SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW DEC 22-23 2018

This week my Christmas children's book reviews include a baby's first book for Christmas, a retelling of The Night Before Christmas, an interactive mystery on a ship and a Dr Who adventure.

Perfect presents for Christmas  Also in the Weekend section of The South Wales Evening Post. Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK 

CHRISTMAS BY LISA JONES & EDWARD UNDERWOOD 

CLOTH BOOK 6 MONTHS+This is the perfect first Christmas book for a baby. The bold and bright images, high-contrast patterns, first words and a simple narrative will be a welcome distraction this holiday. The soft squishy pages are lovely to handle and my particular favourite is the crinkly sounding snowman page. It also had a handy buggy strap. A combination of iconic and simple pictures including Christmas trees and Santa Clause will be a welcome first gift for any baby.
ISBN 9781788002639 PB Nosy Crow £10.99

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS BY KES GRAY & CLAIRE POWELL
PICTURE BOOK 3+Santa and his elves are rushed off their feet preparing for Christmas Eve. There are presents to wrap, reindeer to wake and a sleigh to start. But will Santa be ready on time? A twist on the original festive poem, the funny rhyming text and cheerful illustrations will add to the anticipation for Christmas Day. It also mimics the typical festive chaos in every family so is perfect for sharing and reading aloud.

ISBN 9781444939231 PB Hodder £6.99

ALL ABOARD THE VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY BY EMILY HAWKINS & TOM ADAMS & TOM CLOHOSY-COLE
CHILDREN 7+It's 1927 and you are about to set sail on an extraordinary journey of discovery. Uncover fascinating facts from the passengers and crew onboard specialising in fields of science, engineering, geography and history as they explain their greatest inventions. But the reader must also help them solve the mystery of the missing movie. This lavish book is an interactive adventure that kids will be completely absorbed by. A fascinating Christmas gift.
ISBN 9781786033406 HB Wide Eyed £14.99

DOCTOR WHO: THE SECRET IN VAULT 13 BY DAVID SOLOMONS
CHILDREN 7+The Doctor and her companions are shocked when their potted begonia sends out a distress signal. In a far off galaxy they must uncover the shocking secret hidden within an ancient vault before disaster strikes. In a race against time the Time Lord and her friends fight off a deadly headteacher and terrifying robots. The action-packed plot with fantastic and unforgettable characters is the ideal gift for fans of Doctor Who, old and new.
ISBN 9781405937610 PB Puffin £6.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW DEC 15-16 2018

This week my Christmas children's book reviews include an enchanting adventure through a snowglobe, a Christmas hedgehog, a treasure hunt in an amazing house and a return to the magical land of Nevermoor.

Perfect presents for Christmas  Also in the Weekend section of The South Wales Evening Post. Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

SNOWGLOBE BY AMY WILSON
CHILDREN 9+
A missing mother, a pinch of magic and an invisible house filled with snowglobes are all the ingredients for a thrilling fantasy adventure. Clementine must learn to use her magic to try and free a boy trapped in a snowglobe. Children will love the different worlds and characters in each magical globe and relate to the friendship and family at the heart of the story. An enchanting winter tale of snow and ice.
ISBN 9781509885800 PB Macmillan £6.99

ONE COSY CHRISTMAS BY M CHRISTINA BUTLER & TINA MACNAUGHTON
PICTURE BOOK 3+
Little Hedgehog and his friends are preparing for the perfect Christmas. But who is eating their biscuits and snoring all night? This heartwarming adventure is perfect to share in the build-up to Christmas. It encapsulates all the excitement of family and friends enjoying the festive season and even includes a few familiar disagreements! This adorable touch-and-feel book including Hedgehog's red velvety hat is a delight and full of Christmas cheer.
ISBN 9781848696693 PB Little Tiger £7.99

TREASURE HUNT HOUSE BY KATE DAVIES & BECCA STADTLANDER
CHILDREN 7+
Two children embark on a treasure hunt in their great-aunt's incredible house. Children will love exploring each room and lifting flaps to reveal trivia pertinent to objects in that particular room. Find out about musical instruments, discover a velociraptor skeleton or Shakespeare plays. Also, children are asked to solve a riddle on each page to add to the intrigue. This sumptuous book is ideal for those who love history, trivia and dolls houses. A gem of a gift.
ISBN 9781847809575 HB Lincoln Children's Books £14.99

