TSL-68-2-SUMMER-2020

School The
Librarian
www.sla.org.uk volume 68 number 2 summer 2020
The quarterly journal of the School Library Association

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Contents
www.sla.org.uk volume 68 number 2 summer 2020
Features
Features editorial 66
Cross-Curricular Inclusivity: Arden’s World Book Day 2020 67
Emma O’Brien
The Swindon Youth Festival of Literature: A Life-enriching
Experience 69
Kate Murphy
Mustard-tasting, Calligraphy and a Dragon in the Library:
Celebrating Culture and Diversity 72
Rosalind Jensen
The Past is Another Country: Using Historical Books 74
Tony Bradman
Cover: Original artwork by
Chris Riddell, President of the
School Library Association.
See the Summer info@sla
newsletter for information on
how to win this artwork for
your school library.
SLAdigital
A Dual Role: The Positives of Working as a School Librarian
and Cover Supervisor 76
Sarah Seddon
Wordless Picture Books: Exploring the Work of Illustrator
David Wiesner 78
Robin Stewart
Websites, apps and digital resources 81
Reviews
Reviews editorial 88
Under Eight 89
Eight to Twelve 100
Poetry and Plays 116
Twelve to Sixteen 126
Sixteen to Nineteen 126
Professional 127
Index of advertisers 127
Index of books reviewed 128
Subscriptions
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The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 65

Features
Editorial
I am writing this editorial at the beginning of April with no idea what the
current situation will be like when the journal is posted out to you around the
end of May; this is the third week of lockdown and it feels like forever. However,
I am thrilled that every contributor to this issue has come up ‘with the goods’ (I
fully expected some of them not to have the time to write anything) and they’ve
sent in some fantastic and inspiring articles.
One of the things that struck me as I was reading them was the amount of
collaboration involved in the projects and activities described. Collaboration
with students, other staff, local schools, other librarians, authors, the local
community, sponsors – the list is endless. Just look at the articles on World
Book Day 2020 or the Swindon Youth Festival of Literature to give you an idea
of the range of people involved in these events. But it’s not just full-scale
projects that need collaboration; smaller things such as running a book group or
a library competition also work better when we work with and have the support
of others.
I always think school library staff are perfectly placed within a school for being
collaborators and facilitators. We have an overview of the curriculum so can see
links and we have contact with most (if not all) of the students. This means we
are able to engender diverse groups of students to work together, and to join
forces with a wide range of staff from different departments to impact on
teaching and learning. We also endlessly communicate and share with others
within the school library world.
This was brought home to me when schools were closed on 20 March. The
amount of sharing of resources, creating of worksheets, providing links to
eBooks, author videos and more, was phenomenal. Library staff were going to
make sure their students were still able to access and read books even though
the library would be closed. Not only that but many created their own resources,
some using applications they’d had to learn at short notice, while others took
advantage to sign up for MOOCs and online courses so they could use this time
to add to their CPD. Library staff are used to being creative and thinking outside
the box; this strange situation certainly brought that out and was demonstrated
by my social media feeds being swamped. I’ll admit to being rather proud of my
sector and the way they stepped up to cope with all of this, and I was delighted
to be able to pass on resources and links to other school staff and parents. Such
an amazing display of our skills and expertise, and a wonderful opportunity to
show our value.
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 © 2020 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.
66 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020
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

Cross-Curricular
Inclusivity
Arden’s World Book Day 2020
by Emma O’Brien
Features
On Friday 6 March 2020, Arden Academy celebrated World
Book Day with three authors invited to demonstrate to
students that no matter what subject you are interested in,
reading underpins everything.
I joined Arden as their school librarian in January 2018 and my
first World Book Day was low-key as I focussed on getting to
know the school and its protocols. In 2019 our theme was
Detective Fiction and alongside the English department, I held
various activities, including a murder mystery play written and
performed by the students and an escape room I designed
where small groups of students solved literary puzzles to
escape. The day was a success with 106 students signing up for
the escape room and approximately 200 students participating
in the other activities.
Because of this success I immediately began thinking about the
following World Book Day and knew I wanted it to be bigger,
better and more inclusive of all students. Although the escape
room, play and other activities were open to all, there was a
limited capacity and the sign-up option had left out some
students who may have thought that activities involving
reading were not for them. For 2020, the message I wanted to
send to students was ‘no matter what your interests – reading
underpins everything’. To do this, I needed to target the
students who were interested in other subjects but did not see
the benefits of reading for pleasure and how reading supports
their learning across the curriculum. I made a list of all the
subjects we teach in school that were not directly linked to
languages and reading, then found authors that could
represent the link between reading and those subjects. The
three authors who came to mind were: science-fiction writer,
and Chemistry and
Physics graduate,
Lauren James to
represent STEM
subjects; inclusivity and
diversity expert, Bali
Rai, for History
Citizenship and RE;
and Matt Oldfield for
sports/PE – who the
students had brought
to my attention as they
were obsessed with his
football biographies.
I now had my three
authors, my date (we
celebrate WBD on the
Friday due to Parents’
Evening on the Thursday) but no other plan at this stage other
than a vague idea that I would like lots of workshops!
The structure of the day
To begin the logistics, I started with the structure of the day.
All the authors were happy to do three talks/workshops, so I
organised the day as follows:
Period 1 – Arrival of authors & tour of school
Period 2 – First workshop
Break
Period 3 – Second workshop
Lunch – Half hour break, half hour book signing
Period 4 – Third workshop
Period 5 – Competition judging, debrief and depart.
Following this, I concentrated on the content by asking myself
these questions: Which students will attend? What will the
workshops focus on?
I decided that to reach as many students as possible, one
session would be an entire year group talk; the second session
would be on reading and writing (either working with
reluctant/unconfident readers, or with stretch and
challenge/confident readers nominated by their English
teachers); and the third session would be working with the
Subject Ambassadors. The Arden Subject Ambassador
programme is where students sign up to be representatives for
subjects they are passionate about, and the students run
various activities throughout the year. It was this group of
students who I particularly wanted to target – students who
believe in education and learning but perhaps don’t love
reading for pleasure, to show them that reading can support
their passions.
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 67

Features
The next few weeks were very rushed getting everything
together - booking rooms, getting cover for library lessons and
breaktime duties, checking attendee lists, liaising with authors
and agents, liaising with SLT, Heads of Year and Heads of
Department, informing all staff about the day, completing risk
assessments, sending letters to parents, ordering books
Kenilworth Books – all whilst organising my costume for the
day and trying to ignore the ever-pressing doom of
coronavirus.
Finally, I had my timetable for the day:
Not without challenges!
It took a long time to get to this stage with a few pitfalls along
the way including the fact that due to mock exams, Year 11
were unable to be involved and Year 10s were limited to
certain classes. Incidentally, the Head of Year 9 decided that a
compulsory assembly would be difficult for Year 9, so that
session became sign-up only and merged with the Year 8
session.
One challenge was ascertaining which students were attending
each workshop to ensure that no students attended the same
session twice – for example, if a Year 9 student who signed up
for Lauren James’ Creative Writing workshop was also a
student librarian chosen to host Lauren’s Y7 Reading
Workshop and a STEM Ambassador attending Lauren’s third
workshop, their day would be very repetitive!
Another problem was noticing, the day before the big day, a
clash between the Year 8 group talk with Bali Rai and Matt
Oldfield’s ‘Bouncing Back from Setbacks’ workshop with Year
8 reluctant readers. I panicked at first, but after speaking with
the Heads of Year,
we agreed that it was
more beneficial for
that cohort to attend
a workshop than it
was to sit in a hall
and listen for an
extended period of
time, so it worked
out in the end.
After all the planning, I invited a wonderful parent volunteer
and children’s literature aficionado, Cathie Kelly, to help me
go through the last few details. This conversation was
invaluable as it helped point out a few gaps; I cannot stress
enough to anyone thinking of running an event that you
definitely need a second, third and fourth pair of eyes! The
more you discuss the event, the more you will notice the finer
details which could be an issue. For example, we realised that I
could not be everywhere on the day and, as the authors could
not be left alone with students, I needed to recruit some
volunteer staff to help support each session including taking
the authors to and from each session, introducing them to the
students and staying to support behaviour management. I also
ensured each session had two student librarians as ‘Author
Hosts’ to fetch anything the authors needed and to act as
runners for supervising staff. After they had performed any
duties required in the session, they were then invited to stay
and participate.
The day arrives
We started the celebrations on World Book Day itself on
Thursday 5th March with the wonderful Tamsin Rosewell
from Kenilworth Books, who visited us to speak with two Sixth
Form business classes about the bookselling industry. The talk
was fascinating and I highly recommend getting Tamsin to talk
at your school if she is available. It was also important for me
to have some involvement with the Sixth Form to stretch the
inclusivity of the day across age bands.
On the Friday, because of the meticulous planning and support
from everyone, World Book Day 2020 mostly went off without
a hitch. Bali ran an exceptional workshop with Year 9 showing
them how starting with the most exciting incident will grip the
examiner and give them the highest marks. He gave an entire
year group talk to Year 8 and ended the day with a riveting
session with Year 10 RE students. Ms Mehrban, Head of RE,
had this to say, ‘that was such a good session – the students all
wanted more information about his books – I could see them
all thinking and questioning.’
Lauren held back-to-back workshops, firstly with Year 8 and
Year 9, then with Year 7 students. In these, Lauren discussed
her early life and inspiration for writing, and students were
invited to write their own science fiction stories using a STEM
stimulus. Year 7 student Jenna Makepeace attended the
workshop and reported, ‘it was a really interesting and fun
8
68 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

The Swindon Youth
Festival of Literature
A Life-enriching Experience
by Kate Murphy
Features
The Swindon Youth Festival of Literature is in its 13th year
and is an outstanding collaborative project run by the
Librarians of the secondary schools across Swindon, Wiltshire.
With a year of planning, we celebrate reading, writing and
creativity with thousands of students during a week-long
festival in November and, whilst I am the coordinator and my
name goes at the bottom of many emails during that year, it is
the fabulous team of Librarians that make the events happen
in each school.
Small beginnings
The Festival was established by Fiona Hardcastle, the previous
LRC Manager at Dorcan Academy, in November 2008. Its
creation and funding came from the Swindon Ten group of
schools. Swindon Ten was a group of five secondary and five
primary schools all working together to improve the education
of their students. The Librarians of the secondary schools
involved were invited to submit ideas on what they thought
would help promote reading within their schools; it was a
unanimous decision –
we wanted to organise
author visits to
introduce new writers
to the students and broaden what they were reading. It was a
great success and we continued in 2009 inviting the other six
secondary schools in the town to participate, making it fully
inclusive for all secondary school students. Funding ceased
following the 2010 Literature Festival with the demise of the
Swindon Ten group. But, now having established a successful
and popular festival in the town, we were reluctant to let it go
so a bid was made to SASH (Swindon Association of
Secondary Headteachers) to continue the funding in 2011 and
onwards; thankfully they said yes, with each school
contributing financially. At this point we also introduced the
primary event, where secondary schools hosted an author for
their partner primaries, therefore including the entire town’s
secondary and primary student population. Thirteen years
later and SASH are still wonderfully supportive of us with 13
8
experience and we all had a great time’. Lauren
finished the day with a workshop with Year 10 Triple
Science students who thoroughly enjoyed using their teacher
as the key to saving the world in their stories!
As well as a Year 7 group talk, Matt’s ‘Bouncing Back from
Setbacks’ workshops with Year 8 were hugely popular and it
was encouraging to see many of the students waiting after the
workshop to show Matt the stories they had written. English
teacher Miss Ladkin supervised the workshop and said ‘Matt
engaged with so many students who don’t always see the fun
and joy that can come from reading and writing stories… what
was most inspiring for the students was the focus on stories
which show characters “bouncing back from setbacks” … All in
all, it was a very uplifting and engaging workshop.’
And afterwards…
After the sessions, the authors came together to judge both the
staff costume competition and the House Competition where
students had to design a door based on a book. It was also nice
to have that time at the end of the day for the authors, Tamsin,
Cathie and myself to get together for a debrief. I would
definitely feed some time into your day to do this if you can, as
Lauren said, ‘it’s rare for an event like this and it’s great to get
together with other authors’, while Bali commented, ‘it was a
fantastically well organised day.’
Across the two days, over 800 students (45% of our student
body) were directly impacted by attending the different
workshops. There was a lovely atmosphere around the school
with students excited to catch a glimpse of the authors and
also have a giggle at the staff members who dressed up. The
day was a huge amount of work to organise but overall it was
worth it to see its impact – from the hush of Year 7 eagerly
awaiting to hear what Matt Oldfield had to share with them, to
seeing a few of our disengaged students eagerly listening to
Bali with his straight talking, in-your-face writing workshop.
I can’t yet say what the long-term impact will be, but I have
noticed more students and staff asking me about my plans for
World Book Day 2021! And I hope that the day has left
students feeling that they were ‘seen’. Often library activities
can become too focussed on one cohort of students who are
already passionate about reading, or the school can become
too fixed on the weaker students who don’t want to engage.
My aim for World Book Day was to show every child that they
matter and World Book Day, the library, books and reading
are for everyone. If I managed that, then the day was a success.
Finally, I have to say that the day could not have gone ahead
without the support of my colleagues, the students and the
local community – it is through collaboration that large scale
events like these are made possible and I am beyond grateful to
Arden for letting me run with my ambitious plans.
Here’s to next year’s event!
■ Emma O’Brien is Librarian at Arden School, Solihull. For
more about Arden Library, visit the school webpage
www.arden.solihull.sch.uk/departments/library/ or visit us
on Twitter @ArdenLibrary.
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 69

Features
secondary schools now involved and, to date, over 100,000
students participating in the festival in some way or another.
Creating a wish list
Throughout the festival week, students work with authors,
poets and illustrators who visit the schools for performances
and workshops. Each Librarian decides which author would
work well in their school and gives me their wish list. The
Librarians are best placed to know which authors are popular
in their schools and who would work well with the year groups
they are hoping to engage with. In early January I start
emailing and phoning to see who’s available from this wish list.
I also get suggestions from agents and authors contact me
themselves too. We have been tweeted more than once telling
us how much an author would like to be involved! This is
testament to the reputation of our festival and the high regard
in which authors who have been involved hold it. Over the
next few months, I then start putting all the pieces together.
It’s like a big author jigsaw puzzle
with the logistics of travel
arrangements, hotel bookings,
transport between schools, lunch
arrangements and book ordering
all falling under my remit. But at
the end of that, every year, there is
a line-up of brilliant authors to
inspire the young adult audiences
and the excitement mounts as we
know books, creative writing and
art will all be brought to life.
A typical Festival day
As we all know from author visits, many students really enjoy
spending time with authors. A typical Festival day for a visiting
author is an assembly-type show at the start of the day and
then writer-role model workshops with the selected year
groups. As the Festival is so well endorsed by the Heads of
each school, we have the support to take students off timetable
for events as we are highlighting the school wide culture of
reading. Seeing teachers across the curriculum who are
attending the author events engage enthusiastically with the
writing and poetry is just fabulous and encourages the students
to participate even more, especially the more reluctant ones.
The partner primary events are half a day in each school and
involve our primary schools visiting with Year 5/6 children;
our primaries all look forward to this as a valuable transition
event. The secondary schools share an author for a day with
the author travelling between the two schools. We offer book
sales at all events and publicise this widely beforehand. Most
Librarians run the book sales themselves ordering on a ‘sale or
return’ basis from Browns Books for Students and with the
help of other staff or student librarians although our local
Waterstones will
also run pop-up
bookshops at some
events. The queue
for book signing is
always very long!
A highlight of the
week is our
Headline event at
Swindon’s local theatre,
the Wyvern. Our budget
allows us to pay for
coaches for 50 students
from each school to
attend this special
author event, and the
list starts with Michael
Rosen and ends with
Annabel Pitcher who we
welcomed last year. Past speakers have included, Simon Mayo,
Carol Ann Duffy, Derek Landy, Jonathan Meres, Johnathan
Stroud, Steve Cole, The Chain Saw Gang, Holly Smale, Darren
Shan and Charlie Higson. This is generally an hour long show
and we have roaming mics so students can ask questions.
There is always a book sale afterwards here too so students can
buy a prized book and take an author/reader photograph to
treasure!
Festival competitions
The Festival programme includes several competitions with
each competition being organised within individual schools by
the school’s Librarian. This includes a Creative Writing
Competition – a 500 words story inspired by a chosen image
and judged by an author, last year this was Karen Gregory and
the year before Joffre White. There is a Poetry Competition
with participants writing a poem inspired by the year’s
National Poetry theme and judged by the Festival performance
poet, Ash Dickinson. During the Festival week, Ash visits all of
the secondary schools to perform his poetry to all Year 7
students. During these visits he encourages everyone’s ‘inner
poet’ by supporting them to create their own rhymes and
verse, and it is one of the most popular events in each school.
Of course he has the opportunity to meet all the winners of the
Poetry competition too.
We also run an Illustration
Competition which involves
students producing works of
art in any medium, in response
to a section of text from the
Carnegie prize winner and this
is judged by children’s author
and illustrator, Steve Antony.
The winners of this
competition have the exciting
opportunity to participate in an
illustration workshop run by
Steve in the art rooms at
Swindon College who we have
forged a link with and who
kindly host it for us. Our Inter-school Book Quiz finishes the
week and this is always a highly competitive event between the
schools’ bookworms!
All the prize winners are invited to attend a Celebration event
with their friends and family, and local dignitaries award the
prizes. We also have our Library Ambassadors award at this
event which is where each Librarian has nominated a student
who has contributed to the running of the LRC and helped
with the coordination of the SYFL. It is a real ‘lump in the
throat’ moment, as many lone working Librarians would agree
they couldn’t run their library without the assistance of
70 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

student librarians so recognition of them is very special.
I should add that all of the prizes for the competitions are
funded by sponsorship from national businesses like Browns
Books for Students and WH Smith, and also a handful of local
firms who take great pride in being involved with our Festival.
We simply wouldn’t have the money to give out prizes for
these well received competitions without them and are
extremely grateful to our sponsors for their involvement.
Involving the community
Community links are very important for our Festival such as
the ones we have made with the local college and local
businesses. We have a good contact with the local hub of the
National Literacy Trust and I am part of the Operations
Group, which looks at NLT Hub priorities in Swindon. They
are very supportive of the Festival especially on social media,
retweeting and publicising the Festival whenever there is the
opportunity to do so. Last year we contacted all our local
community libraries too and many of them prominently
displayed the books of the authors who were visiting the
schools closest to them as well as posting them on their social
media sites. This provides an invaluable link between schools,
home and the community.
The local press is very supportive in promoting the positive
message the Festival brings, and reporters and photographers
can be seen at many of the events during the week. I also
partake in radio interviews in the run-up, during and after the
Festival particularly on the community radio stations. It is all
positive promotion of libraries, schools and students whilst
Features
also reinforcing our
message of Reading
for Pleasure.
Of course, every
event is free to attend
for the students as we
are a not-for-profit
organisation. Over
the years we have
gained a logo and our publicity material is centralised so we all
have the same posters displayed at school with the relevant
information changed for each school; this undeniably gives us
a professional edge. We have our own Facebook and Twitter
sites which are fun to run and we are followed by many
authors who have been involved with the Festival in the past,
present and hopefully future!
The Swindon Youth Festival of Literature is an inclusive event
in every school and, as Librarians, we are always so pleased
and proud to have so many students involved in this lifeenriching
experience that many will never forget. To see
young bookworms have the chance to come face-to-face with
so many wonderful and diverse authors and performers over
the years makes all the hard work worth it. The dedication of
the Librarians is boundless and it is this team effort that makes
it happen every year. And 2020 looks set to be as good as ever,
global pandemics permitting…
■ Kate Murphy is LRC Manager at The Dorcan Academy,
Swindon, Wiltshire and Festival Coordinator.
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 71

