South Wales Evening Post Childrens Book Column Feb 27th

My book review column features in The Weekend Edition of The South Wales Evening Post today Feb 27th.

My Book of the Week is an enchanting modern day fable who's sentiment will linger with you long after you have read the book. Also Mothers Day is next Sunday so I picked some great books to share with Mum on her special day from board books for keeping the very young as busy as bees, a cooking kit to enjoy and a classic to share laughter and tears with. Enjoy. 


BOOK OF THE WEEK

HOUR OF THE BEES BY LINDSAY EAGAR
YOUNG ADULT

A contemporary fable in which two worlds collide. The young and the old joust with modern mythology. Carolina's grandfather, who suffers from dementia, spins her tales of adventure, wanderlust and heritage. Are the stories of the magic tree promising eternal life true? Why are bees following her in this drought ridden desert? An inspiring book with a powerful message. Don't be afraid to live your life. There will be a real 'buzz' about this book.

ISBN: 9781406368154 PB Walker Books Ltd £7.99

5/5 stars

I LOVE MY MUMMY : A BLOSSOMING BOOK OF GIVING BY JONATHAN LITTON AND FHIONA GALLOWAY

PICTURE BOOK 0+

The perfect little board book to give on Mothers Day to keep busy hands occupied. Bold illustrations, cutouts and finger holes will endure and fascinate the most energetic of children while Mum is enjoying her special day. The colourful cast of cute characters all want to find ways to say thankyou to their special Mum. The rhyming text will make sure this has a captive audience while parents enjoy a rare quiet moment.

• ISBN: 9781848691773 HB Little Tiger Press Group £5.99
• 4/5 Stars

CHILDRENS COOKIE AND CAKE BAKING KIT BY ABIGAIL WHEATLEY

CHILDRENS 5+

This wonderful cooking kit will encourage absolute beginners to bake yummy cookies and biscuits. Everything you need is here including 25 simple to follow recipes, cookie cutters and a rolling pin. You can keep everything in a pretty gift box and is a lovely introduction to cooking that can be done with mum (or dad!) with something to nibble at the end from gingerbreads to heart biscuits. Delicious

ISBN: 9781409598763 HB Usborne Publishing Ltd £ 14.99 

5/5 stars

LITTLE WOMEN BY L.M. ALCOTT

CHILDRENS 8+ 

This inspirational colour illustrated American classic makes a lovely gift between mothers and daughters. Set against the American Civil War Marmee and her five daughters resiliently struggle with poverty, first love and following their dreams. In an age where women's options were limited this heart warming tale really shows women in all their strengths. Jo, the aspiring writer has always been one of my favourite fictional characters as well as her Professor Bear!

ISBN: 9781409581987 HB Usborne Publishing Ltd £12.99

5/5 Stars

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK COLUMN FEB 20TH

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK COLUMN FEB 20TH

This week my childrens books review include a wonderful memory book for young ones, a duck thats lost his quack, a young boy trying to save the world and a coming of age romance that will make your heart flutter. 


BOOK OF THE WEEK

DO YOU REMEMBER? BY HELEN DOCHERTY

PICTURE BOOK 3+

A wonderful book that will spark special memories between parent and child. Enhanced with endearing illustrations by Mark Beech this would make a lovely birthday or Mothers Day gift. With its universal message, there's no such word as can't, it will really help overcome struggles to learn new skills. Whether it's the first time talking, walking or dressing this is a delightful way to start discussion about a young ones achievements and build their confidence.
ISBN: 9780571321148 PB  Faber & Faber £6.99
5/5 STARS

QUICK QUACK QUENTIN BY KES GRAY AND JIM FIELD
PICTURE BOOK 3+

Hilarious play on words that will give the storyteller some real tongue twisters and have their audience in stitches. Quentin the duck has lost the A from his quack. Will his animal friends give him one of theirs? Can APES become PES or PANDAS become PANDS or is Quentin stuck with his QUCK forever? Great for teaching about vowels and spelling. The strong vibrant illustrations make the perfect companion to this fun story.
ISBN: 9781444919561 HB Hodder & Stoughton £11.99
5/5 STARS

HAMISH AND THE NEVERPEOPLE BY DANNY WALLACE
CHILDRENS 8+

This is Hamish's second adventure and he has to save the world again from an even more dastardly enemy, The Neverpeople. Why does the world stop for short periods? Caught in an alternate universe his boring home town is looking more attractive by the minute. This is about family, friends and kids with abilities. Full of rip roaring adventure, creepy monsters and fiendish laughter this is perfect for young readers.

ISBN: 9781471123917 PB Simon & Schuster Ltd £6.99

5/5 STARS

FANGIRL BY RAINBOW ROWELL

YA FICTION 13+

Part romance and coming of age, part fan fiction. Twins, Cath and Wren are polar opposites. Cath is shy while Wren is gregarious but both struggle to fit in at college. Cath's growing friendship with her room mates boyfriend Levi is so beautifully written it gave my tummy butterflies. A book about growing up, falling in love and navigating the pitfalls with your family. Rainbow has also written Kindred Spirits for World Book Day.

 ISBN: 9781447263227 PB Pan Macmillan £7.99

4/5 Stars

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK COLUMN FEB 13TH VALENTINES DAY

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK COLUMN FEB 13TH

Its Valentines Day tomorrow so I am continuing with my love theme.
This week my childrens books feature a lovable baby elephant, a rabbit who wants to say I Love You, a dog who needs love and a heartbroken young girl looking for love. 

BOOK OF THE WEEK

LITTLE WHY BY JONNY LAMBERT

PICTURE BOOK 3+

I adore Little Why with his fearless spirit and boundless curiosity as he discovers the world around him. Lambert has imbued this adorable baby elephant with real character. It also carries two great messages throughout. One is to be happy in your own skin as the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Also why its dangerous to wander off on your own especially with crocodiles about!

