BOOK REVIEW: WILD CITIES BY BEN LERWILL ILLUSTRATED BY HARRIET HOBDAY

BOOK OF THE WEEK 

WILD CITIES BY BEN LERWILL & HARRIET HOBDAY (ILLUSTRATOR)

Children's Non-Fiction Out Sept 3rd  

PENGUIN

BOOK REVIEW

An absorbing and extraordinary insight into the different types of wildlife living in cities across the world.

It is teaming with fascinating facts and intriguing anecdotes that will tempt little explorers and nature lovers to discover and see what animals live in their own cities.

Every city has a wild side waiting to be discovered that is perfectly illustrated by the sumptuous and detailed illustrations that burst from every page. Harriet cleverly brings each of the different cities characters to life making each location a visual delight.

Did you know London was home to exotic parakeets or that Berlin is the greenest city in Europe home to wild boars and racoons? 

This is also a timely reminder that animals are struggling to retain their homes. 

 Mumbai has lost 60% of its green space forcing all sorts of animals and reptiles such as snakes to venture into the city. But is also highlights how adaptable and tough animals and insects are in the example of the 18000 bees who survived the Notre Dame Cathedral fire.

It is a reminder we share our space with many other inhabitants even if we don't always see them. It will ignite curiosity in children and encourage them to look around and keep an eye out for the animals living quietly alongside them. 

 A lovely gift to share with little nature lovers and explorers. 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Picture a city. What do you see? Traffic and tower blocks? Or maybe you imagine something a little . . . wilder?

These are the astonishing stories of the animals who are adapting to live in our urban world - and how you can help them to thrive.

From the pitter-patter of penguins in Cape Town, to the prowl of a leopard in Mumbai, the splash of a seal in Sydney, cities are home to all sorts of unexpected residents.

Keep your eyes wide open as as we travel the globe discovering wild cities. With magical illustration and beautiful storytelling, these incredible stories will fascinate every reader who has the travel bug, or is an animal fan, or has ever wondered what else exists in our big cities.

Featuring: London, Berlin, Paris, Warsaw, Calgary, New York City, Chicago, Sydney, Beijing, Tokyo, Mumbai, Singapore, Cape Town and Seoul.

Ben Lerwill is a multiple award-winning writer. His work has appeared in a host of publications including National Geographic Traveller, Time Out, The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian. Over the past decade he's won four British Guild of Travel Writers' Awards, and often focuses on wildlife, rail journeys and the outdoors. Best of all, he writes fascinating, magical non-fiction stories that will amaze and inspire - just like the ones in this book.

 

Harriet Hobday is an extraordinary new talent, a recent graduate of the MA Children's Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. Currently based in Edinburgh, she was highly commended in the Macmillan Prize 2015 and runner-up for The Batsford Prize 2018.

Book of the Week: Book Review: Fish by Brendan Kearney

BOOK OF THE WEEK

 Book Review: Fish by Brendan Kearney Published by DK 

Published  on 3 September, £6.99 

A gorgeously illustrated inspirational picture book celebrating the environment and highlighting ways to help clean up the ocean. 

Finn and his dog Skip go out to sea to catch a fish for their supper. But when all they catch is rubbish they realise the sealife is suffering. How can they help? They meet children cleaning the beach and learn how to help keep our oceans clean. 

A wonderful inspirational picture book which has the children educating the adult how to help reduce plastic and small steps can make a big difference. It hopefully will inspire younger generations to be more aware of the harm plastic is causing to the sea life and ways they can help and be more mindful. 

A lovely book to share with the family and in the class room. 

The theatrical illustrations tell their own story with a plethora of detail little ones will delight in exploring. A great deal of thought, detail and empathy has gone into this gently educational picture book.  Stunning. 

Book Description- 

Fish follows Finn the fisherman and his dog, Skip, as they try to catch a fish for their supper. Although no matter how hard they try, all they seem to catch is rubbish - but they soon find a way to put all that rubbish to good use. 

 

This is an ideal introduction to the environmental concerns facing our oceans that delivers an uplifting message about protecting the world around us. Brendan dreamt up the story whilst walking his own dog along the beach near Dartmoor and seeing all the litter piling up, so he thought Finn and Skip might encourage children to think about how they can help.

Book Review: The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed

 

Book Review The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed Simon & Schuster1992      Four police officers are equited of beating to death a black man called Rodney King. As violence engulfs LA Ashley is trying to focuse on finishing High School but events reveal uncomfortable and hidden truths about the realities of being black even in a protected wealthy environment. This multi-layered story interweaves the rights of passage as a teenager combined with the hurdles about race and class that have to be navigated by people of colour. It is a fascinating and different perspective of real life events seen through the eyes of a fictional teenage girl. A bittersweet journey of self identity and what it means to be black. You are immediately drawn into LA life and the eclectic and engaging group of characters while questioning your own journey through life and seeing events from a different perspective. A gripping and empathetic read that would be excellent for group discussion as it raises many current and ongoing issues as well as being an enjoyable holiday read. 