Features
Mustard-tasting,
Calligraphy and a
Dragon in the Library
Celebrating Culture and Diversity
by Rosalind Jensen
One role of the school library is to broaden and build on
students’ interests beyond the curriculum. Over the past four
years I have enjoyed developing and delivering three Cultural
Fortnights, each focused on a country or region, as a
contribution to cultural enrichment in our school. This type of
project is not hard for a librarian to develop, and strengthens
collaboration with other school departments as well as being
an opportunity for attracting different students into the library
– and it’s very enjoyable!
Background
I work four days a week at Allenbourn Middle School, in
Dorset. We have 620 pupils in Years 5-8 (ages 9-13). The
number of FSM pupils is lower than average; the majority of
pupils are of White British heritage, with a small but
increasing number of EAL children of different backgrounds.
The library has an open central position in the school building,
so it’s easier to publicise events and draw students in.
Teaching and other support staff value and support the library.
And, not least, I’m lucky enough to manage three large display
boards and several smaller ones along the open corridors
around the library.
For the first cultural fortnight I created a pattern of activities
which was followed in outline in the next two events, but with
significant shifts in emphasis each time.
A. China
The school started receiving regular groups of visiting Chinese
students in 2016, who come for a week to experience an
English school. Chinese New Year is marked in many English
schools, but I wanted our students to understand more about
Chinese history and culture, and be able to share books from
the library with their visitors.
A first display centred on a map of China; I found places of
interest and printed photos to surround the map, with
descriptions. I used another display board to pick out some
specific information, e.g. a picture of the Yellow Emperor, or
modern Hong Kong. This was the basis for a quiz I wrote:
every correct entry during the fortnight earned a (Chinese)
sweet.
The art department has always been ready to collaborate in
library projects, so well beforehand they designed a hanging
dragon and Chinese lanterns with Chinese good luck
characters; these were the main craft activities. The students
also made red good-luck banners to hang up in their
doorways.
For a display, I researched the most popular children’s fiction
in China: I was intrigued by quite a few of the popular Chinese
series, and am still hoping to see them here in translation. I
bought some lovely short bilingual books of myths and
legends, and lent my own copies of Gene Luen Yang’s books to
several older students. I am trying to increase our translated
fiction, and it was a pleasure to find Cao Wenxuan’s prizewinning
Bronze and Sunflower.
Quite a few of our students were interested in the planning,
including my student librarians. One, who does martial arts,
wrote a page about the Shaolin monks to add to the display.
Another brought in a Chinese coin to stick up and told me
about his family connections with China. Once we were under
way (and the news about sweets as prizes had spread!) the
library was consistently busy at lunchtimes. Easiest to run was
the chopstick challenge, where competitors had to pick up
peas and grains of rice with their chopsticks – a good spectator
sport!
Despite my lack of expertise, I planned a cooking activity after
school. Eight students of all ages signed up, paying a small
amount to cover costs, and I bought ingredients. We had fun
twirling the fresh noodles to stretch them out, although we ran
out of time to cook them. However, all participants did taste
mooncake – something new and strange to them.
The two-metre-long dragon and clusters of lanterns were
hung from the library lights in a striking display for the rest of
the school term and I was pleased to see our bilingual books
being sought out by our pupils who were hosting Chinese
visitors.
B. Arabic culture
Encouraged, I planned the next event about the Arabic
heartland (the area from Egypt and Syria to the Gulf States).
Arabic language and history is a major interest of mine, and I
72 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

wanted to
present the
positives of this
culture, which is
often only visible
to our students
through reports
of war, migration
and religious
extremism.
Our MFL
teacher, Carmen Diment, and I were linked with Abassan
Girls’ Preparatory School in Gaza, via the British Council, to
exchange information. I asked for their favourite foods and
authors, and most popular first names, which made a vivid
visual display. In return I sent a Powerpoint of our most
popular authors. A second display highlighted natural beauties
of the region (migrating turtles in Oman, the Baatara gorge
waterfall in Lebanon) and, again, a quiz motivated students to
look at and talk about the displays.
We made the
most of the
decorative
Arabic script.
Students chose
an Arabic name
for themselves
from a list which
gave the
meaning, and I
wrote it out on a
bookmark for
them. Each tutor room also had a poster with the illustrated
Arabic alphabet on and some basic phrases, such as ma’a
salaama (‘peace be with you’). The British Council pack on
Arabic activities for primary schools was useful, particularly
the idea of drawing geometric tiles starting with your name.
The end result, for those patient enough to persist, was very
impressive.
Our library
already had
several books
about the Islamic
empire, but I was
delighted to add
1001 Inventions
and Awesome
Facts and a
biography of
Saladin. A couple
of simple card
games from Daradam were very popular; one group was still
asking to play a couple of weeks later. Several groups,
including Mme Diment’s tutor group, tried out the simplest
steps for the dabke, a rural wedding dance; I would have liked
to take this further!
This time, I made the food-tasting simpler, by preparing
several sweet desserts, with participants writing Masterchefstyle
tasting notes. This led to an interesting conversation with
one of the boys who came, he knew the Arabic script because
his family write in Urdu.
C. Germany
Features
After both the Chinese and Arabic Fortnights, I had requests
from students for a Japanese or Greek fortnight. However,
with the Brexit turmoil I wanted to focus on another European
country, and Germany is less well-known to our students than
France, Spain and Italy.
In the past Allenbourn has
hosted visiting German
teachers, funded by the
German government, but
this never developed into a
reciprocal relationship.
Mme Diment and I had
been talking about finding a
better exchange partner,
and to that end had already
been to the German Days at the German Embassy to gather
advice and information. Mme Diment applied through the
English-German Connexion, and our request was matched
with a teacher from a Bavarian school, Carina Seidel. She was
able to come for the first week of the German fortnight, took
part in the activities, and brought cards made by her students
about their life.
Another significant difference this time – I could call on four
boys bilingual in German, three of whom agreed to speak in
whole-school assembly and escort Frl. Seidel around the school.
It was fascinating to see these boys comparing notes on where
they had lived, for the first time, when they met in the library.
For the fortnight, I bought badges (the prizes), maps and
posters from the Goethe Institut. To involve the rest of the
school more, I created an Art Trail around the corridors,
where students responded to pictures by German artists,
under the heading ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’. Subsequently, I
made a booklet of the most creative entries, and awarded
prizes in whole-school assembly. Again, fascinating German
facts and famous Germans filled two display boards and, with
the cards from the Bavarian school, were material for a quiz.
For a display on ‘My Germany’, I asked families and staff to
send me holiday photos to display round a map.
Craft activities were less successful this time (too difficult) and
I would have liked more space for Brothers Grimm
storytelling, but two food-tasting events (sausages, mustards,
cheeses) were great fun, with 18 children involved.
Parent/family participation this time was much greater, the
prize badges were still being worn in March, and I am hoping
to be able to start an after-school German club using free
resources at some point in the near future.
Impact and assessment
Each event has led me into unusual conversations with
students and staff, and has acted as affirmation of their
different backgrounds, knowledge and culture. The fortnights
have also underlined that we, as a school, are more diverse
than we might think.
The aims and outcomes of a cultural fortnight dovetail nicely
with the importance of diversity and representation in the
library. In 2019 Allenbourn applied for the Silver SMSC
Quality Mark (part of the School Development Plan), and I
was able to present my work to the validator, under the
headings ‘broadening/maintaining an international 8
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 73

Features
The Past is Another
Country
Using Historical Books
by Tony Bradman
Writer Tony Bradman explores how children can
engage with the past through quality historical
fiction.
I’ve been writing for children for a very long time – I started as
a poet and writer of picture book texts in the 1980s, then
moved on to stories of all kinds for five to eights, reading
scheme books and many more. I’ve written in all sorts of
genres too – school and domestic stories, fantasy science
fiction, re-tellings of myths and legends. But my first love as a
young reader was historical fiction, and in recent years I’ve
really been enjoying writing stories set in the past. I know that
children like them too.
One of the best things about reading fiction is the feeling of
being transported to a different world it gives you, and in this
respect the past is definitely another country. What I liked
most about historical stories – and this was in the 1960s, so
we’re talking about Rosemary Sutcliff, Henry Treece and
Geoffrey Trease – was the sense that the world the characters
lived in was strange and exotic, but in many ways very
recognisable, certainly as far as the behaviour of the characters
was concerned.
Of course historical stories only work properly if they’re based
on solid research. I really do believe that you have to get things
right for young readers, so I do lots of reading (both of physical
books and online resources!), and I’ve visited historical
locations as well. There’s nothing quite like a visit to an
ancient site – a castle or a hill fort or a battle-field – to get you
thinking, and give you ideas for scenes. Even better if you’ve
already got a story in your head and some characters waiting
to appear.
History is part of the curriculum, so I’ve quite often been asked
to talk to classes about my historical stories. I can do that from
two aspects – I can talk about the story itself, about how to
create characters and plots, how I use suspense and
cliffhangers to make stories gripping, so that’s English and
Literacy covered. But I can also talk about the historical period
that forms the background of the story. This is especially
useful as the books I’ve written focus on periods mentioned in
the curriculum.
Let me take one of my most successful
books as an example. Viking Boy (Walker
Books) is the story of Gunnar, a young boy
who lives with his parents on a farm in
Viking-age Norway. But the farm is raided
and his father is killed, and Gunnar goes on
a quest to find some way of getting revenge
on the murderer. When I wrote it I wanted
the story to have every element that should
be in a Viking tale – a legendary sword, a longship, heroic
warriors and battles, even the All-Father Odin himself.
8
outlook’ and ‘positive action to promote respect for
and understanding of diversity’. It was a thrill to have
this explicitly acknowledged in the validator’s report.
Planning takes considerable time, and partnerships within
school are vital; I’m very grateful to Mme Diment, and the Art
Department staff. My student librarian team has also led
activities with enthusiasm. It can be hard to find a window of
opportunity in the school timetable, so I want to be sure to
establish this as a regular event in future.
Where next?
I have already been asked to ‘do’ Japan next year, and one aim
is to include music and a technology challenge. I would also
like to involve knowledgeable students in a planning group in
the autumn term, to broaden participation. And after that –
who knows?
Finally, I would love to hear from other librarians who have
been organising similar events, or who would like to, so we can
share resources and ideas! Please contact me on
rjensen@allenbourn.dorset.sch.uk
Some resources
Ganeri, Anita. Languages of the World series (Raintree Young
Explorer)
Xue Lin, et al. Chinese Wisdom series (Snowflake Books,
Oxford)
Mileham, Rebecca, ed. 1001 Inventions and Awesome Facts
from Muslim Civilization (National Geographic Society,
Washington D.C. 2012).
British Council https://www.britishcouncil.org/arabiclanguage-and-culture-education-pack
[accessed April 2020]
Daradam ( www.daradam.com) Arabicouples, and other games
for beginning Arabic.
■ Rosalind Jensen is Librarian at Allenbourn Middle School,
Dorset.
74 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

I soon found myself talking to classes about the book on school
visits and in Skype sessions, and I discovered that teachers and
kids liked hearing about my research. So I talked about my trip
to the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo – the museum has a great
website. I also went to another Viking ship museum in
Roskilde in Denmark. They have a boatyard, with
reconstructed Viking boats and ships, and kids love to hear
about how I went sailing in one of them – and got dressed up
as a Viking too.
I’ve seen lots of great work from classes after my sessions –
writing about some of the characters in the story, drawings
and models as well; many of them based on things they’ve seen
on the websites I’ve mentioned. Some teachers have also got
their classes to act out scenes from the story –sending me
videos of some amazing battles! The key thing is that the story
opens a door for children into this strange and exciting world
and their curiosity makes them want to explore the rest of it
for themselves.
Talking of battles, I’ve also written a
book which focuses on The Battle of
Hastings in 1066. Anglo-Saxon Boy
(Walker Books, winner of a Historical
Association Young Quills Award in
2018) tells the story through the eyes of
Magnus, King Harold’s son. I visited the
site of the battle at Battle Abbey, and it’s
very evocative. It’s also worth going to
the annual re-enactment of the battle
which happens every October. It’s a terrific day out, and it
really does bring the period to life in a dramatic way.
My most recent historical title is Queen
of Darkness (Bloomsbury – reviewed on
p.100), which is my take on the Boudica
story. It’s been told many times before,
and Boudica has often been seen as a
heroine fighting against the odds. That’s
certainly one way of looking at it, and it’s
true that the Romans could be very
brutal when they dealt with the peoples
of the lands they conquered. But I’ve
always felt there was something dark about Boudica too – she
did burn three cities and slaughtered a lot of people.
As I was researching and writing the story I kept thinking
there were many things about it that could be used as the basis
for work in classes. For example, there’s a theory that the Iceni,
Boudica’s tribe were matriarchal, rule passing down the female
line. But the Romans were patriarchal, with men definitely
ruling the roost. So in my version, Boudica is at the heart of a
Mother-Goddess cult, and hates the Roman male dominance –
something that might lead to some interesting work on
gender!
Diversity is at the heart of historical fiction too. I always make
sure I mention the various languages spoken in these islands in
the past. Boudica and the Iceni almost certainly spoke an early
version of Welsh – her name means ‘Victory’ – and the
Romans spoke Latin, so they would have had to learn each
other’s languages. It’s worth looking at the archaeology of the
period – kids are often fascinated when they discover that
there are ‘burn’ layers of ash under the cities Boudica
destroyed.
Features
I should also
mention
Voices, a
series I’ve
edited for
Scholastic.
The idea was
to look at the
periods
children have
to study for the
Primary History Curriculum, but
in stories that feature the
communities that have most been
ignored. So Bali Rai’s Now or
Never is about an Indian transport
battalion at Dunkirk; Patrice
Lawrence’s Diver’s Daughter is
about Africans in Tudor Britain;
Emma Norry’s Son of the Circus is
about a mixed-race boy in
Victorian England; and Empire’s
End by Leila Rasheed is about a
girl from North Africa who comes
to Roman Britain in the third
century.
My parents were of the
generation that fought in World
War 2, and I’ve always been
fascinated by the period – a
recent book of mine is Blackout
(Scholastic), the story of a London
boy who gets separated from his
family
after an
air-raid. I’ve visited several schools
where children have interviewed their
grandparents about their experiences
of being evacuated, or living through
the Blitz. There’s nothing quite so
poignant or affecting as a wall full of
black and white family pictures from
the war.
The key thing to remember about using historical fiction as a
resource is that it covers a very wide range of subjects – and
with a bit of creative thought you can come up with lessons
and activities that will be really interesting for children. And
you get to read exciting stories too! That sounds like a very
good deal to me.
Some useful websites
• Viking Ship Museum Oslo – www.khm.uio.no/english/
• Viking Ship Museum Roskilde –
www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/en/
• Imperial War Museums – www.iwm.org.uk/
■ Tony Bradman is an award-winning writer of many books
for children of all ages. He is happy to visit schools and do
Skype sessions with classes.
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 75

Features
A Dual Role
The Positives of Working as
a School Librarian and
Cover Supervisor
by Sarah Seddon
I am a school librarian, although my official job title is OLC
Manager; our library was re-branded The Open Learning
Centre many years before my time. However, because many
school libraries are called different things and I actively take
part in and promote campaigns such as Great School
Libraries, it is important to me to use the more universal
understood terminology ‘library’.
My background is deeply embedded in libraries. I did my BA
in French and Religious Studies, and then decided to pursue a
career in librarianship, working first at Reading University
before achieving my PG Dip Lib at the University of Wales,
Aberystwyth. After that I worked for some years in public
libraries in Kent, always as a children’s specialist, very much
enjoying the schools aspect of my role. I encouraged school
classes to visit the library and find out what we had to offer
them as support for their homework and further interests. I
did consider early in my career whether I should undertake a
PGCE and change careers but in the end I decided that my
heart was in libraries. In 1994 I had my first opportunity to
work directly with children by taking up a post as a school
librarian at a Catholic comprehensive school in Kent. I
worked there for 5 years, and then for 2 years at a London
prep school. Positions in further education colleges followed
for about 8 years before I moved back into the schools sector.
I have had two redundancies in my career; when out of work
it is always advisable to look for jobs in more than one sector.
I had become aware of the relatively new role of cover
supervisor and thought that this might be something that I’d
enjoy. A good plan whilst taking a career break is to keep up
with any committee work and, despite having been made
redundant from my school librarian role, I wanted to
maintain contact with my colleagues and my knowledge of
children’s literature. I thus asked to stay serving on two
committees – my local SLA branch and the Berkshire Book
Award. It was a colleague on the SLA committee who told me
that she was leaving her role in a school library in Henley and
advised me to apply for the job. So when I saw two jobs
advertised at the school, one as an OLC Manager (Librarian),
and one as a Cover Supervisor, with the former being parttime,
I took the plunge and applied for both with the aim of
discussing possibilities at the interview stage.
Fast forward a few
weeks and I found
myself employed
by Gillotts School
in Henley on an
almost full-time
contract of 29.5
hours a week; this
was initially over 5 days but I have since changed to a 4-day
week. It is an 11–16 state comprehensive school, unusually
the only such school in the town, and it has to be said that
this dual role would not work as well if our school had a sixth
form.
Hands-on Headteacher
I am directly line managed by the Headteacher, which to me
has so many positives. In terms of achieving objectives and
following correct procedures, it does mean everything is
quicker and smoother. This is, of course, because my main
role is as OLC Manager; cover supervisors are not managed
by the Headteacher directly. Having a hands-on Headteacher
of whom I can ask any question, however trivial, makes my
job so much easier and makes me feel privileged. I also count
myself fortunate in having a really excellent relationship with
teachers, in particular, the English department. From the
start I contacted them and asked if I could take part in their
library lessons and deliver a regular session with the teacher
present. I set up a termly programme for the Year 7 classes
which encompasses reading for pleasure and information
skills. Unfortunately time does not allow me to deliver regular
sessions to the Year 8s and 9s as well. All three year groups
have a fortnightly library lesson. This is mainly focused on
reading for pleasure. On occasions I can deliver one-off
sessions to Year 8 and 9 classes if the need arises or if the
teacher asks me to. I can also make sure that students get into
the ‘changing of the library book’ habit. Many teachers were
happy for students to read a different book every lesson; this
culture is slowly changing.
My dual role has a positive impact on my relationships with
teachers and I always make a big effort in my school roles to
engage with all teachers, not just those in the English
department. I maintain communication by sharing
information and resources that may be of benefit to the whole
school via staff bulletins, the student daily bulletin, end of
term newsletters and informally by word of mouth.
In the classroom the students see me in my dual role. It is a
sad fact of school life that students value teachers more than
they do support staff. Cover Supervisors are not ranked more
highly in the eyes of students than librarians, but to be more
visible around the school is a positive experience. It is a great
temptation as a librarian to spend all one’s time in the library.
I was forced out of my comfort zone, had to rapidly get to
know the geography of the school and am seen out and about
a fair amount. For students who do not use the library on a
regular basis, this is very much a positive. When it comes to
my own library skills sessions that I run with Year 7, there are
occasions on which lessons are moved out of the library for
76 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

exams and sometimes I take my lesson out to the classroom.
Of course there are occasions when the English library lesson
needs to be taken by a cover supervisor and if at all possible I
request to cover those lessons. Without this dual role I would
not be allowed to take a class on my own, so on occasions
there is a clear benefit to the school.
I appreciate getting to know the students in the classroom
and building up relationships with them., Whilst I must stick
to delivering the lesson as set by the teacher, there are
occasions on which there are over-laps and I can promote the
library; for instance, for further reading. We have a huge
number of books to support the study of Shakespeare for
example and I took some of these along to a lesson I covered
for Key Stage 3.
Challenges
One of the biggest challenges in every school I have worked in
has been learning the names of students. It is the stark truth
that in a library situation one learns the names of the keen
readers, and also of those who have to be reported for bad
behaviour. Working in a classroom situation gives me more
opportunities to learn names. Knowledge is always powerful.
Being a cover supervisor means that I necessarily meet more
teachers, feel more integrated into the whole school and gain
a greater understanding of the curriculum. I am used to
giving presentations and talking to groups of students, but my
competency in these skills has also been enhanced.
There are of course disadvantages to a dual role. One of the
biggest issues I have is with planning and last minute requests
for cover. The school cover manager has my timetable of Year
7 English classes. In an ideal world I am not asked to cover
during these lessons; unfortunately emergencies happen.
There is some lack of continuity when I only see a class every
fortnight, have a session planned to promote reading for
pleasure or information skills, and have to cancel the session
at the last minute if I am required to cover a lesson elsewhere.
I have also done a huge amount of work to encourage
students to borrow books, complete them, write reviews and
discuss their reading habits with me. Much of the book
borrowing takes
place in lessons
rather than at
break and lunchtimes.
Because our
issue figures are
quite low, I can
usually have a
conversation with
every student who
Features
borrows or returns a book. A self-issue system in our school
is not only unnecessary, but it would greatly reduce these
occasions I have to get to know students and their reading
habits. Another disadvantage is that I sometimes have to let
the cover manager down. For instance, when our visiting
author Mel Darbon came into school recently, I was
unavailable for lesson cover all day.
I should not be able to carry out this role if I did not have the
support of an experienced and knowledgeable library
assistant. My assistant has worked at the school for over 30
years in various roles, with the past 15 in the library. She
carries out all the routine tasks which frees up my time to
carry out my professional work. My dual role would not have
been created if we did not have our reliable library assistant.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are as many advantages as there are
disadvantages to working as both a cover supervisor and
librarian. I am not advocating that this is the way forward to
fix the crisis in school budgets. Indeed, in the future I hope
that the balance of my time which is paid as a professional
librarian will be adjusted to be the greater number of hours
that I work. However, time spent in the classroom is
undoubtedly valuable, and has enriched and enhanced my
role and my confidence in working with students and staff at
Gillotts.
■ Sarah Seddon is Open Learning Centre Manager and
Cover Supervisor at Gillotts School, Henley, Berkshire.
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The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 77

Features
Wordless Picture Books
Exploring the Work of Illustrator
David Wiesner
by Robin Stewart
‘This is David; he loves to draw’. David Wiesner, one of the
most popular and successful, both critically and commercially,
picture book authors working today, is well-used to this line.
It’s how his parents always introduced him as a child and, he
feels, is still the most fitting way to introduce him. Indeed,
introducing David Wiesner is somewhat daunting. How can
you compress a life and career like his into a few short lines?
Wiesner recently visited the Victoria Díez Library at the
Teresian School, Dublin and introducing him was a challenge
– we joked that his mantelpiece must be reinforced! As an
illustrator he has won the American Library Association’s
Caldecott Medal (recognizing the year’s most distinguished
American picture book for children) three times; himself and
the late Marcia Brown are the only authors to ever attain this
remarkable achievement. This is only the tip of the iceberg of
David’s critical acclaim.
David, accompanied by his wife and sometime collaborator,
retired surgeon Kim Kahng, was in Dublin to give the keynote
address at the International Board on Books for Young People
(IBBY) Ireland’s Annual Lecture and subsequent ‘Louder than
Words’ Symposium at St. Patrick’s College, Dublin City
University. Having expressed an interest in visiting a school
library, we couldn’t believe our luck when he agreed to visit
our newly-established school library and launch our World
Book Week celebrations.
Our library serves the three Teresian Schools on our south
Dublin campus: Pre-School, Primary and Secondary, all of
whom were eager to attend – the Primary 6th Class
(equivalent to UK Year 7) and 1st and 2nd Year Secondary
students who comprised David’s audience weren’t
disappointed! David talked us through his creative process and
life in books, particularly the wordless picture books for which
he is most renowned.
Inspired by David’s visit, and by the life-changing and lifeaffirming
work with migrant children of IBBY’s Library on the
Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, our intention is to create
a wordless picture book of our own. This creative project,
Official Launch of Victoria Diez School Library
by Irish broadcaster and author Ryan Tubridy
facilitated by the school’s Library but student-led, aims to sell
this book in order to raise funds both for IBBY’s Lampedusa
Library project and to benefit the work of the Teresian
Association in developing nations. The school has a longstanding
partnership with the Villa El Salvador and Guadix
Centre in Lima, Peru, working with preschools for abandoned
and abused children. We were in the early stages of brainstorming
and initial story-boarding this project (possibly the
love story of a basketball and hockey ball!, inspired by David’s
most recent publication, 2018’s I Got It!) when all schools in
Ireland were closed indefinitely as part of the State’s initiative
against the spread of Covid-19.
The move to online and virtual teaching and learning has been
equal parts challenging and rewarding, but has unfortunately
put this project on the back-burner for the time being. The
place of the school library during the closure has been
interesting – I never for a moment supposed that I’d be
attempting to operate a library remotely; another thing to add
to our collective professional list of ‘they didn’t teach that in
Library School!’ – but the closure has led to an even further
level of closeness, support and collaboration across our school
community and knowing we have this wordless picture book
project to look forward to is comforting and inspiring.
Wordless Picture Books? That’s just one way to describe these
books – indeed, naming them can prove a contentious point,
with some preferring the term ‘silent books’. Wiesner prefers
the descriptor ‘picture book’, but, as he acknowledges, ‘that’s
already taken, already has a set meaning’. Irish author and
illustrator P.J. Lynch describes the genre as ‘universal language
books’, which are ideal for ‘breaking down borders and
developing fascination’; this is very much in keeping with
IBBY’s project in Lampedusa. While ‘silent books’ is the most
commonly used descriptor, this can be a slightly reductive
term. Wiesner feels that the books promote: ‘engagement in
conversation with children, and that’s not silent – you’re still
reading, it’s just a different language. What more direct way to
communicate than through pictures? The ability of individuals
from disparate backgrounds to discover commonality and to
communicate – art and books are a bridge to understanding
new cultures – through images and pictures gives people a
meeting place to understand one another – that’s not silent’.
78 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

