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[[Category:New Reviews|For Sharing]]__NOTOC__ <!-- Remove --><!-- Gonsalves remove 8/2 -->{{Frontpage|author=Adam Stower*[[image:Gonsalves_Queen.jpg|lefttitle=Murray and Bun|linkrating=https://www4.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1546287663?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1546287663]]5 ===[[Lamellia: The Wicked Queen by Gloria D Gonsalves]]==|genre=Confident Readers  [[image:4star.jpg|linksummary=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:For Sharing|For Sharing]] Lamellia Murray is supposed to be a kingdom of mushrooms in a land far away. Many types humble, tidy and colours of mushroom live there and they are all ruled over by King PoliPolifriendly cat, a big brown mushroom one who is a wise able to sleep and eat and eat and sleep and kind leader. King PoliPoli is married to , well, whatever takes his fancy next of the beautiful Queen Nobiliatwo. But Queen Nobilia cannot conceive he's a baby bad magician's cat, so his favourite bun has been turned into a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and this makes her very sadthe catflap they both use can chuck them out, not into the regular back garden, but into a world of frightening adventure and whiffs. She sings This time round it drops them into a sad song so emotive that her sorrow infects the whole Viking land. [[Lamellia: The Wicked Queen by Gloria D Gonsalves, where a troll hunter is expected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, to be honest, but he's turned up and he'll have to do…|Full Review]]<br><br>isbn=0008561249}}{{newreview <!-- remove 23/12 -->Frontpage|isbn=1732898766|title=The Adventures of Billy Bog Brush!Birpus and Bulbus: Book One: The Fire Brigade Sour Milk Dragon|author=Ian Campbell Wynn Everett-Albanese, Michael Albanese and Tim Constable Indre Ta (Illustrator)|rating=3.54

|summary=Billy Bog BrushWhen we first meet Birpus and Bulbus they's family have gone out re running for their lives in the day, leaving him staring out Forest of Fine Repute. Their greatest fear has come about: the window Sour Milk Dragon is chasing them. He's right behind them, spewing hot, sour milk from his nostrils. (Please don't try this at the lovely weather outside and wondering what he could do to pass the timehome: it won't end well. Suddenly) Fortunately, he hears they were nearly at Nobby Lob-lolly - and when a desperate cry ladder of moss and vines was lowered for helpthem, they escaped. Mrs Brown's house is on fire, They climbed up to the Tree Wee homes high up in the key is insidetangled woods where they lived with their Grand Wees, Nester Nook and her little boy Tommy is locked inGranny Cranny. Tommy is in terrible danger and what if the fire brigade doesn't arrive in time?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1546282718</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alison Donald and Ben WhitehouseB0CC9W7GLR|title=Pirates in Classroom 3On the Beach: The Winter Visitor|author=Chris Green and Jenny Fionda|rating=3.5

|summary= Not all Kit and Teal were just beginning to wonder whether it was better to be at home, bored but warm, or frozen cold and building sand sculptures on a snowy beach when a large slab of us were silvery ice drifted onto the child that paid attention in classshoreline. Some would look out On top of the window ice was a polar bear. As the ice bumped onto the sand, the bear woke and let their minds wanderwith wobbly legs moved from the ice. Why be stuck in Kit was all for making a stuffy room when you could be in space or on run for it, but Teal knew that the high seas? Sometimes you do not need to seek adventure as it may just find youbear was hungry and gave him one apple and then another. It makes perfect sense He obviously needed to me that if be taken home on the teacher leaves the classroom there is ample time for bus and given a pirate to enter good meal and ask all the children somewhere to help him find some lost treasuresleep. Who could possibly give up this opportunityWhat else would you do?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848862474</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=James Thorp and Angus Mackinnon1913839656|title=The Elephant in the RoomLet's Celebrate Being Different|author=Lainey Dee

|summary=Somebody has smashed Father Giant's elephantTodd was excited about spending the weekend with his grandmother, not least because she made the best beetle juice. Who on earth could it be? He packed two pairs of dungarees and his favourite hat and then gathered together his button collection to show his grandmother. Can Father Giant unravel She had promised to take him to the mystery of what happenedFriday Night Club at the local community centre and Todd was pleased about this as he wanted to make new friends. At home, his only friend was his mum and who will face being banished from the house forever once he discovers the truth? wondered why that could be. Told in a rhyme Grandma thought that gets more and more surreal as it goes along, this is a wild and brightly illustrated mystery story, with an interesting moral at the endmight be because he looked different.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783707739</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jessie Miller and Barbara Bakos1529504775|title=Rooster Wore Skinny JeansThe Toy Bus (The Repair Shop Stories)|author=Amy Sparkes and Katie Hickey

