SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW MARCH 30-31 2019

This week my children's book reviews include a book of Ocean Life using exquisite floral collages, a Mummy Tiger looking for a home for her cubs, a Mummy Fox exploring nature with her little fox and a fascinating look at the life of sharp shooter Annie Oakley.

Some Great Books for Mothers Day and Easter. 

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

BOOK OF THE WEEK 

BENEATH THE WAVES BY HELEN AHPORNSIRI

CHILDREN 5+

A stunning exploration of what lies hidden beneath the waves. Each chapter explores a different ocean realm brought to life with exquisite and intricate collages solely created with sea-weeds and coastal plants. Marvel at how Helen transforms silky seaweed, feathery algae and bright coastal blooms into playful penguins, underwater cities and ocean giants. A beautiful gift to treasure for Mother's Day and a delightful alternative to an Easter egg. Perfect for nature and animal lovers.

ISBN 9781787413801 HB Big Picture Press £12.99

LITTLE TIGERS BY JO WEAVER
PICTURE BOOK 3+
Mother Tiger and her two cubs journey through the jungle searching for a new home. Will they find refuge behind a waterfall, up in the trees, in a cave or a temple? These striking charcoal and sepia illustrations perfectly capture the tiger family and the parental bond. Also the story could start a discussion about either moving house or conservation of tigers. A moving and thought-provoking story to share on Mother's Day.

ISBN 9781444937534 PB Hodder £6.99

FOLLOW ME, LITTLE FOX BY CAMILA CORREA & SEAN JULIAN
PICTURE BOOK 3+
When Little Fox finds city life too noisy and busy Mummy Fox takes him on an adventure into the countryside. A beautifully illustrated reminder of the importance of playing and spending time in the outdoors and appreciating all the sights, smells and sounds. It also will create an appreciation of nature. A lovely book to share on Mother's Day and it hopefully will inspire young children to plant seeds and watch them grow.

ISBN 9781788810876 HB Little Tiger £11.99

ONE SHOT BY TANYA LANDMAN
YOUNG ADULT 13+
A coming of age drama inspired by the life of sharpshooter Annie Oakley. An insightful and gripping novella that depicts a young woman's fight for a better life in the Wild West of 19th Century America. A story about hope, ambition and overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. A gripping tale that is perfectly pitched for dyslexic and reluctant readers as well as book clubs. A powerful story of a girl in a man's world that really hits the bullseye.
ISBN 9781781128510 PB Barrington Stoke £7.99

Childrens Book Review Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs

FIRE GIRL BY MATT RALPHS

SYNOPSIS

Twelve-year-old Hazel Hooper has spent her whole life trapped in a magical Glade created by her mother, Hecate.

She's desperate to meet new people and find out about the world. And, more than anything, she wants to be a witch. But when her mother is kidnapped by a demon - everything changes ...Suddenly Hazel is alone in the world.

Well ...not quite alone. For it turns out that Hazel does have magic - she's just not very good at controlling it. And she may have accidentally created a grumpy familiar in the form of a dormouse called Bramley. Determined to rescue her mother, the young witch and her mouse set out to track down the demon and find Hecate.

However, it turns out that life outside the Glade is far more dangerous than Hazel ever could have imagined.

Witch Hunters are everywhere - and the witches are using demons to fight back! Luckily for Hazel she manages to enlist the help of a handsome boy called David, and his drunken master, Titus White, who are expert demon hunters. And witch finders ...Fire Girl is a fantastic new magical adventure from Matt Ralphs - perfect for young readers with a taste for the extraordinary!

MY MUSINGS

This is a historical magical adventure about friendship, loyalty and bravery. Set in an alternative Cromwellian England Ralphs cleverly mixes fact with fiction full of witches, demons and magic. 

Hazel, is struggling to find her magical powers but when her mother, a powerful witch, is kidnapped by a demon, she quickly finds out she is a fire witch.  On Hazel's thrilling quest to find her mother we meet her familiar, a grumpy dormouse called Bramley who I especially loved, mostly for his sarcastic humour!!  I found their bond one of the lynch pins of the story and really hope their strong bond grows in the next book. Hazel also teams up with two witch finders while trying to keep her true identity a secret. But will they help or betray her? 

A gripping fast paced read great for confident readers and as a bedtime story. There's enough depth and bite to keep parents interested as well as the children. Ralphs builds up a powerful magical world and there are definitely a few scary bits. Hazel is a lively, strong character who learns from her mistakes as she goes along.  Cleverly there are some unanswered questions such as who is Hazels father? Why is it a secret? These are just some of the twists and turns in the plot that will have you chomping for the next installment. Aimed at a younger audience with shorter chapters and no sexual or overly violent content its great for boys and girls

AGE 9+

This book was kindly sent to me by Pan Macmillan in return for an honest review.

• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 288 pages
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Publication Date: 13/08/2015
• Category: Fantasy
• ISBN: 9781447283553

Childrens Book Review for Remembrance Day in The South Wales Evening Post Nov 7th

Childrens Book Review for Remembrance Day in The South Wales Evening Post Nov 7th

A Selection of Books for Children to mark Remembrance Day 

 I picked four books for all ages which feature both World Wars.  Where The Poppies Now Grow is a sensitive book for the very young giving a gentle introduction to WW1. I wanted to include a poetry book as I think children should be introduced to this genre from a young age and they are short, you can dip in and out and can sometimes capture the time of war in the most powerful way. The Snow Goose and War Horse are both classic books that should be read. They both contain a powerful message of loyalty and love and will live on in the memory long after these book has been finished.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

SNOW GOOSE BY PAUL GALLICO

A hauntingly beautiful book that in my opinion is a forgotten classic and which has stayed in my memory since I was a teenager. It tells the story of an unlikely love between a disfigured artist and a young girl whilst they care for an injured bird and is set against the ravages of the Second World War. A story that will touch your heart with its rawness of emotion and nobility of spirit.
ISBN 9780140299526PB Penguin Books Ltd £7.99
5/5 Stars

PICTURE BOOK 5+

WHERE THE POPPIES NOW GROW BY HILARY ROBINSON
A movingly poetic story about the strength of friendship in a time of war. Two young friends innocently sign up to fight in WW1, proud to do their duty but not fully understanding the reality and the horrors they will experience. Aimed especially for young children it first shows two friends pretending to be soldiers to the reality of actually fighting in the trenches. The lyrical writing and beautiful illustrations make it accessible for all ages.
ISBN 9780957124585PB Strauss House Productions £6.99
5/5 Stars

CHILDRENS 9+

POEMS FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR BY GABY MORGAN

Poems about the war written by those who have experienced it first hand can elicit a truly visceral reaction which evokes the reality of the time. This comprehensive collection serves as a great introduction to First World War poetry. Alongside the most well known ,such as Wilfred Owen's haunting Dulce Et Decorum Est, its good to see many women’s voices, such as Vera Brittain and Eleanor Farjeon, included.

ISBN 9781447248644PB Pan Macmillan £5.99

5/5 Stars

CHILDRENS BOOK 9+

WAR HORSE BY MICHAEL MORPURGO

A children’s classic that shows the realities of World War One through the eyes of a horse called Joey. We all know the horrendous human loss but Morpurgo shows the enormous sacrifice that was made by animals at the time as well. Joey sees the best and worst of humanity, however his devotion to his first master remains. It is an emotional adventure that highlights loyalty and friendship.

ISBN 9781405226660 PB Egmont UK Ltd £6.99

5/5 stars