TSL-67-4-WINTER-2019

School The

Librarian

www.sla.org.uk volume 67 number 4 winter 2019

The quarterly journal of the School Library Association

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Contents

www.sla.org.uk volume 67 number 4 winter 2019

Features

Features editorial 194

Ten Minutes With… Sue Bastone: Q & A 195

Barbara Band

At the Heart of the School: Kensington Prep School’s

Library Transformation 197

Caroline Hulme-McKibbin

Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2020: The SLA Nomination 200

Stephen King

Attending the Berkshire Unconference 202

Jane Fella

Cover: Original artwork by

Chris Riddell, President of the

School Library Association.

See the Winter info@sla

newsletter for information on

how to win this artwork for

your school library.

SLAdigital

Running a Creative Writing Club: Team Writing to Produce

a Novel 204

Helen Robinson

Holocaust Education Provision: Resources for the

School Library 205

Stephen King

Websites, apps and digital resources 210

Reviews

Reviews editorial 216

Under Eight 217

Eight to Twelve 226

Poetry and Plays 243

Twelve to Sixteen 243

Sixteen to Nineteen 252

Professional 254

Index of advertisers 255

Index of books reviewed 255

Index of authors and subjects for Volume 67 256

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The SL 67-4 Winter 2019 193

Features

Editorial

Putting together features for The School Librarian is a bit like doing a jigsaw but

without the picture on the box, because I never really know what I’m going to end

up with until it’s done. Sometimes promised articles don’t appear – that’s not a

problem, I totally understand how busy school librarians are and how often the

‘unexpected’ happens, so I have a couple of ‘back-up’ features in reserve. Sometimes

articles are too long (again not a problem as I can edit) or too short (more of an

issue as I have to ask for further information which can take time). Also I try to have

a balance. I’m aware that members encompass all sorts of librarians from all sorts of

schools; some of you are working full-time in large busy schools with libraries split

over more than one site whilst others work part-time in small rural primaries.

I meet a lot of librarians on my travels – in meetings, at conferences, and when I’m

delivering training – and I’m also involved with many book-reading-library related

forums and groups on social media. So I know that the projects people write about

are not unusual and that there are numerous school librarians across the UK doing

the same sort of amazing work with their students. But how many people know

about this outside their immediate circle? Even within a school it’s not unknown for

teachers to be completely unaware of what goes on it the library!

Which brings me to my point – we need to tell people what we are doing.

Yes, I know, ‘blowing your own trumpet’ doesn’t come naturally to most of us but if

we don’t write, tweet, blog, post pictures, etc. about the fantastic things we are doing

then who will? I also know that what with the usual day-to-day tasks and those

‘unexpected’ happenings there’s often not much time left for promotion. But it is so

important that we tell our staff, parents, governors, community and the wider world

how much value and benefit we bring to the school and its students. It’s easy to

think – this is just part of my job, it’s nothing special, I do it all the time – that may

be true but often only those who work within school libraries know this. To others

it’s an unknown.

So often I see something mentioned on social media (not often by a school librarian),

an idea linked to reading or books and the response is ‘wow, that’s amazing, what a

brilliant idea, how did you think of that?’ and I think ‘I know a school librarian who

has been doing exactly the same thing for years’. It would be so wonderful if those

school librarian ideas and activities weren’t quite so hidden from the public. The SLA

is currently running a Proud Library Provision campaign whereby they are asking

schools to make sure the library is mentioned on their website. If it is then screenshot

with the hashtag #proudlibraryprovision. There’s also the Great School Libraries

Campaign where we are gathering case studies which demonstrate best practice and

the wide range of roles of a school librarian. Further information about both

campaigns can be found at www.sla.org.uk/campaigns.

Barbara Band, Features Editor

Published four times a year by the School Library

Association: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

Printed by Holywell Press, Oxford.

Copyright © 2019 School Library Association.

All rights reserved. ISSN 0036 6595.

The views expressed are those of the contributors

and reviewers and not necessarily the official

views of the School Library Association.

Registered Charity Nos. 313660 and SC039453.

194 The SL 67-4 Winter 2019

Image by Bru-nO from Pixabay

Contributions

Articles for consideration are always welcome. The Features Editor is happy to receive

enquiries from potential contributors and will be pleased to supply information about

presentation. Contributions should be sent to the Features Editor: Barbara Band; Email:

sleditor@sla.org.uk

Books and material for review should be sent to the Reviews Editor:

Joy Court, School Library Association, 1 Pine Court, Kembrey Park, Swindon SN2 8AD;

Email: reviews@sla.org.uk

Weblinks, apps and all other digital media for review should be sent to the

SLA Digital Editor: Bev Humphrey; Email: digital@sla.org.uk

Advertising: Space Marketing, 10 Clayfield Mews, Newcomen Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

TN4 9PA Tel: 01892 677742; Fax: 01892 677743; Email: sales@spacemarketing.co.uk

All other communications should be sent to the Production Editor: Richard Leveridge,

School Library Association, 1 Pine Court, Kembrey Park, Swindon SN2 8AD

Tel: 01793 530166; Email: richard.leveridge@sla.org.uk

Ten Minutes With…

Sue Bastone

Q&A with the SLA’s Vice Chair

Interviewed by Barbara Band

Features

Q How did you start working in school libraries and what

did you use to do before?

A I left school at the end of the 5th (Year 11) to the horror

of my headmistress who said I was a disgrace (I’ve spent

my life trying to prove her wrong!) I was at a very good

girls’ grammar school but my mother thought I should

go to secretarial college. I had no idea what I wanted to

do, I was a dreamy child – head always in a book – and

in the 1960s being a secretary was an excellent and wellpaid

job. After leaving college, I landed a plum job in a

large London advertising agency and had a fantastic

career there for some years. A close friend and colleague

in libraries said it was what made me different as a

school librarian – that ability to promote the library and

see it as others saw it.

Q What was your first school library job and what was it

like?

A After starting a family, part-time work was difficult to

find and school holidays were a nightmare. For five

years, I voluntarily ran the library in my children’s

primary school, so when a part-time job was advertised

to computerize the local secondary school library, I

naturally jumped at it. I loved it from the very beginning.

It was a small school with dedicated staff and the

librarian was keen to encourage and develop me. Our

local SLS ran training courses for library assistants

which I was sent on; within three months I knew this

was what I wanted to do.

Q Why did you decide to go for Certification and how long

did it take you?

A I had undertaken A levels at night school but had no

degree so, having joined CILIP (then the Library

Association), I took an HNC in Librarianship and

Information Studies by distance learning through

Edinburgh Napier University. My school was incredibly

supportive but there was no role for me once I qualified,

so I applied for and got my first full-time role as a

Librarian in a large comprehensive, spending seven years

there before moving on to take on a two-storey LRC,

still a building site, with a team of staff.

For many years CILIP had discussed opening up the

profession. Without a degree I could not Charter and

was keen to do this, partly because more jobs would be

open to me but also for my own sense of achievement

and professionalism. I was delighted when the

Certification process was introduced in 2004 and was on

the pilot cohort, achieving Certification in 2005. I

immediately undertook Chartership which I achieved in

2007 and am very proud that I was made a Fellow of

CILIP in 2017.

Q You built up your role at Licensed Victuallers’ School to

become an important member of the school team – how

did you do this?

A When I joined my last school in 2004, I thought I would

be there 5 or 6 years. 14 years later I had the most

amazing send off when I retired! The reason for my

longevity was that there always seemed to be something

more to be done and I loved the challenge. The school

had very good exam results so my role was ‘adding value

and culture’ and I made sure there were always plans in

place to do this. After six months in post, I produced my

first Library Report and Development Plan with key recommendations;

I think the Head was rather taken aback

but impressed and invited me to the Senior

Management Conference to present them. I persuaded

my line manager to meet with me regularly by providing

cake! I ensured parents were kept informed too, by

writing home regularly and being available at Open Days

and Evenings.

I have never been backward in coming forward and

within a couple of years managed to persuade SMT it

was vital I attend Heads of Department meetings. This

enabled me to see where I could be of help and make

valuable contributions. Having this status within the

school meant the staff treated me as a fellow

professional which made it much easier to achieve

library aims; they saw I could contribute to their lessons

with research skills and information literacy, and was

always available. I never turned down a request for a

visit by or to a class.

In order to offer the service I wanted to, it was vital to

build up library staffing hours. I persuaded management

that to do everything in my plan I needed more help and

gradually this was funded. Managing people, staff or

students, is a challenging part of our role and one for

which we get little, if any, training. My most challenging

times were in managing my library team. However, I was


Features

fortunate that in my last few years I had the most

wonderful deputy. We were both passionate about

libraries and sparked ideas off each other; we had a lot of

fun.

Q If you could change one thing about school libraries,

what would it be? And why?

A Having been involved in the Campaign for the Book and

the March and Lobby for Libraries, I wish we could

persuade politicians of the value of libraries and

librarians, not just in schools but public libraries too.

There is so much research into their benefits and I

believe passionately that every child should have access

to a good school library and someone to teach them the

skills they need in our fast-changing world.

Q Do you have any favourite/go-to authors?

A Not really now. I used to read a great deal of historical

fiction and, for many years, children’s fiction but I am

now enjoying having more time to read a wide variety of

genres and explore non-fiction too. I’m an avid collector

of children’s illustration and second hand books. My

prized possession is a limited edition print of one of

John Tenniel’s original lithographs for Alice in

Wonderland. No.1 is in the V&A. I also have originals of

Quentin Blake and Michael Foreman on my walls.

Q What are your favourite genres? Is there anything you

don’t enjoy reading so much?

A I would have said non-fiction once but not now. The

only thing I really hate is horror.

Q What are your current favourite reads so far this year?

A I loved the Carnegie winner – Poet X by Elizabeth

Acevedo. I’ve also very much enjoyed Old Baggage by

Lissa Evans and A Short History of Europe by Simon

Jenkins.

Q What do you see as your role with the SLA?

A I am honoured to be Vice-Chair of the SLA and hope to

be elected as Chair in 2020. I see my role as helping to

guide our CEO and her team as they implement our

exciting plans for development, and ensure that the

Association is compliant with the huge amount of new

legislation and development taking place in the charity

sector. As a Trustee, I am responsible for the governance

and financial management of the Association, and I take

this responsibility extremely seriously.

Q Although you’re officially retired, you seem to be as busy

as ever - what are you involved with these days?

A Retirement is wonderful though I don’t feel retired – just

in my third career! It has enabled me to spend time

doing things I love but never really had time for. Being

Sue Bastone with School Librarian of the

Year Honour List finalists in 2010

fairly local to the SLA office means I can help and

support them, and I very much enjoy giving back to the

profession in this way. I belong to my local Arts Society

and help with the Young Arts section. I am involved

with a project sponsoring author visits to disadvantaged

schools. I attend lectures, visit exhibitions and places of

interest and enjoy writing a regular blog about these. I

have two grandchildren and spend time with them when

I can and, of course, I read a lot more now!

Q What is on your playlist?

A I love listening to Jazz and Classical music. My father

was a jazz musician so I grew up with Nat King Cole and

Frank Sinatra, and they are still my favourites. My

favourite classical is anything for the piano but

particularly Chopin and I love listening to the Chinese

pianists Ji Liu and Lang Lang. I also love Schubert’s

Trout Quintet introduced to me by my music teacher at

school!

I’m not a great film buff but I love a good TV series.

Historical – The Crown, Victoria, Poldark have been

amongst my recent favourites, but also a good thriller. I

love the theatre, straight plays rather than musicals, and

am a supporter of Shakespeare for Schools. I love the

National Theatre and took many school trips there. I

have booked to see The Ocean at the End of the Lane

based on the book by Neil Gaiman, one of my favourite

reads of recent years.

Q Do you have a signature dish?

A The family favourite is my Lasagne!

Q Future plans?

A I am trying to find time to write my memoir! I’ve always

been interested in family history but not much is known

about my family so for many years I have planned to

make sure I leave something for my grandchildren. Last

winter I went on a fantastic memoir writing course but

am still trying to find the time to start it!

■ Sue Bastone FCLIP is Vice-Chair of the School Library

Association.


At the Heart of the School

Kensington Prep School’s Library

Transformation

by Caroline Hulme-McKibbin

Features

Kensington Prep School has transformed its library to put

reading at the heart of the school. Head Caroline Hulme-

McKibbin explains.

Our aim is to put reading at the heart of every girl’s

educational experience; transforming our library to become

the heart of our school has been a key part of this vision.

A recent survey at Kensington Prep revealed that though 68%

of our pupils like reading ‘very much’, 70% would read even

more if they had more time. Whilst a busy schedule of extracurricular

activities plays its part, we discovered that screenbased

entertainment is proving a significant distraction.

To be clear, I am neither a luddite nor a technophobe. Digital

learning is an important part of our pedagogical approach. Our

‘Creating Spaces for Growing Minds’ programme has

facilitated the use of technology across the curriculum.

Visitors will commonly see girls comfortably scattered across

our breakout spaces as they research historical topics on their

iPads, or working collaboratively on creative projects in our

‘Explore Floor’. In this interactive multi-media studio our girls

gather round wall-mounted screens to interpret data, record

their thinking and solve problems. Flexibility with lights and

seating allows teachers to design immersive experiences for

their classes – without the innovative, high-tech opportunities

afforded by our Explore Floor, how would Year 5 have

managed to conduct an ecological survey of Yellowstone Park?

How would Year 3 have stepped through the wardrobe door

into the perpetually snowy world of Narnia?

Of course there is a more traditional but equally magical route

into the enchanting imaginings of C.S. Lewis: through the

pages of a book. As our Head of English, Richard Marlow

states, ‘At a time when children spend more time staring at a

digital device than with their nose in a book, KPS wants to

redress the balance and make reading every bit as enticing as

screen-time.’ This word ‘balance’ has been at the forefront of

our thinking as we consider the latest phase of our exciting

Growing Minds refurbishment initiative. Over the past few

years we have delighted in the progressive, forward-thinking

and ‘whizzy’. However, educational excellence is not just about

keeping pace. In our quest for innovative learning experiences

we must not forget the importance of more traditional

academic and scholarly values. Even more crucially, we all

need to slow down. Our girls are lucky to have a rich and

vibrant curriculum, a plethora of dynamic enrichment

opportunities, and a thriving timetable of hobbies outside of

school. But an escape from all this busy-ness is important. We

needed a place of quiet reflection, a place where you can be

yourself by yourself – lost in a book.

Transformation into a child-friendly space

Tranquillity is not hard to achieve in a space that used to be a

chapel (the school was a convent in a past life). Before our

redevelopment and expansion programme the library already

had great potential with its high wood panelled ceiling and

stained-glass windows. Yet it remained a drab and uninspiring

place. Now it has been transformed! Beanbags and cosy

corners make it impossible to resist snuggling up with a book.

A sweeping mezzanine has improved accessibility to texts.

Books that were once stacked frustratingly high now feature

prominently on attractive new shelving, begging to be

borrowed. This has allowed us to increase our stock and take

advantage of new display opportunities. Building this new level

has not compromised the grandeur of the space, quite the

opposite – it feels like the room has opened up in terms of

space and light. On completion, we felt so proud to have

created an atmosphere of both intimacy and inspiration. The


Features

question was how

to nurture the same

feeling in the girls.

Annabel McGinley,

our school librarian

(who this year

hosted the GDST

Librarians’

Conference),

believes that it is

‘essential that all

our girls catch the

reading bug during

their time at Ken

Prep.’ The benefits

of reading for

pleasure are

manifold. It is the

key to success at

school and in adult life: it is more important for children’s

cognitive development than their parents’ level of education

and is a more powerful factor in life achievement than socioeconomical

background (Sullivan and Brown 2013). Sixteen

year olds who choose to read books for pleasure outside of

school are more likely to secure managerial or professional

jobs later in life (Taylor 2011). Moreover, reading for pleasure

does not just promote cognitive development and academic/

economic success; studies have demonstrated the link between

reading fiction and greater empathy (Kidd and Castano 2016).

All this research made us feel even more confident with

regards to investing in our library, and it sends a powerful

message to ambitious West London parents too! To get the

children involved and excited we designed a programme of

initiatives and events. In anticipation of putting the library at

the heart of the school, Richard made the decision to put

children’s literature at the heart of literacy lessons. He believes

that all components of the English curriculum can be taught

through rich texts, at an appropriate level for our high

achieving girls. In addition to coverage and challenge, Richard

has a clear rationale for book-based pedagogy:

‘Putting great stories at the heart of the curriculum will

hopefully give the girls an emotional connection to their

learning: they will be investing their hearts and minds in

their English lessons. Caring about characters and being

moved by what happens to them will not only promote

engagement and motivation when it comes to academic

study, but will support their personal development in

terms of empathy as well.’

Nurturing a reading culture

Richard has drawn heavily on the work of James Clements

(Teaching English By the Book 2018) and Bob Cox (Opening

Doors to Famous Poetry and Prose 2014) in implementing this

approach. Over the last year a wide variety of authors and

genres have been studied. For example, Year 2 have

interrogated stereotypes in fairy tales; Year 3 have immersed

themselves in the picture books of former Poet Laureate Carol

Ann Duffy; and Year 4 have enjoyed analysing the suspenseful

techniques in Neil Gaiman’s Coraline. With their imaginations

ignited in their English lessons, the girls often come to the

library driven by an urge to have their curiosity sated. Annabel

is on hand two days a week to tempt, advise and encourage as

the requests and recommendations come thick and fast!

Efforts to nurture a reading culture have gone beyond the

academic curriculum. World Book Day (March) is of course a

wonderful event through which to promote engagement with

the written word. This year we embraced a ‘fearless females’

theme. The success of books like Good Night Stories for Rebel

Girls has shown there is a great hunger for tales of strong

women. A study of 6,000 children’s books published between

1900 and 2000 found that just 7.5% had female protagonists

(McCabe 2011). The world of publishing and the media have

done much to address this imbalance, but here at KPS we have

made our own contributions to the cause. Female authors and


protagonists feature heavily in our new literacy schemes of

work. Visiting authors such as Sally Grindley and Bethan

Woolvin have exposed our pupils to social issues affecting girls

around the world and also alerted them to feminist themes in a

range of modern children’s literature, including refreshingly

revisionist fairy tales. We have plans next year to replace our

(slightly fusty) ‘Classics reading challenge’ with a ‘fearless

females’ competition. Texts will include:

Emma Carroll – The Girl Who Walked on Air

Abi Elphinstone – The Dream Snatcher

Fleur Hitchcock – Dear Scarlett

Katherine Rundell – Rooftoppers

Kiran Millwood Hargrave – The Girl of Ink and Stars.

Library Launch Day

Despite the lack of dressing up, our official Library Launch

Day (May) proved to be an even bigger hit than World Book

Day! In addition to personalised book plates, sponsored book

cases and a chance to select a literary quote for the library

walls, our generous donors were treated to a fabulous poetry

recital by a group of talented Year 3 girls. Learning a text like

‘The Jabberwocky’ off by heart is no mean feat for an eight year

old, but to see it performed so expressively was a joy to behold.

Combined with a musical fanfare from the mezzanine and a

stunning ‘Matilda’ cake, it was a very special occasion. Parents

could also attend a lecture on ‘the magic of reading’ by literacy

consultant Bob Cox.

We wanted the opening of the new library to be a memorable

day for the children too. We hired a troupe of local actors to

dress as fictional favourites such as Alice, Willy Wonka and

the Cat in the Hat. They greeted the girls in the playground on

their arrival to school, introduced themselves in assembly, read

with them and

carried out drama

workshops. Other

special touches

included posters

around the school

which featured staff

holding their

favourite books,

quirky book-based

pin badges and

library-themed

cupcakes. Some girls

created huge story

maps which

synthesised fictional

worlds from a range

of fantasy novels.

Paired reading and

book speed dating were other popular activities.

‘Book Tasting’ proved a fun method of getting the girls to

sample and review our recently purchased selection of nonfiction

books. Picnic rugs were piled high with new materials

which the girls could browse and rate using printed menus.

We provided refreshments and encouraged the children to

share reading highlights with their friends. Every pupil was

issued with a KPS reading passport which we hope will

encourage them to broaden their reading diet as they actively

explore all the areas of the library.

Author in Residence

Features

We have just formed a partnership with Helen Peters who we

are delighted to announce will be the first KPS Author in

Residence. This is going to be the next phase in our reading

journey. Helen’s animal stories are perfect for our younger

girls. Her farm-based adventures (The Secret Hen House

Theatre and The Farm Beneath the Water) and historical

thrillers (Evie’s Ghost and Anna at War) are sure to hook Key

Stage 2. A perfect champion of our ‘fearless females’ campaign,

Helen is keen to form a long-term relationship with our girls

and in doing so demystify the role of ‘the author’. Perhaps one

day – inspired by our new library and our talented team who

bring books to life – a KPS girl will find her own published

work sitting alongside Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and

Little Women.

In that famous novel Louisa May Alcott writes, ‘I am not afraid

of storms, for I am learning how to steer my ship.’ An active

and deep engagement with literature – especially those books

which exemplify female strength – can be so much more for

our girls than a relaxing escape from ‘real life’. It is the means

through which we can encourage them to face the trials and

tribulations of real life with fortitude and kindness. Our new

library, we hope, can be their haven and safe refuge from the

choppy waters of their busy lives.

■ Caroline Hulme-McKibbin is Head of Kensington Prep

School.

Kensington Prep GDST is an independent prep school in

Fulham with 295 girls age 4-11 years. It was awarded

‘Independent Prep School of the Year’ in 2018. Entry is

selective by assessment.


Features

Astrid Lindgren Memorial

Award 2020

The SLA Nomination

by Stephen King

Astrid Lindgren

Ask many School Librarians about prestigious awards for

children’s authors, and the one that will spring most readily to

mind is the Carnegie Medal, for a UK-based writer, or the

Newbery Medal, which can be seen as a United States

equivalent (although the Newbery is older by some 15 years).

Both these medals are, of course, for an individual book judged

to be the most outstanding in any one year. Awards for a lifelong

body of work need a little more thought – there is, of

course, the position of UK Children’s Laureate, awarded

biennially since 1999, and currently run by Booktrust and

sponsored by Waterstones. Many other countries – the USA,

Australia, Ireland, and The Netherlands, to name a few,

appoint Children’s Reading Ambassadors or Laureates. The

Hans Christian Andersen Award, again awarded biennially

since 1956 by IBBY, the International Board on Books for

Young People, is well recognised and respected. However,

perhaps the most prestigious worldwide award for Children’s

authors – perhaps comparable in our field to the Nobel Prize –

is the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA)

Why is this award not more widely recognised in the UK?

Could it be, perhaps, because UK based authors rarely win it –

only Philip Pullman and Meg Rosoff so far, since its inception

in 2003. The prize is five million Swedish Krona, (about

£414,000 at today’s exchange rate), making it the richest award

in children’s literature and one of the most valuable literary

prizes in the world. The nomination procedure is long and

quite complicated – some 231 organizations or individuals,

covering 93 countries are eligible to nominate, including all

previous winners. The current holder, Belgian author, lyricist

and playwright Bart Moeyaert is the 19th recipient. The SLA is

one of 10 UK organizations who are eligible to nominate –

others include CILIP, the UK section of IBBY, the National

Centre for Research in Children’s Literature, and Seven

Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books.

Why Astrid Lindgren?

ALMA was established by The Swedish Arts Council on behalf

of the Swedish Government following the death in 2002, at the

age of 94, of the renowned Swedish

writer and playwright Astrid Lindgren.

Best known in the UK for her iconic

‘Pippi Longstocking’ series, she is

revered in Scandinavia in much the

same way that Roald Dahl continues to

be celebrated here. Her book sales have

topped 165 million: she wrote 11

separate series, 25 stand-alone books,

and her works – at the last count –

have been adapted for film or television 53 times. Her works in

translation rank fourth in worldwide children’s book sales,

behind only Enid Blyton, Hans Christian Andersen and the

Brothers Grimm, and can be read in 100 languages. Her

funeral was attended by the King and Queen of Sweden, and

the Swedish Prime Minister, amongst many others – the

ceremony was described as ‘…the closest you can get to a

state funeral’.

“

Good literature gives the child a place

in the world and the world a place in

the child. —Astrid Lindgren

”

Lindgren was a life-long opponent of corporal punishment, a

supporter of children’s and animal rights, and an ardent

feminist. In 1978, during an acceptance speech entitled ‘Never

Violence’ for the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, she

challenged scientists, journalists and politicians to join her in

her campaign against the use of violence against children –

and her voice and influence was so strong that just one year

later, the Swedish Government passed a law banning the

practice – the first such worldwide legislation. In 1994 she

received the Right Livelihood Award for ‘her commitment to

justice, non-violence and understanding of minorities as well

as her love and caring for nature.’

The Swedish Government were quick to establish the annual

ALMA award after her death, the first recipients being

announced in 2003. The statutes of the award state that ‘…

laureates’ work must be of the highest artistic quality and

should convey the deeply humanistic spirit associated with

Astrid Lindgren. The award is for an artist’s entire production,

rather than individual works, and the aim of the award is to

‘strengthen and increase interest in literature for children and

young adults all over the world. Children’s rights globally are

the foundation of our work.’ Nominations are open to all,

irrespective of nationality or language.

The SLA’s Nomination

The SLA is extremely proud to be allowed to nominate

authors, storytellers or illustrators for this prestigious award.

As the criteria for nominating bodies states, ‘…organisations

and institutions are assumed to have the broadest and most

profound knowledge about authors, illustrators, storytellers


Theresa Breslin

and/or activities to promote reading in their respective

countries… the aim is to achieve a global overview of literature

for children and young adults of the highest artistic quality’.

After much thought and discussion, the SLA Board have this

year nominated Theresa Breslin – a great friend and supporter

of the SLA over many years, and indeed an ex-Librarian

herself. Our citation reads:

‘For over 30 years, Breslin has shone as a beacon of

excellence in her inspirational writing for children, in her

tireless advocacy of libraries and the need to promote quality

literature. Never shirking away from difficult, relevant

themes, her body of work covers contemporary and historical

fiction. Equally adept at producing inspiring work for young

children and teenagers, her meticulous research ensures

realism and accuracy, whilst evoking magic and myths to

delight and challenge readers’.

Born in 1947 in the west of Scotland

close to castles, old burial grounds and

a Roman Wall, Theresa is the author of

over 50 novels, plays and short stories

covering every age range and many

genres. She has re-told Scottish folk

tales, covered a variety of historical

periods from the Roman occupation of

Britain onwards, produced humour,

pathos, magic, fantasy, and stark

realism. In 1995 she won the

prestigious UK Carnegie Medal for Whispers in the Graveyard,

the chilling story of a bullied dyslexic boy who uncovers

supernatural events in his private, safe place (Egmont, ISBN

9781405233347).

In March 2019 she was awarded the Scottish Book Trust

Outstanding Achievement Award, recognising her thirty-year

long career as an advocate for children’s literacy and libraries,

and in June of this year she was awarded an OBE for Services

to Literature. Between 1995 and 2019 – and hopefully for

many years to come – she has been shouting about the

importance of children’s literacy to anyone who will listen.

She is an Honorary Fellow of the Association of Scottish

Literary Studies, was the project manager of the BAFTA

nominated Scottish Writers programme and was awarded

Honorary Membership of CILIPS (The Chartered Institute of

Library and Information Professionals in Scotland) for

Features

services to children’s literature and librarianship. Theresa has

served on the Board of Scottish Book Trust and on the

Advisory Committee for Public Lending Right in the U.K.

Supported by the Scottish Arts Council and the Federation of

Children’s Books Groups, she started the West of Scotland

Children’s Book Group. She actively supports literacy

initiatives for young people and has written articles and made

a wide variety of presentations on this subject. In 2011

Theresa co-ordinated the demonstration outside the Scottish

Parliament to protest against the downgrading of library

services and ask the Scottish Government to provide a

nationwide policy. She was 2016 President of CILIPS and is a

keen supporter of ‘Save Scotland’s School Libraries,’ providing

submissions to the committee considering the petition to

parliament in 2015. She is quoted in the recently published

new strategy for Scotland’s School Libraries – Vibrant

Libraries, Thriving Schools: A National Strategy for School

Libraries in Scotland 2018–2023.

What next?

Whilst we are aware that

Theresa will be competing

against authors and

illustrators of world-wide

renown – last year some 142

valid nominations were

accepted – we feel that a

nomination in itself is cause for celebration. The full list of

nominations was announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair

(www.alma.se/en/Nominations/Candidates/2020/) on

17 October 2019 with 237 candidates from 68 countries

nominated and after the jury consideration the new Laureate is

due to be announced in Stockholm in March 2020 prior to a

lavish Presentation Gala in May.

Nominations for the 2021 ALMA will open in January 2020,

and close in mid-May. The SLA Board have agreed that in

future, all SLA members should be able to suggest an author or

illustrator whom we should consider for nomination. Taking

the above criteria into consideration, and remembering that

we can only nominate British citizens or people settled in the

UK, please email Stephen King on stephen.king@doyrms.com

with a short justification of who you would like to be

considered by 28 February 2020. The SLA Board will then

consider and make a final decision in March.

For more information, see

http://www.alma.se/en/

https://www.theresabreslin.com/

■ Stephen King is School Librarian and Careers Leader at The

Duke of York’s Royal Military School, Dover, Kent and a

School Library Association Trustee 2018–2021.


Features

Attending the Berkshire

Unconference

by Jane Fella

I found the link to the Berkshire Unconference through

Twitter; I had been searching for some CPD events that would

further support me in my Librarian role. This event offered me

a valuable chance to meet other librarians, to learn new

methods and find inspiration. Weekend meetings are better

for me as I am a lone worker and with budget cuts and high

demand on cover, it is not always possible to have time off

during the school day. I appreciate not everyone feels this way

but the Unconference presented an ideal opportunity for me.

St Georges Ascot was approximately 90 minutes’ drive from

me as I live in West Sussex. We met for coffee first and were

able to have a leisurely wander around the library before

settling to a session of speed dating with a book. I took Rivers

of London by Ben Aaronovitch and The Boy at the Back of the

Class by Onjali Rauf to recommend. Books recommended to

me were:

■ Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett for its strong female

heroine and brilliant story line

■ The Skylark’s War by Hilary McKay for its link to WW1

and the effects of war on a family.

■ Moonrise by Sarah Crossan about two brothers – Ed is on

Death Row, his execution date has been set and Joe is

spending time with his brother before the death penalty is

carried out

■ Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman,

an enjoyable book about a very ordinary young woman

Eleanor who falls in love and yet not all is quite right in

her world.

We could have continued sharing books as there were still

librarians I hadn’t met but time was moving on.

SLA Plans

Next up was Alison Tarrant, CEO of the SLA. Alison has been

in post for a year and spoke of the challenges she has

encountered, the plans she is making for improvement and

what’s happening with the Great School Libraries campaign.

The SLA is advocating at many educational conferences in a

bid to raise the profile of both the Campaign and the SLA.

Alison talked about the benefits of SLA membership for both

the school and the individual e.g. training for all budgets and

levels, a new

website coming

soon, partnership

benefits with Peters

Books, The School

Librarian

newsletter,

publications

available to view,

possible future

podcasts or audio recordings for downloading. The SLA would

like to have a non-member newsletter and further training for

all career levels; there are plans for improved CPD in the next

three years. Once the new consultation for Ofsted has been

accepted a toolkit will be issued with advice and information

about how a library can build on and improve for its pupils and

future inspection.

The first breakout session

A breakout session followed Alison’s talk and we had the

choice of ‘Reaching out to marginalised students’ or ‘Nonfiction

research’. I chose the latter as I had some questions

around EPQ support. I wasn’t disappointed. My fellow

librarians offered lots of suggestions such as: scanning the

front cover or contents page of journals to send to the relevant

department or scan the item that interests the member of staff

and send as a pdf; sending Hodder Publishing’s list of books for

wider reading at A level to students; also promoting Hodder’s

podcasts ‘Aiming for an A’. One librarian undertook library

lessons with year 7 titled ‘Curation, Curiosity & Critical

Thinking’; another linked questions to a related article or

book; additional activities included having a top 15 chart of

linked fiction and non-fiction books on display.

After break, coffee and chat, we had a talk by Ruth England

from the Reading International Solidarity Centre ( RISC). This

is a development centre with a bookshop, café, roof garden and

meeting rooms. RISC helps develop global citizenship whilst

supporting local communities, asylum seekers and displaced

people. They offer Primary and Secondary teacher training,

Inset training as well as a themed global teacher award.

Their resources come from across the world and are translated

into English e.g. Alia’s Mission: Saving The Books of Iraq;

Planting the Trees of Kenya; and How Do We Know Its

Working? – a RISC toolkit of resources and case studies for

teachers and pupils about Global Citizenship. Some of the

activities are available online at risc.org.uk/resourcebank/

Running Book Groups

Before lunch we had a workshop on book groups with lots of

ideas and inspiration:

■ If you are reading one book with your group don’t forget

to contact fellow librarians to see if they have copies you

can borrow.


Features

We talked about how librarians are encouraging RfP through

book clubs and Manga clubs. One suggestion was for tutor

groups to attempt a reading challenge during the year by

reading a different book each month, filling in a card and

completing the challenge of reading a minimum of 11 books.

And that’s not all …

■ Use the BookTrust pack as there are multiple copies in

the box.

■ County Library may have copies you can borrow to add

to your book group.

■ Don’t be afraid to ask staff and parents if they have copies

of the book you are reading, they may donate new copies

if not.

■ Ask your PTA for support or to purchase copies.

■ Book groups can be short-term or continuous throughout

the school year.

■ Make it fun and keep it informal, don’t forget to have a

social event once or twice a term.

■ You can always add activities or encourage the students

to make a display.

■ Why not encourage the students to revisit their early days

and share their favourite books with you e.g. The Very

Hungry Caterpillar.

■ Choosing books is key to keeping the book group vibrant

and alive, encourage the students to recommend books to

read, choose unexpected books, give the students

ownership of the book group or book choice.

■ Encourage Reading for Pleasure – don’t insist on book

reviews.

■ Don’t forget snacks – students love squash and biscuits –

if you haven’t the budget encourage students to bring

their own to share.

■ Advertising your book group is important for its survival,

place an advert in the school magazine, include English

department and Tutors, ask them to encourage students

to join in. Send your student librarians around to

advertise the book group in the tutor time. You could

even blu-tack an advert to the back of the student toilet

cubicle doors!

Breakout number two!

During lunch we had the chance to purchase books at a

reduced cost from the Federation of Children’s Book Groups

and I was delighted to choose a few books to add to my

longlist for our Weald Book Award group. It was then on to

the second breakout sessions and this time the choices were:

‘Reading for Pleasure, engaging students and author visits’,

‘LMS and social media’. This time I chose the former and,

again, wasn’t disappointed. Suggestions came thick and fast.

Such as sharing your author visit with another school or

engaging with authors via Skype. There was also no shortage

of recommendations: Bali Rai, Matt Dickinson, Robin

Thoroughgood, Joffre White… I was able to share a couple of

authors myself, Jane Elson and Ross Montgomery, both of

whom had been to my school.

Our final session of the day was an author talk by Mez Blume.

