#Illustrated Fiction Review: Help! Aliens Stole My Grandad by Hannah Moffatt, illustrated by Rory Walker

Cover art by Rory Walker, published by Everything With Words, 28 May 2026, ISBN: 978-1911427506

It takes a hugely talented writer to create a story which combines a poignant undercurrent of dealing with loss of a loved one with a laugh-a-minute alien pirate adventure, but that is exactly what Hannah Moffat has achieved in Help! Aliens Stole My Grandad.

The story begins with Harrison’s family fulfilling Grandpa Alf’s final wish by blasting his ashes into space, strapped to a firework. Unfortunately, the firework is not a very good one and does not provide the anticipated explosion and ash scattering that the family require. Later that night, the house is engulfed in a thick fog and Harrison unexpectedly finds himself confronted by an alien pirate crew outside his bedroom window. Seizing his opportunity for a trip into space to look for Grandpa’s ashes, Harrison informs First Mate Mozzarella that he is indeed the Prime Minister of Earth and accompanies her across the plank to board the Jolly Ricotta. It transpires that Captain Gorgonzola’s lucky pink parrot has disappeared after a missile was launched from Harrison’s back garden, and if Harrison cannot find the parrot he faces a gruesome fate! On the voyage to the Cheese Moon, he meets Red, daughter of Leicester who will become his friend and ally for the rest of this zany adventure.

I think that the wildly imaginative plot, cheesy jokes and word play, larger than life characters and best of all, space cows that produce raspberry ripple milkshake, will all appeal hugely to a readership aged 7-9 years. Harrison is an endearing character with his endless optimism and willingness to take on any challenge to complete his quest. Similarly, Red is not just there as a convenient sidekick, but has her own mission to prove that she is worthy of becoming a space pirate rather than following her Dad into the ship’s kitchen which is all that is expected of her. Hannah Moffat’s glorious story is further enhanced by Rory Walker’s quirky illustrations throughout the book. Below the laughs there are quiet moments when Harrison thinks about his Gramps, and that same yearning for someone beloved and missed is echoed in the pirate crew’s sense of loss for Pecorino Parrot. This is a super book for many children to read for pure fun and entertainment and I think also for primary school teachers, librarians, parents and CYP therapists to be aware of, to potentially help children who are bereaved to identify and talk about their own feelings.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Mikka at Everything With Words for sending me a copy of Help! Aliens Stole My Grandad. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#PictureBookReview: Home is a Hug by Cindy Wume

Cover art by Cindy Wume, published by Post Wave, 9 April 2026, ISBN: 978-183627100

Home is a Hug is a delightful interactive book, containing cutouts and flaps to lift, which asks the question “what does it take to make a home?” and then explores many types of home to provide answers.

With sparse text, Cindy Wume’s distinctive illustrations are responsible for much of the story-telling, providing many human and animal homes to explore. The artwork contains lots of detail to provide opportunities for conversation between adults and young children looking at the book together and of course little fingers will love opening the flaps to discover what is hiding underneath. I absolutely loved a double page spread which revealed a full sized cross section of a worm’s home inside an apple. The use of colour and pattern make this book a visual treat, and the depiction of multicultural characters means that all children can recognise themselves or their favourite animals on the pages. At its heart the book reminds us all that whatever our home looks like, it is the place where we feel loved.

Cindy Wume, the author and illustrator is a freelance illustrator from Taiwan. After earning a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and literatures, she pursued an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art in 2014. She primarily works with gouache, marker, ink, dip-pen and coloured pencils. I am really impressed with the artwork in this book and highly recommend this to any teachers, librarians, parents/caregivers who are looking for a charming book to share with a child aged 3-5 years.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Antonia Wilkinson and Post Wave Publishing for sending me a copy of Home is a Hug. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MG Audiobook Review: Poppy Pym and the Pharaoh’s Curse by Laura Wood, read by Amy Enticknap

Audiobook read by Amy Enticknap, published by Bolinda Audio, 1 December 2016, ISBN: 978-1489383426

Poppy Pym and the Pharaoh’s Curse is the first book in the Poppy Pym series, in which we are introduced to Poppy, a child who has been brought up in Madam Pym’s circus after being abandoned there as a baby. When she reaches the age of eleven, her circus guardians decide that she ought to receive a more conventional education than they can provide and send her to St Smithen’s where she quickly makes two excellent friends. Ingrid is supremely intelligent and Kip is unfailingly determined, and the three of them form strong bonds of friendship. The boarding school set-up will appeal to children who enjoy a school-based story. There are a cast of slightly eccentric but believable teachers, an unusually incompetent headteacher’s assistant and a snooty, rich girl who looks down her nose at Poppy. Generally life at the school is fun, and the entire story includes a great deal of humour.