In addition to aiding communication across different
backgrounds, wordless picture books can have marvellous
impact and application in educating and informing people of
varying abilities, from reluctant readers to those who can’t
read. Illustrator Brian Fitzgerald shared his experiences in this
regard as well as outlining the work of London based charity
‘Books Beyond Words’: ‘wordless books tell a story, but they
also let the reader tell their own story – the one they see in
pictures. This can tell you a lot about a person’s inner world
and their understanding of situations. There is plenty to talk
about and each story can explore feelings and relationships as
well as giving information’.
As for the wider popularity of wordless picture books? ‘From a
critical standpoint, they’ve been getting a lot of attention –
they’ve been around since the 1930s, but interest began to
spike in the 1980s – you could hypothesise that the shift to
libraries as their chief purchasers is responsible for their
entering public consciousness – they were always there, hiding
in plain sight as it were’. That Wiesner credits libraries with
the popularisation of the form is interesting – ‘for a long time
this type of book was not commercially popular with parents –
there was a level of resistance, a fear of not knowing what to do
with these books, which offer opportunity for real
communication. These books can be rich, multi-levelled and
sophisticated, despite their apparent simplicity’.
This statement drives at the crux of the importance of the
wordless picture book. Parents, and even teachers, can often
be dismissive of picture books as somehow ‘less-than’ chapter
books or unillustrated texts, rushing to celebrate a child’s
literacy only through an understanding of literacy as a
development away from predominantly illustrated texts. These
views can actually suppress the development of literacy and
visual literacy, reducing a child’s capacity to read for pleasure
and experience joy through singular immersion in books.
Wordless picture books, and picture books generally, allow the
reader be treated as an equal, imposing their own meaning and
interpretation on a story – in Wiesner’s words ‘you deprive
kids of a wealth of understanding if you take away pictures.
The first art children see is in picture books – that’s a big
responsibility for an artist’.
Wiesner traces his career through the context of the popularculture
print media he was exposed to as his style and
approach developed. Born in 1956 and raised in Bridgewater
Township, New Jersey, Wiesner grew up ‘completely
encouraged in the Arts as one of five children in a family of
artistic and musical talent, with ready access to hand-medown
art supplies. My parents saved everything I drew as a kid.
By the fifth grade, I was saving everything myself. This archival
Features
mentality has
continued to this
day – I have all the
preliminary
materials for all of
my work’. Through
looking at these
early images David
shared during his
talks, you can begin
to trace the genesis
of his future career David Wiesner in the School Library
and style, from
doodles and scribbles as a child through to surrealistic images
as a teenager – ‘I was fascinated with surrealism, and saw
surrealism as change’.
Some of the most arresting images he encountered as a child
included an illustration of a tiger in Alice and Martin
Provenson’s 1952 The Animal Book – ‘that image had such
emotional resonance I could hardly even look at it!’, and Jack
Kirby and Jim Steranko’s illustrations for Marvel comics: their
‘unbelievably exciting’ exploration and use of panels and insets
in page design was formative to his view on page layout and
‘the movement of panels and pages as the syntax of a narrative
– for every visual decision I make, I ask myself ‘how can it add
to the story?’’.
While studying for a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Illustration),
Wiesner discovered the work of early pioneers of wordless
narratives, such as Max Ernst, Franz Masereel, Lynd Ward and
Edward Gorey. In terms of general visual storytelling style,
Wiesner also cites his admiration of Shirley Hughes – ‘I
discovered Shirley Hughes and realised “wow!” here I was
thinking I was “Mr. Cool”, and she was doing it ten to fifteen
years before me!’ His introduction to the professional world of
picture books was quite by chance: ‘near the end of my senior
year at the Rhode Island School of Design, Trina Schart
Hyman came to school to talk about being a children’s book
illustrator. She was great – casual, funny and straight talking.
At the time she was also the art director for Cricket magazine
and she stayed an extra day to look at portfolios. I showed her
my work and she offered me a job creating a cover for Cricket.
The rest, as they say, was history’.
Delving into David’s own approach to creating books is
fascinating – our students were amazed by the rigorous
lengths he goes to in researching and designing the look, feel
and layout of his books. Take Mr. Wuffles! (2013) for example.
The initial idea came to him while waiting for his daughter to
finish a music lesson. Sitting in the lobby of the Music School,
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 79

Features
he began daydreaming about a tiny UFO, and then about what
his pet cat, Cricket, might make of one – ‘snap! There’s the
idea. I made some quick sketches, went home and drew out
some thumbnail sketches. My approach is that I keep drawing
until I discover what I want to say. The narrative unfolds
where the drawings take you; I’m well into the process before I
identify themes’.
Mr Wuffles! began as an ‘exploration
of scale changes’. In order to fully
develop and explore these changes,
Wiesner devised a ‘cat cam’,
following his pet through its daily
routine to get an idea of what a cat’seye
view of the world actually looked
like. He studied feline anatomy, made models and mock-ups,
and played with the elements until the story began to form.
Although Mr. Wuffles! is wordless, there is some degree of text
included in the narrative – ‘I realised the necessity for dialogue
in the book, how cool it would be to create languages as visual
dialogue. I chose geometric shapes and consulted with a
linguist from Swarthmore College. We decided to make these
‘alphabetical’ shapes like mathematical equations, to be read
alongside the language of pictures – the character’s facial
expressions, postures and the lighting and composition of the
illustration all impact interpretation of the linguistic shapes.
Kids love to decode things – I didn’t provide a glossary or
anything so as not to be bogged down by meaning. Early on in
my career I thought, these works are such a product of a
suburban U.S. upbringing, I didn’t think they’d translate – it
didn’t take long to realise that kids are kids all over’. After such
an elaborate, detailed creative process, including making
mock-up galleys of each book, Wiesner doesn’t test out his
stories on children, preferring to allow each reader interpret
the work in their own manner – ‘after the success of Tuesday
(1991), I realised once the book is out there, I’m no longer in
control – this loss of control is central to the book, it allows
the reader to be a collaborator’.
That said, he loves receiving feedback from children and
hearing about their interpretations of his books – ‘listening to
children is, of course, important’. Although he has illustrated
other author’s books and texts, Wiesner hasn’t done any
‘jobbing illustrations’ since the publication of Freefall in 1988
– ‘filtering other’s ideas inhibits my creativity’. His use of
colour has evolved over the course of his career too. He never
works digitally, always in watercolour – a surprise given the
vividness of his illustration – moving away from greyer tones
in his earlier work to a more layered, bright, rich palette.
‘Nobody wants my books in e-versions’, he says – his response
has been the development of the David Wiesner's Spot app.,
currently only available on iPhone and iPad. David Wiesner's
Spot allows the reader/player to use ‘hotspots’, beginning with
one on a ladybird’s back, to delve into and explore fun,
beautifully layered and rendered, fabulous worlds – an
amazing immersive rabbit hole I’ve spent hour upon hour
exploring in awe and wonder!
An exceptionally talented illustrator and storyteller, it was
fascinating to note that Wiesner’s talks to our students in the
School Library and to the adults attending the IBBY Ireland
Lecture and Seminar were equally accessible. A calm, quiet
presence, his address is captivating – both audiences could
happily have continued listening to him all day. It was truly a
marvellous way to kick off World Book Week, and a
remarkable first guest author to visit our new Victoria Díez
School Library. The rich depth of David Wiesner’s playful
images have universal appeal, and reward the reader more and
more on each sitting. His narratives allow for the removal of
barriers in communication, understanding and the enjoyment
of reading – a key tenet in our work as School Librarians,
facilitating accessibility and inclusivity of reading for pleasure
for all.
■ Robin Stewart is Founding Librarian, Victoria Díez Library,
Teresian School, Dublin. Robin was short-listed for an Irish
Excellence in Local Government Award 2019 for his
outreach work with senior citizens and adults with learning
difficulties in his previous role with Meath County Council
Library Services. He is passionate about the promotion of
reading as an empathy engine for readers of all ages.
80 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

SLA digital Message from the Editor
What strange times we are living through! The current situation has meant we have been very busy
digitally, which has been challenging but enjoyable! If you haven’t already seen it, do take a look at the
School Closure Resources page on the SLA website (https://tinyurl.com/ry5273h), there is a large
collection of resources and activities collated there from teaching tools to online experiences. Our series
of online webinars are ongoing also and have proved to be popular, you can see what’s scheduled here:
https://tinyurl.com/r63hhg8. Most are events where a small fee is payable but we are running one free
webinar a month just for members. Perhaps this is a good time to explore social media more, or brush up
on your inquiry learning skills or to prepare lessons with digital content for when the world returns to
normal. We have recently published four of our publications in digital form on Amazon, so look out for
Train to Gain, Cultivating Curiosity, Plans, Practices and Policies and New Beginnings online.
Spending more time with my laptop is helping me learn new tips and tricks too, so I thought I’d share
one; I often create slides in Keynote or PowerPoint and then want to use them as images afterwards. Up
until now I had been opening up the presentation and then taking a screen shot of each one but there is a
much easier way – in Keynote go to File/Export To/Images or in PowerPoint go to file/Save As, choose
where you want to save the images to and give them a name then using dropdown for file types choose
jpegs. A little tip that is going to save me a fair bit of time, I’m just frustrated that I didn’t discover it
before now.
I’ve put together a bumper bunch of reviews for this issue , just in case we are still at home with more
time on our hands to explore. I hope you enjoy reading them and as always if you have suggestions for
other resources we could review please do get in touch. Stay safe and
happy everyone, see you online!
Bev Humphrey, TSL Digital Editor.
Webinars from the SLA
Participating in SLA CPD webinars
during the Covid-19 pandemic
It’s difficult to think of much that is positive to write about at the moment: all our students stuck at home, our libraries empty and
plans for reading weeks, literary festivals, author visits and shadowing events left in tatters… However, one bright spot for me has
been attending a series of webinars organised by the SLA during the lockdown.
My initial taster was the free webinar organised by Elizabeth Hutchinson: ‘Online CPD: Where, why, how’ in which she introduced a
range of sites offering free CPD opportunities for library staff – this provided me with a huge bank of online CPD resources to go
back to and I would highly recommend taking the time to watch this whilst it is still available on the SLA website.
Having appreciated all that I was able to learn from Elizabeth’s training session, I decided to look through the full range of
webinars planned by the SLA over the next few months and to sign up to attend those that seemed relevant. As I work abroad, it is
often either too expensive or too time-consuming for me to attend training taking place in the UK – so the series of webinars was
too good an opportunity to miss!
So far, I have attended ‘Joining the Twitterverse’ led by Bev Humphrey and ‘Information literacy and learning through inquiry’ led by
Elizabeth Hutchinson. Both were brilliant introductions to areas of practice that I knew I needed to improve upon and learn more
about. Bev’s approach to using Twitter was practical and informative; enabling me to feel confident about using this tool to
promote our school library more effectively to our students, parents and the wider community. Elizabeth’s session was a rousing
rallying cry to all of us who work within the library sector and are desperate to share our passion for understanding information
literacy and for promoting inquiry-led learning. Both presenters were
incredibly generous in terms of sharing their expertise and resources. As
well as benefitting from the content of the webinars, it was fantastic to
feel part of a community – a community that wants to learn, grow and
share expertise.
So, if you haven’t opened the Events section of the website for a while,
take another look – I defy you not to find something that will help you
develop in your role!
Kayti Selbie, Librarian – The English College in Prague.
digital
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The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 81

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VIP Reading
Website with downloadable book quizzes
https://www.vipreading.co.uk/
VIP reading is a fairly new site for primary schools, set up by teachers to
promote a love of reading with associated downloadable book quizzes.
Much of the site has yet to have content loaded, but full-time teachers
don’t have the luxury of time. However it is attractive and very easy to
navigate, and there is still a lot of material available, currently with 73
authors on board with author packs and over 200 quizzes This was a very
easy review to write as I did not have to go searching for anything and
found the answers to my questions quickly.
The site lists the credentials of the contributors,
with experienced practicing teachers contributing
the content, an illustrator to provide author
portraits, so all are in the same style, and author
Onjali Rauf lending support as patron.
Schools can see the authors on the site without
signing up to anything. The basic package is only
£25 and gains access to author biographies and
some downloads – but not the quizzes or videos. That will cost £150 for
small schools, medium schools from 100 to281 pupils £225, or larger
schools £300. This is an annual membership. Each child can then have
their own reading journal in which to store their completed quizzes.
Like AR, a school would have to have the appropriate stock and include
the books quizzed to benefit. Many of these books have been published
within the last five years, so a dated stock would not be cost effective.
There is a 30% discount to schools to purchase from Peters Ltd if a VIP
member.
The authors include names recently published, but still very popular, such
as Abi Elphinstone, classics such as C.S. Lewis and modern classics such
as Michael Morpurgo. Currently some of these authors only have one
book available, including C.S. Lewis, but Michael Morpurgo has 19 and
Adam Blade the most at 21.
The author profiles give a few more details about the author. So Adam
Blade’s says it’s a collection of authors writing under a series title. Other
individual authors will say the area where they live, what inspired them,
any pets and other information which will interest young children. The
accompanying downloadable pdf varies in length from three pages to
about seven, with each being able to be used postcard style.
There is a shop selling associated content such as signed bookmarks and
posters. These have all been designed in the house style, but signed by
the author. These range from £6 for book marks to £20 for an A4 poster.
However, a flat rate shipping fee of £3 is added, bringing the cost of 1
bookmark to £9. These are intended as prizes to reward children in
assemblies, etc along with the downloadable certificates.
The books are graded according
to band levels. The equivalent in
other schemes is indicated.
However, although Chris Vick’s
Girl. Boy. Sea. is at the higher
level, I would have classed this
as a KS3/4 book. Presumably all
books have been read
by the content
creators, so they must
judge this book
suitable for KS2.
There is a printable
sticker template to use
if schools need the books stickered with levels. This will make things a lot
simpler for children locating the books, but doesn’t teach them the skills
they will need to search for non-scheme books.
The book quizzes can be printed
off on an A4 as an attractive
stand-alone sheet. All have 10
questions on each book. These
could be done in class, or sent
home as homework. Marking is
very easy and can be done using
the QR code. There is a starter
pack for teachers to suggest how
to go about launching and using
the scheme so it really is designed
to make using this structure as
straightforward as possible. As
practising teachers all questions
appear to have been answered in
this useful alternative to other reading initiatives on the market.
The last piece of advice in the starter pack is key to all reading for
pleasure promotion – regularly talking about books in the classroom is
important.
Dawn Woods, Member Development Librarian, SLA.
Authors are arranged in alphabetical order according to the author’s first
name rather than surname – but perhaps teachers know children
automatically think this way, however it may be confusing when we are
asking them to use the surname in the library. The books are also easily
searchable via a theme facility.
82 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020
Read online at www.sla.org.uk/sla-digital

Mindfulness apps
Apps for mental health and wellbeing
digital
I must admit that I am not one for mindfulness so when I was asked to
review these three tools I thought it would be easy to dismiss them.
However, even I have been tempted to download and try out these tools. I
think particularly during lockdown there is something here for everyone.
Woebot
https://woebot.io
Woebot is exactly what it says it is. It is a
computer-generated bot that is there for you
when you are feeling low (woeful). Every day it
checks in with you, by sending a message/text to
find out how you are feeling. The idea is that the
more you engage with it the more it learns about
you and is able to come up with suggestions,
exercises or meditation with a particular emphasis
on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy that may help you manage your mood or
feelings.
What I like about it is that it is instant. You can text whenever you are
feeling low or sad and it is there for you. However, it does not suggest that
this is a replacement for a therapist or crisis service and will send links
numbers for outside helplines when needed. This app also does not pretend
to be human and you are made aware of this regularly through its humour
and chat. This seems to help some people be more open with it as they
don’t feel like they are being judged.
Buddhify
https://buddhify.com
Buddhify is an online guided meditation app that you can use whilst you are
on the go. The nice thing about this app is that it seems to fit in with busy
lives and understands that it is not always easy to make time to use it. They
have created different categories that you can choose, from walking and
work break to falling asleep. They also range from 4 mins to up to 30 mins
so depending on the time you have there is something for everyone.
This app allows you to choose and customise the meditations that work for
you and add them to your wheel whilst also giving you the option to choose
a curated wheel to get you started if needed. This app enables you to learn
more about meditation whilst also allowing you to go solo when you are
ready. It includes a useful help section on the foundations of meditation to
answer frequently asked questions. You can save favourite meditations so
that you can find them easily. There is
also a shared option which allows
you to take part in meditations with
others which did surprise me as I had
always thought that meditation was
about being inside yourself. You can
also send a meditation to a friend
who would appreciate it, this is a good feature to use at the moment to
help us stay in touch with others. It also has a specific wheel for children
which can again be adapted to specific needs meaning that children can
benefit too. The meditations for children include seep meditations , eating a
healthy diet and using technology, which is a little ironic!
I am not really a meditator but I can see how this colourful interactive app
could help and support anyone wishing to try it out.
Mindful Powers
https://mindfulpowersforkids.com
Well one of them had to be a game now
didn’t it? The website tells you that it is ‘built
on a skills-based methodology that helps
children in early and middle childhood build a
healthier relationship with life, stress, and
anxiety, Mindful Powers empowers kids to
bring calm to their lives at the touch of their
fingertips.’ It talks about repetitive interaction
that helps children relax and refocus through
voice-guided stories. What does that actually
look like and mean?
I can now tell you that this app seems to be for very young children. I would
suggest no older than 7 years old. It has an American child’s voice and the
phone vibrates and the app needs you to interact with it which can be
calming. One of the actions is to smooth out your Flibbertigibbet which
means running your finger over the screen slowly and It will tell you if you
are going too fast. Alongside this it also gives them focus time and ways to
practice mindfulness. I can see how it could have a calming effect and as
this app is free it certainly is something worth taking a look at.
As with any app for young children, it needs adult supervision and needs
you to be available throughout the app use.
Elizabeth Hutchinson, Independent Trainer & Advisor for School Libraries.
Jarrett Lerner website
https://jarrettlerner.com/activities/
Jerrett Lerner is an author and illustrator of the books EngiNerds, Geeger the
Robot and Hunger Heroes which illustrate STEM subjects like robots and
introduce problem-solving skills within the stories. On his main website page
there is a link to activities and discussion questions based on the books which
could be used in classrooms of any key stage.
His Art page has a series of exceptionally vivid and colourful posters which can
be downloaded and used in educational settings for free. The posters illustrate
very clearly and precisely what librarians constantly try to enlighten students and
staff about such as the benefits of reading books, creativity, writing, graphic
novels and just words in general. I especially like the graphic novels are books
posters as they illustrate very simply, but effectively, the importance of graphic
novels for visual learners.
These posters would be a wonderful
addition to classrooms and libraries as
learning tools or just to brighten a space
up by encouraging students to read.
As they are also available in black and
white, they could be left out for students
to colour in or be used at the end of a
lesson to illustrate a point about reading
or writing.
I loved his comic page which also has free downloadable illustrated posters but
in comic book form, highlighting the benefits of librarians, book addiction, the
need for public libraries and to encourage creativity among young people in
general. I have downloaded every poster on this site to use in school to
advertise these important messages.
Beth Khalil, Thorp Academy.
Read online at www.sla.org.uk/sla-digital
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 83

digital
Explore. Imagine. Create.
Discovering Children’s Books: British Library
Exhibition
https://www.bl.uk/childrens-books
Discovering Children’s Books is an amazing free online resource for
children, teachers and booklovers of all ages, exploring ‘the history and
variety of children’s literature through a huge range of inspiring source
material from medieval fables to contemporary picture books.’
Collection Items include 150 ‘handwritten drafts, scribbled notebooks and
sketchbooks, stories, poems, illustrations and an array of movable and
miniature books, comics, fairy tales and picture books’
Be prepared to spend several hours exploring treasures like Lear’s A Book
of Nonsense, A Monster Calls illustrations, Blyton’s notebooks and original
Beanos, Dahl’s draft manuscripts, Almond’s Skellig notebook, spelling
primers, Struwwelpeter and Winnie the Pooh artwork to name just a few
highlights! English teachers will love this website section to shine a light
on the creative process and show that perfection isn’t ever instant. History,
EPQ and English Language students will find many primary sources here to
support original research into change over time.
The fascinating Articles and
Interviews section of the site
contains authoritative and
accessible articles by experts
such as Kimberley Reynolds
and Imogen Russell Williams
exploring themes in
children’s literature from
different times and places.
Video interviews with
everyone from Jacqueline
Wilson to Julia Donaldson
through to Quentin Blake
and Michael Rosen explain
their creative processes and
memories of childhood
reading while offering tips
What are Instagram Stories?
Your Instagram Story is different to the normal posts you add to your feed. As
described by Instagram, stories are something that lets you ‘share all the
moments of your day, not just the ones you want to keep on your profile’. The
multiple pictures and video you share to your story will disappear at the end of
a day, but whilst they are viewable they appear in a slideshow format. You can
add text or doodles to your photos as well if you so desire. The things you
share to your story might not be the same as things you want to post and
leave viewable on your profile; for example snaps or video from a conference
you are attending.
To post to your story tap the camera button in the top left of your screen or
swipe right from anywhere in your Instagram feed. You will be prompted to
enable camera and microphone access the first time you do so. Then, tap or
long press the record button at the bottom to take a photo or video. You can
also tap Boomerang to take burst photos that loop forward or backward or tap
on the camera icon in the bottom right of the screen to flip your camera
round. You can add a number of different effects such as Superzoom, or a
Layout right down at the bottom of the screen and scroll left on the shutter
button to find an effect, I love the false eyelashes and starry night effects , but
adding bunny rabbit ears seems to be popular with children! Once taken, tap
the doodle, text, or sticker icons at the top to add to your picture or video.
for budding authors and
illustrators.
Videos reveal illustrators
at work in their studios
as well as offer drawing
masterclasses from the
likes of Axel Scheffler
and Viviane Schwarz.
The gallery of Creative
Activities offers hours
worth of book-inspired
ideas for those looking to inspire the authors and illustrators of the future.
Whether it’s creating a talking animal, inventing a superhero, making a
miniature book or starring in your own fairytale each activity is based on
several of the original sources, drawn from a range of time periods, and
clearly explained.
It’s ingenious, you can’t help but want to have a
go!
Librarians particularly will appreciate the Themes
around which Discovering Children’s Books is
organised. Each theme brings together an article,
interviews and creative activities from other
sections of the site as well as a themed booklist
which could be used for display ideas. Themes
include Behaving and Misbehaving, Home and
Belonging, Food, Fear, Journeys, Talking Animals
as well as the more conventional fairytales, magic and school stories.
It is well worth putting aside an hour to explore the wealth of resources
included in this veritable treasure trove. Although the site is clearly laid out,
easily navigable and searchable, there is some duplication of content which
takes some exploring. Discovering Children’s Books is fascinating, a
booklover’s dream. Bookmark and return to it time and again.
N.B. Discovering Children’s Books was created in partnership with
Newcastle University, Seven Stories, the Bodleian Library (University of
Oxford) and the V&A with advice from authorities including Julia Eccleshare
and CLPE.
Eileen Armstrong, Librarian at Cramlington Learning Village.
Stickers can include location information, polls and
songs.
Once you’re finished editing, you can save your
creation to your phone using the downwards arrow
at the top of the screen or tap the + circle icon to
share it to your story. Photos and videos you share to
your story disappear from the feed and your profile
after 24 hours.
When you post a photo or video to your story, it
appears on your profile ,a colourful ring will appear around your profile
picture, and people can tap it to see your story, and at the top of the
Instagram feed , your profile picture will appear in a row at the top of your
followers’ feeds, and they can tap it to see your story. Stories shared publicly
may also appear in the Search and Explore tabs. Also if you’ve added a
hashtag, location, or location-based sticker, it may also appear on hashtag or
location pages , the same as it does if you add these things into a regular
post.
Instagram Stories is a fun way to keep your content current
and interesting and can help you to look very
technologically proficient without needing too much skill!
Bev Humphrey, Literacy & Technology Consultant.
84 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

