|summary=How do you become a pirate? I'm guessing you just fall into the job – after all, with only so many waterways and so much treasure to go round, you'd never have one pirate teaching another all he knows, would you? Well, in the world of this book you would – for the most peculiar-looking pirate ship is the ''Rusty Barnacle'', and it is, as you'd guess, where Captain Firebeard teaches his pupils in the language and history of pirates. But have innocent Tommy, nervous Milton and gung-ho tomboy Jo bitten off more than they can chew? Or can their plans to surprise their teachers actually bring home the loot?
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1407163396</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author= Laura Barwick
|title=Animal Babies
|rating= 4.5
|genre= Confident Readers
|summary=Let's face it: with a fluffy lion cub on the cover, inviting readers to take a peek inside, only the most hard-hearted of individuals could resist the temptation to pick up ''Animal Babies'' to explore the further delights within its pages. Once hooked, the reader is rewarded with a visual feast of adorable baby creatures, each page seemingly cuter than the last.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1785941003</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author= Timo Parvela
|title= Bicycling to the Moon
|rating= 4.5
|genre= For Sharing
|summary= Bicycling to the Moon is a series of short stories which all centre around two main characters: Purdy the cat and Dexter the dog who live together in a sky-blue house on the top of a hill. Purdy is a somewhat selfish cat who demonstrates rather impulsive behaviour and is always rushing around, whereas Baxter is much more refined, thoughtful and is careful to make the right choices. Each story works as an individual tale which could be read out of order; however there is a seasonal progression to the order of the book.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1776570324</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author= Claire Fayers
|title= The Accidental Pirates: Voyage to Magical North
|rating= 5
|genre= Confident Readers
|summary= Brine leads a typical Cinderella existence, being a lonely orphan who spends her dreary life cleaning and tidying up after a tetchy wizard and his equally bad-tempered apprentice Peter. But then, in the way of all excellent stories, things go seriously wrong and the two young people have to flee their island. It's a total, horrible disaster: they get lost at sea together and only stop arguing about whose fault it was when they're picked up by a crew of bloodthirsty and ruthless pirates on a ship called the Onion (due to an unfortunate spelling mistake at the sign-maker's).
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1447290607</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author= Steve Cole
|title= Mind Writer
|rating= 4
|genre= Dyslexia Friendly
|summary= Everyone knows what a mind reader can do and Luke Mellows has this amazing talent, or maybe it is a gift. He uses this to great effect and for his own entertainment. Knowing what the teacher is thinking can be incredibly useful and can be used for amusing classroom antics. Luke thought it was only him who had this gift, however when he meets Samira he soon realises that there is one skill that can be even more powerful than his – a mind writer. Being able to change what a person will think can be a powerful and dangerous skill. When the mind reader and mind writer come together Luke soon learns that there is a much darker and sinister situation occurring than he could ever have imagined.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178112583X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author= Geraldine Mills
|title= Gold
|rating= 5
|genre= Confident Readers
|summary=Twins Starn and Esper are growing up in a world made dark and silent by massive volcanic explosions. Ash now covers the planet and every aspect of life is controlled by the government, policed by the strict, heavy-handed Sagittars. They long for sunshine, fresh air and the freedom of a life only vaguely remembered by a few. But a game of dares leads them to discover an ancient book written by their great-great aunt, filled with strange writing and a treasure map. This propels them headlong into a journey across the darkened skies in a hand-built glider, in search of the gold that will vastly improve their lives. What they find there is a hidden world; one left behind when the volcanoes exploded. The revelation of the gold is not at all what they thought it would be, and is a discovery that could expose the governments' lies and save a dying planet.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910411558</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Libby Walden
|title=In Focus: 101 Close Ups, Cross-Sections and Cutaways
|rating=4
|genre=Children's Non-Fiction
|summary=Only recently I've had reason to applaud a children's non-fiction book for concentrating on showing its audience what they have no hope to see – in that case, the underground and underwater worlds, from the shallowest plant roots to the deepest oceanic explorations and everything in between. Other unseen worlds are all around us, however – they're what goes on on the inside of things – inside a pocket watch (remember them?), inside a yurt, a space shuttle, a volcano, a toilet… This pleasant square block of book not only gives us the outside image and a caption, but the full story of the innards, meaning the young reader is certainly going where they've never been before…
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184857505X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author= Katrina Charman
|title= Trouble at the Cat Cafe (Poppy's Place)
|rating= 4
|genre= Confident Readers
|summary=''Trouble at the Cat Café'' is the second book in the ''Poppy's Place'' series about a family who adopt a number of homeless cats and decide to open a Japanese-style cat café. We meet up with Isla and her family as they are making the final preparations for their grand opening which will see their dream become a reality. There is still so much work to do, and more importantly, they still have to pass the all-important council inspection. Will everything be ready for the grand opening on Saturday?
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847157157</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=S A Wakefield and Desmond Digby
|title=The Adventures of Bottersnikes and Gumbles
|rating=3
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=I had an impoverished childhood. I only had the one ''Bottersnikes and Gumbles'' book, when there could have been three of them on my shelf – and a fourth collected when it came out in 1990 while I was at sixth form. If you haven't met the species involved, here's a summary. Gumbles are like Tribbles, or ''Doctor Who'' Adipose creatures – impossibly cute little things, pure bundles of joy and pleasure, who like nothing better than having fun with each other, perhaps on the sandy edge of one of the many creeks in the Outback. Bottersnikes are larger, reptilian things, with bristles on the end of their long tales, and ears that heat up and glow bright red when they're angry. They're also exceedingly wicked, and lazy, and if they're not sleeping on a rubbish dump they're trying to boss each other about. It's very unfortunate then, for the Gumbles, that the Bottersnikes soon see the critters can be useful – they can boss them about instead, and when the Gumbles have done all the hard work they can be smashed into a pancake shape and dumped in an old tin can til they're needed again.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0008205795</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author= Justin Fisher
|title= Ned's Circus of Marvels
|rating= 5
|genre= Confident Readers
|summary=Ned is an ordinary boy; in fact he is less than ordinary. His life is dull and he is quite unnoticeable. His dad is overly protective: he is the dad who wraps his child up in cotton wool and then adds a layer of bubble wrap for good measure. Ned barely leaves the house, only to school, but then he must be back on time otherwise his dad would worry and start to panic. Not the ideal life for a boy just about to turn 13. However, in a frantic moment of disbelief, Ned's life changes in an instant with a glimpse of two clowns at his door. Everything he knew of himself, his dad and his family is turned upside down. In a barrage of confusion and panic intertwined with a dramatic car chase, the comfortable world as Ned knows it has changed forever. Ned is not who he thinks his is - he is so much more, and ordinary? Not one little bit.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0008124523</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Jean Ure
|title=The Snow Globe
|rating=4.5
|genre=Dyslexia Friendly
|summary=Abi's family's circumstances changed very suddenly. She had been a pupil at a very good girl's school (with a stylish uniform) and went horse riding and to dance classes at the weekend. The family home, was spacious and in a pleasant neighbourhood. When the family business went under they had to sell the house and move to something smaller. The horse riding and dance classes went and school was a big comprehensive - with boys and a dull, grey uniform. Worst of all she was moving away from her best friend, Jenny.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781125945</amazonuk>
}}
