Newest For Sharing Reviews

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Badger and the Great Rescue by Suzanne Chiew and Caroline Pedler

For Sharing

Upcycling is a great idea, take some old rubbish and make yourself a washing line or new tent. Badger and friends have found some odd bits and bobs around the forest and they all have great ideas on how to use them, but where did all this stuff come from? Sometimes it is best to find out the origins of an item before you repurpose it for yourself, you never know who may need it! Full review...

Little People, Big Dreams: Frida Kahlo by Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Eng Gee Fan

Emerging Readers

Frida Kahlo was born in Mexico. When she was a young schoolgirl she contracted polio and was left with a leg which was skinny as a rake, but she bore the problem stoically and in some ways delighted in being different. Then one day Frida was in a bus which crashed into a car. She was badly injured and even when she was over the worst she still had to rest in bed and filled the time by drawing pictures, including a self portrait. Eventually she showed her pictures to a famous artist - Diego Rivera - who liked the pictures, and Frida. They married and Rivera encouraged Frida's painting. She exhibited, eventually in New York, to great acclaim. Full review...

Little People, Big Dreams: Coco Chanel by Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Ana Albero

Emerging Readers

Gabrielle Chanel lived in an orphanage in a French town and after the death of her mother she went to a strict convent school. The fact that she was different didn't make her life easy, but there were early indications that she was going to be a seamstress. After she left school she sewed by day and sang by night and it was as she sang that she gained her nickname - Coco - which came from the soldiers in the audience. But her dream was designing clothes and the first step was designing and making hats: this led to her opening a hat shop. One evening, at a party she realised that a lot of the women weren't dancing: their corsets were so tight that they could hardly breathe and it was this that prompted Coco to create a new style. Her clothes were simple, straight and comfortable to wear. Full review...

Odd Job Frog by Colleen Jacey and Zed Jacey

For Sharing

I'm bored, said Frog. Bored, bored, BORED.

And you can see he is: chin on elbow, elbow on knee and, dare I say, a slightly sulky expression on his face. He's not happy. Mouse has the right of it, with his hammock slung in the cornfield, but Frog has made up his mind. He's off to the city which is full of exciting things. And it is. Everywhere he looks there are wonderful things to do, but there's only one snag. They all cost money. And as he hasn't got any he's going to have to get a job. Full review...

Rabbit and Bear: Rabbit's Bad Habbits by Julian Gough and Jim Field

For Sharing

When Bear wakes up early from her hibernation, she decides that if she can't sleep then she might as well do something which she's always wanted to do - build a snowman. It's whilst she's doing this that she meets Rabbit, who tells her that he's an Expert in Gravity. Whatever he is, it doesn't seem to make him particularly happy as he never smiles and isn't exactly big on fun. But there are avalanches around as well as hungry wolves and Rabbit soon comes to the conclusion that it's good to have a friend on your side - even if you have just stolen their food. Full review...

Amazing Animal Journeys by Chris Packham and Jason Cockroft

Children's Non-Fiction

It's only relatively recently that man has actually moved home at certain points of the year to take advantage of the weather or the availability of food, but wild life has been doing it for much longer and every year billions of animals move from one part of the planet to another - that's birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects. This is known as migration - and it's a real pleasure to see it used other than in the context of sensationalist newspaper headlines. Wildlife expert Chris Packham has written this introduction to the subject and it's been beautifully illustrated by Jason Cockroft. (He's the man who did the cover artwork for the final three Harry Potter books!) Full review...

Skimbleshanks: The Railyway Cat by T S Eliot and Arthur Robins

For Sharing

I have to say, on opening this book I was tempted to break out into song! This is due to a lot of my teenage years spent listening to, and singing along with Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals (I know...I do apologise!) You'd think being an English graduate I'd take a T.S. Eliot poem more seriously, wouldn't you? But no, it's the musical of Cats that leapt instantly to my mind. Anyway, if an Eliot poem seems an unlikely source for a children's picture book, think again, because this is a lovely book, both funny to read and listen to, and with lots to see and discuss. Full review...