Ginger Nuts of Horror
Website for horror book and film reviews
https://gingernutsofhorror.com/index.html
The Ginger Nuts of Horror website is often regarded as one of the first ports
of call for people searching for horror reviews. It is a site that I’d previously
heard of and seen referenced but, until recently, had never got round to
actually visiting.
One of the first thing that quickly becomes apparent is that maintaining and
running the site is very much a team effort. There are over 30 regular
contributors, meaning that new content is added regularly. Reviews of both
books and films are uploaded almost every day. The reviews team is split
between UK and American contributors; some are horror writers themselves,
some are just massive horror fans. Because there is such a wide range of
contributors, the quality of the writing does inevitably vary. However, it is all
readable, with each writer’s enthusiasm and knowledge shining through.
From a school library perspective, the site is well known for its commitment to
YA horror writing, claiming to provide more coverage than any other site.
Frances Hardinge (Deeplight), Kiran Millwood Hargrave (The Deathless Girls)
and Kirsty Applebaum (The Middler) are all established UK writers who have
recently been featured. There are also reviews of every title that has been
shortlisted for the Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker Awards.
Despite much of the site being devoted to reviews, there is still a lot of other
content to explore. This includes regular interviews with some of the genre’s
biggest names, as well as features on emerging authors, aptly named Young
Blood, and articles which cover virtually every aspect of horror. There is also a
section on music, although every piece I read seemed to be about the band
Nine Inch Nails.
It is clear that Ginger Nuts of Horror is incredibly supportive of new writing
talent. It provides templates for a variety of different interview formats, such
Pickatale
https://pickatale.co.uk
Pickatale is an audiobook app and website, aimed at children aged between
0 and 10 years. It contains just over 1,000 audiobooks to read and listen to.
Books can be downloaded before journeys or holidays, to prevent data and
signal issues.
The ‘Try for Free’ link at the top of the webpage asks you to enter your credit
or debit card details before taking advantage of the two week free trial. The
cost is usually £6.99 a month, or £49.99 billed yearly. On the app, again, you
are asked to subscribe, using your current App Store payment method, which
can be cancelled at any time, but will be automatically billed if you forget to
do so. I went straight into my settings to cancel this, which still allowed the
two week free trial to take place.
Once past the paywall, the app allows you to make up to four separate
logins for your children, and choose an avatar for each, so that multiple
children can use it at once. There is a wider range of books available than
was evident on the webpage, organised into different categories
(recommended, OUP and Characters, to name but a few), with Stephanie
Baudet’s Dinosaur Detectives
series, Ali Sparks’ S.W.I.T.C.H.
series, OUP’s Biff, Chip and
Kipper series and Angelina
Ballerina, Bob the Builder and
retellings of classic fiction
stories all featuring in the
categories. There is also a
variety of non-fiction. In
digital
as ‘Five Minutes With…’, ‘Childhood Fears’ and
‘The Book/Film/Comic That Made Me’, and
demonstrates a very welcoming attitude towards
newcomers. There are also suggestions about
writing competitions to enter and possible themes
to consider when planning stories.
The site itself does look rather old-fashioned,
perhaps even quaint, and is rather heavy on
advertising in certain places. However, because it’s created and maintained by
volunteers, who are clearly working on a very tight budget, this is completely
understandable. Because there is such a huge amount of fantastic content on
the site, navigation can occasionally be tricky. The search facility is basic and
success is often dependent on entering the correct keywords although it
generally seems to get the job done. Reviews and articles are archived by
date; also archiving them by content would be a real help for people who
don’t know exactly what they’re looking for.
When browsing the Ginger Nuts of Horror, it quickly becomes apparent how
passionate the contributors and visitors are about everything related to the
genre. I read reviews of books I’d never previously heard of and enjoyed
interviews with writers I’d never previously encountered. It’s a site that I’m
genuinely pleased to have discovered and one which demonstrates how
important enthusiasm and subject knowledge are when creating a website. It
could certainly be slicker but, for detailed, thought-provoking and
entertaining
reviews, Ginger
Nuts of Horror is
certainly worth
exploring.
Jon Biddle, Year 6
Teacher, Moorlands
Primary Academy.
addition, trivia quizzes, aimed at specific
age groups, are featured, on subjects
including numbers 1-100, longest rivers,
and mythical creatures.
When a book is selected, three options
are given: ‘Read myself’, ‘Auto-play’ and
‘Read to me’. Some bibliographic
information is available, and an ATOS/Lexile rating which
runs from ‘basic’ to ‘advanced’. The time the book will take
is also given, along with a description, and Amazon-style
links are underneath to signpost related books, for future
reading. Once in the book, you can touch the page, and
the word description for the object you are touching is
given, and, if in the ‘read myself’ option, you can also
touch a word, and it will be highlighted in red, and read to
you. If you read yourself, there is a quiz at the end, and a
pass percentage of 70%, to check understanding.
The ‘Read to me‘ option is read very clearly, and I felt it was well paced-not
too fast or too slow for those following the words.
However, once in the book, you can scroll forwards or backwards, but cannot
exit the story until the very end.
This is a useful app to alert parents of younger children in KS1 or KS2 to, but
you may find they do not wish to enter payment details. For those who do
so, it’s a great way to encourage the beginnings of independent reading for
children who are beginning to want to read by themselves, and the support
is there on the page for them if they aren’t quite at the ‘reading
independently’ stage.
Nikki Heath, Librarian at Manchester Grammar School.
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 85

digital
Ten… no Twelve!
Twitter Digital Leaders
and Innovators
@DigitalPrimaryT
DigitalPrimaryTeacher
Parent. Teacher. Ed Tech and Online Safety
advisor. Passionate about supporting our
children to be digitally prepared, digitally
resilient and digitally active.
@EduFuturists Edufuturists
Exploring what education can be.
@EdtechukHQ Edtech UK
A strategic body accelerating the UK’s edtech sector in Britain. Convening
voice for educators, investors, government, business.
@Educ_Technology Education Technology
Market leading #edtech print and digital
magazine covering #edtech for #learning and
#teaching for the entire #school, #college,
#HE and #education sector.
@Jsecker Dr Jane Secker
Senior Lecturer in Educational Development.
SFHEA. Interested in information & digital
literacy, copyright education. Chair of CILIP
Information Literacy Group.
@Jisc Jisc
Jisc works in partnership with the UK’s
research and education communities to
develop the digital technologies they need to
teach, discover and thrive.
@Teacher_Luke_UK Luke Craig
Y2 Teacher | Year Group Leader | Head of
Computing | Google Certified Trainer &
#LON19 | Apple Teacher | MIE | M.Ed | #Edtech50 | Often tired, never bored.
@TeacherToolkit Teacher.Toolkit.co.uk
Teaching 27 Years | EdD Student Researching Virtual Staffroom/Digital
Sociology | No.1 Education Blog UK | Teacher Trainer | Influence.
@miss_mcinerney Laura McInerney
Co-Founder of @TeacherTapp. @GuardianEdu columnist. Former editor of
@SchoolsWeek. Philatelist. Once a teacher, always a teacher – so tuck your
shirt in, please.
@Teachtodayuk TeachtodayUK
Dedicated to helping education professionals understand digital
technologies and use them safely.
@Tech_missc Miss C
Google Certified Trainer and Innovator #SWE19/
@UK_SIC UK Safer Internet Centre
Partnership of @childnet, @IWFhotline and @swgfl_official, co-funded by
@EU_Commission. Coordinators of #SaferInternetDay in the UK!
Barbara Band, School Library, Reading and Literacy Consultant.
Interactive Bookflix
https://grounded.blog/2019/02/19/bookflix-and-chill/
I have seen many
interactive bookflix displays
over the last few months
and loved the idea of them
and how they look. If you
have never seen one they
are screens set up to look
like Netflix but instead of
films, it is a screen of books. The nice thing about them is they are
interactive so you can link them to books in your school library to
encourage borrowing. When a book cover is clicked on it opens up a blurb
about the book.
I often wondered how they were done. Now thanks to this wonderful blog
post from #Grounded created by a group of inspirational teachers I have
the perfect 70 steps (apparently it was longer!) guide on how to achieve
this. Luke talks you through every step of the process so that you can fully
understand how this works. Now that we all have more time at home it
may be good to get to grips with this. He does, however, include a
template for those of us not quite so patient or technically minded.
It takes patience to create one of these eye catching displays but the
results are certainly worth it and would definitely provoke discussion in
your students.
Elizabeth Hutchinson, Independent Trainer & Advisor for School Libraries.
Audiobook Corner
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
https://tinyurl.com/v3tj6eo
I have a gorgeous hardback copy of this book
with sprayed edges and gilt trim so I was
rather reluctant to sully its pages by reading it
as I’m sure many of you can understand that!
I decided to listen to the story on audiobook
instead and I’m very glad I did as I very much
enjoyed it. It’s quite a commitment time wise,
being 15 hours long, but it will tell you
something about the amount of travel I did whilst listening as I finished it
over the course of a week. There are different narrators voicing different
characters and this really helped me to keep track and made listening a
livelier experience, to such an extent that I missed my stop twice as I was
completely caught up in the story! It’s a rich, fast moving fantasy adventure
anyway but listening to it instead of reading it really added something to the
world building for me and I’m looking forward to listening to the next in the
series when I have time.
Note: If schools are still closed (as I suspect they may well be) when this
issue is published Audible have made a number of children’s/teens
audiobooks free to stream at the moment https://tinyurl.com/skl4rdd There’s
a good selection of titles from popular modern, Kid Normal e.g., to absolute
classics, like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland read by Scarlett Johanssen.
Bev Humphrey, Literacy & Technology Consultant.
86 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020
Read online at www.sla.org.uk/sla-digital

Snortblog
Recommendation site for funny books
https://www.snortblog.com/
Sir Linkalot
https://www.sirlinkalot.org/
Sir Linkalot is a piece of animated spelling software, which can be
accessed in two ways; via an app downloadable from the App Store, or
by going to app.sirlinkalot.org. Homophones, vocabulary, punctuation,
grammar rules and patterns are also learned through using the
software, with Countdown’s Susie Dent providing etymology
information about various words.
Whilst aimed at all ages, the content hits the national curriculum KS2
SPAG criteria. However, it would also be a useful tool for lower KS3 and
SEND pupils, especially those who really seem to struggle to acquire
new spellings.
The sign up link for free access is here:
https://www.sirlinkalot.org/spellathome/ and the company are
requesting that you sign up this way, rather than sharing the
username/password around.
Usually, there is a week free trial offer, and it’s then £49.99 for an
annual subscription. However, under the current circumstances, they are
offering free access for at least 12 weeks, beginning on 20 March.
The software offers a variety of different downloadable bundles, all
named after authors, with spellings of increasing difficulty. The bundles
are split into levels, and within each level, there are up to four different
sets of words, and 20 spellings within each set. The words are
displayed on the ‘cover’ of each bundle. Each set of words is
digital
If you’re fed up with your students getting stuck on the same funny series (you know the one!) or
repeatedly asking for books by the same author over again then you need Snort! – ‘the new
home of funny children’s books.’
Snort! aims to act as a hub for readers, writers, illustrators, librarians, bookshops, bloggers and
funny book fans. Although newly launched in February 2020, Snort! is rapidly building up into a,
quite frankly, brilliant source of funny book news, reviews and interviews – and more!
Brainchild of funny kids’ book authors Rachel Delahaye and Martin Howard and librarian Tris
Irvine, Snort! was created in the belief that ‘funny books are special... that laughter is monumentally important to human beings and that...
humour sprinkles magic through our lives.’ It’s a sad fact but a true one that funny books get a hard time in the UK book scene but actually
deserve to be taken every bit as seriously as other genres. This inspired site, with its chatty, relaxed feel, will help you to do exactly that.
At Snort!’s core is a Library of resources of new funny books – currently a ‘Hot in the Library’ books feature and a selection of twitter-suggested
funny book titles.
Book suggestions are appropriate for all ages from EYFS to KS3 and range from Wonky Donkey and The Book
With No Pictures through Dog Man and Bad Guys to the more sophisticated Carnegie shortlisted Wed Wabbit and
classics like Pratchett’s Wee Free Men. School librarian-recommended reading lists are coming soon.
Reviews of new funny books are added regularly. Superbly-written, extensive and thoughtful, all reviews feature
full plot summaries and a ‘where’s the funny?’ analysis of the humour in each book which is nothing short of
brilliant. With humour being so subjective, expert reviewers state who might find the book funny and further
reading suggestions focussing on tone and theme are often included.
Features on the site include exclusive interviews with popular funny book authors, currently Ben Davis and Matty Long. The focus is very much on
taking care of non-celebrity millionaire authors here, meaning that newer authors are given their chance to shine. The title Queen of Snort! is
awarded regularly and the title-holder picks Five Top Funnies, reveals their Life in Pictures and answers searching interview questions. There’s also a
chance to win free books by current Snort Queen (currently Elaine Wickson, previously Jennifer Killick).
The passion for funny fiction behind Snort! is addictive. Whether you’re trying to engage a reluctant reader, helping to tackle serious issues with a
light touch of humour or just want to make a child feel good you absolutely need Snort! in your life!
Eileen Armstrong, Librarian, Cramlington Learning Village.
downloadable, with each word
being ‘clickable’. There is then a
quick video, giving a couple of
ways to help the user
remember the letter order and
the definition, and a multiple
choice test when the user feels
ready to take it. In the app,
there is then the option to
email/send the result to someone, e.g. your teacher.
I found it quite fun, non-threatening and easy to
navigate and use. Currently, the ‘easiest’ level
contains words like air, key and he, her and here,
with the ‘hardest’ level containing words like
sacrilegious, naive and accommodation. Multiple
choice takes some of the stress out of the
‘testing’, and you can see progression at the end
of each test, as well as ‘ALF’ (Average Last Five) or
‘LIAR’ (Links In A Row), showing progress and
improvement through use. The software is
evolving, with more bundles being added over time. It is definitely one
to share with the English and SEND Departments, and is a more fun
way of learning than being given a sheet containing words-staff can
instruct pupils to learn and test themselves on Level 5, Medieval Milne
and to send them their results, making distance learning easier all
round.
Nikki Heath, Librarian at Manchester Grammar School.
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The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 87

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
88 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020
Image by Wokingham Libraries from Pixabay
I don’t think any of us will ever forget the Spring of 2020 but hopefully by the time
this edition reaches you, we will have survived the pandemic and returned to some
semblance of normality.
But what did not change in this momentous period is the importance of reading to
the mental health and wellbeing of the nation and once again the unique and
generous response to the crisis from children’s authors and illustrators and from the
publishing industry has been outstanding. As with their response to the refugee
crisis, this creative industry has been at the forefront in trying to help. It has been a
real joy to see authors and illustrators reading their books, providing draw-alongwith
me illustration classes, activity ideas related to their books and even more
joyful to witness the children’s responses. Publishers and other organisations too
have opened up the access of resources to support home schooling. I think these
resources will have a much longer shelf life than just for lockdown. The video
resources of authors reading from their books will be a real gift for reading
promotion and there are so many activities which can be used when book clubs do
not have to be virtual!
The Spring and Summer terms are when school libraries would normally be involved
with Shadowing of some, or all, of the major book awards which impact on school
libraries: The SLA Information Book Awards, CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway
medals and the UKLA Book Awards. There are some really brilliant books on these
lists, and I am sure many of you have been using the lockdown period to create wish
lists for immediate purchase when schools reopen. Do not underestimate the
importance of the schools’ market to the health of the publishing industry and I am
sure it will feel good to be paying back the support they have been giving to home
schooling.
By the time you are reading this, the shortlists for the Information Book Awards will
also have been published (https://www.sla.org.uk/iba-2020) and voting for the
Children’s Choice Awards can begin in earnest. The IBA timetable has never seemed
more fortunate, but it has been very heartening to see the other awards responding
to the situation too. Acknowledging how important student response is to all these
awards, in some cases by extending shadowing periods and the announcements of
their winners into the Autumn, really gives everyone the opportunity to still get
involved. It has been amazingly impressive also to see so much evidence on social
media that school librarians have been engaging digitally with their students during
lockdown and working hard to promote reading for pleasure. SLA Board member
and past School Librarian of the Year, Lucas Maxwell (@lucasjmaxwell) is really
inspiring with his regular blog, his regular #OneMinuteBookReview and over 40
student-led interviews with authors on #BooklingsChat on @Soundcloud. The
Reading Agency’s toolkit on engaging readers online is useful if you want to try some
of these activities https://readingagency.org.uk/resources/4327/. Perhaps this period
of change to the way we work will see a permanent change to the ways in which
school libraries engage with their readers or the ways in which readers want to
engage with them!
It has also been good to see the growing public recognition of the work of librarians.
The National Shelf Service daily book recommendations have attracted very positive
media attention (https://tinyurl.com/ue9eqkd) and have helped remind people that
libraries, both public and school, can still provide reading materials even in
lockdown and has convincingly demonstrated the value of a knowledgeable librarian
to engage readers. Here at the SLA we have opened up a reading recommendations
service too: (www.sla.org.uk/reading-recommendations). If you need help with
finding the right book for the right child at the right time, your Book Reviews Editor
and her expert reviewers are here to help. As Gustav Flaubert said ‘read to live’.
N.B. Please be aware that publication dates for some books reviewed in this edition
may have changed due to COVID-19.
Joy Court, Reviews Editor

Under 8
Addison, Amanda and Adreani,
Manuela
Boundless Sky
Lantana Publishing, 2020, pp40, £11.99
978 1 911373 67 4
This beautifully observed
book tells a story of
migration and
acceptance, its pages
map the flight of a
swallow across diverse
terrain. Italian illustrator, Manuela Adreani, is
masterful with her use of shapes, colour and
movement. She brings teacher, writer and artist
Amanda Addison’s rhythmic words to life. The
reader is engaged from the start as they follow
the exuberant and tenacious Swallow who
swoops and soars on the tail of her flock ‘halfway
round the world and back again.’ The little bird
has a long way to go to escape the cold Winter
and she meets many obstacles. On her travels she
encounters Leila, an African girl who has a
journey of her own to take.
From its opening motif of welcoming hands
signifying the friendship of children who greet
Swallow throughout to the positivity of its closing
pages, Boundless Sky is timely, empathetic and
symbolic. Adreani’s composition captures the
graceful glide of Swallow’s wings as she navigates
azure skies, fishermen’s trawlers, snow-capped
mountains, desert, jungle, grasslands and stormy
seas. The colour palette features pale pastels,
golden hues, grassy greens and murky dark blues.
Perspectives alter and directions change
throughout with dramatic double-page spreads
and visually arresting closeups focusing on
characters’ emotions like they’ve been caught on
camera. Panoramic in scope, it is the perfect book
to share and read aloud with its ultimate message
about embracing diversity and helping everyone
on their journey.
Tanja Jennings
Agee, Jon
Lion Lessons
Scallywag Press, 2020, pp32, £12.99
978 1 912650 20 0
The narrator of Lion Lessons is a boy who desired
a diploma in being an honorary lion (why not?).
So he looked out for training courses (of course)
and found what he felt would suit his needs
(obviously). It is always the same with courses;
you set off thinking it is all pretty straightforward
and then discover you know little, or nothing,
about the topic. This wonderful picturebook is a
recount, by the fully qualified boy/lion, of his
training experiences. It is hilarious.
Reading Lion Lessons made me itch to share it
with any class in primary school, from the
youngest to Year 6. If you count ‘laughing-yersocks-off’
a valid pedagogical approach (which I
do), just read it aloud and enjoy it. After getting
as many giggles as possible out of it, look for the
many opportunities for response activities based
on the ‘7 steps to becoming a lion’. Literacy –
texts all over the place (especially adverts and
diplomas; but also look at the menu); PE is a
doddle – warm up, prowling, pouncing and
sprinting; and volume measurement will make use
of technology to evaluate roaring. The secret to
getting response to any book is to love the book
first. So, make sure the necessary time is spent
exploring the superb pictures, laughing at the
written text and talking to each other about
favourite bits. Lion Lessons is a winner!
Prue Goodwin
Alemagna, Beatrice
Forever
Thames & Hudson, 2020, pp70, £12.95
978 0 500 65228 2
Beatrice Alemagna makes effective use of
transparent inserts between the pages of this
picturebook to indicate the transient moments of
everyday life. Two black semicircles drawn on
transparent paper, for example, represent closed
eyes that open as the paper moves across a
double spread. The same mechanism causes dust,
fear, rain, tears and first teeth to disappear, to the
undoubted delight of any young reader sharing
this book with an adult.
Alemagna adopts bold brushwork, perspective
and colour in paintings that are as vivid as they
are emotionally charged. A final message
reassures the young listener that one thing lasts
forever: the love between mother and child.
Gillian Lathey
Asuquo, Sarah and Bohi, Florelle
Shine
Matador, 2019, pp34, £7.99
978 1 78901 715 1
Kai is excited to see his friends, as it is the first
day of school and there is so much to look
forward to doing. But alas, things do not go as
planned – he is told that he is too tall to join in
playing in the den he and his friends have just
made. His parents comfort him, but to no avail –
the following day, he is excluded from another
activity for another equally implausible reason.
It’s not until the third day when his parents show
him the stars in the sky that he begins to realise
that he really can shine of his own accord –
which he puts into practice the following day,
helping another similarly excluded child to feel
more valued. And then things all take a turn for
the better. For many children this will be a book
that is well worth pondering and taking to heart.
Warmly recommended.
Rudolph Loewenstein
Under 8
Atinuke
Too Small Tola
Illustrated by Onyine, Iwu
Walker, 2020, pp96, £5.99
978 1 4063 8891 6
Tola is the youngest – and thus,
smallest – of three children who
live with their Grandmummy in
a ‘run down block of flats in
Lagos’. Ordinary kids leading
ordinary lives in a caring
community. Of course, the main
character is Tola. She is so aware that she is
small; although willing to help with chores, she
finds things more difficult than her older siblings.
But what she lacks in height, she makes up for in
determination and perseverance. This book
contains three stories that tell us a little more
about all the family through each tale. By the
third story, Tola has grown in confidence and we
are beginning to realise what a bright and
capable person she is.
If you loved Atinuke’s Anna Hibiscus stories you
will love these. They are fun to read alone (young
independent readers), in a group or aloud to the
whole class. It would be enjoyable to look at some
literary features (such as: characters, settings and
narrative) and to talk about life in Lagos. I would
definitely want Too Small Tola in my school library
plus a set to be shared by all classes.
Prue Goodwin
Banker, Ashok and Prabhat,
Sandhya
I Am Brown
Lantana Publishing, 2020, pp32, £11.99
978 1 911373 94 0
Lantana is really shaping up as a very fine imprint
focusing as it does on publishing inclusive titles
that celebrate diversity. I was delighted to
encounter this book for its considerable wow
factor as it celebrates identity and culture of
children all around our world. What helps to make
the book such a treat is the contribution of
illustrator Sandhya Prabhat in capturing the joys
and exuberance of childhood and whose colour
palate brings alive a sense of place and the
homes, places of worship, food, clothing and
languages that help make up ethnicity and
cultural identity. The illustrations also bring
humour to the subject matter particularly in
spreads which celebrate physical appearance and
the roles that people play in society. The text is
validatory as well as celebratory and encouraging
the reader to have a positive identity and a sense
of belonging. This is intrinsically linked to the need
to be aspirational about who you are, what you
might become and what you might achieve in life.
A ‘must have acquisition’ for early years and
school settings and well done to everyone
involved in its production!
John Newman
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 89

