#Picture Book Review: Detective LB and Hopper The Case of the Missing Chocolate Frogs by Janey Gaston, illustrated by Anil Tortop

Cover art by Anil Tortop, published by Little Steps Publishing, 2020,
ISBN: 978-1912678198

Detective LB and Hopper: The Case of the Missing Chocolate Frogs is an excellent introduction to the detective fiction genre for young children. The two main characters, LB a ladybird and Hopper an extremely excitable rabbit, run the BunnyBugs Detective Agency and are delighted to take on a new client in the form of a business-cat named Poppy who owns the PoppyCat Candy Company. Poppy has a mystery for the detectives to solve – who is stealing the chocolate frogs intended for delivery to Poppy’s Grandma Rose?

When LB and Hopper go to the candy store to investigate, there are clues to the identity of the chocolate frog-napper in both the text and the pictures, which give children with whom this book is shared a wonderful opportunity to try to crack the case alongside the detectives. The illustrations by Anil Tortop are vibrant with colour and full of the sleuthing energy of the characters, especially when Hopper dresses as his comic book hero Renegade Roo to go detecting in the small hours of the morning. There is more text than is usual in a picture book, which certainly points to this book being one for an adult to read to a young child, although emerging readers aged 6+ would probably enjoy reading it independently as an alternative to a traditional early chapter book. As someone who has always enjoyed detective stories, I think that this is a fun way of introducing them to children of 4/5 years of age.

Disclaimer: I was originally provided with a copy of Detective LB and Hopper: The Case of the Missing Chocolate Frogs by publisher New Frontier Publishing. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Picture Book Review: Blue Whale Blues by Peter Carnavas

Cover art by Peter Carnavas, published by New Frontier Publishing UK, 2020,
ISBN: 978-1912858385

Blue Whale Blues is a gorgeous picture book with the sort of absurd storyline that appeals to a young child’s sense of humour. It is written and illustrated by Peter Carnavas, who is widely known and an award-winning writer in his native Australia.

In this story, the illustrations, which have an interesting collage effect, do much of the storytelling alongside the relatively sparse text. Blue Whale is feeling pretty glum because he does not know how to make his bike move, or how to wear his cycle helmet, or how to dry his wet bike. Each time he faces a problem, Whale sings his Blue Whale Blues refrain, which I am sure that young children will want to join in with once they have heard the story a few times. (There is a QR code on the back of the book taking you to an audio version of the book in which you can hear the author singing the Blue Whale Blues). Fortunately for Blue Whale, his optimistic friend Penguin is always on hand to try to find a solution to every problem, even though they are both rather confused about the difference between an abandoned shopping trolley and a bike! When they eventually realise their mistakes there is much hilarity on the ocean floor!

This is a delightful book for adults and children to share, with wonderful artwork to enjoy, lots of talking points and repeating text which children can enjoy singing along with. I would highly recommend Blue Whale Blues for nursery, pre-school, early years and home use.

Disclaimer: I was originally provided with this copy of Blue Whale Blues by New Frontier Publishing. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Picture Book Review: How to be a Bug Warrior by The Parent-Child Dino Research Team, illustrated by Loyal Kids

Cover image © Loyal Kids, published by Little Steps Publishing, 2020, ISBN: 978-1912678259

How to be a Bug Warrior was published in 2020, in response to the initial wave of COVID-19 infections, but contains preventative health messages for an early childhood audience which are valid at any time to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The collective group of authors are apparently experts on early childhood psychology and early childhood education

The story of young Danny Dino catching ‘flu after another dinosaur sneezes on him at the park and the explanations given by Dr Pterosaur about how viruses are transmitted, are presented in simple language, which is easy to understand at any age. The bold illustrations take on a great deal of the work in delivering essential information about what viruses are, how they cause illness and how they are spread. There is a very clear 7-step handwashing diagram across a double-page spread, which is so useful at home and in pre-school, early years and school settings to help prevent the spread of both viral and bacterial infections. There is also good advice about wearing a mask if feeling unwell, and covering your nose with a tissue or sneezing into your elbow – all very practical as school’s begin the new autumn term and the cold and ‘flu season begins, and COVID variants remain present. At the end of the book there is a short quiz, followed by six key messages for preventing the spread of infections.

From the perspective of a health librarian, I think that How to be a Bug Warrior is an excellent example of good health literacy information aimed at a pre-primary and primary school audience. I would recommend it to school librarians, parents/caregivers and health professionals working with children.

Disclaimer: I was originally provided with a copy of How to be a Bug Warrior by publisher Little Steps Publishing. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Picture Book Review: Friends Don’t Like Roaring by Antje Taylor, illustrated by Matt Howorth

Cover art by Matt Howorth, published by Little Steps Publishing, 1 October 2019, ISBN: 9781912678099

Friends Don’t Like Roaring is a wonderful example of a picture book which can be enjoyed by any child, aged 3-6, but is also a gentle educational resource about regulating behaviour.

