#MG Review: The Ocean and the Bones by Genevieve Carver

cover art by Richard Johnson, published by Rock the Boat, 4 June 2026, ISBN: 978-1836433095

The Ocean and the Bones is the debut middle grade adventure from Genevieve Carver, whose background in archaeology inspires and shapes this impressive, lyrical, and thought-provoking novel. Set during the Neolithic era (approximately 6000 years ago) this story is told in the first person voice of Meg, an orphan, haunted by her fear of water ever since both her parents drowned. Meg has been chosen as the Sunhealer’s Shadow, and is being trained to learn the ways of the Spirits on which her tribe depend for the success of their crops and their livestock. However, their settlement of Chalk Howe has been beset by storms and rain, and the inhabitants are filled with suspicion that something or someone has upset the Water Spirits.

Into this cauldron of discontent arrives Kalø, a girl of roughly the same age as Meg, who speaks a different language, and who has washed up on the beach during a storm which has wrecked the Midsummer Eve celebrations. Meg is assigned the tasks of looking after Kalø and additionally finding out where she has come from, and the reason for her appearance at Chalk Howe. Their friendship develops as they learn to communicate with each other. However, rivalries, jealousies and suspicion of difference lead to Kalø being scapegoated for the climatic events affecting the settlement and Meg needs to vercome her deepest fear to accompany her friend in a quest to seek her island home.

This is a beautifully crafted adventure, with plenty of high-stakes drama, threaded through with lyrical reflective passages, particularly as we enter Kalø’s memories of her family. I found that the descriptions of the food and drink, the knapping of flint tools and the boat-building process all firmly rooted the story in its time period. Like all the best stories written for children, the author brings her scholarship to life through an engaging story, so that readers (young, and significantly older in my case) learn by literary osmosis. Although set in a period of pre-history, I think that the story will make many middle grade readers reflect on the climate changes which are causing migration in our present time. Furthermore, the blaming of a stranger for the misfortunes of a local population also bears some parallels to scenes that we witness in society.

I highly recommend The Ocean and the Bones to librarians, teachers and parents who want to put an intriguing story into the hands of readers aged 9 years and above. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Dannie Price and publisher Rock the Boat for sending me a proof copy of The Ocean and the Bones ahead of publication on 4 June 2026.

#Illustrated Fiction Review – Star Kitties: Detective Kitty is on the Case! by Laura Ellen Anderson

Cover art by Laura Ellen Anderson, published by Farshore, 7 May 2026, ISBN: 978-0008678906

Cuter than a basketful of kittens, this first story in a new series from Laura Ellen Anderson is an absolute treasure for readers aged 5 years and above!

Welcome to the planet Whiskery Paw, a cat-kingdom in a hidden corner of the galaxy, accessible only via a portal at the bottom of Tabitha Flair’s garden at number 25 Whiskery Way. Tabitha is in possession of a star-shaped key, which opens the door of her garden shed, taking her directly to Whiskery Paw and its friendly, feline inhabitants. Each Star Kitty has a shiny star on its tummy, its own unique role in the kingdom and the ability to talk. Tabitha visits the Star Kitties at the end of each school week, and on the Friday that we meet her, she is even more excited than usual because it just happens to be her birthday. Tabitha knows how much the Star Kitties love to celebrate special occasions and therefore anticipates some sort of special treatment from her feline friends. However, she arrives to find the inhabitants of Tabby Town in a state of panic because Queen Moggaline has gone missing. Her expected birthday party instantly turns into a search party, because who can possibly think of birthdays when a beloved monarch has disappeared?

Tabitha is introduced to Purrlock Holmes, a deer-stalker and checked-cape-wearing detective kitty, and accompanies the rather distracted sleuth around the town and surrounding forest, on the trail of the missing Queen. They meet a variety of the delightful Star Kitties during their investigations, but Tabitha cannot help feeling that something is amiss in Moggaline’s kingdom. What will she find at the end of the trail? Pre-order this book today, and all will be revealed when it is published on 7th May 2026!