Under 8
Bemelmans, Ludwig
Madeline in London
Scholastic, 2019, pp64, £9.99
978 1 407197 98 2
Pepito, the son of a Spanish Ambassador, lives
very happily next door to twelve little girls
studying in a Parisian convent school. When
the Ambassador is transferred to England his
family moves to the London embassy. But
Pepito is pining badly for his friends and soon
grew very, very thin. His canny mama realises
that her son is missing Madeline and her
convent school friends. The problem is resolved
when the Ambassador suggests that Miss
Clavel and her twelve little charges come for a
visit to London. They all enjoy celebrating
Pepito’s birthday and have a marvellous tour of
the sights in London.
Reissued to celebrate 80 years of Madeline, the
story retains its charm as a modern classic. This
entertaining tale is told in a lively rhyming text. A
pacy plot with colourful illustrations on every
page make this story a page turner. There are lots
of famous London sights for children to spot
including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament,
Westminster Abbey and the river Thames. This is a
lovely book to read aloud with lots to talk about
in the story.
Rosemary Woodman
Bright, Rachel and Chatterton, Chris
The Worrysaurus
Orchard, 2019, pp32, £12.99
978 1 40835 613 5
Little Worrysaurus is – a
dinosaur who worries.
One hot and sunny
morning, he wakes up
happily and prepares a
picnic. Before long,
worries about possibly
getting lost start to loom. When a passing lizard
yelps that a storm is coming, Worrysaurus’s
thinking is clouded and he feels butterflies in his
stomach. His mood dives until Little Worrysaurus
is shown sitting unhappily in a cave-like double
spread of gloom.
However, Worrysaurus is resourceful and he is
helped by remembering things his mother says
such as ‘Chase that butterfly away!... If it’s not a
happy ending, then it hasn’t ended yet.’ He also
has a tin of happy things to reassure himself. With
these supports, he starts to feel much better.
When he puts away the tin and all the worries in
his head, he is free to have a fabulous picnic and
enjoy both his new friend’s company and the real
butterflies on their picnic in the woods.
Joyously told in rhyming couplets, The
Worrysaurus is led to a bright and colour filled
ending.
Carolyn Boyd
Burgerman, Jon
Everybody Has a Body
Oxford, 2020, pp32, £6.99
978 0 19 276603 8
Bright and cheerful, illustrated in Jon Burgerman’s
distinctive cartoon style, this friendly book
celebrates bodies of all kinds. It positively
reinforces the message that everybody is different
in some way and being different is okay. It
doesn’t matter whether your body is big, small,
wide, tall, hairy, rough, bendy, old or new, it is
something to celebrate and be proud of. The
curious creatures pictured here are sure to
provoke a lot of smiles from young readers and
the book is a fun way to explore the concept of
differences with children in Early Years and KS1.
Jayne Gould
Daynes, Katie and Tremblay, Marie-
Eve
Questions and Answers about
Plastic (Lift-the-Flap)
Usborne, 2020, pp14, £9.99
978 1 4749 6338 1
Another in the popular Usborne Lift-the-Flap
Questions and Answers series, this time, all about
plastic. We start off with learning about what
exactly plastic is, both what makes it fantastic, but
also what’s wrong with it. Each double-page
spread tackles another aspect of plastic, with a
particular focus on its environmental impact. We
learn how we can reuse and recycle plastic and
why it’s so important to do so. We learn how we,
as individuals, can make a difference to the plastic
problem faced by planet earth.
The book is stuffed full of fascinating and
astonishing facts, such as that a plastic bottle can
be recycled 10 times and that some packaging is
now being made from mushrooms. This makes for
a hugely informative and very tactile, engaging
read for all children, particularly those budding
Gretas, who are increasingly tuned in to issues
about the environment and keen to educate
themselves on this subject.
Eleanor Rutherford
Dieckmann, Sandra
Waiting for Wolf
Hodder, 2019, pp32, £12.99
978 1 444 9465 8
Wolf and Fox were the very best of friends and
really enjoyed being together. But one day Wolf
said ‘Promise me… you’ll always remember this
perfect day… Tomorrow I will be starlight.’ But
when Fox went looking for Wolf the next day, she
could not find her friend anywhere. After
searching and searching and searching, Fox finally
wept at the realisation that Wolf would never be
able to come back. But she understood that
although ‘he was gone all the wonderful things
they shared together would be with her always.’
With a lyrical text and magnificent full-colour
illustrations this is a poignant story of love, loss
and acceptance. The sparkling imagery of the
natural world and the cycle of life unfolds with a
background of lush greenery and towering
mountains. The magnificent end papers speak
volumes as the moon and the green of the
mountains at the beginning of the book turn to
gold with the sun at the back of the book. This is
a thoughtful book which will speak to all ages
and would be an excellent addition for every
school and library. Children, teens and adults will
all find support and a deeper depth of
understanding through this story.
Rosemary Woodman
Don, Lari and Ilincic, Nataša
The Legend of the First Unicorn
Picture Kelpies, 2020, pp36, £7.99
978 178250 627 0
Strength in the face of
adversity intertwined with a
touch of magic form the root of
this traditional tale. The story
explores the origin of the
unicorn, a mythological
creature which is the national
symbol of Scotland and represents purity and
strength. On opening the book, the end pages
hint at what is to come with images of wooden
swords and books containing magical spells.
The story begins with the traditional ‘Once upon a
time’ and is set in the kingdom of Scotland. A
young prince called Duncan has lost his smile and
is fighting his inner demons. Nobody seems to be
able to help him, even the court magician, whose
spell to create a magical creature goes awry,
delivering a monstrous beast instead. Hana, the
court magician’s granddaughter, has better luck
and she creates the first unicorn. The enchanting
creature lures Duncan and Hana to the forest and
they embark on a playful journey. However, the
monstrous beast rears its ugly head and attacks
the unicorn. This encounter is stunningly
illustrated on a double-page spread. Will Duncan
find the strength to protect his magical friend?
Will he also regain his smile? An endearing story
about friendship, courage and confronting our
challenges.
Laura Brett
Doyle, Malachy and Corr,
Christopher
The Miracle of Hannukah
Bloomsbury, 2019, pp32, £6.99
978 1 47295 836 5
The story of the first Hanukkah is told using
vibrant and bright colours so that young readers
will be drawn into a story of one of the important
(and most enjoyable) feasts of the Jewish year.
Linking from the original story, Doyle shows how
and why Hanukkah is still celebrated today by
90 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

Jewish people all over the world. There are plenty
of interesting facts here but told in such a way
that children will pick them up as part of an
interesting story that is as relevant today as it
always has been. Not only would this book be
good at home for children, but it should be part
of any classroom library for EYFS and KS1
children.
Rudolph Loewenstein
Eland, Eva
Where Happiness Begins
Andersen, 2020, pp32, £12.99
978 1 78344 855 5
Following When Sadness
Comes to Call, this is the
second title in Dutch author
and illustrator Eva Eland’s
series of picture books that
deal with big emotions. This
helpful and thoughtful
book uses simple text and
illustrations to reassure young children that they
can always discover happiness within themselves,
even on the days when it feels far away and hard
to find.
Eva Eland makes effective use of a reduced colour
palette, a soft blue handwritten-style text and
large expanses of blank page space to focus the
reader’s attention on her message about the
nature of happiness. Happiness is personified as a
luminous orange, friendly, blob-shaped character,
always smiling and appearing in unexpected
places. The text is sparse and unspecific but
observant child readers will find all the clues they
need about finding true happiness in the
illustrations.
This gentle, thought-provoking picture book will
help young children to understand their own, and
other people’s, feelings and works as an effective
and useful introduction to themes of emotional
literacy and empathy.
Sue Roe
Fenton, Corinne and Smith, Craig
A Cat Called Trim
Allen & Unwin, 2020, pp32, £10.99
978 1 91163 139 2
A picture book which brings to life the true story
of a mischievous, fearless cat called Trim. Born on
the ship Reliance, his curiosity resulted in him
falling overboard and being rescued by Captain
Matthew Flinders. Trim accompanied Matthew on
all his future voyages to map the coastline of
Australia and beyond. On a return voyage to
England, the ship Cumberland that they were
travelling on was leaking and Flinders made the
fateful decision to call at the Isle of France for
urgent supplies and repairs. Sadly he was accused
of spying and imprisoned and Trim disappeared.
A fascinating picture book illustrated by Craig
Smith of Wonky Donkey fame. The text is compact
and tells the story really well, the illustrations
complement the text superbly.
Sometimes, I think fictionalised accounts of true
stories don’t always work particularly well, but
this is definitely an exception as the book
makes the reader want to explore further, as I
did. The end pages also strongly support the
story, showing maps of the routes sailed by
Flinders on his travels. A thoughtful postscript
gives a small amount of historical information
about Flinders and tiny cameo illustrations of
each of the ships he sailed on. This would be a
useful tool for schools to lead children into
further exploration.
Annie Everall
Finlay, Lizzie
The (Ferocious) Chocolate Wolf
Five Quills, 2020, pp32, £6.99
978 0 99355 379 0
Delightful picture book about a wolf who opens a
chocolate shop but finds no one is brave enough
to come in because they think he’s going to eat
them! He does manage to persuade them not to
make snap judgements about him and the story
develops with him gaining lots of friends – and
customers naturally. The bright and colourful
illustrations are sure to attract little eyes and the
story has an excellent moral of avoiding prejudice
and not discriminating against anyone. I really
enjoyed this and I’m looking forward to reading it
to my first grandchild, due in August!
Bev Humphrey
Foreman, Michael
I Didn’t Do It!
Andersen, 2020, pp32, £12.99
978 1 78344 860 9
Milo, a young monkey, loves his new bike. He may
still need stabilisers, but he dreams of becoming a
champion. He pedals off to watch the Big Cycle
Race. In his eagerness, he embarks on a journey
of destruction – knocking a rhino off his ladder,
toppling a cat’s fruit stall, crashing a polar bear’s
ice cream kiosk and even tipping a baby bear
from a shopping trolley. At every new calamity he
declares his innocence – ‘I didn’t do it!’ All
parents and teachers, and probably most small
children, will smile in recognition. We all like the
Bart Simpson-style character whose protests of
denial fly so wildly in the face of truth. In the best
story tradition, a crowd of characters build up, all
chasing Milo. When a villainous burglar seizes the
cycle trophy, Milo heads off in pursuit, saving the
day. He can finally and heroically announce, ‘I did
it!’ Young readers will enjoy Foreman’s creaturely
cast, and the sense of energy in the illustrations
as the chase builds to a climax. The bright primary
colours, soft background washes, engaging facial
expressions, speech bubbles and sound effects all
swoosh the story along to its satisfying ending.
Sophie Smiley
Under 8
French, Fiona
Wild Wolf
Otter-Barry Books, 2020, pp32, £12.99
978 1 91095 993 0
When Proud Girl refuses
the hand of Bravest
Warrior, he seeks revenge
by creating a man of ice,
bones and rags who is so
handsome that Proud Girl
immediately falls in love
with him. She follows the
Ice Man far away from her own land until he is
melted by the warmth of the sun. Poor Proud Girl
lies down in grief and would have died in the cold
night but Wild Wolf, the guardian spirit of her
people, keeps her alive until a repentant Bravest
Warrior finds her. They both have learnt a lot and
Proud Girl marries Bravest Warrior.
This striking picture book is inspired by an
Algonquin folktale called Moowis, but the grim
ending of the original tale has been changed to a
happier one. Told by Wild Wolf himself, it is a story
of pride, revenge, love, guilt and forgiveness –
quite a lot for a simple story! The artwork itself,
created in oil crayons, with touches of graphite
and coloured pencil, is also inspired by the craft of
the Algonquin people. It is bold and bright, with
each double-page spread filled with colour. A
visual feast!
The story has been approved by an Algonquin
storyteller and a donation from the sales will go
to Katarokwi Grandmother’s Council of Kingston.
Ontario.
Agnès Guyon
Gifford, Lucinda
Duck, Duck, Moose
Allen & Unwin, 2019, pp32, £11.99
978 1 91163 149 1
A fun, read-along picture book for little ones who
are pre-literate or just starting to read. In Duck,
Duck, Moose, a lonely but playful moose tries very
hard to make friends with two ducks, but Moose
discovers they don’t share the same idea of a
good time! But all is not lost for Moose, when an
unlikely playmate flies into the story and dives
straight into Moose’s fun and games, much to the
disgust of the dull ducks!
This book is a humorous take on the popular
children’s game Duck, Duck, Goose. Succinctly
captured in bold, simple pictures and with few
words, it’s a perfect example of when concept,
illustration and design come together in harmony.
The colour palette is minimal but bright, and the
expressions on the characters are clear enough
that words are not needed to convey them. When
I shared this book with my 4-year-old, he was
able to ‘read’ the emotions of the characters
through the illustrations and empathised with the
lonely moose.
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 91

The repetition of the words ‘duck, duck and
moose’ gives the book its pace, and the words
are written large enough to make this a great
book for sharing with a group. Perfect for preschoolers
and reception level children, the
simplicity of this book will give children the
confidence to read it themselves from beginning
to end and they will want to revisit this book
again and again.
Emma Carpendale
Gillingham, Sara
Animals in the Sky
Phaidon, 2020, pp32, £8.95
978 1 83865 024 6
This is a beautiful
midnight blue and
turquoise board book that
introduces little ones to
astronomy. Each page
provides a clue and then
folds out to reveal the animal behind the
constellation. Who could have ‘thick, shiny fur’
and likes a ‘long sleep’ in a ‘warm den’? Why, it’s
the Big Bear, of course, and did you know that
this constellation is made up of the Big Dipper
and the Plough combined? This is a lovely book to
introduce pre-schoolers and primary aged children
to constellations and to encourage them to
discover more about the night sky.
Eleanor Rutherford
Haworth-Booth, Emily
The Last Tree
Pavilion, 2020, pp32, £6.99
978 1 84365 437 7
The Last Tree is an allegorical story about
community, conservation and a little bit of
rebellion. The book is a visually appealing and
compellingly written story about caring for the
world around us.
Illustrated in a pencil crayon with a palette of
green, charcoal and white, and with pages
arranged in comic strip boxes, narrative blocks,
and with text call-outs, the story is both accessible
and fluid to readers of varying confidence.
As with so many of the best children’s stories, it is
the adults who make mistakes and lack the social
awareness to see the errors of their ways and the
children who save the day. Without giving the
story away, the survival of the storybook
community hinges on the virtuous rebelliousness
of the children. In a real world that often criticises
juvenile rebels such as Greta Thunberg and youth
movements such as Extinction Rebellion, The Last
Tree very much captures the zeitgeist of our times.
This surely will secure it a place in the hearts of
children. The Last Tree is an instantly accessible
and hugely enjoyable book to be treasured by
children (and rebellious adults) of all ages.
Rachel Clarke
Under 8
Hegarty, Patricia and Teplow, Rotem
Two Bears: An Epic Journey of Hope
Little Tiger Press, 2020, pp32, £11.99
978 1 84857 944 6
This heart-warming picture book is perfect for
budding environmental activists! Behind its tender
story (by Caterpillar Books Editorial Director
Patricia Hegarty) and gentle illustrations by the
talented Rotem Teplow, it has a strong
environmental message. An informative fact guide
at the end of the book offers further information
about bears and how to help them survive despite
the threats that they are facing.
Océane Toffoli
Hegarty, Patricia and Abbott, Greg
Everybody’s Welcome
Little Tiger Press, 2019, pp26, £6.999
978 1 84857 892 0
This is a delightful board
book, telling the tales of
homeless creatures
helping one another.
The tiny mouse
welcomes a frog whose
pond has dried up. He reassures him that
‘everything will be alright’ and together they start
building a forest home. Small birds have lost their
habitat to loggers. Rabbits arrive, frightened by an
eagle. They form a chain to move logs and to
show the power of teamwork. A bear is sad and
lonely – his great size frightens people and
isolates him. He, too, is brought into the mixed
tribe. Young children will enjoy spotting so many
different animals – from tiny caterpillars to
hedgehogs, badgers and deer. They are all
involved in the joint project of woodland home
building. The illustrations are cheerful, with lots of
gentle-looking, smiling animals. The rhyming text
is bouncy and engaging, and the refrain of
‘Everybody’s welcome’ reinforces the book’s
loving and inclusive message. It’s a board book
aimed at very young children and would also be a
valuable resource in a KS1 classroom. A story to
share in groups.
Sophie Smiley
Hicks, Zehra
Pug Hug
Hodder, 2020, pp32, £12.99
978 1 444 94997 1
Little dog Pug watches his little girl owner
walking off to school. But as soon as she leaves
Pug is longing for a hug. He first asks cat, but cat
definitely does not want a hug! Little hamster on
his wheel is too quick and rabbit prefers carrots.
Fish and parrots quickly decline. Crocodile
suggests a hug, but that looks far too dangerous.
It seems that no one at home wants a hug until
Pug’s favourite little girl returns with the perfect
hug for one and all.
With big bold pictures and a simple text this is a
great book to read aloud to a child or to a
classroom. Hearts cover the end pages and
provide a warm welcome for the readers. It is
particularly encouraging to see that the story
reflects racial diversity without using any words.
Families, schools and libraries will really welcome
more picture books and books for older readers
that embrace that diversity.
Rosemary Woodman
Holmes, Kirsty
Sparky’s Stem Guide to Diggers
(Horse Power)
Booklife Publishing, 2019, pp24, £12.99
978 1 78637803 3
Machines and transport books make up one of
the most popular sections in primary school
libraries. This book is a welcome addition. Jeremy
Sparkplug of Horses for Courses guides young
children around the intricate details of diggers
used for building, from excavating machines to
cranes. The text is very simple, with captions
explaining the various parts of the machine.
Children will love the description of how the
driving controls work and the details about the
enormous Bagger 288.
There is a useful double-page spread about safety
signs and a quiz, all leading to earning a Golden
Horseshoe. There is also a glossary and a short,
clear index. Young children will love this book and
be delighted that there is a whole series of similar
volumes about cars, motorbikes, tanks, trains and
trucks. I recommend this series for primary school
libraries and classrooms.
Lucy Chambers
Ismail, Yasmeen
Would you Like a Banana?
Walker, 2020, pp32, £12.99
978 1 4063 7584 8
This book is a comic frolic through a strop by a
grumpy gorilla at snack time. Children will love
hearing it read aloud. And, the lovely thing about
reading to the very young is that little children
laugh out loud when their books are funny (and
this book is funny). They seldom, however,
immediately recognise themselves on the page.
Gorilla’s conduct is common in homes and
nurseries everywhere. If nothing else, Would you
Like a Banana? will provide caring adults with a
gentle means of persuasion when fruit is offered
(but we all know there’s ice-cream in the
freezer). The artwork is delicious – it has the
spontaneity of freehand drawing with the
addition of a generous scattering of photos,
collage, stars, fruits and banana skins. There is a
knickerbocker glory of a double-page spread in
the middle.
Looking deeper into this text, more is revealed
because this book offers teachers opportunities to
look more closely at rhyme, word meanings and
92 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

