SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW MARCH 24-APRIL 1ST

This week my children's book reviews include a little dog's quest, a bunny saving the day, a young boy leading a double life and a contemporary coming of age drama about identity.

Some great books for the Easter holidays!

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

Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

PARADISE FOUND BY JOHN MILTON & HELEN ELLIOTT

PICTURE BOOK 5+

Albie, the farmer's dog, must find his companion Nellie who has disappeared. His search takes in all the contrasting sights and smells of the countryside and town. Curious children will love the diverse locations as they follow the little dog's quest and encourage them to take an interest in the world around them. The glorious illustrations look like stained glass windows on a sunny day and will capture your imagination. A brilliant gift for Easter.

ISBN 9781912213641 PB Graffeg £7.99

CATCH THAT EGG! BY LUCY ROWLAND & ANNA CHERNYSHOVA

PICTURE BOOK 3+

Floppit the bunny is always getting into trouble because of his big clumsy feet. But when an egg falls from chicken's nest and rolls away can he save the day? Full of adorable wide-eyed farm animals this cute book is perfect for Easter and reading out loud. Bouncy, energetic illustrations with a sparkly cover it's brimming with fun. Children and adults will relate to the overexcited, always busy and demanding young bunny!!

ISBN 9781509841028 PB Macmillan £6.99

KID NORMAL AND THE ROGUE HEROES BY GREG JAMES & CHRIS SMITH

CHILDREN 8+

Murph is a school kid by day and a member of the top-secret Heroes Alliance at night. Can he and his friends stop notorious supervillain Magpie's dastardly plan? The easily readable and hilarious story combined with cheeky illustrations is perfect reading for boys and girls. What child doesn't want to be part of a secret superhero organisation? The appealing core message is that even without superpowers you can be capable of greatness!

ISBN 978141408884546 PB Bloomsbury £6.99

SHE, MYSELF AND I BY EMMA YOUNG

YOUNG ADULT 13+

Eighteen-year-old Rosa is dying from a nerve disease, so it's her last chance when she is selected for an experimental brain transplant. After the operation, she meets Jo and falls in love but does he see her for who she really is? A bold story about identity and how we make assumptions on appearances alone. A coming of age drama about learning to be who you want to be while raising a lot of interesting moral questions.

ISBN 9781847159427 PB Stripes £7.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW MARCH 17-18

This week my children's book reviews include a floral celebration of the seasons perfect for Easter, a modern introduction to opposites for the very young, a cat detective solving a theatrical mystery and an action packed World War Two spy thriller.  

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

Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

A YEAR IN THE WILD BY HELEN AHPORNSIRI

CHILDREN 5+

Take a journey through the seasons using only flowers, leaves and seeds particular to that time of the year. From bounding hares to swooping swallows, this is a visual treat that makes it a book to treasure for all ages. The lyrical informative text is the perfect compliment to the natural collages. It would make a lovely present for Easter, especially if paired with a flower press. A cornucopia of natural wonder that will delight and entrance.

ISBN 9781783707966 PB Big Picture Press £12.99

UP, DOWN & OTHER OPPOSITES WITH ELLSWORTH KELLY

BOARD BOOK 2+

Learn to recognise opposites and appreciate one of the worlds leading abstract artists. This chunky board book encourages early learners to point out and engage with different paintings which show visual opposites such as full/empty, back/front or together/apart. A cultural and entertaining challenge for little ones to appreciate modern art and also learn to look and spot the differences. Iconic images paired with quirky, funny text will capture the minds of adults and budding art enthusiasts alike.

ISBN 9780714876290 HB Phaidon £7.95

MAX THE THEATRE CAT AND THE DISAPPEARING DIVA BY SARAH TODD TAYLOR

CHILDREN 8+

Max, a pampered cat and now chief mouse hunter at the Theatre Royal is up to his whiskers in his first mystery. Why is Madam Emerald, an opera diva behaving strangely? What is her maid so terrified of? Can Max save the day before the curtain rises? Children will love the madcap adventure full of drama and excitement. Atmospheric illustrations of the theatre and nighttime capers throughout just add to the hilarity.

ISBN 9781788000352 PB Nosy Crow £6.99

ORPHAN MONSTER SPY BY MATT KILLEEN

YOUNG ADULT 12+

When Sarah, a young Jewish girl is recruited to become a spy in Nazi Germany, she must befriend the daughter of a top nuclear scientist and put a stop to his chilling experiments. Non-stop action imbued with historical facts bring a timely, unflinching reminder of the horrors of war to life. While dark in places this nail-biting story will hold you in it's thrall to the chilling end. Great for book group discussion.

