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 OCT 6-7

This week my children's book reviews include an magic train, a dog who plays the violin, a wizard and warrior fighting an evil spell and a boy brought up by dogs in time of war. 

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

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

THE BEAR, THE PIANO, THE DOG AND THE FIDDLE BY DAVID LITCHFIELD
PICTURE BOOK 4+
When fiddler-playing Hector retires his dog Hugo, also his best friend, learns to play instead. When Hugo is invited on tour by a world-famous bear will their friendship survive? The opulent and luminous illustrations take us from the bustling city to the intimacy of performing in a theatre. An empathetic tale of true friendship and following your dreams that will wrap itself around you like a giant bear hug. A gorgeous tale to treasure.
ISBN 9781847809179 HB Lincoln Children's Books £11.99

TWICE MAGIC BY CRESSIDA COWELL
CHILDREN 9+
A young Wizard Xar and a young girl warrior Wish are supposed to hate each other but instead they form an unlikely alliance to thwart an Evil Spell. I loved the mysterious narrator that whispers in the readers ear while the scratchy ink illustrations provide pause for thought in this fearless and velocious adventure. Children will be plunged into an all-consuming world described with a breathless urgency that never slows down. Perfect for hungry little bookworms.

ISBN 9781444941401 HB Hodder £12.99

DOGCHILD BY KEVIN BROOKS
YOUNG ADULT 12+
Wild dogs raised Jeet. Recaptured and rehumanised Jeet now lives in a besieged town with the last of his people. As he records the events of their final battle, he struggles to come to terms with who he is and where he belongs. Will his struggles with his own identity help his people to survive? The story creates a visceral thrill as we are absorbed in the story's wild, brutal and sometimes violent world.
ISBN 9781405276207 PB Electric Monkey £7.99