Poppy is a great fan of the Dougie Valentine detective mysteries and has ambitions to become a famous detective herself. She soon gets the opportunity to indulge in some sleuthing when the school hosts an exhibition of Egyptian Treasures prior to them being donated to the British Museum (this has been a bequest in the will of former St Smithen’s pupil Sir Percival van Bothing). On the opening night of the exhibition, Madam Pym’s circus is invited to provide the entertainment and magician Marvin the Magnificent finds himself arrested for the theft of the priceless Ruby Scarab Beetle. Poppy knows that her dear friend has been framed, and alongside Ingrid and Kip, sets out to discover the real thief. Could there really be an expert jewel thief hiding in plain sight in a respectable boarding school?

Although this book was first published ten years ago, I did not find it at all dated, but thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audio version which was expertly narrated by Amy Enticknap. Poppy is a brilliant main protagonist, endlessly curious, enthusiastic and energetic. I also loved the way that she talks directly to the reader throughout the story and I think that the structure of telephone conversations in the physical book will appeal to independent readers of 9+. The book would also make a good shared bedtime story for children of 7/8-years-of-age. It is a great introduction to the tropes and structure of detective fiction and contains some lovely Easter eggs, such as Miss Baxter, the kind and empathetic headteacher, referring to a ‘three humbug’ conversation. The author does an amazing job of providing a light-hearted, thoroughly entertaining mystery which also contains a lovely undercurrent of found family and the importance of friendship and kindness. I have been a lifelong fan of detective fiction, since discovering The Famous Five more than 50 years ago; I know that I would have loved Poppy Pym when I was a child, and I thoroughly recommend this story to parents, caregivers and librarians seeking to put an entertaining and enjoyable story into the hands of a middle grade reader.

As part of my Year Of Reading 2026 challenge to catch up on series that I have previously missed, I borrowed this book from my local public library via the Bolinda App. I will certainly be lining up the remainder of the series when they become available to borrow.

#MG Review: Shadow Thieves Island of Skulls by Peter Burns

Cover image by Manuel Sumberac, published by Farshore, 4 June 2026,
ISBN: 978-0008667849

Literary treasure for middle grade readers! The second book in the Shadow Thieves series, Island of Skulls, delivers explosively rich booty for young reader’s entertainment.

If you have not already read the first instalment of Shadow Thieves, my review here, will give you some idea of the set up. I tried very hard in that review to not reveal plot details and I will try to reveal as little as possible again. Honestly, these adventures are so richly plotted, and written with such verve, that you really just need to sit down for a few hours and immerse yourself in the brilliantly imagined world. If you are looking for a book to engage a reader aged 9-13 this summer, please place a copy of Shadow Thieves Island of Skulls into their hands.

Why do I think this? Well firstly, the adventure takes place on a small island in the Mediterranean and you can feel the heat, the sting of salty sea spray and smell the wild herbs crushed underfoot as the teenage protagonists search the island for lost treasure. The island once belonged to the Duke of Nimes, a former member of the Shadow League who went rogue in his quest for power. It is dotted with ruins, booby traps and other dangers and rumoured to still hide a vast treasure, although whether this is of financial or military value is one of the mysteries that Tom and his fellow pupils from Guile House at Beaufort’s School for Deceptive Arts need to solve. Adding to their peril, the followers of the deceased Duke, The Chevaliers, are also on the treasure trail, and are ruthless in their pursuit. Whether your child is lucky enough to be holidaying in the Med, or having a staycation, this thrilling mission with its adrenaline-spiked dangers in almost every chapter serves up a bounty of imaginative action.

The trainee thieves have been brought to the island by their house master, known as The Corsair. However, he appears to be on a quest of his own, leaving his pupils to rely on the skills they have developed at Beaufort’s, complemented with Tom’s survival skills which he developed on the streets of an alternative, historical London, where his only protector was Morris, a former member of the Shadow League. As this story unfolds, we learn more Shadow League lore and some of Morris and The Corsair’s joint history.