|summary=One of Elsie and her little brother David loved to go to the park and watch the red buses drive past. Elsie would race the best things about modern online shopping is buses along the knock on side of the door park but David couldn't - he'd been born with cerebral palsy and the parcel arrivingeven just standing up was very difficult. What One day Elsie spotted a bus in the toy shop window which would help David - and was happy to use the coins from her money box to pay for it I ordered again? as cash was tight at home. It could be something as exciting as a new toyGradually, David learned to stand up, or something as boring as a new mixer use the bus for your showersupport, and walk behind it. Many decades later, Elsie brought the bus, now damaged and rusted, to the Repair Shop, hoping that the experts there could make it so that her grandchildren could play with it.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1529504767|title=The anticipation of opening the box is Christmas Doll (The Repair Shop Stories)|author=Amy Sparkes and Katie Hickey|rating=5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Susan was very young when she was evacuated from London in 1939 and nervous about how she would be greeted when she got to her final destination. She needn't have worried though as close she went to the feeling home of Christmas that an adult is going Mr and Mrs Russell, who couldn't have been kinder to her. She even had her own room - all to herself. Gradually she relaxed and began to get (except perhaps for Christmas)enjoy her life. Rooster has ordered something online She'd help Mrs Russell with the baking and when it arrived quicklycame to Christmas Eve Susan and Mr Russell put the decorations on the Christmas tree. Will his farmyard pals appreciate his buy as much as he does?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848862822</amazonuk>The best surprise happened the following morning.

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Bob Graham1916459943|title= How the Sun Got to Coco's HouseSqueakily Baby|author=Beth Webb|rating= 4.5|genre= For Sharing|summary= A tale of small moments: sunlight on Much as mothers love their babies, there's something they all dread - a sailorsqueakily baby. He's cap as so tired but he sets out on an earlycan't - or won't -morning fishing expeditiongo to sleep: instead, a rainbow after a shower he just lies on his blanket and a glint of light in a whale's eye'wails''. While Coco sleeps, curled up snugly in her bed, creatures and people across the world are waking up The sea offers to the sunhelp. It chases rocks Baby gently and the night away across waves sing ''hush, hush''. Think of gentle wavelets falling onto a sandy beach and you have the globesound perfectly. The mermaids join in - ''la lou, until at last la lay...'' And for a bright ray finds its way moment it seems to Cocohave worked as Baby closes his eyes. Then a seagull '''shouts''' and we know exactly what's window and wakes her going to another day of fun and laughter as she plays outside in the snowhappen next. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406373451</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Katie Haworth and Dinara Mirtalipova140639131X|title= Beauty and the BeastA Practical Present for Philippa Pheasant|author=Briony May Smith|rating= 4.5|genre= Confident ReadersFor Sharing|summary= We all know the story Philippa Pheasant was ''tired'' of beauty and nearly getting squished as she tried to cross the beastOld Oak Road. A prince, transformed in She wrote to the mayor about the problem but didn't even get a monster for his cruel and malicious nature, trapped in his grotesque form seemingly for the rest of his daysreply. Then comes along Philippa wasn't a young woman, bird to sit back on her tail feathers when there was a problem which needed solving: she saw the beauty benefits of the story, who mellows lollipop lady at the beast's harsh character and grows to love him for who he is, school crossing and not because of his appearancedecided that she would set up something similar herself. It's a fairy tale of old Her uniform and lollipop stick were both a story of love little amateur to start with but the benefits were obvious. All the animals used the crossing boundaries which has been adapted countless times both on screen and in literature. So is this new retelling worth the read? I think so, because I loved itHedgehog was even trained up to provide a safe path overnight.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783704578</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lemony Snicket and Matthew Forsythe1776574338|title=The Bad Mood Leilong's Too Long!|author=Julia Liu and the StickBei Lynn

