CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW IN THE SOUTH WALES EVENING POST JULY 8-9

This week my children book reviews include  a giraffe who wants to read, an imaginative spin on Little Red Riding Hood, a naughty but very funny monkey and a magical romance for the holidays.

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

BOOK OF THE WEEK

PAWS OFF MY BOOK BY FABI SANTIAGO

PICTURE BOOK 3+

Olaf the giraffe is really excited when he finds a book. But his pleasure turns to frustration when his friends keep advising him how to read it! Stand on one leg like a flamingo? Hang upside down like a monkey? A charming story of finding your own way. The joyfully, florescent illustrations from the talented illustrator of the magnificent Tiger in a Tutu, really add to the fun. Booklicious!

ISBN 9781407171487 PB Scholastic £6.99

LITTLE RED BY DAVID ROBERTS & LYNN ROBERTS-MALONEY

PICTURE BOOK 4+

An imaginative spin on a classic fairy tale. The story of a boy, a grandmother, a Big Bad Wolf and a keg of ginger beer! Thomas is known as Little Red. When he visits his Grandma she doesn't seem quite herself. Can he save her and himself? The watercolour illustrations are set in the eighteenth century with big wigs and satin dresses. It also has a Tim Burtonesque feel that will delight children and grown ups.

ISBN 9781843653288 PB Pavilion £6.99

THIMBLE MONKEY SUPERSTAR BY JON BLAKE

CHILDREN 7+

When Jams and his family are tricked into looking after a monkey called Thimble, all hell breaks loose. But when Jams is in mortal danger, there is only one monkey who can save the day! An absolutely hilarious story, which has deservedly been shortlisted for the Lollies, Laugh Out Loud Book Awards. This is an imaginative tale,with sharp one liners and a truly batty adventure which is still making me giggle! #votethimble

ISBN 9781910080344 PB Firefly Press £5.99

MISS MATCH BY CRYSTAL CESTARI

CHILDREN 12+

Amber has a gift. She can see someone's soul mate after five seconds of eye contact. This is rather awkward when she falls for the cutest boy in the school but her gift doesn't agree. Will she go against fate and let herself fall for someone who she shouldn't be with? Get swept away by an enchanting clean teen romance this summer. Fans of Geek girl and Girl Online will love this magically messed up romance.

ISBN 9781784299163 PB Quercus £7.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW OCTOBER 8-9 TH

In my children's book column this week I feature a little pig who saves the day, a beautiful picture book full of dragons,  a touching family drama that has a touch of fantasy and a haunting contemporary romance. 

Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

A PIGLET CALLED TRUFFLE BY HELEN PETERS
CHILDREN 6+
Jasmine secretly saves an unloved piglet from death but their growing bond is put under pressure when Truffle is discovered and her future questioned as a suitable pet. A terrible storm allows Truffle to return the favour and maybe even save her own bacon! Accompanied by the charming illustrations of Swansea born illustrator Ellie Snowdon this warm and authentic story about life on the farm has huge appeal for Dick King-Smith fans and animal lovers alike.
ISBN 9780857637734 PB Nosy Crow £6.99

TELL ME A DRAGON BY JACKIE MORRIS
PICTURE BOOK 3+
There are many types of dragons. From Sea dragons who play with dolphins to Fire dragons or Ice Dragons, large and small. You are invited to discover every species and maybe even find your own. This new special edition is a treasure trove of jewelled illustrations adorning the lyrical text from this renowned Pembrokeshire artist. A modern day classic, great for sharing and igniting the imagination, with extra field notes about these mythical beasts lives and habitats.
ISBN 9781847802422 HB Frances Lincoln £11.99

THERE MAY BE A CASTLE BY PIERS TORDAY
CHILDRENS 9+

It's Christmas Eve and Mouse, an eleven year old boy, and his family are involved in a car accident in the middle of nowhere. Only Mouse can help but to do so he must enter a magical world and fulfil a quest. A whimsical adventure that straddles fantasy and reality full of knights, monsters and a sheep called Bar. A tale of bravery, loss and life and ultimately hope with a touch of Dahl and Lewis Carroll.
ISBN 9781848668621 HB Quercus £12.99

HAUNT ME BY LIZ KESSLER
YOUNG ADULT 13+
Troubled teen Erin is looking for a new beginning in a new town and new school. Finding a boyfriend, Joe, whose is also a ghost might not be the best start. Fighting for her affections is his brother Olly, who's very much alive and hiding a guilty burden. This darkly romantic novel deals with loss, bullying and mental health issues. With raw emotion and hard hitting truths this will pluck your heartstrings whilst appreciating living in the moment.
ISBN 9781444009187 PB Orion Books £7.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST BOOK COLUMN AUGUST 20th -21st

My children's books this week for The South Wales Evening Post include a surfing adventure, people eating monsters, an atlas of animals and a coming of age drama about friendship.  All In the Weekend Magazine Section. Enjoy!


