SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW MARCH 9-10 2019

This week my children's book reviews include a middle grade adventure about a young Viking girl seeking revenge, a picture book highlighting conservation, a funny middle grade featuring a young boy fighting zombies and a feminist coming of age young adult book about a teenage girl dealing with everyday sexism and bullying. 

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

BOOK OF THE WEEK

SHE WOLF BY DAN SMITH
CHILDREN 9+
Ylva, a young Viking girl is determined to seek revenge for her mother's murder. Accompanied by her faithful dog and helped by the kindness of strangers Ylva must track down her three-fingered killer and survive a dangerous snowbound hinterland. This warrior child's fighting spirit and survival instinct will ignite the imagination of children as they plunder this epic and mythical Viking world. A powerful and atmospheric coming of age quest.

ISBN 9781910655931 PB Chicken House £6.99

SURVIVAL BY LOUISE MCNAUGHT & ANNA CLAYBOURNE
PICTURE BOOK 5+
Twenty creatures who are facing extinction are captured in powerfully vivid animal portraits. Discover the dangers they face, why they are important to the Earth and what is being done to protect them. From the Siberian Tiger who's habitat is being destroyed by logging to the Blue Whale fighting against sea pollution to the Mountain Gorilla threatened by deforestation. It will open children's eyes to the vitally important work of conservation and how they can also help.

ISBN 9781787410459 HB Big Picture Press £12.99

MUTANT ZOMBIES CURSED MY SCHOOL TRIP! BY MATT BROWN
CHILDREN 8+
Ian is on a school trip to a historical (spooky) house with his only (imaginary) friend, Remington Furious III for company. Can he save his new classmates from being turned into groaning, dribbling zombies? Children will adore this anarchic adventure, creatively illustrated by Paco Sordo which is full of laugh out loud gags, not to mention an evil servant made from earwax and some dislodged eyeballs! This witty page-turner is ideal for early and reluctant readers.

ISBN 9781474960236 PB Usborne £6.99

THE BURNING BY LAURA BATES
YOUNG ADULT 14+
Fifteen-year-old Anna moves across the country with her mum to escape bullying after her boyfriend publishes inappropriate pictures of Anna on the internet without her consent. When her new classmates discover Anna's secret she once more feels persecuted and finds small comfort in the parallels of a history project about a young girl accused of witchcraft. This is an insightful and heart-wrenching tale influenced by real-life scenarios exploring sexism and misogyny in today's society.
ISBN 9781471170201 PB Simon & Schuster £7.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW MARCH 2-3 2019

This week my children's book reviews include a funny novella celebrating World Book Day, a picture book celebrating female trailblazers, a middle grade book about a hotel for animals and an adventure which has a contemporary slant on Oliver Twist.

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

BOOK OF THE WEEK

THE GREAT ROCKET ROBBERY BY FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE
CHILDREN 6+
Laika and her fellow street dogs are being trained for a trip to the moon. But they want to go now so they steal a rocket! A lovely novella for children that was written especially for World Book Day and is one of twelve titles to pick from. This fun adventure is a must for dog lovers and also mentions Swansea Jack! This initiative is a great introduction to Frank's hilarious books as well as other children's authors.
ISBN 9781529012651 PB Macmillan £1

FANTASTICALLY GREAT WOMEN WHO WORKED WONDERS BY KATE PANKHURST
PICTUREBOOK 4+
A wonderful introduction to extraordinary women from all corners of the world who were trailblazers in their chosen profession. From mathematician Katherine Johnson who enabled the first men to go into space to Katia Krafft, a fearless volcanologist to Junko Tabei who was the first woman to climb Mount Everest, these women will inspire young readers to dream BIG. With sumptuous illustrations, this is perfect to celebrate International Women's Day and Mothers Day.
ISBN 9781408899274 PB Bloomsbury £6.99

HOTEL FLAMINGO BY ALEX MILWAY
CHILDREN 6+
Anna is the new owner of a dilapidated hotel which caters for animals. With the help of T.Bear the doorman, Madam Le Pig, her demanding chef and Lemmy the lemur receptionist can Anna restore it to its former glory? A quirky delightful tale of friendship, acceptance and teamwork decorated throughout with vibrant grey and pink illustrations. The menagerie of eclectic characters will have a huge appeal for early readers. I want to visit!
ISBN 9781848127753 PB Piccadilly £6.99

