Newest For Sharing Reviews

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Rapunzel by Bethan Woollvin

For Sharing

Ah Rapunzel, how well we all know about her long golden hair and her difficult-to-escape tower! Here, however, the story is told with a twist, because there is no handsome Prince who comes riding by to save Rapunzel from her incarceration. No, instead we see Rapunzel is smart enough to figure her own way out, defeating the witch, and going on to a successful witch-hunting career. Full review...

The Thing by Simon Puttock and Daniel Egneus

For Sharing

One day the Thing falls from the sky and four strangers stumble across it. At first they are confused. What is the Thing? What does it do? What is it for? Then the four of them decide to work together to look after and care for 'the Thing. Soon word spreads about the Thing and others come from far and wide to find out more. Gradually a media circus builds up around the Thing. Throughout all of this the Thing remains silent. Then just as suddenly and silently as it arrived the Thing departs. Full review...

Best-loved Paddington Stories by Michael Bond and R W Alley

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With the sad passing of Michael Bond there is no time like the present to revisit some of the adventures of his most iconic creation; Paddington. As the character has proved so timeless regular re-issues of the books have appeared and Best-loved Paddington Stories brings three of these stories together. Does this collection really reflect the best that the bear has to offer or are they just three random tales stuck together with marmalade? Full review...

Wishker by Heather Pindar and Sarah Jennings

For Sharing

Mirabel is a small girl who wants rather a lot from life and is sadly frustrated when everyone says no to her. Then a stray cat appears in her garden. He's a rather special cat with wish-granting whiskers. All Mirabel's problems will be instantly solved. Or so she thinks… Full review...

My First Mog ABC by Judith Kerr

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There are few children's series that have been as long lasting as Judith Kerr's Mog books and even though the cat may no longer be with us, there is a huge back catalogue of old stories and images that could be repurposed. In the wrong hands reusing old Mog images would seem like a crass cash in, but done right, they could still hold the same sentimental appeal that the daft old cat has for so many people. Which way does My First Mog ABC fall? Full review...

Fairy Tale Pets by Tracey Corderoy and Jorge Martin

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Bob is neat. He lives in a neat and tidy house with Rex his friendly and really quite neat dog. All is well in their neat and happy world except for one thing. Bob needs a job. He decides to be a pet-sitter and is looking forward to looking after cute little hamsters and bunnies. What actually arrives is unfortunately something quite different and poor Bob is quite unprepared for the chaos that ensues when his pets misbehave. Full review...

The Bad Bunnies' Magic Show by Mini Grey

For Sharing

In a slight change to the scheduling, the Great Hypno is unavailable for tonight's magic show...but not to worry, ready to step into the breach are Mr Abra and Mr Cadabra, a pair of innocent looking bunnies. Their show promises to be fast and dangerous, and it certainly turns out to be both, though perhaps not quite in the way the bunnies imagined! Full review...

Class One Farmyard Fun by Julia Jarman and Lynne Chapman

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When Class One go on a trip to the farm, the day is not plain sailing. The teacher's traumas don't revolve around the usual 'who will be sick on the coach' issues however, and instead relate to one rather grumpy farmyard animal - the bull! All sorts of trauma ensues when the bull escapes from his field, and it takes a lot of the children working together to be able to catch him back in his field and lock him up. All things considered, this probably isn't the best book for any teachers to read aloud the day before a school trip... Full review...

Waiting for Goliath by Antje Damm

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Bear is waiting for Goliath. That's Bear on the cover and it was what first drew me to this book. He looks so forlorn that I wanted to know what the problem was. He's not exactly forlorn, but he has been waiting at the bus stop since dawn and he might be getting just a little bit bored. He lies down (legs dangling down and tummy flat on the seat) and explains to everyone that Goliath is his best friend. Robin wanted to know if Goliath is as strong as Bear and Bear says that he is. He's smart too. He can count to eighteen. Bear's obviously been at the stop for quite a while as the spring flowers have fallen from the trees. He's there through the dark too - he just curls up and sleeps on the seat. Full review...

