Review: Nevertell by Katharine Orton

I opened this book on a wind-whipped station platform and was instantly whisked to the frozen landscape of Siberia. This book is infused with magic, in both content and writing; it is an extraordinary debut by Katharine Orton. The first half of the book is completely compelling and I just could not bear to put it down for even a moment.

“A whisper hung in the air. It felt as if it had grown there, like a piece of fruit, rather than having been spoken.”

From page one you find yourself plunged into the desolate, bone-chilling environment of a Siberian labour camp overseen by cruel Commandant Zima, where the main protagonist, Lina, has spent her entire life. However, on this particular night, she finds herself part of an escape plot, set up by her formidable mama Katya. In the company of Old Gleb, Alexei the Butcher and tattooed gang member Vadim, she exits the camp whilst Katya distracts the guards with a poker game. Someone else has followed the escape party from the camp, but is it an enemy or a friend?

Katya is renowned for her skill at gambling, but has she risked too much this time? Sending her daughter into a fierce Siberian ice storm, with the goal of travelling to Moscow in search of her grandmother, the odds appear to be against success even before the howling of the ghost wolves begins…

This story combines elements of Russian fairy tales with a fast-paced adventure where the courage of Lina and her best friend Bogdan will be tested to the limits. The plot twists and turns like the snowflakes caught in the harsh northern winds, as they encounter friendship, danger and dark magic in the form of the man-hunter, Svetlana, and her legion of shadow creatures. Can hope and kind hearts, aided by a magical necklace given to Lina by Katya, overcome the bleakness, despair and cruelty of life in a police state? You should read this gripping tale, ideal for readers of 10+, to find out.

If you enjoy this story, I highly recommend that you read The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell, Sky Song by Abi Elphinstone and The Way Past Winter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. If you have not already done so.

Review: The Great Reindeer Disaster by Kate Saunders

I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy of this humorous festive tale during the holiday season, as it would make an excellent bedtime story or present for a newly confident reader.

The Trubshaw family, mum (Judy), dad (David), Jake (10) and Sadie (7) are enjoying the first day of their summer holiday in Devon when Percy, a small reindeer falls from a hijacked sleigh and becomes wedged in their chimney! From this moment events take a surreal turn as the family are accidentally sucked up by Percy’s transporter beam and find themselves relocated to the planet Yule-1 where Santa (or F.C.) runs his year-round Christmas operations.

The magical storytelling of Kate Saunders weaves a funny and exciting tale combining the European folk-tale of Krampus with a modern plot about computer-hacking and its impact on the global operation to deliver Christmas. There are delightful touches such as the all-female reindeer squadron known as the “Janiacs” with their love of Jane Austen and uniforms featuring velvet flying bonnets, alongside the “Jambusters” led by Dasher, the elite reindeer squadron with their large RAF-style moustaches!

When Dasher is kidnapped by the unholy alliance of Krampus and a rogue reindeer known as Nerkins, Jake and Percy set off bravely to mount a rescue. However, the real heroine of the story is Sadie who demonstrates the redemptive power of kindness and forgiveness.

The illustrations throughout by Neal Layton add to the appeal of this entertaining story which is perfectly pitched for anyone aged 5+ and a joy for adults to read aloud.

I am very grateful to toppsta.com and Faber Children’s Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Christmas Crackers – Five Beautiful Picture Books!

As December arrives I present a selection of newly published, seasonal picture books to entertain young children as the big day approaches!

Santa’s High Tech Christmas written by Mike Dumbleton, illustrated by Angela Perrini

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A totally enjoyable, rhyming, seasonal tale, beautifully illustrated in muted tones by Angela Perrini. Santa has gone high-tech, loading his present list onto a techno-pad, which is great … until he drops his gadget and the screen goes blank! Fortunately, there is a digitally literate young girl, waiting at her window, who is able to help him out.

A charming story, sure to be enjoyed by children and adults alike in the weeks before the stockings are filled!

The Night Before Christmas written by Clement Clarke Moore, illustrated by Helene Magisson

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I can’t imagine that there is anyone for whom the Christmas season is not improved by a re-reading of Clement Clarke Moore’s classic poem. In this newly published edition the illustrations by Helene Magisson feature the jolliest of Saint Nicks, snowy landscapes and a marvellous set of stockings awaiting a special visitor.

