The Reading Chair Children's Book Column for South Wales Evening Post Oct 3rd

The Reading Chair Children's Book Column for   South Wales Evening Post Oct 3rd
My pick of childrens books for this week ranging from picture books for toddlers to young adult fiction.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

MISTER CLEGHORN'S SEAL BY JUDITH KERR
Inspired by her father the legendary author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea tells a heartwarming story of Mr Cleghorn who rescues a seal pup called Charlie and takes it home to his flat. A poignant tale full of adventure and mishaps highlighting the special bond we can share with animals. Is there a happy ever after? The audio book is delightfully read by the actor Bill Nighy and has an afterword by Judith Kerr
ISBN: 9780008157302 HB HarperCollins £12.99

5/5 Stars

Picture Book 2+

PLEASE MR PANDA BY STEVE ANTONY

A deceptively simple tale teaching pre schoolers the rewards of good manners as delivered by a deadpan panda. When he offers his friends doughnuts why won't he give them one? Maybe because they won't say the magic word? Will spark discussion and deserves multiple readings. I love Mr Panda's expression's and have felt that way myself when people aren't polite. Your best buy BEFORE Christmas especially for little ones yelling I WANT!

ISBN 9781444916652 PB Hachette Children's Group £6.99

5/5 Stars

Childrens Book 6+

MEET AT THE ARK AT EIGHT! BY ULRICH HUB

This is an unusual and comical retelling for the young of Noah and his ark as seen through the eyes of three penguins! Two of the penguins who have tickets smuggle their friend onto the ark while having all sorts of theological debates but they stick together in the growing crisis. Full of dry wit and clever insights this is one to be shared and enjoyed by both children and adults
ISBN 9781782690870 PB Pushkin Children's Books £6.99
4/5 Stars

Young Adult fiction 13+

FROZEN BY MELISSA DE LA CRUZ AND MICHAEL JOHNSTON

A hybrid book mixing dystopian with fantasy. Think Mad Max meets X Men meets The Wild West! Nat is in Las Vegas hiding her special skills that are hunted and used by the brutal authority. The only way to survive is to find a mythical land called Blue with the help of mercenaries who harbour their own secrets. A unique mix of genres that sets it apart and is suitable for boys and girls.

ISBN 9781408334669 PB Hachette Children's Group £6.99

CLICK HERE FOR FULL REVIEW

4/5 Stars

The Reading Chair Children's Book Column for South Wales Evening Post Sept 26th

The Reading Chair Children's Book Column for 

South Wales Evening Post Sept 26th

BOOK OF THE WEEK




GOTH GIRL AND THE WUTHERING FRIGHT BY CHRIS RIDDEL

This sumptuous and richly decorated treasure of a book is every little girls dream gift. The metallic embossed cover and intricate illustrations on virtually every page are a delight. The third in the series we follow the continuing adventures of Ada and her friends as they struggle to solve a mysterious plot in Lord Goth's Dog Show. There are plenty of clever literary references such as Sir Walter Splott and Plain Austen that will appeal to adults and laugh out loud humour for the children. A real gem.

ISBN 9781447277897 PB Pan Macmillan £10.99
5/5 Stars


Picture Book 4+

GRANDAD'S ISLAND BY BENJI DAVIES
A sensitively handled story dealing with the death of a grandparent for the very young who are struggling to understand their loss. Syd is very close to his grandad and together they go on an adventure to a tropical island. However, only Syd can go home. This could help parents explain a difficult subject to their child. I also recommend by the same author The Storm Whale, a beautiful story about family and friendship.

ISBN 9781471115684 PB Simon & Schuster Ltd £6.99

5/5 Stars

Childrens 9+

THE ACCIDENTAL PRIME MINISTER BY TOM MCLAUGHLIN

By complete fluke Joe finds himself as prime minister in the UK. A great introduction to politics, the power of the media and international relations. An hilarious take on how kids would rule the world! It will certainly encourage them to vote especially as it shows how one person can make a difference in the world. An ambitious yarn which introduces serious points in a very entertaining way.