BOOK REVIEW Ways To Make Sunshine by Renee Watson Illustrated Mechal Roe

Book Review: Ways To Make Sunshine by Renee Watson Illustrated Mechal Roe 

The start of a young middle-grade series for 7+ readers starring a black girl and her relatable and lovable family growing up in middle-class America

When Ryan and her family have to downsize because her Dad has to take a lower-paid job, she and her brother must adjust to a new life. Surrounded by a loving family and supported by loyal friends, Ryan learns to adapt by working hard, making the most of new opportunities while holding on to old traditions. 

Children will love Ryan and her struggles with change, friends and self-image. They will definitely want to be best friends with Renee because she is so relatable. It is suitable for young readers with short chapters and adorable line drawings. This contemporary story is full of humour and empathy with an endearing heroine and family dynamic. Another triumph from Renee who has a gift for insightful descriptions and details making you feel you are there in the story.  I look forward to Ryan's further adventures. 

I'm a BIG fan of Renee Watson's Young Adult books. I especially loved Piecing Me Together, and this is another triumph.

BOOK REVIEW: DO NOT DISTURB DRAGONS BY MICHELLE ROBINSON

DO NOT DISTURB DRAGONS BY MICHELLE ROBINSON 

CHILDREN FANTASY 8+

BLOOMSBURY 

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#BOOKREVIEW
princess Grace and Portia are two royal sisters who do not like the rules of their Kingdom which are there to protect the dragons who protect them and bring them luck. These two independent sisters are not afraid to challenge the rules and fulfil their dreams of becoming knights like the boys. I loved their anarchic world and the rebellious retelling of the classic Princess and dragon stories. They have to train a unicorn (Poop being a personal favourite ) give the slip to a very loyal and cute troll.
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Most hilarious is that dragons have sparkly poo and if they poop on you it is thought to be good luck! What little girl is not going to love these strong princesses, unicorns with attitudes sparkly dragons and loyal trolls.? Get ready for these princesses ride to victory and show the boys they're just as good 😉 shows hints of the paperback princess and Alanna the song of the lioness series. But this definitely falls into its own category and I absolutely loved it. A great read for the summer holidays. 8+ #mglit

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.PRESS RELEASE
..Two intrepid girls go from ladies-in-waiting to knights in action when they rip up the rule book and go in search for adventure and dragons! Out in July 9th .
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..#bookstagram #bookstagramfeature #coverkidsbooks #instabook #kidslit #newbook #bookblogger #bookstagram #bookstagramfeature #coverkidsbooks #instabook #kidslit #newbook #newfictions #newfiction #gifted

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Book Review The Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L.D. Lapinski

The Strangeworlds Travel Agency

by L.D. Lapinski 

WHEN 12-YEAR OLD Flick stumbles into a magical travel agency and meets Jonathan her world changes forever. Flick discovers she has a hidden talent for seeing magic others cannot and it enables her to travel to magical worlds through suitcases. but the world's are falling apart and together they must save them and find Jonathan's missing father. 

#themagicfarawaytree meets #drwho with a bit of Narnia. And I hope the author does not mind but it immediately reminded me of watching Mr Ben as he travelled to different parts of the world 🥰 this is a unique and exciting quest that children will be thrilled to explore. they will love all the imaginative worlds and eclectic cast and the children's growing friendships. It is a whirlwind tour that you will not want to miss. Brilliant. Can't wait for the next one 🥰

Book Description 

‘Assured, witty and inventive. This debut has “future classic” written all over it.’ – The Guardian

Pack your suitcase for a magical adventure! Perfect for fans of The Train to Impossible Places and The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club.

At the Strangeworlds Travel Agency, each suitcase transports you to a different world. All you have to do is step inside . . .

When 12-year-old Flick Hudson accidentally ends up in the Strangeworlds Travel Agency, she uncovers a fantastic secret: there are hundreds of other worlds just steps away from ours. All you have to do to visit them is jump into the right suitcase. Then Flick gets the invitation of a lifetime: join Strangeworlds’ magical travel society and explore other worlds.

But, unknown to Flick, the world at the very centre of it all, a city called Five Lights, is in danger. Buildings and even streets are mysteriously disappearing. Once Flick realizes what’s happening she must race against time, travelling through unchartered worlds, seeking a way to fix Five Lights before it collapses into nothingness – and takes our world with it.

A magical adventure for 9+ readers that will take you to whole new worlds.

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The Ballad of Song birds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins Published by Scholastic
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. BOOK REVIEW in this return to the Hunger games we are immediately thrown to the  snakes. LITERALLY Throughout this epic dystopian adventure 18 year-old Coriolanus Snow must pick between love and loyalty, ambition or empathy, friend or foe.  The Hunger Games are more brutal and cutthroat, more Machiavellian and richly imagined with lovable and memorable characters that will lure you in. This is one prequel that definitely lived up to expectation.
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