Cover image by Adam Walker-Parker, published by Farshore, 3 August 2023
What better way to introduce pre-school children to story books than to give them agency in the story-telling process? The third Pick a Story adventure by author Sarah Coyle does just that, providing an immersive experience in which children can interact with the narrative process, choosing which way they would like the story arc to develop. This book provides so many opportunities for children and adults to engage with story structure and ensures that reading time is always an enjoyable experience.
The sparkly, shiny cover is very enticing and the supersaturated colours are continued inside, where every page is bursting with action as readers set Davy on different paths to find his missing painting. There is something for everyone, with options to follow a superhero, a mermaid or a dragon storyline. Additionally, many of the pages and spreads have counting, searching or even maze-following activities. Adam Walker-Parker’s illustrated characters with their appealing, large eyes and expressive faces will be very appealing to children of 3-6, there is so much happening on every page that I’m sure this book will be revisited many times.
I am most grateful to Farshore for providing me with a review copy of Pick a Story – A Superhero + Mermaid + Dragon Adventure, prior to publication on 3rd August 2023.
Cover illustration by Adam Douglas-Bagley, published by Little Tiger Press, July 2023
The Nkara Chronicles roar into action with this first adventure, Yomi and the Fury of Ninki Nanka, a book which I am sure will be flying off the bookshelves faster than a river dragon! It’s an exciting mix of African mythology, fast-paced adventure and exotic setting, written with verve by Davina Tijani and distinctively illustrated by Adam Douglas-Bagley. The short, kinetic chapters filled with movement and dialogue are likely to propel even the most reluctant reader through this story.
Yomi and her younger brother Kayode have been allowed to accompany their Uncle Olu on his research trip to The Gambia. Uncle Olu is an expert in the mythological creatures of the African continent and the children love to listen to his tales of the river god, Ninki Nanka, which is said to inhabit the Gambia River. However, Uncle Olu starts to behave suspiciously and his inquisitive niece and nephew are soon plunged into an adventure that will take them to the marshy realm of a giant hippo and the sky prison of a ruthless league of hunters. Along the way they will learn of a magical force that might help to save the legendary Nkara animals; a secret society in whose headquarters they will discover some incredibly cool library books; and will extract themselves from some sticky situations using knowledge gleaned from their favourite Arabella Carter adventure comics!
This is a book that is sure to excite readers of 7-10 and I highly recommend it to parents and guardians who might be looking for an engrossing book for their key stage 2 child to read during the summer holidays and certainly for school librarians and public librarians to add to their collections for the new school term. The great news is that the next adventure will take the adventurers to Senegal and there is a sneak peek at Chapter One at the end of this book!
I am grateful to Little Tiger for sending me a review copy of Yomi and the Fury of Ninki Nanka, which is available from booksellers now.
Cover illustration by Zainab ‘Daby’ Faidhi, published by Old Barn Books, 19 October 2023
I read the majority of Kicked Out on a return train journey last week, and such was the hold of the story that I almost wished for a delay so that I could finish the book! The first thing that I will say is that if you haven’t read Boy, Everywhere yet, I would strongly encourage you to do so, in order to have the back stories of the main protagonists of this story.
Sami and his family are now settled in Manchester and his Dad (Baba) is now working at the hospital, having proved his status as a surgeon. However, the asylum process has not worked out so well for Aadam, the unaccompanied Syrian teen whom they met on the journey to the UK and who has been welcomed into their home. He did not have his official documents with him and under the stress of interview he made some mistakes when recounting dates in his asylum claim; he is therefore threatened with deportation unless he can raise £4000 for legal fees to launch an appeal. Boy, Everywhere provided readers with an insight into a refugee journey and Kicked Out continues to educate us in the process that an individual who wishes to claim refugee status must complete.
Meanwhile, Mark’s life has changed radically following his Mum’s big win on the lottery. He and Mum have moved from a council flat into a gated community in Hale Barns, and he is grateful to see his Mum happy for the first time since she was widowed years earlier. Unfortunately, her new boyfriend Callum, is a bullying racist who has no qualms about wearing a T-shirt bearing a racist slogan and hurling racist abuse at Mark’s best friends, Ali and Sami. The boys go from enjoying lazy days by the heated pool to being thrown off the property and banned from associating with Mark, when Callum accuses them of helping Aadam to steal thousands of pounds in cash.