WUNDERSMITH BY JESSICA TOWNSEND
CHILDREN 9+
The much-anticipated return to Nevermoor will not disappoint in this sequel. Morrigan Crow is a much feared Wundersmith and must try to suppress her mysterious ability. But will Morrigan's magic help her escape her cursed life? A brilliantly imagined world, thrilling adventure and colourful characters make this a must-have series this Christmas. Children will love the friendship at it's centre and relate to Morrigan's struggle to fit in while remaining true to herself. Perfect for Harry Potter fans.
ISBN 9781510103825 HB Orion £12.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW DEC 8-9 2018

This week my Christmas children's book reviews include an extravagant Christmas full of friendship, naughty Christmas Gremlins, a retelling of ancient fables from across the UK and a gift companion to the world of Mortal Engines.

Perfect presents for Christmas  Also in the Weekend section of The South Wales Evening Post. Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK 

THE CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA HOTEL BY TRACEY CORDEROY & TONY NEAL
PICTURE BOOK 3+
When Frog arrives at the wrong house for his Christmas Extravaganza Bear tries very hard not to disappoint his brand new friend. A hilarious and heartwarming story full of holiday cheer. It explores what we really should value at this time of the year such as compassion, generosity and kindness rather than extravagance. An entertaining story to read out loud and on repeat. The endearing illustrations of their friendship bring home the true message of Christmas.

ISBN 9781848699373 HB Little Tiger £10.99

CHRISTMAS GREMLINS BY ADAM & CHARLOTTE GUILLAIN & CHRIS CHATTERTON
PICTURE BOOK 3+
A cheeky rhyming Christmas story packed with naughty Gremlins determined to cause a stir throughout the festive season. With over 50 flaps to find and lift this is perfect for excited little children to enjoy again and again in the holidays. The gremlins might be hiding up a chimney or in the Christmas tree! Little ones will love searching for the mischief makers behind the flaps in this hilarious interactive book. A riotous and fun stocking filler.
ISBN 9781405285063 PB Egmont £7.99

BETWEEN WORLDS BY KEVIN CROSSLEY-HOLLAND
CHILDREN 9+
A rich and strange collection of magical folktales from across Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland which have been passed down through the generations. These retold tales will capture the imagination of readers young and old peppered throughout with dramatic illustrations by Frances King. The collection is sectioned into Magic, Love, Fairies, Legends and Ghosts amongst others and are easily digestible. A lovely gift that will open a door into a child's imagination.
ISBN 9781406381252 HB Walker £15

THE ILLUSTRATED WORLD OF MORTAL ENGINES BY PHILIP REEVE & JEREMY LEVETT
CHILDREN 10+
Discover the future history of the world of Mortal Engines. This sumptuous volume details the fearless adventures, epic battles and disastrous cataclysms that shaped the world where mobile cities fight for survival in a post-apocalyptic future. It is packed with dozens of beautiful colour illustrations and maps that will satisfy the huge following of this series and newcomers alike. A captivating and all-encompassing definitive companion guide to the epic fantasy series and the quintessential gift for fans.
ISBN 9781407186788 HB Scholastic £20

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW DEC 1-2

This week my children's book reviews include tales of feisty felines, a celebration of the carol Silent Night, a retelling of Peter Pan and an anthology of intriguing animals. Perfect presents for Christmas 

Also in the Weekend section of The South Wales Evening Post. Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK 

REBEL CATS BY KIMBERLIE HAMILTON

CHILDREN 8+
The tales of thirty real-life feisty felines from around the world will put you in cat heaven in a whisker. Full of fascinating stories about furry record breakers, explorers and heroes plus furball-raising facts. Richly illustrated with pussycat pawtraits readers of all ages will love curling up with this book over Christmas. Give this to a cat lover of any age and they will be like a cat who's got the cream. Purrfect.
ISBN 9781407192604 PB Scholastic £8.99