ISBN 9781474942386 PB Usborne £7.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS MARCH 10-11

This week my children's book reviews include an epic fantasy inspired by African myth, a baby whale embarking on a journey across the sea with her mother, an anthology of inspiring women and a romantic mystery inspired by the Sirens.

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

 A great selection of books for Mother's Day

BOOK OF THE WEEK

CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE BY TOMI ADEYEMI

YOUNG ADULT 13+

Zelie must learn to harness her outlawed magic to fight a tyrannical king. When his daughter, Princess Amari, rebels and joins the cause they must outrun the crown prince who is determined to finish what his father started and destroy magic for good. This sweeping fantasy, inspired by African mythology, is a story of revolution, loyalty and emotional heart and will ignite your imagination. Black Panther meets Xena Warrior Princess.

ISBN 9781509871353 PB Macmillan £7.99

LITTLE WHALE BY JO WEAVER

PICTURE BOOK 4+

A heart warming story celebrating the beauty of the ocean and the love between parent and child. Little whale swims through the warm southern oceans, passing coral reefs and shoals of shimmering fish with her mother always guiding and protecting her. The evocative blue tinged charcoal drawings and the lyrical story adds to the wonder and mystery of the ocean. This is perfect for Mother's Day and for those who enjoyed Blue Planet. Mesmerising.

ISBN 981444937497 HB Hodder Children £12.99

ANTHOLOGY OF AMAZING WOMEN BY SANDRA LAWRENCE & NATHAN COLLINS

CHILDREN 8+

This beautifully illustrated anthology tells the awe-inspiring stories of fifty women who have pushed the boundaries in their chosen fields. Find out about Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space to modern icons such as Beyonce or feminist Emmeline Pankhurst who was instrumental in obtaining the vote for women in Britain. A fascinating book that is perfect to celebrate Woman's History Month, International Women's Day and a great gift for Mother's Day.

ISBN 978178342502 HB 20 Watt £12.99

THE WICKED DEEP BY SHEA ERNSHAW

YOUNG ADULT 13+

The town of Sparrow has been cursed by three sisters for centuries luring boys to their death each year. Penny can see what others cannot which means she must choose to either save stranger Bo, who has a secret past or save herself. An atmospheric and haunting mystery romance that is a contemporary take on the Sirens of Greek mythology. You will be washed away into a modern-day fable of revenge, sacrifice and seduction. Bewitching.

ISBN 9781471166136 PB Simon & Schuster £7.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS MARCH 3-4 TH

This week my children's book reviews include an young adult epic fantasy, a naughty lion, inspirational sports women and an historical novel inspired by the Mona Lisa.

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

Enjoy

BOOK OF THE WEEK

STATE OF SORROW BY MELINDA SALISBURY

YOUNG ADULT 12+

Sorrow rules the Court of Tears in the absence of her mourning father. When her brother is seemingly found alive and wishes to rule Sorrow, it exposes her forbidden love for a childhood friend and risks the future of her country. Sorrow must play a deathly game to save all she holds dear. This addictive fantasy world of lies and deceit and its spirited heroine will hold you in its grasp until the shocking end. Irresistible.

ISBN 9781407180274 PB Scholastic £7.99

A LION IS A LION BY POLLY DUNBAR

PICTURE BOOK 3+

This hilarious read-aloud story asks the question of its young readers: Is a lion still a lion if he...Wears a hat? Carries an umbrella? What if he bites? The rhythmic text with repeating phrases will delight its young audience. It shows children how to protest against a wrong and stand up for themselves. The gorgeous, energetic colour illustrations are witty and refreshing. This is 'pawfect' to empower young minds and have fun!

ISBN 9781406371536 HB Walker £11.99

WOMEN IN SPORT BY RACHEL IGNOTOVSKY

CHILDREN 8+

Following the success of the Winter Olympics, children can learn about fifty athletes who played to win from 1800 to today. This highly illustrated book includes trailblazers, Olympians, and record-breakers including well-known figures like tennis player Serena Williams and boxing champion Nicola Adams to lesser-known pioneers like Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel. It also contains exclusive content from welsh athlete Tanni-Grey Thomson amongst others. Inspirational.

ISBN 9781526360922 HB Wren & Rook £12.99

SMILE BY MARY HOFFMAN

YOUNG ADULT 8+

Lisa lives in the time of the Renaissance where for men the world is full of possibility. Resigned to an arranged marriage she crosses paths with the artist Leonardo Da Vinci. While his portrait of Lisa captures the imagination of the world this rich and evocative historical novel vividly imagines the life of the woman behind the smile. A super readable teen novel suitable for dyslexics and reluctant readers as well as for art and history lovers.

ISBN 9781781127179 PB Barrington Stoke £6.99