Mr Darcy and the Christmas Pudding by Alex Field, illustrated by Peter Garnavas

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How about introducing young readers to the characters from Pride and Prejudice through a seasonal tale where families come together to participate in “Stir-up Sunday”? In this case the well loved classical characters have been transposed to appropriate animals, Mr Darcy is a top-hatted duck, whilst Mr Collins is a poorly behaved cat! This book would make an excellent illustration of the changing traditions of Christmas throughout history, as it presents the making of the family Christmas pudding (which had been re-introduced by George I) and demonstrates the importance of charitable behaviour at Christmas as Mr Darcy allows Mr Collins into the house to participate in the festivities.

Santa’s Tight Squeeze by Alex Field, illustrated by Karen Erasmus

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I’m sure that a few of us will recognise the situation in which poor Santa finds himself, one too many treats in the run-up to Christmas Day and suddenly you can’t quite fit into something! Only in his case it isn’t a party frock, it’s a chimney pot!

As his travels down various chimneys become ever more troublesome, Santa realises that he needs to change his behaviour, so he begins sharing the delicious treats with his friends. The illustrations by Karen Erasmus beautifully illuminate the story, and small children will enjoy spotting famous landmarks as Santa travels the world.

Marvin and Marigold: A Christmas Surprise by Mark Carthew, illustrated by Simon Prescott

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A heart warming, rhyming Christmas story filled with the warmth of friendship and kindness. This sumptuously illustrated book follows two mice, Marvin and Marigold as they decorate Marigold’s Christmas tree; the discovery of each decoration evoking happy memories of Christmases past. A gorgeous treat to share with young children during the Advent season.

My thanks to New Frontier Publishing for this selection of Christmas treats to review.

Review: McTavish on the Move by Meg Rosoff

This is the perfect book for anyone who longs for a loyal and super-smart pet dog, or anyone who enjoys realistic family stories or for any child who might be anxious about a house or school move.

In case you have not read any other books in this series, McTavish is a rescue dog, who knows that it is his duty to rescue the Peachey family – Ma, Pa, Ollie, Ava and Betty from danger or harm. He is the perfect pet!

This story starts with Ma and the children being extremely worried by Pa’s unusual behaviour – he is acting happy for the first time that anyone can remember. The author, Meg Rosoff, brilliantly captures the family’s discomfort and confusion at Pa’s change in attitude, caused by the prospect of his new job. This will involve moving to a new house, which most of the family are quite happy about. However, Betty the youngest member of the family is apprehensive about starting at a new school and it is up to the wonderful McTavish to make things right.

From an adult perspective, this is a delightful and humorous family story, produced with Barrington Stoke’s usual care and attention, an enjoyable read for anyone in Key Stage 2 and particularly suitable for dyslexic readers with its off-white paper and clear font. The family members are all fully-developed characters and the family interactions are beautifully observed. There is a gentle message contained within the humour for any child who might be nervous about moving house or joining a new school, with the addition of Betty’s rules for making friends being a lovely touch.

I am very grateful to have been sent a review copy by Toppsta and Barrington Stoke..

Review: The Star Outside My Window by Onjali Q. Rauf

This has to be one of the most exquisitely crafted and emotionally touching books I have read. Onjali Rauf’s talent is beyond measure as she demonstrates in this sensitively told story featuring domestic abuse, which she has somehow made suitable for a readership of 10 years and upwards.

This brilliant author is able to distill the feelings of the displaced and disoriented Aniyah and her younger brother Noah and weave a tale from their despair which invokes the power of the human spirit to overcome hardship and heartbreak. Along the way she shows us the power of unconditional love, as demonstrated by the amazing foster mother Mrs Iwuchukwu.

As an adult reading this tale, recounted in the first person by 10 year old Aniyah, I found myself torn between heart wrenching sadness and awe at the author’s ability to express very difficult concepts with a totally believable childlike logic. We learn instantly that Aniyah has a deep interest in astronomy and, as she slowly reveals her family situation, you understand how she has conflated ideas from her favourite cartoon, The Lion King, with scientific concepts and overhead snippets of conversations between social workers and police officers. She has thus come to the understanding that her mother has left them in order to become the new star which astronomers have spotted racing across our galaxy. The woman who looked after Aniyah and Noah before they arrived at the foster home told a policewoman that,

“Mum belonged in the heavens now, and that she was going to be looking down on us forever.”