SILENT NIGHT BY LARA HAWTHORNE
PICTURE BOOK 3+
Rediscover the story of the nativity and one of the nations favourite Christmas carols all rolled into one. Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas in all its glory with strikingly detailed illustrations which bring the scenes to life. Children will love spotting the variety of animals alongside quaking shepherds and heaven sent angels. A traditional gift which children can share with all the family and can also be used for carol singing.
ISBN 9781786030665 HB Lincoln Children's Books £10.99

PETER PAN BY J.M. BARRIE & CARYL HART & SARAH WARBURTON
CHILDREN 6+
The perfect introduction to this classic tale re-imagined in glorious rhyme and richly illustrated in twilight tones. Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and the world of Neverland are vividly brought to life for a new generation of readers. This sumptuously produced book is a gift to treasure and share and is sure to capture the hearts of children with its magical tale about the boy who never grew up. A classic Christmas present.

ISBN 9781788000079 HB Nosy Crow £14.99

AN ANTHOLOGY OF INTRIGUING ANIMALS BY BEN HOARE
CHILDREN 7+
A beautiful children's encyclopedia of animals with a twist. Alongside each glorious close-up photograph and illustration are facts, stories and myths. It includes well-known animals such as dolphins, tigers and butterflies to more unusual including my favourites the cute Viscacha and the worlds happiest animal, the Australian Quokka. This gold foiled hardback with gilded edges is the perfect gift for little animal lovers and could even be read at bedtime or in class.
ISBN 9780241334393 HB Dorling Kindersley £20

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW NOV 24-25

This week my children's book reviews include a dog who saves Christmas, a Royal Corgi on a Festive adventure, a celebration of Mickey Mouse and a Japanese myth inspired fantasy.

Also in the Weekend section of The South Wales Evening Post. Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

THE DOG THAT SAVED CHRISTMAS BY NICOLA DAVIES & MIKE BYRNE

CHILDREN 8+

Christmas is a nightmare for Jake because he hates the bright lights and noise so he runs away. When Jake finds a lost dog called Susan they immediately bond and being home for the festive holiday doesn't seem so dreadful after all. A heartwarming and thought-provoking Christmas tale which celebrates the special role of therapy pets. The complimentary illustrations capture their close relationship and adventure. Suitable for dyslexic and reluctant readers and reading aloud in class.
ISBN 9781781127698 PB Barrington Stoke £6.99

A VERY CORGI CHRISTMAS BY SAM HAY & LORETTA SCHAUER
PICTURE BOOK 3+
When Belle the littlest Royal corgi escapes from Buckingham Palace and meets streetwise pup Pip they embark on a festive adventure. But when Pip disappears will Belle find her friend again? Young ones will love this royal twist on the story of Lady and the Tramp. The cute illustrations are adorable and full of festive cheer and waggy tales. A lovely story about friendship to share and read out loud in the build up to Christmas.
ISBN 9781471177750 PB Simon & Schuster £6.99

MICKEY MOUSE MUSEUM: THE STORY OF AN ICON BY DISNEY
CHILDREN 8+
Celebrate 90 years since the birth of Disney's most iconic creation. Both children and adults will marvel at this large format book of archive material from Mickey's inception as Steamboat Willie to the present day. A must-have for Disney fans and a fascinating introduction to an icon. Also available for holiday activities is the must have search-and-find book entitled Where's Mickey? That will occupy little ones for hours looking for Micky and his pals. Christmas presents to treasure.
ISBN 9781787413597 HB Studio Press £20

SHADOW OF THE FOX BY JULIE KAGAWA
YOUNG ADULT 13+
Enter a fantasy world heavily influenced by Japanese mythology and imagination. A beautiful and perilous land of shapeshifters and samurai, kami and legends, humans and demons. Yumeko must protect an ancient scroll from demons by relying on a mysterious samurai who wants the scroll for himself. An action-packed adventure full of vibrant characters, intrigue and twists told from multiple perspectives with friendship at its heart. A tale of pure escapism to curl up with over the holidays.
ISBN 9781848457393 PB Harper Collins £7.99