CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW FOR THE SOUTH WALES EVENING POST APRIL 8-9

This week my pick of children's books for The South Wales Evening Post include a book loving heroine, fun at the farm, a code cracking young genius and a time travelling romance.

My column can be found in the Weekend supplement of The South Wales Evening Post on Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

BOOKSHOP GIRL BY SYLVIA BISHOP & ILLUSTRATED BY ASHLEY KING

CHILDREN 9+

Property has a big secret. She can't read, even though she loves everything about books. When her adopted family win a wondrous bookshop, is the prize too good to be true? Will Property save her family from disaster and keep her secret? Can the shop's very grumpy cat help her? This magical story is a joy with a feisty heroine that will capture your heart. The line illustrations by Ashley King compliment its quirky charm throughout. Enchanting.

ISBN 9781407159690 PB Scholastic £5.99

REALLY FEELY FARM BY DORLING KINDERSELY

BOARD BOOK 0+

These delightful sturdy touch and feel books are packed with fluffy patches, bumpy patterns and tactile glitter that invite pre schoolers to touch and tickle. The crisp, clear pictures and text show a well thought out introduction to animals and birds on the farm. Toddlers can learn the names of chickens, pigs, sheep and more. Also available in the series are Baby Animals. A perfect and healthy alternative to chocolate for Easter!

ISBN 9780241268056 HB Dorling Kindersley £ 5.99

WILLIAM WENTON AND THE LURIDIUM THIEF BY BOBBIE PEERS

CHILDREN 9+

William has inherited a genius for code breaking from his grandfather, who has mysteriously disappeared. When his extraordinary talent is discovered he is kidnapped and taken to a secretive institute full of some very cool gadgets and robots. What is the strange substance called Luridium? Who is chasing him? This award winning adventure bristles with excitement, humour and some jaw dropping cliff hangers giving it a wide appeal. Da Vinci Code meets Alex Rider.

ISBN 9781406371703 PB Walker Books £6.99

WAKING IN TIME BY ANGIE STANTON

YOUNG ADULT 13+

Abbi arrives in college only to find, on her second day, she wakes up in 1983. It's just the beginning of her time travelling. Can she solve her grandmother's mystery as she tumbles through the decades? Another student, Will has travelled forward in time from 1927. Will their love survive? How will they get back home? A nostalgic, romantic mystery with a timely twist. Back to the Future meets The Time Travellers Wife.

ISBN 9781782025931 PB Curious Fox £7.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK COLUMN MARCH 11-12

This week my pick of children's books for The South Wales Evening Post include a glorious Pre Raphaelite romance, an inventive picture book about loving our differences, a thrilling and imaginative fantasy adventure and the conclusion of an epic fantasy series that will set your pulse racing.

My column can be found in the Weekend supplement of The South Wales Evening Post on Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

FOLLOWING OPHELIA BY SOPHIA BENNETT

YOUNG ADULT 12+

When young servant Mary becomes a muse to the Pre Raphaelites she enters a rebellious world of glamour and scandal. With her flaming red hair, Mary reinvents herself as Persephone Lavelle fighting to become the new face of London's glittering art scene. Can she achieve her dreams of leaving servitude without losing her true self? A sumptuous historical romance that paints a vivid picture of Victorian London. Perfect for lovers of romance, history and art.

ISBN 9781847158109 Stripes PB £7.99

I LOVE YOU (NEARLY ALWAYS) BY ANNA LLENAS

PICTURE BOOK 4+

Roly is a woodlouse and Rita is a firefly. Can they be friends despite all their differences? An extraordinary feat of paper engineering full of pop ups and fold outs that will amaze. It involves the children in this thoughtfully written story that clearly demonstrates the possibilities of friendships with others who are different to themselves. Perfect for group discussion about acceptance and understanding even if you don't always agree!

ISBN 9781783707614 HB Templar £14.99

THE FEARLESS TRAVELLERS GUIDE TO WICKED PLACES BY PETE BEGLER

CHILDREN 9+

Twelve year old Nell's mother has been kidnapped by witches and turned into a bird. Journeying to Wicked Places can she break the spell before the world turns into a living nightmare? A richly imagined world full of courage and family bonds. Both exciting and scary this lyrically written fantasy draws you into its visually extraordinary world full of wild landscapes and unforgettable characters. Narnia meets Brothers Grimm.

ISBN 978178202595 PB Curious Fox £7.99

THE SCARECROW QUEEN BY MELINDA SALISBURY
YOUNG ADULT 13+
The explosive conclusion to The Sin Eaters Daughter ends in a final battle. The heroine Twylla is powerless and on the run. Can the rebels prevent the Sleeping Prince from destroying everything they love? This darkly addictive series has non stop action, power struggles, betrayal and great camaraderie and friendships. An ambitious fantasy for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Alwyn Hamilton. To be devoured in one sitting.
ISBN 9781407147659 PB Scholastic £7.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST BOOK COLUMN SEPT 10TH-11TH

My children's books this week for The South Wales Evening Post include a return to the feisty Lois Lane of Superman fame, an encyclopedia must have for young minds, doodles to celebrate Roald Dahl's centenary and an adventurous secret passion for baking,  great for fans of the Great British Bake Off.  All in the Weekend Magazine Section. Enjoy! 

