CHILDREN'S HALLOWEEN BOOK REVIEW FOR THE SOUTH WALES EVENING POST OCT 27-28 2018

This week my children's book reviews include the grand finale of Goth Girl, a little ghost desperate for attention, a young witch's further adventures and two friends who must save their gargoyle-infested school!

Happy Halloween

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

HALLOWEEN BOOK OF WEEK

GOTH GIRL AND THE SINISTER SYMPHONY BY CHRIS RIDDELL
CHILDREN 7+
The fangtastic finale of the Goth Girl series is a real treat. Lord Goth is holding a music festival but who will be the 'headline' act? This satirical tale is liberally sprinkled with contemporary references that will appeal to both adults and children. It is full of witty puns and a play on words, such as Tailor Extremely-Swift, which are woven in between Riddell's masterly illustrations. Monstrously good for Halloween that is perfect to share and read aloud.

ISBN 9781447277965 PB Macmillan £6.99

THE RIGHT ONE BY VIOLETA NOY
PICTURE BOOK 4+
Roderic is the smallest ghost in his family and is continually ignored. He doesn't want to wear a white sheet like all the rest so how can he stand out? The vibrant, bold illustrations capture the endearing little ghost as he tries on different hats, scarves and various patterned sheets to make himself look different. Children will relate to being the smallest in a family. A friendly, funny ghost story for Halloween.
ISBN 9781787412705 PB Templar £6.99

WISH FOR A WITCH BY KAYE UMANSKY & ASHLEY KING
CHILDREN 7+
Elsie is excited to return to Magenta Sharp's magical tower for her second adventure. The witch needs her help to save her magic license and to deal with a grumpy genie. This adventure is a cauldron of excitement, bubbling with wit, wishes and witchcraft. The endearing illustrations cast a spell with their characterful detail and will leave children bewitched. I especially loved Nuisance the loyal stray dog and Corbett, the irascible raven. A charming Halloween tale.
ISBN 9781471160936 PB Simon & Schuster £6.99

TREASURE OF THE GOLDEN SKULL BY CHRIS PRIESTLEY
CHILDREN 8+
Mildew and Sponge must save their gargoyle-infested school from closure. If they can find the buried treasure, avoid a pirate pretending to be a teacher and deal with the mysterious new boy they might save the school. This caustically funny, deliciously creepy quest will make kids cackle with laughter. The scratchy illustrations creeping through the text add to the enormous fun making it perfect for Halloween. The Munsters meet Roald Dahl.
ISBN 9781408873106 PB Bloomsbury £6.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS HALLOWEEN BOOK REVIEW OCT 20- 21 2018

This week my children's book reviews include an enchanting Christmas tale based in Wales, a troublesome witches' cat, more adventures from the world's worst vampire and a monstrous tale inspired by Frankenstein.

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

BOOK OF WEEK

THE CLOCKWORK CROW BY CATHERINE FISHER
CHILDREN 7+
Seren, a young orphan is taken in by a mysterious family living in wildest Wales. A mysterious package, a lost boy and a magical snow globe lead Seren into an enchanted Winter wonderland where all is not what it appears. Children will especially delight in Seren's cheeky, talking mechanical bird as she continues on her quest to find a true home. The poetical text is spellbinding and a perfect story for Christmas. The Secret Garden meets Narnia.

ISBN 9781910080849 PB Firefly £6.99

MRS BLACKHAT BY CHLOE AND MICK INKPEN
PICTURE BOOK 4+
Mrs Blackhat is a witch who loves the colour black. Everything is black except her cat...who's ginger! Unfortunately, when she uses the internet to buy a spell, it leads to hilarious results. This story will appeal to adults who appreciate the hazards of internet shopping and children who will delight in the tongue twisters and repetitive text with laugh out loud humour. Perfect for reading out loud with bold, explosive illustrations this is Spooktastic for a very Happy Halloween.

ISBN 9781444940091 HB Hodder £12.99

MIDNIGHT FRIGHT BY ANNA WILSON & KATHRYN DURST
CHILDREN 7+
Vlad, the worlds worst vampire is not looking forward to his annoyingly perfect cousin Lupus coming to visit him. Can the school play help reveal who's got the real talent? This relatable story deals with issues such as the perils of trying to fit in and appreciating our talents with a comical twist. Punctured with inky illustrations this feel-good little book about friendship and family is spookily good for early readers at Halloween.

ISBN 9781847159571 PB Stripes Publishing £5.99

THE MONSTERS WE DESERVE BY MARCUS SEDGWICK
YOUNG ADULT 13+
An author searches for inspiration in the Alps villa where Shelley wrote Frankenstein. This claustrophobic monstrous tale will lure you in to witness the tortured mind of a writer. Do our creations define us? Who is the real monster? The creator or the people who judge and jury it? Who knows what is real and what is imagination? Ripe for book clubs and discussion, this will intrigue, infuriate and inspire. It will prey on your mind.
ISBN 9781788542302 HB Zephr £12.99

BLOG TOUR OCT 15th THE TRAIN TO IMPOSSIBLE PLACES BY P.G.BELL

BLOG TOUR FOR THE TRAIN TO IMPOSSIBLE PLACES BY  P.G.BELL

I was thrilled to interview Peter  about his exciting new middle grade magical adventure, The Train to Impossible Places. Read about Peter's book and his life as an author below.

Can you describe your book in one sentence?

