We are all aware of how important it is to read to children as young as possible, and there has been extensive research on the benefits of reading to babies, including from Booktrust. But do parents do it? In a new UK-wide survey based on 1000 parents conducted on behalf of Pat-a-Cake books, it was found that 87% agreed that …
Edward Lear, Angela McAllister (text) & Kevin Waldron (illustrations)(Simon & Schuster)The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea,In a Beautiful pea-green boat,They took some honey,and plenty of money,Wrapped up in a five pound note.This classic nonsense rhyme needs no introduction but in this new edition Edward Lear’s wacky tale is given a new leap of life thanks to Angela …
Keith Gray (editor)(Andersen Press) Losing It. Your virginity. When, how and with whom is what most (all!) teenagers obssess about, constantly, until they have done it. Twenty years ago, we talked about it a lot, but not many acted on it until a little bit later. These days, things have changed and this collection of short …
Tabitha Suzuma(Definitions) Lochan is an extremely intelligent and sensitive 17 year old boy who has a hard time imteracting with others outside of the family coccoon. Maya is a pretty and sensible 16 year old girl, who is popular at school. They are brother and sister. At home they are also surrogate parents to their three …
Gillian Rogerson (text) & Sarah McIntyre (illustrations) (Scholastic) It is Princess Spaghetti’s’ birthday party and all is set and ready to go: the giant chocolate cake, the chocolate milkshake, the chocolate spread sandwiches (notice a theme here?). But where is her father, King Cupcake? He has been kidnapped by aliens! Nobody seems to want to …
Delphine de Vigan No et moi, translated by George Miller (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) Lou Bertignac is a high-IQ 13 year-old stuck in a class of 15 year-olds. The only student who deigns speak to her is 17 year-old Lucas, a rebel with a soft heart who she and all the other girls find irresistible (for those who …
