Newest For Sharing Reviews

The Big Splash! by A H Benjamin and Jon Lycett-Smith

For Sharing

The forest animals are all quietly minding their own business when:

DA-DUMP! DA-DUMP! DA-DUMP!

Something big causes the ground to shake, the trees to tremble and the rocks to rattle. It was a terrible noise! Full review...

When Angus Met Alvin by Sue Pickford

For Sharing

Angus is not like other aliens. He is a peace-loving little fellow, who likes nothing better than sitting in his garden watching the flowers grow and sipping a nice cup of tea. Unfortunately, one day, a strange spaceship crash lands in his garden and out pops a cheeky, hyperactive green alien called Alvin who is rather a show-off. It’s time for Angus to teach Alvin a lesson about manners. Can the two aliens put their differences aside and become friends in the end? Full review...

Secrets of the Seashore by Carron Brown and Alyssa Nassner

Children's Non-Fiction

This book starts in a rock pool. It’s not a boring, quiet, calm place, though, it’s bustling with life, and with every page that turns we learn more about the mysterious creatures that live within it. You might not see them at first, but with a hint of magic they appear. Full review...

Tilly's At Home Holiday by Gillian Hibbs

For Sharing

Tariq is going to India. Chanel is going to Spain. And Paris, of course, is going to Paris. Poor Tilly. She’s not going anywhere. Not even to Grandma’s. Mum thinks that they can still enjoy themselves at home. Tilly’s not so sure. Can a visit to the library, the swimming pool, the park and a market really be as much fun as a proper holiday? Full review...

The Ice Bear by Jackie Morris

For Sharing

Long, long ago in the mists of time in an icy and barren landscape a bear gives birth to two cubs. While curled up close together the raven tricks the bear and steals one of the cubs away. The mother bear grieves and never forgets her loss. However the raven drops the bundle in the path of a hunter and he and his wife discover a longed for child. Seven years pass and the child wanders from his home and finds himself back in the land of the bears. He loves both families and both families love him so they must find a way to resolve this dilemma and learn to live together in harmony. Full review...

This Is Me Eating by Neal Layton

For Sharing

Babies love books and babies love eating, so a book about eating is bound to be a hit with the toddler brigade. This book comes to life the moment you pick it up and feel like someone is watching you. As the cover baby’s eyes roll ominously from side to side you feel a frisson of excitement. What more fun is hidden within the pages? Full review...

Boom, Baby, Boom, Boom! by Margaret Mahy and Margaret Chamberlain

For Sharing

Aeroplane noises, choo-choo sounds, demonstrations of mouth opening wide. I’ve heard them all suggested to help with weaning reluctant baby eaters. Never though, has it crossed my mind to bang a drum set whilst lunch time is in session. Not even at my lowest point, when I made the rookie error of crouching to pick up dropped food enabling baby to lovingly ruffle my hair with his sweet, tiny, and Weetabix concreted fingers, did this occur to me. Obviously I’m not as cool a Mama as the Mama in 'Boom, Baby, Boom Boom!'… Full review...

Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton

For Sharing

When four friends go out together to hunt a bird they have a specific plan in mind as to how they will do it. One of the friends, however, isn't really in on the plan and is just tagging along for the fun of it, and he finds himself getting shushed along the way each time he shouts out 'hello birdy!' Full review...

So What! by Tracey Trussell and Neil Price

For Sharing

Girls can be horrid sometimes. You know how it is - one girl in the playground says quite innocently that their mum bought them some new sandals at the weekend and another, louder, bigger, bossier one says 'so what!' And then perhaps every time that quieter girl opens her mouth to say something the other girl is there to shout her down with a 'so what!' This book captures those feelings, and demonstrates a way to deal with any 'so what' nonsense that comes your way! Full review...

Barbapapa's Ark by Annette Tison and Talus Taylor

Emerging Readers

Barbapapa’s Ark is the fourth book in the popular series about a shape-shifting pink blob, his wife and seven children. It follows on from the previous book, in which Barbapapa and his family built themselves a beautiful house in a peaceful valley. One day, after a picnic, the family decide to take a leisurely ride along the river, but are horrified to see sick and injured animals suffering from the effects of pollution. Over time, more and more animals come to Barbapapa for help. He decides that the only way to teach the humans a lesson is to take the animals to a new, green planet where they will be safe. Full review...

