comes to realise that Meticais is guiding her to come to terms with what has happened, slowly finding her way towards acceptance.

‘All That It Ever Meant’ is a stunning novel about love and loss, family and belonging. The complexities of human nature, relationships and emotions are all sensitively explored in this beautifully written, cleverly constructed and gripping story.

It is never clear whether Meticais is a figment of Meti’s imagination, a spirit, a ghost or something else, but their presence and conversation allows Meti to explore the complexities of her mother’s feelings about trying to assimilate to her new life in England- something which she never came to terms with and which affected the family dynamic as well as her mother’s mental health. As the family shares the road trip, the close proximity of their travelling and accommodation as well as the landscape they find themselves in force them to face up to past events and start to look to the future and cope with their loss.

Deeply poignant, this is an intriguing and compelling novel with one of those endings which just…

It’s a must read- and re-read- and re-read.

All That It Ever Meant

Blessing Musariri

Zephyr ISBN: 978-1035002477

Man-Man and the Tree of Memories

I am delighted to have been invited to take part in the Blog Tour for ‘Man-Man and the Tree of Memories’ today. Yaba Badoe is an amazing author- ‘A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars’ is a book I will never forget!- so I was really looking forward to reading this one and I was not disappointed.

Emmanuel- known as Man-Man- is really excited. It’s Carnival time and he, with his sister, Pan and best friend, Kareem, will be dancing to the beat of his dad’s sound system. As his mother, Trilby, is ill, Man-Man will be taking her place, leading the procession. His nan, who has come to England to help care for Trilby, doesn’t approve of their dancing, but the day arrives and knowing his mother is watching, Man-Man pleads for his mother to be made well again. To his amazement, The Queen of Revels appears and whisks him, Pan and Kareem away to Africa and shows him the Tree of Memories where they witness the the pain of their ancestors and begin to understand how it is causing their mother’s suffering in the present. Does Man-Man have ‘the courage to shape the future by soothing the scars’ of his family’s past?

‘Man-Man and the Tree of Memories’ is a powerful and poignant story. It captures the joy and energy of Carnival, the exhilaration and freedom of dance whilst also tackling serious topics of slavery, inequality and the impact the past can have on the present.

Relationships play a key role in the story. Man-Man and Kareem have a close bond of friendship , each valuing the other for who they are. Pan is a prickly older sister, yet one who obviously cares for her brother. Man-Man enjoys a close, loving relationship with his parents which is beautifully captured. His love for his mother shines through, pushing him to dance harder and channel all his energy, and her love for her children is ultimately her salvation. The relationship with their grandmother, Fedora, is more complex. Strict, unyielding and opinionated, Fedora disapproves of Man-Man’s father whose heritage and beliefs are different to her own. And then there is the relationship with the past- how our heritage can shape our lives. The story offer so much to consider and discuss, encouraging empathy, reflection and developing awareness.

‘There’s always more to us than meets the eye, more than what we see or touch.’

The story is brilliantly illustrated. Joelle Avelino’s bright pictures perfectly capture the energy and life of Carnival so vividly described by Yaba Badoe’s text. As the story moves to the magical, the illustrations seem to convey this energy as well with silhouetted, less-distinct figures and swirling shapes, echoing the branches of the Tree of Memories. Children will love exploring and discussing these as much as the story itself!

Many layered, evocative and poignant, ‘Man-Man and the Tree of Memories’ is a wonderful read, offering much if used as a guided reading or class text. It is a unique story to be enjoyed again and again.

Man-Man and the Tree of Memories

Yaba Badoe, illustrated by Joelle Avelino

Zephyr ISBN: 978-1837930074

Many thanks to the team at Zephyr for asking me to take part. Find out what everyone else thinks by following the rest of the reviews in the tour!

You can read my review of ‘A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars’ here.

Blog Tour: How to Chat Chicken

With the help of this book, you can become like Dr Doolittle and talk with the animals-gossip gorilla, babble bee, gab gecko or chat chicken as the fancy takes you!