Mez introduced us to her recently published book Katie

Watson and The Painters Plot. Mez told us a little of her life

story including her journey to becoming an author. She is an

avid reader stating that ‘books opened up the world to me’ and

took part in NaNoWriMo which led to her first book (not yet

published). However, this was a good experience – ‘if you are

going to write a book, use the page as your training’ said Mez.

Katie Watson and the Painters Plot is set in a beautiful old

house full of history and Katie becomes a time travelling

detective. There is a free teaching resource available to go with

the book on her website www.mezblume.com

Mez gave us all a challenge to come up an idea for a story

inspired by a photo she showed us of a message in a bottle

lodged in a stream bed – there were some brilliant suggestions

but you will have to wait and see if any of my colleagues are

inspired to write a book.

So why?

In conclusion, why did I attend the Unconference? For my

CPD is the short answer but it was so much more than that, it

was for the inspiration and friendship as well as to find out

what other librarians were doing and coping with. What did I

think of the Unconference? It was a brilliant day filled with so

much help and support, I enjoyed all items on the agenda and

came away with a notebook filled with ideas and thoughts. I

found every item on the programme useful, particularly the

Reading for Pleasure session. Was there anything not covered?

I’m sure the more experienced librarians amongst the group

would say yes and make a suggestion but for me no, I no

longer feel like I am flying the flag on my own for my library or

encouraging my students to read, it is an uphill struggle I have

every day. The Unconference was a useful, helpful and

supportive meeting that renewed my excitement and

inspiration for my daily job and I look forward to attending

another CPD session in the future. I would like to thank the

SLA Central and East Berkshire branch for making me feel so

welcomed and especially Alison Kennedy for being our host at

St Georges School Ascot.

■ Jane Fella is LRC Manager at The Weald Community

School and Sixth Form in Billingshurst, West Sussex.


Features

Running a Creative

Writing Club

Team Writing to Produce a Novel

by Helen Robinson

I run a Writers & Illustrators Club in my library at Keswick

School and we recently said goodbye to our longest serving

member, Isabella. She first joined the club in Year 7 and has

remained a member throughout her school career until Year

13. She has been involved in all three of the club’s big team

writing projects and had a key role in the club’s first project,

The Reader, which was independently published in 2014.

The idea for the whole thing came from a national competition

to write a story in 100 words. The club members entered this

individually and I also wrote a story about a book with

consciousness that was waiting for a particular reader it would

reveal its secret to. The idea of a book with consciousness, that

wanted something, appealed to the club and we decided to

write a full novel based on this.

Method

The club’s meetings consisted of talking and planning for

several weeks. We wanted to have a full and detailed plan of

the story’s plot before any writing took place. We needed to

decide what the book wanted, why, what obstacles it would

encounter in pursuit of its goal and how the story would end.

The time we spent talking together, sharing ideas and

discussing what would and wouldn’t work was a very social

and enjoyable part of the process.

We decided that each chapter would be set at a different point

in history and that they would not be directly linked to each

other. This meant that members could work individually, in

pairs or in a group on one chapter. Because they already knew

how the story was going to develop and what would happen in

each chapter, it meant that they could focus just on their own

chapter and the characters within it without needing to worry

about how it would connect to the others. Groups researched

their historical time period and the characters they would be

including, some of whom were famous historical figures. They

were then able to work on writing their own chapter, separate

from the other groups in our meetings. Since Isabella finished

her chapter very quickly, I gave her the responsibility of

writing linking sections between the chapters which were from

the book’s point of view, showing

the reader its thoughts and

feelings as a result of the

experience it had in each chapter,

and due to the level of planning

that had gone into the story

before we started, everything that

was written fitted together well at

the end.

It will be very strange not to have

Isabella in the club in the future,

although now that we do a lot of our team

writing using Google docs, we are hoping she

will still keep up her involvement with our

current project from wherever she may be!

What next?

The club are now writing another, as yet untitled, team novella

together which will be published by our sponsor, Elterwater

Press. The Reader has also now been published following

professional editing and illustration prior to its re-release.

The club’s current project is linked to farming as we are based

in a rural locality and many members of our school are

associated with the farming community; however, there is very

little fiction linked to farming so we think this fills a gap.

Method

Students were first asked to develop a brief outline of a story

connected to farming. We then went through these ideas

(around 12 initially) and discussed them. A vote for the ideas

narrowed it down to five and some were discarded due to

being too similar to existing books, some were deemed

unsuitable for the target audience (8-13 year-olds), some

required too much research. The ideas were further narrowed

down to a final three which were discussed again for strengths

and weaknesses before the final idea was chosen.

Following this, I arranged for the group to attend a full day

farm visit for research purposes. This involved asking the

farmer questions related to farming in general and questions

specific to the planned story plot. It also included a tour of the

farm to meet the animals and see the machinery used.

Back at school, I judged that the method employed for The

Reader with groups working on a chapter each would not work

for this story, as this time the chapters would be very closely

linked and follow on from each other meaning that groups

working separately would result in too many inconsistencies,

even with detailed planning. This time I decided that the best

method was for club members to split into three sub-groups:

writers, editors and illustrators. Students chose which group

they wanted to be in.

Because there were plenty of writers, I spilt them into two

further sub-groups and asked both groups to write a chapter

simultaneously based on the plan, for example both groups

produced a chapter 1. Within their group, they worked on

chrome books on a Google doc I set up that they all had access

to, which enabled them to discuss ideas and write whilst being

able to see what others in the group were doing. After an

agreed amount of time, both groups submitted their chapter to

me which I then sent out to local primary schools to be read.

The schools then sent us their feedback about the two

8


Holocaust Education Provision

Resources for the School Library

by Stephen King

Features

As one who has spent some considerable time studying the

Holocaust, I can well understand the trepidation of many

teachers in approaching this difficult but vital subject.

Obviously, one does not want to trivialize the events of central

and eastern Europe of the 1930s and 1940s; similarly, however,

there is always a danger of an over-reliance on often harrowing

images which can have a profound and long-lasting

detrimental effect on students.

It is now a requirement that the Holocaust is taught in British

state secondary schools. Every school will, in all likelihood,

assign different amounts of teaching time to this – whilst some

feel that the subject can be adequately covered in two or three

lessons, others will devote many more hours to it and develop

Holocaust studies as a full cross-curricular theme over several

weeks, drawing in History, English, RE, PSHE, Art, Drama and

Music departments.

However much time and attention is spent on the teaching of

the Holocaust, the School Librarian is in a unique position to

be able to support and assist these studies. The amount of

Holocaust-themed literature now available is vast:

Goodreads.com, for instance, lists 673 ‘good books on the

Holocaust’, 1 whilst a search on the Waterstones main website

produces some 4398 items. 2 Probably no-one knows how

many books, articles, papers, websites, blogs, video clips, films

and dramatizations exist on the subject. One thing is for sure,

that whatever number I could come up with at this moment

would be out of date by the time you read this.

How does the hard-pressed School Librarian, probably only

given, at best, a couple of days’ notice, come up with a

manageable, accessible, comprehensive and trusted, but not

over-long and bewildering resource list? If you were allocated

a specific budget – be it £50 or £5000 – to establish a

8

8

chapters, which usually involved liking elements of both

group’s work.

Next I met with the team of editors and read them the

two versions of the chapter. We would discuss our thoughts on

the strengths and weaknesses of both before I gave them the

feedback from the schools, which usually agreed with their

thoughts. We then worked to pull the best elements from both

groups’ work into one chapter. We also removed superfluous

information, changed vocabulary choices and added

description where necessary.

After this, I read the edited chapter to the writers for further

consideration and any other changes they felt necessary. I then

talked through the needs of the next chapter, before the

writers, in their two teams began the process again. This

method was then repeated, with editing being a continuous

process to reduce problems with repetition and

inconsistencies.

Meanwhile, the team of illustrators worked with a local artist to

trial ways of finding a consistent style of picture to be used

throughout the book, so that the illustrations did not look like

they’d been drawn by several different people. At first, we tried

giving each student responsibility for a different area, e.g. one

would draw the cows, one the people, another the machinery,

but this still looked inconsistent so experimentation continued

to find a style that everyone could do to create an unvarying

style throughout the book.

Karina Hofman, (pictured above right) Assistant Professor and

researcher from the University of Greenland, heard about the

club’s team writing projects and came into the school several

times to observe their work as part of her UK-based research

into methods of teaching creative writing and enhancing

creative approaches to Greenlandic education.

In addition to working with

Keswick School, Karina

visited some primary

schools with the aim of

developing creative writing

resources for Greenlandic

teachers. She was also

looking for opportunities to develop collaborative projects

between schools in the UK and Greenland, and is producing a

book to provide inspiration and practical ideas for teachers to

develop different approaches to how they deliver creative

writing activities.

Karina asked me to write a chapter for the book, explaining the

three, very different, team writing projects I have led with my

club. Karina said of the club: ‘the idea of young people working

together to write a book is very interesting. It would be a

fascinating project for The University of Greenland and

Greenlandic primary and secondary schools to find inspiration

from, and a hugely worthwhile project for my students and

their pupils to be involved in. Seeing the process of how the

Keswick School students are planning, writing for an audience,

responding to feedback and the constant editing they are doing

is amazing to watch.’ Karina has now returned to Greenland to

work on implementing some of the ideas she found from her

research. I look forward to working with her, through the club,

on some shared projects in the future.

■ Helen Robinson is Teacher of English/Librarian at Keswick

School, Cumbria. The Reader by K. S. Aitken is available to

purchase online from Elterwater Press via Amazon.

Helen Robinson is also an author in her own right, having

published Little Pearl and The Second Best Pony, both also

available from Elterwater Press.


Features

8

Holocaust-related section in a School Library

(probably to cover Key Stages 3, 4 & 5, fiction and

non-fiction) where would you start, if you didn’t have

such items already in stock?

There are, of course, myriads of reading lists available online

and I’m sure most School Librarians can recite many books

almost without thinking. However, knowing which resources

are still well-respected, relevant and accessible can be a

daunting task. The Holocaust Educational Trust (HET),

(https://www.het.org.uk/) is an invaluable source of quality

educational information, and states:

The Holocaust Educational Trust was established in 1988.

Our aim is to educate young people from every

background about the Holocaust and the important

lessons to be learned for today. The Trust works in schools,

universities and in the community to raise awareness and

understanding of the Holocaust, providing teacher

training, an outreach programme for schools, teaching

aids and resource material. One of our earliest

achievements was ensuring that the Holocaust formed

part of the National Curriculum for History. We continue

to play a leading role in training teachers on how best to

teach the Holocaust. 3

I have been fortunate over the past few years to attend a

number of CPD sessions run by HET, both in the UK and

abroad, culminating earlier this year in a 10-day residential

course at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance

Center, (https://www.yadvashem.org/) situated in Jerusalem.

As a non-teacher I have always been welcomed as an equal

and, with a slightly different but no less relevant view on the

teaching of the Holocaust within schools, I would urge any

School Librarian who has an interest to seriously consider

looking at some of the many courses and resources openly

available both through HET and Yad Vashem. HET are more

than happy to organise a visit and talk to any school by one of

the now diminishing number of Holocaust survivors – an

experience which will remain with staff and students alike for

some considerable time.

Both organizations have freely available resource lists,

categorised by age, suitability and relevance to many of the

subject areas listed above.

Listed below are my current Holocaust reading lists. I cannot

claim that they are in any way exclusive or complete, or even

totally up-to-date, and care should be taken with my suggested

Key Stage ratings. Every school is different, and I certainly

assess every student for suitability and maturity before issuing

any Holocaust related resources.

The observant amongst you will have noticed what may seem

to be a glaring omission from my fiction list – namely, The Boy

in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. This is not the place to

re-open the debate on the validity and usefulness of this book,

and I am aware that for many teachers and Librarians it is still

the ‘go-to’ resource to introduce Holocaust studies to KS3

students. I have also found recently that a fair number of Year

7 students have already read this in primary school before

starting secondary education. Professor David Cesarani who,

until his death in 2015, was research professor in History at

Royal Holloway, University of London, detailed his misgivings

about the book in the October 2008 issue of Literary Review. 4

Whilst the full article cannot be freely accessed without

subscribing to the journal, a good précis of it, plus many other

thoughts on Holocaust education and an excellent

bibliography, can be found in Madeleine French’s 2016 essay

for an MLitt in History at the University of Glasgow entitled

‘Promoting Critical Analysis in British Holocaust Education’. 5

My own views on the use of the book in schools are that it still

has a place, as long as students are encouraged to view it as a

work of fiction, and are taught to critically analyse its portrayal

of conditions within Auschwitz.

27 January 2020 will be the 75th anniversary of the liberation

by Soviet forces of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and as such will see

commemorations in this country run by the Holocaust

Memorial Day Trust. 6 The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day

2020 is ‘Stand Together’, reflecting on how people have stood

together in order to stop division and the spread of hatred in

our society. The HMDT website has many excellent

suggestions for activities to mark the day and, from

experience, I can testify that getting involved with these is an

excellent way of ‘taking the Library outside of the Library’, and

liaising with many departments within school.

I firmly believe that School Librarians should be seen as

campaigners and educators, and getting involved with

Holocaust education provision is an excellent way to becoming

more visible and relevant to whole-school ethos and culture.

References

Stephen King at the Western Wall

1 https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/

1720.Well_Written_Holocaust_Books

(accessed 13/10/2019)

2 https://www.waterstones.com/category/history/historicalevents-topics/genocide-and-ethnic-cleansing/the-holocaust

(accessed 13/10/2019)

3 https://www.het.org.uk/about/work (accessed 08/10/2019)

4 https://literaryreview.co.uk/striped-pyjamas

(accessed 11/10/2019)

5 https://www.slideshare.net/MadeleineFrench/holocausteducation-in-britain

(accessed 12/10/2019)

6 https://www.hmd.org.uk/ (accessed 13/10/2019)

■ Stephen King is School Librarian and Careers Leader at The

Duke of York’s Royal Military School, Dover, Kent and a

School Library Association Trustee 2018–2021.


Features

Holocaust Reading List: Non-Fiction

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'

'

Compiled by Stephen King. These reading lists are available to members from the SLA website: www.sla.org.uk/members-benefits


Features

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'

'

Compiled by Stephen King. These reading lists are available to members from the SLA website: www.sla.org.uk/members-benefits


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DIGITAL Education: Opportunities

for Reading and Learning

SLA Weekend Course 2020

#DigiEd20

19–21 J U N E 2020

ASHFORD INTERNATIONAL HOTEL, KENT

Speaker information:

Strategies to support social mobility

– Mr Baasit Siddiqui, Company Director, Siddiqui Education

Greatness comes in little nibbles!

– Professor Stephen Heppell, CEO, Heppell.net

Bringing Digital into Education

– Dr Neelam Parmar, Director of EdTech, Digital Learning and Innovation

The Uses of Media Literacy

– Professor Julian McDougall, Professor of Media and Education

Utilising digital to connect to potential readers

– Lucy Powrie, Author, Paper & Hearts Society

Staying current with digital for all budgets

– Bev Humphrey, Independent Trainer

Workshop leaders include:

Empathy Lab

Lucas Maxwell

Sarah Pavey

David Goutcher

Nikki Heath

Authors include:

Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Vashti Hardy

The Brothers McLeod

MG Leonard

Smriti Prasadam Halls

Simon James Green

Choose 3 workshops (not 2) and enjoy a range of brilliant guest authors for primary and secondary.

Fully residential from £355. Day delegate options available.

Book online at www.sla.org.uk/weekend-course

Headline sponsor

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Postcards of

Kindness

Facebook group

https://tinyurl.com/y5ywjswg

The ‘Postcards of kindness’ appeal was launched by Your Health Limited in 2018, to encourage

people to write postcards to residents in the organisation’s care homes.

In September 2019, the appeal was extended, to encourage care homes and settings across the

country to get involved. The aims are to combat loneliness and isolation; stir imaginations and

memories and remind residents that there’s always someone thinking of them.

The appeal now involves 1,166 care homes, who receive around 400 cards between them per week

– with an amazing estimate of 5,221 postcards having been sent since the start of September!

‘Postcards of kindness – the group’ is the Facebook group of the

appeal. It is a large, closed group, meaning that anyone can

apply to join, but have to be admitted by one of the

administrators – who can then do their best to ensure that

members will abide by the guidelines and ethos of the group.

Through group membership, members can easily access all of the

tools that might be needed to write your postcards, and to

encourage others to do the same.

Step One of Postcards of Kindness is simply deciding that you’d like to write a postcard, and writing

it. Step Two is where the tools start to be useful. The Group Facebook page contains a spreadsheet of

all the care homes and settings that have signed up to receive cards. They are organised by name –

so you can select a care home at random; by location – so you can select a home in a town that you

may have links with; or by the last date a card was received – so you can write to a setting that

hasn’t received a postcard in a while. When you’ve chosen who to write to, put an X in a box next to

their name, and the spreadsheet will be updated to show they’ll be receiving a card soon.

There is a document within the tools which gives topics

that members could write about, and suggests a format

to try. However, this is one of the best elements of the

Facebook Group. Care homes frequently post on the feed

about residents’ interests, memories, upcoming special

birthdays and other ideas for cards that could be sent to

them. Individual members also show cards they’d like to

send, to see if the pictures or locations might spark

memories and conversations in a particular home. Recently, several residents have received huge

numbers of 100th birthday cards, after homes mentioning them on the Facebook page, and it’s likely

that many will be inundated with Christmas cards. The generosity of the group really is astounding,

with members offering cards written in different languages; containing art and poetry and even

tracking down cards and stamps which will be special for certain residents.

Postcards are sent by members with the assumption that the care setting will not reply, although

members can include a return address if they wish. Of course, many residents do reply and this is the

other great success of the group. The news feed is filled with heart-warming photographs of cards

which have been sent and received; smiling recipients with their mail and care home walls filled with

postcards from around the country and the world. This is particularly the case as parents, school staff

and leaders of children’s groups become increasingly aware of the appeal and encourage children to

send pictures, hand-written notes and cards to care homes in their own towns and beyond. Indeed,

one of the group’s tools is a presentation to share in a secondary school assembly. (With this in mind,

it’s worth noting that the administrators ensure safety by refusing photographs containing addresses

and suggesting that holiday postcards are sent after the writer returns home, giving the impression

that they would be aware of any safeguarding or sensitivity regarding photographs including

children.)

As all the best things seem to be, the Postcards of Kindness Group is based on a simple idea – that

we all love to receive personalised post. Becoming a member of the group gives a glimpse of the

happiness that can be delivered by the mail man or woman. Even better, send a postcard or two

yourself and be part of an appeal which is, as its tag line says, ‘writing postcards, connecting lives’.

Sharon Corbally, Receptionist & Library Support, Haywood Academy

Read online at www.sla.org.uk/sla-digital

Picture Book Professor

Christmas Activities

https://tinyurl.com/y665u7no

digital

If you’re short of ideas for how to keep children busy in the run-up to Christmas then this American web page has lots of varied ideas of things for children to

do. For the twelve days preceding Christmas Day there are twelve books to read and explore, along with activities and links to activities that are related to the

books. The stories are all heart-warming, with beautiful illustrations, and convey the true spirit of Christmas. All of the activities will require adult help and

supervision. Some days offer only one activity, others offer several which you can choose between. If you don’t like the activities or don’t have the materials

then follow the links anyway as many of the linked websites have other Christmas-themed suggestions too.

There are baking activities (in American measurements but there’s a handy converter here

(https://tinyurl.com/yyy66adw), simple sewing activities, mice Christmas tree decorations, ingenious

cupcake/icecream cone Christmas trees, Christmas themed snack ideas, a letter to Santa template, felt mice

with sweetie tails, colouring-in pages of pictures related to the stories, creating the stable scene out of sweets,

grated cheese and crackers (a lovely kinaesthetic activity for younger children to get them thinking about all

the people and animals that were present in the stable), dessert Grinch-es, chocolate Christmas trees,

cupcake case Christmas trees, salt dough hand prints, reindeer food and sleeping mice on Christmas Eve.

The books in this list are all available in the UK. The list includes:

■ Christmas Cookies by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

■ Mr Willoughby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

■ Nutcracker by ETA Hoffman

■ Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect by Richard Schneider

■ The Night Before Christmas

■ Room For a Little One By Martin Waddell

■ The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

■ Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by James Dean and Eric Litwin

■ The Christmas Quiet Book by Deborah Undersood

■ How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

■ The Spirit of Christmas by Nancy Tillman – with link to a Youtube reading of the story by an actor

■ Winter’s Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan

Elsewhere on the website Picture Book Professor has numerous other reading lists. The lists contain some wellknown

books in the UK and there are also many other suggestions of lesser-known American authors. Some

are listed by themes. Many of the lists are based around subjects such as individuality, acceptance, kindness,

bullying and friendship, to name but a few. A good website to plunder for primary school activities.

Janine Khoshnevisan, Librarian, Thorntree Primary School

Mrs Lodge’s Library

Online shelving game

https://tinyurl.com/pog76rr

This is a very simple yet useful tool to help children understand the rudiments of how books in a school library

are organised. This tool allows children to practice putting books in order by both simple Dewey or

Alphabetically. After selecting which type of books they want to sort they can then choose one of three levels,

the first level just having three books to sort and as you go up a level the number of books increases. There is

a handy how to play explanation which gets you started and sliding the books into the right place is a fairly

easy process. They can check to see if they have got it right at any time and it also gives them another go if

they have not got it right.

This is a very basic game but it does achieve what it sets out to do. It will help children understand how books

are arranged in a school library and I like the colours and the fact that there is no pressure of a timer included.

I can see this being used as a starter activity when children are learning about the library or as something that

they can play if they are finished an activity before everyone else.

The only down side is that on the first page it talks about call numbers and in the UK we would talk about

Dewey numbers but this is a very minor point for such a useful, easy to use tool.

Elizabeth Hutchinson, Independent Trainer and Adviser for School Libraries



digital

Font Meme

https://fontmeme.com/

A fun and addictive font generator which gave me an hour of enjoyable creativity.

Extremely easy to use allowing creations to be embedded into documents and web pages – almost

anything really. Simple tools to create brilliant graphics..why have I not seen this before!

A huge variety of fonts to use – which in itself is tempting. Simple to create stunning text using these

fonts. Some of the fonts are also available to download – quick and easy. There are of course lots of

sponsored ads which can become annoying but that’s the price you pay for using a free site like this.

The ‘fonts in use’ is almost like an archive of fonts used in history in films, books, games, TV shows

and so many other things. The most used font by librarians is probably the Netflix font

(https://tinyurl.com/y5xv4k8y) that can be used to create a Bookflix display as used by Lucas Maxwell.

If you are interested in creating an animated PP Bookflix display there are clear step by step

instructions on this teacher blog: https://tinyurl.com/y298cq57

I really enjoyed using this font maker – it’s just so quick and easy... this is definitely one to

share. However, more than an hour is needed to get the very best out of it.

My favourite was the calligraphy font – a thousand uses for this one...!

Val Dewhurst, Librarian, Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School

Book Folding Art on YouTube

Everyone loves the look of book art, and as a display in the school library, it can be

a spectacular centrepiece, so have you thought about trying to replicate it? Thanks

to YouTube it can be simpler than you think.

A very simple start is the book hedgehog:

https://tinyurl.com/yytapz7b

More advanced art is the carousel:

https://tinyurl.com/y3kdw7su

There are many examples on YouTube to

follow. Some, as in above, start from scratch

and have one video from start to finish. However, one artist, Maria

Christensen, offers a book folding course in bite sized lessons. These

start at the beginning and are 3, 4, 5 minutes long. Once you progress

to starting a project, the videos are longer – 20/30 minutes. https://tinyurl.com/y26lkobh

Following a squirrel pattern video I found that I would need to purchase the squirrel pattern from Maria’s Etsy

shop (the video gives the link to purchase). Patterns are around £5 each and can be downloaded as a pack

which includes pdfs to copy onto coloured card for end papers and labels to name/personalise.

The squirrel video gives all dimensions needed, with instructions of the squirrel set forward and also indented

for different effects. The instructions allow for different size books, although a beginner is best advised to

acquire as near to the stated size book as possible. The materials and tools needed are not specialised.

These demos include tips to make folding/cutting easier, however the whole project is not quick. It is fiddly

(but necessary) marking the pages, then folding each one separately. You cannot cut corners or it simply won’t

work.

I watched videos with every step explained. I watched videos with no words, but it was obvious how to do

everything. I loved a little mouse poking over the book where the explanation was in French, but I could

have given it a good go from simply the video. There are simple projects such as the hedgehog which could

be done in school. Angels for Christmas is another simpler project to try. As an activity for a book group

with children these could be attempted. But the detailed art of the carousel, or a guitar for a music lover

would probably be attempted at home as a display piece for your school library or a gift for someone. In

theory you could start with these as the videos are designed to make it simple, but it may be better to try

the simpler patterns first. I am tempted to generalise and say that with librarians’ attention to detail, they

will make great book artists. If you lose patience quickly, this may not be for you.

But for everyone who asks what they can do with their unwanted discards, book folding art is an excellent

green answer for an unusual, thoughtful gift or display idea.

Dawn Woods


Teach It English

https://tinyurl.com/y3nzgr2c

Founded by English teacher, Siobhain Archer in 1999, TeachIt

English is a community of over 480,000 teachers sharing

resources. Although they became part of AQA in 2011, they

remain editorially independent and are committed to sharing

high-quality resources, regardless of the awarding body.

The website contains a huge array of free resources covering

KS3, KS4 and KS5 English, Drama and Media subjects

although you have to sign up to access them. For example,

exploring KS3 Reading – Independent Reading – there are

forty seven resources to download covering a wide range of

suggestions and activities such as World Book Day events, book club meeting posters and book review

templates. These can all be printed off and used in library lessons so a very useful resource. In addition,

there are purchasable downloadable teaching packs ranging in price from £12.50 - £20. Subscriptions

are at different levels. For free registration, you get access to PDF resources as mentioned as well as

interactive resources that can be used in the classroom. An individual subscription costs from £55 and

includes free access to twenty-six teaching packs worth over £350 as well as word documents,

PowerPoints and PDF resources.

This is an extremely comprehensive website with a vast selection of resources that is worth exploring. It

may be that they are not immediately of use within a library setting but the majority could easily be

adapted to suit individual circumstances and they are very useful for class teachers.

Barbara Band, School Library Consultant

Audiobook Corner:

Skulduggery Pleasant

The Skulduggery series of audiobooks have been out for quite a while now but they are still my

favourite audiobooks and I listen to them over and over again. This first one is narrated by Rupert

Degas whose delivery is perfectly suited to the detective’s laconic, sarcastic style and I never fail to

giggle when listening. In later recordings Degas is replaced by Brian Bowles, another brilliant reader but

for me he doesn’t quite match up to Degas, although this doesn’t affect my enjoyment of the stories. At

the end of each chapter/beginning of the next a snatch of music is played , and it’s well chosen, with

good use made of the glockenspiel. A very high quality series of production is apparent and this series

of audiobooks would keep any child (or adult!) happily engaged through any long journey or difficult

day (is that just me?! listening to an audiobook at the end of a rubbish day is very calming!) .

Reacquaint yourself with the skeleton detective and Valkyrie , you won’t regret it.

Bev Humphrey, Literacy & Technology Consultant

digital

Werble app

https://www.werbleapp.com

Werble is a photo animator app that allows you

to add movement and effects to your images. At

present it is only available on Apple IOS but there

are plans for an Android version apparently. The

basic app is free with a limited amount of effects

then you can buy themed extension packs to

broaden your choice. The extension packs are

between £1.99 and £2.99 and they are good

value. I’ve had great fun with the Christmas

packs, adding snowballs, messages and snow

effects to my pictures and the weather pack is

great for adding falling leaves, lightning etc. Other

packs include Halloween, Light Leaks, Comic Book

Art and Fairy Lights. You can add multiple effects

to each picture and your creations can be saved

as videos, animated gifs or Live photos to your

camera roll or you can post them directly to

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or multiple other

sites as well as being able to send them via

Messenger etc.

If you’re thinking

‘but why would I

use this?’;

animated pictures

are much more

engaging for young

people so if you

have an Instagram

or Twitter account

for the library your

posts could get

more attention if you added some movement. The

gifs/videos can also be embedded into Keynote or

PowerPoint to add interest to your presentations

and could be used in video form in book trailers.

An easy to use, fun app with real potential for

engaging students.


Top Ten Fictional Twitters

Mr Tumnus @InquisitiveFaun

A faun who lives just outside of Lantern Waste, an

accomplished player of the Narnian flute, and a lover of tea,

books and scarves (Narnia/OUAT Rp Account)

Severus Snape @PlentifulMuse

HP RP Head of Slytherin advanced potion making

Homer J Simpson @homerjsimpson

Official Twitter for Homer Simpson.

Cookie Monster @MeCookieMonster

Me official. Me love cookies! Me officially love cookies.

The Dark Lord @Lord_Voldemort7

Running around leaving scars, collecting my jar of hearts and

tearing love apart...

Skulduggery Pleasant @SkulduggeryPXII

Very slim, wears exquisite suits. Drives a 1954 Bentley R-Type

Continental. Dead.

George Orwell @OrwellQuotes

The only official Orwell Quotes account, brought to you by

@TheOrwellPrize. Words from the writing of English author

George Orwell (Eric Blair, 1903 – 1950.

Paddington @paddingtonbear

Living in London, originally from Peru. Always keep a

marmalade sandwich under your hat in case of emergencies.

Yoda @notrealyoda

Tweet I will. Yessss.

Captain America @CaptainAmerica

Just a kid from Brooklyn.

Barbara Band, School Library Consultant


digital

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Bookzilla

Reading promotion app

https://tinyurl.com/y4jwom9n

Bookzilla is an app for kids that

has been produced by the Scottish

Book Trust and it’s a great way for

young people to track their reading

as well as an easy way to help

them choose their next read. When

you first open the app you are

asked which categories of books

you are most interested in: for

example Graphic Novels or Heart

Breakers. From here the app will

suggest to titles within those same

categories to you and you can add

them to your books to read section.

You can also add books that you have

read as well as what you are currently

reading. One of the best features I

think is the book randomiser so if you

have no idea what to read next it will

give you an idea. You can also set

reading dares or challenges such as I

will read 5 books.

On the home page there is also a reading

dare to keep children interested. The one

that appeared for me was don’t read the

last page of the book - which I would never

do until I’ve read the rest of the book of

course!

The design is very simple and easy to

use. The images of the books are lovely

as you can look back over the past year

and see all the titles you have read. A

well produced, attractive app that is fun

to use and encourages you to read more.

Carrie Humphrey

Ten Instagram publisher accounts

Following publishers on social media is always a good idea to stay up to date on new

releases and take part in book giveaways - after all, don’t we all love a free book?!

■ Harper Collins @harpercollinssch

■ Penguin Random House @penguinrandomhouse

■ Nosy Crow @nosycrow

■ Macmillan @macmillankidsuk

■ Bloomsbury @bloomsburypublishing

■ Walker @walkerbooksuk , @bigpicturebooks

■ Puffin @puffinbooksuk

■ Lantana @lantana_publishing

■ Knights Of @_knightsof

■ New Frontier @newfrontierpublishinguk



BoomWriter

https://boomwriter.com

BoomWriter is an online collaborative writing tool, which your class

can use to create content, guided by you. Create a BoomWriter

account, create classes and add students – who will then all receive a

user code of their own. Create assignments and give guidelines for

their completion. Select key vocabulary which students need to

include, and each word or phrase will be ‘checked off’ as students use

them. Limit word count and writing dates, then add new sections to

your assignments as needed. Once stories are completed, compile

them into a BoomWriter book and turn your students into published

authors.

On first use, this

software was

incredibly quick

and easy to set

up. A verification

is sent immediately to a nominated email address. Once you’ve clicked

on the link in the mail, you can begin using BoomWriter straight

away. The language and format used is geared towards the U.S.

market, but not unfamiliar to users in the U.K. Assignments can be

created by following a straight-forward template and anonymous

voting can be enabled, so students can peer review their classmates’

writing.

Similar in style to ClassDojo, BoomWriter is a simple, user-friendly

resource and offers an online alternative to classroom assignment

setting. Being able to order a book containing all of the completed

pieces is a great way to encourage students’ writing beyond the

classroom and involve family and friends in their learning and creative

journey.

Sharon Corbally


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Reviews

Editorial

Under 8

8 to 12

8 to 12 fiction

8 to 12 information

Poetry & Plays

12 to 16

12 to 16 fiction

12 to 16 information

16 to 19

Professional

Books and material for review

should be sent to:

Reviews Editor

1 Pine Court

Kembrey Park

Swindon SN2 8AD


Image by Wokingham Libraries from Pixabay

One of the most significant pieces of research into UK children’s publishing

appeared in 2018. Reflecting Realities: Survey of Ethnic Representation within UK

Children’s Literature, produced by CLPE and led by Farrah Serroukh. The title was

inspired by a famous quote from Rudine Sims Bishop: ‘Books are sometimes

windows, offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange.

When lighting conditions are just right, however, a window can also be a mirror.

Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that

reflection, we can see our own lives and experiences as part of a larger human

experience. Reading, then, becomes a means of self-affirmation, and readers often

seek their mirrors in books.’ In the past year ‘reflecting realities’ has become a

commonly used phrase to reflect the importance of all children being able to see

themselves in books.

The report caused quite a stir, even in the mainstream press, with its headline:

‘Only 1% of the children’s books published in the UK in 2017 had a BAME main

character’ and led to a Twitter campaign to #Readtheonepercent. When the reality

of life in the UK is that, according to GOV.UK statistics, 33.1% of pupils of school

age are of minority ethnic origins, you can see that our children’s books do not

reflect that population at all.

The second year of the survey, based upon 2018 production, has just been

published and in the intervening period Booktrust published Representation of

People of Colour among Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators which highlighted

the challenges and campaigned for more representation on the other side of the

equation: the creators of children’s literature. Together these reports have

galvanised the industry with new initiatives like CILIP’s new publication, Pen & Inc,

to actively promote diverse and inclusive publishing and the new criteria for the

CILIP Carnegie Medal. We have certainly also seen a difference in the books

submitted for review in this journal with more BAME authors and illustrators

coming through. We have actively pursued small minority publishers (which

incidentally explains why some books we feature are not newly published, but they

will be new to us and to a mainstream audience). Please also look at Varied Voices,

the brilliant new SLA Blog. This will be an inclusive place for diverse authors to talk

about their books, and the ideas and concepts behind them and every month

there’ll be another blog highlighting an author you might want to get to know.

Increasingly, I am glad to say, our reviewers, as in this edition, will comment

favourably or unfavourably on the representation in the books they are reviewing.

Pitfalls of poor representation are highlighted in the second CLPE report’s section

Reflecting on Content. Such things as exaggerated features that reduce images to

caricatures, oversimplified or inaccurate historical detail, homogenous palette

choices and bizarrely what they call the Jasmine Default. (A disproportionately high

number of female characters called Jasmine and how this appears to be the sole

reason the book was submitted for the survey!) But I wonder if the day will come

when we will take the stand that the famous Kirkus Reviews magazine adopted in

2015, when they started always identifying characters in children’s and teen books

they reviewed, by identity and/or race and thereby ‘unmasking the white default’?