I Dare You by Reece Wykes

For Sharing

Some children's books require a robust sense of humour from a parent, or at least the ability to look the other way when a book is being naughty. There are more books on pants and poo than could fill a landfill, but when is something too far for a children's book? Bragging? Lying? Cannibalism? Full review...

The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield and The Fan Brothers

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Back in the nineteen sixties in a cottage on Stag Island in Southern Ontario, Canada there was a boy called Chris who loved playing with rockets. Actually they were made out of cardboard boxes, but they were rockets to Chris and he and his dog would play space games all day. He really didn't have time for anything else and he certainly didn't have time to sleep. Well, actually, there's a secret here: Chris was afraid of the dark and everyone knows that when it's very dark the worst sort of aliens come into the bedroom. Night after night his parents worked very hard to get him to sleep in his own bedroom and it was only the threat that if Chris didn't get into his own bed and go to sleep everyone would be too tired to go next door the following evening to watch something special on television. There was only the one television on the island, you see. Full review...

My Name is not Refugee by Kate Milner

For Sharing

A child's mother tells her child that they will have to leave this town: it's not safe for them any longer. She explains what will happen. The child can pack his own bag, but he has to remember that he must only take what he can carry. Initially it will be exciting and they can't live in a place where there's no water in the taps and the rubbish just piles up in the streets. It's going to be an adventure, but sometimes they're going to be on their own and it will get a bit boring, but sometimes they'll be with other people and he must remember to hold on to an adult's hand. They'll see lots of cars and lorries and sleep in some strange places. They'll hear people speaking in strange languages and taste new foods. Eventually they'll get to somewhere where they are safe and can unpack. The strange words will start to make sense.

He'll be called Refugee, but he has to remember that Refugee is not his name. Full review...

The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers

For Sharing

Something terrible is happening in the forest. Branches from trees are going missing overnight, and nobody knows what's going on. Everyone living in the forest gathers together to look at the crime scene, and to try to discover what has happened. Initially they blame each other, but after discovering everyone there has a solid alibi they continue their investigations to try and find the culprit. Full review...

The Dressing-Up Dad by Maudie Smith and Paul Howard

For Sharing

Danny and his dad both love dressing up! Whatever the event, or reason, they are ready. Indeed, they don't really need a reason, but just happily dress up together at home, or when they go out, as spacemen, a knight and a dragon, sea creatures and wizards...you name it, they can dress up as it! Danny loves having so much fun with his dad, but then one day he does start to wonder what it would be like to have a normal, ordinary dad, and so for his birthday he decides to ask his dad to dress up as an ordinary dad! Full review...

Triangle by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

For Sharing

This is a story about Triangle. One day he goes out of his house and walks a long way to go and play a sneaky trick on his friend, Square. It's quite a long walk, past lots and lots of triangles, and then lots of shapes with no name, and then lots and lots of squares. What will happen after he's played his trick on Square, though? Will Triangle get his comeuppance? Full review...

Sun by Sam Usher

For Sharing

It was the hottest day of the year. Hotter, if such a thing is possible, than broccoli soup, the Atacama Desert and the surface of the sun. Grandad decreed that it was the perfect day for an adventure and began packing the picnic basket with all sorts of useful things: water, biscuits, a telescope, camera, sun protection, fruit, sandwiches, toys and lots, lots more. How are a boy and his grandad to know what they're going to need? Grandad was the navigator and the boy was the lookout. Full review...

Grandpa Diet and Diabetes by Laura Williams

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Nick's Mum is an accident and emergency nurse and life can get a bit hectic at times, particularly when she has to arrange for someone to look after Nick and his twin sister Emma. One day in the school holidays Grandpa had the pleasure of looking after the kids and Nick thought this was cool. Grandpa used to be a bit of a rocker, you see, and that's the sort of music he always has playing. He might have a stick but Nick sure that he doesn't really need it - it's there just in case. He does have a problem though and Mum explains it by saying that Grandpa has to eat at the right time every day because he has diabetes. Full review...