The lively introduction from author, Dr Nick Crumpton, sets the tone for the book perfectly, encouraging readers to listen to, and observe, their pets and other animals carefully so that they can communicate with them.

Six sections- Prattling with Primates, Noisy Neighbours, Murmuring Minibeasts, Commotion in the Ocean, Wild Words and Wild on the Wing- are bursting with descriptions of how creatures communicate. Cats use chirruping noises when they are excited, croaking gourami fish make frog-like sounds to attract a potential partner and adult crows use a cooing noise to calm their young. It’s a fascinating read and sure to have everyone attempting to chat to the animals around them- and sharing their new found knowledge with anyone who will listen! A wonderful range of creatures is covered with careful explanations, not shying away from the use of technical vocabulary such as stridulation and pheromones which is explained in the glossary. The book also considers how some animals communicate in other ways, such as by the use of smell- and even the use of dialects in some species.

The bright, cartoon-style illustrations are very appealing and easy to dip in and out of. An index makes it easy to locate specific animals, but it is very easy to find yourself reading this one from cover to cover! As National Non-Fiction November approaches (but also at any time of the year!), it is great to remember that there are all styles of information texts to appeal to all styles of readers of all ages. There is as much to engage the 70 year old as the 7 year old here! Any book which encourages children (or any reader!) to really understand their fellow creatures and develop a sense of empathy and understanding can only be a good one!

How to Chat Chicken

Dr Nick Crumpton, illustrated by Adrienne Barman

What On Earth Books ISBN: 978-1804660423

Make sure you take a look at the rest of the stops on the Blog Tour! Many thanks to What on Earth for inviting me to be part it!

Drawn to Change the World

It is more important than ever to use our voices and our strengths and join as communities to make change, even when those in power don’t want us to do so.

In her introduction to this fascinating book, Emma Reynolds explains why she decided to write this book, as a celebration of those who are striving for change and as inspiration for others who might follow their example. Her words set the scene perfectly for the stories of the sixteen youth activists from around the world included in the book, each beautifully illustrated by sixteen different artists.

An introduction offers an overview of the climate change crisis. I learned a great deal from this section, part of which is written by Matthew Shribman, cofounder of AimHi Earth. Key factors, like carbon sinks are carefully explained and the impact of climate change on the most vulnerable highlighted.

Each graphic story is introduced by a map showing where in the world the subject lives, who the story is about and who illustrated it. The stories are powerfully told, vividly sharing the individual’s concerns and the actions that they took to change things for the better for their community. For example, Autumn Peltier’s fight for clean water for her people is truly inspiring- and the treatment of First Nation communities shocking. The ‘What are they doing now’ section at the end of each section allows the reader to discover more about each individual, including where to find them on social media. The graphic format makes each story very accessible and the different illustrative styles offers pleasing variety.

This is such an impressive, inspiring collection of individuals, who are so courageous and dedicated to their beliefs, that it makes a very enjoyable as well as informative read. Highly recommended!

Drawn to Change the World

Emma Reynolds

HarperAlley ISBN: 978-0063084216

Max and Chaffy: Search for the Ice Chaffy

It’s a snowy day on Animal Island and Max and Chaffy have lots to do. A new visitor, Jacob arrives on the island in search of one of the rarest chaffies in the world to impress the Chaffy Finding Club- the Ice Chaffy! Max and Chaffy are keen to help- and so can readers!

Bright, cheerful and bursting with fun, the ‘Max and Chaffy’ books are perfect for younger children. Instantly appealing, short sections of text- mainly in speech bubbles- are easily accessible and written in a clear font, making the words easier to decode and allowing early readers to tackle the stories independently.

The illustrations are full of humour and encourage readers to interact fully with the story as they are regularly invited to help find Chaffy and to help Deputy Constable Chaffy round up the islands birds so they don’t get too chilly in the snow. Children are sure to enjoy drawing Chaffy for themselves, perhaps creating their own varieties!

Hugely appealing, this is the third book in this brilliant series! I hope there are many more to come!