The Nutcracker by Jane Ray

For Sharing

There's something rather magical about Jane Ray's stories. The Doll's House Fairy continues to be one of my daughter's favourite stories, even though she's now a rather grown up nine year old, so we opened up this new story with a great deal of anticipation. It remains close to the traditional Nutcracker story, and there is a wonderful feel of Christmas throughout. I'm sure you can read it quite happily all year round (I know we will!) but it's particularly special in the run up to Christmas. Full review...

Time Travelling Toby and the Battle of Britain by Graham Jones and Neil Parkinson

For Sharing

Toby lives in an unremarkable village and goes to an unremarkable school - just like millions of other boys - but he has a secret. We're told it's humongous and I think that's right. You see, Toby has (wait for it...) two brother, a Mum and a Dad, a Nanma, two dogs, three fish and two rabbits as well as...

... a time machine that looks just like a sports car. Full review...

Asterix and the Missing Scroll (Album 36) by Jean-Yves Ferri

For Sharing

Asterix is those rarest of book series; one designed for kids which is actually even funnier when you are an adult. I used to love Asterix as a child, but now that I reread them I can't help but wonder why, because they are so full of hilarious jokes that I definitely wouldn't have understood when I was younger. I laughed loud and hard to myself twice within the first two pages of Asterix and the Missing Scroll, so I'd definitely say that this was a hit. Full review...

Blue Penguin by Petr Horacek

For Sharing

Blue Penguin is about a penguin who is, well, blue. Most penguins are not blue, so he stand out. He's different. They don't think he belongs with them. He's not part of the gang because of the way he looks. Full review...

Green Lizards vs Red Rectangles by Steve Antony

For Sharing

Young children have inquisitive minds and they do not view the world in the same way we do. Trying to explain abstract concepts to them is almost impossible as they like to know exactly why something does what it does. Why is the Sky blue? Where do babies come from? Why do people fight wars? Many a parent has tried and failed to tackle these troublesome questions, so perhaps a book can help? Or perhaps, you are best off leaving the answer alone for a few years so that they are more mature? Full review...

Charlie and Lola: One Thing by Lauren Child

For Sharing

I am yet to meet a child that doesn't like Charlie and Lola, and Lauren Child doesn't disappoint at all in this latest book in the series, which combines numbers with the usual warm humour and fun of this brother and sister double act. Full review...

Old Bear's Bedtime Stories by Jane Hissey

For Sharing

I'm not sure you ever grow out of Old Bear stories. I just curled up in a blanket to read this latest collection of stories, and when I'd finished my nine year old daughter sneaked over and took the book upstairs to read it by herself! Here we have twenty one stories and poems, all fairly short so useful when you need a quick bedtime! All your old favourites are here - Bramwell Bear and Duck and Little Bear, just waiting for you to snuggle up and read about their latest adventures. Full review...

As Quiet as a Mouse by Karen Owen and Evgenia Golubeva

For Sharing

There are a whole host of things that Elephants are excellent at; they reportedly never forget and they can hold loads of water in their trunk. One thing they are not known for is being quiet. However, their erstwhile natural enemy, the mouse is – hence someone is as quiet as a mouse. Can these two great animal tribes put aside their differences so that you can teach a nelly to tread carefully? Full review...

Clangers: The Brilliant Surprise by Daniel Postgate

For Sharing

There is no such thing as nostalgia anymore as all the classic children's TV shows of the past have been pulled out of retirement, dusted off and made anew. The Clangers are one of the latest IPs to be visited by the resurrectionists and the new show has proved very popular. It has now spawned spin off toys and books, but how do you write a book about a bunch of creatures that we cannot understand? Full review...