Ali then suffers a further blow when his absent father, who has not had any contact with the family since walking out on them years earlier, turns up in the neighbourhood and Ali’s half-brother, Mustafa, joins Ali’s school. This story is narrated by Ali, and his pain at the rejection by his father; his resentment that his half-brother has replaced him in his Dad’s affections; his feelings of low self-esteem that gradually build to anger and lashing out at those around him, are explored in a way that will be recognisable to readers of 10 to 15. I really liked the way that author A.M. Dassu explores the unwillingness of boys to openly admit their feelings, whether due to pride or the desire to not involve others in their suffering. She also cleverly delivers the message of finding the inner strength to face up to difficult situations through the voice of a premier league goalkeeper, which will be appealing to many readers of this novel. I love the way that male friendship is investigated, and the importance of having a supportive network is highlighted.
This is a book that shows children the many different experiences of family that might be the reality for their classmates, the importance of forgiveness and the power and sense of belonging that can be found in friends and found-families. With a football-related school-fundraising scheme designed to help a young person who is facing the cruelty of deportation, this is an empathy-builder which I am sure will be in great demand when it is published in the autumn of 2023.
I am most grateful to Ruth at Old Barn Books and Liz Scott PR for sending me an early review copy prior to publication on 19 October 2023. The book is available for pre-order now.
Cover illustration by Paddy Donnelly, published by David Fickling Books, September 2022
If you have not already read the first book in this series, Utterly Dark and the Face of the Deep, then I urge you to do so as this book will offer a far richer reading experience if you have spent time with the characters in book 1. This story commences, with a decommissioned soldier, Figgy Dan, battling against the constant noises in his head after serving in the Napoleonic Wars and seeking sanctuary on the island of Summertide. This brief encounter with the shabby soldier ends abruptly when he sees a ghostly apparition, we are then plunged into the story and will have to wait to find out what has befallen him!
Meanwhile, on Wildsea, Utterly Dark’s Uncle Will is about to marry Aish, and the residents of Sundown Watch are all a-flutter with the wedding preparations. Shortly after the marriage Will is summoned by his cousin Francis Inshaw to visit him on Summertide and provide his geological opinion on some Druidic stones which stand on his land. Aish, who is an ancient being of the land, will not travel by sea but instead encourages Will to take Utterly with him to Summertide, and Egg who has decided that his duty lies in protecting the Dark family, stows away on the boat which transports them across the Eastern Sea. On arrival at Inshaw’s grand home, Barrowchurch Grange, it is clear that Inshaw is still deeply grieving the recent death of his twin sister Elizabeth. A strange clergyman, Dr Hyssop, appears to have a creepy hold over him and a sense of foreboding starts to build in the narrative. Both Utterly and Aish are being visited in their dreams by the apparition of a huge black stag and Aish has apparently been aware of the existence of this creature for many centuries. In parallel to these dreams, Utterly is also haunted by flickers of memories of her previous adventure with the Gorm. She knows that there is a vital truth that lies just out of her reach, and this thought preoccupies her and perhaps lowers her guard to the evil schemes of Dr Hyssop.
In contrast to the ocean based first adventure, Utterly Dark and the Heart of the Wild is a story of the land and is suffused with the folklore inherent in landscapes. The local stories about the chalk man on the hillside, the ancient standing stones and the tricksy river witch who is encountered by Egg, all contribute to an atmosphere of a land steeped in past mysteries which are biding their time to reappear. When the narrative takes Utterly below ground, Philip Reeve’s powers of descriptive writing are such that the smell of loamy soil and the scuttlings of creatures in the undergrowth can virtually be sensed by the reader. The final third of the book held me absolutely spellbound, the relentless pursuit of dominance by The Hunter is beautifully paced and the final plot twist leaves the reader desperately anticipating the final book in the trilogy, Utterly Dark and the Tides of Time.