In order to convince the astronomers to give the new star its correct name Aniyah must embark on a race against time, to the Greenwich Royal Observatory, accompanied by her new friends from the foster home in this beautifully hopeful story.

Onjali Rauf is truly a shining star, sent to guide us, in these dark times, towards a place of kindness and empathy and tolerance. A most highly recommended read for adults and children of 10 years and older. I believe that a percentage of the author royalties are being donated to a charity for the victims of domestic abuse, so buy a copy if you can.

If you love this book, make sure you read the debut novel by this author, The Boy at the Back of the Class.

Animal-themed Picture Books

Scruffle-Nut by Corinne Fenton

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“As winter leaves tumble and twirl a wisp of memory wraps itself about me and whispers me back to long ago…”

Thus begins this poetic story which gently explores the subject of bullying through the tale of a young girl and a squirrel she befriends in a city park. When Olivia notices the little squirrel with the stumpy tail, whom she feeds with biscuit crumbs from her pocket, she realises that he is able to outsmart the faster, greedier squirrels she labels the Bully-Bunch. The wonderfully evocative artwork implies that she uses this lesson to deal with the bullies in her own life, and many years later she still remembers Scruffle-Nut as she sits in the park.

This is an incredibly beautiful book with which to start a conversation about bullying with young children; I would highly recommend it for schools and families alike. Corinne Fenton’s powerful writing will reward repeated reading and the artwork by Owen Swan absolutely compels your attention.

I am most grateful to New Frontier Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to review.

Pip Finds a Home by Elena Topouzoglou

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Well here’s a picture book that likes to play with your preconceptions, a penguin at the north pole, a hooded explorer who is female, a penguin that isn’t a penguin … and ultimately turns out to be extinct!

When Pip the penguin is transported from the Arctic to the Antarctic on an exploration ship, he tries to find his place amongst the different species of penguin which inhabit that hostile landscape. As the beautiful, watercolour, artwork by writer and illustrator Elena Topouzoglou shows us, Pip has similarities to, but is not exactly the same as any of the penguins he encounters. Despite their recognised differences, the penguins welcome Pip as their new friend and he joins in with their snowy games.

Finally he sees a bird that shares his striped beak, flippers that resemble wings and grey feet. It turns out that Pip belongs to the northern hemisphere after all, and in fact his species has been extinct for a long time. Can you guess which species Pip belongs to? Get your hands on a copy of this gorgeous book to find out! At the end of the story there is a non-fiction section packed with fascinating facts about these incredible birds which have adapted to live in some of the harshest conditions on earth. This book is sure to be a hit with readers of 3 and above, with its message of inclusivity, atmospheric artwork and educational content.

Thank you to New Frontier Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to review.

Amazing African Storybooks

The Small Five written by Ralph Johnstone, illustrated by Harriet Stanes

Most of us have heard of the Big Five, those five magnificent animals that safari holidaymakers most wish to see; but have you ever heard of the Small Five? No? Neither had I, until I read this hilarious book by Ralph Johnstone, gloriously and riotously illustrated by Harriet Stanes.

Told in humorous rhyming text, the story introduces the big five of lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo; I loved the adorable puns, such as lion being the “mane man”! The Battle of the Bush begins when their tiny namesakes – antlion the doodlebug, rhinoceros beetle, buffalo weaver bird, leopard tortoise and elephant shrew challenge them to a test of survival skills.

This is an entertaining introduction to some amazing African wildlife which I feel sure will be enjoyed again and again by young readers and any adults who have the pleasure of reading it aloud. It also contains the excellent message that being big and tough isn’t everything, no-one should be overlooked just because they are small. I highly recommend it, and don’t forget to look out for the little Colotis butterfly on every page.

My thanks to Little Steps Publishing for my gifted copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Africa Day written by Chi Mary Kalu and illustrated by Jelena Jordanovic-Lewis

This is a vibrant and wonderful celebration of the joy of African culture as a little boy accompanies his mother on a trip to the Africa Day Festival. From the glossy illustrations on the front cover of you feel the joy of Emeka as he embarks on his exciting day out. The illustrator Jelena Jordanovic-Lewis has captured the exuberance of the festival on every page with her kinetic artwork in earthy tones.