|summary=As Every morning Leilong, the brontosaurus school bus, makes his way through the title suggestscity, this is a story about a bad mood and a stickpicking up children as he goes. The bad mood (an emoji-like cloud character) moves from one character Children who live at the top of tower blocks don't even need to another, travelling all around go downstairs – they simply climb out of the world window and causing unpredictable consequencesslide down his neck. The stick It's perfect, isn't it? What could be a more fun way of going to school? There is just a stick problem, though. Leilong isn't happy in the city: he's always having to be careful about where he puts his feet and does very little other – because he's longer than providing a home for a cocoon that gives birth tennis court – he often causes damage without intending to butterflyand traffic regularly gets snarled up. The stickschool decides that he can's final home in the window of the ice cream shop does, however, put t be the shop owner, Bert, in a good moodbus anymore.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783446420</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Sean Taylor and Claire Alexander1776574028|title= The Snowbear|rating= 4.5|genre= For Sharing|summary= There's a sense of wonder and stillness about fresh-fallen snow, whatever your age. Sounds are muffled, familiar objects and places are transformed, and the possibility of magic hangs in the frosty air. And for Iggy and Martina, playing outside on just such a winter's day, reality swiftly turns into enchantment.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910277398</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewBumblebee Grumblebee|author= David Melling|title= Merry Christmas, Hugless DouglasElliott|rating= 4.5|genre= For Sharing|summary= Hugless Douglas is I love a large, comfy sort of bear who burst onto the picture good board book scene ! ''Bumblebee Grumblebee'' is aimed at quite a few years ago as he searched niche market: it's for just the right sort of hugchild who still enjoys board books (er, see my first sentence) but has mastered sufficient language skills to have realise that you can ''play'' with words and make something quite different from each one. His endearing, hopeful face We have the elephant who dons a tutu - and that chubby becomes a ''balletphant''. The buffalo who has had a bath (to put it politelycomplete with yellow duck) body instantly melted young hearts, and to universal delight we have since been treated to several more of then dries off with a hair drier becomes a ''fluffalo''. The rhinoceros who drops his adventures. Douglas ice cream cone is hugless no longer, youa ''crynoceros'll be glad to know, but the name stuck, mostly because it's such fun to say (go on, try think about it!) and because he still bumbles through life embracing everything in sight as if cuddles The pelican who sits on his potty changes into a ''sm.......'' OK, let's not go there Some people are about to go out of fashion. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444906844</amazonuk>eating!

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet1838226834|title=Supertato: Evil Pea RulesCarried Away With the Carnival|author=Ed Boxall

|summary=For It was one of those memories we treasure from our childhoods: an outing with our grandparents. They're there to undo all their heroics and lantern jaws, everyone knows that the good guy is never that parents do, so the best thing about a book or filmtrips out were always so much fun. That accolade goes A young boy was going to the bad guy. They are able to chew the scenery and give the type of larger than life performance a hero could only dream of. One of the best bad guys in childrencarnival with his Grandad, who told him: ''It's fiction is not a guy at allll be brilliant, but a pea. An evil pea. At last this pea is given his opportunity to shinejust remember, but where there is an Evil Pea, a Supertato cannot be far behinddon't let go of my hand.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1471144062</amazonuk>''

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=B09MYXSRV4|title=Joseph Coelho Otter's Coat: The Real Reason Turtle Raced Rabbit: A Cherolachian Tortoise and Fiona LumbersHare|titleauthor=Luna Loves Library DayCordellya Smith

|summary=Luna is always excited when library day comes aroundWhen the world was made, the animals were given gifts. Bear was given strength so that he could become a protector. Water Spider received a strong web that even fire could not just because she gets to take her books back burn. Owl had excellent sight so that he could see the present ''and borrow some new ones, but also because it's ' the day she spends with her dadfuture. Once inside the libraryRabbit developed intelligence - but, unfortunately, magical things occur as not the books Luna and her dad discover seemingly come ability to use it well. He liked to trick other animals. He was also jealous which was how he came to lifebe in a race with Turtle. They spend their time together sharing stories, some You might think that are more significant than others, until it's time for Luna to go homenot a fair contest but wait and see. Things are not always as they seem. Yet even once sheI's home, she still has her newly borrowed books to escape into, and the memories of her day with her dadll tell you how it came about.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783445483</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Alison Ritchie and Marisa MoreaRob Keeley|title= The Twelve Dogs of ChristmasCarrots Don’t Grow On Trees!

|genre= For Sharing|summary= Christmas Lily loves eating fruit and vegetables. She likes carrots, broccoli, cabbage and aubergines. When her friends at school turn up their noses, Lily is approaching keen to explain how good they are for you and one little puppy is very excited about his first ever Christmas Dayhow nice to eat. One day, poor Lily gets tricked by Jordan, who tells her that carrots grow on trees. Everywhere he looks Infuriated, Lily checks with the preparations are underway with every dog teacher, who explains that fruits grow on trees and vegetables, like carrots, grow in town helping outthe ground. However will so many eager assistants joining in the fray help or hinder Jordan says, "I did try to tell her, Miss!" and will everything ever be ready in time?everyone laughs at poor Lily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1471166171</amazonuk>B09HHN541V