You can understand the huge advantage in this, when parents and teachers want to

be able to find books where ethnic kids are just kids. But it does lead to clumsy and

cumbersome specificity in the reviews. Reviewers apparently are given special

training to help ‘identify problematic tropes and representations,’ and the reviews

themselves are increasingly assigned to what Kirkus calls ‘own voices’ reviewers. I

would be very interested to hear your views on how far we should go and how we

should set about it? At the moment, I don’t gather that sort of data on reviewers.

But nevertheless I hope that we would all agree that we need the highest quality

inclusive and representative literature for the benefit of all our young readers and

that this is what we want our TSL reviews to highlight.

Joy Court, Reviews Editor

Under 8

Agee, Jon

Life on Mars

Scallywag Press, 2019, pp32, £12.99

978 1 912650 07 1

This witty story of a young

astronaut’s expedition to the

red planet is based on a

classic device in the most

successful of picturebooks: the

reader seeing and

understanding things that the

hero does not. This, combined with Jon Agee’s

wonderfully simple yet evocative images of a

Martian landscape, will engage young readers

from the very first page. The narrator has travelled

from earth to seek new life on the far-off planet,

armed with a box of chocolate cupcakes. He is

convinced that, contrary to what most people

believe, he will find evidence of life there. As he

walks around, getting increasingly despondent at

seeing only rocks and dirt, he fails to notice the

huge Martian just a few steps behind him. He is

about to give up when he spots a small yellow

flower and is delighted that his voyage has been

successful after all. Anxious to get home and

show everyone the evidence he has found of life

on Mars, he climbs a ‘mountain’ (in fact the

recumbent Martian) to locate his spaceship. And

when he gets back on board, he is astonished to

see that the box of cupcakes, which he had

abandoned early on in his search, now contains

only crumbs. Life on Mars is simply told, full of

humour and dramatic irony and with a lovely

twist at the end. Knowing what they know, young

readers will be happy to revisit it over and over.

Marianne Bradnock

Beck, Ian

The Magic Hour

Tate, 2019, pp32, £11.99

978 1 84976 624 1

When Ian Beck was at art college, he saw and fell

in love with John Singer Sargeant’s painting

Carnation, Lily, Lily Rose (1885–6). He continued

to love this painting over many years and this

strikingly beautiful picture book is his imagining

of the story behind the painting. It tells of two

young sisters, staying at an old house by the river

one long hot Summer. One evening they spot

some flickering lights in a wooded glade and

sneak out to discover what the lights are,

believing that it might be fairies at the bottom of

the garden. They discover that it’s two painters

using the magic hour of twilight to enjoy the best

light for painting.

Ian Beck is one of the UK’s foremost illustrators

and his watercolour illustrations in gorgeous

shades of blues, greens and gold has created a

truly magical picture book. I had never seen the

original painting and this book made we want to,

so I made a trip to the Tate Gallery (Tate Britain)

and I’m so glad I did, as it is magnificent. Beck’s

book, which also includes a copy of the original

and information about it, is simply glorious and

definitely instils a desire to see the original. The

production quality is excellent, and the end pages

also add to the beauty of the story and its

illustrations. A book to read, enjoy and share.

Annie Everall

Blevins, Wiley

Near or Far? (Location Words)

Raintree, 2019, pp24, £9.99

978 1 4747 6871 9

A lovely book for EYFS and KS1 introducing the

concept and vocabulary of near and far. The

pictures along with the questions make this a

lovely book to share with children. Lots of good

discussion can take place and the sentences can

be used to help scaffold children’s own writing.

For year one and two I used the book to

introduce the concepts and then gave children

similar pictures to write their own near and far

sentences. As there is also additional information

it was perfect for extending children’s writing.

Kate Keaveny

Brisenden, Rhys and Reed, Nathan

Incredible You

Tate, 2019, pp32, £11.99

978 1 84976 626 5

A riot of colour and detail, every page in

Incredible You is a visual feast; not surprising,

perhaps, when you see it is published by Tate. In

bouncy rhyming text the reader is asked whether

occasionally, when things don’t seem to be going

quite right, they might want to be someone or

something else. Each spread suggests what that

other creature might be: a bird that can fly away,

a dog that can climb trees and bark, a cat that

snoozes on the sofa in front of television all day?

Or even some kind of wild animal, a tiger or

giraffe or elephant? Halfway through the focus

shifts onto what makes the reader ‘truly amazing’,

cataloguing the many things they can do, like

making people laugh and inventing stories,

drawing, dancing, scoring goals. The book’s

concluding message, shouted out from the final

glorious spread, is that you should always be

proud of what you are, in every sense incredible.

Marianne Bradnock

Carter, James and Vidali, Valerio

Once Upon a Rhythm

Caterpillar Books, 2019, pp32, £11.99

978 1 84857 844 9

A wondrous ode to music following on from Once

Upon a Star and Once Upon a Raindrop, Carter

now turns his attention to rhythm, instruments

and song and delivers yet another fantastic book

Under 8

which will be sure to inspire a generation of

musicians. Music is an essential part of human

life, and an excellent way of expressing ourselves.

Carter’s book celebrates this and presents musical

history in a swift, punchy chronology from the

prehistoric beats and rhythm of our ancestors, to

the more refined classical and choral, to loud and

anarchic rock and roll.

Both words and pictures hum and pop with

energy but work harmoniously, like an expertly

arranged orchestra. It is also wonderfully

designed, the confident use of bold typography

and placement of text makes this book sing. It’s a

book to be joyously read aloud, in between

pausing for an exuberant musical interlude. An

excellent example of how the form of a picture

book can be used to great effect in the right

hands, this book deserves a top spot on your

bookshelf. A great starting point for any project

about the history of music.

Emma Carpendale

Christopher, Lucy and Suvorova,

Anastasia

Shadow

Lantana, 2019, pp40, £11.99

978 1 91137 383 4

In this stylish and somewhat

unsettling picturebook, the

girl, our narrator, is

unconvinced by her mother’s

insistence that there is

nothing to fear in their

somewhat forbidding new home and yet in the

cobwebby darkness beneath her bed, the little girl

encounters Shadow, hiding amongst the dust.

They have fun exploring the house together, and

yet her mum is always so distracted, and possibly

sad, that she is unable to see Shadow. The girl

and her new friend head off into the forest to

play, but there are so many other shadows there

that she becomes lost, lonely and afraid.

Thankfully, she is reunited with her mother who

has come looking for her and they return home to

play together and the house is no longer such a

dark and forbidding place after all.

There are certainly some bleak moments in this

beautifully drawn picture book, and my Year 2

class sat in tense silence at the moment when the

solitary little girl is plunged into the darkness of

the forest. There is a happy ending of course, but

there is certainly a sense of eerie sadness about

the story, particularly given the mother’s sad

expression which some young readers might pick

up on. Having said that, my class loved the story

and really connected with the little narrator. It

also led on to a very useful wider discussion

about the different things we are afraid of.

Overall, a rich and complex tale that does not shy

away from challenging the reader with some

uncomfortable feelings.

Emily Marcuccilli


Under 8

Cobb, Rebecca

Hello, Friend!

Macmillan, 2019, pp32, £11.99

978 1 4472 5051 7

Rebecca Cobb is my

favourite author/illustrator of

stories about pre-school age

children, managing to

capture their essence

perfectly, and this new

addition to her collection is

another wonderful example of her skill.

It is the heart-warming tale of how a slightly

over-enthusiastic young girl with pigtail plaits

and a love of jumping, building tall towers,

sharing and sandwiches, wins the affections of

an initially shy (and possibly star-struck) young

boy. The narrative depicts how keen the little girl

is to be friends, whilst the illustrations show that

the boy is perhaps not so happy to be ‘helped’

into his coat and bundled outside or piled with

toy rabbits in the girl’s exuberant demonstration

of how good she is at sharing. As the story

progresses, however, we see the boy starts to

show a tentatively upturned smile and at home

time, when the girl anxiously wonders ‘I hope he

misses me?’, we see the boy turn back with a

smile and a wave. There follows some joyous

depictions of ‘all the fun we can have’ and the

book ends with the two pals enthusiastically

greeting a new, uncertain little girl with ‘hello,

friend!’.

My 4-year-old daughter always likes to pause to

examine the end notes of the book, which

beautifully portray the messy chaos of the preschool

coat rack, each combination of colourful

welly boots and coats giving a glimpse of that

child’s personality. This is an ideal read for any

children starting nursery, especially for those

worried about forming friendships. I think we

would all be delighted for our child to be greeted

with a happy cry of ‘hello, friend!’

Eleanor Rutherford

Collins, Ross

This is a Dog

Nosy Crow, 2019, pp32, £11.99

978 1 78800 515 9

Attention seeking Dog start out well enough,

sitting nicely on his page opposite ‘This is a dog’.

However, things rapidly deteriorate as he

encroaches on the page of cat, further onto

monkey’s page, and completely steals the show

from downcast rabbit. After chasing squirrel from

his page, dog goes on to cross out ‘crocodile’ and

use his crayon to add ‘dog’ before cocking his leg

on poor giraffe and dressing up as an elephant!

He turns the light out on bear, steals gorilla’s

‘gorilla’ and finds himself the target of ‘a chase’.

Clever dog tricks the pursuing animals before

running straight at the reader on the penultimate

page, before curling up for a nap at the end.

Every page is a lesson in restraint. Bright primary

colours serve as a background for each double

page spread, and space is used to great effect.

Dog is incorrigible and adorable in equal measure.

High quality production make this a lovely gift

book, and it is great fun to share.

Helen Thompson

Daly, Niki

Here Comes Lolo

978 1 91095 977 0

Hooray for Lolo

978 1 91095 969 5

Otter-Barry Books, 2019, pp80, £6.99

Two books from a new series about Lolo, a little

girl who lives with her mother and grandma in

South Africa. In each book, there are four stories

about Lolo’s everyday life. In many ways, it is a life

which mirrors those of many little girls across the

globe. She goes to school, loves her family and

friends and really enjoys doing art. In Here Comes

Lolo, the first story is, appropriately, about

winning a gold star for reading and in Hooray for

Lolo she borrows a library book for the first time.

Her adventures are usually full of fun but

sometimes, like all of us, she worries, or has

upsetting experiences.

Both books would be enjoyable to read aloud, in

school or at home, but they have a value in

classrooms. If asked ‘Which books would be most

suitable at early transition stage (approx. 6 to 7

years old)?’ I would answer, ‘That stage is when

newly competent, but inexperienced, young

readers need books they can read with ease.

Books that are not threateningly long, that have a

well-designed font for young readers, a generous

mix of words and pictures on each page and,

most importantly, are rewarding to read’. Both

books about Lolo fit this description perfectly. In

addition, each story offers just the right amount

of printed text for a newly self-reliant reader to

tackle alone. Lolo’s stories will be a delightful

asset to any primary school bookshelf.

Prue Goodwin

Daynes, Katie and Miguéns, Marta

Alvarez

What is the Moon? (Lift-the-Flap

Very First Questions & Answers)

Usborne, 2019, pp12, £7.99

978 1 47494 821 0

2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Moon

landings and there has been a proliferation of

books for all ages dealing with the subject. This

board book is aimed at the youngest and would

be a welcome addition to the shelves in Early

Years and Year 1 classrooms. The small format is

ideal for little hands, with flaps to open to

encourage interest and enquiry.

Even though there are only seven questions posed

in the book, from ‘What is the Moon? ‘, through

to ‘What’s it like on the Moon?’, a great deal of

age appropriate information is packed in, with

concepts such as the changing shape of the

Moon clearly explained. The colourful illustrations

add to the appeal. The final spread shows a

young girl planning her own trip to the Moon,

gathering everything she needs, with the reality

revealed behind the flaps.

Jayne Gould

Doerrfeld, Cori

The Rabbit Listened


978 1 912650 09 5

Taylor builds a structure out

of blocks and is immensely

proud. Disaster strikes when

some angry looking crows

swoop down and destroy it.

Taylor is visited by a parade

of animals offering advice on how to respond to

this situation. The chicken, for example, suggests

talking about it and the snake suggests

destroying someone else’s construction, but Taylor

does not want to do any of these things. Then a

rabbit appears and sits beside Taylor, saying

nothing. Taylor runs through the gamut of

emotions from sorrow, through despondency,

vengefulness and then hope as described by the

other animals, but the rabbit just listens as Taylor

comes to the decision to build a bigger and better

structure.

This picture book, with its simple text and clear

drawings, would be ideal to share with a child

enduring a loss, from the trivial to the most

shattering. Taylor goes through all the emotions in

the company of the rabbit who does not

comment on what Taylor should feel or do. Small

children feel things very deeply and the loss of or

damage to a favourite toy can seem like the end

of the world when you are three. The rabbit does

not tell Taylor to put it in perspective but, by the

silence, acknowledges the depth of feeling that

this event produces. The book is an excellent

means of showing children how to cope and be

resilient when faced with the ‘little’ problems of

life so that they are a little more prepared when

life starts throwing the big things around.

June Hughes

Donald, Alison and Landy, Ariel

The Spacesuit

Maverick Arts Publishing, 2019, pp36, £7.99

978 1 84886 428 3

An interesting picture book about Eleanor Foraker,

whom I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t heard of

before, and the part she played in the first moon

landing. Lots of intriguing real life facts are

included that would encourage children to read

more about this momentous occasion by scanning

the QR code in the back of the book. A timeline in

the front cover leads you from the launch of the


first ever satellite to man walking on the moon.

The illustrations are colourful and bold, and the

text is clear and easy to understand. A useful

addition to any primary school library and one

that would make a fantastic present for any space

obsessed child.

Bev Humphrey

Durant, Alan and Blankenaar, Dale

Quill Soup (One Story, Many Voices)

Tiny Owl Publishing, 2019, pp32, £12.99

978 1 910328 40 8

Quill Soup, the third in this

Tiny Owl series, is an African

version of Stone Soup. Noko

the porcupine has been

travelling for a long time and

is tired and hungry. He comes

to a village, and his spirits lift

at the thought of food and shelter. Noko knocks

at each door. One after another, Warthog, Rabbit,

Monkey and all the other villagers assure him that

they have no food to spare. But they acquiesce to

his request for water and fire. Noko makes a soup

from three of his quills. ‘Mmmm, tasty,’ he says.

‘Just how his majesty likes it.’ The villagers are so

impressed by his acquaintance with the king, that

when he mentions that the soup would be even

better with carrots, and then that the king likes

mealies in his soup, suddenly these and lots of

other ingredients are available.

Alan Durant’s retelling of this traditional tale is

entertaining and humorous. Important messages

about kindness, sharing and friendship come out

loud and strong, while never being laboured. The

illustrations by South African Dale Blankenaar are

very striking and full of intriguing details that

children will pore over. The Tiny Owl website has

accompanying activities that teachers, parents and

carers might like to use with children.

Anne Harding

Ferrie, Chris and Batori, Susan

There Was a Black Hole that

Swallowed the Universe

Source Books, 2019, pp32, £13.99

978 1 4926 8077 2

‘There was a black hole that swallowed the

universe.

I don’t know why it swallowed the universe

oh well, it couldn’t get worse.’

This children’s Earth Sciences book is a silly,

brilliant picture book that will delight both young

and grown-up astronomers. Based on the popular

‘There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly,’

this story features a black hole eating its way

through the universe – oh dear, is that the end of

us all, then? Author Chris Ferrie is a physicist and

mathematician who believes it is never too early

to introduce children to the wild and wonderful

world of science – I couldn’t agree more!

Océane Toffoli

Guridi, Raul

How to Put a Whale in a Suitcase

Tate Publishing, 2019, pp32, £9.99

978 1 84976 623 4

Published originally in Spanish,

this is a beautiful picture book,

that can be appreciated on

more than one level. Told with

minimal text but lyrical words:

‘My whale is as big as all

whales are. And my suitcase is

as small as all suitcases are’, it

is the story of an unnamed

character wearing a blue striped T shirt who

explains that he has decided to go on a journey

(though gradually the sense that this is a choice

changes). The journey will be long, and he always

feels anxious about leaving things behind, so this

time he will take the thing he loves most with

him, his whale.

The problem, obviously, is how to get the whale

in his suitcase, and the solution – not described

but depicted – is to fold the whale, as she is in

fact painted on an enormous piece of paper.

There are intriguing (deceptively simple) pictures

in a limited palette and there is humour: does it

tickle when he tries to move the whale, which of

all the suitcase shapes would hold a whale? But

there is also the increasing sense that traveller

and whale have no choice about leaving, so why

are they going, and could the whale represent

something else? At the end the traveller and his

suitcase join the back of a crowd who, we are

told, have no direction but know they must go. As

the cover blurb says: What happens if you have to

leave home suddenly and put everything you love

into a suitcase?

Sally Perry

Hanaor, Ziggy and Bowsher, Alice

Fly Flies

Cicada, 2019, pp32, £9.95

978 1 908714 61 9

Fly is happily practising her flying, in her own

wibbly, wobbly, wavy style, but she keeps being

interrupted by other flying animals convinced that

they know better and telling her to fly their way.

Each time, Fly tries to follow their instructions,

flying in a straight line, being carried by the wind

or diving for food, but it never works for her and

she gets more and more frustrated until she

realises that the best way for her to fly is her way.

The writing, using short sentences and repetition,

is accessible to very young children and the

message is clear: we all have our own way of

doing things and, although it is fine to try other

methods, in the end we must decide ourselves

what is best for us. The bold monochrome

illustrations, with just a few splashes of yellow,

are very effective and the twist at the end leaves

you with a gentle afterglow.

Agnès Guyon

Under 8

Hawthorne, Lara

Alba the Hundred Year Old Fish

Big Picture Press, 2019, pp32, £11.99

978 1 78741 292 7

Alba the fish lives in a city of coral that is full of

colour and life. Her home is an old, spotted shell

and she delights in finding beautiful objects to

adorn the area outside. As she grows over the

years, so does her collection but she gradually

becomes aware that there are fewer pretty things.

Instead there are unfamiliar, unfriendly things, the

coral starts to change, and her friends leave.

Searching further into the ocean for an item to

celebrate her birthday, Alba spies a pearl, but it is

inside the most unusual shell she has ever seen.

Once inside, she realises that it is impossible to

escape. Luckily, she is washed ashore and

released by a young girl on the beach.

The unusual shell is a plastic bottle and the sand

is littered with rubbish. People work together to

clean up the local environment and Alba and her

friends can return to their reef.

This gentle tale is a story about saving our

oceans, highlighting the perils of plastic pollution.

The colourful, stylised illustrations have a wealth

of detail to spot and talk about, with some of the

creatures listed at the back. There is also an

information page on ways to help look after the

ocean. This would make a good introduction to a

topic on pollution and conservation, particularly

for children in KS1.

Jayne Gould

Hendry, Diana and Eaves, Ed

You Can’t Cuddle a Crocodile

Hodder, 2019, pp32, £6.99

978 1 444 92455 8

With a first glance at the cover and a first flick

through the pages, you are bombarded with

bright colours: a violent yellow, a livid green,

purple, blue and bold, bold pink hit you full on; a

great start for a pre-school picture book.

The story takes you on a romp of fun through the

week in a family home where little sister, Freya,

becomes a different animal each day. The whole

family joins in and the pictures bring the

imaginary situations to life. A monkey messes

about at breakfast on Monday... and so on

through the days until, on Saturday, she frightens

the postman as a ferocious lion.

More could have been created with creative use

of language although the short phrases

accompanying each tableau open up avenues for

conversation and discussion. The pictures make

this book work. Seemingly simple and brash, they

are uncluttered and yet detailed, dynamic and

strong in line and shape. Personification is

highlighted: Freya continues to wear her ‘spec’s’

whatever skin she is wearing. This supports

continuity and comprehension. Despite its

comfortable, slightly old-fashioned image of an

average family’s life, You Can’t Cuddle a Crocodile


is an example of a good, solid book to share with

two to five year olds which will elicit lots of

laughs, encourage conversation and tickle the

imagination.

Janet Sims

Hitchman, Jess and La Baleine, Lili

In Every House, on Every Street

Little Tiger Press, 2019, pp24, £11.99

978 1 78881 406 5

This is such a beautiful

book that just looking at

the front cover can

generate lots of

discussion. It is perfect

for developing inference

skills using pictures due

to the amount of detail

in the illustrations. It is a perfect book for KS1 as

it will fit in with a range of topics, from ‘all about

me’ to ‘houses and homes’.

The text has a lovely rhyming rhythm which

makes it enjoyable to read aloud and children will

quickly start to join in. My favourite page and the

one that all the children love is the final page

which opens out to show all the things that are

happening in all the houses on the street.

Kate Keaveny

Under 8

Holcombe, Ella and Cox, David

The House on the Mountain

Allen & Unwin, 2019, pp32, £11.99

978 1 911631 36 1

The inspiration for this book is a real-life tragedy

for author Ella Holcombe, whose Australian family

house burnt to the ground in the 2009 bushfires

taking the lives of her parents. From this appalling

event, supported by astonishing David Cox

illustrations, Holcombe has woven a story of

potential rebirth and hope. It is a remarkable

book that would inspire so many Primary school

readers and that could also be a valuable

resource for art and design work in Secondary

schools.

The illustrations are exceptional and have the

elegiac hand drawn feeling of Raymond Briggs’

When the Wind Blows, which is high praise but

completely warranted. Holcombe’s text is faux

naive, the voice of a child trying to make sense of

a shattering event.

Her family survive but are homeless. The

psychological impact of this trauma is handled

with great skill in Holcombe’s portrayal of the

narrator’s incomprehension. There is great pathos

in what she misses of home ‘the sound of rain in

a tin roof, the smell of dirt and gum leaves’ Much

time passes and this is one of the great strengths

of this profound book: trauma and loss are not

overcome quickly. Like the scorched earth,

healing comes slowly and there are deep

wounds.

Eventually the family are able to return to the

mountain and to consider rebuilding. On the final

page, the narrator is able to remember her old

house and feel held by that memory. This page is

flanked by a photo of Holcombe’s own house and

family and a brief very moving note about Black

Saturday when she lost so much.

This is a very special book that could promote

high quality discussion and there is much that

could be analysed to stretch and challenge

readers. Above all else, it is a beautiful and

poignant book with text and illustrations working

in absolute harmony. It is a book that l keep

coming back to and that stays long in the

memory.

Ingrid Spencer

Hood, Morag

Brenda is a Sheep

Two Hoots, 2019, pp32, £11.99

978 1 50984 296 4

Morag Hood, multi-award-winning author/

illustrator has created another great read for 3 to

4 year olds with this combination of pitch-perfect

humour and illustrations in a wonderfully bold

colour palette of lime green and bright orange.

Though Brenda declares herself to be a sheep,

immediately the reader’s suspicions are raised,

possibly something to do with Brenda’s pointy

nose, sharp teeth and lovely orange woolly

jumper. Despite her appearance, and love of

games, such as ‘tag’ and ‘teeth sharpening’, the

flock remain oblivious to Brenda’s ulterior

motives. In fact, the sheep declare Brenda to be

‘probably the best sheep they have ever met’.

Just as the reader’s concerns for the sheep are

peaking (armed with the knowledge of all

those other story book wolves and what usually

happens to their unsuspecting victims), the

sheep hatch a plan to show Brenda how much

they love her. Whilst Brenda slumbers, the

sheep prepare a magnificent feast (largely grass

based) and Brenda is so surprised and

delighted by their efforts that she ‘can’t help

but join in the fun. Because after all... Brenda is

a sheep’. In the warm embrace of sheep and

faux-sheep, we see that friendships can flourish

despite differences, which is a wonderful lesson

for all ages.

Eleanor Rutherford

James, Simon

Mr Scruff

Walker, 2019 pp32, £12.99

978 1 4063 8385 0

On one page we are introduced to a dog; on the

next we meet the owner. There is a lovely pattern

of rhyming names and matching personalities.

Polly belongs to Molly, Lawrence to Florence.

Martha and Arthur have the same shaggy

hairstyle; Mick and Rick both wear red, spotty

neckerchiefs, and snooty Eric and Derek both

prance along with their noses in the air. But for

poor Mr Scruff there is no one. Mr Scruff is old

and big – just like Mr Gruff. But hey, it’s young,

small Jim who takes a shine to Mr Scruff, while

Mr Gruff falls for a tiny pup called Tim. Their

names don’t rhyme; their personalities don’t

chime; and that’s fine!

Young children will enjoy the disruption of the

idea that pairs should match; they will love both

the rhyme and the subversion of rhyme. And in

that pleasure will slip the message that we’re all

different, and that difference can be a good recipe

for friendship. The illustrations will delight readers

of all ages. The animals and their owners have

bags of personality. And they have oodles of

lovability. This is a lovely picture book, and one

that’s sure to become a family or classroom

favourite.

Sophie Smiley

Judge, Chris

The Baby Beast

Andersen, 2019, pp32, £11.99

978 1 78344 776 3

Oh, my goodness, the

wonderful Beast is back –

and this time he’s got

company!

Beast is baffled when he

opens his door and finds

an egg on his doorstep,

complete with a label

‘Please look after me’. But how? Beast tries his

best, sharing his breakfast and taking it for a

walk, but soon becomes embroiled in his usual

chores and activities and forgets about the egg,

not just once, but twice! By way of apology he

takes the egg for a picnic, but it all goes wrong

and they end up in the hospital. Luckily Dr Yoko is

an expert on eggs, and soon Beast is furnished

with an instruction sheet.

We follow Beast’s exploits with bated breath as

he works out what to do, buys what he needs

(and some things he doesn’t), and finally meets

the occupant of the egg. His adventure doesn’t

end there, but luckily Dr Yoko is on hand with a

book to help out, and soon Beast is enjoying

parenthood.

As ever, Chris Judge’s illustrations are both

hilarious and perfect in every detail from the

underground family of rabbits surprised by the

bouncing egg overhead, to the typeface that

complements the Beast just so. How can a face

consisting of two yellow dots be so expressive?

The primary colours and the action that bursts

from panel frames create an exuberant sense of

movement as time races along, bringing changes

every day. A wonderful book with lots to discuss

and share, and a perfect final page.

Helen Thompson


Stories for growing imaginations from

ANDERSEN PRESS

The Undefeated

9781783449293 | £6.99

When Sadness Comes to Call

9781783447954 | £6.99

The Proudest Blue

9781783449712 | £12.99

One World

9781849393041 | £6.99

#Goldilocks

9781783448784 | £6.99

The Problem with Problems

9781783448715 | £12.99

Mermaid School

9781783448302 | £6.99

Evernight

9781783448319 | £7.99

The Train Mouse

9781783449583 | £9.99

Monsters

9781783449033 | £7.99

Deep Secret

9781783449026 | £7.99

www.andersenpress.co.uk

The Crossover: Graphic Novel

9781783449590 | £8.99

Illustration from The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali, art by Hatem Aly

Under 8

Kuo, Fifi

Everyone Can Draw

Boxer Books, 2019, pp32, £11.99

978 1 910716 88 5

The tactile cover of this large format book is very

enticing. The grainy matt cover with embossed

text and shiny stars will have readers stroking the

book and wishing to open its pages. Drawings of

young children and their drawings surround a

large notice with a very clear message, ‘Everyone

CAN draw’. What unfolds is an overview of the

breadth of drawing styles and approaches.

Readers are led to understand that people can

make choices from a wide range of possibilities of

content and art media. Each sentence starts with

‘Some people...’. This repetition reinforces the

message of choice and preference and allows the

reader to concentrate on the lively, colourful

illustrations which include pencils, ink, thumb

prints, collage, sewing and much more.

The pleasure and enjoyment of drawing pulses on

each page until the drawing overtakes the text.

When the reader is finally asked, ‘What will you

DRAW?’, young readers will be inspired to take

up the challenge immediately. The end papers

outline the types of materials suggested. This

book will provide inspiration for children, parents

and teachers.

Carolyn Boyd

Lovell, Ruby and Merrick, Zara

Stop that Monkey! He Stole Ruby’s

Ice Lolly!

Lychee Books, 2019, pp24, £6.99

978 1 9998685 3 6

It is good once again to see

another emerging children’s

imprint helping to provide a

broader range of stories

reflecting our diverse world.

This book takes us to Sri

Lanka and a visit made

there by Ruby and her parents, including her

English mother, in order to meet her father’s

relations and spend time with them. Once there

they spend time exploring the area surrounding

Sigiriya (meaning Lion’s Rock); made from the

plug from a volcano which towers 200 metres

over the surrounding landscape and was once an

ancient fortress. Ruby manages the climb but on

the way she and her grandmother attract the

attention of a group of hungry Toque monkeys

and are forced to discard their ice lollies for fear

of being attacked by them.

Although the title is rather clunky the story is well

and simply told but the main highlight are the

illustrations where the bright colour palette helps

to recreate the lushness of the Sri Lankan

vegetation as well as capture something of the

quality of the light on what is a very beautiful

island.

John Newman

McEwen, Katharine

Who’s Hiding in the Woods?

(National Trust)

Nosy Crow, 2019, pp12, £7.99

978 1 78800 141 0

Another delightful instalment

in the lift-the-flap, non-fiction

Who’s Hiding series from

Nosy Crow, in partnership

with the National Trust. All

the books in the series are

aimed at toddlers and

preschoolers and are filled with basic facts about

different UK habitats and the wildlife that reside

there. This edition is about the creatures who live

in our woods. Beautifully illustrated by Katherine

McEwen, her paper collage style sits very well

alongside the novelty format and outdoors theme

of the book. Little ones will love finding all the

flaps to open to unveil nuggets of information

about woodland wildlife. The book unfolds

through the time of day and the seasons, starting

with a Spring morning, moving to Summer,

Autumn, Winter and ending with the woods at

night. With more than 20 flaps to lift over 10

pages, each one unveiling a different fact about

woodland animals and their habitat, this book

will complement your class collection of illustrated

non-fiction and help to feed inquisitive, curious

minds.

Emma Carpendale

Melville, Elena Arevalo

Umbrella


978 1 912650 01 9

Clara takes her walk in the park but has no one

to play with. Forlornly she spies an umbrella on

the floor and politely puts it on a bench. She is

thrilled when the umbrella is revealed as a

magical talking umbrella! It thanks her for being

so helpful and seeing her lonely demeanour tells

her ‘anything is possible’ conjuring up a feline

playmate who comes whooshing out of the

opened umbrella and into Clara’s arms. And that’s

just the beginning as Clara continues her walk,

meeting other unhappy people in the park and

with the umbrella’s help shows them kindness

and friendship through magic, music and even the

arrival of an unexpected elephant! Meanwhile sly

Mr Fox has been observing all of this and

commands the umbrella to grant him endless

riches and we discover that the umbrella does not

take kindly to selfish commands.

A delightful and insightful picture book illustrated

with bold swathes of blue, grey-black and pink

pastels. The dual themes of how sometimes the

ordinary can be extraordinary and how there are

rewards to be found for everyone when you are

kind and considerate to others would make this

ideal to share and read aloud.

Sue Polchow

Quayle, Ruth and Tuya, Jez

Suzy Orbit, Astronaut

Nosy Crow, 2019, pp32, £6.99

978 1 78800 461 9

A simple Goldilocks-esque storyline that is made

magical through Tuya’s illustrations. Suzy Orbit,

with her dark skin and Afro-style hair, is a heroine

firmly at the centre, dealing with her boss’s

ineptitude and online shopping obsession in a

calm and helpful manner. She saves the day with

her persistence, skill and technical ability, preempting

her white male boss’s lack of budget and

instruction and just getting on with solutions. Full

of circles and curves, bright colours and a range

of facial expressions, there are plenty of things on

the page to find and discuss. There is the added

bonus of a QR code for a free aloud reading. I’m

still not sure how Captain Gizmo gets everything

delivered to the moon so fast? Out of this world!

Helen Swinyard

Read, Kate

One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller

Two Hoots, 2019, pp36, £11.99

978 1 5290 1088 6

A one to ten counting book with a pleasing twist

in the tail. The beautiful illustrations are digitally

created using a mixture of collage and monoprint

in warm, glowing colours. The writing is both

straightforward and rich, with well-chosen,

assonant adjectives. Numbers are given in both

text and numerals: one to ten, then leaping on to

100, revealing pattern in both a visual and a

number sense. The endpapers are gorgeous, and

an invitation to count. The poor fox starts

famished and ends up frightened, but, thankfully,

‘no hens or foxes were harmed in the making of

this book’. With gentle humour and strong use of

colour and pattern, in different ways this book is

reminiscent of both Eric Carle and Pat Hutchins –

fine company to be counted in.

Mandy Williams

Rustad, Martha E. H.

I Can Reduce Waste (Helping the

Environment)

Raintree, 2019, pp24, £11.99

978 1 4747 7034 7

This is a perfect book for introducing the idea of

helping the environment to young children. As

more and more schools develop and take part in

the eco school award, this will help even the

youngest of children understand and talk about

the topic. The text is at a perfect level for reading

aloud to key stage one children and can generate

a lot of discussion about what they do at home.

Covering all the different ways in which we might

be wasting the world’s resources, it allows it to

form a useful book for a topic on recycling to

food waste. It also allows for the discussion to

move onto the sustainable development goals.

Kate Keaveny


Hawthorn Press

Thoughtful books

NEW!

Keeping up with Findus

Sven Nordqvist

Findus and Pettson, for young people who are

curious about the world

www.hawthornpress.com

Well-being through Reading

Well-being through Reading is the result of a partnership between the School Library

Association and BounceTogether.

Using our specialist knowledge about attitudes to reading, and their

specialist knowledge on digital surveys, we have created a platform that

allows you to gather the data you need to make informed choices and

interventions about your pupils' reading and well-being.

There's a wealth of research that shows the benefits of reading for mental health, empathy

and stress levels. By improving a child's attitude to reading they are more likely to do it,

improving not only their reading attainment, but benefiting from the host of other benefits

of reading for pleasure as well.

When subscribing to Bounce, an SLA membership is included in each

subscription, so if you're in a school without a librarian, or you just

need some ideas and guidance you can call the SLA to discuss a way

forwards for your class, year group or MAT.

www.bouncetogether.co.uk/products-wellbeing-through-reading

Under 8

Sellick, James and Preston-Gannon,

Frann

There’s a Rang-tan in My Bedroom

Wren & Rook, 2019, pp32, £12.99

978 1 5263 6208 7

This moving,

informative picture

book is based on the

Greenpeace film, that

also became a

television advert,

about the plight of

orangutans as their

forest habitat is lost to palm oil plantations. The

story is told in rhyming text by a little girl who

discovers a Rang-Tan in her bedroom and learns

the reason for his dislike of her chocolate,

shampoo and cookies, all containing palm oil. The

story ends with the little girl promising to help

and showing other children how they can join in

too. The illustrations are vibrant and appealing,

there is a foreword by Emma Thompson and

pages at the back with information about

orangutans and palm oil plus suggestions for

action and top tips for writing a campaign letter.

This is a simple book with an important message

about de-forestation and the need for action. It

could appeal to a range of age groups on

different levels. It would need to be shared with

and explained to the target audience for the story,

whilst the information and campaign tips would

appeal to older children. It would be very useful

as a classroom resource across a range of

curriculum topics and could also be used as a tool

to encourage writing. All in all, this is a timely

book aimed at raising eco-awareness and

encouraging positive and practical actions.