Max and Chaffy: Search for the Ice Chaffy

Jamie Smart

David Fickling Books ISBN: 978-1788452632

Published 2nd November!

You can read my review of Max and Chaffy: Welcome to Animal Island! here.

The Bee Who Loved Words

Persephone is a little bee who loves big words. As she collects them and writes them everywhere, everyone thinks she is very clever- except Queen Hermione who thinks she should spend more time hunting for flowers. But when words are needed, it’s Persephone who comes to the rescue!

Words are the most amazing things- and this book is brimming with word play, celebrating the importance of language and the power it has to make a difference! ‘The Bee Who Loved Words’ combines this joy with the importance of protecting bees and flowers, offering much to discuss and discover.

The book is a joy to read aloud, combining wonderfully rich vocabulary with bouncy, rhyming text. Children are sure to want to build their own collection of words as they encounter them just as Persephone does, finding pleasure in their sound, their meaning and the fun of using a wide and varied vocabulary! It is a gift to teachers wishing to encourage words collecting and inspire children to use them!

The illustrations are as joyful as the text! Persephone’s face expresses a wealth of emotions through the story and there are so many details to notice and enjoy in each spread. There is a delightful book and one which is sure to be enjoyed again and again!

The Bee Who Loved Words

Helen Docherty, illustrated by Erica Salcedo

Puffin ISBN: 978-0241450680

Poetry Prompts: All Sorts of Ways to Start a Poem

I have always loved poetry and ever since I started teaching, I have tried to share this love with both children and colleagues, sneaking poems into every possible topic and encouraging children to create their own. ‘Does it have to rhyme?’ and ‘What rhymes with secret?’ by Sandy Brownjohn were two of my favourite books during teacher training and ones which I have frequently consulted over the years. ‘Poetry Prompts’ gathers together an amazing range of starting points - ways into poetry writing - offering amazing support for teachers seeking to inspire as well as for those wishing to write at home. It’s a real must have!

There are 41 prompts included in this brilliant book to support children in writing their own poems, but also to understanding poetic terms and devices which they might wish to use. The first suggestion is for making a mini-notebook for recording ideas and poems. Each activity offers plenty of examples and encouragement, sure to inspire readers of any age to emulate, experiment with and develop and the ‘Poetry Power-Up’ which accompanies each, extends the idea, offering a challenge. From tongue twisters to renga, from triolets to haiku, there are ideas for all occasions and all styles!

The whole book bursts with the message that poetry is about having fun with words and to encourage everyone to ‘discover the poet within’. Colourful, fun illustrations from four illustrators make the book appealing as well as making poetry writing accessible and enjoyable for all. Absolutely invaluable!

Poetry Prompts

All Sorts of Ways to Start a Poem from Joseph Coelho

Illustrated by Georgie Birkett, Grasya Oliyko, Amanda Quartey and Viola Wang

Wide Eyed ISBN: 978-0711285118

History Factopia!

The Factopia! series is excellent fun, connecting a whole host of facts in fantastic- and often unexpected- ways! By following ‘ye olde trail of 400 facts’, readers will discover so many things about the history of the world.

There are so many ways to enjoy the book, making it incredibly accessible and readable. Some will be tempted to read it from cover to cover, fascinated by the bright illustrations and snippets of information. Others will follow the trails laid from one page to another, unearthing the link between a louchaun and Fasil Ghebbi or a cat-sith and the oldest known ghost story.

Light-hearted in tone, these books are perfect for sharing and children are sure to enjoy fact swapping as they discover the weird and wonderful, trivial and tantalising, gross and gripping facts about history they never knew they needed to know!

History Factopia!