ISBN: 9781848691834 PB Little Tiger Press Group £6.99

5/5 Stars

GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU BY SAM MCBRATNEY

PICTURE BOOK 2+

This timeless classic recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary and has delighted generation after generation. The large format board book makes its sturdy enough to be passed down from little hands to little hands. Little and Big Nutbrown Hare love each other very much but how do they let each other know? Anita Jeram's enchanting illustrations capture the story's sentiment perfectly and makes it a lovely book to gift on International Book Giving Day on February 14^th

ISBN: 9781406358780 HB Walker Books Ltd £ 6.99

5/5 Stars

ONE DOG AND HIS BOY BY EVA IBBOTSON

CHILDRENS 9+

When Hal's ghastly spoilt parents threaten to take his beloved dog, Fleck, away for being too much like hard work he runs away to his animal loving grandparents in Scotland. Along with a rag tag band of other unwanted pooches they begin an adventure that will test their courage to the limit. Written by one of my favourite all time authors this is without doubt a modern day classic. Wooftastic.

ISBN: 9781407124247 PB Scholastic £6.99

5/5 Stars

THE SLEEPING PRINCE BY MELINDA SALISBURY

YOUNG ADULT 12+

The Sin Eaters Daughter ended on a cliff hanger that left me breathless ,so I was impatient for the sequel of this darkly twisted series. Cherry picking from old myths and the darker side of history this epic will not disappoint. Errin, our heroine, finds herself in poverty, her royal life left behind in the first book. As a vengeful Prince brings war closer can Errin still bring peace? Will it be a fairytale ending or more Brothers Grimm?

ISBN: 9781407147642 PB Scholastic £7.99
5/5 Stars

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS COLUMN FEB 6TH FOR VALENTINES DAY

South Wales Evening Post Children's Column FEB 6^th SAT.

The Reading Chair is in the Weekend Section of the paper p 12

It's nearly Valentines Day so my pick of books this week has a definite love theme. First love, puppy love and unwanted love. Take your pick!!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

HOW HARD CAN LOVE BE BY HOLLY BOURNE

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

A heartwarming tale about girl power and friends who stick together through thick or thin.

Amber is spending the summer with her mum whom she hasn’t seen in two years. Battling with her abandonment issues romance blossoms with the school heartthrob, Kyle. Emotive and thought provoking this searingly honest book deals with heartbreak, step families and the biggest life lesson of all, nobody's perfect. A great addition to this strong, feminist series that will have you laughing and crying.

ISBN: 9781409591221 Usborne Publishing Ltd £7.99

5/5 Stars

 

I LOVE YOU, SPOT BY ERIC HILL

PICTURE BOOK 2+

The perfect present for your little loved ones. This sturdy heart shaped board book is a playful addition to the popular series about everyone's favourite puppy. Spot want to find the best way to say 'I Love You' in his own unique way. The bold colours will delight while inspiring children to make their own Valentines cards for friends and family using lots of paint and even a bit of sparkle.

:ISBN: 9780141363783 Penguin Books Ltd £5.99

4/5 Stars

DIRTY BERTIE: KISS! BY ALAN MACDONALD

CHILDRENS 6+

If you think Valentines is smutty, gooey and generally silly this is a story for you. Dirty Bertie, the boy with nose-pickingly disgusting habits, is being terrorised by the far too affectionate Angela Nicely. As if escaping from her clutches wasn't enough he has to look after a hamster and play a trumpet solo when he's never played before! What more could go wrong? Fiendishly funny this will have you rolling around in fits of laughter.

5/5 Stars

ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER BY STEPHANIE PERKINS

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Isla is in school in Paris and has a huge crush on artist Josh. Will they find true love? Perkins really knows how to capture that moment of the first kiss and spark of passion. Whether Isla is finding a hidden balcony looking over Paris or discovering Josh secretly drawing her, heart break is never far away. This is a very romantic, clever and potent read dripping in glamour with a dollop of angst to keep things spicy. 

ISBN: 9781409581130 PB Usborne Publishing Ltd £6.99
5/5 Stars

FOR LONGER REVIEW CLICK HERE

Book Review Rebel Of The Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

REBEL OF THE SANDS BY ALWYN HAMILTON

SYNOPSIS

Sold immediately at auction across the world, this phenomenal novel is the first in a trilogy packed with shooting contests, train robberies, festivals under the stars, powerful Djinni magic and an electrifying love story.

This promises to be a global super lead. "Tell me that and we'll go. Right now. Save ourselves and leave this place to burn. Tell me that's how you want your story to go and we'll write it straight across the sand." Dustwalk is Amani's home.

The desert sand is in her bones. But she wants to escape. More than a want. A need. Then a foreigner with no name turns up to save her life, and with him the chance to run.

But to where? The desert plains are full of danger. Sand and blood are swirling, and the Sultan's enemies are on the rise

MY MUSINGS

This is a unique Wild West meets Arabian Nights mash-up. The very combination evokes striking imagery and some imaginative and bold world building. Throw in a colourful cast and a dollop of romance with a sprinkling of magic and adventure and you've got the perfect ingredients for a new star in the young adult genre.

 Amani is desperate to escape Deadpool and a chance meeting with an exotic and very hansom stranger gives her that opportunity. Despite her protestations she finds herself in the middle of a rebellion with an evil sultan and Amani has tough choices to make.  I loved Armani's determination and surprising ruthlessness in her bid for survival as it spoke of  generations before her who have had to learn to live in the desert or as pioneers in undiscovered lands.

With untold magic and crackling romance this epic delight will sweep you away into a desert storm and lose you in the sands of time. One of my Books of the Week for The South Wales Evening Post.  HOT