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Under 8
using multi-media approaches to present a story.
But please don’t even think of doing any of those
things until you have read it aloud to the class for
the sheer joy of sharing it together.
Prue Goodwin
Jones, Richard
Perdu
Simon & Schuster, 2020, pp32, £6.99
978 1 4711 8126 9
All that Perdu (a little
dog who is fairly
nondescript) possesses
is a red scarf – which he
wears around his neck.
He wanders throughout
life lonely and not
belonging anywhere, experiencing rejection,
hunger and isolation. Until eventually he curls up
to sleep – without realising that he has lost his
scarf. And then a little girl finds it and offers it
back to him. Finally, a sense of belonging!
The illustrations in this book are simple but
heartfelt and will help children to empathise with
the dog and his plight. This book just begs to be
read and shared, with so many issues for
discussion. The EYFS classroom would really
benefit from this book!
Rudolph Loewenstein
Lee, Hannah and Fatimaharan, Allen
My Hair
Faber, 2019, pp32, £6.99
978 0 571 34687 5
This beautifully illustrated
picture book is a
celebration of Black Girl
Energy and the meaning
and importance of the
diversity in hairstyles to
their community. The
nameless protagonist is thinking how to style her
hair for her upcoming birthday party, and so she
surveys her whole family in lively rhyming verse.
Fatimaharan’s full-page illustrations and the
looping font chosen enhance this text celebrating
black and African beauty, without any reference to
Caucasian culture. This is a real strength of the
book; it is about people of colour and for people
of colour.
There are great touches in the text, such as the
hairdresser being reverentially known as Miss
Dawn, and behind the end papers there is a place
to put a photograph of the reader’s own hair. The
girl decides in the end to have an afro:
‘I love my afro when it’s out. So BIG and GREAT
and FREE. My daddy says it is my crown, it
defies gravity!’
The illustration supports this – the page is not big
enough to contain her lustrous crown but her
sparkling eyes ably convey her self-esteem. This is
an unapologetic unabashed celebration of black
hair, beauty and culture and will be a fantastic
addition to any primary school library.
Ingrid Spencer
Lisle, Rebecca and Watson, Richard
I, Pod
Maverick Arts, 2019, pp32, £7.99
978 1 84856 406 1
When Pod is left in charge
of Nim disaster happens.
Pod tries hard to get Nim
to say his name then gives
up and builds her a swing.
However, when he pushes
her too high and it breaks,
she ends up in danger. Pod has to save her before
it is too late.
The story and illustrations depict a stone age
setting with dinosaurs, sabre tooth tigers and
woolly mammoths. This story will make a nice
addition to a collection of books linked to a
history topic on either the stone age or dinosaurs.
The story gives the opportunity for retelling of
Nim’s various encounters and how the problem is
eventually resolved. Children will love the fact
that Nim gets Pod into trouble at the end of the
story when she eventually learns to say his name.
Kate Keaveny
Lloyd, Susannnah and Grant, Jacob
This Book Can Read Your Mind
Frances Lincoln, 2020, pp32, £11.99
978 0 71124 144 2
This witty picturebook involves the reader from
the outset, with the bold statement on the title
page that it is able to read minds. A bespectacled
scientist fiddles with some complicated looking
apparatus, switches it on, and then belatedly
issues a warning: ‘this book is extremely delicate,
and is particularly sensitive to silliness of any
kind’. And of course silliness is exactly what is
unleashed over the following pages, as he tells
the reader what not to think about, with
predictable results. A pink elephant, lots of pink
elephants, elephants on unicycles, playing the
tuba, wearing silly pants and, inevitably, things
involving elephants and their bottoms. His
unwitting suggestions lead to readers’ thoughts,
which produce wonderfully bold and anarchic
pictures. The cartoonish figure with his
increasingly frantic and despairing instructions,
given in speech bubbles, finds himself in the midst
of scenes that become more and more chaotic,
ridiculous – and rude!
The result is a very funny and clever book that is
bound to amuse and delight young readers. When
their thoughts succeed in ‘blowing up’ the book
at the end and they are told on no account to
open it again, I think we can be pretty sure they
will.
Marianne Bradnock
Magerl, Caroline
Nop
Walker, 2020, pp32, £12.99
978 1 4063 9347 7
Among the heaps of goods in Oddmint’s
Dumporeum sits Nop, a small teddy who is not
plush in places. He has no button or ribbon,
nothing to show where he belonged. During the
night lots of mending goes on and by day, all the
other toys are sold, except for Nop. So, he takes
matters into his own paws, sews a balloon from
scraps of fabric and sails away over the rooftops
to find a new home. Above a patch of green, he
lets go and tumbles down into the arms of a
friend, a very unusual friend…!
This is an enchanting, gently lyrical tale of a small
bear and his quest for adventure. Illustrated in line
and watercolour, glowing with life, the pictures
evoke the dusty atmosphere of the junk shop,
followed by Nop’s joyous journey as he is blown
by storm clouds over the town. The illustrations
are made for poring over, with lots of detail to
find. The ending is surprising, which I won’t spoil
here, but suffice to say it might provoke some
discussion among young readers. It is perfect for
sharing one to one or with a small group of
children.
Jayne Gould
Marley, Bob, Marley, Cedella and
Cabuay, John Jay
Get Up, Stand Up
Chronicle Books, 2019, pp36, £11.99
978 1 4521 7172 2
This is the third Bob
Marley lyric to be
adapted for a picture
book by his eldest
daughter Cedella.
Marley’s lyrics lend
themselves well to this
format and you almost inevitably find yourself
singing the words of tunes that in my own case, I
know very well from my youth. Get Up, Stand Up
is probably his most memorable call for ‘one love’
and is a powerful rallying cry for all of us to
individually and above all collectively challenge
injustice. In effect and in his words we are urged
to, ‘stand up for your rights’ and ‘don’t give up
the fight.’ You almost wish the book came with a
CD or a link to the music that it is so hard to
celebrate from those words.
Illustrator John Jay Cabuay does an effective job
in producing inclusive and diverse images and of
telling a story in pictures of how the day to day
injustices children face can be overcome if we
stand up to those that perceive themselves to be
powerful, such as the bully and the tease, and
endorse values of kindness, truthfulness and
compassion. Bob Marley continues to point the
way and long may his legacy endure.
John Newman
94 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

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Under 8
McDonnell, Flora
Out of a Dark Winter’s Night
Thames & Hudson, 2020, pp40, £11.95
978 0 500 65195 7
The stunning artwork in
this picturebook has a
darker side, dealing as it
does with anxiety and
depression. Drawing on
the author/illustrator’s own
experience, it describes in
words and pictures the way you can feel when
daylight gives way to a darkness that never
seems to end. The full colour spreads, which
reminded me of the work of John Burningham,
move from bright golden yellows to dark greens
and greys. At its lowest point, when ‘it feels like
there is nothing and nobody forever’, the two
pages are almost entirely black. Hope and
optimism, however, glimmer throughout,
expressed through rainbows, sunrises, and scenes
of the young protagonists arming themselves
with ‘equipment, friends, and a hunch’ as they set
about overcoming the darkness. We see them
dressed in waterproofs and pushing a
wheelbarrow full of tools as they enlist a
succession of animal helpers along the way: a
cat, a goose, a cow, a goat, even an elephant.
The journey is not easy, with several uphill climbs
and a struggle through deep water ‘without
being able to swim’. The text, rarely more than
half a dozen words on each spread, is simple and
poetic, with subtle use of metaphor to express
the emotions felt as the protagonists’ mood
alters. Their perseverance is rewarded on the final
sunny spread, as ‘hope carries you… home’. A
glorious book, which will bring comfort and
encouragement to some young readers, and
greater understanding to others.
Marianne Bradnock
McKinley, Alice
Nine Lives Newton
Simon & Schuster, 2020, pp32, £6.99
978 1 4711 8118 4
Things are not always as they seem. This is the
message that is conveyed throughout this story as
we are introduced to gullible Newton. He (mis)-
reads a message on a billboard advert which
seems to suggest that he has nine lives. Easily
persuaded, Newton embarks on an adventure to
live life as perilously as he can. His friend, the cat,
however, has realised his mistake and sets out
after him to warn him. Each illustration is filled
with humour as the terror and horror portrayed
by the cat is contrasted with the laid-back and
relaxed attitude of Newton, who approaches
each dangerous episode with a carefree and
chilled out attitude. Needless to say, it is the cat
who comes out worse for wear, getting pinched
by scorpions, almost eaten by a crocodile and
bearing scratches and scars.
When Newton finally realises his error, he seems
oblivious to the pain that the escapade has
caused his friend. And the cat is not impressed.
However, the reader learns that he has not learnt
from his mistake, as the story ends with him
(mis)-reading another billboard advert which
seems to suggest that he can fly! A laugh out
loud story about the joys of friendship.
Laura Brett
McNiff, Dawn and Metola, Patricia
Love from Alfie McPoonst, The Best
Dog Ever
Walker, 2020, pp32, £12.99
978 1 40636 991 5
Love from Alfie McPoonst is
a warm and gentle hug of a
book. Alfie is no longer in
his cosy basket, wrapped in
his favourite blanket. We
know that he died because
the first set of end papers
show us the small family
standing by his grave beneath a starlit sky. We
also know, from the many framed photographs,
that Izzy and Alfie were inseparable and spent
time snuggled together beneath Alfie’s pink
blanket.
The story is told almost entirely through letters
sent to Izzy from Alfie in his new home ‘The
Nicest Cloud, Dog Heaven, The Sky.’ With help
from Alfie, and her loving parents, Izzy gradually
makes the journey from prostrate with grief to
awakening once more to the joy of life. We leave
Izzy and her parents as they make their way once
more to Alfie’s grave with an armful of flowers
and smiles on their faces.
There is nothing forced or didactic about this gem
of a book. Patricia Metola’s illustrations perfectly
reflect the emotions of Izzy as she works her way
through the necessary time needed to be able to
remember Alfie with happiness rather than
heartbreak. It is worth noting that Dawn McNiff
previously worked as a bereavement counsellor,
adding professional weight to what is an
exceptionally comforting book, perfect for young
ones experiencing loss for the first time. Every
library should have a copy.
Helen Thompson
Muhammad, Ibtihaj, Ali, S. K. and
Aly, Hatem
The Proudest Blue
Andersen, 2020, pp40, £12.99
978 1 78344 971 2
Faizah is delighted with her new light-up shoes
for the start of school. And she is immensely
proud of her big sister Asiya. It is a very special
day, because Asiya is wearing hijab to school for
the first time. It’s a beautiful blue. Asiya takes
Faizah to her class and hugs her goodbye. Faizah
gives a little curtsey to the princess. She finds it
hard to understand why the little children round
her are puzzled by Asiya’s hijab. Her Mama’s
words come back to her: ‘Some people won’t
understand your hijab. But if you understand who
you are, one day they will too.’ The mockery
continues. At the end of the day, Asiya is waiting
for her. ‘She’s smiling. Strong.’ They walk home
together, hand in hand.
This is a lovely picture book. And an important
one. Ibtihaj Muhammad is an Olympic medallist
and a social activist. She was the first Muslim
American to wear hijab in competition. She and
co-writer S. K. Ali have captured a little girl’s
conflicting emotions on an important day in her
life extremely well. We feel Faizah’s pride and
excitement, and her pain and confusion. We feel
her gain understanding, strength and confidence
from her mother’s wise counsel and from her
sister’s courage and resilience in the face of
intolerance and bullying. We see these things too,
thanks to the beautiful, atmospheric illustrations
by Hatem Aly, which convey the girls’ emotional
journey and their bond perfectly. We also see
Asiya’s staunch, diverse group of friends standing
with her against the bullies. As for those bullies,
they are depicted as dark, faceless shadows,
while all the other children are bright and
colourful. There are so many messages in this
book, messages for example about identity,
tolerance, self-esteem, empowerment, friendship.
A wonderful celebration of the hijab and of family
love and support, and a powerful renunciation of
hatred.
Anne Harding
Munsch, Robert and Martchenko,
Michael
The Paper Bag Princess
Annick Press, 2020, pp36, £12.99
978 1 77321 343 9
This classic feminist fairy tale is in large format to
celebrate the 40th year since first publication. The
new introductions by Chelsea Clinton and
Francesca Segal show very clearly their belief that
this is still an essential text for all children, even
after all this time has passed. Segal, in her
impassioned introduction, talks about the long
reach of this book she first encountered as a 6-
year-old: ‘But the book has always been there in
my psyche, whispering softly, a second narrative
interwoven with the blasting electronic symphony
of popular culture that declare through every
billboard and magazine and movie and pop song
on the sound system of every mall: Be pleasing!
Be nice! Be fragrant! Be thin! Conform!
(Princess) Elizabeth stayed with me, whispered to
me of another empowered femininity, warning
me of Ronalds.’ There is also an afterword by the
author’s wife talking about her influence on the
gender swap of the rescuing Royal, and these
additions make the purchase worthwhile even if
you have a well-thumbed older copy.
96 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

Having known this book for a long time in a small
board version, it is delightful to have it in a big
format making it easier to share with a class.
Elizabeth’s intelligence and self possession are
delightful to see and while the Americanism ‘you
are a bum’ is always a funny one for UK children,
the final picture of a liberated Princess walking
into the sunset never fails to please. This large
format addition would be excellent to introduce
this great book to a new generation of readers in
the UK where the book is still not as widely
known as in the US and Canada.
Ingrid Spencer
Nilsson, Ulf and Eriksson, Eva
All the Dear Little Animals
Translated by Julia Marshall
Gecko Press, 2020, pp72, £7.99
978 1 776572 82 3
In this perfect little book,
Swedish author Ulf Nilsson and
illustrator Eva Eriksson delicately
engage their young readers’
fascination with death. The
narrative unfolds in the course
of one day’s play that begins,
typically, when Esther and her friend can find
nothing to do. After burying a dead bee with due
ceremony, Esther has a great idea: she decides to
set up ‘Funerals Ltd’, and to search for dead
animals for burial. Her friend, the boy narrator of
this tale, takes on the task of composing poetic
eulogies, while Esther’s younger brother Puttie
supplies the tears. Moments of sorrow are
tempered by occasional impatience (‘But no one
paid us for the funerals’) and self-satisfaction
(‘We were the nicest people in the world’) that
adds, with the lightest of touches, a realistic and
ironic undertone. A book that deserves the
highest possible recommendation.
Gillian Lathey
Perry, Emma and Davey, Sharon
I Don’t Like Books. Never. Ever. The
End
David Fickling Books, 2020, pp32, £11.99
978 1 788450 61 4
If you need to promote books and the love of
reading, this is the book for you. Mabel is a
reluctant reader. So reluctant that she doesn’t
even like books! Instead of reading books, Mabel
uses them to climb up to high shelves, to bump
down the stairs and even to eat her dinner from,
like plates. Eventually the books have enough and
they reap their revenge. This involves plunging
Mabel into some previously spurned stories so
that she comes to see the error of her ways and
by the end of the story is a confirmed book lover.
I Don’t Like Books. Never. Ever. The End is a
delightful book. The relationship between words
and images is perfectly balanced. Each page
deserves its place in the book and contributes to
the whole. The illustrative style is well formed and
the narrative well constructed.
This is a book that pleads to be read aloud.
Sentences are short, rhythmic and lyrical, making
them perfect for joining-in and choral reading. The
narrative is satisfyingly predictable making it
suitable for young readers who will revel in the
conspiratorial pleasure of knowing that Mabel will
eventually love books. This should become a firm
favourite for class read aloud time. A lovely book.
Rachel Clark
Powell-Tuck, Maudie and
Mountford, Karl James
The Moonlight Zoo
Little Tiger Press, 2020, pp28, £12.99
978 1 78881 402 7
Eva longs for the soft fur and
purr of her cat Luna who has
gone missing. We first meet
her looking rather worried
sitting up in bed with lost cat
posters strewn on her
bedroom floor. She hears sounds from under her
bed and crawls underneath to investigate only to
find the entrance to the extraordinary Moonlight
Zoo. This magical place of moonbeams and stars
is the night-time home of all lost animals and
keeps them safe until daybreak.
With a friendly wolf as her guide, she navigates
her way around the zoo looking for her cat,
thinking of the things Luna liked to do most.
Wherever she goes be it the penguin palace or
monkey island, she finds clues to her pet’s
whereabouts while encountering lots of different
creatures climbing, playing and running on every
page. Eva is determined to find Luna before the
stars fade and dawn breaks.
A visual delight, this enchanting picture book
makes clever and inventive use of die-cut and
peep through windows to frame the colourful
illustrations. Readers will be captivated with
having so many creatures to spot during Eva’s
journey through the Moonlight Zoo. It could also
be helpful as a stimulus for discussion when
talking with young children about the death of a
much-loved pet. As although Eva is reunited with
her cat by the end of the story, she expresses
feelings of loss and heartache during her search
and finds comfort in talking about her beloved
pet with others.
Sue Polchow
Quarry, Rachel
Polly and the New Baby
Oxford, 2019, pp32, £6.99
978 0 19 276904 6
In muted autumnal colours this delightful picture
story illustrates how ‘sometimes an imaginary
friend can be a real help!’ as is stated as a subtitle.
Under 8
Polly likes to push her imaginary friend Bunny
around in the pram she used to be pushed in
but Mummy is expecting a new baby and will
soon need it back. Despite Polly’s parents’ best
efforts to encourage her to let Bunny ride a trike
or use a sling or be pulled in a trailer, Polly is
reluctant to relinquish the pram. Fortunately,
after a short stay at wise and trendy Gran’s (she
asks the right questions and wears fish-net
tights) Polly announces that Bunny can walk…
just as new baby Lily arrives on the scene. It
seems that Bunny’s new sister can share the
pram with Lily!
Through simple pictures and much gentle
dialogue between Polly and her parents, the
potential problem is solved smoothly with Polly in
control. Perfection. The imaginary Bunnies are
cleverly shown as line drawings alongside the
other characters, subtly highlighting their
difference.
I liked reading this book. It was soft and calming
in tone and topic. It is a shame that none of the
illustrations, particularly those in the park,
reflected a multi-cultural and diverse Britain.
Janet Sims
Ramm, Natalie and D’Alconzo, Gaia
Man in the Mountain
Ragged Bears, 2019, pp32, £7.99
978 1 86714478 9
The man, whose face is made of the contours of
the mountain, has a wonderful view of the sun,
the moon and his corner of the world but is often
sad because he cannot see more. Then he cries,
making rivers gush so much that ‘the man’s
sadness would spread to the seas’. He cannot
explore new views because when he tries to
move the earth shakes and the sky turns red, the
stars go out and the clouds hide. However, one
day a little cuckoo, who has travelled the world,
offers to come and show the man, through her
songs, the wonders she has seen. She leaves in
the Winter but returns with more stories in the
Spring.
The words in the book are lyrical and while
simple enough for understanding, they have a
depth and profoundness that create the tone. The
illustrations use mixed media, with interesting
textures, leaf prints and spreads depicting the
various locations visited by the cuckoo, from the
Antarctic to the Rainforests. There would be
much to share with a young reader who might
observe the changing of the seasons, enjoy
spotting the monkeys and penguins, the pyramids
and insects, and enjoy some very satisfying
rhymes.
Beneath the story are important themes that also
need to be shared, from the wonder of the
natural world to the need to understand the
feelings of others and help them when we can.
Sally Perry
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 97

Under 8
Rickards, Lynne and Harris-Jones,
Kirsteen
Willow the Wildcat
Picture Kelpies, 2020, pp28, £5.99
978 1 78250 630 0
This charming picture book is based on the
precarious lives of endangered wildcats in the
Scottish Highlands. Wildcats used to live all over
the UK but there are now only about 300 living in
Scotland. After the wildcat family loses its home,
Mum has to guide her quarrelling kittens through
hunting for food and finding a safe place to rest.
Lynne Rickards’ rhyming text keeps the story
moving through various twists and turns and
brings to life the battle for survival. As the cats
traverse the countryside, the kittens mature,
mirroring how children grow up.
Kirsteen Harris-Jones’ illustrations include
recognisably accurate details of the changing
ecology of this remote countryside, such as
bulrushes by the stream, foxgloves and thistles in
the woods, a sheepdog looming over their
burrow, a mouse disappearing into a tree trunk
and a threatening red kite gliding over them
looking for its next meal. I recommend this book
to young children in any primary school.
Lucy Chambers
Robbins, Rose
Talking is Not My Thing
Scallywag Press, 2020, pp32, £12.99
978 1 912650 22 4
The bright, distinctive cover of
this picture book shows a
young girl cat, one paw
partially covering her mouth.
Above her head is a thought
bubble with the words ‘Talking
is not my thing.’ On the title page we see her
again, this time cuddling a toy bunny. The story
begins with her sitting under a tree with her
bunny, looking round and smiling as a little boy
cat runs over to her, telling her to come inside as
it’s nearly dinner. This time her thought bubble
says ‘I don’t speak. But my brother finds it easy.’
Sometimes she uses flashcards to communicate,
like when she needs her grandmother’s help to go
to the toilet.
This is a touching story. Its very special value lies
in its depiction of a non-speaking child with
autism. We see family life through her eyes. We
see too that although she is non-verbal, she is
very communicative and lively, and has a keen
sense of fun. We see the mutual love and support
between her and her brother, and with her
grandmother. The illustrations are simple and
extremely expressive. With each picture, we know
how the protagonists are feeling. The device of
using thought bubbles for the little girl cat, and
speech bubbles for the others is extremely
effective. Rose Robbins teaches young people
with autism and has a brother with autism. She is
an ambassador for Inclusive Minds. Her
knowledge and understanding shine through in
this lovely and useful book, as it did in her
previous one, Me and My Sister. Highly
recommended. A very positive portrayal of
neurodiversity, this will be helpful and reassuring
for children with autism, who need and deserve
books with characters they can readily relate to,
and will foster empathy and awareness among
siblings, and among children with less experience
of autism. Incidentally, how valuable to have a
book with a grandparent as the main carer.
Anne Harding
Rooney, Rachel and Hicks, Zehra
The Problem with Problems
Andersen, 2020, pp32, £12.99
978 1 78344 871 5
In this rhyming picture book story, problems are
compared to creatures and given various
characteristics – tiny, huge, slippery, knotty…
There is ample advice for children on how to
handle a problem or deal with negative thoughts.
They are encouraged to breathe and look at the
problem from another point of view. The book
explains that while ignoring smaller problems will
make them go away, bigger problems should be
shared with others. The colourful illustrations with
diverse characters add a playful and humorous
element and help make a serious subject
accessible for young children. Ideal for a teacher
or parent looking to introduce a discussion on
mental health, negative thoughts or worries.
Laura Brett
Rowland, Lucy and Mantle, Ben
Dracula Spectacular
Macmillan, 2019, pp32, £6.99
978 1 50984 598 9
The Draculas are, perhaps at
first, everything you’d expect
them to be. They wear only
black, they bite, and they love
to go out at night to creep up
and spook people! However,
when the Draculas become
parents, things don’t quite work out as they’d first
planned. Dracula Boy is surprisingly unlike them in
many ways and as he grows, their differences
become more and more apparent. Afraid of
disappointing his parents, he decides to go on a
scaring spree in town. But a chance encounter
with a frightened girl makes him realise that he’s
simply trying to be something that he’s not. But
will he ever feel like he fits in?
This book is a brilliant look at embracing
individuality and has a well-developed story that
explores the notion of identity; of what it’s like to
accept your true self and the importance of
feeling accepted by those close to you. The
illustrations are warmly sketched with crayon and
are soft and fun. Mantle’s palette of purples,
blacks, blues and greens creates great
atmosphere and there are some absolutely
beautiful evening landscapes that are worth
lingering over. And teamed with Rowland’s
bouncy rhymes, which are full of questions, it
enhances the overall experience to keep the
reader (or listener) keenly engaged. Dracula Boy’s
dazzling rainbow cloak is a fitting lasting image
of inclusivity and will be something that many
readers, I’ve no doubt, will look at enviously and
with adoration.
Claire Warren
Schubert, Susan and Bonita, Raquel
I’ll Believe You When: Unbelievable
Idioms from Around the World
Lantana Publishing, 2020, pp32, £11.99
978 1 911373 49 0
As a collector of books
about words and phrases, I
was delighted when this
book arrived in the post.
I’ll Believe You When takes
the idiomatic phrase ‘I’ll
believe you when pigs fly’
and compares it to similar idioms from around the
world.
This idiomatic journey around the world starts on
the front endpapers where the location of each
country included in the book is shown on a map
of the world. The imprint details and title page
then introduce two children, one of whom tells a
tall story to which the other responds: ‘I’ll
believe you when…’ And so the global journey
begins with each phrase given a double page
spread on which the English translation of the
phrase is provided with an accompanying
illustration and the national origin of the phrase.
The book ends with a resolution to the tall story
and an explanation about idioms. The final
endpapers then return to the world map this
time to show each phrase in its original
language.
This is a delightful book aimed at children in KS1.
This would not stop me from sharing it with older
children who I think would love the global
similarities, which further leads me to say what a
useful book this is for celebrating how as global
citizens we have more in common than we have
differences.
Rachel Clark
Scobie, Lorna
Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit!
Scholastic, 2020, pp32, £6.99
978 1 407192 49 9
Change is hard for us all, more so for young
children and this can occur with house moves,
changes in family circumstances or the arrival of
another child. For the only child in a family this
last event can be incredibly difficult. The author’s
latest book is a wonderful way of showing
98 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