BOOK OF THE WEEK

RIDE BY LISA GLASS
YOUNG ADULT 12+
A hot summer read perfect for the beach. Seventeen year old professional surfer, Iris has travelled the world chasing waves but the life she dreamt of isn’t the paradise she hoped. When her first love crumbles she returns home to find her passion for surfing again. A tidal wave of sun drenched passion this contemporary tale shows how success at an impressionable age brings many pitfalls and temptations with it. Part of a trilogy.
ISBN 9781848663442 PB Quercus £7.99
5/5 Stars

EAT YOUR PEOPLE BY LOU KUENZLER & DAVID WOJTOYCZ
PICTURE BOOK 3+
This fiendishly twisted tale about difficult dinnertimes will have every child thinking again about eating their greens. Monty the Monster doesn't want to eat the supper his Mum has made for him. People are yucky, crunchy and very sour and he would rather eat his veggies! Children will love the bold and brash illustrations of this wickedly adorable monster family. An alternative story for fussy eaters. Naughty but also nice.


ISBN 9781408330333 HB Orchard Books £ 11.99
5/5 Stars

WILDERNESS BY HANNAH PANG
CHILDRENS 6+
This sumptuous book will engage the explorer in us all. From the depths of the deepest oceans to the rain forest canopies to on safari this book unveils a mesmerising array of animals from all four corners of the earth. Bursting with vibrant illustrations and fascinating facts about bugs, sea life, birds and reptiles each habitat is created for a unique experience of discovery throughout its intricate lift the flap pages that will captivate.
ISBN 9781848575066 HB 360 Degrees £ 15.99
5/5 Stars

HIGHLY ILLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR BY JOHN COREY WHALEY
YOUNG ADULT 12+
An enormously endearing quirky tale of three teens who are about to take the next step in their lives. All have different issues including coming out, agoraphobia, first love and family responsibilities. At the heart of the book is their new friendship and how it expands and grows their world and themselves. A beautifully sensitive tale that understands life may not be perfect but can still be lived in all its technicolour glory.
ISBN 9780571330447 PB Faber & Faber £7.99

5/5 Stars

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

Hive.co.uk works hand in hand with independendent bookshops to bring you books, DVDs and ebooks. Free delivery to your local bookshop or direct to your door. Shop local, shop independent

My Top Ten Christmas Books for 9+ and confident readers

My top ten favourite books I reviewed in 2015 perfect for Christmas. Suitable for confident readers 9+. 

1.THE WOLF WILDER BY KATHERINE RUNDELL

High octane adventure set in snow bound Russia. A 'dark and stormy' girl called Feo fights for survival alongside a pack of wolves who's ultimate goal is freedom. Feo teaches tame wolves to fend for themselves but when the Russian Army threaten their very existence they must go on the run. A beautifully written modern day fairytale laced with Russian culture and folklore and evocative little drawings inside.

ISBN: 9781408862582  HB Bloomsbury Publishing £12.99

2.RETURN TO THE SECRET GARDEN BY HOLLY WEBB

A welcome return to one of my favourite classics is sure to weave its spell over a new generation. Set against the backdrop of World War Two it tells of a lonely orphan Emmie sent to Misselthwaite for safety. Whilst pining for her cat left behind in London there is a secret garden to be uncovered. The realities of war are never far away however heralding new beginnings and endings. This is an atmospheric, beautiful read I thoroughly enjoyed. ISBN 9781407144856 Scholastic HB £8.99

3.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

4.FIRE GIRL BY MATT RALPHS

An historical magical adventure about friendship, loyalty and bravery. Set in an alternative Cromwellian England Hazel, a young witch and her grumpy familiar, a dormouse called Bramley search for her kidnapped mother. She is forced to team up with two witch finders while trying to keep her true identity a secret. But will they help or betray her? Aimed at a younger audience, its great for boys and girls who are confident readers
FULL REVIEW CLICK HERE
ISBN 9781447283553 PB Pan Macmillan £6.99

5.RUGBY ACADEMY: COMBAT ZONE BY TOM PALMER

Well known for his much loved football books Tom now turns his attention to rugby with great success. School boy Woody uses rugby to help him stop worrying about his dad, who's an RAF pilot and in imminent danger. Boys who prefer contemporary stories will love this double dose of adventure, danger and excitement between father and son. NB. Barrington Stoke books are suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers also.
ISBN 9781781123973 PB Barrington Stoke £5.99

6.THE LAST WILD BY PIERS TORDAY

A futuristic adventure about the perils of climate change. Kester is an extraordinary boy who is the only one that can save the last animals on the planet from extinction. A gripping read for animal and adventure lovers. It's message is simple and clear, we can work together to save our beautiful planet or risk losing it for future generations. A cracking start to an epic quest from the winner of The Guardian Childrens Fiction Prize. 
ISBN: 9781780878300 PB Quercus Publishing £6.99

7.LEGACY OF THE CLAW BY C.R. GREY

Everyone that twelve year old Bailey knows has a bond with an animal who guides them but he hasn't found his yet. With a mythical tiger hunting the school grounds and dark forces surfacing can Bailey fulfil a prophecy without his? With colourful engaging characters in a setting appealing to Harry Potter fans, this is an enthralling beginning to a new exciting adventure series. Great for boys and girls who love animals and magic.
ISBN: 9781471401299 PB Hot Key Books £ 6.99

8.LISTEN TO THE MOON BY MICHAEL MORPURGO

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

9.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


10.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