Supertato Run Veggies Run by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet

For Sharing

I've heard of these so called superfoods, they are reported to boost your immune system and flush out areas of your body that have gone unnoticed for decades, but does this make them super? In my mind to be a superfood you need to do something spectacular; lift a car from a trapped child, or leap over a building in one bound. The vegetable and fruit in my house can't do any of this, but then they aren't Supertato; a spectacular spud that, more than once, has saved the day with his powers. Full review...

Dr Seuss's ABC by Dr Seuss

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No one who has read his work can deny that Dr Seuss had a powerful imagination. He was able to pluck from his brainpan not only interesting takes on old ideas, but also new creatures and worlds that had never been seen before. His books are often madder than a box of March hares, but even he must have had his limits? The humble ABC book (dare I say the dull ABC book), surely he could not bring his sense of anarchic fun to this staple of the children's education market? Full review...

British Museum: ABC by Nosy Crow

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Learning your ABCs is also seemingly learning the same items appearing over and over again. A is not only A – it is also Apple. B is Ball, C is Car. It is almost as if there are only 26 objects in the world and they happen to start with different letters of the alphabet. In fact, apart from Xylophone and X-Ray, there are loads of things that you could choose to put in an ABC book, if only you had a vast repository of objects and art that you could choose from … Full review...

Go To Sleep! by Marion Adams

For Sharing

It was midnight on the wild moors. The round white moon peeped over the clouds. The barn owl flew from tree to tree without making a sound. The cool night breeze rustled through the gorse bushes.

Parents - isn't this just a lovely way to start a bedtime story? It's an oft-forgotten truth about picture books that they need to engage the parents as well as the children. How else can they read it aloud successfully? So I loved this opening paragraph of Go To Sleep! - it not only set the scene beautifully but it also made me want to rush off and find a child to read it to. Full review...

Fum by Karl Newson and Lucy Fleming

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The smallest member of the Crumb family, Fum, has gone missing. Where on earth can he be? The rest of the Crumbs (a family of giants) search high and low for little Fum, enlisting the help of various fairy tale friends along the way. Full review...

Little Monster's Day Out with Dad by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart

For Sharing

Before leaving the house it is always important that you check the traffic online. What is the point in leaving now if you are going to be stuck in a traffic jam all the way? Little Monster's Father could have done this, but is learning the hard way. Thankfully, this is a world in which even the mundane can be fun and there are lots of friends to find; even when you are stuck in back to back traffic on the Monster M25. Full review...

Cinnamon by Neil Gaiman and Divya Srinivasan

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First written in 1995, Cinnamon has hitherto existed as a short story on Neil Gaiman's website or as part of an audiobook collection. Now, it's out as a picture book for us all to share. The story follows Cinnamon, a princess in a small hot country, where everything is very old. Cinnamon was born with pearls for eyes. This means that she is very beautiful but also blind. And Cinnamon won't speak. Her parents, the rajah and rani, offer rich rewards for anyone who can persuade their daughter to talk. People come and go but nobody is successful. Until, one day, a tiger comes... Full review...

Can I Join Your Club? by John Kelly and Steph Laberis

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Duck just wants to join a club. Any club would be fine, but he would really like to be a part of something, so he tries the Lion Club, and the Snake Club, and even Club Elephant, but it seems like duck won't ever fit in anywhere… Full review...

Tibs the Post Office Cat by Joyce Dunbar and Claire Fletcher

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Set in the 1950's, this is a story about a cat called Tibs (who was a real cat) who was born in a post office, and who had a job to keep all the rats and mice under control. Rather than killing and eating all the mice, however, Tibs befriends them, and with their help he is able to apprehend some thieves, becoming the hero of the day! Full review...