I am most grateful to David Fickling Books and Liz Scott PR for sending me a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher Old Barn Books, cover illustration by Zainab ‘Daby’ Faidhi, October 2020
When I received an advanced review copy of Kicked Out by A.M. Dassu last week, I realised that I hadn’t actually written a review of Boy, Everywhere as I originally read it at a time when I was swamped with writing up coursework assignments and then gave my copy away. Fortunately, the audiobook was available from my wonderful public library, so my walks to and from work this week have been enriched by Felix Star’s wonderful narration of this powerful novel.
Boy, Everywhere is for people everywhere and I would urge you to read or listen to it and recommend it to everyone that you know. I honestly believe that fiction has the power to change hearts and minds and through the voice of thirteen year old Sami, the author enables us all to travel the path of a refugee and realise that their story could be our story. Sami lives a golden life in Damascus, where his father, Baba, is a surgeon and his mother, Mama, is a headteacher. He attends a good school, loves football and video games, hangs out with best friend Joseph and feels safe in the modern capital city while civil unrest rages in Aleppo. That is, until the day when the local shopping mall is attacked and Mama and Sara are caught up in the aftermath and his life will change forever.
Author, A.M. Dassu, is so clever in presenting Sami’s life in Damascus as one that resonates with readers here, so that we can truly feel his pain and bewilderment as all aspects of ordinary life – hot showers, clean bathrooms, personal space, regular meals – are stripped away on the arduous refugee journey. In writing for an upper middle grade audience, her protagonist describes the dangers and trauma of the journey through Lebanon and Turkey and across the Mediterranean on a small boat in language that allows readers to feel the unrelenting state of anxiety without going too deeply into the horrors that are experience en route. I also admired the way that Sami is presented as a regular teenage boy, resentful of the decision that his parents have made to rip him away from the life he knew whilst also struggling with the guilt he feels at having insisted that his mum should collect his new football boots from the shopping mall on the day of the explosion. He makes some foolish decisions along the way, sometimes can be a bit irritating but also reveals his kindness towards an unaccompanied Syrian teenager called Aadam who is also waiting for a boat out of Turkey.
Boy, Everywhere provides an education into the harsh and brutal reality faced by refugees as they seek safety by personalising the journey, a narrative that is often missing from the reports in the mainstream media. As well as exposing the hostility encountered in the asylum system the story also shows the difference that acts of kindness can make to an individual’s experience and outcomes. I have to admit that my favourite character in the story is Ali, a classmate at Sami’s new school in Manchester, who reaches out the hand of friendship and who is the anchor for Sami’s assimilation into his new life.
The recommended reading age for this book is 10-14, I think that many adults would benefit from reading it too. Lookout for a follow up story, Kicked Out, which will be published on 19 October 2023, it is available to pre-order now. My review of an advanced copy will appear soon!
Cover art by Lucy Mulligan, Publisher UCLan, 3 August 2023
Ever since Josh had his self-esteem destroyed by his best friend he has suffered with anxiety, requiring counselling and a home-made, cardboard “Worrybot” to calm the worst of his fears. However, mum’s recent promotion to her dream job as a Director of Public Health means the family must move to Brighton and Josh has to start at a new school, halfway through Year 6. The attentions of class bully Ethan make it difficult for Josh to settle in and he really doesn’t want to take up his lovely teacher, Miss Wright’s suggestion that he befriend Charlie, whose presence in the classroom is a high-tech “distance-learning avatar”. Nevertheless, he begins to develop a “remote” friendship with Charlie in the absence of any everyday friendships amongst his class mates and gradually their dual back stories are revealed.
This is a beautifully paced and plotted story, dealing with issues of anxiety and school-refusal with great sensitivity. The child characters are absolutely believable, their interactions and conversations laced with authenticity. Josh’s younger sister Willow is a likeable livewire, who shows a lovely empathetic bond with her anxious elder brother. I loved the cast of adults in this book too. Their parents are supportive and positive, and Dad’s former acting career injects the book with some underlying humour, whilst he also shows real generosity of spirit to grumpy next-door-neighbour, Norman. It’s great to see a Mum with the high-flying job whilst Dad is the house-husband and the arrangement shown to work positively rather than being a source of tension in the narrative.