Everything about this book is utterly charming, from the unique characters, to the gently humorous tale of kindness and friendship. There is an introduction here to some of the tropes of detective fiction, some beautiful word play and of course Laura Ellen Anderson’s signature style of elegantly appealing illustration. The size of the book is just right to be held by the little hands of its intended readership, there is a map and an illustrated guide to the main characters at the start, and the entire book is illustrated in two colours, turquoise and grey-scale, giving young emerging readers plenty of visual cues and pausing places to encourage their reading for pleasure. My proof copy does not contain all of the final illustrations, but those that are present indicate that this book will appeal hugely to Key Stage 1 and probably many Year 3 children. I will certainly be buying finished copies as gifts for young relatives, and I strongly urge school librarians and KS1 teachers to add Star Kitties: Detective Kitty is on the Case! to their collections. If like me, you have young relatives, this book would make a delightful gift.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to Farshore Books and to publicist Amy Dobson for sending me a proof copy of Star Kitties: Detective Kitty is on the Case! ahead of publication on 7th May 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own. I am also deeply grateful to author and illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson for sending me a gorgeous Reviewer Kitty notecard. This did not influence my review, I am genuinely a huge fan of her books which I feel contain all the elements which make reading a pleasure for children.

You can find out more about Laura Ellen Anderson and her books at her website: landoflaura.co.uk

Reviews that I have written for other books by Laura Ellen Anderson can be found at the links below:

Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery

Marnie Midnight and the Great Critter Contest

Marnie Midnight and the Minibeast Mission

Rainbow Grey: Eye of the Storm

Rainbow Grey:: Battle for the Skies

#MG Sci-Fi Review: We Are Dragon by Alastair Chisholm

Cover image by Karítas Gunnarsdóttìr, published by Nosy Crow,
9 April 2026, ISBN: 978-1805131274

We Are Dragon is the final title in the I Am Wolf trilogy, and brings the series to a thrilling and satisfying conclusion. This is a truly remarkable work of science fiction which I think will appeal to sci-fi fans of any age, although it is primarily aimed for a middle grade readership. It probably could be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel, but I think that readers will get far more out of it if they have read I Am Wolf and I Am Raven beforehand.

In the land where Constructs (mechanical creatures fabricated from a massive variety of materials and powered by the thought energy of the humans who inhabit them) have battled each other for territory throughout the lifetimes of the young main protagonists, new battle lines have been drawn. Now the remaining free constructs need to work together to fight the massed ranks of Dragons which have been created by Queenie, an AI program. With the odds very definitely not in their favour, it will take original thinking and technological brilliance to outwit Queenie’s army. Fortunately, among the four inhabitants of Cub, Rieka is uniquely equipped for this challenge. She has always considered herself to be a uniquely gifted Tock, has always felt more at home communicating with machines rather than humans, and is fiercely ambitious to receive the approval of Ander, the leader of Lion clan. When she devises a plan and manufactures the technology to control and use the Wild Ants to fight against the mighty Dragon contructs, she is convinced that she alone can bring down Queenie’s military superiority.

At first the crew members of Cub, Coll, Brann, Fillan and Kevin (a small Ant construct who is devoted to Fillan) are happy to support and follow their fellow crew member. However, as her victories mount up and Rieka’s power grows, she begins to feel increasingly isolated and unable to communicate with those who love her, and fear for her.

In my opinion, this is a brilliantly written story, which ratchets up the tension to a supremely impressive final conclusion. It can be read as an all-action, thrilling, battle for supremacy between two intelligent foes who will stop at nothing to defeat their enemy. For any reader who wishes to reflect more deeply, it is a wonderful exploration of what it means to be human, to have free will, and to overcome the barriers which divide us. For any teachers or librarians who run book clubs for readers aged 9+, this would be an excellent book to include in your book club choices and the author has provided some great questions for discussion at the end of the novel.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Sian at Nosy Crow for sending me a copy of We Are Dragon ahead of publication on 9th April 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

National Year of Reading: My March 2026 round-up

Books I’ve read or listened to during March 2026

I’m almost embarrassed to write this post as I have managed to find so little time for reading during March. The chaos resulting from some home renovations has left me with very little time for reading, although I have enjoyed listening to two audiobooks as I painted the new woodwork!

I borrowed both The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer and Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver from my local public library as audiobooks. The former is a crime thriller on the unusual subject of the illegal trade in rare bird eggs and kept me intrigued from beginning to end. The latter is a reimagining of David Copperfield, set in the Appalachians and exploring the communities devastated by the opioid crisis. Once again, I was so grateful to have the opportunity to listen to brilliant narrators (Phil Dunster and Charlie Thurston) reading these fantastic works of fiction, for free, whilst I could get on with a practical task.

Small Bomb at Dimperley by Lissa Evans was actually a re-read for me, in preparation for a book group meeting later this month. It is a gentle, whimsical story of a family of the landed gentry coming to terms with the breaking down of class barriers after the end of WWII. I have read many of the author Lissa Evans’ previous novels (both adult and children’s fiction) and I love her sharp observation, lyrical writing and the way in which she threads her historical research so naturally throughout her narratives.