Under the Same Sky by Britta Teckentrup

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In this delightfully different book award winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup combines beautiful pictures with a simple yet lyrical text to portray a celebration of global unity. It beautifully depicts how the world's communities are united by the same hopes and dreams. Full review...

Charlie Chick Wants to Play by Ant Parker

For Sharing

You would be amazed how often items go missing in children's books, especially in lift the flap books. What better way is there to get a kid to look under something than say it may contain the missing object? In this case a Chick has lost their ball and rather than question why a baby chicken would have a ball in the first place, we instead must go on an adventure around the farm. Full review...

SPLAT! by Jon Burgerman

For Sharing

Everybody loves a clown…. Wait a minute, does anyone like a clown? They are as likely to make a child cry as they are to make them laugh. One thing that they do have going for them is the slapstick humour and although we may not enjoy clowns themselves, we do enjoy watching someone get smacked in the face with a custard pie. Therefore, why not enjoy the mayhem without the harlequin? Full review...

Lots – The Diversity of Life on Earth by Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton

Children's Non-Fiction

How many different kinds of living things are there on Earth? Lots…that's how many. Children will learn lots and lots from this wonderful book. I learned lots from it too. There are 100,000 different kinds of mushrooms. Who knew? Well I certainly didn't. This is one of those special books with cross-over appeal. Tiny children will adore the illustrations, slightly older ones will learn fascinating facts and readers of any age will be moved by the message that we need to take better care of our beautiful environment. Full review...

Paddington's Finest Hour by Michael Bond

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Paddington is back! This is the first set of new stories about our favourite bear from Peru since 2012. There are seven of them and, as you'd expect, they are delightful. Our little bear doesn't change and he still careers around 32 Windsor Gardens creating merry havoc as his adopted family, the Browns, look on in helpless mirth. Everybody loves a bit of slapstick, right? Full review...

One Happy Tiger by Catherine Rayner

For Sharing

I love a good counting book! I particularly like one that has a story attached to it, rather than just 'one ball, two oranges, three dolls...' I like a counting book which is well drawn too and where care and thought has gone into the production of the book: you can't start to appreciate the good things in life too soon and One Happy Tiger ticks all those boxes, but when we first meet him tiger is rather sad. He's sitting all alone and whilst he might not have a frown on his face or tears in his eyes he has a look of dejection about him. Full review...

Fluffy Chick by Rod Campbell

For Sharing

Books enable us to travel places that we can only dream of; we can walk on the moon, or sink to the deepest depths of the ocean. However, not all books have to be spectacular to be great; simple pleasures can also be good. Taking a child to a petting zoo is one of the most fun outings a family can do, but what happens when you are having an indoor day? Pick up Fluffy Chick and bring the simple joy of the petting zoo to you. Full review...

The Covers of My Book Are Too Far Apart (and other grumbles) by Vivian French and Nigel Baines

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I'm too old for bedtime stories, That's a girl's book!, I hate this book but I've got to finish it, I can't find a book that I like. You've probably heard at least one of the grumbles in this book before but have you known how to respond to it? This brilliant picture book will do it for you and is a joyful celebration of all that's wonderful about books and reading. Full review...

When Grandad was a Penguin by Morag Hood

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When a little girl goes to stay with her Grandad, she is worried that all is not well. Grandad doesn't seem quite the same, somehow, and he is talking about fish a lot, none of his clothes fit, and he is spending a lot more time in the bathroom. Thankfully, one day the zoo phones up, having discovered a bit of a problem there that might explain what is going on with Grandad! Full review...

A Perfect Day by Lane Smith

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It's a lovely sunny day, and looks as if it may just turn out to be a perfect day, since there is a sunny spot for cat in the flowers, and a paddling pool for dog to cool off in, and bird food in the bird feeder, and a corn cob for squirrel. But, what's this? Here comes bear, lumbering into the garden to eat the corn cob, splash in the water and squash all the flowers! Full review...