BOOK OF THE WEEK

DOUBLE DOWN BY GWENDA BOND
YOUNG ADULT 13+
Lois Lane is back on the case. Being a huge fan of Superman I loved this reimagining of her teenage years. An army brat in a new school with a secret pen pal called 'SmallvilleGuy' and a job at the local rag, The Daily Planet, this has all the ingredients to keep fans happy. In her second adventure Lois is catapulted into a dangerous mystery of greed, politics and revenge. Precocious and sassy.
ISBN 9781782023692 PB Curious Fox £6.99
5/5 Stars

MY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF VERY IMPORTANT THINGS
CHILDRENS 4+
Inquisitive little learners always need a book of extremely useful facts for all those niggling questions about the world around them. Look no further because this will certainly take them on an educational journey of discovery through different cultures, people and places which will set young minds alight. Brimming with facts and figures alongside an array of photos and colour illustrations this is a brilliant addition to a child’s library. Supports the KS1 National Curriculum.
ISBN 9780241224939 HB Dorling Kindersley £14.99
5/5 Stars

ROALD DAHL SCRIBBLE BOOK BY ROALD DAHL
CHILDREN 7+
Celebrate the centenary of one of our greatest children’s authors with this creative book inspired by the wonderful world of Roald Dahl. 'Squibble' and colour your way through the fun activities featuring his most famous characters including the BFG, Willy Wonka and my favourite, Matilda. Draw your own Chocolate Factory or design a fantastic home for Mr Fox! Illustrations by the irrepressible Quentin Blake means this 'whoopsy whiffling' book will inspire hours of 'phizz-whizzing' fun.
ISBN 9780141368245 PB Penguin £6.99
5/5 Stars

THE SECRET COOKING CLUB BY LAUREL REMINGTON
CHILDRENS 9+
Scarlett is having a tough time at school since her mum became a famous blogger using her for toe curling inspiration. Withdrawing from anything that could potentially attract her mums attention she finds solace in secretly cooking. A sharply observed story about family, friends and the world of social media, this mixes the magic ingredients of baking and blogging to create a perfect literary treat. Worthy winner of the Times/Chicken House Competition.
ISBN 9781910655245 PB Chicken House £6.99
5/5 Stars

YOU CAN BUY ALL THE ABOVE BOOKS AT  HIVE HERE AND SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSHOP AT THE SAME TIME. 

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SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW JULY 23rd-24th

My children's books this week for The South Wales Evening Post include one of our greatest Olympians encouraging us to read and run, Peter Rabbit doodling in Beatrix Potters 150th Anniversary, an award winning story dealing with the sensitive issue of depression and a dystopian adventure influenced by Greek Myth!  All In the Weekend Magazine Section. Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

READYSTEADY MO! BY MO FARAH & KES GRAY
PICTURE BOOK 4+
A fun book to get running and reading with Mo in the lead up to the Olympics. Join the double Olympic Gold Medallist as he runs to get dressed, with the family and even into space! The repetitive text and rhythm combined with the energetic and bold illustrations will kick start a new generation of runners and encourage early readers. Definitely too vigorous for bedtime but great for encouraging kids to get up and go!
ISBN 9781444934076 PB Hodder Childrens £6.99
5/5 Stars

PETERRABBIT:DOODLE BOOK BY BEATRIX POTTER
CHILDRENS 5+

Celebrate the 150^th Anniversary of Beatrix Potters birth with this fantastic doodle book.

A large colouring book in which you can paint, draw or scribble using the wonderful illustrations of her best loved creations such as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle Duck and Tom Kitten. Children are encouraged to use their imagination or simply colour in the line drawings of their favourite characters providing hours of fun that will be sure to fire up their creativity.

ISBN 9780241258675 PB Penguin £ 7.99
4/5 Stars

AUBREYAND THE TERRIBLE YOOT BY HORATIO CLARE
CHILDRENS 8+
Rambuctious child Aubrey is determined to help save his father from the spirit of despair, The Terrible Yoot. An evocative tale tackling the sensitive issue of depression, this beautifully illustrated story immerses us in a magically imbued countryside with talking animals. A worthy winner of The Branford Bose Award and a future classic. This touching family story and thrilling adventure is, as proclaimed by Michael Morpurgo, 'a sheer joy'.
ISBN 9781910080283 PB Firefly Press Ltd £7.99
5/5 Stars

CHILDRENOF ICARUS BY CAIGHLAN SMITH
YOUNG ADULT 13+
A coming of age adventure about finding inner strength even when you don't know its there. Influenced by Greek myth, a band of teenagers are chosen to enter a secretive maze in the hope of becoming 'Angels'. When the honour becomes a nightmare they struggle for survival and try and find a way out. This nail biting adventure is perfect for fans of The Maze Runner and Hunger Games. Gripping.
ISBN 9781782024927 PB Curious Fox £6.99

5/5 Stars

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