The Jar of Happiness by Ailsa Burrows

For Sharing

What would you do if you knew the recipe for happiness? I'm sure you could make a fortune, selling it by the jar, though it's questionable of course as to whether such profiteering from the sale of emotions would make you happy! Meg, the little girl in this story, makes up her own special blend of happiness in a jar, and she takes it everywhere, using it to cheer up her friends and family. But what will happen when Meg can't find the jar? Full review...

Refuge by Anne Booth and Sam Usher

For Sharing

A donkey tells the story of how he was led by the man whilst he carried the woman, all the way to Bethlehem, where the baby was born. Soon after, the shepherds came and then the kings. But then the man had a dream - a dream of danger - and he knew that it was time for them all to leave. They left some gold for the innkeeper (they were not staying in the stable because they were poor) and went through the quiet streets hoping for the kindness of strangers, which they found. Finally they came to another land - to Egypt - and found refuge. Full review...

Elliot's Arctic Surprise by Catherine Barr and Francesca Chessa

For Sharing

Ever since I was a child the environment has been at the forefront of teaching. It is hoped that each generation will finally be the one to tackle the encroaching global warming crisis. The problem is that books about green impacts can be very earnest and not as fun as a Gruffalo or Aliens in Underpants. How can you get a child to think about the shrinking icecaps in the Arctic when they could be discovery where Wally is hiding? Perhaps if you throw in a Christmas surprise or two? Full review...

Finding Winnie: The Story of the Real Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall

For Sharing

A little boy called Cole wanted a story. He particularly wanted a true story and it had to be about a bear. It was getting late, but Mummy said that she would do her best. Her story began about a hundred years before Cole was born and it was about a man called Harry Colebourn who lived in Winnipeg. He was a vet and was on his way to Europe to look after the horses of the soldiers fighting in the Great War when he met a trapper with a baby bear: his head might have said that there was nothing he could do, but his heart told him to get hold of the bear and he gave the trapper $20. Winnipeg, as he named the bear, went on the train with Captain Coulbourn and his troop, across the ocean and finally arrived in England. Full review...

Aliens Love Dinopants by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort

For Sharing

Who would have thought that underpants would have been such lucrative business, but Claire Freedman has proved that this is certainly the case with a series of books that have seen aliens, dinosaurs, pirates and even Santa getting involved in undergarment action. Where can you go after all these legendary figures? A mash-up book of course! What would happen if a group of pants loving aliens met a group of pants loving dinosaurs? Full review...

Not Without My Whale by Billy Coughlan and Villie Karabatzia

For Sharing

It feels at times that children's books are the last place left that the surreal can thrive. Whilst adult fiction is dominated by the gritty and realistic, children still get the chance to read about flights of fancy. Why do I want to read about the latest Scandinavian murder when I can read about one boy and his whale? Surely a whale is too big, smelly and wet to take into school? Full review...

The Tiny Tree by Allan Plenderleith

For Sharing

Deep down in the woods there was a tiny pine tree, stranded in a clearing and surrounded by BIG pine trees. She dreamed of being a big tree and hoped that one day she would be beautifully dressed and surrounded by laughter and love. The other trees thought that she was being silly. Actually, they were quite nasty to her and rather too full of themselves. Then one day the big machine came and started cutting down trees - and Tiny Tree was cut down by mistake. But who is going to want a tiny Christmas tree? Full review...

Nina The Pretty Ballerina by Anita Pouroulis and Agata Krawczyk

For Sharing

Jules and dogs Nina and George like to have fun together. But there are some things dogs don’t get to do, like play in the dressing up box, one of Jules’ favourite activities. That’s all about to change though. But is there a reason you rarely see a dog in a tutu? We’re about to find out. Full review...

Waiting for Santa by Steve Metzger and Alison Edgson

For Sharing

We all know Santa goes to the homes of children who have been good all year, but have you ever wondered about our furry friends? Can he detour to forests, parks and woodland? Do bears and mice get treats too? Full review...