A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies and Mark Hearld

Children's Non-Fiction

There is a difference between a book for children that the kids themselves will like and one that adults will like. A more mature person may like some interesting illustrations or imaginative story, but most of the children I know are happy just to see some dinosaurs in their pants. However, there are books that transcend this and can appeal to both groups. Books that may have slightly dry reading for the very young, but illustrations that will transfix and amaze – introducing ‘A First Book of Nature’ written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Mark Hearld. Full review...

Grandma by Jessica Shepherd

For Sharing

Oscar loves his Grandma very much so it’s scary and frightening when she starts forgetting things and acting differently. She has to go and live somewhere else and it smells funny and is full of new people. Full review...

The Way To The Zoo by John Burningham

For Sharing

It’s easy to lie in bed and see shadows on the wall and imagine what they could be. I still do it now though I know better than to think something that looks like, say, a door in the wall, might be a portal to another universe. Sylvie, though, wants to double check when SHE sees what looks like a door and it’s just as well she does, because lo and behold it IS a door and it DOES lead somewhere. It goes all the way to the zoo! All the animals look nice and friendly so because it’s getting late and she has school in the morning, Sylvie heads back to bed and invites a little bear to come with her for the night. She has her own real live teddy. What fun. Full review...

Mrs. Mo's Monster by Paul Beavis

For Sharing

What would you do if you answered the door one day, only to find a mini monster standing there? Most of us wold probably weep a little and find somewhere to hide, but not the brave Mrs Mo. She appears to know this monster and will do anything to keep him entertained. Will he help round the house? Nope? How about baking a cake? That may just get anybody’s attention, but will this book capture your little monster’s imagination? Full review...

A Day At The Airport by Richard Scarry

For Sharing

Father Cat was taking the kids sailing, but it started to rain so they had to call it off. On the way home, though, they bump into Rudolph Von Flugel who suggests a detour to the airport as there’s lots of things to see and do there. Full review...

Let's Go, Baby-o! by Janet McLean and Andrew McLean

For Sharing

Hey! Baby has woken up in his cot and wants to play. Luckily his singing, dancing, jiggling and bouncing older cousin is there to spring him free and start the fun. They leap and chant and jump and sing. Meanwhile, in the garden, the rest of the family, the pets and the wildlife are having some drama of their own. Baby and his dancing cousin pause to look out the window. Their observations inspire them to move and sing again. Full review...

I Will Eat The Moon (Tiny the Giant) by Dom Conlon and Nicola Anderson

For Sharing

We first met Tiny when he was but a young giant and determined to prove that he was big. When all seemed lost he was proved to be right and the day (as well as his pride) was saved. This time he's taken on an even bigger task. He knows that giants need big things to eat and he's got his eyes on the moon. Actually, he's licking his lips, but it doesn't impress the moon... Full review...

Convertible Spaceship by Claire Philip and Belinda Gallagher

For Sharing

When is a book, not a book? When it is also a playmat and also a spaceship. With ‘Convertible Spaceship’ you get all three; a book that folds out into a playmat or into a spaceship. Can I hear the excitement from here? Full review...

Love Monster and the Last Chocolate by Rachel Bright

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Love Monster has been away on holiday, and he's just come home with that 'holiday's over' feeling, only to find that someone has left a large box of chocolates on his front doorstep! Who left them there? And why? And would it be okay to eat them by himself or, actually, should he really be sharing them with his friends? Full review...

Never ask a Dinosaur to Dinner by Gareth Edwards and Guy Parker-Rees

For Sharing

I don't expect you've ever thought about asking a dinosaur to dinner. In case it ever crosses your mind to do so, this helpful book informs you of the probable consequences of such a rash action. It will also prove helpful should you be thinking about using a tiger as a towel or, heaven forbid, if you wondered if it would be okay to share your toothbrush with a shark! Full review...

Off to the Park! by Stephen Cheetham

For Sharing

It's a nice day and we're off to the park. Shoes on first - tie the laces - and then we're off down the street. We go over the road by the crossing (press the button, please) and open the gate into the park. It's a metal gate and we can feel the cold of the metal and hear the squeak as the gate opens and we're on to the gravel path. It's a long, winding path and we can hear the stones scrunch. But there's plenty to play with here, from kicking a ball around to going on the swings and climbing the steps so that we can come down the slide. There's even a tyre to swing on - and when we've played for ages there's sure to be an ice cream to enjoy. Full review...

Chocolate Porridge (Early Reader) by Margaret Mahy and Terry Milne

For Sharing

Young Timothy has been drummed out of his mother's kitchen by her and his sisters, so he cannot join in with their baking. Instead he goes to the garden and devises chocolate porridge – a lot of mud, plus some other ingredients. But only when he's happy with his craft does he begin to realise that not even calling mud chocolate porridge makes it edible. Oh what is a boy to do? Full review...

