Debi Gliori (Hot Key Books) Some feelings and emotions can be so overwhelming, words can often fail us; and though it might sound corny, sometimes a picture is indeed worth a thousand words. This is never truer than when trying to tackle a subject such as a depression, an illness that, for a start, so many …
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Little People, BIG DREAMS: Coco Chanel
Children love hearing stories, but that doesn’t mean that all stories have to be made up. In fact, often the most awe inspiring stories come from the lives of real people. Biographies in illustrated narrative form seem to be big in the United States and lately they have also appeared, albeit very slowly, on our market, …
The Princess in Black
Shannon Hale & Dean Hale (text), LeUyen Pham (artwork) (Walker Books) Princess Magnolia is entertaining nosy Duchess Wigtower with hot chocolate and scones when an alarm sounds. Magnolia plays innocent, blaming noisy birds, but really she knows it signifies a monster has entered the realms of her kingdom, and that her alter ego the Princess in …
A picturebook a week: Hermelin the Detective Mouse
Mini Grey (Jonathan Cape) A new Mini Grey picturebook is always cause for celebration and Hermelin the Detective Mouse is no exception. Hermelin the mouse is a brilliant detective and is on a mission to help the residents of Offley Street when things begin to go missing. But will it be welcome with open arms as …
FOCUS ON: Halloween titles for independent readers
Here are a few titles for newly independent and more fluent readers which will suit Halloween-themed reading. Arthur and the Witch Johanne Mercier (text) & Clare Elsom (illustrations) Arthur et la sorcière de bout du lac, translated by Daniel Hahn (Phoenix Yard) When Arthur find a secret hoard of blueberries at Picket Lake, he decides to …
Dixie O’Day In the Fast Lane
Shirley Hughes (text) & Clara Vulliamy (illustrations) (Bodley Head) Dixie loves his car and takes good care of it. He loves taking it for a spin with his friend Percy so naturally when the All Day Race is announced, they immediately decide to take part, hoping it is going to be a fun adventure. But …
FOCUS ON: Some comics and graphic novels for children
Azzi in Between Sarah Garland (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books) Endorsed by Amnesty International and winner of the inaugural Little Rebels Awards, Azzi in Between is a moving picture book, told in comic format, about a family’s journey from oppression in their native land to Britain where they take refuge. Azzi lives with her parents and grandmother in a faraway country …
NATIONAL BOOKSTART WEEK: The Runaway Princess
This week is National Bookstart Week. Bookstart is extremely close to my heart (I have mentioned this before, notably in a major rant here) and such an vital scheme in encouraging a love of books and reading in children that I feel that anyone who is any kind of children’s book enthusiast should all be duty-bound to support. The …
Two brand new series from Holly Webb
May saw the publication of two brand new series by bestselling author Holly Webb. Though she is best known for her animal stories, these two series focus on different genres, although interestingly both feature a dog as one of the main characters! Maisie Hitchins: The Case of the Stolen Sixpence with artwork by Marion Lindsay (Stripes …