children that, when it comes to family, the more
the merrier and that we all have to share!
Rabbit loves being the only child in his family and
can’t understand when the fox next door says that
he likes having rabbits around. He enjoys his own
space and his own food and when his parents tell
him that he will no longer be alone, he sets up
boundaries to keep his younger sibling away.
However, being a family of rabbits, his parents
don’t keep the family to just two! As the numbers
grow, he approaches the fox next door for help.
The fox is only too happy to help out. Rabbit goes
back to his solitude but soon becomes a bit lost
and visits the fox next door. The fox invites him in
and to Rabbit’s horror... At this point the story
takes a delightful twist. Instead of a scene of
carnage and rabbit fur, the reader is shown a
double page spread with all the rabbits playing
happily together and Fox looking on benignly as
he looks after them.
I love this story and the message it brings – family
may be chaotic but we’re better together sharing
fun and food than living apart just caring for
ourselves.
Carolyn Copland
Stoian, Iona and Cardona, Dawn M.
Always Be You
Busy Hands Books, 2019, pp18, £9.95
978 0 9576192 1 0
Coming in a robust board book format, this title
could easily be dismissed as not needing a place
in schools. However, the clear paper-cut floral
illustrations would be an excellent springboard for
use in a primary school when talking about family
and/or identity. Using this book would allow an
adult to approach themes of diversity and
difference in the simplest of terms without specific
reference to race, colour or sexual orientation. It
might also encourage a child to attempt their own
collages to display emotions or problems of
identity. That somebody may be loved and able to
give love in return is an unequivocal message.
Lin Smith
Usher, Sam
Free
Templar, 2019, pp40, £6.99
978 1 78741 516 4
One morning a boy finds a poorly bird on his
windowsill, so he and his grandfather nurse it
back to health. They keep releasing the bird but it
keeps coming back. Finally, the boy and his
grandfather decide to help the bird find its way
home. They embark on a lyrical journey to a tree
on a mountaintop. There they find bird’s friends
and have a feast with them before returning
home.
This lyrical and imaginative story is accompanied
by beautiful illustrations. These illustrations use
watercolour washes to add to the sense of fantasy
and gentle emotional ambience. This is a charming
tale that involves the young child in an appealing
make-believe world.
Andrea Rayner
Voake, Charlotte
Some Dinosaurs are Small
Walker, 2020, pp32, £12.99
978 1 4063 7630 2
Spotting the dinosaurs
through the prehistoric
undergrowth is all part of the
fun in this delightful picture
book from distinguished
author and illustrator
Charlotte Voake. The main theme of the book is
opposites: some dinosaurs have tiny flat teeth for
munching through fruit and leaves, while some
dinosaurs have huge pointy teeth and sharp
claws. Big dinosaurs chase the little ones, and the
big dinosaurs can run very fast.
At the beginning of the book we follow a sweet
and very small dinosaur as it’s chased, by the big
ones, through each page. Given the hierarchy of
the creatures in this book, we would assume the
small one doesn’t stand a chance, but this story
has a sweet, surprise ending where the largest
dinosaur of all rescues her little offspring. This is
more than a book of opposites, there are themes
of bullying and motherly protection, which means
this book can be appreciated on more than one
level.
As usual, Voake’s illustrations are simple but
sublime, with just a few strokes of her brush she
creates large, fearsome creatures which defy the
size of the page, and a lush, otherworldly forest in
which to set the scene.
Emma Carpendale
Williamson, Lara
Midge and Mo
Illustrated by Becky Cameron
Stripes, 2020, pp96, £7.99
978 1 78895 111 1
New beginnings and moving forward aren’t
always easy. Midge has recently moved to a new
school after his parents separate and is struggling
to adjust to his new life. The overwhelming
emotion that he is feeling is revealed in the
opening line ‘Midge is small. The school is big.’ A
girl in his class called Mo is assigned to be his
buddy and she really does her best to make sure
that he feels welcomed. However, no matter how
much she tries, Midge does not seem to be happy.
The illustrations really help to convey the emotions
that the characters are feeling. While Mo uses a
rainbow of colours to draw a bright picture, Midge
chooses grey pencils and sketches grey raindrops.
The use of the rain to symbolise Midge’s sadness
continues throughout the story. When Mo reflects
back on how she felt when she moved to the
school, she gets an idea that might help Midge
feel better. Friendship is a big theme in this story
Under 8
and one of the illustrations at the start of the
book reveals a sign comparing friendship with a
plant. By the end of the story we see how a
friendship between Midge and Mo, that has
received much nourishment, has slowly
blossomed. Suitable for newly independent
readers, this would be a great story to introduce a
discussion on emotions or new beginnings.
Laura Brett
Wood, A. J., Jolley, Mike and
Sanders, Allan
Search and Find a Number of
Numbers
Wide Eyed Editions, 2020, pp48, £12.99
978 1 7860 3536 3
Another beautiful offering from Wide Eyed
Editions, this is a fun, interactive search and find
book themed around numbers. Exploring numbers
1 through to 20, and then in tens up to 50, each
intricately illustrated double page spread has its
own theme, from the 50 United States of America,
18 holes of crazy golf and an 8-legged octopus
and its underwater friends. The reader is engaged
with fun search and find tasks, like looking for the
2 by 2 pairs on Noah’s Ark, finding 7 different
dogs and their matching pups and searching out
the 12 pigeons and their lost eggs in the busy city
scene. There is so much for little eyes to take in
while practising their counting skills. This was
really enjoyed by both my pre-schooler and
primary school aged child.
Eleanor Rutherford
‘Fake News’
Identifying ‘Fake News’: Critical
Literacy and the School Library
by Cathal Coyle
£15.00 (SLA members £11.00)
978-1-911222-21-7
This publication aims to clarify the various
forms of ‘fake news’, in the historic and
current contexts; and also clearly defines
the theory and practice of critical literacy,
particularly how it can be directly applied
to the curriculum and the school library. It
also includes case studies by several critical
literacy practitioners who offer practical
advice regarding a clear approach for
educators.
Find out more: www.sla.org.uk/publications
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 99

8 to 12
8 to 12 Fiction
Agbabi, Patience
The Infinite (The Leap Cycle)
Canongate, 2020, pp256, £6.99
978 1 78689 965 1
Elle is a Leapling: she was born
on 29 February. Like some
other Leaplings she has the
Gift, the ability to leap forwards
and backwards through time.
29 February 2020 is coming up.
That day she will be setting off
on her first school trip, a leap into 2048. She’s
excited about it, though also worried about how
her lovely but infirm grandmother, who she lives
with and supports, will cope. Worried too about
meeting new people. Elle struggles with
interactions with people she knows, let alone
people she doesn’t. Often, she can’t cope with
school, where she is bullied. The prospect of being
in a new place and time is frightening too. And
then there’s the top-secret Time Squad, which
solves crimes committed across years rather than
countries, crimes like killing someone in 2020 and
hiding the body in 1960. The trip is to the Time
Squad Centre, where they will encounter staff and
students from other decades and be involved in
crime fighting. Thankfully, she will have a friend
with her. Ben has troubles of his own, but at least
they understand each other.
The group knows that young people have been
disappearing, that there’s a cover-up, and that not
all the teachers at the Time Squad Centre are to
be trusted. They have to act fast. The world as
they know it is in danger. How lucky that Elle’s
leaping ability is exceptional. Can she and her
friends prevent disaster?
The Infinite is a highly impressive debut novel, of
extraordinary inventiveness. Elle is a fabulous
protagonist. How refreshing to have a female,
autistic girl of colour as the hero, particularly as
her autism is by no means the focus. Children will
readily relate to her and they will thoroughly
enjoy the fast-moving adventure. Fortunately, it’s
the first in a series.
Anne Harding
Applebaum, Kirsty
Troofriend
Nosy Crow, 2020, pp224, £6.99
978 1 78800 347 6
Sarah lives with her parents. Shirley and Rob are
busy with work and Sarah spends her spare time
on her own. To keep her daughter company,
Shirley decides to buy Sarah an android friend.
When the android arrives, Sarah is reluctant to
welcome it into their family. After all, she’d rather
have a puppy as she’s told her parents so many
times before. This, though, is not any android, it’s
a Troofriend 560 Mark IV. Like all Troofriends, the
android is programmed not to bully, harm, lie,
covet, steal or envy. It is programmed to be your
one true friend. What could possibly go wrong?
Literary history is brimming with stories of manmade
beings acquiring human emotions and the
conflicting ethical dilemmas that ensue. Troofriend
continues this tradition. The reader finds
themselves conflicted. Ivy the android is desperate
to please, she is afraid of the dark, she wants to
make Sarah happy. Yet she lies, she steals, and
she doesn’t know the power of her own strength.
When the reader learns that other Troofriend 560
Mark IV androids have harmed their owners,
enter the conflict: is Ivy good or bad?
There is much to laugh about in Troofriend. For
example, Ivy notes Sarah’s frequent eye rolls and
she also observes how facial expressions do not
always match the words spoken by characters
creating an ironic accompanying commentary.
There is also the direct awkward humour of Ivy
parroting Sarah’s indiscretions directly to other
characters’ faces as a consequence of her binary
understanding of the world. In contrast, there is
also the enveloping emotional realisation that Ivy
and Sarah cannot coexist. Ivy simply doesn’t
understand the nuances of human behaviour
despite appearing to possess human qualities. The
protest claim used throughout the book that
‘android rights are human rights’ is a slogan that
on deeper consideration does not appreciate the
deep and complex reality of being human.
Troofriend is a rapid read suitable for children at
the top of KS2 and entering KS3. It offers scope
to teachers in that vocabulary is explored explicitly
and inferences are drawn out directly by Ivy’s
analysis of what she observes. The book is visually
appealing for boys and girls alike.
Rachel Clarke
Bailey, Susanna
Snow Foal
Egmont, 2019, pp304, £6.99
978 1 4052 9493 5
This is a charming story about children fostered
out to a farm on Exmoor and an orphaned foal
rescued from the snow who helps them through
their trauma. The damaged children are touchingly
portrayed as they move from denial, anger and
wordless protests to conversation and eventual
acceptance. Addie’s mother is an alcoholic, Jude’s
an addict who abandoned him and his infant
brother, Sunni’s mother ‘didn’t want her’ and
Gabe is adopted. Addie’s personal obsession with
returning to her mother extends to the pony, who
she releases back to the wild despite all advice.
The pony eventually struggles home, sick and
injured, and needs all their skills to make a full
recovery. Contacts for children affected by the
issues raised in the book are listed at the end.
Aim it at girls aged 10 to 13. Beautifully written
and highly recommended.
Rachel Ayers-Nelson
Bradman, Tony
Queen of Darkness (Flashbacks)
Bloomsbury, 2019, pp160, £5.99
978 1 47295 372 8
Young Rhianna and her sister
Eleri are having a terrible time
with their stepmother. When
they seek the support of their
Queen Boudica they gain a
close-up view of the changes
gripping the Iceni people as
they fight off Roman rule. Chapter 1 sets the
scene in The Royal Palace of the Iceni, eastern
Britain, 60CE. At first Boudica is a just, mothering
helper. As events unfold, her need for revenge and
the lengths she will go to, show her dark side.
Rhianna, unlike Boudica, can make a distinction
between individuals’ behaviours and all Romans.
Recognising the humanity in all people, including
her enemies, she evaluates her adoration for
Boudica. Rhianna’s gesture makes her fall foul of
Boudica but ultimately saves her life.
Teachers will need to be clear which aspects
support the English curriculum or the history
curriculum. They can have interesting discussions
with KS2 pupils sorting historical fact from fiction.
Critical reading is so important, and this gripping
tale may be a very interesting vehicle. Boudica
was real but Rhianna and her sister are fictional
characters. In the historical notes at the end of
the book, Bradman starts to elucidate the known
facts, such as Boudica was tall with tawny waistlength
hair and a loud voice according to the
Roman Tacitus. Whether the Iceni people
worshipped the triple goddess is conjecture as is
Boudica’s driven dark side.
Carolyn Boyd
Burnell, Cerrie
The Ice Bear Miracle
Oxford, 2020, pp240, £6.99
978 0 19 276756 1
When Marv Jackson was little, he survived a polar
bear attack out on the frozen River Raven, deep
in the frozen north of Canada. He knows that he
saw a fierce, curly-haired baby in a basket out on
the ice that night, and he protected her from the
bear cub. Yet, no baby was ever found, and no
one in his village believes a baby was ever there.
Eight years later we are introduced to Tuesday, an
ice skater, and Promise, her skating polar bear,
who are part of a travelling carnival. When ice
hockey-mad Marv finds out about Tuesday and
her bear, something clicks. Could Tuesday be the
baby he saw on the ice so many years ago? And
is she really safe under the protection of her
wolfish grandma, the fierce and strict Gretta?
This wonderful book blends legend with real life
to create a tale of family and belonging. It also
portrays very clearly why those who often feel
they don’t belong elsewhere in society find
themselves drawn to the world of the travelling
100 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

circus. The mutual love and need between Tuesday
and Promise links very poignantly with the Native
American tales of the early link between animals
and humans, in the far-off days when we lived in
harmony and peace with the world. The Ice Bear
Miracle conjures up a close-knit community still so
close to nature. An excellent read.
Carolyn Copland
Carter, Ally
Winterborne Home for Vengeance
and Valour
Orchard, 2020, pp336, £6.99
978 1 408357 37 8
April has never had a proper home of her own,
she has been pushed from foster home to foster
home. April is convinced that one day her mum is
going to come back for her as she left her with a
key that April now wears around her neck on a
chain, and a note asking the authorities to look
after her daughter until she could come back for
her.
However, when one day the home takes a trip to
a dusty boring museum, April discovers that the
crest of the people who own the museum is
exactly the same as the one on the key that April
wears around her neck. April decides to go back
to the museum at night and have a look around
to see if her key fits into the lock of the jewellery
box that is on display at the museum.
Unfortunately, for April, things take a turn for the
worse when there is an accident at the museum
and she is taken to the hospital after inhaling
smoke.
While at the hospital, April is approached by a
woman dressed in white who asks her if she
would like to move into Winterborne House. April
gets into a routine fairly quickly, but she is also
still on a quest to find the lock that her key fits
into. But Winterborne House holds secrets, the
biggest one is that the legal owner of the house
went missing 10 years ago and he is about to be
declared dead, but is that true, or is he still alive
somewhere?
This is a really good fast paced read with a
murder mystery thrown in. It was so good that I
had to read it all in one sitting.
Elain Burchell
Chisholm, Alistair
Orion Lost
Nosy Crow, 2020, pp368, £6.99
978 1 788005 92 0
The colony ship Orion is steadily making its way
to a new planet light years from Earth when a
catastrophic Unknown Event puts all of the adults
on board into an unbreakable artificial sleep. Six
children are the only ones awake and able to save
the ship and its inhabitants. While dealing with
internal rivalries and mistrust the small group
must navigate their way to safety, along the way
dealing with huge unfriendly aliens, scrapers
(human space pirates) and treachery amidst their
ranks.
Interim spaceship captain Beth is a strong, female
main character, she’s not always perfect, but her
determination and care for others steers her right
most of the time. The rest of her small crew are
equally well developed, all showing strong,
believable personalities as their friendships and
camaraderie naturally grow.
Full of adventure, this is a high-action space
drama that also offers lessons in the importance
of resilience, empathy and teamwork. Twists in
the plot keep the reader engrossed and moments
of tension are genuinely terrifying. Highly
recommended for all sci-fi and adventure lovers.
Amy McKay
Claydon, Jon and Lawler, Tim
The Stig and the Silver Ghost
Piccadilly, 2019, pp320, £5.99
978 1 84812 671 8
A thrilling, action packed
adventure with plenty of
amusing dialogue and oneliners.
A thick fog has appeared
in Bunsfold and seems linked
to the strange happenings
within the town. Is it a
coincidence that it is the 400th
year anniversary of the burning of the evil witch,
Abstinence Barebones, and that sinister visions
and events have begun? The Top Gear gang are
happy to be back together to unravel their latest
mystery and save the world despite being without
their enigmatic friend the Stig who was blown up
in an exploding LaFerrari.
On an island prison, Battle Cruiser, the evil genius
plots her revenge with the help of Theeves, her
electronic butler. To secure her inheritance of
unimaginable wealth she will need to be quite
certain that the Stig has been destroyed.
Meanwhile in Siberia a strange helmeted white
figure has appeared on a farm to help a family in
their time of need when cruel gangsters
controlling a sinister fog-making factory are
taking charge of the area.
The three storylines come together in a fast
moving, high casualty, exciting finale focused on
the Cruiser Mansion in the heart of Bunsfold. The
supernatural aspects of the story are very well
done and really quite chilling.
Chantal Kelleher
Cousins, Dave
Is MY Teacher a Robot?
Illustrated by Catalina Echeveri
Stripes, 2020, pp160, £5.99
978 1 78895 067 1
Jake and Jess have a normal family home, Mum,
Dad and Digby the dog. There is one unique thing
8 to 12
about this family though, their grandmother is an
inventor and she has created a robot babysitter to
help look after Jake and Jess. Robin the robot can
pass for human (if you don’t look too closely at
him), however he is logic driven and when Robin
accidentally suffers a memory wipe he is
mistakenly placed as the new supply teacher at
Jake and Jess’s school. Desperate to protect their
grandmother’s invention, Jess and Jake need to
come up with a way of restoring Robin back to
his original settings; however their scheming
neighbour Mr Burton has other plans.
A good fun read and engaging story, great page
layout to keep the reader interested throughout.
Great for newly independent readers.
Tracy Hart
Cross, Gillian
Five Ways to Make a Friend
Illustrated by Sarah Horne
Barrington Stoke, 2020, pp72, £6.99
978 1 78112 908 1
Ella, a small, quiet girl, is starting a new school.
Daunting for anyone; she wants to make some
friends. She doesn’t wait to be noticed; she is
proactive in her search for friendship. We have all
met girls who are unfriendly, or the boys who like
cake but forget to say thank you. But Ella doesn’t
give up. She goes to the school library (hurrah!)
and finds a book called, Five Ways to Make a
Friend. It is the perfect book to help her solve her
problem. After sterling efforts to follow the book’s
advice she begins to realise that real friendship
may be easier than she thought.
This story is a gentle tale which covers the sort of
events that most children will experience in some
form or other. From the first page we know that
Ella is a thoughtful, caring person in a vulnerable
situation, but she is also gutsy; a good role
model. Gillian Cross writes so well about children,
especially the delicate nuances of children’s
relationships. In class, this book will be enjoyed by
all but it is particularly useful for younger able
readers. Discussion will reveal how it subtly allows
young independent readers to experience and
develop an understanding of subtext. The cartoon
style illustrations add a delightful touch of
humour to the text. Five Ways to Make a Friend
should have a place on any classroom bookshelf.
Prue Goodwin
Crossley-Holland, Kevin and Lugert,
Susanne
The Animals Grimm
Illustrated by Susan Varley
Andersen, 2019, pp96, £12.99
978 1 78344 747 3
This is a lovely book to hold and to read. The
cover is thick, the paper is substantial, the fullpage
illustrations are beautifully detailed and
there are many other smaller and delightful
illustrations besides. Some of the eleven stories,
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 101