Paige Towler, illustrated by Andy Smith

Britannica ISBN: 978-1804660409

You can read my review of Animal Factopia! here and Gross Factopia! here

The Taming of the Cat

Brie is an unusual mouse. Unlike the other mice in the cheese shop colony, he prefers breadcrumbs and grain to cheese and has a head full of stories. These things do not endear him to the other mice and he finds himself lonely- and cold. Seeking warmth, Brie finds himself caught in the paws of the fearsome, Gorgonzola, the cheese shop cat. In this life-or-death situation, Brie decides to distract her by telling her stories inspired by the labels on the different cheeses. Caught between the animosity of his mouse community and the threat of death by cat, he must weave a tale which will change his life.

In the tradition of Scheherazade, the tales told by Brie are framed by his own life story, making this a wonderfully rich and entertaining book with plenty to recommend it. The nature of cats and their predator/ prey relationship with mice is not shied away from, but this is an important part of the story, building a clear picture of Gorgonzola’s personality and increasing the sense of tension and the feeling of peril for Brie’s situation.

Brie is a wonderful character. Different from the other, he is victimised by the other mice for being different, for having his own interests. Although his relationship with Gorgonzola begins through necessity as Brie wishes to survive, it develops into a true friendship, something which is lacking in his fellows, offering plenty to discuss. In Gorgonzola, Helen Cooper has captured a real essence of cat which is a joy to read!

The story which Brie tells is shaped and developed in response to Gorgonzola’s interests and whims as much as it is inspired by the pictures and names on the cheese labels. It is a magical tale and one which is sure to inspire children to create stories of their own- perhaps as a collaborative activity, sparked by things around them.

Lavishly illustrated, the book is full of pictures to linger over and enjoy, the perfect complement to the story.

The Taming of the Cat Helen Cooper

Faber ISBN: 978-0571376018

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

You can read my review of The Hippo at the End of the Hall here.

A World Full of Winter Stories

In the latest book in this wonderful series, Angela McAllister introduces her readers to a brilliant collection of stories, perfect for sharing on winter evenings. Gathered into six sections- Birds and Beasts, Tricks and Troubles, Ice and Snow, Quests and Journeys, Spirits and Magic and Christmas- there are fifty tales here from countries and cultures across the world.

Retold with great thought and care, each story is the perfect length for a bedtime story, offering plenty to enjoy and discuss. Each is accompanied by lovely illustrations which capture the frost and chill of the cold weather contrasting with the warmth and safety of indoors. There are so many wonderful tales here- ‘Salt on a Magpie’s Tale’, ‘The Silver Flute’, ‘The Ice Man’ and ‘The Spider and the Christmas Tree’. Some of the stories contain familiar characters- Anansi, Thor and Loki- whilst some seek to explain how or why things are as they are. There really is something to appeal to everyone in this collection!

The anthology also makes an invaluable addition to any teacher’s bookshelf. The stories are perfect for guided reading sessions, engaging and achievable with plenty to talk about and investigate. The stories are also wonderful for enjoying at the end of the day- and sure to encourage children to share traditional tales they have enjoyed at home.

I can’t recommend this series highly enough!

A World Full of Winter Stories:

50 Folk Tales and Legends from Around the World

Angela McAllister, illustrated by Olga Baumert

Frances Lincoln ISBN: 978-0711277908

You can read my review of ‘A World Full of Nature Stories’ here and ‘Once Upon a Hillside’ here.

Call the Puffins! Tiny’s Brave Rescue

On the island of Egg, Tiny is training to be a rescue puffin with his friend, Muffin. But Tiny is really worried as he feels that he is not good enough to be part of the team. With the support of the other puffins, Tiny finds he can rise to any challenge.

This is the second in this lovely series which is perfect for younger readers. Taller than the other puffins with long legs and wings, Tiny is a sweet natured puffin who is keen to do his best and help others, but things always seem to go wrong for him. Children are sure to empathise with Tiny as he gets lost, makes mistakes and is slower than the other puffins- and sure to celebrate with him as he gets the better of the wild cat!

This book- like the first- emphasises the importance of working as part of a team and supporting each other. A little extra help from Flight Officer Faroe makes all the difference to Tiny, helping him gain confidence. There are facts about puffins at the end of the book to encourage children to discover more about these fascinating creatures.