{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=B09FFJF8YS|title=You Can't Wear Panties! (No More Nappies!)|author=Justine Avery and Kate Zhoidik|rating=3.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=''For the big, grownup girls out there, the potty masters in training, "You Can't Wear Panties!" is a cry (the big-girl kind!) of toilet triumph and persevering panty pride.''  And so it is! This latest book from Justine Avery celebrates a little girl's final goodbye to nappies and pull-ups and graduation to "proper" pants by following her around as she proudly explains to her dog, her cat, her stuffed rabbit and her baby sibling that ''she'' can wear super-duper proper pants, while they cannot. Neither can the flowers, nor the fish, nor the birds. Boy's certainly can't. She's a big girl now and she wants everyone to know it!}} {{Frontpage|author=Dr SeussJustine Avery and Naday Meldova|title=What Was I Scared Of?Everybody Toots! (Everybody Potties!)

|summary=All HallowsToots, trumps, farts. Whatever your word for them, find us a child that doesn' Eve t find them irresistibly funny. Funny to talk about and joke about, that is upon us once more . But horribly embarrassing if you let one go at the wrong time. In class, say, when everyone will hear it and everyone will laugh. At you. Justine Avery's latest entry in her ''Everybody Potties!'' series takes aim at any shame associated with tooting and gently and calmly, with the familiar humour attached, explains that can only mean that we are soon tooting is perfectly normal. Everybody does it: ''Everybody Toots''!|isbn= B09C2RVJ2W}} {{Frontpage|isbn= B09BG8V3Q6|title= Who Needs Nappies? Not Me! (Everybody Potties!)|author= Justine Avery and Seema Amjad|rating=4.5|genre=For Sharing|summary= ''Who Needs Nappies? Not Me!'' is the latest release in the ''Everybody Potties!'' series from Justine Avery. This series of fun picture books aims to be surrounded by all types take the pain out of monsterspotty training children and replace it with some fun. It's a worthy aim, ghoulies as any frustrated parent will tell you. .}}{{Frontpage|isbn=B07GZ81J7C|title=When Fred the Snake Got Squished and manifestationsMended|author=Peter Cotton|rating=4.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Meet Fred. Fear notWell, as many of these unsettling creatures will actually , you're going to be children dressed up on another adventure trick or treatingmeeting Fred-Fred for reasons which will become all too obvious very quickly. But what I'm getting ahead of myself: I'd better tell you a bit more about that pair of seemingly malevolent trousers that walk by themselves? Fred. That Fred is no child, but a pair snake and even those of haunted kecksus who have a phobia about snakes are going to warm to him. RunHe arrived as a present in a box with holes so that he could breathe and immediately became part of the family, run, run, but perhaps if you have to the extent that they would take Fred out with them when they went out for a friendly hello these pants may be nicer than you think?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0008252602</amazonuk>walk. And that was where the problem started. Fred didn't have any road sense. Or brakes.

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Morag HoodJustine Avery and Naday Meldova|title=I Am BatEverybody Pees! (Everybody Potties!)|rating=54

|summary=Bat is a creature with very definite opinions. He does not like morningsCan potty training ever be joyous? It often isn't, for example, but he does like cherriesas any parent will tell you. In fact, he But really loves cherries, why shouldn't it be? We all have to learn about our bodily functions just as they we have to learn about everything else when we are his ''favourite of all things!'' What do you think might happen if somebody takes Bat's cherries? Bat wonsmall. Why shouldn't potty training be happyas much fun as, will hesay, learning about why the sun and the moon take turns in the sky?!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1509834613</amazonuk>B098BJZYHH

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Dr SeussJustine Avery and Naday Meldova|title=I Can Read With My Eyes ShutNo, No, No!|rating=4.5|genre=Emerging ReadersFor Sharing|summary=''The more that you readThey say the best picture books are the simplest ones. And nothing could be truer of this latest from Justine Avery,''<br>a Bookbag favourite.''The more things you will know.''<br>''The more that you learnNo, No,No!''<br>is based around the simplest text imaginable. ''The more places No, no, no! Okay, okay. Yes, you'll gomay.''