The teen and tween characters are superbly drawn, each possessing distinct personalities, and interacting in ways that the intended readership will immediately recognise. We are given the greatest insight into Tom’s character and feel his frustrations, insecurities and desire to do the right thing throughout the story. However, it must be said that the other characters, especially his tight-knit group of friends; Jericho, Enzo, Maxine, Mitch and Connie all leap fully-formed from the page. This brings me on to the quality of Peter Burns’ writing; it is masterful! Not only is there a perfect blend of character and plot, but the rhythm and tempo of the writing just propelled me through the story. I know it’s a cliché, but this is a book that it is very hard to put down and now I am desperate for book 3!

For my school librarian friends, I’d advise you to stock up with multiple copies if possible, this is going to be hugely popular with pupils at the upper end of primary and also with children at the lower end of secondary schools. If you are a parent or care-giver, this is great entertainment for your middle-grade reader, and if you share the reading perhaps as a bedtime story, you’ll likely enjoy it too!

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Chris at Farshore Books for sending me a copy of Shadow Thieves Island of Skulls ahead of publication. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

National Year of Reading: My May 2026 Round-up

After a pretty disastrous reading effort in April (for which I still need to write a post) I managed to get my reading back on track despite May being almost as busy at work and at home.

My one adult book was the 700-page The Heart’s Invisible Furies, which was my bookclub title. I found this book quite heart-breaking on many levels, but it was also filled with humour and unexpected acts of kindness.

A Flood of Memories by Nadia Mikhail is a wonderful YA novel, which I have actually added to the international author collection that we are building at the hospital library where I work. I think that the mental health themes explored, as well as the insights into another culture, will make it a popular choice.

Sammy Versus the Smartphone by Victoria Williamson and Birdlands by Anthony McGowan are brilliant middle grade novels for the Year 6/Year 7 transition, very different in content but both written by authors who are at the top of their craft.

SuperQuesters Mission: Desert Danger by Paul Ian Cross is an excellent STEM-themed, illustrated story for primary school children, covering many aspects of the STEM curriculum in an engaging manner.

Extending my STEM reading this month, the brilliant non-fiction title How to Build a Chocolate Bridge by Roma Agrawal provides clear explanations of engineering concepts alongside practical experiments which can be tried out at home or in the classroom.

Finally, I was sent a super-cute picture book, The Mole and the Mound (and the House Underground) by Will Hamilton-Davis and Kasia Fryza, which I adored.

I am super grateful to the publicists and publishers who sent me all of the children’s books covered in this post (they are all acknowledged in the reviews which you will find through the links). These books will all be included in a pre-summer-holiday giveaway that I am organising at work, so that hospital colleagues can come and collect a book for their child to read over the summer.

#Non-fiction Review: Ultimate Football Heroes 2026 by Matt Oldfield, Seth Burkett, Emily Stead and John Murray

Cover image by Dan Leyton, published by Bonnier Books, 9 October 2025, ISBN: 978-1789469028

As the red smoke clears from the celebrations in North London and the football world catches a breath before the World Cup kicks off, I have taken the opportunity to read Ultimate Football Heroes 2026, a book which I won in an Advent giveaway organised by lovely Heather at Reading Rocks.

I remember the Ultimate Football series being hugely popular when I ran a school library, there was always a waiting list which often included the children who might be considered ‘reluctant readers’ so I was pre-disposed to like this book. The first noticeable change in this title compared to the collection that I built up six years ago, is the inclusion of the women’s game in this new addition, which I am sure will extend the prospective readership even further. The first two main sections of the book summarise the 2024-2025 season in the English Premiership and the Women’s Super League title races through the lens of the key strikers in each of those competitions. The narrative non-fiction style chapters, which provide mini commentaries on the matches played by the main title contenders are filled with action and facts. This style will keep children who love a good story hooked, and provide ample data for those children who love to absorb facts.

The book also includes a number of shorter sections, featuring the stars, managers and key moments from both the men’s and the women’s games:

A multitude of ‘Top 5’ features
Reviews of the season in the major European leagues
Reviews of the different European club cup competitions
A summary of the Women’s Euros 2025, which saw England successfully defend their title
A quiz and other activities at the end of the book

Personally, I was delighted to see that super striker Alessia Russo and ‘Starboy’ Bukayo Saka featured heavily throughout, but I am sure that supporters of all teams will find plenty to enjoy in this book. I would highly recommend it to all young football fans, it is a guaranteed hit for school library collections and a great title to encourage sporty children to ‘Go All In’ with reading. I will be adding my copy of Ultimate Football Heroes 2026 to a pre-summer-holiday book giveaway that I am organising at the hospital library where I work, and I hope the young recipeint will enjoy it as much as I did.