Full of gorgeous illustrations which add much to the story, ‘Tiny’s Brave Rescue’ is a delightful book and the next in the series, ‘Muffin and the Shipwreck’ is coming out next year!

Call the Puffins! Tiny’s Brave Rescue

Cath Howe, illustrated by Ella Okstad

Welbeck ISBN: 978-1801300599

You can read more about ‘Call the Puffins!’ here.

Legends of Norse Mythology

‘Legends of Norse Mythology’ is a fully illustrated guide to some of the legendary characters and stories of Norse folklore.

Starting with the story of the ‘Nine Worlds’ of the Norse cosmos, the book then offers a gallery of the Gods. Each deity is given two pages, one presenting an evocative illustration and the other, a short biography including their godly powers and where they lived. Many of these are familiar names- Thor, Loki, Baldur- but others are possibly less well-known such as Mimir, Gullveig, Bragi and Idun.

The book then explains the story of poetry and its importance to the Norse people before moving on to some of the giants, monsters and mythical beings of their world. Perfect for supporting any topic on the Vikings or for reading for pleasure, it may also encourage children to explore comparisons between mythologies and faiths. The Norns of the Norse could be compared to the Moirai of Greek mythology, the role of Hel with that of Hades/ Pluto.

The story of Thor’s Hammer and that of Ragnarok are also included, retold in an accessible (bearing in mind how blood-thirsty these tales can be!) manner, making the book a very enjoyable introduction to the world of Norse mythology.

Legends of Norse Mythology: Enter a World of Gods, Giants, Monsters and Heroes

Tom Birkett, illustrated by Isabella Mazzanti

Wide Eyed ISBN: 978-0711260771

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

I Am the Wind

This is a gorgeous collection of poetry, offering a delightful mixture of well-known poems and those by newer poets, each beautifully illustrated. There are so many treasures here, making it perfect for sharing at home and at school.

For teachers the collection offers, not only many poems to enjoy reading, performing and sharing, but also those which can be used a wonderful models to inspire children (and adults!) to create their own. The anthology opens with a lovely poem by E R Murray called ‘This Poem Can…’ which is perfect for starting conversations, igniting imagination and creating their own works using the same format. ‘Ocean Song’, by the same poet, is also perfect for inspiring children to listen, reflect and express their ideas. Julie O’Callaghan’s poem ‘Earth Whispers’ is a fabulous piece of writing, offering a clear structure for children to plan and develop their ideas around- and to be inspired by the illustration as well.

Favourites like Spike Milligan’s ‘On the Ning Nang Nong’ and ‘Molly Malone’ also appear like familiar friends and it is a joy to see some poems in both Irish and English. ‘I Love These Hands’ is poignant whereas ‘Umbrella’ offers a touch of humour. There is so much to enjoy and cherish in this collection, making it an essential addition to any poetry shelf!

I Am the Wind

edited by Lucinda Jacob and Sarah Webb

illustrated by Ashwin Chacko

Little Island ISBN: 978-1915071460

Blog Tour: Dexter! The Amazing School Dog

Today, I am delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour for this very special book!

It’s Dexter’s first day as ‘School Dog’ and as soon as he is through the gate, he is busy supporting everyone who needs him. As the days go by, he helps Flynn find the courage to leave his Grandma and go into class, he sniffs out Blake’s lost lunch box and encourages George to read to him, naturally finding ways to support every child who needs him. At end end of the book, he is rewarded with a brand new, golden collar for being the best school dog ever!

Having worked with three school dogs, I know that they really can work magic with some children. Empathy is at the heart of this story, gently showing the reader how challenging some situations can be for some children, emphasising the uniqueness of each individual and the importance of gently validating their feelings and allowing time and space for them to flourish. It offers the perfect way to introduce children - and adults- to all kinds of feelings and responses, paving the way for really positive, inclusive discussions.

My favourite illustration in the book- although they are all lovely- is that of George and Dexter in the Book Nook. Dogs make the perfect audience for a story, gazing with devotion at the person who is reading and cuddling close or sitting by their side as needed. Children feel an incredible sense of achievement and well-being when allowed to do this and the experience should not be belittled as sadly it often is.