Sue Roe

Sloan, Michelle and Bia, Elena

Greyfriars Bobby: A Puppy’s Tale

Kelpies, 2019, pp32, £7.99

978 1 78250 590 7

An origin story for the legendary wee Skye terrier

who faithfully kept vigil over his master’s grave

every day for 14 years. Told in a beautifully

illustrated book, the tale imagines Bobby’s life

before he took up the ‘nightwatch’, with his

master, police officer John Gray.

A lovely book to share or for a newly independent

reader who can get submerged into this

fascinating tale. A must for any early years’ library.

Tracy Hart

Smith, Sydney

Small in the City

Walker, 2019, pp40, £12.99

978 1 40638 840 4

Small in the City is a picturebook written and

illustrated by Sydney Smith, the Canadian artist

who won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2018.

Smith’s previous work displays a distinctive artistic

style that perfectly matches the meaning of each

written text he illustrates. Small in the City is no

exception.

It is Winter. On a tram in the big city, a child is

travelling home. A familiar journey, but one that

could make anyone feel ill at ease. Indeed, the

opening pages lack focus; the child, says, ‘I know

what it’s like to be small in the city’. It creates a

feeling of vulnerability. Nothing seems clear.

Images of huge buildings; acres of glass and

concrete; cage-like fences – all reinforce the sense

of isolation and anxiety. The sky gets darker, it

begins to snow. Is the child safe?

Sydney Smith is an artist who can conjure ideas,

sights and sounds in a reader’s mind purely by the

placing of lines, shapes and colours on the page.

For example: there is a full page picture of

fractured reflections in a vast glass building; you

can hear city traffic, the bark of angry dogs or the

silence of walking in snow. This is not a lighthearted

or easy read – but, carefully shared with

readers, it will more than reward the effort of

close-looking in order to understand the artwork

and to unravel the riddle of the child’s real

concerns whilst journeying to the shelter and

security of home. There is a happy ending with a

twist in the tail! A stunning piece of work; thank

you Sydney Smith.

Prue Goodwin

Snicket, Lemony and Alexander,

Rilla

Swarm of Bees

Andersen, 2019, pp48, £12.99

978 1 78344 912 5

A naughty, and presumably angry, little person

throws tomatoes from his cart at a bee’s nest. A

swarm of angry bees emerge. Thus begins a walk

passing a number of people and creatures who

are ripe for ‘stinging’. The accompanying text

offers several very good reasons why the bees

should not sting them. The sailor is coming home

to hug his mother. There is a hairdresser, a

bricklayer and on and on… The little child with

his truck, however, begins to throw his tomatoes

and the people become angry too. They chase the

child. Where is this story going? The block print

style of illustration, reminiscent of Swedish fabric

design (it is true that the Illustrator admits the

influence) is limited to a four colourway of green,

blue, red and yellow and progresses the story.

The bees, simply printed dots of black, grey and

yellow swarm in various densities across each

page denoting the humming angriness that is

building.

At last the bees are recaptured by the

beekeeper. They enter a dark sack and at once

feel cosy, calm, warm and secure. They know

they are safe and will soon be home.

Simultaneously, the little person finds a

comforting parent and a double page spread

shows them sharing a warm cuddly hug. The

message is explicitly stated: ‘It can feel good to

be angry. It can feel even better to stop’

An unusual and challenging approach to

storytelling with purpose but one which is

attractive as a straight picture book and would be

a positive addition to any collection for tackling

anger and behaviour management.

Janet Sims

Valentine, Rachel and Bagley,

Rebecca

Don’t Mess with a Princess!

Puffin, 2019, pp32, £6.99

978 0 241 32262 8

An empowering

feminist revision of a

traditional fairy tale

narrative. Don’t expect

these three young

princesses to stand

back idly whilst an ogre

is terrorising the

kingdom.

Princesses Thea, Leaf and Juno may not be

completely fearless, but they are much better at

navigating the enchanted forest and its creatures

than the terrified knights. A little daring and

resourcefulness are all that’s needed to capture

the ogre. And empathy when they realise that all

the ogre’s stamping and squashing was actually

due to him not being able to see anything as he

had lost his glasses. I think the illustrator had lots

of fun here depicting a fairytale kingdom set in a

semi-modern world. I certainly enjoyed picking

out all the little details in the illustrations.

Lucy Rowland

Vallepur, Shalini

Eid al-Adha (Celebrate with Me)

Booklife Publishing, 2019, pp24, £12.99

978 1 78637 810 1

This is part of a series

on religious festivals

for key stage 1

children. It is an

attractive and clear

introduction to Eid al-

Adha. The opening

page has an appealing

photograph – replicated on the cover – of a

smiling young girl in a pink headscarf carrying a

large soft toy sheep, one thumb up. The strapline

at the top, in huge multi-coloured upper-case

print, says ‘Celebrate Eid al-Adha with me!’, an

immediate indication of the positive tone of the

book. We then see a happy looking family with

four children, with a text box above very briefly

explaining the importance of the festival. This is

followed by short descriptions of Islam and Hajj,

illustrated with page-sized photographs.


We are told that Eid al-Adha is celebrated at the

end of Hajj. A double page spread tells the story

behind the festival. Most of the remainder of the

book shows how it is celebrated, including

information about sacrifices, food and gifts. There

is a clear contents list, an index and a useful

glossary. This well produced book will be a

valuable addition to libraries and classrooms.

Anne Harding

Van Genechten, Guido.

Translated by Natascha Biebow

The Truth About Dinosaurs

Five Quills, 2019, pp32, £6.99

978 0 9935537 8 3

Belgian author-illustrator

Guido van Genechten’s

witty illustrations bring an

informative and irreverent

new perspective to the

subject of dinosaurs. The

narrating chicken is eager to

prove a relationship with

dinosaurs, pointing out shared features (webbed

feet, wings without flight, the laying of eggs) in a

family photo album, and crouching with

prominent comb to indicate a resemblance to the

scales of a stegosaurus. After rehearsing the

various theories on the extinction of dinosaurs,

our chicken waits for an enormous egg to hatch,

keeping it warm in all weathers until a terrifying

dinosaur leg begins to emerge.

It is unclear whether the title page rubric ‘English

text by Natascha Biebow at Blue Elephant

Storyshaping’ indicates a direct translation from

the Dutch, but this picture book is both a fun read

and a source of intriguing dinosaur facts.

Gillian Lathey

Viellé, Eric.

Translated by Daniel Hahn

Encyclopedia of Grannies

Gecko Press, 2019, pp32, £10.99

978 1 776572 43 4

This book, yet another pearl from Gecko Press,

was originally published in French. Here, in superb

translation by Daniel Hahn, it loses none of its

universal appeal for anyone who has, knows, or

is, a granny. Who would not want to understand

those mysterious, very loving people who are the

leading ladies of any family? This encyclopaedia

offers a mine of essential information; e.g. on

what to do when a granny is in a mood that

makes her look like a lump of old mashed potato.

There are pages full of ‘facts’, with lots of helpful

illustrations and diagrams adding deeper

knowledge on the topic. It is an hilarious book to

enjoy, full of words and pictures to make readers

laugh out loud. I can’t wait for similar books to

become available; perhaps on great aunts,

grandpas or weird uncles. Meanwhile, this book is

a must for reading shelves in primary schools. In

terms of its place in school, it is difficult to decide

the appropriate audience for this text. It will

certainly be enjoyed by children and, probably just

as much by the librarians, teachers and parents.

Prue Goodwin

Völker, Sven

A Million Dots

Cicada, 2019, pp44, £12.95

978 1 908714 66 4

The graphic design

background of the

author/illustrator make this

book striking from the start.

The book is bold and colourful

and delivers an exciting – and

somewhat different –

approach to visualising size and number through

the picture book format.

The book starts with the number 1 and on each

subsequent spread the previous number is added

to itself, up to a dramatic fold out last spread

showing 1,048,576 (‘get from one to one million

in 40 pages’ as the blurb says). The sum and its

result is shown in figures on the left side of the

spread, and the number is in words illustrated by

an image made up of that number of dots on the

right. The images develop from lollipop-like trees

for 1 and 2, gradually zooming in via apples on or

fallen from those trees for 4 and 8 (incidentally

showing seasons changing) to freckles on a face,

stars in the sky, grains of sand and more.

Eventually the dots are the screen pattern that

makes up the image; in the final 6-page long fold

out the dots form an impressive cityscape.

A book to promote interest in numbers and

wonder at the scale they can represent, with lots

to interrogate and talk about.

Sally Perry

Wood, John

Skin (My Body, Your Body)

Illustrated by Danielle Jones


978 1 78637 741 8

This is part of a new series for young children. The

stated aim of the series is to explore ‘all the ways

our bodies are different and wonderful’. The

stylised, colourful images of a variety of body

parts on the cover demonstrate from the start

that this is an unusual and striking publication.

The illustrations on the opening page are of an

enormous, simplified face in profile next to a

person lying down. The text reads: ‘This is my skin.

And that is your skin. We ALL have skin. The

subsequent page shows a feather landing on an

extended finger. ‘This skin is soft, just like feathers

and fluff.’ On the next page we see ‘skin that is

hard. It is bumpy and rough.’ Succeeding double

page spreads operate in a similar way: short

rhyming sentences in large, clear font, illustrated

with unusual pictures that just hint at realism. We

Under 8

see skin of many different colours, we see skin

that is smooth and skin that is wrinkled, skin that

is freckled, skin that is sunburnt, skin that is itchy,

skin with patches of white. We see a birthmark, a

scar, tattoos. ‘Some grown-ups’ skin has got

drawings or words or beautiful pictures or things

they have heard.’

The words on the final page and the very diverse

nature of the accompanying illustrations are

further indication of the inclusivity of the book,

and its positive tone: ‘We would go on. Oh, if only

we could! All skin is different and lovely and

good.’ An intriguing book, with very welcome

messages and a very innovative design.

Anne Harding

Wood, John and Duhig, Holly

The Incredible Smog (Planet

Protectors)


978 1 78637 651 0

Interestingly in this book Smog is our guide and

he is a Planet Protector. He is one of those who

have been protecting the planet since the very

beginning but now he, and his fellow Planet

Protectors, need our help, they need us all to

protect our planet. Living in a fortress made of

‘recycled stuff’ the protectors are set to give their

readers a test – they are going to ask a series of

questions across the pages and those readers

who can find the most eco-friendly answers will

find themselves being made planet protectors too.

With vivid photography of the devastation

pollution can cause this is, in some respects a

hard-hitting book but at the same time the

friendly character, his speech bubbles and the

questions posed make it all the more accessible

and less frightening to readers. Double page fact

spreads are interspersed with questions for the

reader so that they learn facts, learn about

making the right choices and about greenhouse

gases, fossil fuels, air pollution and of course the

supplies that a Planet Protector will need on their

journey. With answers to the questions and a

rating scheme, a short glossary and an index not

only will children learn how to use a non-fiction

title from a young age but they will discover how

engaging they are and can be – learning some

important lessons. Smog is not alone either, the

series includes Creature Keeper, Super Binman

and Hydro Hero. I would recommend having a set

of them all.

Louise Ellis-Barrett

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reviews


8 to 12

8 to 12 Fiction

Arshad, Humza and White, Henry

Little Badman and the Invasion of

the Killer Aunties

Illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff

Puffin, 2019, pp352, £6.99

978 0 241 34060 8

Humza’s ambition is to be the

world’s greatest rapper but his

ambitions are thwarted when his

music teacher disappears from

school along with all the other

adults only to be replaced by a

group of volunteer teachers in

the shape of an array of Asian Aunties. Soon the

Aunties are devoting their lessons to feeding up

the pupils and Humza suspects foul play. Aided by

friends Umer and Wendy Wang along with an

uncle referred to as Grandpa can they save the

day? At times this is laugh out loud funny as the

Aunties turn every learning opportunity into an

excuse for more food. Even though the subplot

involving Humza’s dad’s attempt to create a

winning school cricket team falls a little flat the

race to recover the lost recording which will undo

the alien plot keeps you turning the pages. Whilst

the main theme nods in the direction of The

Invasion of the Body Snatchers, somewhere in

there might also be a message about addressing

the real perils of overeating and the dangers of

obesity as wisecracking Humza finally welcomes

the healthy food at Wendy’s house after being

deluged with an endless diet of cakes and curries

of all descriptions.

John Newman

Balen, Katya

The Space We’re in

Illustrated by Laura Carlin

Bloomsbury, 2019, pp256, £10.99

978 1 52660 194 0

When a book is truly outstanding, as this one is, it

can sometimes be difficult to assign it to an agegroup.

It seems easy enough. The story is told by

Frank, aged ten, and covers one year of his family

life. Years 4 to 6 perhaps? But Frank’s one sibling

is his five-year-old brother Max, who is severely

autistic, creating huge practical problems and

conflicts of feeling for Frank, across anger,

embarrassment, protectiveness and love. In the

course of this year their mother dies of a brain

tumour.

It is important to say what the book is not. It is

not a fictionalised misery memoir (and is not a

miserable read). It is not a fictionalised handbook

on how to understand autism (though the author

is an expert on that), or on how to cope with

childhood bereavement. Readers will learn a lot

about both, but not because the book sets out to

teach them. No, The Space We’re In is a novel,

pure and simple. It takes us deep into Frank’s

mind and Frank’s world and is intensely absorbing

as it does so. He is not just a troubled brother. He

is a computer kid, he loves numbers, and each

chapter heading is a numerical code. (It isn’t

difficult, and well worth working out.) He likes

football, and being wild, and like his mother he is

a gifted artist. A complete boy, in fact, whom it is

a pleasure to know. His story is an extraordinary

work of imagination.

But who for? The book is clearly emotionally

demanding. Able and mature readers in Years 4 to

6 will enjoy it. It is a very enjoyable book, despite

the sadness. But Years 7 to 9 should also have the

chance to read it. So should young adults, and old

adults. It is an original, humane, important book.

Peter Hollindale

Baron, Adam

You Won’t Believe This

HarperCollins, 2019, pp400, £6.99

978 0 00 826704 9

Cymbeline – It’s Shakespeare, he patiently

explains to people – is a Year 4 pupil in a school

in Blackheath. He’s an ordinary boy whose

innocent, slightly naïve and bewildered voice is

captured perfectly by Adam Baron. However,

extraordinary events start to happen in his life.

Mrs Martin, everyone’s favourite teacher, suddenly

becomes the victim of unpleasant pranks.

Meanwhile his friend, Veronique, can’t work out

why her grandmother has stopped eating and has

fallen dangerously ill. Cymbeline takes it upon

himself to try to solve these two mysteries. At the

same time, he’s dealing with other puzzles such

as where apostrophes go and the way Is and Es

keep swapping places in spelling. Then there are

the ongoing enigmas of adult behaviour,

especially his mum’s relationship with new friend

Stephan, and how the world can be so uncaring

about the plight of refugees. Baron handles all

this perfectly. The story rattles along with good

jokes, some hilarious set-pieces of mayhem, and

culminates in a thrilling rescue mission in a

helicopter belonging to Cymbeline’s hero, Jacky

Chapman, the captain of Charlton Athletic. It is an

amusing, inventive and compassionate book that

deserves a wide readership.

Nigel Hinton

Bird, Pip

The Naughtiest Unicorn

978 1 4052 9478 2

The Naughtiest Unicorn at Sports

Day

978 1 4052 9479 9

Illustrated by David O’Connell

Egmont, 2019, pp160, £5.99

In book 1 of this new series, Mira is looking

forward to going to Unicorn School like her big

sister Rani. During their first school assembly, all

the new starters are paired up with their unicorns,

with names such as Brave, Firework and Star.

Mira’s unicorn, however, is called Dave and he is

not instantly recognisable as a star unicorn. Both

books follow the growing relationship and

understanding between Mira and the most

unusual unicorn in the school – he is not graceful,

brave, clever or adventurous and, to Mira’s

disappointment, is motivated by a love of

doughnuts and an unfortunate level of activity in

his nether regions (poo and farts feature

prominently in these books). By book 2 (At Sports

Day), Mira seems to have the measure of Dave

and an inkling of the way to get the best out of

him and, despite himself, he helps his team

somehow muddle through to win the trophy

despite the best efforts of another unicorn to

sabotage their day.

The publicity handout that accompanied these

books makes clear that they were commissioned

specifically to target the interest in unicorns

amongst young girl readers. As well as unicorns,

we have boarding schools, secret portals, magic

and quests, all familiar themes in popular books

for young children and they all appear here in a

format appealing to the ‘Rainbow Fairies’

audience.

The existence of this series might be interpreted

as a cynical exploitation of a current trend and

indeed it is, but the question arises ‘does that

really matter? If the aim is to encourage ‘reading

for pleasure’ (the current buzzword in the school

curriculum) amongst new readers, then simple

tales simply told with familiar themes and

formulaic structures are probably effective. It is

easy to be dismissive of these types of book but

all and any reading at the emerging reader stage

helps to build up stamina and storytelling. The

majority of young readers will move on fairly

quickly to more absorbing and diverse books

though some might take longer; but would I stop

a young reader, attracted by the rainbow covers

and the comic unicorn, from choosing these

books – absolutely not.

June Hughes

Brown, Matt

Mutant Zombies Cursed My School

Trip

Illustrated by Paco Sordo

Usborne, 2019, pp272, £6.99

978 1 4749 6023 6

Our hero Ian is the new kid in

school having moved several

times with each of his father’s

job promotions. Ian does not

stand out amongst his

classmates and even his teachers

cannot remember his name.

There is someone however whom Ian can count

on, his imaginary friend Remington Furious III.

During a school trip (where Ian, naturally does not

have a trip buddy) he is left to investigate some

spooky goings on at Leviathan Hall. What has

happened to the teachers? Can he save his


classmates? Will anyone ever notice Ian is even

there? All this and more will be revealed in this

slapstick comedy book for newly independent

readers.

Tracy Hart

Bushby, Aisha

A Pocketful of Stars

Egmont, 2019, pp256, £6.99

978 1 4052 9319 8

This beautifully written and poignant novel tells

the story of Safiya, who lives with her Dad and

who has a very tense, argumentative relationship

with her Mum. When her mother is rushed to

hospital in a coma following a stroke, Safiya,

consumed with love, guilt and fear, spends hours

at her bedside. Whilst in this limbo of hope and

dread, Saff finds herself drifting into a strange

alternative world, partly resembling her favourite

online game, Fairy Hunters, and partly her

mother’s childhood home in Kuwait. Here, Saff

enters a beautiful, decaying house that she feels

she must save to restore her mother’s health. The

author skilfully interweaves the world of an online

game, with its tasks and deadlines, and the

complex realm of the human brain with its

dreams, memories and sensory stimuli.

As Saff gathers memories and watches scenes

from her mother’s childhood she begins to

understand that the roots of their troubled

relationship lie in the past and in the similarities

between them. This family plot line is interspersed

with themes of friendship, bullying and growing

up as Saff finds herself moving apart from her

oldest friend when their interests diverge. In a

moving and heartfelt ending, Saff realises that she

cannot save her mother by gathering memories

and treasures, but that she can save herself.

Saff is both strong and vulnerable and all the

interactions between characters are convincing.

With themes of mother and daughter bonds,

love, changing friendships, identity and memory,

this is a lyrically written book, using imaginative

imagery to explain complex thoughts and

relationships.

Sue Roe

Cassidy, Cathy

Sami’s Silver Lining (Lost and Found)

Penguin, 2019, pp288, £6.99

978 0 241 33448 5

Sami is a Syrian refugee, living on the outskirts of

Birmingham, with his uncle and aunt who run a

dry cleaning and repair shop. Sami arrived in

England three years earlier having travelled across

Europe alone. He had been washed ashore on the

Greek island of Kos, where he became separated

from his parents and his little sister, who he

presumes have all drowned.

The plot follows Sami as he finds love with Lexie,

another child whose life has been touched by

tragedy. Lexie is the heroine of the first book in

this series, called Love from Lexie. The two

children belong to a group of young musicians, all

of them vulnerable, but with great aspirations. The

group is called ‘Lost and Found’ and their fairy

godmother, an elderly but still glamorous artist

allows the children to rehearse in an old railway

carriage in the grounds of her mansion. In the

background there is a very famous elderly pop

star who has promised to help the group find

fame and fortune.

Inserted between each chapter there are the

facsimile pages of Sami’s diary which he kept on

his terrible journey across Europe to find his

relations. These really help the reader to

empathise with the plight of thousands of

children who have made their way to England.

Readers will enjoy all the trials and tribulations of

the group in their efforts to find fame. It is a rich,

fast moving plot which keeps the reader involved

until the very last page. The fact that the author

donated the publisher’s advance for this book to

Safe Passage, a wonderful organisation finding

and bringing unaccompanied children to England,

will hopefully inspire more young people to

become involved.

Clare Morpurgo

Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur and

Baudet, Stephanie

Shadows, Secret and Stolen Treasure

(The Sherlock Holmes Children’s

Collection)

Illustrated by Arianna Bellucci

Sweet Cherry Pub, 2019, 10 vols, £69.90

978 1 78226 408 8

At last, for those of us who have wished for an

introduction to Sherlock Holmes for younger

children, comes a boxed set of ten of the wellknown

Holmes stories. Retold in a simple format,

this ten-book set includes A Study In Scarlet, The

Sign of the Four, The Blue Carbuncle, The Speckled

Band, The Naval Treaty, The Sussex Vampire, The

Red Headed League and The Three Students.

Each book is illustrated and retold in such a way

that none of the essential plots are lost, but

younger readers can read (or be read to), thereby

taking in some of the great mystery stories. Inside

each book readers may scan a code so that they

can access an audio account of the story for free.

An activity pack/sheet comes with the set too.The

length of the books varies from around 120 to

250 pages and can thus also be used for story

time sessions as well as for independent reading.

Re-reading The Three Students reminded me how

much the mysteries could draw the reader into

the plot – and certainly the re-tellings have

retained that essential feature of all the Sherlock

Holmes stories. Well worth getting for the class

library or the home.

Rudolf Loewenstein

8 to 12

Cousins, Dave

My Babysitter is a Robot

Illustrated by Catalina Echeverri

Stripes, 2019, pp160, £5.99

978 1 78895 074 9

Jake and his twin sister Jess’s

grandmother is an inventor. To

help the twins’ parents, she has

invented a robot to take care of

Jake, Jess and the dog, Digby.

The robot is called Robin and

wears a variety of cast-off

clothes, including roller skates, a football hat, and

a red coat with pink flowers and a furry collar.

Jake and Jess are really embarrassed by the robot

and plot to get rid of him. They plan to make

Robin do something bad so that their parents will

no longer want him. All their plans go wrong until

Robin gets wet saving Digby at the swimming

pool. Then he starts to malfunction and after an

unfortunate incident with the garden hose, Robin

is given to Mr Burton who is a neighbour. It is

only when Jess and Jake no longer have Robin

around that they realise they liked him and

enjoyed being with him. So Jake and Jess plan to

get their robot babysitter back, but can they

persuade their parents that Robin is no longer a

menace?

On the surface, this is a slapstick story about a

robot babysitter. However, it also contains deeper

themes about bullying and accepting people for

who they are, even if they are different. It is great

fun and will appeal to and encourage young male

readers.

Andrea Rayner

Daykin, Chloe

Fire Girl, Forest Boy

Faber & Faber, 2019, pp320, £6.99

978 0 571 34943 2

Ecology and the plight of the South American

rainforest are issues which young readers are both

aware of and care about deeply. Fire Girl, Forest

Boy taps into these passions through a taught

narrative that sees joint protagonists, Maya and

Raul, embark on a thrilling adventure through the

Peruvian rainforest. Maya is the daughter of an

eccentric and emotionally distant British scientist

who is in Peru to share his controversial theories

about light. Raul is an indigenous forest boy

whose family have been forced out of the forest

and into the unforgiving life of urban Peru. Maya

and Raul are brought together by her escape from

the kidnappers who abduct her father and his

flight to his abandoned forest home. It is an

adventure that sees them save themselves from

immediate peril but that also explores the forces at

play in the plight of a rainforest being stolen from

its indigenous peoples.

The story is told through the alternating voices of

Maya and Raul. This structure invites readers into

the hearts of Maya and Raul whilst also ensuring


8 to 12

that the narrative unfolds dramatically and at

pace. This stylistic approach, combined with lyrical

prose, suggests that Fire Girl, Forest Boy would

make an ideal read-aloud-text. At 320 pages, it is

not a short read, but it is a rapid one. It advances

understanding of the rainforest beyond that of

Brazil and demonstrates the versatility and

dynamism of the indigenous peoples as they

respond to change imposed by deforestation. The

mystical beliefs of the forest dwellers are

interpreted sympathetically and are combined

with Maya’s own fantastical powers which

enables the narrative to explore the power of

human emotions and how they can be harnessed

to bring about positive change. This is a book for

children in Upper KS2. I thought this was a terrific

read and can see it flying off the shelves.

Rachel Clarke

DiCamillo, Kate

Beverly, Right Here

Walker, 2019, pp256, £10.99

978 1 4063 9070 4

Fourteen-year-old Beverly has been growing up in

a troubled dysfunctional household when her

beloved dog Buddy dies. Heart-broken without

him, her world seems to have completely fallen

apart and she decides to leave home. She has run

away before, but this time she’s determined to

never return to her mother’s house. Beverly is

used to hard work and taking care of herself but

her youth and unusual circumstances bring out

the best in many of the people she encounters.

Set in the hot Louisiana summer of 1979, this

very engaging book immediately draws the reader

into the story. The characters are extremely welldrawn

– from the elderly Iola who needs

someone who can drive her battered automobile

to teenager Elmer whose own circumstances draw

him closer to Beverly. This book is a real pagetuner.

For those who have not read Kate

DiCamillo’s books before, they are sure to enjoy

her earlier titles including Raymie Nightingale and

Louisiana’s Way Home which feature some of the

same characters. All ages will enjoy this very

heart-warming story which celebrates the victory

of hope over adversity. Postscript for school

librarians: please note there is one brief reference

to a customer in the diner where Beverly works

who pats her bottom; no concern was raised

about this – which would be typical of the time.

Fortunately, times have changed!

Rosemary Woodman

Fisher, Catherine

The Velvet Fox

Firefly Press, 2019, pp204, £6.99

978 1 91310 208 1

In The Clockwork Crow we saw how Seren Rhys,

an orphan, rescued her new guardians in Wales

from the vindictive mischief of a faery clan, the

Fair Family, and brought their son Tomos, a boy

her own age, out of captivity. She did this with

the help of an opinionated mechanical crow, her

wonderful ally. In The Velvet Fox she has to do it

all over again. Now settled in her new home, she

is playing with Tomos in the grounds one Autumn

morning when he boasts ‘We beat the Fair

Family!’ You don’t do that and get away with it.

The arrival of a new, strange governess spells

trouble, and especially the lavish present she

brings for Tomos, a toy carousel. Soon the entire

family and household (almost) are malignantly

enchanted, and only Seren, aided in the nick of

time by the crow, can defeat the faery enemy.

With a background in fairy tale and folktale, and

a dramatic setting in Victorian Wales, The

Clockwork Crow was a richly exciting story. The

Velvet Fox is even better. The adventure takes

place in Autumn, and the colours of the season

are used by the Fair Family in mounting their

attack. It is normal Autumn at the start (conkers)

and at the end (sweeping up leaves), but a

menacing, abnormal Autumn in between, creating

a powerful atmosphere for sinister figures from

fairyland to work in. This is a vivid and

suspenseful story with an admirable heroine.

‘You’re a star, Seren,’ the crow

tells her. He is right, but you need

a little Welsh to know just how

right. The book is a star, too.

Highly recommended.

Peter Hollindale

Follett, Barbara Newhall

The House Without Windows

Illustrated by Jackie Morris

Hamish Hamilton, 2019, pp240, £12.99

978 0 241 38981 2

In this remarkable story, the house without

windows is also a house without doors or walls.

It’s the outside world, the world of nature.

Because Little Eeperspip wants to live there

permanently, she runs away from home and is

happy to make her life first in the Meadow, then

by the Sea and finally in the Mountain. Her

parents see things differently. When they follow

and find her, they bring her back home and lock

her up. In the light of who she is as a person, the

consequence is inevitable. She escapes and,

returning into the wild, learns how not to be

found and captured again. The world of nature

becomes where she stays.

The story is remarkable for several reasons. First,

although written in 1927, it feels like a story for

today such is its focus on the world of nature.

Second, its author, Barbara Newhall Follett, was

only twelve years old when she wrote it. It proved

to be like a prediction: years later, she herself

walked out of her home and disappeared. In its

republished form it has been beautifully illustrated

in soft black wash drawings by the renowned

illustrator, Jackie Morris, who herself lives deep in

the Pembrokeshire countryside.

Mary Medlicott

Hemming, Alice

Arlo, Miss Pythia and the Forbidden

Box (Class X)

Illustrated by Mike Garton

Maverick Arts Publishing, 2019, pp160, £6.99

978 1 84886 405 4

5P’s new teacher, the delightful

Miss Pythia, enters the

classroom with a beguiling

rhyme, ‘Come, come the children

of 5P/ Bring your little minds to

me/The door is open; step right

in/ A new adventure will begin’.

She arrives with a mysterious box that must not

be opened. When the class is invited to perform

at the Play in a Day competition, they develop a

script based around Pandora’s Box. True to the

myth, mayhem ensues when the box is actually

opened; how will hope prevail?

Told through the eyes of pupil Arlo, all the

characters are warmly drawn. Hemming ably leads

the reader through an understanding of the

history of theatre and Greek tragedies so that the

content is very clear for young readers. Set in a

multi-ethnic, diverse Year 5 class, she also skilfully

weaves in issues of building confidence and

teamwork. The action is very fast-paced and

amusing.

Ancient Greece, myths and legends, Year 5 – a

perfect mix.

Carolyn Boyd

Ingram, Gill

Zoe and the Very Grumpy Witch

Silver Crow Books, 2019, pp216, £7.99

978 1 78545 383 0

Zoe is a sensible, well behaved girl who does

what she is told. However, she doesn’t always get

invited to parties as she is too sensible and lacks

imagination. When she imagines a witch, it all

becomes a little bit too real when Savoy a very

grumpy, poorly witch turns up and starts to make

her life much more complicated. Eventually they

come to a mutual agreement and Zoe helps Savoy

get what she wants, in return for leaving Zoe in

peace.

This is an engaging book for children who have

just begun reading longer books. It is

lighthearted, providing younger readers with a

book that they will find amusing. The pictures

interspersed throughout the book will help to

engage readers.

Kate Keaveny

Kerr, Judith

The Curse of the School Rabbit


978 0 00 835184 7

How delightful to receive a new book to review

by, the greatly missed, Judith Kerr. And, what a

story! Actors, a little sister, an uncle and a


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8 to 12

recalcitrant rabbit all feature in this engaging tale.

I loved it. Kerr’s gentle, uncomplicated style

immediately captivates, with her expert

storytelling and amusing turns of phrase. The

narrator is young Tommy, who gradually

introduces us to his family and, eventually, to

Snowflake, the school rabbit. Tommy does not like

Snowflake. The book’s title implies that this rabbit

has evil powers but there is no real curse,

although the story gets quite worrying in parts.

Despite that, the text never loses its lightness of

touch which should reassure young readers that

everything will all be all right in the end.

The length and accessibility of the text makes it

ideal for confident, independent readers from

around six to eight, but The Curse of the School

Rabbit is far too good only to be offered to

individuals. I would share this book with almost

any class in the primary school. It is perfect as a

‘read aloud’ to the whole class, and to share as

inspiration for literary exploration in reading

sessions.

Prue Goodwin

Lennon, Thomas

Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of

Riddles

Illustrated by John Hendrix

Amulet, 2019, pp304, £6.99

978 1 4197 3905 7

Socially awkward and hapless

Ronan Boyle is claustrophobic,

prone to allergies and has a

Jiminy Cricket in the guise of

Dame Judi Dench living in his

head. He is the invention of

American comedian, actor and

script writer of the Night at the Museum movies,

Thomas Lennon. His debut MG novel is set on the

wild coast of Connemara which is a portal to the

quirky, absurd and imaginative realm of the faery

folk – Tir Na Nog. A map at the beginning pokes

fun at the geographical features of Lennon’s

weird world which include streams of whiskey, an

Unpronounceable Volcano, a unicorn mating area

and Strange Places in the Boglands.

The reader follows Ronan’s journey through his

diary which spans his promotion from a lowly

intern in the Galway Garda to a member of the

Special Unit of Tir Na Nog, in charge of controlling

law-breaking magical creatures. The book is

packed with crazy hilarity and award-winning

illustrator John Hendrix perfectly complements the

random wackiness and madcap comedy of

Lennon’s writing which has elements reminiscent

of Terry Pratchett’s rude Wee Free Men and J.K.

Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find

Them. But combined with the humour is a fastpaced

plot which raises the stakes as Ronan and

Captain Siobhan de Valera face fresh threats to

their life from vicious gangs. Throughout he is

struggling to come up with a cunning plan to free

his luckless parents.

Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of Riddles is utterly

ridiculous, insanely clever and devilishly

adventurous. It will entertain fans of silly fantasy

and mythical creatures.

Tanja Jennings

Mason, Paul

The International Yeti Collective

Illustrated by Katy Riddell

Stripes, 2019, pp288, £6.99

978 1 7889 5084 8

Who doesn’t love a story involving mythical

beasts, adventure, exploration and mysteries! This

book provides all the above in a wonderful story

involving Ella, who is in the Himalayas with her

uncle searching for yeti. But what seems like the

adventure of a lifetime is cut short when she

realises that these secretive creatures might not

want to be found.

Tick knows it’s against yeti law to approach

humans. So when some arrive on the mountain,

why does he find himself peering through the

trees to get a closer look?

What Tick doesn’t know is that his actions will set

off a series of events that threaten the existence

of yeti all over the world. What can he do to

make things right? Just when all hope seems lost,

help comes in the most unexpected form…

The International Yeti Collective draws on the

worldwide myths of Yeti, Bigfoot and Sasquatch,

to create a society of hidden creatures on the

edge of the human world. This story combines

humour and excitement with a warning that our

desire for discovery and exploitation threatens the

conservation of so many creatures.

Excellent illustrations from Katy Riddell, daughter

of Chris Riddell, former Children’s Laureate and

award-winning illustrator of such books as

Ottoline and The Edge Chronicles.

Carolyn Copland

McKay, Hilary

The Time of Green Magic

Macmillan, 2019, pp224, £12.99

978 1 5290 1923 0

Bookworm Abi and her father Theo move in with

Polly and her sons, teenage Max and young

worrier, Louis. This newly blended family have not

integrated by the time they move into an

enchanting ‘…house half built of leaves under a

pointed roof.’ The children soon find themselves

home alone – that familiar trope in children’s

fiction, of absent (or absent-minded) adults,

leaving children free to adventure and work

though challenges for themselves. These adults

are by no means irresponsible. They are

humanitarians with demanding jobs. They arrange

for a French art student, Esmé, to mind Louis and

generally help out. She is clearly great with kids,

but her attention is often elsewhere. Is Esmé an

‘absent-minded adult’ or part of the magic? She

certainly enchants Max and is unwittingly

complicit in the enchantment of Louis.

The children are home alone in a magical setting,

and magic starts to happen. Abi’s reading

manifests sea salt wet pages and flashes of green

parrot wings. Louis adopts or is adopted by a wild

creature of the night. This wonderful creation,

which he names Iffen, steals his heart, but grows

in both size and menace. The children have to

work together to resolve this danger.

