When you work with teenagers in a library setting you come across all sorts of readers. It is a tough gig sometimes; we have to compete with a whole lot of other entertainment, and reading is sometimes way way down on their list of best ways to spend their free time. So finding the right …
humour
The Unbelievable Top Secret Diary of Pig
Emer Stamp (Scholastic Children’s Books) Pig love living on his farm with his best friend duck, despite the presence of the Evil Chickens. He loves Farmer who keeps feeding him lots and lots of slops, and keeps calling him his favourite pet name “Roast Pig”. Pig has no idea what is afoot, until Duck breaks the …
Oliver and the Seawigs
Philip Reeve (text) & Sarah McIntyre (illustrations) (Oxford University Press) After many years of exploring the world, Oliver’s parents have decided to settle down in the seaside town of St Porrock’s, much to ten year old Oliver’s delight and relief, as he has grown quite fed up of the explorers’ lifestyle. But even then Oliver’s parents yearn to …
The Odds
Adam Perrottwith illustrations by Tom McLaughlin (Stripes) Unbeknown to us, in every village and town, lurks some very strange characters, small, bendy and with pointy ears. Their aim: create chaos and confusion, pouncing on their innocent victims whilst they least expect it. They are Meddlers, and they are professional pranksters. The Odds are the official …
A new voice in picture books: Michelle Robinson
Michelle Robinson is a brand new author who is having a fabulous year with already five books published! She has received acclaim from the New York Times for What to Do if an Elephant Stands on Your Foot, and is definitely a fantastic new voice in the picture book world! Michelle lives in Frome with her family. …
The Jelly That Wouldn’t Wobble
Angela Mitchell (text) & Sarah Horne (illustrations)(Maverick Books) It is Princess Lolly’s 89th birthday and she cannot wait to see her special birthday jelly. But that jelly is looking particularly grumpy and is refusing to wobble. A jelly that doesn’t wobble, who has ever heard of such a thing? So each guest gets a go …
Guinea Pigs Online
Jennifer Gray & Amanda Swift, with artwork by Sarah Horne(Quercus) Fuzzy and Coco the guinea-pigs live a rather uneventful together since their respective owners have got married. Coco likes to spend her time pampering herself, while Fuzzy spends his time cooking and is desperate to become a chef. When Fuzzy discovers that celebrity chef Scarlet Cleaver’s ad in the …
Vulgar the Viking and the Rock Cake Raiders
Odin Redbeard, with artwork by Sarah Horne(Nosy Crow) Vulgar wants to be a Viking, a real Viking, because, unfortunately, his people seem to have renounced their old ways and become a rather boring bunch. Vulgar reminisces fondly upon their history of rampage and pillaging. Vulgar has great hopes to learn more about it on History Day, but …
Goblins
Philip Reeve (Scholastic) In the midst of Clovenstone, an abandoned fortress, live seven clans of blood-thirsty and dim-witted goblins, lead by King Knobbler, a ferocious leader with a secret fondness for frilly knickers. But Skarper is different; he is clever, and cunning and after teaching himself to read using the Goblins’ bumwipe heaps (which turn …