The illustrations are wonderful, capturing Dexter’s loveable, warm nature perfectly as he spreads happiness and confidence across every page. I hope there are more books about Dexter being planned as these stories will resonate with and reassure all who read them!

Dexter! The Amazing School Dog

Lucy Plunkett, illustrated by Sian Bowman

Owlet Press ISBN: 978-1913339500

Thank you to the lovely people at Owlet Press for inviting me to be part of this Blog Tour.

Bath Children’s Literature Festival 2023

Bath is a gorgeous city with so much to see and enjoy and every year since it started (with the obvious exceptions!), I have joined many other book lovers at the Children’s Literature Festival held there every autumn. Always a wonderful occasion, so many wonderful poets, illustrators and authors take part in this joyful event, making it a pleasure to return year after year!

My festival adventure this year started with a drawing session with Nadia Shireen and Sophy Henn, compered by Steven Butler. Full of fun and fabulous drawings, the illustrators were challenged to create pictures inspired by words selected from the audience. There were giraffes in space, secret agents doing karate in the woods with a goose side kick, scientist rabbits and secret agent guinea pigs! Sophy and Nadia rose to every challenge whilst Steven constantly challenged them with extra details!

The audience were also encouraged to draw along and it was amazing to see just how creative and inventive they were too! It was a brilliant way to start the day…

My next event was with Nikita Gill who was sharing her new book, ‘Animal Tales from India: Ten Stories from the Panchatantra’ (review here). These are stories that Nikita grew up with, told to her by her grandmother, and her love of them was very evident! It was a joyful session of storytelling.

Loving myths, legends and traditional tales, I knew that ‘Mythical Adventures of Greeks and Gods’ was also going to be a session I would really enjoy. Joanna Nadin was talking to Tom Holland about his book, ‘The Wolf-Girl, The Greeks and the Gods’ (review here) - and he was absolutely fascinating! He took his young family to Greece with him for 6 months to be able to visit all the locations and immerse himself in the story, using the character of Gorgo to keep his young daughter engaged on their travels.

Rocket is one of my favourite picture book characters so it was a joy to hear Dapo Adeola (again!) as he read the latest story, ‘Speak Up!’ (review here) and taught us all how to draw Luna the cat. The children in the audience were excellent with their answers in the quiz and also asked some great questions. Dapo gave lots of good advice, reminding children that ‘there is a lesson in every drawing’ and encouraging them to persevere and have fun!

After drawing with Dapo, I was fired with enthusiasm for my next event, ‘Heavy Metal Badger’ with Duncan Beedie. Having listened to the story, the rock music generated the perfect atmosphere for creating some heavy metal band names and designing their logos. Some of the adults in the audience got even more carried away than their children at this point!! Duncan then showed everyone how to draw Badger sliding on his knees, loving the heavy metal!

My time at this year’s festival finished on an absolute high. Ana Sampson is responsible for gathering the poems for the most amazing collection, ‘Gods and Monsters: Mythological Poems’ (review here), which has been brilliantly illustrated by Chris Riddell. This has very quickly become a favourite of mine and it was a joy to listen to Ana (and Chris!) whilst Chris drew constantly. There was a battle of the monsters as the audience were asked to vote in a number of rounds to discover which monster they thought would be the winner! It was the perfect way to end the day.

Today is the last day of Bath Children’s Literature Festival 2023- and I’m already looking forward to next year!

And I Climbed and I Climbed

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of visiting the Waterstones at the Galleries, Bristol for the launch of a very special book. It was a lovely occasion and it was a joy to catch up with some of the brilliant people who attended.

‘And I Climbed and I Climbed’ is a remarkable collection of poems, focusing on Cosmo, a young boy whose life changed forever when he fell out of a tree in his garden. Having a great deal to come to terms with, these poems explore his experiences. Poet, Simon Lightbrown, has drawn on personal experience to write these poems as, like Cosmo, he became paralysed after an accident.