Readers are introduced to the new vocabulary of Emeka’s culture: Ankara and dashiki shirts, kente shorts, the language Igbo, jollof rice and moi moi and share his exhilaration as he dances through the day.

A marvellous picture book, pulsating with energy, which I highly recommend for any child of three years and older to explore.

Thank you to Little Steps Publishing for my review copy of this glorious book.

Review: The Story of the London Underground by David Long

A sumptuous work of non-fiction, published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, but sure to delight readers of any age. The informative and engaging text combined with the striking images are likely to be enjoyed by anyone who has ever travelled on the London Underground. I have seen a group of 9 and 10 year-old children entranced for almost an hour by the comprehensive coverage of absolutely everything you could wish to know about this famous transport system.

The gorgeous, painted illustrations, by Sarah McMenemy, have a slightly nostalgic feel which seems perfectly in keeping with the historic content at the start of the book. I learned from the back cover that her illustrations are featured on the platforms of Shadwell Station and I am now determined to visit them the next time I am in London. There is quite a lot of text on each page, perfectly readable for 9 and 10 year-olds and packed with interesting facts, but younger children might want to read this with an adult.

Personally, I have always loved the iconic LONDON Tube map, thus I enjoyed gazing at the illustrated tube map towards the end of the book. I was also impressed at the stylish use of the tube map design for the history timeline.

I wholeheartedly recommend this stunning book, as a fascinating insight into an essential part of London, and for its many cross-curricular links in the primary school curriculum.

I am most grateful to toppsta.com and Bloomsbury Children’s Publishing for my gifted copy of this book. A review has previously appeared on the toppsta.com website.

Review: Twelve Days of Kindness by Cori Brooke

This boldly colourful picture book is perfect for sharing with Early Years and Key Stage 1 children at any time, but its arrival is particularly well-timed during anti-bullying week. Written by Cori Brooke and illustrated by Fiona Burrows it demonstrates how one little girl’s careful observation, kindness and determination can make a huge difference to the happiness of another.

On the first page we are introduced to Nabila, the new girl at school, as she stands alone at playtime surrounded by small groups of children who are quite obviously whispering and giggling about her. Only one girl, Holly, stands apart from the others, looking sad and uncomfortable at the behaviour of her peers. She wonders if Nabila is lonely and devises a 12-day training plan, helped by the school football coach. Can her scheme to promote acts of kindness bring the football team together and integrate Nabila into the friendship group?

This inspiring and hopeful book, with its vibrant and expressive illustrations, makes a glorious addition to a school library or Key Stage 1 classroom as children will recognise situations that occur in the playground reflected in the book. The messages of welcome for a newly arrived pupil and advancement of teamwork to the benefit of everyone are great for starting conversations with young children. The level of detail in the pictures will be enjoyed each time the book is re-read.

My thanks to New Frontier Publishing for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Caveman Next Door by Tom Tinn-Disbury

This quirky and original story is the debut book as both author and illustrator for Tom Tinn-Disbury who has previously illustrated children’s books written by others.

A warmly humorous tale, it recounts the difficulties of fitting into the modern world for Ogg, the caveman next door. Fortunately for Ogg he has a willing helper and friend in Penny, who does all she can to help the discombobulated Ogg to adapt to his new surroundings. It is a classic “what if” book which taps in perfectly to the imaginative thoughts of an audience of 3 to 6 year-olds, highlighting exactly the sort of differences that young children seem to notice, for example Ogg doesn’t have TV or wear socks! My favourite part of the book is when Penny decides to commence her mission to help Ogg at the library “it was her favourite place”. Unfortunately the librarian gets very annoyed when Ogg starts eating the books, the illustration of the librarian hopping with annoyance made me snort with laughter (I must try to get a print)!

Ogg s misadventures continue in hilarious style as he travels around the town with Penny, but the next day Penny discovers Ogg s talent for illustration, when she sees his cave paintings. She takes him into school as her “show-and-tell” which turns out to the benefit of everyone.

A funny and engaging book which explores themes of kindness, patience and taking the time to discover someone’s hidden talent. It is a beautifully produced hardback with an attractive font and colourful, quirky illustrations with plenty of detail for young readers to explore. Highly recommended for ages 3-6.

My thanks to New Frontier Publishing for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.