This is a classic Dr Seuss quote from this book, and one that I painstakingly stickered onto the wall of my childrenThat's school libraryit! The book is very sillyBut, as Dr Seuss always islike all the best picture books, but this tiny snippet of text is also a good rhyming ode to veritable tardis - so much bigger on the joys of readinginside that it appears on the outside.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0008240019</amazonuk>1638820457

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kes Gray and Jim Field194812467X|title=Oi Cat!The Farm Shop|author=Devon Avery, Justine Avery and Ema Tepic|rating=4.5

|summary=When did children's books become so Meta? Back Kirelle and her best friend Sam the cat decide to go for a walk. Kirelle is dressed for all weathers in the day each Thomas the Tank Engine adventure was separate from the other her bright yellow wellies and Sam is perfectly turned out as if they lived ever in their own episodic wildness, but not todayhis smart grey fur coat. In this world As they walk to the top of Nintendo Switches and online platforms the average adult is too scared to venture ontohill, we have metaphysical children booksthey see a big barn with a sign outside. Books that reflect back on previous outings in It's a farm shop! But this is a farm shop with a difference: all the seriesstallholders and customers are farmyard animals. If you There are going to get the most out of ''Oi Cat!''sheep and ducks and cows, goats and chickens, and even some mice. Excited, you best know about your ''Oi Frog!'' Kirelle and ''Oi Dog!'' tooSam go shopping.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444932519</amazonuk>What will they buy?

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=0995647895|title=Cath Jones Sadie and Chris Jevonsthe Sea Dogs|titleauthor=Bonkers about BeetrootMaureen Duffy and Anita Joice|rating=3.5

|summary=Sunset Safari Park rarely has any visitors and is in danger of closing downSadie's mother always said that she was a dreamer, her mind never on what she should be doing. To tackle the problem Zebra calls a meeting of all She lives by the animals River Thames at Greenwich and challenges them she loves to find a way to make the safari park more interestingspend hours at The Maritime Museum or gazing at Cutty Sark. Penguin thinks there ''Her class had gone one rainy afternoon''s no hope but Zebra has a totally bonkers idea – they<br>'ll grow a beetroot. They'll grow When all the biggest beetroot houses cowered in the world! It should be easy because they have plenty of manure (animal poo) to help it growgloom,''<br>''To the Maritime Museum''. Her imagination was fired. At first it looks like Zebra She's plan is going d love to worksail the oceans on an ancient sailing ship and went back regularly. One beetroot grows so big that crowds of people come to see day she fell asleep under a glass case (it. There is just 's the one problem – where Nelson's Trafalgar breeches are on show) and missed the closing bell and the beetroot keeps growingattendant's warning shout. Soon there won When she woke (hard floors don't be any room for visitors. Luckilymake comfy beds) she was in the midst of an adventure that she could never have imagined in a world of dolphins, pirates, Zebra has another idea: an equally bonkers but totally brilliant ideamermaids and treasure.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848862814</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Madeleine Cook and Samara Hardy1782227741|title=The Turkey That Voted For ChristmasLittle Gold Ted|author=Vanessa Wiercioch, Poppy Satha and Sasha Satha|rating=34

|summary=Most right minded people have had enough One day, Gold Ted falls into a puddle. It's quite a deep puddle and the water is swirling. Poor Ted starts to spin around and around and is sucked down a drain on the side of politics the street. Finding himself down in recent years so the last thing that you want sewer, Ted starts to read to your child is panic. ''OH HELP ME PLEASE'' he cries and alerts the attention of Reg the sewer rat, who plucks him out of the dirty water using his cane, which might look just a book all about bit like an electionold cricket bat. At least this election Reg is set on a farm, but anyone familiar kind soul and he dries Ted off and warms him up with a certain George Orwell novel will know that this does not always turn out for the bestnice bowl of broth. Surely a kid's book is not going to reflect modern politics? I mean, when have we recently seen turkeys voting for Christmas?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192765957</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kate Jane NealB08R7LXQ9S|title=Words Remy: A book about believing in yourself|author=Mayuri Naidoo and Your HeartCaroline Siegal

|genre=For Sharing |summary=Trolling, bullying, cyber-shaming, whatever-itRemy is feeling miserable. He's-called-this-week-ing – all act as proof that the adage about sticks and stones is actually a lot of pifflelet himself down ''again''. The school bully Jayden, In a world where we all together with his sidekicks Ryan and Brandon, have heartsbeen laughing at Remy, we should have a heart that what we say to other people calling him names because he is positiveshort and has small eyes. They are mean but they are not stupid. We They are careful to wind up Remy when nobody can examine our world see and then push him just that little bit further when the sound it makes through communication, we can make each other smilekids are around. So, laughwhen Remy reacts, sing and be happy together, and bit by bit it looks as though he was the world can be a better placeinstigator. And hang then he gets into trouble at school and the teachers don'no, after you' attitude some people would have in response. There, I've given the entire plot of this book away in my summary, but that's not really an issuet believe him when he tries to explain what happened.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1471168530</amazonuk>