Disclaimer: Once again, my thanks to Heather at Reading Rocks for picking my name from a giveaway competition for this book. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#YA Fiction: A Flood of Memories by Nadia Mikail

Publisher: Guppy Books, 11th June 2026, ISBN: 978-1916558748

A Flood of Memories is an immersive Young Adult novel from prize-winning author Nadia Mikail. Set in the Sarawak region of her native Malaysia, it combines a story of regional devastation caused by flooding with a deeply emotional exploration of personal trauma. The story ebbs and flows between the personal and the geographical, the past and the present, in a beautifully constructed, third person narrative.

Eighteen-year-old Leila is studying for her A-levels and also interning at a new media company in Kuala Lumpur when she is summoned home by her widowed mother (Mak) to help out in her childhood kampung as Mak and her grandparents, Nek Pan and Nek Pot prepare for destructive floods during monsoon season. Her boss who originates from the same region is happy for her to return home, encouraging her to film eye-witness footage of the floods, but it is clear that something personal makes Leila dread the home-coming. Initially there are hints that the death of her father (Pak), to whom Leila bore such a close resemblance in her features and her personality, is the reason behind her overwhelming sense of dread as she returns home. However, as the story reveals the emotional undercurrents of Leila’s mental state, a tale of emotional control, emotional and physical abuse and alcoholism is laid bare.

The author handles this narrative with great skill; switching between the flashbacks to Pak’s bullying and harsh demands that Leila stick to his plan of top ranking academic achievements, and the ever-rising water levels which threaten to wash away domestic existence in the kampung. Pak’s bitterness at his own life circumstances lead to heavier use of alcohol and we witness the corroding force of his anger towards his wife and the daughter whom he claims to love above all else. Many complex emotions are interrogated: Leila’s anxiety that she might end up judgemental, bullying and abusive like her father, her difficulty in understanding why her mother won’t leave him and her inability to talk to her close friend Poppy or her grandparents about what happens behind the closed doors of what seems to be a prosperous household. The gradual healing process catalysed by the unconditional kindness and understanding of Arthur, a boy whom she has known since schooldays and who provides steady and kind support to many neighbours during the floods, offers the prospect of hope and reassurance that Leila’s chosen career of journalism is every bit as worthwhile as her father’s plan was.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Flood of Memories, the setting is unique in my reading experience, and I found that the scattering of Malay words throughout added to the sense of place. It’s a person-centred story but also cleverly explores the geographical, political and climate-related influences on ecologically destructive events. I would highly recommend this book to secondary school, sixth-form college and further education librarians, or anyone aged 15 years and above, wanting to diversify their reading material.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Liz Scott and Guppy Publishing for sending me an advanced proof copy of A Flood of Memories ahead of publication on 11th June 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Non-fiction Review: How to Build a Chocolate Bridge: Extraordinary Builds Using Everyday Things by Roma Agrawal, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

I am a great believer in learning by doing, and this fantastic STEM-themed book not only has a title that will capture children’s attention, but is filled with practical ideas to engage the learning of engineering principles. This is the second children’s non-fiction title that I have read which has been authored by Roma Agrawal, and I love the way that this prize-winning structural engineer is able to make complex engineering accessible for anyone.

The book begins by describing why specific materials need to be chosen for manufacturing different products or for building certain structures. The author then explains the physics concepts behind engineering in child-friendly language, starting with bridge building. There is then a fascinating challenge set – to build a bridge with a chocolate bar, and after testing the strength of the bridge, children are then encouraged to reinforce melted chocolate with gummy laces, reflecting the way that concrete is reinforced with steel. I know that when my children were at primary school they worked on a bridge-building project as part of the science curriculum, and I imagine that this book will give teachers an exciting new perspective on teaching this topic. The engineering does not stop with bridges. Rockets, insulation, trumpets, pianos, bubbles, plastic and skyscrapers are all explored, both with facts and practical experiments which can be performed at school or in the home. There are also spreads covering scientists and engineers who made surprising or accidental discoveries and a look at materials being developed now to tackle challenges of the future, such as degradable plastics.