With a brilliant plot twist revealed at the end of term Drama Club performance, this is a compelling and satisfying read which I would recommend for children of 10+. It will make a great addition to school library collections in both primary and secondary schools and is an empathy-inducing read for any upper MG readers who enjoy contemporary fiction. There are also some useful, practical tips for managing anxiety at the end.
My thanks to UCLan Publishing and Antonia Wilkinson PR for sending me a copy of Worrybot to review ahead of publication on 3rd August 2023.
Cover image by Emma Reynolds, Publisher HarperAlley (US) and Harper360 (UK), publication dates 12 September 2023 (US) & 14 September 2023 (UK)
Every now and again a book appears that stops me in my tracks and compels me to use that pause to reflect on the content in the context of my everyday experience and to try to make some change in response. Drawn to Change the World written by Emma Reynolds and illustrated in graphic novel format by Emma and fifteen other artists from diverse backgrounds has had exactly this impact on me. Written primarily for a Middle Grade readership, I think that this is a book that everyone should read. It is a collection of graphic novel-style biographies of sixteen young climate activists, each illustrated by a different artist who belongs to a minority group. I have named each artist at the end of the review, alongside the activist whose story they have depicted. After each comic strip biography, there is a double page of factual information including the awards and accolades that each campaigner has won and their website or social media details for anyone who wants to explore their work in more detail. There is also a summary of the climate and nature crisis at the beginning of the book and further facts, timelines and resources at the end.
As I read the biographies contained within this collection, I was struck by these thoughts:
Firstly, how astonishingly young these activists are now, and how young they were when they began their activism. It is really humbling to see how much they have achieved in their lives so far, driven by the realisation that they have to do something to halt the climate emergency because my generation have been so complacent.
Secondly, these stories make plain a truth that I was aware of but probably needed to have spelled out by those with lived experience – the consequences of pollution and climate change are suffered disproportionately by those living in minority communities and in the “global south”.
Thirdly, that we should respect the culture and practices of indigenous communities who have a connection with the land and know how to nurture and honour their environment.
Fourthly, how impactful the graphic storytelling format is when used for biography.
Finally, that there are changes and choices that I can make in my own life to try to reduce my own impact on the environment and to show solidarity with these brave and inspirational individuals. They are driven by the belief that change can happen and I feel the need to acknowledge their optimism and make a contribution to their goal.
Of course, many young readers will be very familiar with the story of Greta Thunberg and some will also know about Dara McAnulty through his books and television appearances. Drawn to Change the World shines a light on fourteen more activists from across the global community, including those from first nations and indigenous communities such as Autumn Peltier from Ontario, Canada and Tokata a member of the Standing Rock Sioux in Dakota, USA. The ingenuity and bravery demonstrated by the young people in these biographies not only illustrates their characters but also the sense of urgency that they feel about the climate emergency and the consequences for their futures if action is not taken quicklyy. Many have won national and international awards for their campaigning, some have delivered TED Talks or spoken at the UN General Assembly and some such as Arshak Makichyan and Ōu Hóngyi have had the courage to start protest movements in Russia and China. I am so grateful to Emma Reynolds and her fellow artists for bringing these profiles to life through their fantastic graphical art which will be in full colour throughout the finished edition when Drawn to Change the World is published in September 2023.
To quote Leah Namugerwa, who started the #FridaysForFuture strikes in Uganda, aged just 14:
Young people have shown the world that we can get things done – at times better than adults. That’s why organisations should have youth representatives on their governing bodies, that’s why young people should be involved in climate negotiations. We understand the needs of young people. We have the biggest stake in the future.
page 113
Drawn to Change the World is a book that needs to be in every school library, both primary and secondary (it got a strong vote of approval here from a teen who has a very discerning taste in books), I’d also recommend it to all adults of my acquaintance.