The simple text by Antje Taylor presents the story of Lap, a young dinosaur, who desperately wants to make friends with the other little dinosaurs in the park, but cannot understand why they keep running away from him. When mummy dinosaur notices his sadness and asks him to explain the situation to her, she kindly explains to Lap that roaring at others is not the best way to make friends. Her advice to ‘use your words’ soon brings positive results for little Lap in this charming story about communication. The text is brought to life through the bold, bright illustration of Matt Howorth. The cartoon-like style of his artwork, with big expressive eyes and faces, make the message of the story very accessible for young children.

I think this is a book which would work very well shared between adults and pre-school or early years children in either a home, library, school or even healthcare setting. I think it is a very clever idea to use dinosaurs, which are so appealing to very many young children, to deliver an important message about regulating over-excited behaviour and using calm words.

This book has been sitting on my bookshelves in my health and wellbeing collection for a couple of years and I’m reviewing it now prior to passing it on to a children’s therapy team in the healthcare setting where I work.

#YA AudioBook Review: Cut Him Out In Little Stars by Lucy Strange

Screenshot from Borrowbox app, audiobook published by Bolinda Audio, 12 August 2026, ISBN: 978-1038058393

Cut Him Out In Little Stars is a desperately romantic, coming of age story combined with murder mystery, set against the background of the early years of World War II. I absolutely adored the audio version, read by the author Lucy Strange, which I was lucky enough to borrow from my local public library through the Borrowbox app.

The story is narrated in the first person voice of eighteen-year-old Juliet and the prologue begins “I have been waiting to fall in love for some time…” This being 1940, and the object of love being a handsome, young RAF pilot, tragedy strikes quickly, leaving Juliet bereft. Unable to cope with his daughter’s misery, her widowed father takes Juliet to stay with her twenty-year-old sister Frances at Samphire House, the coastal cottage on Fairlight Bay, which the sisters have inherited from their mother. Juliet loses herself in novels and romantic poetry, and her reflections on her heartbreak are deliciously melodramatic and clearly influenced by her literary intake. The early part of the book gave me major I Capture the Castle vibes, which I consider to be high praise.

The sisters have had a slightly distant relationship during the two years that Frances has been living at Samphire House to pursue her career as a landscape artist, and they initially seem to circle each other’s inner lives with an unsisterly degree of formality. However, as Juliet begins to get acquainted with Alex, another young painter that her sister is very friendly with, she realises the nature of their relationship, and once Frances is able to be open about her sexuality, the sisters are able to restore their strong bond. All three girls become allies in trying to solve the mystery of how another young woman from the village met her death on the shoreline, and who is behind the black market operation in which the dead girl’s brother is clearly an active participant.

There is so much going on in this novel, and all the plot lines are woven together with extraordinary panache. With an airforce base on the edge of the village, the fear of death is ever-present, and Juliet’s flashbacks to her mother’s drowning and her subsequent fear of the sea, add to the heightened state of alert throughout the narrative. A developing romance with another young airman, family secrets, the need to assist the local lifeboat crew and a malevolent presence in the village all provide the threads that Juliet recounts in dramatic fashion. I found this a hugely enjoyable audiobook and I am sure that the intended audience aged 13+ will find it an absolute pleasure to either read or listen to. I would definitely recommend that secondary school and sixth form librarians add Cut Him Out in Little Stars to their fiction collections.

#YA Review: Give Me ‘Til Midnight by Oran Doyle

Published by Everything With Words, 10 September 2026,
ISBN: 978- 1911427537

Ulysses meets Groundhog Day in this contemporary, YA, fantasy novel from Oran Doyle! Set across a single day in Dublin, this tale of two sixteen-year-olds, each seeking a fundamental loss kept me enraptured from beginning to end.

Harmony, or as she prefers to be called, Harmie, works in her mum’s old-fashioned cafe, serving no-nonsense food to the same roster of loyal customers and spending a great deal of time looking longingly out of the window. The reader is immediately given the impression that Harmie is searching for someone or something as she recounts the details of everything that she notices going on outside. On the particular day that this story takes place, she notices a teenage boy strutting along the pavement and appearing to anticipate every obstacle before it moves into his path. He subsequently enters Laura’s Cafe, compliments Harmie on her cooking after she serves him an unexpectedly good lunch, and when he leaves she feels compelled to follow him.