ISBN 9780192737748 PB Oxford University Press £6.99

4/5 Stars


Young Adult Fiction

TRIAL BY FIRE BY JOSEPHINE ANGELINI

Angelini's first series Starcrossed was great but this really cranks it up a notch. Lily suffers life endangering allergies, has a schizophrenic mother and absent father. Calamitous events send her into an alternative world where Lily grows from a peace loving sensitive girl into a strong powerful witch. So many twists and turns in this book it had me hooked from the beginning. The second, Firewalker, is just out so you can binge read!
ISBN 9781509809875 PB Pan Macmillan £7.99

4/5 Stars

The Reading Chair Childrens Book Column for South Wales Evening Post Sept 19th #DickKingSmith

The Reading Chair Childrens Book Column for South Wales Evening Post Sept 19^th

My pick of four great childrens books across a wide age range for all to enjoy!!

Childrens 4+

The Dinosaur That Pooped the Bed! By Tom Fletcher

What is it about poop that makes us giggle! The latest in the series written by two McBusted band members is a real guilty pleasure. Danny is ordered by his Mum to tidy his room but he just feeds his mess to his Dinosaur instead and you can guess the rest! Little boys will love the irresistible combination of poop and dinosaurs, it just may be a little too close to home for some parents!

ISBN: 9781782951797 PB Random House £6.99

4/5 Stars


Childrens 7+

The Hodgeheg by Dick King-Smith

I would recommend any book by this beloved children’s author. Best known for Babe, The Sheep Pig, King-Smith's endearing yet realistic style of writing will appeal to young children curious about the world. Hodgeheg tells the story of Max a hedgehog who lives on the wrong side of the road. An exciting story relaying the importance of road safety and of never giving up on a dream. www.dickkingsmith.com has great info for children and teachers.
ISBN: 9780141332383 Penguin PB £5.99
5/5 Stars



Young Adult Fiction 13+

Hope in a Ballet Shoe by Michaela DePrince

An extraordinary true story of an orphan from Sierra Leon who on seeing a picture of a ballerina is determined to become one against all the odds. Adopted by an American couple Michaela had to deal with a new culture and racism whilst dancing but despite all the setbacks she broke the mould to fulfil her dream. This book is a triumph over extreme adversity. A must read whether your a ballet fan or not!
ISBN:9780571314478 PB Faber & Faber £7.99
FULL REVIEW HERE
5/5 Stars

Book of Week

Childrens 9+

Grandpa's Great Escape By David Walliams

David Walliams, the young pretender to Roald Dahl returns with his irreverent humour to tease and torture his army of young fans. David's hotly anticipated new novel tells the story of the special bond between a small boy and his beloved grandfather who happens to be able to fly a spitfire plane. They both take to the skies to save the day immersing the reader in a rip roaring adventure over London. David's naughty sense of humour is perfectly captured by the drawings of award-winning illustrator Tony Ross. Out Sept 24th

ISBN: 9780007494019 HB HarperCollins £12.99

5/5 Stars

South Wales Evening Post Childrens Book Column #TheReadingChair Sept 12th

South Wales Evening Post Childrens Book Column #TheReadingChair in The Weekend section Sept 12th
I pick a selection of books for children suitable for all ages from picture books to Young Adult Fiction every Saturday

Picture Book 4+

A Great Big Cuddle by Michael Rosen Illustrated by Chris Riddell

Two giants of children’s literature have joined forces to create a magical anthology of poetry for the very young. In a perfect introduction to poetry Rosen starts with a cornucopia of tongue twisters and nonsense rhymes and ends with soothing verses to send even the most energetic child off to sleep. Paired with Riddell's bold and beautiful illustrations you will have lots of fun reading this out loud. A great present for all occasions.

• ISBN:9781406343199 Walker Books HB £14.99
• 5/5 Stars

Childrens 8-12 Years

How to Fight a Dragons Fury By Cressida Crowell
So this is Hiccup last adventure! However his army of fans will not be disappointed. Hiccup is fighting to save the dragons along with a few familiar faces and there are some really touching moments alongside rip roaring adventure. The classic David and Goliath premise will appeal to all. Personally I am going to really miss Hiccup's dragon Toothless. If you have withdrawals check out the brilliant website at www.howtotrainyourdragonbooks.com for more games and stories.