Mummy’s Promise is a beautiful picture book written by Michelle Robinson and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly, which was published just in time for Mothering Sunday this year.

The Flying Feminist by Mary Boone, illustrated by Andrea Turk is an excellent non-fiction book for a middle grade which tells the story of Lilian Bland, the first woman to both build and fly her own aeroplane.

Finally, I was delighted to be invited to join the blog tour for the first title in a new, illustrated, detective fiction series; Will Shakespeare Mysteries: The Stinky Stolen Toenails. Author Kaz Penney has crafted a novel packed with the sort of humour which will have middle grade readers hooting with laughter, whilst also introducing them to some characters and plot lines that they will meet as they begin to study Shakespeare’s work. The book is wittily illustrated throughout by Sammy Elgie.

Have you read any of these books? Do let me know in the comments. I hope that you had a better reading month than mine, and I hope to do better in April!

#BlogTour Review – Will Shakespeare Mysteries: The Stinky Stolen Toenails, written by Kaz Penney, illustrated by Sammy Elgie

Cover illustration by Sammy Elgie, publisher Andersen Press, 26 March 2026,
ISBN: 978-1839137594

Today I am delighted to be joining the blog tour for a fabulously hilarious detective mystery aimed at a Key Stage 2 audience and set in Tudor times!

The Stinky Stolen Toenails is the first book in a new junior detective series; the Will Shakespeare Mysteries. The story is aptly described by the publisher as Horrible Histories meets Loki! This book will be hugely appealing to children from 7/8 years of age, with its blend of zany humour, poo jokes and heavily illustrated style which blends artwork, doodle-style drawings and inventive text effects. It’s a great introduction to detective fiction, as well as providing a heap of Shakespeare-related information by stealth!

Set in Stratford-Upon-Avon, probably the most boring town in the entire world according to our narrator, this is the first person account of ten-year-old Will Shakespeare (with added notes by his best friend Tybalt) of his quest to become a PERSON-WHO-SOLVES-CRIMES! (Can our clever wordsmith think of a better way of describing his intended career?) The plot interweaves many allusions to the works of Shakespeare, with puns on names, and borrowed bits of narrative, which all add up to a funny and farcical detective story. Will and Tybalt find themselves in a race against time to save the Twelfth Night party hosted by Will’s parents. They can only achieve this by tracking down the stolen Moundsofgoo Treasure, thus enabling the love-sick Ronaldo to win Judy Catapult’s hand in marriage! And all the while, lurking in the background is the prospect of Will’s most dreaded chore…cleaning out the privy!

Author Kaz Penney has crafted a clever story, loaded with humour which I am sure will appeal to readers throughout Key Stage 2. Additionally, I think that classroom teachers who are covering the William Shakespeare element of the English curriculum will be happy to add this book to their additional reading selections. The artwork and doodles by Sammy Elgie add greatly to the enjoyment of the book and I suspect that Tybalt’s sarcastic commentary will provide plenty of laughs. As the 2026 National Year of Reading progresses, I am sure that this a book which youngsters will choose to read for pleasure. If you are responsible for a school or classroom library, I think you will want to add the Will Shakespeare Mysteries to your bookshelves.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Jade at Andersen Press for sending me a proof copy of this book ahead of publication and for inviting me to join the blog tour. All opinions are my own. Do take a look at the reviews written by my fellow book bloggers on the tour schedule below.

#MG Non-Fiction: The Flying Feminist by Mary Boone, illustrated by Andrea Turk

Cover art by Andrea Turk, published by Andersen Press, 19 May 2026, ISBN: 978-1839135101

This informative, middle grade title has dramatically increased my knowledge of female pioneers in the field of aviation; prior to reading it, the extent of my knowledge began and ended with Amelia Earhart! This beautifully presented, hardback book tells the story of Lilian Emily Bland (1878-1971) who was born in England but later moved to Northern Ireland. Lilian was not content simply being a ‘society lady’, she was well educated, hunted and fished, worked as a newspaper photographer and was endlessly curious. When she received a postcard featuring a picture of an early aeroplane she became fascinated by the idea of aviation and taught herself to build and fly her own plane, named the Mayfly. In doing so, she became the first woman in the world to achieve this feat.