THE HAVEN BY SIMON LELIC
CHILDREN 11+
Ollie is on the run and finds sanctuary in a secret city below London ruled by kids fighting for justice. Can they stop 'Mad Maddy' Sikes from destroying their city? And who is the traitor in their midst? A modern slant on Oliver Twist this high octane adventure full of danger, camaraderie and disregard for authority will appeal to fans of CHERUB and Alex Rider. This thriller really hits the bullseye!
ISBN 9781444947601 PB Hodder £7.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW MARCH 5TH

Celebrating World Book Day my childrens book column features a friendly alien, a sleepy bear, a magic umbrella and a warrior princess

BOOK OF THE WEEK

PERIJEE AND ME BY ROSS MONTGOMERY

CHILDRENS 9+

A sci fi fantasy that is as poignant as it is funny. Caitlin's only friend happens to be an alien. But he's growing too big to hide and is a danger to himself and others. Can she save her friend while her family falls apart? Full of adventure, laughter and sure to make bobble hats the new must have! With a nod to Iron Man by Ted Hughes this is a story about bravery, friendship and family.

ISBN: 9780571317950 PB Faber & Faber £6.99
5/5 stars

DOZY BEAR AND THE SECRET OF SLEEP BY KATIE BLACKBURN
PICTURE BOOK 3+
This has the potential to be a real life saver for fraught parents who can’t get their children to sleep. Using known relaxation techniques combined with rhythmic text and twilight themed illustrations its the perfect bedtime story. Dozy Bear can't sleep but with the help of his parents and grand parents he slowly starts to drift off. Be warned this may have such a soporific effect it could also work on the reader as well!

• ISBN: 9780571330195 PB Faber & Faber £6.99
  4/5 stars

HARPER AND THE SCARLET UMBRELLA BY CERRIE BURNELL
CHILDRENS 7+

An entrancing tale of a little girl called Harper who, “heard songs on the wind, rhythms on the rain and hope in the beat of a butterfly’s wing.” While looking for her cat with the aid of her magic umbrella she finds adventure and a mysterious orchestra. A gift of a book about cats, friendship and music. Don't forget to grab Harper and the Sea of Secrets for £1 on March 3^rd, World Book Day

ISBN: 9781407162171 PB Scholastic £6.99

5/5 stars

QUEEN OF THE SILVER ARROW BY CAROLINE LAWRENCE

YOUNG ADULT FICTION 12+

A retelling of a young girl Camilla who became a warrior princess while fighting the Trojans. The author of the hugely successful Roman Mysteries takes her inspiration this time from Virgil's Aeneid. Friendship, loyalty and girl power are all tested in a brutal war that really packs an emotional punch. The eloquent writing makes it great for struggling and dyslexic readers but also the story will appeal to fans of Katniss, Celaena and mythology loverogs.

ISBN: 9781781125267 PB Barrington Stoke Ltd £6.99

• 5/5 stars

FABER BOOK GIVEAWAY CELEBRATING WORLD BOOK DAY MARCH 3RD

I am Celebrating ‪#‎WorldBookDay‬, my ‪‬ Drawing On Books FB PageFB Page &  Drawing On Books Instagram Page with a ‪#‎bookgiveaway‬ To ‪#‎win‬ these 3 great books please follow, like and repost on either account. Deadline march 8th. Tuesday. ‪#‎atticusclaw‬ ‪#‎jennifergray‬ ‪#‎thesmellofotherpeopleshouses‬‪#‎bonniesuehitchcock‬ ‪#‎perijeeandme‬ ‪#‎rossmontgomery‬. Many thanks to‪#‎faberandfaber‬ ‪#‎bookreview‬ ‪#‎bookblogger‬ ‪#‎childrensbooks‬ ‪#‎kidsbooks‬‪#‎middlegradefiction‬ ‪#‎yafiction‬ ‪#‎scififiction‬


Don't forget to pick up one of the great books available for £1 with your World Book Day voucher or use it to take of a £1 off from any book at a bookshop.
Official Website for World Book Day