There are themes of change, and of letting go.

Changes in the family dynamics, and increasing

trust and cooperation between the children, are

beautifully and convincingly developed. Each child

has to let go of something precious, but they gain

and grow in the process. A fabulous book.

Mandy Williams

Mello, Roger. Translated by Daniel

Hahn

Charcoal Boys

Elsewhere Editions, 2019, pp46, £16.99

978 1 939810 19 9

Brazilian artist Roger

Mello, winner of the

Hans Christian Andersen

Award for illustration in

2014, has already

impressed readers of all

ages with the sophisticated picture narrative You

Can’t Be Too Careful. A lively hornet is the

unlikely narrator of Charcoal Boys, a thoughtprovoking

tale that will benefit from the

mediation of an adult to explain the widespread

practice in Brazil (as in the UK at one time) of

earning a meagre living by burning wood to

produce charcoal. One charcoal boy and his friend

hide in a truck to escape inspectors charged with

seeking out child labour. Albi falls and is caught,

but the boy arrives with the truckload of charcoal

at a steel works; here Mello creates a panorama

of vast industrial might and clamour. After his

return in the empty truck, the boy unintentionally

provides the hornet with an inchworm for its

larva, but also casually demolishes its mud home.

A nasty sting is the hornet’s vengeance.

Mello’s chronicle is elliptical in both text and

image, requiring patience and imaginative leaps

from the young reader. There are hints that the

inspectors are corrupt, and a mysterious key Albi

entrusts to the boy provokes further speculation.

A limited but effective use of colour – vibrant

oranges, pinks and reds – against a black or grey

backdrop denotes fire in all its forms: a glowing

cigarette stub, the beauty of termite hills alight

with firefly larvae, a finger burning from a hornet’s

sting, or the crescendo of the central pages with

flame-shaped zigzag edges. Each re-reading of

Mello’s expressive, textured images reinforces the

personal and political layers of this tale. Highly

recommended.

Gillian Lathey


Moriarty, Jaclyn

The Extremely Inconvenient

Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone

Illustrated by Karl James Mountford

Guppy Books, 2019, pp400, £12.99

978 1 913101 03 9

Even in an unillustrated proof

copy, this book entranced me

from the title to the very last

word. It begins as so many

great books do with a map and

an orphaned child. Bronte

Mettlestone is an exceptional

heroine, forced into her inconvenient adventures

through the threat of disaster being wreaked

upon her hometown if she refuses. Her parents

(who are somewhat neglectful dancing

adventurers) are killed by pirates. This is less

distressing to Bronte than might be imagined, as

she barely knows them, having been raised by an

elderly aunt. This aunt and the butler spend some

time discussing the semantics of the telegram

announcing the deaths, and it is clear that being

sensible and unemotional have been core threads

of Bronte’s upbringing up to this pivotal point.

She is therefore particularly shocked and

inconvenienced by the family lawyer’s news that

she must visit every one of her maternal and

paternal aunts across several kingdoms to give

them gifts. It is with heavy heart that the 10-yearold

sets off with a huge crate of gifts on her

inconvenient adventures.

Moriarty is able to do an extraordinary thing with

this tale, weaving moments of pure magic with

very realistic emotional encounters. The section

where she meets her cold businesswoman aunt

could come from a real-world YA novel. There is a

fantastical cast of characters including dragons,

elves and water sprite, but the emotional arc is

always grounded in real feeling. It is therefore

even more satisfying when Bronte gets her just

desserts at the end of the story. How every little

moment is rewoven into the final scene is a

breath-taking piece of writing. This novel deserves

to be read by every young person and particularly

young girls looking for inspiring role models. I

found every single bit of it delightful, beautifully

written, and affecting. Moriarty it is a well-known

author in Australia (her sister is Lianne of Big

Little Lies fame) and she deserves to be well

known here. Guppy Books’ beautifully illustrated

hardback copies should be on every 7-15-year-old

girl’s Christmas list. It would be an ideal class

novel for upper KS2 and KS3.

Ingrid Spencer

Owen, Lucy

The Sea House

8 to 12

Illustrated by Rebecca Harry


978 1 910080 82 5

Coral is mourning the deaths of both her parents

in a drowning accident. Aunt Trish and Uncle Jeff

are caring for her and doing their best, but

sometimes the sadness overwhelms her, as it does

during the night she cries herself to sleep only to

wake up to find the house brimful of water and

sea creatures.

Coral quickly discovers that the house is now

occupied by two distinct groups of sea creatures.

One, led by Ramone, an enormous sea turtle, like

to laugh and have fun. The other, led by Stealth, a

stingray with a sad story, hate the very idea of

anyone ever being happy and Stealth is keen that

Coral joins them. Ramone explains that he and

the others, including Fabulous, have come to help

her fight against Stealth and a battle ensues

between the two groups. When Coral wakes in

the morning, there is no sign that anything

untoward has happened, except that Coral feels

different, stronger somehow. When her aunt and

uncle show her the present they have bought her

(a fish tank complete with one small, sparkly fish

just like Fabulous), Coral is ready to begin a new

chapter in her life.

Chapters are short enough for young independent

readers, but this would also make a wonderful

bedtime read. The black and white illustrations

pop up throughout the book and there is a

section at the back of the book which gives more

detailed information about the sea creatures that

feature in the story. As well as being an exciting

adventure with much humour, the book’s serious

message about fortitude in the face of great

sadness and the healing power of friendship

stands out.

June Hughes

Pike, Julie

The Last Spell Breather

Oxford, 2019, pp304, £6.99

978 0 19 277160 5

Rayne’s mother is a Spell

Breather. She is able to

Breathe spells onto people

and objects, and with

carefully selected words,

change them. As her

daughter, Rayne is not only

expected but required to

learn Spell Breathing so that she can take over

and protect the village when the time comes.

What she doesn’t know is that outside the village

(which is shielded from the outside world by her

mother’s spell) there are no more Spell Breathers,

but there are those who wish her great harm.

Petulant and irritated by her Spell Breathing

lessons, Rayne inadvertently drops the Spell Book

and sets into motion a chain of catastrophic

events.

Setting off with her friend Tom, and picking up a

boneless fox on the way, Rayne’s journey is one of

adventure and self-discovery, with treachery and

unexpected help along the way, culminating in a

perilous fight to save not only themselves but the

future of Spell Breathing and the safety of the

land.

The Last Spell Breather feels truly original. Rayne

and her companions are engaging characters that

the reader can’t help but root for, the adventures

are breath-taking, and the villains are suitably

villainous. This is a lovely book to give to anyone

who loves magical tales and adventures with

shapeshifting and mystery.

Helen Thompson

Ramirez, Janina

Way of the Waves (A Viking

Mystery)

Illustrated by David Wyatt

Oxford, 2019, pp240, £6.99

978 0 19 276635 9

A wonderful, convincing

Viking adventure with a

plucky heroine and her pet

wolf on a quest to track down

her father. It is beautifully

illustrated with single page

and regular double page

spreads and is a story of

substance and excitement.

The historical detail is authoritative and

fascinating but fills out the adventure rather than

dominates it – adults may want to follow up

some of the historical details, but younger readers

will be swept up in the gripping quest. Highly

recommended for all readers aged 9 to 12.

I would be tempted to read it aloud to a class of

Year 5 and 6 pupils in instalments, and it would

be a fun complement to a Vikings project.

Rachel Ayers Nelson

Rayner, Shoo

Walker: The Boy Who Can Talk to

Dogs


978 1 91008 090 0

Walker, the likeable hero of this engaging book,

loves dogs and yearns to own one. But his mum

is allergic to dog hair and his dad is a cat lover, so

no deal. However, Walker is an enterprising lad

and hits on the idea of offering his services as a

dog-walker. He soon discovers that he is also a

dog whisperer who can talk to and understand

his canine charges. Enter a delightfully nasty

villain called Arlington Wherewithal who not only

has plans to build on the village’s common but

has a hidden puppy farm where dogs are horribly

mistreated. Walker and his doggy friends thwart

the dastardly plan and rescue the pups in a

thrilling climax.

This is a funny and action-packed story

accompanied by many charming and amusing

illustrations. This book will delight many young

readers. Recommended.

Nigel Hinton


Reynolds, Jason

Patina (Run)

Knights Of, 2019, pp256, £6.99

978 1 9996425 5 6

The second book in the awardwinning

sequence of standalone

novels focuses on Patina, a

fiercely independent girl who

feels she has much to prove as

she runs from the pain of her

past and present.

As a young carer Patina learnt to be independent

and responsible for others at an early age, now

living with extended family she finds that

relinquishing responsibility isn’t something that

comes naturally. At her new school she struggles

to fit in and would rather bear the brunt of a

group project than rely on others. Running seems

to be the perfect sport for her independent and

competitive nature, so when she’s chosen for the

relay team, she must learn that sometimes

success cannot be achieved alone.

This is a wonderful, short novel for KS2 upwards

about learning to be a good teammate. The story

naturally weaves this theme throughout the three

areas of Patina’s life, and we slowly see her open

up to the support, love and friendship around

her.

Full of heart, believable characters and the

tension that only a dropped relay baton can bring,

this is the perfect book for young readers looking

for real life stories.

Amy McKay

Riddell, Chris

Guardians of Magic (The Cloud

Horse Chronicles)

Macmillan, 2019, pp320, £12.99

978 1 4472 7797 2

This fantasy story begins in the Great Wood as

three little eggs hatch in the magical Forever Tree

and three tiny foals with wings emerge. But in the

forest, there are already signs of danger… As the

narrative unfolds three resourceful children are

introduced – Zam Zephyr, the baker, Phoebe

Limetree, a musician and Bathsheba Greengrass, a

writer. Each of them has now reached an age

where they have taken on real jobs and

responsibilities in the outside world. Fate and

good fortune bring them together as they face the

evil forces which will soon seek to assail them.

But will they be able to protect the future of

magic?

This is the first book in a new fantasy series by

the gifted author, illustrator and storyteller Chris

Riddell. He skilfully creates a fast-paced, exciting

book where readers will immediately be drawn

into the narrative. Lavishly illustrated with

fabulous two-colour illustrations throughout the

book, this story is a page-turner which will

particularly appeal to fantasy fans and all those

who love magical tales. It is very refreshing to

note that Riddell gracefully introduces Zam, a boy

of colour in the very first chapter and the book

includes a number of characters from different

ethnic backgrounds throughout the story.

Rosemary Woodman

Schmidt, Gary D.

Pay Attention, Carter Jones

Andersen, 2019, pp275, 6.99

978 1 78344 805 0

Why is a game of cricket being

played on the football field at

Longfellow Middle School in New

York at 8 a.m. in a freezing wind

on the last Saturday of October?

And why are the opposing sides of

American boys respectively called

Team Britannia and Team India (and with

appropriate flags in evidence)? To find the

reasons for this event, the climax of the story,

read this richly entertaining, beautifully written,

and (for British readers) surprising novel.

It begins when Carter Jones, aged twelve,

answers the door one rainy morning to find an

English butler on the doorstep. He has, it turns

out, been more or less ‘bequeathed’ to Carter’s

family by their recently deceased English

grandfather, together with the purple Bentley in

which he has arrived. The butler, Mr Bowles

Fitzpatrick, speaks a glorious English which alas is

rarely heard in England, and sets about improving

Carter’s street American. He also has a passion for

cricket, and his secondary mission in New York

begins when he buys Carter a bat.

This unlikely but not quite impossible tale has a

very serious background. Carter, his mother and

his three younger sisters have recently been

bereaved by the death of a younger brother,

Currier, and are soon to suffer the further blow of

desertion by their father, a US officer serving in

Germany, who has found someone else. The

cricket is just a part of the butler’s primary mission

to put a lost and grieving family together again.

Often funny, often moving, always hugely

readable, this unusual book will appeal strongly

to boys (above all those who like cricket) but has

plenty to offer to girls and older readers also.

Highly recommended.

Peter Hollindale

Scott-Elliot, Robin

The Tzar’s Curious Runaways

Everything with Words, 2019, pp304, £8.99

978 1 911427 13 1

Set in eighteenth century Russia, this is the story

of Katinka the ballet dancer, Alexei the Giant and

Nikolai the Dwarf, all part of Peter the Great’s

‘Circus of Curiosities’ his Kunstkamera. They were

looked after but also mocked and ridiculed for

their differences or disabilities. However things

change when Peter dies and they have to flee for

their lives from the Winter Palace in St Petersburg.

8 to 12

With the help of a special map, from the Tzar’s

mysterious librarian, they set off on a perilous

journey across the Steppe to the Ural Mountains.

Along the way they reminisce about their past life

and the experiences they had: Katinka dancing at

lavish banquets, Nikolai being taken around St

Petersburg at Christmas to sing to the people,

Alexei being made to wrestle with nobles for

others amusement. They remember the beatings

and punishments they all received at various

times and this spurs them on to escape and

survive.

As their journey progresses they inevitably have to

overcome obstacles but the mysterious map

always guides them on until they reach

Yegoshikha, Katinka’s home. However it is not as

she remembers it and they are definitely not

welcome there. As they are hounded out of town

and hunted down, help appears in the form of

Sasha, Katinka’s brother.

This is a magical, thrilling story in a refreshingly

different scenario. The three friends have a close

relationship, brought together through adversity.

Altogether an enjoyable and unusual read.

Brenda Heathcote

Sorosiak, Carlie

I, Cosmo

Nosy Crow, 2019, pp272, £6.99

978 1 78800 387 2

This charming tale is guaranteed to ensure that

anyone with a pet dog will view their four-legged

friend with different eyes in future! The story’s

narrator is Cosmo, a somewhat aged Golden

Retriever who has lived with parents David and

Zora since the early days of their relationship.

Cosmo is proud to be the big brother of the

couple’s two children, Max and Emmeline, and

Cosmo takes his responsibilities to protect and

care for the entire family extremely seriously.

When we meet the family tensions are rising as

David and Zora are arguing more and more.

Cosmo longs for the days when the whole family

used to dance together (Cosmo included) in the

living room, yet those days appear to be a thing

of the past and Max in particular is feeling lost

and afraid, convinced that a divorce would lead to

him being separated from his beloved pet. Then

one day, a visit to a dog agility class with his

Uncle Reggie gives Max the answer he needs: the

opportunity to train for a dog/human dance

competition. Surely winning the contest and the

prize of an appearance in a movie will be the glue

that brings his warring family back together?

The reader cannot fail to be charmed by the

unfailingly loyal character of Cosmo. In addition to

his steadfast friendship he also brings a delightful

dose of humour to the story as we see the world

from a dog’s point of view. Many aspects of the

human world mystify Cosmo, yet he sheds light

on canine behaviour such as dog greetings and

the benefits of hiding a rasher of bacon behind


8 to 12

the sofa to be enjoyed later! The characters of

Cosmo’s human family are skilfully drawn, coming

to life on the pages, and no doubt many young

readers will identify with Max and his sister and

will draw comfort from the resolution of the story,

which is positive without being the neatly

predictable ending you might expect.

Emily Marcuccilli

Stark, Ulf. Translated by Julia

Marshall

The Run-Aways

Illustrated by Kitty Crowther

Gecko Press, 2019, pp144, £7.99

978 1 776572 34 2

Swedish author Ulf Stark and

Belgian illustrator Kitty

Crowther have joined forces

to create a memorably

cantankerous grandfather

who joins his loyal grandson

in a daring escapade.

Grandfather languishes in

hospital where his difficult behaviour alienates

nurses as well as his own son. ‘Gottfried Junior’,

the grandson, sneaks hospital visits without his

parents’ knowledge and, with a little help from a

friend with a van, plans to take grandfather on a

trip back to his island home. There they share

memories of the boy’s grandmother, taste a

remaining jar of her lingonberry jam and return –

with the jam – to hospital. Thereafter Grandfather

stops swearing and learns to ‘speak nicely’ so

that tension between father and son eases, and

all three generations of the family find a

comfortable routine for visits in grandfather’s final

days.

Stark sketches both this reconciliation and

Gottfried Junior’s anxiety at his beloved

grandfather’s deterioration with a light and

unsentimental touch, echoed by Crowther’s

delicate colour pencil portraits of grandfather and

grandson. This is an instance of the well-nigh

perfect harmony of word and image, and is highly

recommended as a realistic and affecting

portrayal of death in the family.

Gillian Lathey

Tomlinson, Nick

The Ghouls of Howlfair

Walker, 2019, pp336, £6.99

978 1 4063 8668 4

The town of Howlfair is famous for its legends of

ghosts and ghouls, and its tourist trade depends

on them. Most of the residents don’t take the

tales seriously, but one certainly does, twelveyear-old

Molly Thompson. She is sure that the

strange and disturbing goings on in the town and

the terror that seems to be haunting several locals

are connected to its scary history, and she is

determined to get to the bottom of things. Her

investigations have already revealed a number of

uncomfortable secrets, making her so unpopular

that there’s a petition to put an end to her

meddling. She has two friends who support her,

Lowry, who fears that her family has links with

werewolves, and her faithful cat, who gets into

almost as many scrapes as she does. When

Benton Furlock stands for election as mayor on a

platform to make Howlfair frightening again,

sinister events multiply. But not even her mother

believes Molly when she tries to explain what she

has discovered. In fact, she locks her up to put a

stop to her dangerous activities. Furlock’s

clandestine plans to turn the town into his own

terrifying fiefdom, ruled by fear and kept in order

by ghouls, look all too likely to turn into reality. Is

there anything Molly can do to prevent him

gaining power?

This is an enjoyably spooky middle-grade novel,

with interesting characters, an imaginative plotline

– though some readers may be deterred by its

length – and some appealing humour.

Anne Harding

Walsh, Aoife

Lost for Words

Andersen, 2019, pp272, £6.99

978 1 78344 834 0

The plot of Lost for Words will

appeal to any librarian; a group

of young people gang together

and fight the closure of their

local library.

The narrator is eleven-year-old

Dallas, whose mother was killed in a road

accident while lobbying against the library’s

closure. Aunt Jessi descends on them from Texas,

with her own ideas as to how things are done (at

one point she loses Dallas and her two

classmates in a London nightclub, leaving them to

find their own way home to Oxford). Dallas takes

up her mother’s crusade; her school clumsily tries

to help with assemblies and with drawing up a

petition. A public march is organised at which

Jessi wears a T shirt that announces across her

chest Stop looking at my books (with the letter K

indistinctly printed). Councillor Ophelia Silk, a

villainess worthy of a Disney film, condescends to

interview Dallas; she has a line in patronising

political hypocrisy that would shoot down a

librarian at 50 paces, but fails to down Dallas. (I

don’t want to crush an eleven-year-old child. You

won’t crush me, I say.) The media picks up the

story in its own way (TRAGIC SCHOOLGIRL

LIBRARY CAMPAIGN). The book ends with a

triumphant sit-in that saves the library.

The book will probably appeal to rather older

readers than Dallas, and though the protagonists

are female it is likely to be enjoyed by thoughtful

readers of either sex. Strongly recommended.

Martin Axford

Watson, Renée

Some Places More than Others

Bloomsbury, 2019, pp224, £6.99

978 1 52661 368 4

This delightful, heart-warming book contains

strong messages about family ties and family

discord. Amara, approaching her 12th birthday,

lives in Oregon with her parents, who are

expecting a new baby very soon. Her father,

Charles, visits New York City, where he was born

and raised, regularly, on business. Amara has

begun to notice that he never visits his own

father, Grandpa Earl, on these trips. Amara has

spoken to her Grandpa on the phone but has

never met him. Somewhat unexpectedly, and not

particularly of Charles’s choosing, it comes about

that Amara is to accompany her father to New

York for her 12th birthday. New York City proves

to be a massive culture shock for the young girl

brought up in Oregon. Her dearest wish is to

reconcile the differences that have put an

obstacle in the way of the relationship between

Grandpa Earl and his son. The reconciliation is

achieved, not without emotional pain. Many

other, almost forgotten, aspects of the life of this

family are also brought into light. The importance

of keeping meaningful communications active,

understanding and overcoming obstacles in close

relationships and being open with each other are

all emphasized as these elements lead to the reestablishment

of harmony in Amara’s family.

Anyone can enjoy this beautifully told story, but

some readers will find there is a welcome added

element relating to a reflection of culture and

identity.

Alison Hurst

Wenzel, Brendan

A Stone Sat Still

Chronicle Books, 2019, pp56, £12.99

978 1 4521 7318 4

A stone sat still / with the water, grass and dirt /

and it was as it was / where it was in the world.

Brendan Wenzel‘s lyrical text sings a song

celebrating the stone from a time long, long ago.

But the silent stone has had many different faces;

creatures from far and wide have rested upon it.

Each animal who approaches has a different

relationship with it. As time passes the ocean tide

rises higher and higher until the huge stone is

completely immersed into the bottom of the sea.

And the stone was a memory, and the stone was

always… the stone sits still in the world.

Gorgeous full-page colour illustrations chart the

span of the stone and all the living creatures who

visited.

This is a powerful story which speaks profoundly

about the beauty and vibrancy of the natural

world. The gorgeous full-page illustrations present

a remarkable landscape teeming with life. But

global warming and the rapidly rising sea levels in

the twentieth century pose an imminent and very


EAST MIDLANDS

KS2 and Secondary Course

Teaching Skills for School Library Staff

Kesteven & Sleaford High School, Sleaford – 13 February

EASTERN

Secondary and Sixth Form Course

Supporting Diversity and Inclusion in School Libraries

St Peter’s School, Huntingdon – 24 March

LONDON AND GREATER LONDON


Copy and Paste Generation

Redbridge Central Library, Ilford – 12 February

NORTH WEST


Using Inquiry to Engage Teachers Across the Curriculum

Manchester – Venue and date tbc

Regional

Training

Update

Look out for these

SLA courses for

Spring and Summer 2020

NORTHERN IRELAND

Primary and Secondary Course

Promoting Reading in the Digital Age

St Patrick’s College, Dungannon – 11 March

SOUTH EAST

Secondary and Sixth Form Courses


The Holmesdale School, Snodland – 4 February

Using Inquiry to Engage Teachers Across the Curriculum

City of London Freemen’s School, Leatherhead – 12 March

SOUTH WEST

Primary and Secondary Courses

Reading Promotion Toolkit with Accelerated Reader

Dorcan Academy, Swindon – 27 February

Preparing the School Library for Inspection

Library Services for Education, Cheltenham – 3 March

Secondary and Sixth Form Courses

Supporting the Sixth Form Student

The Gryphon School, Sherborne – 18 March


Blaise High School, Bristol – 14 May

WEST MIDLANDS

Secondary & Sixth Form Course

Supporting the Sixth Form Student

Warwickshire Schools Library Service, Warwick – 19 May

YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE

Primary and Secondary Course

Promoting Reading in the Digital Age

John Smeaton Academy, Leeds – 19 March

Q U A L I T Y

T R A I N I N G

For full details and

online booking, see

www.sla.org.uk/events

serious threat to sustaining that world and all the

living creatures who live there. The huge stone

was a marker with many different faces for all.

But as the water levels began to rise more quickly

the stone has disappeared beneath the waves.

This story with its’ lyrical text and magnificent

illustrations has a very striking message – act

immediately to protect our planet or our planet

will not survive. With a strong environmental

voice this book is speaking to each one of us.

Rosemary Woodman

Westgarth, Stevie

Aife and Stray

Illustrated by Emily Ford

Troika, 2019, pp64, £11.99

978 1 909991 86 6

Meet Aife and Stray. Aife is a young boy and

Stray, well he was a stray but

he is also a pig with an eye

patch. They are best friends

and they are also slight misfits

so imagine their surprise when

they are invited to the ultratrendy

Prunella Bonbon’s

party. This means only one thing – they need to

have something to wear but what? Follow Aife

and Stray on their clothes shopping journey as

they visit seven colourful and eccentric places to

have their world painted in seven unique colours.

So intent on being part of the group and fitting in

are Aife and Stray that on arriving at the party

they discover they look just like everyone else –

that won’t do at all. Bravery is the name of the

day as they decide to return to what they do best,

to wearing dungarees, holey socks and all.

This is a picture book with a difference – intended

for the older, more confident reader, covered in

graphic style pictures which are bold and unique

and with a strong message about being yourself

no matter what.

It will make readers sit up and pay attention – it

is very hard not to as the illustration jumps off the

page at you – but also because the message is

strong, whilst at the same time gently poking fun

at all those who spend their lives trying to fit in. A

very important bold and brave book – just like its

two characters – for children of all ages and their

parents/teachers/carers/librarians too.

Louise Ellis-Barrett

8 to 12

Whitehorn, Harriet

The Great Raspberry Mix Up

(Freddie’s Amazing Bakery)

Illustrated by Alex G. Griffiths

Oxford, 2019, pp128, £5.99

978 0 19 277201 5

BRRIIINGG! went Freddie’s alarm clock – because

bakers must get up REALLY early in the morning.

This is a really lovely story about... a cake

competition! What’s not to love?! This fun and

positive book, the first in a brand new series,

combines a lively story with the positive message

that you can do anything if you try hard enough.

Author Harriet Whitehorn has written here a

yummy story aimed at readers aged 5+ years,

charmingly illustrated by Alex G. Griffiths.

The Great Raspberry Mix-Up includes a glossary

of baking terms and... a raspberry cupcake recipe,

of course! Why? Well, you will have to read the

book to find out!

Océane Toffoli

Williamson, Lara

The Girl with Space in her Heart

Usborne, 2019, pp336, £6.99

978 1 4749 2131 2

Mabel Mynt has a suitcase. Not a suitcase like the

one you and I take on our Summer holidays, but a

suitcase full of her worries. Mabel drags her worry

suitcase around with her everywhere so that she’s

worn out by its weight and contents.

Mabel got her suitcase when her dad walked out

after an argument with her mum. Since then she’s

been worrying about her dad – is he okay; her

mum – she was so sad when Dad left; and now

she’s worrying about her mum’s boyfriend – is he

going to upset Mum by letting her down like Dad

did? It is though, the Dad-shaped space in her

heart that give Mabel the most worries.

The Girl with Space in her Heart is a sensitive

exploration of anxiety and heartache told with

compassion by Lara Williamson. I won’t deny that

it caused my eyes to leak a little as it reached its

conclusion.

Sensitive it may be, but The Girl with Space in her

Heart is also amusing and light-hearted. Mabel

narrates with the authentic voice of a pre-teen

girl. There are plenty of quirky asides and some

delicious youthful similes. Mabel bickers with her

older sister Topaz and tries desperately to befriend

the sullen new girl in her class, Dolly-Rose. Mabel

is real, she’s relatable and so she is a most

compelling and likeable character.

A book that will appeal to fans of Cathy Cassidy,

Jaqueline Wilson and Fiona Dunbar at the top of

KS2.

Rachel Clarke

8 to 12 Information

Amson-Bradshaw, Georgia

So You Want to be a Viking?

Illustrated by Takayo Akiyama

Thames & Hudson, 2019, pp96, £9.95

978 0 500 65184 1

This is a cartoon-style history book about Vikings,

inspired by the book Viking by John Haywood. The

tone is genial and humorous, but it covers many

facts about the Vikings and their way of life. I

liked the introductory pages based in a library, as

the children start finding relevant books and

realising that the history of the Vikings is full of

great stories and characters. From the Contents

page you realise that this book is interesting. You

can find out what weapons you need, all about

sailing on Viking ships, good places to plunder

and how to become a beserker. Detailed and clear

information is interspersed by little cartoons to

add to the humour. The book covers many areas

of interest including battle tactics, pastimes,

healthcare and even Viking afterworlds. The back

of the book contains a Viking world map, showing

the breadth of their raids, a glossary, including

Viking place names and their modern location, a

guide to runes and an index.

This book would appeal to

students in KS2 or 3 who

like cartoon-style history. It

is quite thorough and

written clearly with added

features that enhance its

appeal.

Lucy Chambers

Anthony, William and Holmes,

Kirsty

Canada (Welcome to My World)


978 1 78637 687 9

In this beautiful hardback book, we meet Remy

who is taking a road trip across Canada. Along

the way, Remy shares many colourful photos

depicting all aspects of his beloved country. We

learn about the close relationship that Canada

has with France, and about the fact that they

speak French. They also have a favourite dish, La

Poutine that hails from France; they also have

their own Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal.

Learning along the way about the different

festivals that the country celebrates, and all the

amazing animals that you can find in Canada.

All In all, this is a beautiful book, which is

probably more suitable for KS2 and KS3 and

would make a lovely addition to your school

library.

Elain Burchell

Anthony, William and Wood, John

Learn the Language of Digital Tech

(De:Code)


978 1 78637 695 4

An A – Z of technical terms, this book has large

formatted text and pronunciation hints after some

of the more complex words. Very usefully the words

are given a class (noun, verb or adjective) and

acronyms and initialism are additionally explained

and pointed out so that the dictionary will help

young children with their language skills as well as

expanding their digital vocabulary banks.


A few activities to complete are included, a

wordsearch, word jumble and crossword, and the

illustrations are bright with clear large symbols.

This dictionary would be an invaluable addition to

a primary school library and I’m sure it would be

well used – both by children, teachers and

librarians!

Bev Humphrey

Bright, Michael

When We Became Humans

Illustrated by Hannah Bailey

Words & Pictures, 2019, pp64, £12.99

978 1 78603 886 9

This book about our

evolutionary story aims to

answer questions such as

What makes us human?,

Where did we come from?

and How have humans

evolved?. It takes a complex

subject and presents it in

easy to follow format, with absorbing information

and engaging illustrations, using a palette of

muted, chalky tones.

As well as discussing the evolution of human

anatomy, allowing us to walk upright, the book

also explores the social, cultural and economic

developments which have led to today’s society.

The author speculates as to whether humans are

still evolving and what the future may hold. A

good introduction to the subject for upper primary

and lower secondary pupils, it has much to offer

the adult reader as well.

Jayne Gould

Burke, Fatti

Ancient Egypt (Find Tom in Time)

Nosy Crow, 2019, pp48, £12.99

978 1 7880 0101 4

Although this is a factual book all the information

is cleverly encompassed within the story of Tom,

Granny Bea and her cat, Digby. The book opens

with Granny Bea, an archaeologist, showing Tom

an Ancient Egyptian amulet. As soon as he

touches it Tom and Digby are magically

transported back in time. Here, while constantly

searching for Digby, Tom discovers all the basic

facts about Ancient Egyptian life including

religion, the Nile, farming, homes, daily life,

education and festivals.

Each double page spread starts with the next part

of the story but also includes plenty of

information, both in the text and in the colourful,

clear and detailed illustrations, and challenges the

reader to spot a range of different things. These

always include Digby, keeping the reader a step

ahead of Tom. The book is completed by the very

welcome solutions to the ‘Can you Spot?’ features

(I failed to spot quite a few!) along with an

excellent glossary and index. This bright and

attractive book is published in collaboration with

the British Museum giving the information great

credibility. It would be a perfect introduction to

learning about Ancient Egypt for younger Key

Stage 2 pupils and at £12.99 is hopefully within

budget.

Maggie Monteath

Camerini, Valentina. Translated by

Moreno Giovannoni

Greta’s Story: The Schoolgirl Who

Went on Strike to Save the Planet

Illustrated by Veronica Carratello

Simon & Schuster, 2019, pp144, £6.99

978 1 4711 9065 0

Over the last 12 months, the

number of children’s books

published about the

environment has doubled.

Publishers attribute this surge

in demand to teenage

environmental activist Greta

Thunberg. Thunberg has

become a leading voice of the climate action

movement since initiating a school strike last year

to raise awareness about the effects of climate

heating.

In August 2018, as temperatures in Sweden

reached record highs and fires raged across the

country, fifteen-year-old Greta made a stand.

Instead of going to school on Friday, she made a

placard and protested in front of Stockholm’s

parliament, the Riksdag. Greta’s solo protest

rapidly gathered support, developing into the

School Strike 4 Climate movement, which millions

have joined. Over the past year, she has spoken at

the United Nations’ 2018 Climate Change

Conference, rallied school strikes and protests

around the globe, and was a Nobel Peace Prize

nominee.

This unofficial biography is a straightforward,

accessible account, which doesn’t flinch from

either the hard scientific facts, or from Greta’s

depression, and her Asperger syndrome. Her

determination, single-mindedness and

concentrated intelligence, studying and mastering

her material, enabled her to conquer her reticence

and effectively address huge audiences.

There are a few slips, perhaps due to the rush to

bring the book out while the topic is so

newsworthy, or perhaps in translation, but overall

this is a well written and inspiring story, with a

clear message and call to action.

Mandy Williams

Clark, Mike

Ghastly Gases (Strange Science and

Explosive Experiments)

The Secret Book Company, 2019, pp32, £8.99

978 1 9121 713 09

Part of the Science and Explosive Experiments

series, I really liked this rather off beat approach

8 to 12

to science with spreads on flatulence and stinky

smells. The book is not overburdened with text

and has some excellent photographs. There are

some great experiments and the author has been

very original in his choice of words and photos. It

also goes into several current ecological issues

and features a number of lesser known scientists.

It is a shame that there are however no female

examples in the book.

I liked the quick quiz at the back and the glossary

which develops the highlighted words in the text.

There is also a straightforward index at the back.

Science is an extremely important part of our lives

and this is a wonderful introduction for children

who need to be encouraged to take more of an

active part in science lessons.

I really liked this book. If

the others in the Strange

Science series are as

good, then it might be

an idea to buy all six. It

certainly does away with

the idea that science is

boring and really brings

it to life. Congratulations

to all those involved in its production.

Well researched and thought out I am sure it will

fascinate and inform older primary children. As a

former science writer I can thoroughly recommend

this book.

Godfrey Hall

Colson, Rob

Powerful Forces (Extreme Science)

Illustrated by Jon Richards

Wayland, 2019, pp32, £12.99

978 1 5263 0729 3

Forces has always been an area of science that

children and even some adults can find difficult to

understand and so it is good to see authors who

are willing to take on this topic and explain it in

straightforward terms. Powerful Forces explains in

simple words how forces work and how they

make objects behave.

Using simplified diagrams it goes on to describe

the way things stop and how thrust and extreme

thrust works. It is full of interesting information

which always fascinates younger readers and

there are plenty of land speed records and space

travel facts to keep children interested. There are

spreads on how pressure works and the power of

magnets and a very comprehensive glossy at the

back. It is a shame that it doesn’t contain any

experiments that children can try out. However it

is very comprehensive in its explanation of the

different elements surrounding the forces that

exist on Earth and beyond.

A good addition to any school or class library, I

was impressed the layout and the authors’

approach to the subject matter.

Godfrey Hall


Cooper, Howard

Being Jewish? (Can I Tell You About)

Illustrated by Catherine Pape

Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019, pp88, £8.99

978 1 78592 491 0

A contents page starts off the book by informing

us of which aspects of Judaism we are to

encounter. Thereafter, the narrator of the book,

Ruth, tells us what it is like to be Jewish. This is

done by interspersing diary style entries with

information about Jewish life, festivals and

customs. Told in a conversational one to one style,

the reader is led throughout the year, starting

with the weekly Shabbat and ending with

Hanukkah. The way in which the book is narrated

is easily accessible to its readers and would be a

valuable resource for Key Stage Two Religion or

PSHE lessons. A list of additional resources (online

resources and books) neatly ties up what is a

helpful and very useful book for schools or

anyone curious about how Judaism is lived today.