I’d like to finish by acknowledging all the artists who bring these biographical stories to life with their unique graphic art styles. I know from friends who are school librarians and teachers that the graphic novel format is extremely popular amongst students and I hope that this collection will grab the attention that it deserves.
Natasha Donovan illustrated the story of Autumn Peltier
Gloria Félix illustrated the story of Tokata
Ann Maulina illustrated the story of Melati and Isabel Wijsen
Bill Masuku illustrated the story of Edgar Edmund Tarimo
Teo DuVall illustrated the story of Jamie Margolin
Derick Brooks illustrated the story of Jerome Foster II
Emma Reynolds illustrated the story of Greta Thunberg
Shivana Sookdeo illustrated the story of Ridhima Pandey
Devon Holzwarth illustrated the story of Daphne Frias
Anoosha Syed illustrated the story of Iqbal Badruddin Jamal
Erin Hunting illustrated the story of Jean Hinchliffe
Margarita Kukhtina illustrated the story of Arshak Makichyan
Jade Zhang illustrated the story of Ōu Hóngyi
Natasha Nayo illustrated the story of Leah Namugerwa
Victoria Maderna and Federico Piatti illustrated the story of Dara McAnulty
I am immensely grateful to Emma Reynolds and Harper Alley/Harper360 for sending me an ARC of Drawn to Change the World ahead of publication in September 2023.
Cover image by Sam Loman, publisher Piccadilly Press, 6 July 2023
A new series of illustrated, early chapter books is always cause for celebration and Julie Sykes knows how to create stories which engage young readers and help them to build confidence as they take on the challenge of independent reading. The first two books in the Princess Katie’s Kittens series are sweet, fun and filled with distinctive black and white illustrations by Sam Loman.
Book 1: Pixie at the Palace
We meet animal-loving Princess Katie of Tula in Book 1, Pixie at the Palace, as she arrives home from school and dashes off to ride her pony Misty. Meanwhile, across the city, five playful kittens are being put into a cardboard box by a weeping old lady who cannot afford to feed them. Fortunately, it is kind-hearted Katie who eventually discovers the box with the words “Please look after us” emblazoned on the lid and from the minute she opens the top and a little silver-grey tabby that she names Pixie leaps out, a rescue is planned. Unfortunately, a princess’s busy schedule means that Katie must attend a dance lesson before she can transport the box to the Starlight Palace, and while she is away, curious Pixie sets off on an adventure of his own!
This is a gentle adventure story, with just a small amount of peril which will not be upsetting for readers of 5+ but will make them want to keep turning the pages. Katie and her best friend Becky are the sort of girls that young readers would want to have as a friend and every child who loves their pets or would like to have a pet will enjoy this story. The playful names of the characters will add a layer of interest to those children who are already enjoying experimenting with vocabulary, I particularly liked Madame Quickstep, the dance instructor. At the end of the book there is a kitten fact file about Pixie and a few pages of information about how to look after a kitten. The good news is that there are four more books to come in this series, one book for each kitten and the second title is being released on the same day as the first…
Book 2: Bella at the Ball
As the Queen’s birthday draws closer, the Starlight Palace is a hive of activity. Katie’s dance lessons are intensifying as she learns the special dance that she will perform for her mother at the Birthday Ball, and Mrs Snippet the dressmaker is busy measuring and sewing the outfits for the grand occasion. All this hustle and bustle means that both Katie and Becky are having to cut short the time that they devote to playing with the kittens, and sometimes the door to the boot room, where the kittens are kept, is not always closed carefully!
Bella, the playful black and white kitten takes the open door as an invitation to explore the palace with inevitable repercussions! The chaos that one tiny cat can cause in a large kitchen will have readers giggling, but what will the consequences of ruining a birthday cake and a ball gown be for the mischievous kitten? And will Katie’s younger brother Alfie ever learn to close doors behind him? Young readers will enjoy discovering the answers in this illustrated early chapter book, which is printed in large font and is the perfect length for newly independent readers of 5+. At the end, as well as a fact file on Bella, you will find Prince Alfie’s Purrfect Cat Facts.
