Poppy Pym and the Pharaoh’s Curse (Scholastic) is Laura Wood’s début children’s novel, for which she won the inaugural Montegrappa Scholastic Prize for New Children’s Writing in 2014. It tells the story of a little girl, Poppy, who was brought up in a circus after being abandoned there as a baby. But as she grows older, her …
school
A picturebook a week: My teacher is a Monster! (No, I am Not)
Peter Brown (Macmillan Children’s Books) Bobby’s teacher is a monster and she roars at him constantly while in class. Bobby would much rather be outside in the park where he can forget all about his woes in the classroom. Except that one day, when he reaches his favourite spot in the park, he finds an unwelcome …
The Secrets Club
Pre-teen (or tween) girls can be a difficult audience to cater for when it comes to books. They often feel too “grown-up” for whatever they have been reading in primary school (although sometimes in year 7, students will go back to books they enjoyed in junior school, as a form of comfort blanket) and though they would beg …
Magical Mystical Australia
Lately, I have come across two beautiful little novels, both with a magical, mystical atmosphere, and both set in Australia. The Naming of Tishkin Silk Glenda Millard, with artwork by Caroline Magerl (Phoenix Yard Books) Griffin Silk is an uncommon little boy, and it becomes quite obvious to him as he soon as he starts school and …
Utterly Me, Clarice Bean
Lauren Child(Orchard Books) Utterly Me, Clarice Bean first came out in 2002 and I can barely believe it has been ten years already!To celebrate, Orchard Books have released a special anniversary edition, a wonderful hardback with linen binding and as slipcase sporting one of Lauren Children’s signature prints. Including never seen before sketches and even …
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 …
My Happy Life
Rose Lagercrantz, with artwork by Eva Eriksson “Mitt lyckliga liv”, translated from Swedish by Julia Marshall (Gecko Press) Dani is a happy little girl. She is about to start school, and she has been waiting to do that for a long, long time, even though she doesn’t really know anybody there. When she gets to …
PICTURE BOOK CAROUSEL: Starting School
For many little people across the land, life is about to change forever. Starting school is one of the great landmarks of childhood, and though many children will appear unperturbed and quite confident, it is always wise to address the change in preparation. Thankfully, there are plenty of wonderful books to help parents do just …
Martha and the Bunny Brothers: I Heart School
Clara Vulliamy (HarperCollins Children’s Books) Martha is so excited, because today is a very special day: it is Martha’s first day at school! But before she goes off on this new adventure, there are so many things to do, such as choosing her outfit and packing her bag. Meanwhile her two little brothers feel left out; what will they …
Wonder
R.J. Palacio(Bodley Head) August Pullman is a bright, happy ten-year-old who until now has been home-schooled by his parents, in an attempt to protect him from people’s cruel reactions to his facial abnormalities. But now he is starting school for the first time at Beecher Prep and he is petrified. Will people accept him as …