Well worth buying.

Rudolf Loewenstein

Dorey, Martin

Kids Fight Plastic

Illustrated by Tim Wesson

Walker, 2019, pp128, £7.99

978 1 4063 9065 0

The issue of plastic pollution and the appalling

effect it is having on the ecology of the earth has

been known to scientists and environmental

campaigners for more than 50 years but it took

the final episode of Blue Planet 2 to bring it home

to all of us. Large scale plastic pollution only

started in the 1950’s and the world has produced

more plastic in the 21st century than in the entire

20th century.

The author is the founder of #2minutebeachclean

and this movement has been featured on

Springwatch, The Times and National Geographic.

He has aimed the book at children who want to

become #2 minute superheroes and make a

difference to the world. It could be through a

litter pick in the local park, dumping plastic from

their lunch box, or a beach clean. Collectively

these small actions can build to make a difference

to animals, oceans and our food chain.

The book is split into 16 major missions that

surround helping to save the planet, then within

those chapters are smaller missions. It aims to

educate people to identify ‘good plastic’ and ‘bad

plastic’. Children can earn points from completing

missions and the total number of points tells

them what type of superhero they are.

The book is full of information and resources and

each of the missions should take only a short

while to complete. There is also a section at the

back with websites that children can find out

more about saving the planet and especially the

oceans and sea creatures from plastic waste.

Carolyn Copland

8 to 12

Ewing, Chana Ginelle

An ABC of Equality

Illustrated by Paulina Morgan

Frances Lincoln, 2019, pp52, £9.99

978 1 78603 741 1

This 14 by 17cm board book

is delightfully illustrated by

Paulina Morgan and looks at

first glance like an infants’

book. However Ewing has

achieved something

remarkable in this inclusive

and non-threatening format: a way to define

profound concepts such as privilege, class and

gender succinctly and usefully. Obviously young

people need further and deeper discussion around

concepts such as consent and equality, but this

book provides a brilliant way to begin that

conversation. Having a copy readily accessible in

school would give all staff a simple ‘Go To’

definition that could be reinforced throughout the

values and language of an institution. Each

concept is given a double page spread with the

letter large on the right-hand side with a very

declarative or command sentence below and on

the left-hand page a more detailed paragraph of

definition is given. These could easily be scanned

for ‘equality bunting’ or posters of the concept of

the week and would be a powerful support for

whole schoolwork on equality from EYFS to

Post16.

The book gives practical emphasis to transpositive

concepts such as Ze. The definition given

is ‘Ze is a way to refer to someone instead of

using ‘he or ‘she’. Because there are lots of

different genders, there are lots of ways of

describing someone including he/she/they/ze and

more.’ On the right hand page the assertion is

‘Get to know she, he, zir, they and more.’ Using

this book to create a positive assertive stance on

equality issues in the language and ethos of any

school would do so much to support those

struggling with self and societal acceptance. I

particularly welcome the pages on gender as so

many young people are now identifying gender

identity issues and more needs to be done to

support mental wellbeing around this. That such a

cheery and attractive book can offer so much

support to equality issues is a remarkable

achievement by the writer and illustrator. Every

school should have a copy of this on open display

and in constant use.

Ingrid Spencer

Gifford, Clive

The Race to Space

Illustrated by Paul Daviz

Words & Pictures, 2019, pp64, £12.99

978 1 78603 889 0

There has been a real spate of beautifully

produced books about space recently, and this is

something I welcome for our young readers as

space remains an eternally fascinating and

inspirational topic. The Race to Space takes us

from the very beginnings of space exploration,

focusing predominantly on the missions of the

1960s and 1970s, but bringing events right up to

date in the final pages. The retro-style illustrations,

six-colour printing and matt pages perfectly reflect

the central period of the book and parents will fall

in love with this book just as much as their

children. However this is not style over substance,

as the book is crammed with fascinating facts,

background, insights and quotes that will feed the

appetite of space fans of all ages. Each chapter is

marked in the outer margin with the date and the

flag of either the USA or USSR, touches which

heighten the sense of drama and excitement

around the space race, culminating in the closing

chapters of increased international cooperation in

the era of the International Space Station. A

thrilling and stylish book to inspire a future

generation of astronauts!

Emily Marcuccilli

Golding, Julia, Briggs, Andrew and

Wagner, Roger

Modern Flights: Where Next? (The

Curious Science Quest)

978 0 7459 7755 3

Victorian Voyages: Where Did We

Come From? (The Curious Science

Quest)

978 0 7459 7754 6

Illustrated by Brett Hudson

Lion Children’s Books, 2019, pp128, £5.99

The Curious Science Quest series

continues with the latest two

volumes, which take us from the

Victorian era right up to the

present day and (potentially)

beyond.

Harriet and Milton continue to

have adventures meeting people and engaging in

arguments, debate and puzzles. Told in such a

way that children can easily follow without being

talked down to takes much skill – but Julia

Golding is more than equal to the task.

In Victorian Voyages, our two heroes meet such

people as Darwin and Faraday and hear what

they have to say, along with illustrated fact sheets

explaining essential theories to them and to the

readers. Activity sheets include trying to build like

a Victorian Engineer and feeling magnetic

attraction. The arguments of science and religion

are dealt with neatly and intelligibly – a real boon

for any adult who gets asked about this but may

be at a loss for what to say! Other ideas and

theories are dealt with similarly.

Modern Flights starts off with our heroes

encountering Marie Skłodowska-Curie, thereby

learning about radioactivity. Many other scientists

populate this book, including Einstein, Planck and

Katherine Johnson. Like its predecessors, the book


contains clear fact sheets, experiments and

illustrations. A continuation of the evolution

debate features and is to be welcomed for its

helpful development of ideas.

Where to go to find out more enables readers to

pursue some of the main ideas in each book

further, and meet the authors puts facts to

names.

The two books, along with the others in the

series, are real gems. I would recommend buying

several copies for the classroom and/or library.

Personal copies for home are also highly

recommended.

Rudolf Loewenstein

Hamilton, Kimberlie

Rebel Dogs: Heroic Tales of Trusty

Hounds

Scholastic, 2019, pp160, £8.99

978 1 4071 9435 6

A must read for dog lovers

aged 8 and up, this book tells

the story of dogs that have

done amazing deeds like

serving in the military,

detecting bombs, and saving

swimmers. Each of the

featured dogs has a beautiful

full-page illustration as well as a detailed

description of their impressive feats. Interspersed

between those main profiles are themed features,

such as military dogs or dogs in film, and

interesting facts about dogs in general. Many very

adventurous pups are featured including Antis,

who flew in WWII planes with a custom-made

oxygen mask, and Bothie, who is the only dog to

visit the North and South Poles. Some of the

depicted dogs are known for their loyalty, such as

Hachiko who waited for his human in the same

spot in Tokyo for years and Buddy, the first official

guide dog in the USA. This book would be

fantastic for both primary and secondary school

libraries, especially if you know you have some

dog loving students and staff!

Emily Kindregan

Holmes, Kirsty

Blueprint for a Bladder (How to

Build a Human Body)


978 1 786377913

One of several books in the ‘How to build a Body’

series this particular volume looks at how that

essential part of your body, the bladder, works. It

is full of simple diagrams explaining how the

human body uses the bladder to hold onto urine

before we go to the toilet and the importance of

the kidneys in filtering out the waste. There is a

section on the different parts of the bladder

followed by a diagram showing how it all works.

The book deals with infections which might occur

and how they might be addressed. On the double

page spread called Bladder Basics the reader is

provided with some interesting bladder facts.

There is an excellent section on the importance of

drinking plenty and a chart showing you how

much water you should drink a day. Did you

known that adult men are recommended to

consume around three litres every 24 hours?

It is simple to use and I was impressed by the

quality of the text and how well it fitted in with

the drawings and diagrams. I am sure that it will

appeal to younger children particularly those in

the lower and mid primary range. An ideal way to

get talking about a delicate subject in a

straightforward and entertaining manner.

Godfrey Hall

Holmes, Kirsty

Building Virtual Worlds (Level Up)

The Secret Book Company, 2019, pp32, £8.99

978 1 78998 016 5

This colourful beginner guide to playing computer

games starts with the very basics and explains

world building and handheld games as well as

providing an introduction to popular games such

as Minecraft and The SIMS. Bright pages with

distinctive varied colour fact boxes attract the eye

and the language used is clear and easily

understood. The book is set in a virtual games

arcade and although factual it reads like a story

with some links provided at the end so children

can see for themselves some of the principles

described. Perfect for novice game players, an

excellent introduction that could be explored with

the help of a parent.

Bev Humphrey

Hunt, Jilly

Feeling Good about Yourself (Ali &

Annie’s Guide)

Raintree, 2019, pp32, £12.99

978 1 4747 7305 8

Ali and Annie Guides are designed to deal with

difficult subjects by providing practical advice on

situations that young people might face every

day.

This book, which looks at the way you look after

your body and your mind, examines ways in

which you can feel good, get active and get

enough sleep. We all need certain amounts of

sleep for us to perform properly. For example,

new-borns require between 14-17 hours whilst

adults over 65 need a lot less usually around 7 or

8. The book is full of different tips to help you

achieve your goals and focus on yourself. It deals

with failure and the importance of thinking of

others. It also considers the dangers of social

media and that we shouldn’t always believe what

we see. In this age of advanced technology, it is

very easy to change our looks online or the way

we sound. At the end Annie and Ali suggest

8 to 12

several things you might be able to do to help

improve the way you live. Finally, there is a list of

websites for further information. A very

thoughtful book it would be very useful as a

starting point for further discussions on the

importance of keeping our bodies healthy as well

as our minds. Suitable for older primaries it could

prove very useful for class teachers as well as

their pupils.

Godfrey Hall

Jina, Devika

The Extraordinary Life of Katherine

Johnson (Extraordinary Lives)

Illustrated by Maggie Cole

Puffin, 2019, pp128, £6.99

978 0 241375 440

Part of a series documenting

the lives of extraordinary

humans including Malala

Yousafzai and Stephen

Hawking, this is a short but

hugely informative book

about one of the

mathematicians vital to the success of the

American Space Program.

Plotting the life of Katherine Johnson from

humble beginnings in West Virginia, through her

pioneering work at NASA and culminating in her

award of the Presidential Medal of Freedom by

President Barack Obama, this book offers up a

fascinating insight into a woman of most

prodigious talents.

When raising awareness of the rights of black

American citizens, many schools examine the lives

of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.

This little book about Katherine Johnson offers

another life story to add to that cannon as

Katherine’s story is told through the lens of

segregation. It is also a book to supplement the

school stock promoting science and engineering

and of course the school collection of books

promoting positive female role models. It is a

book of some importance.

The book has undoubted versatility as an

individual reading book, reference text and

potential guided reading text. In the case of the

latter, it is short, uses a range of organisational

techniques such as headings, text boxes and a

glossary. It also offers plentiful opportunities to

retrieve and reflect on the word and sentence

choice of the author. The book is also visually

appealing. Bound as paperback with a purple and

yellow colour palette, it is an attractive book.

Maggie Cole’s illustrations combined with the

engaging text design clarify the text throughout.

This is a multi-modal text. Competitively priced

and bearing in mind the reach and versatility of

the text, this is a smart investment for the school

library.

Rachel Clarke


Kelly, Tracey

The Culture and Recipes of India

(Let’s Cook!)

Raintree, 2019, pp48, £13.99

978 1 4747 7845 9

The Raintree imprint can be

guaranteed to provide

excellent information books,

which are well presented and

easy to use: the bibliography

is small but excellent and the

websites will direct children to trusted

information.

This series aims to enable readers to experience

the flavour of each country by using the delicious

recipes provided – vegetable samosas, Rogan josh

and Tandoori chicken amongst them – and each

book gives an overview of national festivals, daily

life as well as the culinary delights of each

country. The recipes are clearly presented and

photographed and top kitchen tips help beginner

cooks to get started. The series is aimed at KS2.

Carolyn Copland

Layton, Neal

A Planet Full of Plastic: And How

You Can Help

Wren & Rook, 2019, pp32, £12.99

978 1 52636173 8

Neal Layton, well known to children for his many

books, here explains the wonders and woes of

plastic. The ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ message is

clear and familiar, but its limitations are also

acknowledged. The effect of plastic in the oceans

is clearly illustrated but the book ends on a note

of optimism and a call to action – scientists are

working on a range of potential solutions but

each person on the planet has a role to play,

however small.

This is a useful addition to the school library and

supports the growing emphasis within schools on

educating children about environmental issues.

The versatility of plastic is recognised and its

ubiquity in everyday life is made clear through

Layton’s illustration of the average kitchen and its

contents. The layout is clear, colourful and exciting

and will capture children’s interest. The link

between the everyday plastic objects they take for

granted and the consequences this has for marine

life is not glossed over and will feed into the

current emphasis on the environment in the

primary curriculum. The final pages where Layton

describes the steps that particular children have

taken to tackle the problems themselves, tellingly

leave space for the reader to come up with their

own ideas on how they can individually make a

difference. In conclusion, this is a book about a

very real, world-wide problem but with some

practical steps to try and a note of optimism

about the future – perfect for the KS2 child and a

great starting point to introduce the subject.

June Hughes

8 to 12

Long, David

When We Walked on the Moon

Illustrated by Sam Kalda

Wide Eyed Editions, 2019, pp80, £12.99

978 1 78603 091 7

In this book, the story of how we came to walk on

the moon is explored within ten key chapters with

comprehensive illustrations, spread across a large,

hardback volume. The text has a conversational,

yet informative tone and there are quotes from

the expeditions littered throughout the pages,

though there is always one after every chapter

title too. Long’s storytelling really is outstanding

and Kalda’s beautiful designs are striking, yet

complementary.

The images are filled with black and grey and

white, naturally, but after some research it is clear

that they are drawn as sketches in Photoshop

with added in handmade textures of ink and

charcoal that really draw the eye. They vary in size

too, from dinky fractions of pages to vast, double

page spreads that are, simply, stunning.

The back few chapters include short biographies

of astronauts, who were part of various important

missions, as well as a glossary and a timeline,

which are a lovely addition. I’m not sure where

the bibliography has gone, though. It is true to say

that this book really is perfect for anyone wanting

to leisurely add to their knowledge about space

and pour over a well-crafted work that is a real

thing of beauty.

Claire Warren

Pommaux, Yvan. Translated by

Lehmann, Anna

All of Us: A Young People’s History

of The World

Illustrated by Christophe Ylla-Somers

NYRB Classics, 2019, pp88, £25.00

978 1 68137 321 8

An incredibly glossy,

beautifully illustrated book,

clearly this was going to

be quite a slight version of

the history of the world

given that there are 88

(albeit, large) pages.

However it is written in the first person plural

which is both startling and refreshing. It brings

out unexpected emphases; religions tend to

advocate very similar principles, societies generally

revolve around the family unit, genders tend to

take on certain roles. It creates a close sense of

ownership in the reader; this is our history that we

have made. I found it very powerful.

As each continent is examined, parts of the text

become a conversation with a character. Some

pictures have speech bubbles as the characters in

the pictures give an account of themselves,

furthering the information. It ends at the Second

World War and asks what events will define our

time in the eyes of future historians.

There is no contents page and the index is a

picture gallery of remarkable men and women

across history. It is global and some are unfamiliar,

which, as the writer points out, is a good starting

point for further research.

This book is much more than it looks. I’m

struggling to pin down exactly how I want to use

it in school, (RE? Philosophy? History? Art?) only

that it deserves to be promoted and thoughtful

readers will find its approach stimulating and

challenging.

Rachel Ayers Nelson

Riley, Christopher

Where Once We Stood

Illustrated by Martin Impey

Harbour Moon, 2019, pp128, £19.99

978 1 9160625 0 4

This is a book that stands

out amongst the many

that have been released to

mark the 50th anniversary

of the moon landings.

Using the words spoken

by the twelve people who

have walked the moon’s surface, the book offers

readers a unique insight into life on the Moon.

Extensively researched, each mission has its own

chapter and is full of little details that bring the

stories to life and transport the readers straight to

the lunar surface.

Impey’s illustrations are breath-taking and

evocative throughout, conveying both the wonder

and isolation experienced by the astronauts.

Based on real photographs and footage, they are

awe-inspiring and stunning, capturing a sense of

silence and deep otherworldliness.

The style and format of the book make for a

different reading experience, immersive yet

dissimilar to the norm. The use of white

background throughout amplifies this experience,

creating a sense of chill, as if lunar winds were

passing by the readers as they did the astronauts.

This would be a unique and deserving addition to

any school library, one that will surely be

embraced by any moon landing aficionados or

lovers of beautiful non-fiction.

Amy McKay

Saunders, Claire et al

The Power Book: What is it, Who

Has it and Why?

Illustrated by Joelle Avelino and David

Broadbent

Ivy Kids, 2019, pp64, £14.99

978 1 78240 830 7

This is an interesting, different and stimulating

book. I’m not sure where I would place it in the

school library. The concept of power is discussed

from many viewpoints and there is a philosophical

feel about the way in which the concept is


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handled. Power can be defined in different ways,

but it is essentially the ability or capacity to do

something. As the multi authorship indicates,

many aspects of power are examined here.

Adults’ power over children, children’s power over

other children, power in the workplace and the

power of rulers and politicians. The power of

religious leaders, the power of words and

knowledge and the power to challenge ideas of

racial and gender stereotypes. Personal power

and the ability to empower oneself are also

covered. This highly original publication should

both challenge and encourage readers.

Alison Hurst

Strachan, Linda

The Dangerous Lives of the

Jacobites (Fact-tastic Stories from

Scotland’s History)

Illustrated by Darren Gate

Kelpies, 2019, pp136, £6.99

978 178250 596 9

This book skilfully interweaves

the everyday lives of a family

living in the Scottish

Highlands in the 18th century

and the history of the

Jacobite rebellions. Excellent

maps and many attractive

and informative illustrations and diagrams

complement the clear, communicative text. Rob

and Aggie are the children in this story. We learn

details of their everyday life, which puts the

extensive and damaging political activities into a

context, their context. The circumstances of this

complex chapter of history, the Risings, battles,

marches and retreats are all described.

Not all Jacobites were Scottish, many Scots

fought on the side of the government. The

Jacobite army included English, Irish, Welsh and

French soldiers. The searing reality of these

prolonged, fraught and destructive struggles is

balanced with revealing details of daily life, such

as the fact that Highlanders used peppermint to

treat wind (yes, they do mean farts). An excellent

book.

Alison Hurst

Timberlake, Ralph and Sharman,

Helen

Blast Off to the Moon

UCLan Publishing, 2019, pp40, £9.99

978 1 912979 01 1

Published by not-for-profit independent publisher

UCLan in association with the British

Interplanetary Society, this is a book full of the

kind of detail that a space fan will delight in.

It is a feast of facts from the time the Apollo 11

astronauts were woken up on the morning of

departure (4.15 am, followed by steak and

scrambled egg for breakfast) to the messages

from world leaders that were left on the moon’s

surface. It has statistics galore, and covers lesserknown

topics like the Apollo 11 Press Kit which

explained the mission to the public and what was

happening in the Command Module while the

action took place on the moon’s surface. It

conveys the excitement and daring of the mission

(reproducing, for example, the speech Richard

Nixon would have delivered after telephoning the

astronauts’ wives, had Armstrong and Aldrin

failed to get back safely).

It is heavily illustrated with detailed captions, and

substantial amounts of text. The typewriter

typeface is not the easiest to read but works well

from a design point of view and is unlikely to

deter an engaged reader. And there is plenty to

engage him or her. There is no index, but the

contents page is a clear guide to the subject

matter and there is a helpful glossary.

Helen Sharman’s introduction sets Apollo 11 in

today’s context – lessons learnt are being applied

to using the moon to get to Mars, and she

speculates that the reader might even become a

member of that first Mars crew. This is certainly a

book to inspire a future Mars explorer.

Sally Perry

Tyler, Madeline and Vallepur, Shalini

I’m a Vegan (Diverse Diets)


978 1 78637 728 9

This book looks at Veganism. It explains what it is

and then provides suggestions for swapping meat

products with vegan products. After this, it

provides step-by-step instructions for making

vegan cheese. The text also shows the vegan

alternatives for protein. This is followed by a

simple recipe for Tofu Stir-Fry. The book concludes

by talking about the vegan lifestyle and how

certain non-edible items such as shoes and bags

are made of animal products. There is a Glossary

at the back to explain more complex vocabulary

and also a very simple Index.

Diverse Diets: I’m a Vegan is clearly set out,

informative and non-didactic. It is a good

introduction to the concept of Veganism.

Andrea Rayner

Volant, Iris

Ancient Wonders

Illustrated by Avalon Nuovo

Flying Eye Books, 2019, pp64, £12.99

978 1 9124 9714 0

Ancient Wonders takes the classical Great

Wonders – even where, like the Hanging

Gardens of Babylon, they may have been an

Ancient Fiction – and uses each, by a kind of

free association, to provide very interesting and

varied information. Many are accompanied by

pictorial essays on ancient technology, which

again lead to other and parallel Wonders. Thus,

the Great Pyramid of Giza is paralleled by

Stonehenge, as each must have presented the

same sort of problems of moving huge masses

of stone. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and

the Statue of Zeus at Olympia are Ancient

Wonders that again required sophisticated

technologies, and the author knows that they

are best appreciated if the reader has some

knowledge of the classical pantheon. The

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus is quite naturally

associated with Emperor Qin’s terracotta army.

The end result is a rather strange compendium

which will catch the imagination and lead the

reader to follow up in all sorts of different

directions. It is in essence a large-format picture

book, beautifully illustrated, and likely to appeal

to readers of different ages from the middle

primary school upwards.

Wendy Axford

Wood, Levison

Incredible Journeys: Discovery,

Adventure, Danger, Endurance

Illustrated by Sam Brewster

Wren & Rook, 2019, pp64, £14.99

978 1 5263 6043 4

This sumptuous volume will

surely inspire many children

to investigate, in further

depth, the incredible

adventurers and explorers

described within.

The presentation is simple

and clear, but at the same time quite splendid. A

large format provides a superb showcase for

excellent illustrations and, crucially, maps.

Himself an explorer of great repute and

experience, Levison Wood refers to his own

exploits in relation to these other travellers. This

technique successfully gives an immediacy to the

narrative.

The scope of the book is broad, including the

migration of early man from Africa, Columbus,

Magellan, Livingstone, Amelia Earhart and Neil

Armstrong, alongside many others. Some of the

most fascinating travellers are those whose

exploits are lesser known. Ibn Battuta, a 14th

century Moroccan explorer, Zheng He, a Chinese

adventurer who travelled in the 15th century and

the 19th century American journalist, Nellie Bly,

all undertook astonishing journeys.

Readable and informative, the expansive double

page spreads feature many maps, clearly outlining

the journeys covered. This is an interesting,

thought provoking publication which should

encourage readers to research the travellers

described within in more detail. It is disappointing

that a bibliography is not provided to encourage

this pursuit.

Alison Hurst


Poetry

Clanchy, Kate (ed.)

England: Poems from a School

Picador, 2018, pp80, £9.99

978 1509886609

‘My poem is my country / my home country...’

says Tarzina Khatun (16). Philip Pullman proclaims

this book to be ‘great by any standard’ in a quote

on the front cover. Absolutely right. This powerful

anthology is written by pupils aged eleven to

nineteen from a small comprehensive school in

Oxford who had at least three things in common:

all are migrants to this country, some refugees;

their school has a special focus on poetry; and

they had an inspiring mentor and teacher in the

poet, Kate Clanchy. And boy, can those young

people write poetry that breaks your heart, makes

you smile and gives you hope. Inevitably their

poems are charged with feeling, telling stories of

longing for their homeland, violence and loss,

apprehension about the future, and coming to

terms with a new life in England. As Sophie

Dunsby (17) puts it:

I know what it’s like

to only half-understand

the words people say, to halfbelong

in a room. I know

what it is like to be in between.

Morag Styles

Moses, Brian and Carter, James

Spaced Out

Illustrated by Del Thorpe

Bloomsbury Education, 2019, pp128, £6.99

978 1 4729 6115 0

Spaced Out is a compilation of wonderful poems

which will take you on an intergalactic adventure

from the moon and sun, to the planets and black

holes whilst meeting alien life forms using shape

poems, haikus, verse and rhyming poems. This

compilation is a perfect way to get young people

interested in space and astronomy as well as

poetry.

Emma Suffield

Stevens, Roger (ed.)

Moonstruck! Poems about our Moon

Illustrated by Ed Boxall


978 1 9109596 5 7

Compiled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the

moon landing in 1969, this is a celebration of

poetry about the moon by established and newer

poets. Otter-Barry Books, the publishers of this

little book, are fast becoming a most reliable

source of high-quality poetry for children and this

book is no exception and contains 58 stunning

entries expertly compiled by Roger Stevens. The

collection is easily accessible with humorous

contributions such as ‘The First Woman on the

Poetry & Plays

Moon’ by Bernard Young which details how

Mabel Greensmith dreamed she visited the moon

in her slippers and nightie in 1959. There are also

classic poems that require thought and re-reading

to reveal their depth such as ‘The Harvest Moon’

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and ‘The Cat and

the Moon’ by W. B. Yeats and poems that reflect

the lives of children in different countries such as

‘Moon Poem of the Nandi Children’, a traditional

Kenya poem.

Many of the poems make suitable models for

children’s own compositions including ‘The

Delicious Side of the Moon’ written by 12-yearold

poet Harshita Das and ‘In the Arms of the

Moon’ by Sue Hardy-Dawson. The book is

beautifully illustrated by Ed Boxall who has used

a range of illustrative styles to support each of

the poems and ensure that readers are fully

engaged.

Just as we can rely on the Moon to appear in our

skies each month, so we can be certain that

children will need to learn about its habits and

this anthology includes poems about the nature

of the moon’s orbit, its phases and its rocky

constitution. It also explores its mythology,

referring to werewolves, lunacy and the moon’s

ancient names of Phoebe and Artemis. It is

certainly a book to supplement any scientific

study and to expand children’s understanding of

the moon.

Rachel Clarke

12–16 Fiction

Atta, Dean

The Black Flamingo

Hodder, 2019, pp176, £12.99

978 1 444 948585

This is an empowering story,

told in verse, following Michael

through his life from being a

young boy and wanting a

Barbie doll for Christmas; his

complicated family and the

arrival of a baby sister; his singing lessons and

desire to perform; through his teenage years with

his best friend Daisy and on to university where

he joins the Drag Society and eventually finds the

confidence to perform in drag as, ‘The Black

Flamingo’.

Written in a variety of poetic forms and

sometimes text conversations this is a fast paced

story, with different section headings which

chronicle Michael’s life. The illustrations and a mix

of page backgrounds add to the atmosphere of

the book.

As Michael comes to terms with his life as a

mixed race, gay young man, it gives an insight

into his experience in Britain. It is explicit in places

so be aware when recommending it to young

people, but it is a book which needs to be read

and will be both a support and an education to

many.

Brenda Heathcote

Blackman, Malorie

Crossfire

Penguin, 2019, pp432, £7.99

978 0 24138 844 0

Crossfire’s main protagonists are the third

generation of Noughts and Crosses inhabiting the

world created with so much care by Malorie

Blackman. I hadn’t expected there would be more

set in that universe, but it was very definitely

worth the wait!

This is a taut thriller with two teen protagonists

thrown together into a scary and life-threatening

kidnap scenario that has them digging deep into

themselves to survive. Meanwhile, through the

device of sections alternately set in ‘Then’ and

‘Now’ we see the background to the current

problems developing. It is great to meet old

friends from the previous books – to see them

grown, and how they have developed in the

intervening years.

The plot has you on the edge of your seat – I

almost couldn’t read it fast enough – I just

wanted to know what happened. Blackman’s

writing style just carries you along. My only issue

is that we are left with such a cliff-hanger ending

I’m hoping we won’t have to wait too long for

the next instalment. Do read this one!

Tricia Adams

Carter, T. E.

All We Could Have Been


978 1 4711 7999 0

Alexia (Lexi) Stewart has been running away for

five years since she was twelve. She has used

various names and has stayed with relatives and

tried boarding school as well in order to keep her

anonymity. In the first part of this story the reader

is unaware of the incident that has caused this

but you swiftly realise that it was traumatic and

involved her older brother Scott. Lexi is terrified of

anything that triggers memories of blood and has

adopted several coping strategies to get through

the day and the school year.

Halfway through the narrative Lexi’s secret is

revealed to be the brutal, unwarranted and

apparently motiveless murder of their neighbour

and her two young children. This crime was

perpetrated by Scott and Lexi had nothing to do

with it at all. However, she bears guilt by

association as do her parents and the family are


12 to 16

struggling to live with this fact.

Through the kindness of a new classmate (Ryan)

Lexi begins to focus on the possibility that she

cannot be blamed for Scott’s crime. In the

meantime, Lexi is attracted to Marcus (who

acknowledges that he has dealt drugs in the

past) and they begin a loving relationship. Lexi

confesses her secret to Marcus and eventually to

the group of friends in the Drama Club. This leads

to unexpected reactions from people she thought

she could trust. Lexi finally agrees to meet Scott

prior to an assessment of his prison sentence. This

meeting seems to help her realise that she is

blameless despite carrying overwhelming guilt on

her brother’s behalf for so long.

There are strong themes of privilege and identity

in this American High School story and it is likely

to strike a chord with older teenagers who are

finding their place in the world.

Lin Smith

Dunlap, Shannon

Izzy + Tristan

Orion, 2019, pp320, £7.99

978 1 51010 435 8

A modern retake on the classic

tale of Tristan and Isolde set

against the backdrop of a tough

New York district in Brooklyn. This

story skilfully addresses

adolescent issues including

relationships, romance, families

and friendships. Racial perceptions and prejudice

are a strong feature as the characters are faced

with challenges outside of their control. The

impact that social stratification and hierarchy

within social groups can have on even the closest

of family and friends is shown. There are some

drug and sexual references made in the story

which firmly place this text into the YA bracket. I

am not a big fan of romance yet this story had

me wanting to continue reading throughout.

Although the inevitability of the doomed romance

is implicit within its very title, I feel this book will

appeal to its intended modern audience. There

are some nice touches as Dunlap weaves in a

love potion and uses chess pieces and moves

throughout as a nod to the origin of this tale. I

believe this book will be enjoyable for your more

mature and independent readers.

Tracy Hart

Emezi, Akwaeke

Pet

Faber& Faber, 2019, pp208, £7.99

978 0 571 355112

Jam grows up in a protected world where her

sense of her own sexual identity is both

understood and respected by loving parents. Jam

is aware that the safety and security she enjoys

has been hard won and that a violent conflict

involving the purging of societies monsters by a

force of angels took place in the recent past but

this is never openly talked about. Following an

incident where Jam’s blood is accidently spilled

over one of her mother’s paintings, Pet; a living

creature emerges and Jam becomes involved in a

hunt to discover the identity of a present day

monster. Jam becomes actively engaged in

supporting Pet’s mission but is faced with

powerful ethical dilemmas when she discovers

the person being hunted may be related to her

best friend which forces her to challenge the

morality behind Pet’s actions. A powerful first

novel for YA by a talented author presenting a

cleverly imagined world and a beautifully written

story. It is no mean feat to create in under two

hundred pages a believable world and such an

effective take on how to best respond to abuses

of personal power while ensuring the vulnerable

and weak are protected. Highly recommended.

John Newman

Feasey, Steve

Dark Blade (Whispers of the Gods)


978 1 4088 7339 7

This is the first story in a new

series from Steve Feasey – taking

us into a Viking-like culture

where magic and the Gods hold

sway over the lives of men and

women. The power of the old

Gods is fading, and Lann, a

foundling raised on a farm, is about to discover

something of his destiny and his history as he

becomes a young man. The fight for the realm of

the Six Kingdoms will fall to Lann and the

companions he makes as he follows his unaskedfor

quest.

Though Lann will become the bearer of the titular

dark blade, he is also accompanied by an equally

strong female character in Astrid – a shield

maiden Princess. There is violence and magic,

witches and evil in abundance to fight off in this

gripping read – but none gratuitous, all seemed

acceptable within the time and the arc of the

plot. A great start to a new series – do get a copy

for your fantasy shelves.

Tricia Adams

Gardner, Sally and Cai, Rovina

The Wind in the Wall

Hot Key Books, 2019, pp32, £12.99

978 1 47140 498 6

This Gothic tale comes from Carnegie Medal

winner Sally Gardner and is complemented by the

eerie imagery of Rovina Cai celebrated for the

sense of the other worldly in her artwork. It

focuses on the motif of the pineapple, a status

symbol for aristocrats, and the luckless gardener

who is recruited to grow it in an unwelcoming

climate on a Northumberland estate. When a

mysterious stranger called Mr Amicus arrives who

claims to know all there is to know about the

recalcitrant fruit the man’s suspicion and

resentment grows as he resolves to find out his

secret. Is it linked to the cage this trickster

carries?

Indulging in the stage stereotype of the drunken

Irish charlatan, who is to be found in the pub

every night, the story combines elements of Edgar

Allan Poe intermingled with dark fairy legends.

Australian artist Rovina uses a palette of greys,

yellows, greens and browns, experimenting with

light and dark backgrounds. Graphite pencil work

creates the flickering wisps of movement to evoke

an atmosphere of mystery and myth. Smoky

tendrils signify a sinister undercurrent as the

pages turn. It is a cautionary tale which explores

the raw emotions of jealousy and passion.

Readers who appreciate spooky reads like The

Monkey’s Paw and The Cask of Amontillado and

the ethereal poetry of W.B. Yeats’ Celtic Twilight

period should enjoy this.

Tanja Jennings

Kagawa, Julie

Shadow of the Fox


978 1 848 45739 3

Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the

Fox)


978 1 848 45740 9

Set in the mythical world of Iwagoto, this epic

fantasy is infused with rich descriptive layers of

Japanese mythology in a land inhabited by spirits,

monsters, witches and immortals. Shadow of the

Fox begins with the legend of the mighty Kami

dragon who can be summoned to grant your

heart’s desire providing the summoner has

perfectly recited from the Scroll of a Thousand

Prayers. Last time the dragon wish caused the

world to plunge into chaos and so the scroll was

torn into fragments and hidden. Now a thousand

years later, someone or something is searching for

the scroll pieces with deadly and evil intent.

Our heroine is the likeable Yumeko, a girl who is

half kitsune yokai, a playful fox spirit shapeshifter.

Her sheltered existence growing up in the Silent

Winds Temple is shattered when all is destroyed

in a demon raid. Forced to flee with the head

priest’s dying wish ringing in her ears, she must

search for the Steel Feather Temple and deliver

the part of the ancient scroll she carries. A quirk

of fate brings Yumeko and Tatsumi a stern

samurai warrior together and they form an

alliance. The dual narrative reveals how they are

drawn to one another. He has been tasked by his

clan with seeking the scroll and thinks Yumeko

can lead him to it not realising that she has part

of it in her possession. As they journey on their

quest across the empire hunted by demonic

creatures, they acquire a new band of quirky

friends and encounter many fascinating beings


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12 to 16

from Japanese folklore. But as Tatsumi starts to

care about Yumeko, his new emotions cause him

to struggle with his mental hold over his sword

itself linked to the original Kami Dragon wish. It is

now inhabited by the cursed spirit of the

infamous demon Hakaimono. When supernatural

foes confront the group during a mighty battle, to

save Yumeko Tatsumi loses himself in the violent

power of the sword and Hakaimono gains

control.