Thus begins a magical 12 hours exploring Dublin as two teens from opposite ends of the social spectrum gradually gain each other’s trust and open up about their deepest anxieties. Harmony has guessed that Liam (or as he refers to himself, ‘the King of Dublin’) is stuck in a time-loop, and he soon realises that she possesses many qualities that in his customary attitude of arrogance he would not have recognised. As he sets out to impress her with visits to what would usually be off-limits private rooftop bars and high end restaurants, she refuses to behave in the same way as previous guests on his repeating day. Coming from a far less privileged position in society, she does not like the way that he uses his unique knowledge of the day to manipulate people into getting what he wants, and articulates her position forcefully. Their conversation varies from questioning the nature of the multiverse, to bickering, to finally expressing their vulnerabilities. It is so authentically written and tenderly portrays two teens who are lost in different ways, each trying to figure out what the future holds for them.

Running alongside the developing inter-personal relationship, the author takes us on a fast-paced tour of Dublin, which made me realise that visiting this city has been on my bucket list for far too long! I was not surprised to learn that Oran Doyle has been a screenwriter, because I found that the story definitely had a filmic quality. I think this writing style will certainly engage teen readers, who I am sure will enjoy the time-loop mystery and perhaps recognise some of their own uncertainties in Harmony and Liam’s story. And as for the ending…

I would definitely recommend Give Me ‘Til Midnight to readers of 14 years and above, it will be a great addition to secondary school and sixth form library collections.

Disclaimer: I was sent an electronic proof of Give Me ‘Til Midnight by Oran Doyle ahead of publication on 10 September 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Non-Fiction Review: Cosmic Cruise A Solar System Adventure by Owen Davey

Cover art by Owen Davey, published by Post Wave, 03 September 2026,
ISBN: 978-1836270652

Cosmic Cruise, written and illustrated by Owen Davey, really is a launchpad to the solar system for curious minds. This author/illustrator has created a host of immersive non-fiction books for children, and his bold, graphic illustrating style is incredibly enticing. The stunning cover of the Cosmic Cruise hardback demands attention, the artwork gave me a 1960s vibe, making me think of the early days of space exploration, while the embossed title in pale yellow made me think of the uneven surface of the moon.

Once I had opened the book and looked at the contents, what stood out for me was the inclusion of the moons which orbit planets other than Earth, as these are sometimes missing from children’s non-fiction. There is also detail of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, as well as the Kuiper Belt at the outer reaches of our solar system. The Sun and each of the planets are each investigated over double page spreads in which Owen Davey’s incredible art is annotated with bold headings and short blocks of text in which concise explanations are provided. The attention to design is superb, the text is always easy to read against the coloured backgrounds, which I have not always found to be the case in other non-fiction picture books. I also think that children will enjoy the warm, inviting tone of the language. The book begins “This is your captain speaking…” and throughout the book, you do feel as if you are being taken on a space tour by the friendliest and most knowledgeable astronaut ever. I certainly gained a wealth of new knowledge about near space and expect that children will love to absorb the information which is so accessibly provided here.

I would highly recommend Cosmic Cruise to primary school librarians and to any class teachers who are covering the space topic; it would also make a fabulous gift for any child aged 7 years and above who is fascinated by the topic of space.

Disclaimer: I was sent a free copy of Cosmic Cruise by publicist Antonia Wilkinson and publisher Post Wave ahead of publication on 3 September 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

National Year of Reading: My August 2026 Round-up

Audiobooks, e-books and physical books read during August 2026

Links in this post will take you to reviews that I have posted on the blog during August 2026.

This month, I have listened to four audiobooks, all borrowed from my public library via the Borrowbox app. Two of these have been adult murder mystery novels, both of which I enjoyed: Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz is the final book in the Magpie Murders series which is set within the publishing industry, while The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham is a golden age murder mystery which has some problematic attitudes and language due to the time during which it was written. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Shipwrecked a funny and warm-hearted middle grade story from Jenny Pearson. Parachutes by Kelly Yang is a brilliant and eye-opening YA novel, like many of her novels based on some of her own lived experience.

The ten physical books that I have read range from a non-fiction picture book aimed at primary school children, Marvellous Poo written and illustrated by Mathis, through books aimed at middle grade and young adult readers, as well as adult books read with my two book clubs.

Huxley and Flapjack Recipe for Disaster is a delightful, full-colour, early chapter books for children who are beginning to read independently. The Dragon Mountain will also be illustrated throughout in full colour when it is published in September, and is a story translated from the original French version. Will Shakespeare Mysteries The Pearly Pants is the second book in this funny, journal-format, illustrated series which features the bard during his early detective career! It is ideal for key stage 2 children. For those upper key stage 2 children who enjoy a scary story, The Haunting of Old Splinter is a thoroughly creepy tale to read in the approach to Halloween.

