Emma Dodd(Orchard Books) I love all bugs … big and small bugs.Join a little bug lover as he takes us around his garden and introduces us to a whole array of creepy-crawlies and other creatures. Whether they are “jumpy leapy”, “spiky spiny”, “whiny buzzy” or “flouncy frilly”, he loves them all. But there is a …
RHCBA testing 2010
Slightly Invisible
Lauren Child(Orchard Books) Charlie is a very thoughtful, patient and loving brother to his little sister Lola. She never wants to be without him. But sometimes, just sometimes, Charlie would quite like to be without Lola, especially when he wants to play with best friend Marv. So when he finally brings himself to tell Lola …
A Bit Lost
Chris Haughton(Walker Books) When Little Owl falls off the nest, he is rescued by Squirrel who is very keen to help him find his mummy again. Basing his search on Little Owl’s descriptions, Squirrel is finding many contenders, but none turn out to be Little Owl’s mummy. Thankfully Frog eventually comes to the rescue to …
Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake
Thomas Taylor (text) & Jill Barton (illustrations)(Boxer Books) Little Mouse comes across a yummy-looking chocolate-chip. Raspberry-cream cupcake and quite fancies taking it home. Unfortunately, it is rather large and he can’t carry it all the way back. Enters Bird, Frog, Mole and plenty of others who are all quite keen to help, but more importantly …
The Christmas Eve Ghost
Shirley Hughes(Walker Books) Bronwen and Dylan have just moved to Liverpool from the Welsh countryside. Their father has died in a mining accident and their mother has uprooted them to the city so she can find work to support the family. She takes on laundry to wash soon after and often has to leave the children home-alone while she pushes …
Secret Santa: Agent of X.M.A.S.
Guy Bass (text) with illustrations of David Lopez(Stripes Publishing) What does Father Christmas do the other 364 days of the year? Have you ever wondered? Well, I certainly never thought he would be doing that: top secret agent of the Xtremely Mysterious Agency of Secrets (X.M.A.S.), bringing justice to the world and protection from the …
The Sunflower Sword
Mark Sperring (text) & Miriam Latimer (illustrations)(Andersen Press) A wannabe little knight is desperate to fight dragons with a trusty sword which he can whoosh and swoosh. But his mother has other ideas and instead of a shiny blade gives him a … sunflower. Slightly disappointed, the little knight still goes off to the top …
When Titus Took the Train
Anne Cottringer (text) & Sarah McIntyre (illustrations)(Oxford University Press) Titus is going on a train journey all by himself, all the way to “very far way” where his Uncle Henry will be meeting him off the train. But what looks like it might be a long tedious journey turns out be a rather exciting adventure when Titus is …