ISBN: 9781444916584 Hachette Children's Group HB £12.99

5/5 Stars

Childrens 11-18 Years

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgewick

Marcus Sedgwick has set up a fascinating premise that will have you gripped from the start. Laureth is sixteen and blind so when she sets off to find her missing father with her young brother and his stuffed toy raven Stan you want her to succeed despite the odds. It makes us look at the world from different angles and appreciate the mindset of a girl who no longer wants to be invisible just to fit in. Thought provoking.

FOR FULL REVIEW CLICK HERE

ISBN: 9781780621340 Hachette Children's Group PB £7.99

4/5 Stars

South Wales Evening Post Childrens Book Column #TheReadingChair Sept 5th

South Wales Evening Post Childrens Book Column #TheReadingChair in The Weekend section Sept 5th
I pick a selection of four books for children suitable for all ages from picture books to Young Adult Fiction every Saturday

Childrens Book of the Week

Listen To The Moon by Michael Morpurgo 9+
Another riveting bitter sweet tale from the much loved author of War Horse. A girl is washed up on the shores of the Scilly Isles in World War One. But who is she and where did she come from? Inspired by the true events of the sinking of the Lusitania is tells the tale of love, loss and survival as Lucy's past is slowly revealed. The twists and turns in this moving tale will have some children and adults reaching for their hankies! What sets Morpurgo apart is that he is able to convey real life events through a fascinating story that educational and enjoyable without being preachy. My only niggle is that it is a little long for this age group.
ISBN 9780007339655 PB £6.99 Harper Collins

4/5

ISBN 9780007339655 PB £6.99 Harper Collins

Picture Book 4+

The Big Blue Whale by Nicola Davies
After I saw the extraordinary sighting of a blue whale on Big Blue Live I was delighted to find this enchanting book has just been relaunched. Nicola is a zoologist who's poetic writing style is perfect for curious young minds wanting to know about the largest mammal on earth. Stunning illustrations by Nick Maland compliment the fascinating text. I loved the line, “The whale has eyes "as big as a teacup and as dark as the deep sea."


ISBN: 9780744578966 Walker Books, PB £6.99
5/5 Stars


For Children 7+

The Spy Who loved School Dinners by Pamela Buthart
Worthy winner of The Blue Peter Book Award for Best Story as voted for by children this is an hilarious mystery about a group of friends who think the new girl at is a spy. Izzy and her friends are suspicious of Matilde. Why is she so strange and why does she like school dinners nicknamed poison? She must be a school inspector! The witty illustrations really bring the engaging first person diary format to life.


ISBN 9780857632579 Nosy Crow, PB, £5.99
4/5 Stars


Young Adult/ Teen Fiction

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
Already a huge fan of her inaugural fantasy series The Throne of Glass which is inspired by Cinderella becoming an assassin imagine my excitement getting my hands on her new series A Court of Thornes and Roses. Based on Beauty and the Beast with a bit of Greek myth thrown in this blend off romance and adventure set in a darker, decadent fairy world will certainly raise the pulse of older teens. For Celeana fans the latest Queen of Shadows is out now.


ISBN 9781408857861 PB £7.99 Bloomsbury
Rating 5/5 Stars

Book List: Great Fiction Children Books for Starting School, Going Back to School and Just Off To University

Book List Of Great Fiction Childrens Books for Starting School,  Going Back to School/College and University and How To Survive!! 

Picture Book 4+

Hugless Douglas Goes To Little School by David Melling

The cuddliest bear in books is back and he's off to little school. This is the perfect story for young children before they start their first term. Hugless Douglass leads them gently through what can be a scary time showing how he makes friends and helps his teacher. I just adore the endearing illustrations and gentle prose making it the perfect introduction for a young child's first big adventure!