The three YA novels that I have read as physical books were excellent. As a lifelong Jane Austen fan, I adored Kitty and Mary written by joint authors Imogen Russell-Williams and Julia Gray, and think that it will be a wonderful ‘gateway’ novel for teens and those who have not yet read the original classics. All the Queens’ Curses by Alyssa Hollingsworth is a sweeping romantasy set in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and based on an Orkney fairytale. Marionetta by Míriam Bonastre Tur is a manga-style graphic novel with a creepy circus narrative.

Finally, my book group reads this month were Hostage by Clare Mackintosh, a well-written, twisty and gripping thriller, which raised plenty of topics for discussion; and The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, an epistolary novel which I thought told its story brilliantly and is certainly one of my most enjoyable reads of the last 5 years.

Until next month, happy #YearOfReading2026!

#Picture Book Review: Marvellous Poo by Mathis

Marvellous Poo is a non-fiction title that is bound to appeal to primary school aged children, and is the latest translated picture book from the publisher Post Wave. I found the artwork in this book distinctive and engaging, and was interested to find out that author/illustrator Jean-Marc Mathis (known as Mathis) was initially a draftsman before devoting himself to comics and children’s books. The clean lines of his drawing style lend themselves particularly well to the subject of this book: a wealth of facts about poo!

The diagrams of the digestive system which start the book are really clear, showing each stage of the process by which food becomes poo. Next there are lots of facts about poo itself, including a child-friendly version of the Bristol Stool chart. This is followed by several pages presented as cartoon-style panels, with diagrams of the way that poo is disposed of; whether through the sewerage system, or in the wild by animals or plants. I can imagine young children being intrigued to learn which animal produces cube-shaped droppings, and about some enormous poo producers!

Overall, this is a fun and interesting non-fiction book, which I am sure will be very popular in primary school classrooms and school library collections. I would also recommend it to parents/caregivers of children, aged 5 years and above, who show an interest in science. From a health literacy perspective, it is good to see concise explanations with clear illustrations of the digestive system. The only aspect that I felt was missing from the book was an explanation accompanied by clear diagrams of good handwashing technique, which I feel would have gone well alongside the main subject matter.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Susan and Post Wave Children’s Books for sending me a copy of Marvellous Poo. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Audiobook Review: Shipwrecked by Jenny Pearson, read by Colin Ryan

Screenshot from Borrowbox app, published by Bolinda audio, 31 May 2025,
ISBN: 978-1038013910

All aboard for sun, adventure and laughs!

Ever since I read Five on a Treasure Island, well over 50 years ago, I have loved books set on islands, and was delighted to find Shipwrecked by Jenny Pearson available as an audiobook on the Borrowbox app. Before I get started on the story, I must say a few words about the brilliance of Colin Ryan’s reading; this story has six main child characters as well as a few adults, and he manages to give them each a distinct voice, really bringing the story alive and making it easy to follow.

Jenny Pearson has built a reputation in recent years as an author who can combine hilarious comedy that genuinely makes readers (or in this case listeners) laugh-out-loud, with real heart-felt emotional content. I think that Shipwrecked has jumped to the top of the list to become my favourite of her middle grade stories. It is narrated by Sebastian Sunrise, in a journal format, with chapter headings written as Survival Tips, and plunges you into his shipwrecked state from the first chapter. Alongside his two best friends, Lina and Étienne, Sebastian has been swept away to a Pacific island after a rash rowing race dare with some older teens at their Climate Avengers summer camp in Tonga. The three youngsters have to combine their efforts and talents very quickly to survive and hope for rescue.

Determined, smart Lina declares herself the leader, and armed with her pre-GCSE copy of The Lord of the Flies, is determined to keep the boys in order, make sure that they realise the importance of maintaining the fire, and try not to get too exasperated by Sebastian’s erratic behaviour. Sebastian has had a reputation at their international school in Singapore for being a bit of a trouble-maker. We gradually learn the emotional toll that his parents’ separation has taken on him, begin to understand his behaviour, and see him grow into a trustworthy, brave and loyal friend as the story unfolds. My favourite character was kind, hopeful, animal-loving Étienne, who names every animal that they find, in order to prevent Lina deciding to add them to the menu! The island goat that Étienne befriends, and names Guiseppe Garibaldi, plays a major comic role throughout the novel, and Tarquin Tarantino, a turtle who lays her eggs on the beach provides the heart of the narrative.

When their teenage rivals, Benedict, Francesca and Lucas come ashore, soon followed by a gang of turtle-smuggling pirates, it looks as if the island idyll might be destined for a sticky end. Can the children outwit a bunch of greedy thugs and earn their Climate Avenger credentials? I think that middle grade readers will absolutely love reading (or listening to) this fun-filled adventure to discover the answer. An absolute essential addition to any primary school library collection, key stage 2 classroom book corner, or child’s own book collection. Now that I have finally caught up with this publication from last year, I will certainly be buying copies as gifts for young relatives.

I borrowed this audiobook from my public library via the Borrowbox app.