I Want Spaghetti! by Stephanie Blake

For Sharing

Simon likes spaghetti. In fact, he likes it so much that that's the only thing he wants to eat. Simon is also blessed with having no concerns about stating his demands, very clearly, nor any qualms about criticising any other food that might be placed in front of him. He is, as you can tell, a typical toddler! Full review...

Aerodynamics of biscuits by Clare Helen Walsh and Sophia Touliatou

For Sharing

Oliver knows he shouldn't be skulking, sneaking and creeping around in the middle of the night. But even good little boys sometimes do things they shouldn't when they're hungry. And it's just as well he does. Without Oliver, the pirate mice wouldn't be able to use the biscuits they've stolen to build an aerodynamic rocket to take them to the moon. And without Oliver they would still be stranded on the cheesy moon unable to get home. Full review...

The Big, Big Bing Book! by Lucy Murphy, Freddie Hutchins, Neil Dunnicliffe and Stella Gurney

For Sharing

We've all seen books described as big. It usually means that the book is a bit bigger than usual, or thicker, or it's a bind up of some previously-published books. That's not the case with The Big, Big Bing Book! It could well be bigger than your toddler at nearly two feet high and over fifteen inches wide and weighing in at well over a kilo. You need space to open it. This is not the book you take along on a trip just chance a little distraction is needed from the Bingster. It might be a book which is pored over - it's almost certainly going to be a book which is crawled over as that's likely to be the only way that your toddler is going to be able to give the content the attention which they will feel that it so richly deserves. Full review...

Is it Christmas Yet? by Jane Chapman

For Sharing

Ted is excited. Well, let's be honest - he's out of control, dashing around the house and yelling Faster, Rudolph, Faster. Poor Rudolph is in Ted's truck for the moment, but he's looking as worried as all the other toys. Christmas is coming, but the trouble is that it's not coming fast enough. And then the questions start. Poor Big Bear is bombarded with Is it Christmas yet? every few minutes. Big Bear's more patient than I could be and keeps saying soon in a soothing voice which eventually turns to a growl. Explaining what needs to be done before Christmas arrives doesn't help, as Ted offers to help. And we all know how much help that sort of help is... Full review...

Little Owl's Colors by Divya Srinivasan

For Sharing

When you pick up a children's book, sometimes things feels a little off. Books for kids can be almost too sickly sweet; the characters have massive eyes and enjoy themselves too much. Who has that much fun in one day? What is wrong with Divya Srinivasan's Little Owl's Colors? Perhaps it is the lack of attention to detail when printing a book for the UK market? Colour me perplexed. Full review...

The Wolf Who Fell Out of a Book by Thierry Robberecht and Gregoire Mabire

For Sharing

What would happen if a character from a story fell out of the book and into the real world? I'm sure this is an issue that many a Jane Austen fan has pondered whilst reading Pride and Prejudice, giving their copy an extra little jiggle to try and set Mr Darcy free! Here, however, it is the scary wolf who falls out, but he discovers that the world he falls into is a lot more scary than the one he's left behind in the book! Full review...

Cat and Dog by Helen Oswald and Zoe Waring

For Sharing

Cat always sleeps in the day, and Dog always sleeps at night, but in the evening, when they're both awake, they always meet for a scrap! One day, however, they have a really big argument, bigger than they've ever had before. Will they ever be able to be frenemies again?! Full review...

The Snow Beast by Chris Judge

For Sharing

The Beast always loves it when he wakes up and finds that there's snow on the ground. Every year - on the first day when there's snow - the Beast helps the mountain villagers to put on a festival to celebrate. Unfortunately, there's a problem. When the Beast goes to collect his tools they're all gone. He races down the mountain to the village, but every tool has been stolen from there too. Some of the villagers are very angry and they decide that it must be the work of the abominable Snow Beast and the Beast promises to find the monster and get everyone's tools back. Full review...