The story is told with minimal text and is illustrated with the most gorgeous artwork. I love the colour palette which imparts the historical era, and which gives life to Lilian’s unique character. Both the author, Mary Boone, and the illustrator, Andrea Turk, have created an exceptional biography for middle grade readers. At the end of the narrative, there are short biographic paragraphs about six other women who have made significant contributions in the field of aviation.

This is a book which I feel will greatly inspire girls and boys who are interested in STEM subjects, showing as it does, the incredible capacity of motivated individuals to ignore the doubters and pursue their interests on their own terms. I found Lilian Emily Bland’s life story utterly fascinating and applaud the creative team who have brought this story to light.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to publicist Jade at Andersen Press who sent me a copy of The Flying Feminist ahead of publication. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

My good friend and children’s books expert Anne Thompson (ALibraryLady on social media) has reviewed I Flew Around the World by Zara Rutherford on her blog and suggests it would make a good companion book to The Flying Feminist.

#Illustrated Fiction review: Riley Wright is Always Wrong by Mel Taylor-Bessent, illustrated by Sr Sanchez

Cover illustrations by Sr Sanchez, published by Farshore, 21 May 2026, ISBN: 978-0008801670

The bright, bubble-gum pink of the cover is a fair indication of the bubbly, sweet, content contained within the latest book from the genius that is Mel Taylor-Bessent! I am always excited to read new titles by this author because I know that I’ll be diving into a story which is funny, warm-hearted and cheering. When it comes to encouraging children to read for pleasure, this author’s books need to be included in classroom, library and home collections.

Riley Wright is Always Wrong is the first in a new series of highly illustrated, journal-style stories for children aged 7-9. The eponymous main character is instantly engaging, but she faces a big problem on her first day in a new primary school where she will be joining Year 4; her Dad is also starting at the new school…and he’s the new headteacher! Riley has already informed us that she’s awkward and accident-prone prior to the hilarious description of her less than elegant exit from Dad’s car in front of assorted parents and pupils. Not exactly the first impression that she was hoping to create! Fortunately for Riley, she is taken under the wing of classmate Emmie, who, on hearing Riley’s request to see the library, takes her to her ‘Secret Understairs Library’ hidden away in an old storage cupboard. The two girls instantly become friends, bonding over books, glittery notebooks and fancy pens. With a plot involving a school talent show, the unwanted attentions of mean girl Harper Thompson, and providing whole-hearted support for a slightly eccentric best friend, this is a story that leaves the reader smiling broadly and desperate for the next book in the series.

My proof copy of the book has a few lively illustrations by Sr Sanchez and indicates that the finished copy will be packed with his superb black and white artwork. The font is super-accessible and also contains some fun typographic effects, speech bubbles and doodles. The entire story is packed into 135 pages, making this a book that emerging independent readers can feel the enjoyment and satisfaction of being able to read alone. I predict that Riley Wright will become the new BFF of many young readers when the book is published in May 2026, and they will be looking forward to enjoying further escapades with this kind and funny character when book 2 is published in autumn 2026.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to publicist Dannie Price and to Farshore Books for sending me a proof copy of Riley Wright is Always Wrong ahead of publication on 21 May 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#PictureBook Review: Mummy’s Promise written by Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Paddy Donnelly

Cover art by Paddy Donnelly, published by Andersen Press, 12 February 2026, ISBN: 978-1839132940

Mummy’s Promise is a gorgeous, rhyming story written by Michelle Robinson and vibrantly illustrated by Paddy Donnelly. It would be a delightful story to snuggle up and share with a pre-school or early years child at any time, but seems particularly appropriate for this weekend during which we celebrate Mother’s Day. The perfectly constructed rhythm and rhyme is likely to provide a sense of calm when read aloud, and I would not be surprised if youngsters were to start joining in with the story after repeated readings.

The story depicts a mother’s love for her offspring through the golden central characters of a sabre toothed tiger and her cub. Woolly mammoths, arctic foxes and cute parrots comprise the other animal mother-and-baby pairs in the book. The text and pictures clearly show the little cub learning life lessons from its mother; including being encouraged to make friends and showing bravery and loyalty to those friends when faced with a challenging situation. I loved the fully saturated artwork which I am sure will capture the attention of the youngest children, there is so much to look at and talk about on every page, and the love between the characters shines through their expressions. I would highly recommend Mummy’s Promise as a book to share with children aged 1 to 5 years of age.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Jade and to Andersen Press for sending me a review copy of Mummy’s Promise. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

National Year of Reading 2026: February

Book covers of all books I’ve read or listened to during February 2026

I’m “going all in” for the National Year of Reading 2026!