Soul of the Sword begins with Yumeko fleeing

with her companions away from a rampaging

Tatsumi/Hakaimono. The tone of the middle part

of this trilogy is darker and the action grows

gradually more graphic and ruthless. The narrative

has extended to include the thoughts of the spirit

of the sword, as the samurai struggles in his own

body now possessed by the vengeful demon who

wishes to lift the curse of the sword and be free.

Yumeko has a new purpose as she is determined

to save Tatsumi and force Hakaimono back into

the sword. There is a surprising twist in this

complex tale which manages to raise questions

about the future paths our heroes must take and

who may be controlling their destinies whilst also

neatly setting up the story for the final part of the

trilogy Night of the Dragon due for release next

year.

Sue Polchow

Kalhan, Savita

That Asian Kid

Troika, 2019, pp320, £7.99

978 1 909991 97 2

Jeevan is in Year 11, preparing

to sit his GCSEs and is working

hard to achieve an all A score

sheet. A racist English Literature

teacher has other ideas though

and is making his life

increasingly difficult. Taking

every opportunity to ridicule

him, unfairly mark him down and even fabricating

outright lies about him, her manipulation and

spite knows no limits. When he happens upon her

and another teacher in the woods and records

them having sex, it’s as if all his problems have

been answered. But can he really release the

video to the world? And if he does can he live

with the consequences?

I consumed this entire novel in one sitting, an iron

fist gripping my guts throughout. The injustice of

Jeevan’s situation creating increasing anger, as it

highlighted so skilfully the unfair power that

bigots in authority can, and do, wield over others.

Surrounded by a great group of diverse friends

who all feel very real, Jeevan is a wonderfully

drawn character. His actions and approaches to

situations are frustrating at times, but always in a

very believable way. He is also a wonderful tonic

to toxic masculinity – a believable teenage boy,

who cares about grades, has insecurities and isn’t

ashamed to admit he’s struggling.

Kalhan expertly navigates complicated moral

dilemma to deliver a book that teens will devour

and be left thinking about long after the last

page. My only hope is that this isn’t the last we

see of Jeevan.

Amy McKay

Lucido, Aimee

In the Key of Code

Walker, 2019, pp416, £6.99

978 1 4063 8933 3

Emmy comes from an extremely musical family

but freezes whenever she’s asked to perform and

doesn’t consider herself to have any musical

talent. After moving to a new school she feels

very much alone and struggles to fit in. In her

computer science class she discovers that she

loves coding and her musical knowledge helps it

all make sense for her.

Written in blank verse this story touches on many

issues – sexism, cancer, isolation and friendship –

but the deceptively simple prose often only

provokes a reaction a few pages on. Wonderful to

see a young female character as a ‘tech geek’,

hopefully it will encourage more girls to get into

the fascinating world of coding. The lessons you

learn about coding alongside Emmy are

interesting and the ending is both touching and

hopeful.

Bev Humphrey

Mathieu, Jennifer

The Liars

Hodder, 2019, pp336, £7.99

978 1 444 94606 2

You may already have heard of Mathieu’s name

from her 2017 novel, Moxie, which is soon to be

released as a movie on Netflix. But if you’re

looking for another gutsy, comical story about a

feminist revolution in high school, Mathieu’s latest

work may well, at first, disappoint. The Liars has

got a completely different feel and though it sits

rather more quietly in the corner, it is still a

thoroughly captivating story worthy of any teen

book collection.

Elena and Joaquin live with their mum on

Mariposa Island, just off the Texas Gulf Coast.

Both siblings try to keep up the pretence of a

normal life. They balance holiday jobs and

relationships, whilst trying to placate their mother,

who seems always lost in the past. We begin to

discover that Carrie was actually brought to the

US during the Cuban Revolution in the early 60s,

when she was a young teen. Now she drinks

heavily, rarely leaves the house and spends her

life trying to control her children. Little does she

know that they have secrets of their own.

This book is a thoroughly fascinating glimpse into

a dysfunctional family who would rather lie to

each other and themselves, rather than deal with

real life. One of the many strengths of this book,

is that all three main characters have real depth.

The book is split into a dual narrative between

Elena and Joaquin, who tell their stories one after

the other. And Carrie’s story is a reflective account

of her younger years, once lavish and then dull,

which is cleverly spread out in short snippets

throughout the book.

Mathieu makes us feel greatly frustrated and

often angry at the characters and yet we continue

to hope that they will one day detach from the

toxic family nexus that seems to be holding them

all back. Though the plot can meander a little

sometimes and rather drifts off at the end, I do

wonder whether this is rather the point. That is,

that life isn’t straight forward and particularly for

women, they appear to be trapped within the

version of reality that they create for themselves

and to each other. Perhaps this book isn’t so

different from Mathieu’s previous work, after all.

Claire Warren

Mendoza, Molly

Skip

Nobrow, 2019, pp168, £16.99

978 1 91062 042 7

It’s almost as if Creation has

taken physical form and

dived into the ocean

exclaimed one of our

students on seeing the cover

of this visually sumptuous

graphic novel. Oregon based

illustrator and comic artist

Molly Mendoza has produced an exciting

experimental cornucopia bursting with

kaleidoscopic set pieces, expressive vignettes and

clever framing and layering devices.. Each

immersive page is a feast for the eye offering the

reader new ways of seeing as they are plunged

into multiple alternate worlds on the tails of the

bewildered protagonists. Mendoza’s key

characters morose teenager Bloom and

misunderstood underwater dweller Gloopy both

long for friendship and understanding.

As Bloom seeks a precious object he has

carelessly thrown away, while feeling abandoned,

he is swept into a wonderland of explosive

primary colours that bewilders him. Juxtaposed

with this is the journey of Gloopy, who is also

feeling rejected. Pursued by fantastical creatures

the protagonists burst out of paintings, pop up in

games, emerge from flowers and are sucked into

objects. Mendoza’s flights of fantasy are

intriguing, drawing from a myriad of influences

including the magic of fairytales, mythology, the

frenetic movement of manga, futuristic technology

and the bizarreness of abstract art. Elements from

the titles of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, the

Beatles’ Yellow Submarine and the strange

landscapes of Alice in Wonderland, are evident

but they are infused with Molly’s energy, social

commentary and her ability to manipulate images.

An urgency screams from her work in the gamut


of emotions her characters feel at being

confronted by injustice and violence. She plays

with perspective and positioning with miniaturized

black holes and blank space challenging the

reader to make connections. As a result, her

creativity absorbs and fascinates the reader and is

ideal for demonstrating the power of fusion and

experimentation to students interested in art.

Tanja Jennings

Parker, Morgan

Who Put This Song On?

Atom, 2019, pp240, £7.99

978 1 472 154217

Morgan Parker’s first YA novel

draws upon her own memories

accessed through her teenage

diaries which provide insight

into how as a young black

women growing up in a white

suburban neighbourhood she

was drawn to predominant aspects of white

culture particularly though the music of EMO

bands such as Weezer and Radiohead. As I read, I

wondered how these numerous references would

work for today’s readers before realising that the

streaming process can bring alive the cultural

lifestyle depicted and provide an instantly

available soundtrack.

The author uses her own teenage diaries to good

effect to provide insight into the subjective

experience of how depression and anxiety can fuel

alienation. This is a particular strength of the

writing in that it provides a strong central

message about not conforming to other’s notions

of who you are or who you should be with no

lack of humour. In doing so the author tackles her

relationship to Christianity and notions of what

constitutes a Black identity. The second half also

has interesting things to say about racism and

oppression told through the experiences of

Morgan’s brother as a black male living in a

predominately white suburb.

John Newman

Reed, Amy

The Boy & Girl Who Broke the World

Atom, 2019, pp464, £7.99

978 0 349 00340 5

Billy Sloat and Lydia Lemon both live in Fog

Harbour, a glum, opium-damaged town with little

more than a Big Mart and a prison. Neither of

them has mothers. Billy lives with his Grandma

who tells him that addiction is in his blood. They

share a tumble-down house which has a rather

gothic sense of being alive and responding to

events. Billy hides his rock-star-on-the-run uncle

and falls in love with the girl across the road –

after her psychopathic father is incarcerated, and

her mother leaves home to join a cult. Lydia is

badgered by a small girl, her younger self, who

pops up and tries to sabotage her attempts to

throw off problems. But her passion for dancing,

and her romance with Natalie (black, adopted,

wealthy) help in her journey. In the background

lurks The King, a thinly veiled Trump, who allows

the local forest to be cut down, and causes a

surreal tornado and tsunami to hit the town.

Despite its ingredients – drugs, poverty,

environmental disaster – this is not a depressing,

nor an issues-based novel. It has a quirky, original

quality (which includes unicorns and dragons) as it

engagingly steers us through young people’s

friendships and changing philosophies.

Sophie Smiley

Ribay, Randy

Patron Saints of Nothing

Stripes, 2019, pp352, £7.99

978 1 788951 548

Filipino-American Jay moved to American as a

baby and has lived a comfortable, video-game

filled life since then. As university beckons he has

a relaxed Summer planned, until he learns that his

beloved cousin, Juan, has died. Juan’s unexpected

death and the stories about him that follow, don’t

match the memories Jay has of the boy he knew.

Confused and feeling guilty for having lost touch

with Juan, Jay visits the land of his birth. The

answers he finds though, only bring more

questions. Amidst a web of secrecy and

corruption, Jay determines to find the truth.

This is a gripping, character-driven thriller

cemented in truth and real-world happenings.

Drawing attention to the current, problematic war

on drugs in the Philippines and providing no easy

answers, Ribay provides readers with an eyeopening

journey into political and personal

oppression.

The setting is expertly evoked, making this an

immersive and sensory read. Through Jay the

immigrant experience is authentically and

sensitively explored. The portrayals of Jay’s

extended family are flawless, these are characters

that leap from the page and slowly reveal the

many sides that make a person. Whilst the reader

may initially hope for a happy ending, Ribay does

not shy from the brutal truth and instead provides

a credible and deeply satisfying conclusion. This is

an important and tightly written novel that

demands to be read.

Amy McKay

Rose, Malcolm

Chasing the Rapture (Raven Books)

Ransom Publishing, 2019, pp236, £7.99

978 1 7859 1692 2

Sophie is a very talented runner, with supportive

parents and a close best friend, but at 8 years old

she witnessed the murder of her mother at the

hands of her abusive father. After attempting to

treat her trauma without success, Sophie was

given an experimental treatment to alter her

memories. Her adoptive parents believe all of their

daughter’s suffering has been eradicated, but we

12 to 16

learn that more harm than good has come from

their efforts as Sophie begins a killing spree. This

would appeal to readers in Year 9+ that enjoy

gruesome psychological thrillers and horror. Before

recommending be aware there is a gruesome

spousal homicide as well as several serial murders

and descriptions of self-harm, so may not be

suitable for some students.

Emily Kindregan

Russo, Meredith

Birthday

Usborne, 2019, pp304, £7.99

978 1 4749 6741 9

The publicity invites us to meet

Eric and Morgan. Both were

born on the same day, at the

same time, in the same place.

They’ve always shared this one

day together, but as they grow

up they begin to grow apart.

Everyone expects Eric to get a football scholarship,

but no one knows he’s having second thoughts.

He experiences the breakdown of his family and

the harsh bullying of his father. He feels that his

best friend is changing but doesn’t know why and

worries that their friendship won’t last. Former

quarterback Morgan experiences the loss of his

mother from cancer and a subsequent move to a

trailer park. He feels that his father cares more

about the football team than about his son and is

left feeling utterly alone. Added to these emotions

is the feeling that he is trapped in a mixed-up

body. Both are struggling to be the person they

know they are. Who better to help than your best

friend?

Told on one day every year, over six years, this is a

story about how change pulls people apart… and

how love brings them back together. Gender

identity is a growing issue, highlighted through

the invasive nature of the internet and social

media. Teenage years are difficult at the best of

times; stir identity, uncertainty and mental health

into the mix and it becomes apparent what a

difficult time many young people are experiencing.

This book is written as a beautifully constructed

love story and the writing is expressive,

sympathetic and poignant. The reader is drawn

into the world of Eric and Morgan and we are

able to experience some of the emotions and

uncertainties faced by young people.

Emotionally charged, beautifully written and

highly recommended.

Carolyn Copland

Sayers, Ross

Sonny and Me

Cranachan Publishing, 2019, pp342, £8.99

978 1 911279 46 4

Daughter and Sonny are two Scottish friends, both

from a working-class background, navigating

through fourth year at Battlefield High, and


12 to 16

through life in general, with family issues,

bullying, sexuality and teen hormones. When their

favourite teacher leaves unexpectedly, the boys

realise that something is not quite right and

decide to do a bit of digging, getting themselves

into deeper and deeper trouble in the process.

The novel is written in Scots and, while it took me

a while to get used to it, it adds another layer of

authenticity and perfectly captures the voice of

the protagonists. However, I can imagine that

readers who are not familiar with the Scottish

vernacular might struggle a little. Having worked

in Scottish secondary schools for many years, I can

absolutely recognise the characters. I really

enjoyed the dynamic between the protagonists as

well as the family relationships. The dialogue is

sharp and witty, characters are diverse, true to life

and often endearing – one exception might be

the evil headteacher who felt more like a cartoon

villain. The plot is well constructed; however, the

novel is more about teenage life than a murder

story. Sonny and Me was an entertaining read,

with some laugh-out-loud moments, but hidden

in the banter and humour are some serious issues

such as homophobia, consent and ableism, dealt

with a light touch and a lot of heart

Agnès Guyon

Sedgwick, Marcus, Sedgwick, Julian

and Deacon, Alexis

Voyages in the Underworld of

Orpheus Black

Walker, 2019, pp320, £12.99

978 1 4063 5792 9

This intriguing book is difficult

to categorise as it is a fusion of

narrative, poems/songs, graphic

art, non-fiction and mythical

elements woven together. The

authors of this volume are both

distinguished writers for young

adults who happen to be brothers, as are the

central characters of this tale set near the end of

WW2. One of the protagonists is a poet who has

joined up as a soldier, the other a conscientious

objector and artist. Their father in the novel is a

munitions entrepreneur whereas the Sedgwicks’

father in real life was a conscientious objector.

Perhaps some of the potency of this powerful

anti-war novel comes from the Sedgwick’s own

family history but part of it is also down to the

outstanding contribution from the acclaimed

illustrator and graphic novelist, Alexis Deacon.

The book opens with a long shot of fighter planes

flying over a rural scene which gets smaller and

darker as the planes disappear and we are left

with two boys and a dog. Soon we are in the

nightmarish world of urban London in the Blitz,

brought frighteningly alive by Deacon’s brooding,

atmospheric illustrations in black and white. Harry

Black, whose search for his brother, feared dead,

forms the main narrative thread through a

sequence of journal entries, suffers from a serious

head wound, flickering in and out of reality. Harry

is also engaged on a futurist fantasy with its

portents of worse horror to come. Deacon

distinguishes realism and fantasy working side by

side by depicting Harry’s sketchbook in blue and

white. If this seems complicated enough, the

mythical world of Orpheus in the Underworld

underlies the story, this aspect mainly told

through poetry. It is a challenging and, at times,

confusing read as the complex plot, layers of

meaning, different genres and ever-changing pace

asks a lot of its young adult readers. It is worth

the effort as the storytelling is bold, ambitious

and profound. Not a book the reader will easily

forget.

Morag Styles

Shukla, Nikesh

The Boxer

Hodder, 2019, pp288, £7.99

978 1 44494 069 5

Sunil is beaten up in a racist

attack. For weeks he tortures

himself with the memory of the

attack and a feeling that

somehow it was his fault. He

moves through the world, head

down, afraid, and dealing with

the additional problems of being gay and having

a poor relationship with his dying father. Then a

chance meeting leads him to a local gym where

he begins to box under the tutelage of an ex-pro

female boxer called Shobu. Sunil becomes friends

with another young boxer called Kier but then

discovers that Kier’s family are inveterate racists.

This puts a strain on the relationship especially

when Kier’s racist uncle is killed in prison, an

event that sparks an anti-immigration riot in the

city. Sunil and Kier clumsily try to reconcile their

differences but are finally driven into a bitter

opposition which can only be sorted out in a

boxing match in front of a baying crowd. The

whole story is recounted as, round by round, the

two slug it out. This is an angry book with strong

themes and the language is appropriately modern

and uncensored, but older readers will find Sunil’s

journey towards self-respect and a kind of

redemption both gripping and thought-provoking.

Nigel Hinton

Stalner, Éric. Translated by Mark

Bence

Illinois (The Route 66 List)

Cinebook, 2019, pp48, £6.99

978 1 84918 429 8

The Franco-Belgian Cinebook stable has launched

a new crime mystery series entitled ‘The Route 66

List’. Scripted and illustrated by Éric Stalner, who

collaborated with his brother Jean Marc on Le

Boche and Le Fer et le Feu before going solo with

various historical and adventure series, it is set in

the 1960s, a time of espionage, corruption and

Cold War deception.

Volume 1 takes place in Illinois, as Alex Poliac, an

engineer at a technical research institute, suffering

from the grief of his wife’s sudden death, flees the

small town of Elwood just 50 miles from Chicago

and goes on the run with his young son Rob. His

wife’s friend Laura is suspicious of his motives. He

is embarking upon a desperate quest. What secret

is he hiding and why is a serial killer known as

‘the Clown’ a concern to him?

Imbued with a moody palette created by Jean-

Jacques Chagnaud, Alex’s adventures are shot

through with dull greys, sky blues, fertile greens,

pale pastels, dusky browns, violets, blues and

rusty oranges and reds moving from city

landscapes to dusty highways and deep lakes.

Fear, anger, desperation and malice mount as

characters clash on Route 66.

Parts of this first volume include James Bond style

explosive stunts, spurts of frantic violence and

frightening moments balanced on precipices of

peril. Ending on a cliff hanger and a revelation it

promises more of the same for the remaining

volumes which follow Route 66 from Illinois to

California travelling through Missouri, Kansas,

Oklahoma and Texas on the way.

It will appeal to readers who like action packed

spy stories like Young Bond and Alex Rider.

Tanja Jennings

Stewart, Erin

Scars Like Wings


978 1 4711 8701 8

Scars Like Wings tells the touching story of Ava

Lee, a 16-year-old school drama star who is

terribly burned in a tragic house fire.

The sweet and surprisingly funny plot pulls the

reader along with Ava as she attempts to recover

and build a different life in a body that she no

longer recognises, as well as navigate a new

school and the hurdles that come with being

different. This is an incredibly well-judged story,

which brims with tenderness on the subjects of

grief and self-worth, and still finds time to tackle

the ever important teenage themes of friendship

and self-discovery.

Sammie Boon

Stone, Nic

Jackpot


978 1 4711 8690 5

High school student by day and gas station

attendant by night, seventeen-year-old Rico splits

her time between looking after her little brother,

Jax, and helping her Mum pay the bills in Nic

Stone’s latest YA offering.

Rico’s ordinary life takes a turn when a winning


Publications Update

Identifying Fake News: Critical

Literacy and the School Library

by Cathal Coyle

978-1-911222-21-7 £15.00 (SLA members £11.00)

While ‘Fake News’ isn’t a new phenomenon

– the manipulation of information and the

use of false stories that appear to be news

has been around for centuries - there's still

no clear definition of what it is, or isn't. The

theme of Critical Literacy, a whole-school,

cross-curricular approach that has the

school library at the centre, has recently come into sharp

focus. It is not simply about the ability to evaluate

information for features such as relevance, accuracy,

currency, credibility and potential bias. Instead, critical

literacy addresses more fundamental questions about the

nature of knowledge. It can be challenging for primary

and secondary school pupils to analyse and understand

what ‘Fake News’ is, and Critical Literacy is one approach

that can help. This guideline looks at the historic and

current contexts of ‘Fake News’, the definition and practice

of Critical Literacy; and includes case studies by Critical

Literacy practitioners and recommended resources for

school librarians.

Empowerment for Girls: Riveting

Reads for Primary Schools

by Barbara Band

978-1-911222-22-4 £15.00 (SLA members £11.00)

Empowerment for Girls: Riveting

Reads for Secondary Schools

by Barbara Band

978-1-911222-23-1 £15.00 (SLA members £11.00)

Children learn about the world through

reading and the media – particularly the

images they see and the messages they

hear. If these are constantly genderbiased

they send a strong signal

reinforcing gender inequality, and a

message that boys and girls not only are

but should also be treated differently.

This continual reinforcement via

childhood, school and society results in

an assumption that this is how it should be and that male

dominance is the norm, impacting on how children

respond to each other. Each book has been given a

suggested age range. However, as children vary in their

emotional maturity as well as their reading levels and

capacity for inference, these are only recommendations.

The Primary level book is tailored towards readers at Key

Stages 1 and 2, and the book suggestions are divided into

four categories: Picture books, Fiction books, Non-fiction

books, Graphic novels & manga. The Secondary level book

is tailored towards readers at Key Stage 3 upwards and the

book suggestions are divided into three categories: Fiction

books, Non-fiction books, Graphic novels & manga.

Both books also contains useful web resources relating to

female empowerment.

Developing Digital Resources in the

Primary School Library

by Sarah Pavey

978-1-911222-20-0 £15.00 (SLA members £11.00)

Developing, promoting and maintaining

digital resources is an exciting challenge for

the busy, multi-tasking Primary Library Coordinator

(PLC). Learning to master these

resources is important in primary school

libraries for its essential life skills impact; as

well as its role in raising the library’s profile

while promoting reading and effective information

handling skills. This publication guides the reader on how

best to utilise these resources in the primary school library

to the best curriculum and financial effect – primary school

libraries are required to have an ICT presence thanks to the

new Curriculum. Some schools may have dispensed with a

dedicated ICT suite due to the availability and convenience

of mobile technology; this change may promote a role for

the library as a central information and research centre for

children and adults. Includes a ‘Developing Digital

Resources’ checklist as an appendix to guide and assist; as

well as excellent web links.

Space and Science for the School

Library: Riveting Reads

by Margaret Pemberton

FREE to SLA Members

Developing

Digital

Resources

in the Primary School Library

Space and Science for the School Library is a

wide-ranging guide to books on STEM

subjects, as well as books on themes such as

aliens, animals and astronauts in Space. This

edition of the Riveting Reads series

encompasses picture books, fiction and

information books, and the author has

aimed to ensure that they are as relevant and attractive as

possible. The annotated list covers all age ranges, and

offers an exciting journey of exploration and the pleasure

of discovery through the universe of books. Available

exclusively as an SLA Member benefit in PDF format at

www.sla.org.uk/members-benefits.

Sarah Pavey

GUIDELINES

View all our titles and order online at www.sla.org.uk/publications

12 to 16

lottery ticket isn’t claimed, sending her on an

unexpected adventure with her ridiculously rich

and popular classmate, Zan. Could her luck be

about to change?

The writing is sharp and funny, with short

chapters (some of which are from the perspective

of inanimate objects like fidget spinners) and a

touch of romance buoying an entertaining plot.

Reflecting on class, privilege, and making your

own fortune, Jackpot is a story about how we can

strive to be better, regardless of bank balances.

Sammie Boon

Van Smit, Lucy

The Hurting

Chicken House, 2018, pp352, £7.99

978 1 91107 786 2

Nell has a sister who is very ill, a drunken

religious father plus she has been suddenly

transplanted to Norway away from her closest

friends and her opportunities for escape to music

college. She is stifling in the family atmosphere,

made to feel guilty that she is the cause of sister

Harper’s continuing illness and feels completely

alone. It is no wonder then that she becomes

enthralled by Lukas, the strange son of the local

oil millionaire.

He inveigles her into coming away with him and

stealing the son of his own stepmother. At first it

seems as if she is rescuing the baby – Ulv Pup –

but this immediately turns into a thrilling run from

the police, and then Nell finds herself alone in

Norway’s mountains with a baby to care for,

stalked by wolves and full of regrets – and fears.

This is a good thriller, though I personally had

some qualms about the likely survival of a small

baby on snowy hillsides in Norway, but with a

willing suspension of disbelief because the book

is well written and engaging – it is a good debut

thriller. I shall look forward to reading more from

this author in future.

Tricia Adams

Villoro, Juan. Translated by

Lawrence Schimel

The Wild Book

HopeRoad, 2019, pp236, £8.99

978 1 9164671 0 1

Translated from the Spanish

language novel by a best-selling

Mexican author, The Wild Book is

in every sense a literary read.

When thirteen-year-old Juan’s

parents separate, he is sent to

spend the Summer holidays with

his Uncle Tito in a rambling, dusty, book-filled

house. His uncle is an eccentric, reclusive man

who very much leaves Juan to his own devices

exploring the seemingly endless library. Stranger

yet are the books themselves which, Juan

discovers, have a life of their own, moving from

one place to another of their own accord and

changing their stories according to who is reading

them. His uncle tells Juan that he is very special, a

Princeps Reader to whom books respond

magically, and launches him on the search for the

Wild Book. Elusive, constantly on the move, never

yet read by anyone, what can it be about? Juan

enlists the help of fellow reader Catalina and

together they embark on an unusual quest. Along

the way Juan discovers that stories are not just for

the sighted and comes to term with the new kind

of relationship he will have with his separated

parents. Part adventure story, part mystery, part

teen romance, part coming of age story, The Wild

Book is most of all an enthusiastic tribute to the

enduring power of stories and books.

Marianne Bradnock

Wallman, Sue

Dead Popular


978 1 40719 294 9

Dead Popular is a YA thriller that opens with a

description of a dead girl lying on a beach, setting

an ominous tone to the story. Without that

prologue, the first half of this book would seem

like an (mostly) innocent teenage boarding school

drama about a privileged head girl called Kate

who is planning a secret house party. However,

not everything is as it seems, and it seems that

everyone is keeping secrets in order to keep up a

guise of perfection. This includes Kate, who is

hiding not only secrets about her childhood but

also a secret about her involvement in another

student’s expulsion. This boarding school mystery

would be fantastic for students in Years 9 and up

that enjoyed Sue Wallman’s other YA thrillers or

Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious.

Emily Kindregan

Weston, Danny

Inchtinn: Island of Shadows

UCLAn Publishing, 2019, pp224, £7.99

978 1 912979 05 9

Danny Weston seems not to like birds very much.

In this ghosts-and-horrors story, the ugliest

natural event is the fate of an ornithologist and

RSPB employee, a sinister Scottish island’s only

permanent resident, who falls off a cliff and has

his eyes pecked out by birds. The author doesn’t

know much about them either. These vicious

carrion-eating attackers, we are told, are

guillemots. A likely tale! This is a story where the

natural events are as hard to believe as the

spooky ones. But there are plenty of these too.

One ghost can walk through doors but also

chucks typewriters about. Another is a long-dead

leper girl who doubles as a seal.

To this remote, alarming island comes fourteenyear-old

Noah, brought here by his feisty adoptive

mother, a children’s writer. (Her books and output

strongly resemble Enid Blyton’s, but she is a much

nicer person.) She is in search of new ideas and

Noah is her reluctant companion. Noah is not,

let’s face it, a likeable boy. He is forever sulking,

grumbling, complaining, and sniping rudely at his

long-suffering mother. His long ordeal among the

natural and supernatural horrors of the island

finally teaches him to mend his ways, and not

before time. The book would not feature on an

RSPB recommended list, but for those who can

suspend disbelief, it is a highly readable, fast,

undemanding tale for readers (mainly boys) of

twelve or so.

Peter Hollindale

Wood, Laura

Under a Dancing Star


978 1 407192 406

Growing up in the 1930s,

seventeen-year-old Beatrice is an

only child who lives in Langton

Hall, an enormous but somewhat

faded ancestral home. Her

parents are desperately keen for

her to marry well but Beatrice’s

plans and her parents’ aspirations are in stark

contrast. When Bea’s bohemian uncle invites her

to join his artist friends in Italy for the Summer

she is thrilled with the prospect. And then she

meets the handsome and incorrigible Ben and

discovers romance. Winding a path through the

chapter headings are Shakespearean quotes from

Much Ado about Nothing. The love-struck story of

Beatrice and Benedict aptly mirrors this 20th

century tale.

This is a wonderful slice-of-life novel set in a time

when the offspring of the landed gentry were

expected to follow their parents’ instructions and

do exactly as they were told – particularly if they

were girls. Bea’s uncle Leo is a mercurial man

with bohemian ideas. His Summer retreats have

encouraged a wide range of painters and artists

but as the threat of war draws closer, the idyllic

colony may soon be dispersing. Bea is a young

woman with a sharp and observant mind who

wants to follow her own path in life. Her Summer

abroad has boosted her confidence and widened

her horizons immensely. A twist at the very end of

the book brings a very satisfying denouement.

This story is a pacy page-turner which will have a

wide audience.

Rosemary Woodman

Yoon, David

Frankly in Love

Penguin, 2019, pp432, £7.99

978 0 241373 439

An honest and witty insight into a year in the life

of Frank, who was born and lives in America and

whose parents are both from Korea. The book is a

treatise on racism and life as part of a minority

community through the first person narrative


voice of someone thinking about where he fits

into society. The reader learns a lot about Korean

culture, but also can connect to Frank and the

other ‘Limbos’ if they recognise themselves in the

tension between two cultures, or whose parents

want different things to them, or if they’ve ever

been in love with someone for which a

relationship could prove problematic. David Yoon

is the husband of Nicola Yoon and fans of her

writing about teenage life should easily move to

his writing too. Mild swearing adds to the

authentic teenage voice.

Helen Swinyard

Information

Chandler, Matt

Ninjas: Japan’s Stealthy Secret

Agents (Graphic History: Warriors)

Illustrated by Silvio DB

Raintree, 2019, pp32, £12.99

978 1 4747 8174 9

This book from Raintree’s Graphic History series is

an easy read recounting the history behind the

legends of warrior ninjas in Japan in the 15th and

16th centuries. Aimed at Dark Red level readers

(fluent on Raintree’s Engage Literacy scale) it

features five stories – Hanzo, Sarutobi, Fuma

Kotaro, Kunoichi and The Fall of the Iga. Stealthy

battle techniques, use of weaponry and tales of

daring raids are told in comic strip style

punctuated with speech bubbles and loud noises.

Espionage, self-sacrifice, courage, respect, bravery

and honour are among the themes featured.

There is a gender balance with the inclusion of

Mochizuki’s tale, who trained fierce women in the

art of war, subterfuge and the use of deadly

poison after her Samurai husband’s demise.

Brazilian artist Silvio DB has chosen a rich palette

of earth browns, jades, turquoises, dusky blues

and vivid violets with bursts of flaming oranges

and vibrant red to denote violence. His work is

expressive conveying emotion and showcasing

battle stances.

Chandler uses a basic vocabulary and a mixture of

narration and dialogue which will appeal to visual

learners who like action and adventure. The layout

includes a chronology of key battles, a map of

Japan, an explanation of the different types of

Ninja weapons, a glossary, further reading

suggestions and simple comprehension questions

at the back to aid navigation.

Tanja Jennings

gal-dem

I Will not be Erased

Walker, 2019, pp176, £7.99

978 1 4063 8637 0

An incredibly powerful collection of essays,

reflecting the stories of women of colour growing

up in a world that made them feel erased. Written

by members of gal-dem, an award winning online

and print magazine, created by and for women

and non-binary people of colour, this book reflects

some of their stories. Featuring fourteen stories

about identity, sexuality, family, love and power,

each is written from that author’s perspective of

looking back, reflecting and writing to her

younger teenage self, offering an adult

perspective on life then and now and the journey

in between.

The essays are reassuring, powerful and

emotional. Some of the themes covered are hard

hitting e.g. drug taking, virginity, sex and sexuality

but they are very relevant to all young people. The

book begins with a letter from two of the galdem

editors explaining that the book was written

because it’s one they wished they could have read

when they were growing up and struggling to

cope with their erasure from books, film, TV and

the world they lived in, while dealing with the

racism and sexism they were exposed to and

experiencing.

An interesting biography of the contributors is

featured at the back along with a useful help and

information section. I found this to be a thought

provoking, challenging and inspirational read. Its

subject matter is at times quite hard hitting but it

has significant place and relevance for today’s

young people.

Annie Everall

Herbert, Kari

We Are Artists

Thames & Hudson, 2019, pp144, £14.95

978 0 500 65196 4

We Are Artists is a collection

of biographies of artists, each

introduced by a full-page

illustration of a key work. The

chosen artists are all women;

it includes many virtually

unknown artists, and some

who are already celebrated

and honoured – Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keeffe,

Barbara Hepworth, Tove Jansson. There are one or

two surprising omissions (Bridget Riley?), but the

book successfully establishes what traditional

histories of art often hide, that there were and are

women just as committed to creating art as men.

The biographies sometimes read a little flatly but

contain some interesting detail. Suzanne

Valadon’s racy life in Montmartre, feeding caviar

to her cat, sliding nude down the banister at her

favourite night spot, is put into perspective by the

harrowing account of her early years – selling

vegetables as a child and working as a circus

tightrope-walker at fifteen (when she seriously

damaged her back). The book contains a great

deal of material and is perhaps best treated as a

reference book for individual biographies rather

than as a continuous read.

Wendy Axford

12 to 16

Morgan, Nicola

Body Brilliant: A Teenage Guide to a

Positive Body Image

Franklin Watts, 2019, pp304, £7.99

978 1 4451 6736 7

Written by the expert on the teenage mind, Nicola

Morgan, this book tackles one of the most

important issues faced by teenagers today, that of

body image. One of the shocking statistics she

quotes, is the estimate that by the time a girl

reaches the age of 17, in a media rich country,

she will have seen 250,000 commercial

messages, many telling her how she should look.

A negative body image has been linked to not

only eating disorders and self-harm but also

depression and anxiety, so there is clearly a need

for a book such as this.

The book is in two parts, the first All in the mind

shows that our body image is the results of our

culture and surroundings, the people around us

and our own responses. It discusses fashion,

social media, gender and sexual identity, puberty,

eating disorders and Body Dysmorphic Disorder as

well as living with a difference. The second part

Making Your Body Brilliant provides information

on how to look after and respect our body, from

nutrition to relaxation and self-care.

Each chapter includes quotes from different

people, Body Boost panels, which are tips or

suggestions to improve our body image, a useful

summary at the end and a list of resources online

and in print, including some fiction books. This is

an informative book, well researched,

authoritative, and non-judgemental. I believe it

should be in every secondary school library.

Agnès Guyon

Nagara, Innosanto

M is for Movement

Seven Stories Press, 2019, pp96, £14.99

978 1 60980 935 5

M is for Movement is by the

author of A is for Activist,

and it comes with an

enthusiastic recommendation

from Noam Chomsky, ‘This

imaginative and appealing

children’s story... Its lucid

and powerful message is that ordinary people

can... change the world...’