There are so many aspects of this book that I loved. Firstly, the information is presented in small accessible panels on full colour pages (where there is always a good contrast between text and background colours) and therefore easily digestible. The illustrations by Robert Sae-Heng are distinctive and always add to the understanding of the facts or principles being described. I loved the emphasis on learning from mistakes, which helps children to feel able to experiment freely, without the anxiety that they might get it wrong. I think that Roma Agrawal has an amazing ability to explain the principles of her complex profession in terms and with examples that can be understood by anyone.

How to Build a Chocolate Bridge is a book which I would recommend to teachers, librarians, parents and caregivers of all primary school children. With the long summer holidays approaching, there are ideas here for activities that could entertain and educate young brains, and perhaps inspire future scientists and engineers.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Damilola Akinkunmi at Hachette Children’s Books for sending me a free copy of this book. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#BlogTour: SuperQuesters Mission: Desert Danger by Paul Ian Cross, illustrated by Katarina Gasko

Cover image Katarina Gasko, published by QuestFriendz, 7 May 2026,
ISBN: 9789083294346

Mission: Desert Danger is the third book in the SuperQuesters series, and maintains the high quality of the previous titles, serving a perfect blend of excitement and STEM content to a primary school readership.

Best friends Leo, Lilli and Bea are enjoying a trip to the beach, where sandcastle-building turns into a mini engineering opportunity for Lilli! After finding a message in a bottle, which combines hieroglyphics with a plea for help, the trio are rapidly whisked away to Questland and transform into their alter-egos; Leo Zoom, Lillicorn and Bea Bumble. They find themselves on the bank of a dried up river where they meet Arid, a desert sprite, whose brother Rainveil the water sprite has gone missing. The mystery of Rainveil’s disappearance is explained by Skitter, a scarab beetle, who witnessed the kidnap by a treasure-seeking archaeologist, Professor Vivienne Vortec. It appears that she is ruthless in her pursuit of a cursed treasure which has been hidden away in a sunken temple, and is happy to destroy the local ecological system in her greedy quest. The SuperQuesters have a clear mission ahead, but can they use their STEM skills to save the ecosystem in this corner of Questland?

I think that children will love the interactive nature of this story, where they can join the SuperQuesters in trying to decode messages, debug algorithms to find the most efficient route whilst learning about ecosystems, gears and chemistry. There are four brilliantly engaging STEM activities at the end of the book, which only require resources that can be found at home or in a classroom. The highly engaging illustrated style of this book, and the smart, likeable main characters who transform into the kind of protagonists that might be found in a video game, all add to the appeal for a primary school readership. As someone who studied for a science degree many, many years ago, I love the fact that Dr Paul Ian Cross has produced this brilliant series to encourage the next generation of scientists. I cannot wait to see which corner of QuestLand the SuperQuesters will visit in their next adventure.

Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book and invited to join the blog tour by publisher QuestFriendz. All opinions are my own.

Do check out the thoughts of other librarians and teachers who have written reviews for the blog tour.

#PictureBookReview: The Mole and the Mound (and the House Underground) written by Will Hamilton-Davies, illustrated by Kasia Fryza

Cover image by Kasia Fryza, published by Post Wave, 7 May 2026,
ISBN: 978-1836271215

The Mole and the Mound (and the House Underground) is a charming, quirky, rhyming story, which takes a familiar narrative and presents it in a unique and engaging style.

Mole is busy digging and designing his grand home underground while his bird and animal friends all brag that their homes are superior. Bird weaves a fine nest and has a great view; Beaver has a house on the waterfront; and Bee’s hive is designer bright. All that can be seen of Mole’s house is an untidy mound of mud, who on earth would want to live there? However, when a fierce storm leaves destruction in its wake, the animals soon learn that appearances can be deceiving.

The rhyming text by Will Hamilton-Davies tells the story with humour and kindness. I think that young children will enjoy the repetition of Mole’s “Scoop, wiggle, wiggle” refrain and will relish joining in with their adult reading companion each time the book is shared. The illustrations by Kasia Fryza are very distinctive and bold. I particularly loved the cross sections of Mole’s underground home, and the cute little snail that young readers are encouraged to find on each spread. The artwork and text complement each other perfectly, resulting in a book that I recommend to parents, caregivers, grandparents, teachers and librarians to share with pre-school and early years children.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Antonia Wilkinson and publisher Post Wave for sending me a copy of The Mole and the Mound (and the House Underground). It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.