Deeply poignant and captivating, these poems are really special. Raw emotion, courage, determination and resilience mix with fear, anger, curiosity and pain in the poems which invoke empathy, compassion and understanding. Although each works in its own right, the poems read almost as a verse novel, allowing the reader to accompany Cosmo through his experiences.

Cosmo is a very engaging character, full of spark and curiosity. Mingled with his words are poems from his family and the tree he fell from, offering different perspectives and thoughts. As he considers how his life has changed, Cosmo’s feelings fluctuate, running through a whole gamut of emotions, including moments of humour. The poems are all the more powerful and poignant as they are an authentic voice. Although Stephen Lightbrown was older when he had his accident than Cosmo is in the story, he draws on his personal experiences to create the poems, making this a unique and essential collection.

Listening to Stephen read his poems was wonderful! There are certain poems which had me in tears when I read them- and it was a real struggle not to sob hearing him read them in person. Shauna Darling Robertson read a couple of the poems written as Cosmo’s mother- she did really well not to cry too!

This is a fantastic collection- essential reading.

And I Climbed and I Climbed

Stephen Lightbrown, illustrated by Shih-Yu Lin

Troika Books ISBN: 978-1912745296

Animal Tales from India

On Saturday, I had the great pleasure of listening to Nikita Gill, talking at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival about her new book, ‘Animal Tales from India: Ten Stories from the Panchatantra’. She explained how these stories had formed an essential part of her childhood and she now wished to share them with other children as her grandmother had shared them with her. Originally written in Sanskrit, these ancient stories are a collection of interwoven animal fables, full of wonder and wisdom, humour and heart.

Each tale speaks directly to the reader, creating that intimate feeling of storytelling which is such a feature of old stories, told and re-told through the generations. As with all fables, there is a clear moral to each tale, a thought which is presented at the end of the story, often with a touch of humour, keeping the tone light hearted. ‘The Blue Jackal’, Nikita’s favourite, reminds the reader about the importance of loyalty and family whilst ‘The Monkey and the Crocodile’ is about choosing your friends carefully. The stories are a joy to read aloud with plenty of opportunities to ‘do the voices’ and so much to discuss and enjoy!

The book itself is a thing of beauty. The jacket is wonderfully tactile with gold embossing, but this lifts off to reveal a glorious orange hardback with purple lettering and illustrations. An orange ribbon bookmark means you will never lose your place and every spread is beautifully illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat whose pictures are delightful.

This is a treasure of a book, perfect for sharing time and again, but also a collection of stories which will be revisited independently, as familiar friends.

Animal Tales from India: Ten Stories from the Panchatantra

Nikita Gill, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839944628

The Emerald Forest

Orangutan lives in an emerald forest, teeming with life. Here, she teaches her children what to eat and how to build a nest. But one day, a loud noise heralds the arrival of something new which threatens their lives and she is forced to take her family and flee…

With gorgeous illustrations and moving text, this is a very powerful, special picture book, perfect for sharing. Although it clearly shows the impact of deforestation on endangered species- indeed on all the creatures who inhabit the forest, the book ends on a note of hope, showing that there are people taking action, not able to reverse the destruction, but caring for the creatures whose homes have been lost.

The illustrations showing the colours and light of the Indonesian forest, capturing the very beauty of the natural world, are stunning, creating a stark contrast to the scenes of wanton destruction and chaos caused by man. These dramatic pictures perfectly complement the emotive, engaging text. The richness of vocabulary offers much to discuss and reflect upon and the illustrations demand empathy and action.

The book ends with information about orangutans and the threats they are under and offers links for readers to explore further and learn more. This is very useful for parents/ teachers/ other adults who might be sharing the book with younger children, helping them to be prepared for conversations and questions which the story is sure to generate.

A must-have for anyone who loves animals.

The Emerald Forest

Catherine Ward, illustrated by Karin Littlewood

Otter- Barry Books ISBN: 978-1913074142