I’ve taken the pledge and so far have managed my minimum of 10 minutes reading every day. To be fair, I’ve probably read for at least 10 minutes every day for the majority of my life, so to add something extra to my reading routines this year, I am going to try to present a monthly round-up of books I’ve either read or listened to.

I haven’t managed quite so much reading this month because February has been rather busy with home renovations, hopefully I’ll manage to carve out some more reading time in March.

As you can see, my reading has spanned the range from illustrated books through to adult titles. Some of these books have been sent to me by publicists for review, some are my own purchases (in physical or e-book format) and some have been borrowed as audiobooks. You can find my reviews at the links below:

Physical Books

How to Speak and Be Heard by Sam Hutchinson, illustrated by Vicky Barker

Fairytale Fiasco: Hansel and Gretel and Fairytale Fiasco: Cinderella by Evgenia Golubeva and Myles McLeod

Will Shakespeare Mysteries: The Stinky Stolen Toenails by Kaz Penney, illustrated by Sammy Elgie

The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood: School Inspectors! by Sahrana Islam, illustrated by Simran Diamond Singh

Clem Fatale Has Been Upstaged by Eve Wersocki-Morris, illustrated by Honie Beam

Travels With Gannon & Wyatt: Ireland by Patti Wheeler and Keith Hemstreet

The Seeker and the Shade by Ellen Osborne

The Summer After the Night Before by Lisa Williamson

E-book

Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver (a bookclub choice) – a beautifully written novel set in a small town farming community in the Appalachians, with an environmental theme.

Audiobooks

Exit by Belinda Bauer – a surprisingly humorous murder mystery.

The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green – a deeply personal, profoundly moving and wonderfully imaginative collection of essays written by novelist John Green. Many of the essays speak of his struggles with mental health.

I borrowed audiobooks from the wonderful Somerset Libraries via the Borrowbox app.

Let me know in the comments if you have read any of these books, and/or whether you have any special plans or activities for this National Year of Reading.

#MG Review – Travels With Gannon & Wyatt: Ireland by Patti Wheeler & Keith Hemstreet

Published by Claim Stake, 15 April 2026, ISBN: 978-1936284054

Travels With Gannon & Wyatt: Ireland is an interesting blend of non-fiction travel journal and adventure fiction, written for an upper middle grade readership, which is due to be published in the UK in April 2026. It features 15-year-old twins, Gannon & Wyatt, who travel around the world with their parents, exploring the local tourist attractions and also trying to learn as much as possible about the local culture of the countries they visit.

Travelling to the land of their ancestors, the boys and their parents start their Irish trip touring some of the famous landmarks; the Cliffs of Moher, Trinity College Library and Blarney Castle – where Gannon (who seems to be quite gregarious already) kisses the famous stone! The early part of the book provides descriptions and photos of the landscape, weather and sights, but the adventure really begins when the brothers go to spend a month working on a farm in County Kerry.

When farmer, Mr O’Leary, sets eyes on the teenagers, he does not expect them to last a week on Shamrock Farm, and initially the brothers clearly struggle with the hard manual work in the driving rain. However, the boys become invested in helping their host to save his farm from the pollution which is causing his crops and livestock to suffer. When they suspect that the environmental damage is being caused by the neighbouring industrial factory farm owned by the immensely rich and bullying Mr Moloney, Gannon and Wyatt decide to investigate. Collecting samples from the pools of livestock waste that are being flushed into the local river, and taking photos of the caged pigs, the boys put themselves in danger from the unscrupulous businessman, and have to make a hasty escape. Unfortunately, they subsequently get lost in the forest that separates the two farms, and free-spirited Gannon encounters some of Ireland’s mythical creatures. His scientifically-minded twin is determined to present his water samples to the environmental agency for analysis, but will the boys find their way out of the forest in time to save Mr O’Leary’s family farm?

This book is a quick read at under 170 pages and I think the travel journal style will make it appealing to children of 10 and above who like to learn about new places, enjoy a bit of adventure and are concerned about environmental and animal welfare issues. I think it would make an excellent addition to “Go All In” collections for the National Year of Reading, where we are encouraged to read books about the topics that interest us. This would certainly appeal to those who count travel amongst their hobbies. There are other books in this series, featuring locations from Greenland to Australia, and there is a website to explore, full of facts, photos and the background to these stories: Travels With Gannon and Wyatt website

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Dannie Price for sending me a copy of Travels With Gannon & Wyatt: Ireland ahead of publication on 15 April 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.