It is a semi-fictional story, based on the recent

history of Indonesia, which describes how a

corrupt and despotic military regime can be

overcome by peaceful, brave, and thoughtful

young people. I do not know any book which so

convincingly describes just how corruption works

in a dictatorial society, how nepotism can make

sure that members of powerful families take over

all the lucrative jobs, and how ruthless military

force can make opposition seem helpless. The

narrator is an idealistic schoolboy, and later

reporter, who cleverly identifies the weaknesses in


12 to 16

the ruling system. The book does not disguise the

fact that opposition is dangerous, but it shows

that an imaginative sense of humour can be

powerful in its own way. There is an amusing

episode where a golf course displacing a group of

peasant farmers is defeated by a series of clever

slogans dug through the turf of some of the

greens.

The tone can be a little uncertain at times, but the

book is attractively produced and well-illustrated

and the story is gripping. Recommended for

tough-minded readers in the lower secondary

school who are not put off by a rather obvious

intention to instruct.

Wendy Axford

UNHCR

Forced to Flee: Refugee Children

Drawing on their Experiences

Franlin Watts/UNHCR, 2019, pp80, £12.99

978 1 4451 6628 5

This is a book which I

recommend for a place in

every secondary school library.

It is principally a collection of

pictures by refugee children,

recording the events which

forced them to flee. It would

be patronising to describe the pictures as naive,

for in fact they have all the strength and

emotional impact of experience unmediated by

traditional techniques and conventions. The

pictures are grouped by the area from which the

children have fled.

It is not generally known that the vast majority of

refugees are housed by countries whose own

economy and stability is at risk. Turkey, with three

million refugees, has experienced the greatest

influx, and Pakistan, Uganda, Lebanon and Iran

have also received millions. The only European

country which has admitted large numbers is

Germany, where the refugee population has

reached 970,400. The Syrian wars have displaced

the largest number of people, but perhaps the

saddest story comes from South Sudan, where

high hopes after a vote for independence have

given place to brutal tribal wars financed by the

oil which should have set the new country on its

feet. The scale of the refugee camps is

breathtaking. Zaatari camp in Jordan houses

80,000 refugees from Syria. The UN Refugee

Agency provides small cash handouts rather than

food aid, which offers some opportunity for

economic life – there are about 3000 shops and

small businesses in the camp. For most people life

is monotonous and they can only hope and pray

for eventual return to their homeland. The

children’s pictures illustrate, as nothing else could,

quite why so many people leave their homes. This

is an informative, sometimes very moving, and

always interesting book.

Martin Axford

Various

Migrations: Open Hearts Open

Borders


978 1 91095 980 0

‘We are one!’ declares Nelleke Verhoeff invitingly.

I couldn’t resist this book as it contains

contributions by many of my favourite illustrators

and authors, on a topic I care passionately about,

endorsed by Amnesty international, and has a

foreword by Shaun Tan with endpapers by Robert

Macfarlane and Jackie Morris. You can’t get much

better than that. Based on some of the

international contributions to an exhibition of the

International Centre for the Picture Book in

Society in 2017, these stirring postcards focus on

issues relating to cultural diversity and the

inclusivity of minorities and socially

disenfranchised people. As Tan tells us, the aim of

Migrations is to express support for and solidarity

with human migrants who face huge difficulties

and dangers in their struggle to find a safe place

to live. Movingly, Tan talks of migration as an act

of imagination and hope for a better world ‘for

adults and especially children, for whom the

positive inspiration of art and story can never be

overestimated.’ Well known and much loved

illustrators in the West, such as Jane Ray, Piet

Grobler, PJ Lynch, Axel Scheffler, Chris Riddell and

Jon Klassen raise a high bar, but many of the

works from less familiar names and places are

equally exciting, dynamic, touching and

wonderfully inventive. And the words of generous

welcome to strangers, the importance of

friendship, our close relationship with the animal

kingdom, and the recognition of what we all

share as human beings reminds us that ‘where

there is hope there is life.’ Or, as Anita Desai put

it, ‘Wherever you go becomes a part of you

somehow.’ A beautiful, little book to be treasured.

Morag Styles

16 to 19

Angelini, Josephine

What She Found in the Woods

Macmillan, 2019, pp384, £7.99

978 1 52901 771 7

Lena arrives at her grandparents’ home for the

Summer break. She meets up with old friends,

starts volunteering at a women’s shelter and goes

for long walks in the woods. It’s clear that Lena is

trying to distance herself from her previous life

and that something bad happened which has

resulted in her taking lots of meds. One day,

whilst out walking, she meets a boy, Bo, who lives

in the woods with his family. But when women

from the shelter start to go missing and are found

dead in the woods, Lena has to question who she

can really trust, including herself.

This is a gripping and intense YA thriller with

plenty of twists and turns to keep readers on their

toes. Angelini builds the tension slowly and

purposefully, over the course of about a month, to

an explosive finale and an action packed last fifty

pages. Lena is a complex character and the

archetypal anti-hero. We discover from the

flashbacks of her past that her dangerous

scheming has previously had dark consequences.

But she is also a young woman who is greatly

troubled, and we see her wracked with guilt, overpumped

with drugs and sadly absent of any

parental love or attention. So we find ourselves,

somehow, still rooting for her throughout and will

her to work out who is the killer before it’s too

late.

The character of Bo often seems too good to be

true, which makes us immediately distrustful of

him and his occasional, enigmatic appearances.

But the romance element of the story gives added

intrigue and a sense of hope for Lena when she

needs it most. Without spoiling the ending, I wish

that Lena was able to find some kind of

confidence in herself and take control of her own

future rather than be lead by Bo. However, that

thought doesn’t linger for too long as I still feel

shell-shocked by the drama and outcome, which is

a fantastic end to an astonishing book.

Claire Warren

Bourne, Holly

The Places I’ve Cried in Public

Usborne, 2019, pp364, £7.99

978 1 4749 4952 1

Coercive and controlling behaviour was

established in the UK as a criminal offence in

2015. According to the CPS, it is defined as an act

or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation

and intimidation or other abuse that is used to

harm, punish, or frighten their victim. Examples

include stalking, harassment, emotional abuse and

neglect, public shaming and humiliation and

behaviour which deliberately isolates the

individual from support. It is to this subject that

best-selling YA author, Holly Bourne, turns her

attention in her latest novel.

The Places I’ve Cried in Public follows the talented

singer/songwriter, Amelie, on her journey to

recovery after weeks of psychological abuse by her

boyfriend. Bourne’s insightful, humane novel is

unflinching and challenges the still-pervasive

attitude that violent, coercive, toxic relationships

are acceptable… and that girls/women are to

blame. It is an unsettling, often uncomfortable,

read which invites us to revisit with Amelie all the

key points in her relationship; being singled out

while lonely and vulnerable after moving to

London from Sheffield with her family and

gradually having her personality fractured by the

much less talented and predatory Reese. Reese’s

initial pursuit – every humiliating kiss on the

forehead, the dismissive references to Amelie as

little one, his derision and Amelie’s increased


isolation from her friends and parents – have a

drip through effect and begin to erode her wellbeing

and sanity.

Amelie’s experience of counselling with Joan is

based on Bourne’s extensive and careful research.

How a trauma bond evolves, and Amelie’s

memory map, are developed effectively

throughout the novel; although, the sexual abuse

her therapy sessions uncover is harrowing. Reese’s

perspective is never presented but this is a

deliberate authorial choice. The focus throughout

is on Amelie and her eventual ability to break

away and break free and grow [herself] back.

An important book and one to add, with

advisement, to secondary school libraries; also, a

thought-provoking choice for a KS4/5 reader’s

group discussion.

Alison Brumwell

Garrett, Camryn

Full Disclosure

Penguin, 2019, pp352, £7.99

978 0 24136 706 3

Arriving at her new school, Simone deals with the

usual friendship issues and an emerging crush on

a boy named Miles as she strives to bring

everyone together as director of the school

musical. But life for Simone is far more

complicated due to her HIV positive status and

her concerns to manage this information

following a breach of trust which caused her to

leave her previous school. After she receives a

series of notes threatening to expose her status

unless she breaks contact with Miles, Simone

must find the strength and personal resources to

stay true to herself while building the trust and

support she needs to move forwards. There is

much to commend in the way the author

manages to inform the reader about sexual health

and HIV and the dangers of ignorance and how it

fuels risk and prejudice. There are also positive

portrayals of difference in relation to sexual

orientation particularly through Simone’s

relationship with her adoptive fathers. The very

matter of fact approach to a range of sexual

practices is brave and necessary. This does mean

that this is very much a book for older teens but

one that needs to be available to them.

John Newman

Glaister, Lesley

Aphra’s Child (Chimera One)

Stone Cold Fox Press, 2018, pp233, £9.99

978 0 9926514 7 3

A very long read featuring an intricate plot

involving a host of characters which are listed and

partially explained in a Cast List at the end of the

book. The heroine, Tula, lives alone with her

mother, Aphra. The community, which they appear

to be on the periphery of, is a curious one. There

are human beings and animals as we know them;

there are also chimera who are part human, part

animal and who are kept in the city as slaves.

Aphra is a human being, but her daughter Tula,

16, is a chimera. Aphra has refused to tell her

daughter who her father is but clearly he was a

chimera. Relations between humans and chimera

are forbidden and so Tula concludes that she is

‘illegal’.

Aphra and Tula live alone in a cottage in Hidden

Glen. No person has ever come into the Glen or

the cottage until one day Tula hears a male voice

in the cottage speaking to her mother; she is

shocked to observe that he is neither human nor

animal, but, like herself, a chimera. In ‘the city’

there is an area appropriately named

Godforsakenland which is home to marauders,

bandits and kidnappers. Tula has been warned by

her mother to keep away from the city and from

marauders, but the story opens with Aphra herself

being abducted by a band of marauders. The

narrative which follows recounts Tula’s efforts to

find and rescue her mother.

This is a novel which which will appeal to the

more mature young adults, confident, competent

readers willing to devote time and effort to

following the intricacies of the plot and sensitive

to the resonances with the real world: issues of

racism, authoritarian government, protest groups.

They will also enjoy the quality of the prose

writing. On the other hand some readers might

find the basic concept of this book somewhat

disturbing.

Elizabeth Finlayson

Gregory, Karen

I Hold your Heart


978 1 5266 0916 8

Gemma lives with her

overbearing father, football

prodigy brother, and meek

mother. It is clear from the start

that she is overlooked by all,

other than as cheerleader for her

younger sibling. Then she meets

Aaron, with his declarations of love, and

showering of gifts, it isn’t long before she is in his

thrall and desperate to please. Aaron loves

Gemma, but is distrustful and possessive. He is

able to rationalise his actions as being evidence of

his feelings, and a result of being badly treated in

the past.

This gripping novel pulls no punches, and clearly

shows the rapid spiral into coercive control of

Gemma by Aaron but does so in a way that

apportions no blame to the victim. Gemma never

stands a chance, and at times we are even left

wondering if Aaron really knows what he is doing

– is this coldly calculating, or is it an unconscious

act that he can’t control?

Gregory allows the reader to unpick the nuances

of behaviour, ego and relationships, and there will

be much in here that readers will recognise. By

16 to 19

switching narration between Gemma and Aaron

we can see how each view the same event so

differently, Aaron spinning the narrative to suit his

agenda, and Gemma allowing her conviction to

be eroded by self-doubt. Interestingly, Gemma

and her mother seem to be a victim of similar

tactics in the home, with Gemma’s father using

silence and barely suppressed aggression to get

his own way with his family. Again we are left

wondering just how self-aware he is, but when

Gemma’s parents start to realise how toxic her

relationship with Aaron is, they certainly recognise

it for what it is.

Every teenager should read this book, and it

would make a fantastic reading group title with

teens. There is much to explore, discuss and

unearth. Oh, and beautifully written, as always

with Karen Gregory.

Helen Thompson

Hyder, Liz

Bearmouth

Pushkin Press, 2019, pp320, £12.99

978 1 78269 242 3

The author of this powerful debut novel succeeds

in drawing the reader down into the nightmarish

world of Bearmouth, a deep, dark coal mine

where children toil in brutal conditions far from

daylight to earn money for rich masters. This harsh

world is vividly described and although the

geographical setting and historical period are not

made explicit, the author draws parallels with

both the exploitation of child labour in Victorian

times and the deployment of children in mines

today.

The narrative voice is that of Newt, a young mine

worker who unquestioningly accepts the system

of hard labour with no reward other than that

promised by a distant Mayker in the next life. But

change comes when Devlin arrives, full of

rebellion and questions about justice and

oppression. As Newt’s mind is stirred to doubt

and to combat the status quo, a sequence of

dramatic events leads, at great cost, to the

destruction of the mine, freedom and a new life.

Themes of gender are drawn into the story as

Newt shockingly discovers her unknown identity

as a girl. The author deploys an original linguistic

style, reminiscent of some of David Almond’s

works, to ensure that Newt’s narrative voice is

raw and compelling.

The world described in this novel is a violent one,

there are distressing scenes of child murder and

sexual assault and the atmosphere is convincingly

bleak and oppressive. Readers will be drawn into

Newt and Devlin’s struggle for justice and

freedom and will feel a deep satisfaction as the

pair finally escape the claustrophobic world of

Bearmouth to breathe fresh air and see the stars.

This is an original, powerful and thoughprovoking

novel of social justice for older readers.

Sue Roe


16 to 19

Scallan, Melissa

Starting University (The

Essential Student Guide)

Illustrated by Mollie Shields

Katelli Publishing, 2019, pp144, £9.99

978 1 9161027 0 5

Claiming to be essential for both students

and parents alike this worthy paperback is

packed with tips and information for the

prospective undergraduate. A huge range of

life skills are covered including how to wash

up, when and where to shop and more

essential topics such as finding

accommodation and living well with your

fellows once you have somewhere to live.

There are checklists and a sketch diary for

A-level students to take them through the

year prior to be accepted.

There is a chapter for parents, and I feel

that this may be the most useful section.

However, parents for whom university is an

unknown will probably find the whole guide

is helpful. The chapters on finance are clear

with good information for both students

and the adults who support them. My only

reservation with this book is whether a Year

12/13 student will actually use it – possibly

preferring online help. The reference to the

website allied to the book is merely an

advert for the book itself and there are

other sites from other bodies which also

cover some of the topics in this title.

That said, this is comprehensive and for the

price would make a useful addition in the

Sixth Form Library. It would make an

excellent source for pastoral staff who

might be running a ‘preparing to leave

school/home course’ or as part of PHSE

generally.

Lin Smith

Sedgwick, Marcus

Snowflake, AZ

Zephyr, 2019, pp384, £12.99

978 1 78854 233 3

The work of a writer highly acclaimed on

both sides of the Atlantic – he has been

shortlisted several times for the Carnegie,

Guardian and won other prestigious

international prizes – this novel addresses

an important issue in today’s world: in a

word, ‘sickness’, affecting both the

individual and society in general.

The teenage hero, Ash, presents his

account, in an informal, American style

dialogue, of how he went to Snowflake,

Arizona in search of his much loved stepbrother,

Bly. He finds Bly a member of a

community where all the members,

including Bly, are ‘sick’. Shortly after his

arrival Ash, too, falls sick. This sickness,

presented in very general, non-specific

terms, has arisen, it is claimed, out of the

life-style currently prevalent throughout

the world, the same life-style that is

producing climate change and other

problems.

While not writing specifically about himself

or his own experience of illness – he

suffers from ME – the writer explains that

his novel, a work of fiction, draws upon his

visit to a community living in the outskirts

of Snowflake, a small town in Arizona. The

novel focuses on illnesses brought on by

exposure to the chemicals, pollutants etc.

of the modern world, by the way of life

common today and by the allergies which

develop. The narrative also draws attention

to diagnoses of illness, such as ‘it’s all in

the mind’, which are both unhelpful and

frustrating to the sufferer. A highly

imaginative – at times requiring

suspension of disbelief – and thoughtprovoking

work.

Elizabeth Finlayson

Witton, Hannah

The Hormone Diaries: The

Bloody Truth About Our Periods

Wren & Rook, 2019, pp256, £9.99

978 1 5263 6146 2

From the blood-stained knickers on the

front cover to the open discussion of period

sex, The Hormone Diaries is a gloriously

frank, funny and informative read.

Witton is a successful and incredibly

popular vlogger and this is the book

version of her much-loved YouTube

‘Hormone Diaries’. In equal parts

informative and engaging it provides a

well-considered look at every element of

periods. From tips on removing blood

stains, to explanations of the various types

of period products available, from

contraception to complications and

diseases, it’s all here and discussed without

shame or judgement.

The narrative is interspersed with letters

from Witton’s followers to their own

periods. This proves to be a charming way

of including further depth to the topics. The

letters provide real-lived experience and

result in a wonderful collective discussion of

subjects that are too rarely talked about.

There’s much to think about and learn

throughout, and many comforting me too!

moments.

As essential as the emergency tampon at

the bottom of your handbag, this is a book

that will empower readers to take charge of

their own hormone health and not be afraid

of asking questions or starting

conversations.

Amy McKay

Professional

Dix, Ellie

The Board Game Family

Crown House Publishing, 2019, pp208, £12.99

978 1 78583 433 2

Ellie Dix, a board game fanatic, has written this guide for

parents that want to spend more quality time with their

children away from technology. She begins by explaining

the benefits of board games, from improving memory and

reducing stress to being able to reuse games over and over

again. She then leads the readers through some of the

challenges of modern parenting, from reliance on phones to

lack of communication, and how board games may be a

way of improving some of those parenting woes. Then

begins a step by step guide to the process of becoming a

board games family, from reorganising your current games

collection, to choosing games, setting house rules, and

overcoming ‘obstacles to victory’.

Ellie’s enthusiasm shines through in her writing and the

personal stories peppered throughout provide great

examples of how families can become a board game family.

This book might be useful if you are planning a board game

club and would be fantastic to recommend to parents that

are struggling to spend quality technology free time with

their children.

Emily Kindregan

Gerver, Richard

Education: A Manifesto for Change


978 1 47296 236 2

This book is essential reading for all. Covering educational

leadership, it delves into the issues we face today and how

we can overcome them. Both practical and inspiring this

book should be in all schools. From insights into managing

behaviour to what makes a great teacher – there’s a ninepoint

definition that if you changed the word ‘teacher’ to

‘librarian’ would be equally as true for school library staff –

it’s interesting and thought provoking all the way through.

There’s much to reflect on and take away, and it leaves the

reader feeling optimistic and hopeful. Using quotes and his

experiences he pulls together different ideas and pushes the

reader to think and engage beyond education, and using

some powerful examples manages to commend the work

that’s being done at the moment and inspire the reader to

try harder. This is a book I will ruminate on for a while.

Alison Tarrant

Jennings, Andrew

Vocabulary Ninja


9781 4729 6443 4

A must have for primary school teachers! Vocabulary Ninja

is a real treat. It is packed full of spelling, punctuation and

grammar activities for your class, and has plenty of

information and guidance for teachers too. With many

pages available for photocopy, the book is extremely useful,

but the lesson plan ideas and instructions make it

invaluable. As a Literacy specialist I have found it extremely

helpful in planning for my Year 6 class.

Hannah Breslin


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feature articles.

This index does not include reviews of books,

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see Books

Awards and Events

Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2020: The SLA

Nomination (King) iv 200

Attending the Berkshire Unconference (Fella) iv 202

Celebrating the 2018 Information Book Award

(Tarrant) i 13

School Librarian of the Year Award: A Personal

Reflection (Bastone) iii 143

Band, Barbara

Creating a Primary School Reading Culture at

Dogmersfield School ii 75

Editorial i 2; ii 66; iii 130; iv 194

Ten Minutes With... Agnès Guyon: Q&A ii 67

Ten Minutes With... Lucas Maxwell: Q&A iii 131

Ten Minutes With... Stephen King: Q & A i 3

Ten Minutes With... Sue Bastone: Q & A iv 195

Band, Barbara; Kirk, Fiona; Hingston, Lynmara

Just Like Us: Reading Roadshows iii 140

Bastone, Sue


Reflection iii 143

Ten Minutes With... Sue Bastone: Q & A iv 195

Books


(Tarrant) i 13

Diverse Literature in School Libraries: Reflected

Realities (Courtney) iii 133


School Library (King) iv 205

Running a Creative Writing Club: Team Writing to

Produce a Novel (Robinson) iv 204

see also Awards and Events; Reading

Breslin, Theresa



Court, Joy

Editorial i 24; ii 88; iii 152; iv 216

Courtney, Matthew


Realities iii 133

Competitions

see Awards and Events

Computers

see Information Literacy/Information Technology

Davis, Lucy

Surrey Student Librarian Conference 2018:

Recognising Their Work and Achievements i 5

Digital Literacy


Diversity



We Go Together: How Library Staff Can Support

LGBTIQ Students in the School Library

(McEwen) iii 136

Events

see Awards and Events

Fella, Jane

Attending the Berkshire Unconference iv 202

Graphic novels

see Books

Guyon, Agnès

Ten Minutes With... Agnès Guyon: Q&A ii 67

Hodgson, Rachel

Breathing Life into Library Lessons: It's Not Just

About Reading! i 8

Hulme-McKibbin, Caroline

At the Heart of the School: Kensington Prep

School’s Library Transformation iv 197

Hutchinson, Elizabeth

Breaking News! Look What Happens when Teachers

Work with the School Librarian ii 72

Information Literacy/Information Technology

Enabling Students to Learn by Finding Out for

Themselves: Our Journey from FOSIL to the FOSIL

Group (Toerien) ii 77

Illustration/Illustrators

see Books

King, Stephen


Nomination iv 200


School Library iv 205

Ten Minutes With... Stephen King: Q & A i 3

Librarianship

see School libraries

Libraries


Literacy

see Reading

Maxwell, Lucas

Ten Minutes With... Lucas Maxwell: Q&A iii 131

McEwen, Karys


LGBTIQ Students in the School Library iii 136

Poetry

Shine a Light on the Wisdom and Writing of Your

Poets (Stanton) i 12

Publishing

see Books

Pupil Librarians


Reading

Creating a Primary School Reading Culture at

Dogmersfield School (Band) ii 75

Just Like Us: Reading Roadshows (Band et al) iii 140

Reading Rocks! Using Illustration to Encourage a

Love of Reading (Sands) ii 69

see also Books

Robinson, Helen

Running a Creative Writing Club: Team Writing to

Produce a Novel iv 204

Roche, Caroline

The #GreatSchoolLibraries Campaign i 10

Sands, Leia

Reading Rocks! Using Illustration to Encourage a

Love of Reading ii 69

Index to Vol 67

School libraries/librarianship

At the Heart of the School: Kensington Prep

School’s Library Transformation (Hulme-McKibbin)

iv 197

Breaking News! Look What Happens when Teachers

Work with the School Librarian (Hutchinson) ii 72

Breathing Life into Library Lessons: It's Not Just

About Reading! (Hodgson) i 8



Sharing Ideas and Inspiration: A Visit from a School

Librarian from Stockholm (Suffield) ii 70

Something Old, Something New… What Should I

Do?: Extended Project Decisions (Shenton) i 14

Surrey Student Librarian Conference 2018:

Recognising Their Work and Achievements

(Davis) i 5

Rural School Librarians’ Workshop in Zimbabwe

(Tokwe) ii 79

The #GreatSchoolLibraries Campaign (Roche) i 10


LGBTIQ Students in the School Library

(McEwen) iii 136

School Library Association




(Tarrant) i 13


Reflection (Bastone) iii 143

Shenton, Andrew K.

Something Old, Something New… What Should I

Do?: Extended Project Decisions i 14

Stanton, Marcus

Shine a Light on the Wisdom and Writing of Your

Poets i 12

Suffield, Emma

Sharing Ideas and Inspiration: A Visit from a School

Librarian from Stockholm ii 70

Tarrant, Alison

Celebrating the 2018 Information Book Award i 13

Technology


Toerien, Darryl

Enabling Students to Learn by Finding Out for

Themselves: Our Journey from FOSIL to the FOSIL

Group ii 77

Tokwe, Hosea

Rural School Librarians’ Workshop in Zimbabwe ii 79

Writing

see Books

Index of Advertisers

Accessit 215

Andersen Press 221

Booklife 229

European Schoolbooks 229

Hawthorn Press 223

Hot Key Books 245

IS Oxford

outside back cover

JCS Online Resources 241

KPC Book Protection 223

OverDrive

inside front cover

Reading Cloud

inside back cover

Usborne 231

Well-being Through Reading 223


Index of books reviewed

A

Agee, Jon – Life on Mars 217

Amson-Bradshaw, Georgia – So You Want to be a

Viking? 236

Angelini, Josephine – What She Found in the Woods 252

Anthony, William and Holmes, Kirsty – Canada

(Welcome to My World) 236

Anthony, William and Wood, John – Learn the

Language of Digital Tech (De:Code) 236

Arshad, Humza and White, Henry – Little Badman

and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties 226

Atta, Dean – The Black Flamingo 243

B

Balen, Katya – The Space We’re in 226

Baron, Adam – You Won’t Believe This 226

Beck, Ian – The Magic Hour 217

Bird, Pip – The Naughtiest Unicorn 226

Bird, Pip – The Naughtiest Unicorn at Sports Day 226

Blackman, Malorie – Crossfire 243

Blevins, Wiley – Near or Far? (Location Words) 217

Bourne, Holly – The Places I’ve Cried in Public 252

Bright, Michael – When We Became Humans 237

Brisenden, Rhys and Reed, Nathan – Incredible You 217

Brown, Matt – Mutant Zombies Cursed My School Trip 226

Burke, Fatti – Ancient Egypt (Find Tom in Time) 237

Bushby, Aisha – A Pocketful of Stars 227

C

Camerini, Valentina. Translated by Moreno Giovannoni –

Greta’s Story: The Schoolgirl Who Went on Strike

to Save the Planet 237

Carter, James and Vidali, Valerio – Once Upon a Rhythm 217

Carter, T. E. – All We Could Have Been 243

Cassidy, Cathy – Sami’s Silver Lining (Lost and Found) 227

Chandler, Matt – Ninjas: Japan’s Stealthy Secret Agents

(Graphic History: Warriors) 251

Christopher, Lucy and Suvorova, Anastasia – Shadow 217

Clanchy, Kate (ed.) – England: Poems from a School 243

Clark, Mike – Ghastly Gases (Strange Science and

Explosive Experiments) 237

Cobb, Rebecca – Hello, Friend! 218

Collins, Ross – This is a Dog 218

Colson, Rob – Powerful Forces (Extreme Science) 237

Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur and Baudet, Stephanie –

Shadows, Secret and Stolen Treasure (The Sherlock

Holmes Children’s Collection) 227

Cooper, Howard – Being Jewish? (Can I Tell You About) 238

Cousins, Dave – My Babysitter is a Robot 227

D

Daly, Niki – Here Comes Lolo 218

Daly, Niki – Hooray for Lolo 218

Daykin, Chloe – Fire Girl, Forest Boy 227

Daynes, Katie and Miguéns, Marta Alvarez – What is the

Moon? (Lift-the-Flap Very First Questions & Answers) 218

DiCamillo, Kate – Beverly, Right Here 228

Dix, Ellie – The Board Game Family 254

Doerrfeld, Cori – The Rabbit Listened 218

Donald, Alison and Landy, Ariel – The Spacesuit 218

Dorey, Martin – Kids Fight Plastic 238

Dunlap, Shannon – Izzy + Tristan 244

Durant, Alan and Blankenaar, Dale – Quill Soup 219

E

Emezi, Akwaeke – Pet 244

Ewing, Chana Ginelle – An ABC of Equality 238

F

Feasey, Steve – Dark Blade (Whispers of the Gods) 244

Ferrie, Chris and Batori, Susan – There Was a Black

Hole that Swallowed the Universe 219

Fisher, Catherine – The Velvet Fox 228

Follett, Barbara Newhall – The House Without Windows 228

G

gal-dem – I Will not be Erased 251

Gardner, Sally and Cai, Rovina – The Wind in the Wall 244

Garrett, Camryn – Full Disclosure 253

Gerver, Richard – Education: A Manifesto for Change 254

Gifford, Clive – The Race to Space 238

Glaister, Lesley – Aphra’s Child (Chimera One) 253

Golding, Julia, Briggs, Andrew and Wagner, Roger –

Modern Flights: Where Next? 238

Golding, Julia, Briggs, Andrew and Wagner, Roger –

Victorian Voyages: Where Did We Come From? 238

Gregory, Karen – I Hold your Heart 253

Guridi, Raul – How to Put a Whale in a Suitcase 219

H

Hamilton, Kimberlie – Rebel Dogs: Heroic Tales of

Trusty Hounds 239

Hanaor, Ziggy and Bowsher, Alice – Fly Flies 219

Hawthorne, Lara – Alba the Hundred Year Old Fish 219

Hemming, Alice – Arlo, Miss Pythia and the Forbidden

Box (Class X) 228

Hendry, Diana and Eaves, Ed – You Can’t Cuddle a

Crocodile 219

Herbert, Kari – We Are Artists 251

Hitchman, Jess and La Baleine, Lili – In Every House,

on Every Street 220

Holcombe, Ella and Cox, David – The House on the

Mountain 220

Holmes, Kirsty – Blueprint for a Bladder (How to Build

a Human Body) 239

Holmes, Kirsty – Building Virtual Worlds (Level Up) 239

Hood, Morag – Brenda is a Sheep 220

Hunt, Jilly – Feeling Good about Yourself (Ali &

Annie’s Guide) 239

Hyder, Liz – Bearmouth 253

I

Ingram, Gill – Zoe and the Very Grumpy Witch 228

J

James, Simon – Mr Scruff 220

Jennings, Andrew – Vocabulary Ninja 254

Jina, Devika – The Extraordinary Life of Katherine

Johnson (Extraordinary Lives) 239

Judge, Chris – The Baby Beast 220

K

Kagawa, Julie – Shadow of the Fox 244

Kagawa, Julie – Soul of the Sword 244

Kalhan, Savita – That Asian Kid 246

Kelly, Tracey – The Culture and Recipes of India (Let’s

Cook!) 240

Kerr, Judith – The Curse of the School Rabbit 228

Kuo, Fifi – Everyone Can Draw 222

L

Layton, Neal – A Planet Full of Plastic: And How You

Can Help 240

Lennon, Thomas – Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of

Riddles 230

Long, David – When We Walked on the Moon 240

Lovell, Ruby and Merrick, Zara – Stop that Monkey!

He Stole Ruby’s Ice Lolly! 222

Lucido, Aimee – In the Key of Code 246

M

Mason, Paul – The International Yeti Collective 230

Mathieu, Jennifer – The Liars 246

McEwen, Katharine – Who’s Hiding in the Woods? 222

McKay, Hilary – The Time of Green Magic 230

Mello, Roger. Translated by Daniel Hahn – Charcoal Boys 230

Melville, Elena Arevalo – Umbrella 222

Mendoza, Molly – Skip 246

Morgan, Nicola – Body Brilliant: A Teenage Guide to a

Positive Body Image 251

Moriarty, Jaclyn – The Extremely Inconvenient

Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone 232

Moses, Brian and Carter, James – Spaced Out 243

N

Nagara, Innosanto – M is for Movement 251

O

Owen, Lucy – The Sea House 232

P

Parker, Morgan – Who Put This Song On? 247

Pike, Julie – The Last Spell Breather 232

Pommaux, Yvan. Translated by Lehmann, Anna – All

of Us: A Young People’s History of The World 240

Q

Quayle, Ruth and Tuya, Jez – Suzy Orbit, Astronaut 222

R

Ramirez, Janina – Way of the Waves (A Viking Mystery) 232

Rayner, Shoo – Walker: The Boy Who Can Talk to Dogs 232

Read, Kate – One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller 222

The School Librarian is also indexed by EBSCO, Gale and ProQuest.

Reed, Amy – The Boy & Girl Who Broke the World 247

Reynolds, Jason – Patina (Run) 233

Ribay, Randy – Patron Saints of Nothing 247

Riddell, Chris – Guardians of Magic (The Cloud Horse

Chronicles) 233

Riley, Christopher – Where Once We Stood 240

Rose, Malcolm – Chasing the Rapture (Raven Books) 247

Russo, Meredith – Birthday 247

Rustad, Martha E. H. – I Can Reduce Waste 222

S

Saunders, Claire et al – The Power Book: What is it,

Who Has it and Why? 240

Sayers, Ross – Sonny and Me 247

Scallan, Melissa – Starting University (The Essential

Student Guide) 254

Schmidt, Gary D. – Pay Attention, Carter Jones 233

Scott-Elliot, Robin – The Tzar’s Curious Runaways 233

Sedgwick, Marcus – Snowflake, AZ 254

Sedgwick, Marcus, Sedgwick, Julian and Deacon, Alexis –

Voyages in the Underworld of Orpheus Black 248

Sellick, James and Preston-Gannon, Frann – There’s a

Rang-tan in My Bedroom 224

Shukla, Nikesh – The Boxer 248

Sloan, Michelle and Bia, Elena – Greyfriars Bobby:

A Puppy’s Tale 224

Smith, Sydney – Small in the City 224

Snicket, Lemony and Alexander, Rilla – Swarm of Bees 224

Sorosiak, Carlie – I, Cosmo 233

Stalner, Éric. Translated by Mark Bence – Illinois

(The Route 66 List) 248

Stark, Ulf. Translated by Julia Marshall – The Run-Aways 234

Stevens, Roger (ed.) – Moonstruck! Poems about our

Moon 243

Stewart, Erin – Scars Like Wings 248

Stone, Nic – Jackpot 248

Strachan, Linda – The Dangerous Lives of the Jacobites 242

T

Timberlake, Ralph and Sharman, Helen – Blast Off to

the Moon 242

Tomlinson, Nick – The Ghouls of Howlfair 234

Tyler, Madeline and Vallepur, Shalini – I’m a Vegan 242

U

UNHCR – Forced to Flee: Refugee Children Drawing

on their Experiences 252

V

Valentine, Rachel and Bagley, Rebecca – Don’t Mess

with a Princess! 224

Vallepur, Shalini – Eid al-Adha (Celebrate with Me) 224

Van Genechten, Guido. Translated by Natascha Biebow

– The Truth About Dinosaurs 225

Van Smit, Lucy – The Hurting 250

Various – Migrations: Open Hearts Open Borders 252

Viellé, Eric. Translated by Daniel Hahn – Encyclopedia of

Grannies 225

Villoro, Juan. Translated by Lawrence Schimel – The Wild

Book 250

Volant, Iris – Ancient Wonders 242

Völker, Sven – A Million Dots 225

W

Wallman, Sue – Dead Popular 250

Walsh, Aoife – Lost for Words 234

Watson, Renée – Some Places More than Others 234

Wenzel, Brendan – A Stone Sat Still 234

Westgarth, Stevie – Aife and Stray 236

Weston, Danny – Inchtinn: Island of Shadows 250

Whitehorn, Harriet – The Great Raspberry Mix Up 236

Williamson, Lara – The Girl with Space in her Heart 236

Witton, Hannah – The Hormone Diaries: The Bloody Truth

About Our Periods 254

Wood, John – Skin (My Body, Your Body) 225

Wood, John and Duhig, Holly – The Incredible Smog (Planet

Protectors) 225

Wood, Laura – Under a Dancing Star 250

Wood, Levison – Incredible Journeys: Discovery,

Adventure, Danger, Endurance 242

Y

Yoon, David – Frankly in Love 250


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