Eleven year-old Suzy's world is turned upside down by a magical mail train, which propels her on a high speed adventure to save the Union of Impossible Places from a sinister force.

How did your Welsh upbringing influence this book?

I grew up in south Wales in the 1980s, when the last of the heavy industry that had defined the area for the previous century was disappearing People were out of work, and whole communities had been left without much hope or purpose. There was a general malaise in the air much of the time.

   I was keen to capture something of that in the book, which is why the troll's society has been suffering a period of "managed decline" when Suzy first encounters it. But I didn't want the reader to feel despondent, so I was careful to include some threads of hope as well - the Impossible Postal Express might be the last of its kind, but it has young and enthusiastic crew members in the form of Suzy and Wilmot, the Postmaster. And the trolls as a whole are inventive and brave. I want to leave the reader with the idea that it's going to endure, as will the rest of troll society. They're an inventive and brave species, and they're great at rebuilding when things go wrong.

Is there a train journey you would love to go on?

I'm lucky enough to have gone on some wonderful train journeys over the years, including the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan, and the Jungfrau railway in Switzerland. My dad is a rail enthusiast, so all our family holidays used to revolve around trains. But I've never ridden a transcontinental railway, and I'd really love to. The Trans-Siberian Express, or one of the coast-to-coast sleepers across the USA. That would be fantastic.

What's a typical writing day for you?

Once I've dropped the kids off at school in the morning, I sit down at my desk at home and write until midday, when I break for lunch. On a average morning I'll get about 1,500 words done. The afternoon is reserved for things like e-mails and admin, although I'll usually try and squeeze in an extra hour's writing before the kids get home again. On a really good day I'll have written 3000 words by the time I go to bed.

As a professional writer what has most surprised you that you didn't expect?

I've been very surprised by just how much extra work besides the writing is involved. There's so much admin! Payments, and taxes, and contracts, and publicity, and events, and travel, and correspondence... the list is endless. I took some advice and hired an accountant, who is worth his weight in gold. And I've employed my wife, who is wonderfully patient and practical, to handle a lot of the admin, which I'm dreadful at doing. That leaves me free to focus on the writing.

Can we have a sneaky clue what the next book will be about?

It's a sequel to The Train To Impossible Places. Suzy is determined to prove she can be a good Postie, but before she and the crew can get back out on the rails, disaster strikes. Trollville is in danger, and only they can save it!

Thank you Peter for a great interview. You can find more information about Peter and his book following handles and tags @petergbell  @Usborne  #TheTraintoImpossiblePlaces on look out for further interviews on the blog tour below. 

BOOK OF THE WEEK
THE TRAIN TO IMPOSSIBLE PLACES BY P.G. BELL
CHILDREN 9+
Science-loving Suzy is horrified to find a grumpy troll building a railway through her house for The Impossible Postal Express. Newly recruited Suzy will whisk children away into an enchanted world of talking packages, exploding bananas, witches and ghosts. Peppered with playful illustrations this magical adventure that turns science on its head is a helter-skelter ride providing enormous fun and the belief that anything is possible. The Wizard of Oz meets The Polar Express.
ISBN 9781474948616 HB Usborne £12.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW OCTOBER 13-14

This week my children's book reviews a majestic and inspirational poetry book, a lost horse looking for a friend, the untold story of the first man to the North Pole and a return to Miss Peregrine and her peculiar children on a new adventure. 

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

BOOK OF THE WEEK 

I AM THE SEED THAT GREW THE TREE BY FIONA WATERS & FRANN PRESTON-GANNON
CHILDREN 6+
A majestic collection of poems nestling within lustrous seasonal illustrations inspired by nature. Separated into the months of the year this sumptuous hardback is a treasure trove of our greatest poets from familiar favourites to new discoveries. This is perfect for all the family to dip into or share and for children to grow up with while learning to appreciate how beautiful verse can be in all its glory. A wonderful gift to keep.

ISBN 9780857637703 HB Nosy Crow £25

THE LOST HORSE BY MARK NICHOLAS
PICTURE BOOK 3+
One day a famous bronze horse sculpture disappears from a city museum. Far away a lonely girl, Lyra makes friends with a lost horse. Could he also be looking for a friend? The bond of friendship between girl and horse is perfectly caught within the sepia illustrations and splashes of colour to catch the eye. I especially loved the sense of movement and freedom as they both ride through the country. A modern-day fable.

ISBN 9781849765657 HB Tate Publishing £11.99

RACE TO THE FROZEN NORTH BY CATHERINE JOHNSON
CHILDREN'S 8+
A fictionalised account of the inspirational life of Matthew Henson, the first man to reach the North Pole. The story remained a secret because he was black. The adventure also gives a real sense of the world in the 1900's when this extraordinary man had to defy prejudices to achieve his dreams. The short format and clear text make it suitable for reluctant and dyslexic readers and perfect to discuss #blackhistorymonth in the classroom.

ISBN 9781781128404 PB Barrington Stoke £6.99

A MAP OF DAYS BY RANSOM RIGGS
YOUNG ADULT 12+
When Miss Peregrine and her peculiar children arrive in modern-day America to visit Jacob a new adventure begins with lots of magic and mayhem. Jacob must uncover the truth about his grandfather while facing a test of love, loyalty and friendship. A brilliantly imaginative quest that interweaves the modern day with fantastical beings and inventions. A whirlwind of excitement intermingled with evocative vintage photography. Edward Scissorhands meets Harry Potter.
ISBN 9780141285907 HB Penguin £14.99