Barbapapas New House by Annette Tison and Talus Taylor

For Sharing

At the end of the last Barbapapa book, our pink protagonist and his lovely wife were blessed with the addition of seven new shape-shifting Barbababies. A house that was already cramped for a couple was literally bursting at the seams as the family of nine squeezed and squashed themselves into every available crevice. Something had to give; the walls collapsed and out spilled the unfortunate family. Full review...

Where Are You Banana? by Sofie Laguna and Craig Smith (Illustrator)

For Sharing

Banana. It may not be the most obvious name for a dog but it’s the name of Roddy’s pet. Apparently it was Roddy’s first word, spoken, by coincidence, when the new pup arrived. A tad precocious and serendipitous as first utterances go but I’m going to let that one slip as, dog name aside, 'Where Are You, Banana?' contains some delicious observations of family life captured in both written and painted form. Full review...

Mungo Monkey has a Birthday Party by Lydia Monks

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It’s Mungo Monkey’s birthday which means…Party Time! From baking a cake to blowing up balloons, he’s so excited to get things organised and ready for when his friends arrive. Full review...

What's Your Favourite Animal by Eric Carle

For Sharing

I love that this book is written by Eric Carle and friends. There’s something rather lovely about the idea of a group of authors and illustrators, hanging out and deciding to collaborate on a project together. Unlike the usual two-person job, though, where the result is typically as seamless as if it came from a single pen, this is an eclectic mix of pages that very clearly come from various minds. Let me explain. Full review...

Bear and Hare Go Fishing by Emily Gravett

For Sharing

Bear and Hare are friends who like to do activities together, and since Bear REALLY loves fishing, that’s what they’re doing today. But will Bear catch a fish…or something else? Full review...

Itch Scritch Scratch by Eleanor Updale and Sarah Horne

Dyslexia Friendly

Warning: This Book Will Get Under Your Skin

Well, that's what it says on the back of the book and I can promise that it's true. You might like to wear a pair of those cotton mittens for babies whilst you read. It will feel awkward, but you'll feel the benefit, honestly. But - I'm getting ahead of myself. You want to know about the book. It's a family story - and the family in question are head lice. Full review...

All I Said Was by Michael Morpurgo and Ross Collins

Dyslexia Friendly

Our young friend looked up at the window and saw a pigeon balancing on the window sill and our young friend had a thought. I'd like to be you, he said, dreaming of flying off to anywhere that he liked. The pigeon was quite happy to change places: lying on the bed reading a book seemed like a good idea, so the two changed places. Our young hero thought it was great as he flew off towards the sea:

I want to be a bird all my life. Full review...

Hector and the Big Bad Knight by Alex T Smith

For Sharing

All is not well in the happy village of Spottybottom as the Big, Bad Knight has stolen Granny’s magic wand. Hector wants to help his Granny get her wand back but there is a problem because Hector is the tiniest boy in the village and the thief is quite possibly the biggest and the baddest knight around. However, perhaps Granny should not despair because Hector has a plan! Full review...

Watch Out for the Crocodile by Lisa Moroni and Eva Eriksson

For Sharing

Little Tora is going on a very special trip with her Dad. Trekking, camping and animal spotting are on Tora’s agenda. No more work, coffee drinking or talking on his mobile for Dad. Well, perhaps not much talking on his mobile anyway. First though, there is some boring stuff; buying supplies at the supermarket and making the long car journey to the forest. When will they start to have fun? And where are those wild animals? A little bit of imagination is called for from both father and daughter to make the trip a memorable one. Full review...

Cuckoo! by Fiona Roberton

For Sharing

We do love Fiona Roberton's books in our house, a passion that started with Wanted: The Perfect Pet. This new story, about fat little cuckoo, is just as delightful as her others, and one that I've sneakily read without the children, once or twice, just so that I can properly enjoy it by myself! Full review...

Pom and Pim by Lena Landstrom and Olaf Landstrom

For Sharing

When Pom and Pim go out for the day things start off well, but bad luck comes their way. Can they look on the bright side of every situation, even when they feel tripped up time and time again? Full review...

Oi Frog! by Kes Gray and Jim Field

For Sharing

Normally I would shy away from any book rhyming frog with log and cat with hat and hare with chair...normally it would fill me with a sense of dread to be faced with such a 'poem' to read. This time, however, I make an exception, because Oi Frog! is very funny and definitely worth a read, and again, and again! Full review...