ISBN 9781444915617 PB £6.99 Hachette Children's Group 

Ratings 5 Stars 

Other great picture books for Starting School

• Topsy and Tim Start School by Jean Adamson, Ladybird
• Starting School by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, Puffin
• First Week at Cow School by Andy Cutbill, Harper Collins
• I am Too Absolutely Small For School by Lauren Child Orchard Books
• Knight School by Marillyn Singer, Red Fox
• Harry and The Dinosaurs Go To School by Ian Whybrow, Puffin

For Children 7+

Wild Thing by Emma Barnes

Anyone with a young sibling will immediately connect with Katie. Her little sister Josephine is starting at her school and she is filled with dread for good reason. Better known as Wild Thing, she could put Horrid Henry to shame and will appeal to boys and girls. I loved the sharp story telling complimented by hilarious illustrations which set the stage for Josephine, aka Wild Thing do her worst. WARNING Could inspire a new generation of naughtiness!

ISBN 9781407137957 PB £5.99 Scholastic

Rating 5 Stars

Other Great reads for children going back to or starting Middle School

• First Term at Malory Towers by Enid Blyton, Egmont
• Turning To Jelly by Candy Guard
• The Spy Who Loved School Dinners by Pamela Butchart, Nosy Crow
• Harry Potter and the Philosphers Stone by JK Rowling (9+)
• Matilda by Roald Dahl
• The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy, Puffin
• Middle School Series by James Patterson, Cornerstone

 Young Adult/ Teen Fiction/ 11+

My Secret Rockstar Boyfriend by Eleanor Wood

A witty coming of age book that’s the perfect escape from impending homework. Geeky blogger meets wild child rockstar are all the ingredients needed for a witty contemporary love story. When Tuesday throws caution to the wind to sneek of to Glastonbury to meet the boy of her dreams things don't quite turn out as she expects it. Ps. Don't forget to read the hilarious inspiration for this story at the end, it seems fact is stranger than fiction.
Click Here For Full Review

ISBN 9781447277873 PB £6.99 Pan Macmillan

Ratings 5 Stars

Other great fiction books for those starting in a new school/Sixth Form or off to university or college.

• This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Scales FULL REVIEW -New school, new location
• Fan Girl by Rainbow Rowell FULL REVIEW- starting University
• Isla And The Happy Ever Aftery by Stephanie Perkins FULL REVIEW-Decisions on going to college
• Stella By Helen Eve FULL REVIEW- surviving senior school and the 'in crowd'

Book Review: The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Synopsis

WINNER OF THE 2015 PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION AND
WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR FICTION

A beautiful, stunningly ambitious novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II

When Marie Laure goes blind, aged six, her father builds her a model of their Paris neighborhood, so she can memorize it with her fingers and then navigate the real streets. But when the Germans occupy Paris, father and daughter flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure’s agoraphobic great uncle lives in a tall, narrow house by the sea wall.

In another world in Germany, an orphan boy, Werner, is enchanted by a crude radio. He becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a talent ultimately makes him a highly specialized tracker of the Resistance. Werner travels through the heart of Hitler Youth to the far-flung outskirts of Russia, and finally into Saint-Malo, where his path converges with Marie-Laure.

Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE is his most ambitious and dazzling work.

My Musings

I think, no I know this is one of my favorite books of 2015. Epic and enchanting. Its a big book with short chapters that fly from one character to another, one time to another like a bee collecting honey. It almost defies description so I won't try as there is a perfectly adequate synopsis above. There is however nothing inadequate about this wondrous novel.It is exquisitely written and builds a vivid world beyond the book. It is a supremely talented writer to harness a story of such epic proportions in such eloquent and accessible style. Such is Doerr's skill at bringing all the threads of the story together you barely realise your are constantly jumping through time and into others lives every couple of pages. It seems very natural and fluid. He draws you into to his web if intrigue, friendship and survival.

There is a support cast of colourful and lovable characters that will live on in the memory as they fight the horrors of war. The end zips to 1970's and finally 2014 and it is filled with great poignancy and a reminder the horror of the war and a time of technical innocence was not that long ago. The connection the brings all the strands together is the development of the radio which even back then could bring random strangers together over the airwaves. Such encounters can be so meaningful and powerful it an last a lifetime. Now we have such a plethora of connectivity with the internet it seems meaningless. Doerr reminds us to appreciate fine craftsmanship, or the beauty of a shell,  a wild bird, the person across the street that makes your heart beat a little faster. The book is a subtle reminder that technology is a marvelous invention that can connect us but should not distract us from the life before us and around us.

I cried at the end simply because I had to close the book.

Unparalleled