I think that Key Stage 1 classrooms and primary school libraries will be delighted to offer these appealing stories as choices for readers of 5-7 years old, and for those children lucky enough to have a home book collection, I expect that this is a series that will be collected and re-read.
I am very grateful to Piccadilly Press and Antonia Wilkinson PR for sending me review copies ahead of publication on 6th July 2023.
Cover image by Stieven Van der Poorten, publisher UCLan, 03 August 2023
This engrossing, non-fiction title beautifully demonstrates the dynamic nature of scientific understanding to young readers as it examines the evidence from recently discovered fossils and explains how this has helped scientists to update their theories about Tyrannosaurus rex. Written by palaeontologist, Dr Adam S Smith with children’s author, Jonathan Emmett, it never patronises its audience but provides clear, accessible explanations which are vividly illustrated by Stieven Van der Poorten.
In a clever and engaging twist, we are taken through the evolution of scientists’ understanding of this magnificent dinosaur by a cheeky velociraptor who wishes to give a museum T rex exhibit an evidence-based makeover! From the well-known stance of T rex, which was influenced by the way that the first whole skeleton was displayed in the early 1900s, to the position of the arms and nostrils, a new picture of T rex emerges as you progress through the book. Fossils found in 1988 show that this dinosaur only had two fingers, rather than three and perhaps most startling of all, it is now thought that T rex had at least some of its body covered in feathers.
I have never yet met a nursery or primary school child who is not fascinated by dinosaurs and I think that the blend of humorous dialogue between the T rex and velociraptor, teamed with the factual panels and dramatic illustrations will grab their attention. There is a double page spread at the end of the book which provides some more detail about the way that scientists construct theories from the fossil evidence, as well as a timeline of T rex fossil discoveries. For those who wish to immerse themselves further in palaeontology, Dr Adam S Smith has a fact-filled website plesiosauria.com which you can explore.
The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers is an essential book for introducing science concepts to primary school children. I am most grateful to UCLan Publishing and Antonia Wilkinson PR for sending me a review copy ahead of publication on 3rd August 2023.
Cover image by Ellie Hawes, publisher UCLAN Publishing, 6 July 2023
With this book, author, podcaster, producer and drummer, Joe Haddow throws open the doors to the world of “the arts” and welcomes everyone with open arms. I was charmed by his chatty, inclusive writing which encourages every reader to participate in one or more of the arts and assures them that their opinions and preferences are valid. The engaging tone is further enlivened by varied font choices and graphics as well as black and white illustrations by Ellie Hawes. At a time when financial and political decisions are preventing many children from having the opportunity to explore creative arts, I am sure that this book will be welcomed by many schools, libraries and homes.
Joe sets the tone of the book by introducing himself and explaining his own lifelong passion fro art in all its forms. Growing up he watched his Dad painting which turned him into a collector of modern art; the experience of being read to by his mum developed his love of books and reading. He learnt to play the drums in childhood and got into radio production when he was at university. His career has encompassed many art forms and I was especially impressed that he had toured as a drummer with one of my favourite singer/songwriters, Sara Bareilles!
The entire book feels like a direct conversation with an adult who genuinely wants to impart their own enjoyment of a particular hobby to a young audience, in the hope that they will derive the same joy. The inclusivity of this book is seen in the broad range of music, dance, poetry, acting, comedy and artistic styles that are introduced. In addition to talking about the creative arts generally, I felt that a great strength of this book is the recommendation of individual artists and where their work can be viewed for free online. I also loved that readers were advised to check with their parents/carers before using the online information sources. This gentle guidance from a cool adult will hopefully inspire young readers to begin exploring the art world and start to discover what moves and inspires them. His message that there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to creating or appreciating art is such an empowering one for youngsters, who are sometimes put off by gatekeepers opining on good or bad art.
Art is Everywhere will be published on 6 July 2023 and I highly recommend it to Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 school libraries and classrooms or to gift to any child of 9-13.
I am most grateful to UCLAN publishing and Antonia Wilkinson PR for sending me a review copy of Art is Everywhere ahead of publication.
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