8 to 12
for instance, The Bremen Town Musicians, The
Wolf and the Seven Young Kids and the Hare and
the Hedgehog, are generally well-known. Others
included here have the freshness of being less
often told or told in a different way from usual.
For instance, the concept of hedge-king is a
fascinating idea, here in a story where the birds
have decided to elect as king, the bird who can
fly the highest. Another hugely engaging feature
of the book – and not surprising given that Kevin
Crossley-Holland is one of its two writers – is the
language, the specific words in which the stories
are cast. For instance, in the very first story, The
Bremen Town Musicians, a cat is sitting on the
road ‘pulling a face as long as a month of
Sundays’. As if this wasn’t good enough in itself,
the description of the cat is immediately amplified
by the question asked by the donkey that comes
along: ‘Now what’s wrong with you, old whiskerlicker?’
A book to hold and to read indeed!
Mary Medlicott
Dikstra, R. D.
Tigeropolis
Beyond the Deep Forest
2015, pp126, £7.99, 978 0 9927462 1 6
The Grand Opening
2016, pp120, £7.99, 978 0 9927462 2 3
Caught in the Trap
2019, pp192, £7.99, 978 0 9927462 3 0
Illustrated by Matt Rowe. Belle Media.
This is a series of books focusing
on the conservation of tigers in
India. The narrators are a family of
modern, vegetarian tigers living in
the depths of a tiger reservation.
They are living so far into the
depths and are so well concealed
from humans that the future of the park is
threatened, due to a lack of tiger sightings. In a
very witty text, the computer savvy, highly literate
tigers set about reinstating the commercial viability
of their home. Much of the activity involves clever
manipulation of the, often rather dense, humans
involved in the administration of the park.
Characterisation and plot are strong.
Children will enjoy reading these books
themselves, although many humorous references
may pass them by. In the first book there is a
reference to a certain type of visitor to the tiger
forest as having ‘... read too many Boy’s Own
adventure stories when they were young, ‘Giggles’
and ‘The Beagle’, that sort of thing’. There are
many such amusing plays on words in all three
books. Tigeropolis offers a great experience for
adults reading to children, as an explanatory
dimension could be added to the delight of
reading aloud. The stories are carefully constructed
and absolutely hilarious in parts. Underlying the
whole enjoyable escape into these books is a
serious and strong conservation message.
Alison Hurst
Dockrill, Laura
Sequin and Stitch
Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie
Barrington Stoke, 2020, pp104, £6.99
978 1 78112 931 9
Lively and lovable Sequin is the
narrator of this tale. Readers will
soon pick up her frustration at
having a mother who won’t
seek the fame and fortune she
deserves. No one at school
believes that her mum sews
dresses for the rich end of the fashion industry.
The most stylish clothes hanging up in Sequin’s
flat are worn by super-models; posh designers
visit to collect the finished items. Mum refuses to
go out and, it seems, leaves Sequin to look after
the baby.
Always a riveting author, Laura Dockrill has
written a story which can catch you out as an
adult reader as you begin to realise there are
problems. But this book will open out gently and
surprisingly for children at KS2. Independent
readers aged seven will be able to access and
enjoy the read, but older children, right up to Year
6, will appreciate, and probably have a deeper
understanding of, the story by the end of the
book. Though written with a light touch, Sequin
and Stitch is quite profound in its themes,
touching on issues that many children will know
about. This is a book deserving of full discussion
with a thoughtful group of youngsters.
Prue Goodwin
Dolan, Taylor
Welcome to Camp Croak! (Ghoul
Scouts)
Guppy Books, 2020, pp160, £6.99
978 1 913101 06 0
Lexie Wilde was expecting to spend her summer
at the Happy Hollow Camp for Joyful Girls and
Boys, but some poor navigation skills on Lexie’s
part (she was reading a book when she was
supposed to be reading a map) cause Lexie to be
dropped off by her Grams at Camp Croak, a
spooky summer camp located in the Louisiana
Swamps.
After a shaky start, Lexie discovers she has a lot
in common with her fellow Ghoul Scouts. They
may all appear odd and a bit frightening, but
Lexie isn’t a girl who takes things at face value,
and soon discovers that at Camp Croak, kindness,
friendship and loyalty is what counts, and this
kooky bunch has these qualities by the cauldronfull.
When the dastardly Euphemia Vile, Scoutmaster of
Happy Hollow, shows up to destroy everything
that Camp Croak stands for, and fulfil her wicked
scheme to bulldoze the swamp and turn it into
another of her saccharine Camps, the Ghoul
Scouts band together to thwart her plans.
US born and bred, this is Doran’s first outing as
author and she goes at it whole hog, coating
every page in idiosyncratic Southern American
vernacular with confidence and lots of humour.
Her illustration style, reminiscent of Laura Ellen
Anderson’s work for Emila Fang and Harriet
Muncaster’s Isadora Moon, marries perfectly with
the text, and her confidence with words is
mirrored in the illustrations.
A great fun read for children who can read
independently, but also a great book to share as
it has lots of themes to spark conversation, such
as the importance of friendship, kindness and
how daring to be different can bring great
rewards. One of my favourite parts is the glossary
of Louisianian terms in the back of the book, a
rewarding read from beginning to end.
Emma Carpendale
Don, Lari
Fierce, Fearless and Free: Girls in
Myths and Legends from Around
the World
Illustrated by Eilidh Muldoon
Bloomsbury, 2020, pp160, £6.99
978 1 4729 6713 8
No superstitiousness here!
Thirteen is the number of
stories in Lari Don’s Fierce,
Fearless and Free and, as the
author explains, weddings have
been removed as ‘happy ever
after’ endings. Good too is the
fact that all the stories are
about girls. They come from a marvellous range of
countries and cultures from Armenia, Sumeria,
Lithuania and the Solomon Islands to Scotland,
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Ecuador,
Siberia and China. With the major exceptions of
Kate Crackernuts from Scotland, Medea from
Greece and Petrosinella from Italy, the stories will
probably be unfamiliar to most readers.
The last pages of the book tell how Lari Don
found each of the ones she has included and,
helpfully, give the names and details of the books
where she found them. One, the Ecuadorian tale,
was not found in a book but was heard being
told by two Ecuadorian girls at an international
scout camp.
Mary Medlicott
Dorfman, Ariel
The Rabbits’ Rebellion (Triangle
Square Books for Young Readers)
Illustrated by Chris Riddell
Seven Stories Press, 2019, pp64, £9.99
978 1 6098 0937 9
Ariel Dorfman first wrote this political parable in
Spanish in the 1980s, during General Pinochet’s
dictatorship in Chile. This English-language edition
finds an ideal illustrator in satirical cartoonist
102 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

The intoxicating
finale to the bestselling
FOLK OF THE AIR series.
A story of love, loss and
sisterhood by Carnegie Medal
Winner Elizabeth Acevedo.
LIBRARY BOOKS YOU’LL LOVE
A HERO YOU KNOW
A STORY YOU DON’T
If no one sees him,
does he exist?

Chris Riddell, who adds bite and his own brand of
satirical humour to Dorfman’s message. One
species conquers and suppresses the existence of
another as the Wolf King rules the land of the
rabbits with an iron hand. But the rabbits are
defiant: they resist with wily courage, infiltrating
royal photographic portraits so that monkey, the
photographer, has to eradicate every trace of
rabbit with acid. In Riddell’s black-and-white
drawings the ever-smiling, indefatigable rabbits
pop up in every corner in a manner guaranteed to
delight and amuse. Eventually rabbits begin to
gnaw at the base of the Wolf King’s throne until
they quite literally topple him from power.
Dorfman’s tale is a joyous romp that invites
comparison with regimes both past and present.
Gillian Lathey
Eagle, Judith
The Pear Affair
Illustrated by Kim Geyer
Faber, 2020, pp288, £7.99
978 0 571 34685 1
Nell Magnificent wonders why
her life is miserable, and her
parents don’t seem to care
about her at all. In fact, her
mother loves her expensive
handbag more than Nell and
her dad thinks only of making
more money. The only person
who ever cared for her was
the lovely French woman Perrine (Pear) who
looked after her when she was little. But Pear got
abruptly sent away and Nell packed off to
boarding school. At first, she wrote to Nell every
week, promising to return but then suddenly the
letters stopped. When Nell discovers her parents
are going on a business trip to Paris, she asks to
go along. Nell has one goal – to find Pear but she
discovers that the mystery of Pear’s disappearance
leads to an even greater mystery and she and the
small band of friends she makes in Paris, find
themselves in a race against time through the
underground tunnels and catacombs to foil a
dastardly plot that could have worldwide
implications!
An excellent mystery novel with a plot that twists
and turns, a story that moves at a fast pace, a
wonderfully descriptive text and a glorious mix of
characters. 1960’s Paris is vividly brought to life –
the sights, sounds, smells and the feel of life at
that time are really well drawn. At times, there is
almost a Dahlesque quality to the humour of the
book, particularly the behaviours of the villainous
Mayor and Nell’s horrible parents. The illustrated
chapter headings also add to the appeal of the
story and I loved the Q & A session with Judith
Eagle included at the back of the book; it really
added to the story. I very much enjoyed reading
this and think it will have a great deal of appeal
for child readers.
Annie Everall
8 to 12
Farooki, Roopa
The Cure for a Crime (A Double
Detectives Murder Mystery)
Oxford, 2020, pp256, £6.99
978 0 19 277359 3
This madcap novel is a mix of detective story,
screwball comedy and medical mystery. It
shouldn’t work but it does – gloriously. It features
wisecracking twins, Ali and Tulip; their
grandmother, Nan-Nan, a legless MI5 agent (you
get the crazy picture?); their doctor mother who
has recently teamed up with a strange man
whom the twins hate; a mystery illness that is
sending people at their school into a sleepy,
almost catatonic state; and twin boys who aid
and abet the girls. If it sounds zany, it’s because
it’s zany, ‘totes zany’ as the twins would say. The
wild plot zips along breathlessly, dragging the
reader along with it, agog for a resolution of all
this manic mayhem.
It’s totes unlikely but totes funny and totes
enthralling and there are also interesting and
gross medical details along the way. This is the
first book for children that Roopa Farooki, a junior
doctor as well as novelist, has written but I’m
sure it won’t be her last. Ali and Tulip are such
distinctive and engaging characters that I feel a
series coming on.
Nigel Hinton
Gunderson, Jessica
Sleeping Beauty (You Choose: An
Interactive Fairy Tale Adventure)
Illustrated by Mariano Epelbaum
Raintree, 2019, pp112, £6.99
978 1 4747 6341 7
I’m probably way behind the times. This is my first
time to read what is described on the cover as an
Interactive Fairy Tale Adventure. This one is
Sleeping Beauty and I’m delighted to say I’ve
really enjoyed it. For a start, the story makes me –
yes me! – central to the reading experience. It
addresses me as ‘you’ and tells me at every point
where I am and what’s happening to me. And so,
given the name of this particular tale – and of
course it’s one of a series arranged in a similar
way – this is where I can report that I’ve lived my
whole life so far locked away in a castle. My
parents are overprotective, I’m not allowed to set
foot outside, I spend my entire time reading books
about adventures in faraway places and although
I don’t really know it yet, I’m now about to have
an adventure myself.
The interactive method of this version of Sleeping
Beauty may not suit all readers. But it certainly
brings a new feeling of immediacy to what might
otherwise feel like too well-worn a tale to be
bothered with. The style of the book involves you
making choices. Indeed, the cover of this one
informs you that, in all, there will be 42 choices
and 21 endings. Best of luck!
Mary Medlicott
Haig, Joan
Tiger Skin Rug
Illustrated by Marion Brown
Pokey Hat, 2020, pp200, £6.99
978 1 911279 64 8
More magic realism than
traditional children’s fantasy,
this is a charming story that
encompasses themes of
conservation, home and
friendship while at the same
time taking us on a gripping
adventure. Lal and his younger
brother Dilip have just moved to grey and drizzly
Scotland from their home in India. While their
parents and grandmother make the best of
adjusting to life in their large new house, Lal and
Dilip pine for the sunshine and colour of India and
their friends back home. Until, that is, they
discover the tiger skin rug in the Drawing Room
and find that Dilip’s whispered words are able to
bring the majestic animal back to life. Along with
their feisty new neighbour Jenny they embark on
a hunt for the unknown something that will
enable the tiger to fulfil a promise made before
he was shot by poachers. As a magical flying
carpet, he transports them to London in search of
the auction house that first sold him, and to a
surprise discovery. When they find that the person
the tiger most needs to see has left England for a
conference in Mumbai, that becomes their next
destination. They are quickly caught up in a very
different world, one of street life and sewers, and
a gang of children who offer to help them. And all
the while the sinister man in a ‘snake jacket’ who
is pursuing them gets closer and closer. What is
he after? And will they ever get home?
Marianne Bradnock
Harrell, Rob
Wink
Hot Key Books, 2020, pp320, £7.99
978 1 47140 914 1
Twelve-year-old Ross is a typical 7th grader, he
just wants to blend in, survive middle school and
maybe make a few memories with his friends.
Unfortunately, a diagnosis of a rare, aggressive
eye cancer ruins any hope of blending in. Now as
well as navigating school bullies and friendship
problems he must contend with radiation therapy
and all the horrors that brings, including the
mortifying prospect of wearing a doctor
prescribed cowboy hat to school.
Wink is inspired by Harrell’s own experiences of
cancer and this is reflected in the refreshingly
honest writing. Never maudlin or overly
sentimental, this is a funny book that tells it like it
is. The mix of a present tense narrative and
flashbacks to key points in Ross’s diagnosis and
treatment, help maintain this tone for the reader;
the hardest points of the story are told from a
distance and living (not dying) is very much the
104 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

focus. While a rich cast of multi-layered characters
provide plenty of humour and depth, illustrations
and comic strips throughout further lighten
potentially heavy scenes.
With echoes of Palacio’s Wonder, this is a
refreshing, hopeful and honest story that will
make you cry, laugh and leave you with a smile.
Amy McKay
Hoghton, Anna
The Mask of Aribella
Chicken House, 2020, pp352, £6.99
978 1 912626 10 6
Aribella is on the eve of her
thirteenth birthday. Venice is on
the eve of a Blood Moon, and
disturbing things are happening
on the lagoon: the waters are
rising, the fish and birds have
disappeared. The world is
ominous. For Aribella there is also the sadness of
not having a mother, and stories swirl about
whether she’s been murdered by her father. When
Aribella is taunted, her fingers tingle and burst
into flame. Immediately whispers of witchcraft
start, and Aribella’s name is posted into the lion’s
mouth in St Mark’s square. While fleeing the
Doge’s men, she and her friend are attacked by a
skull, a spectre which has crossed the boundary
between the living and the dead. The spectres
have not invaded since the Black Death. A
darkness is coming! Aribella is rescued and taken
to an enchanted hotel by a gondola which sinks
and rises at the call of a song. She befriends the
other children there, Cannovaccis, learning to
harness their special powers, like floating through
doors or talking to animals. It falls to the children
to marshal their skills, defy authority, and act. They
are helped in their fight by dolphins and a cat
called Luna. The children learn the most special
power of all: teamwork. And Aribella learns the
important message that all misfits can find a
sense of belonging. Hoghton has created a
beautifully atmospheric world, historical,
fantastical and with eerie echoes of our own
threatened planet. She weaves a wonderful tale,
which will transport young readers to an exciting
place and a thrilling adventure.
Sophie Smiley
Howell, A. M.
The House of One Hundred Clocks
Usborne, 2020, pp336, £6.99
978 1 4749 5956 8
Ann Marie Howell has an aptitude for writing
historical fiction because she has an observant
eye for period detail. Set in Edwardian Cambridge,
this is inspired by her visit to Moyse’s Hall
Museum, home to Frederic Gershom Parkington’s
gallery of clocks.
Howell creates memorable characters who grab
the reader’s attention from the start. She places
Helena, a clock maker’s daughter from London
whose father has been contracted to work at the
house of the mysterious Mr Westcott, at the centre
of her plot. The girl is bereft after the death of her
mother and clings to her precious parrot Orbit.
Bewildered and frustrated by her father’s choices,
she suddenly finds herself amidst an adventure
involving strange sightings, weird happenings,
deception, desperation, subterfuge and injustice.
Along the way she meets Katherine who favours
fashionable hats, the hard-working house
manager Stanley who has an ardent STEM
student, an angry stone thrower and a destitute
child.
The romance of antique clocks has featured in
fiction before. What is different about Howell’s
novel though is that she brings her clocks to life,
describing in vivid detail their peculiar
idiosyncrasies as Helena runs from room to room.
The child is overwhelmed by the eeriness of it all
and frightened that her father is in the grips of a
dangerous obsession. Furthermore, the clocks,
particularly the one with the painted moons,
appear to be watching her. And why is Mr
Westcott so melancholy? This is a compelling read
which will appeal to the 8–12 age group.
Tanya Jennings
Jones, Lex H.
The Old One and the Sea
Illustrated by Liam Hill
Sinister Horror Company, 2019, pp108, £8.99
978 1 912578 15 3
Although published by the Sinister Horror
Company, this story is a charming one of
friendship and loss and relates a fictional version
of how H. P. Lovecraft became an author. Howard
lives in a seedy seaside town that has seen better
days and misses his father who has been killed in
the great war. Howard is loved by his mother and
protected by his neighbour; a returned soldier
concerned by the changes he sees in the stars.
During a stormy night a large black reef appears
just off the coast and desperate to explore,
Howard rushes to the shore first thing.
Fascinated by the new phenomenon, Howard
returns to the strange reef at night. On knocking
some strange and ancient coins into the sea from
the reef a strange and ancient being emerges
from the sea and befriends Howard. Together they
share stories of their lost loves and friendships
and form a deep bond. On hearing how others
have reacted to his new friend over the centuries
and witnessing the actions of frightened men,
Howard comes to understand that the being he
calls Oolu will need protecting from others. He
begins writing his horror stories about Oolu using
its proper name of the Cthulhu.
This is a beautifully told story printed in wellspaced
font interspersed with some attractive
illustrations that contribute to the enjoyment of
the reader.
Chantal Kelleher
8 to 12
Joseph, J. M.
Fire Boy
Hodder, 2020, pp288, £6.99
978 1 444 95468 5
A first novel which targets fans
of David’s Baddiel and
Solomons, opens with an
arresting first chapter in the
form of a question and response
quiz which is quirky and quickly
helps to draw you in. An
unexpected delivery of a box of sweets sent from
South America sets into motion a zany adventure
which sees the too impulsive 11-year-old Aidan
Sweeney first hiccupping smoke through every
orifice and then having incinerated his clothes
finding himself naked in front of a school
assembly. As he morphs into a fire emitting
human volcano, scrape follows scrape as he
battles to control his new powers. There is a welldrawn
supporting cast of characters as well. Our
hero is continuously harassed by a formidable
grandmother and supported by his two best
friends who have developed powers of their own.
These are much needed as they need to foil the
master criminal who is pursuing them in search of
the sweets. Together they unleash ‘Project
Mayhem’ and unravel the mystery. It is no mean
feat to sustain interest over some 250 plus pages
but with exploding crisp packets, boomeranging
lifts and links with a travelling circus you just go
on turning those pages.
John Newman
Kelk, Lindsey
Cinders and Sparks
Magic at Midnight
2019, pp208, 978 0 00 829211 9
Fairies in the Forest
2019, pp208, 978 0 00 829214 0
Goblins and Gold
2020,pp 176, 978 0 00 829217 1
Illustrated by Pippa Curnick
HarperCollins, £6.99
So far, there are three books in the Cinders and
Sparks series.In the first story, Cinders lives with
her mean stepsisters and stepmother. Her only
friend is Sparks her dog. Then one day her wishes
start coming true and Sparks starts to speak.
Cinders uses her magic to go to the ball where
she meets Prince Joderick but with unexpected
results as both her magic and her fairy godmother
are unpredictable.
In the second story, Cinders and Sparks are
running away because everyone thinks that
Cinders is a witch. On the way, they meet Hansel,
a boy with a tendency to steal food. They need to
reach fairyland where they’ll all be safe, but they
have to escape the Huntsman first.
In the third story, Cinders, Hansel and Sparks
come through the forest safely. Prince Joderick is
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 105

8 to 12
also looking for them because he wants to help
them. However, the Huntsman is catching up with
them. To make matters worse, Cinders is captured
by a greedy goblin. Will they ever get to fairyland?
This delightful series reimagines traditional
fairytales with a twist. It subverts traditional
fairytale ideas, using a bold heroine and a
sequence of unexpected events. It is extremely
funny and engaging.
Andrea Rayner
King, Amy Sarig
The Year We Fell from Space
Scholastic, 2020, pp272, £6.99
978 0 702301 93 3
Liberty is fascinated by the
heavens, and thanks to her father
knows all about its constellations.
She draws them constantly,
seeing new patterns and pictures.
But her world falls apart when
her parents announce that her
father, who has a long history of depression, is
leaving home. This is accompanied by an equally
dramatic event: a storm in which a meteorite falls
to the ground near their house. As Lib struggles to
come to terms with profound change in the life of
her family, she finds herself consulting the
meteorite about her daily difficulties and looking
for answers in the stars. She reacts to her father’s
departure with anger. Her usually outgoing and
funny sister Jilly withdraws completely. Her
mother seems to battle on, while despite all his
assurances their father doesn’t get in touch for
months. At school, there are the boy bullies and
the former friend who ‘excommunicates’ Liberty
from their year group.
This is an original and ultimately hopeful look at
the problems of depression and anxiety, set in a
framework of family breakup and told against a
vivid astronomical backdrop. Liberty is a character
with whom young readers will readily empathise,
with all her faults and dilemmas. By the end of
the book she is starting to come to terms with a
different family setup, while we might feel
encouraged to go out at night and look up at the
stars.
Marianne Bradnock
King, Zach
Mirror Magic (My Magical Life)
Illustrated by Beverley Arce
Puffin, 2019, pp208, £6.99
978 0 241 32191 1
Third in the series written by Instagram star Zach
King, this novel includes graphic novel sections
and has an accompanying augmented reality app
that brings the illustrations to life for young
readers. The story is a twist on the old ‘evil twin’
trope which involves a magic mirror and a
‘reversed’ world... all a bit familiar and not overly
original but that’s probably just because I am
reading it as an adult with an overly critical mind.
The graphic novel sections are seamlessly
integrated and brightly coloured and break up the
text which will hopefully help to keep reluctant
readers reading. Humorous and magical, the tale
moves along at a good pace. The augmented
reality app is easy to use and good fun but I
would probably not want to introduce it until the
book has been read without it, as the exciting
tech can be somewhat distracting and would
perhaps tempt children to skip through just
looking at the pictures via the app. Having said
that, the app is well produced, and I did enjoy
seeing the story come to life, bursting off the
page and on to my phone.
Bev Humphrey
Lapinski, L. D.
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency
Hodder, 2020, pp384, £6.99
978 1 51010 594 2
A book that plays the always-intriguing game of
putting reality and fantasy side-by-side.
Flick Hudson (12 and from the real world) is an
ordinary girl, who has moved from a city flat to a
house during the summer holidays with her
parents and baby brother. In getting to know her
new neighbourhood she finds herself face-to-face
with the book’s fantasy world. Flick wanders into
the Strangeworlds Travel Agency, a shabby shop
filled with suitcases and run by a curiously oldfashioned
and somewhat anxious 18-year-old
named Jonathan Mercator. (Any readers who
know their geographers will pick up some clues to
the type of adventure that is about to take place.)
From Jonathan she learns that her world is only
one part of a multiverse – worlds of all sorts exist
that travellers can reach through the suitcases,
and Jonathan’s father has disappeared in one of
them.
At the centre of this multiverse is the world of
Five Lights, but the fabric of Five Lights is being
destroyed, and Flick, who discovers previously
unknown magical aptitude, becomes key to
saving it. She has partly achieved this by the end
of the book, but this is a tale ‘To be continued…’
Luggage label-style chapter heads and occasional
facsimiles of The Strangeworlds Society rule book
add suitable visual atmosphere. The premise of
travelling between worlds in the suitcases is a
novel and intriguing one. It provides scope for a
variety of changes of pace and contrasting
settings, from Wizard of Oz-like colour and fun, to
an ominously deserted lighthouse that is powerful
and haunting. This original concept and
intermingling of the real and fantastic will appeal
to a range of readers. Flick is a worthy protagonist
and Jonathan a likeable but flawed partner in the
adventures. There is humour, fun, danger and
intrigue, and an ending that will leave readers
eager for Book Two.
Sally Perry
Lewis, Gill
Willow Wildthing and the Swamp
Monster
Illustrated by Rebecca Bagley
Oxford, 2020, pp144, £5.99
978 0 19277 175 9
Another delightful story from
Gill Lewis, yet this one is a bit
different.
Willow has recently moved
house, with her parents, to be
nearer the hospital for her
poorly little brother, Freddie. The
house backs on to some woodland that used to
be a garden but has fallen into neglect and is
now more of a wilderness, full of strange noises
and somewhere Willow is keen to explore. With
her Mum at the hospital and her Dad asleep in
the chair Willow and her dog Sniff set out to
investigate. This is the start of her adventure and
transformation into Willow Wildthing.
She meets Raven, Hare, Fox and Mouse; a group
of children who appear to live in the wilderness.
The book then takes the reader on a journey with
Willow as she joins the Wild Things and immerses
herself in an alternative world of witches,
swamps, caves and campfires.
This book is all about imagination and creative
play. What is real and what is make believe? With
Gill Lewis’s passion for nature and the engaging
green and white illustrations by Rebecca Bagley,
this is a book which draws the reader in and
involves them in the adventure and maybe
inspires them to find their own wild places?
Brenda Heathcote
Lish, Mikki
The House on Hoarder Hill
Illustrated by Kelly Ngai
Chicken House, 2020, pp336, £6.99
978 1 912626 21 2
Eleven-year-old Hedy and her eight-year-old
brother Spencer have been grumbling because
their parents, who are both archaeologists, are
flying to Spain to explore an ancient site. The
children will be staying with their grandfather
John for two weeks in his big old house in the
countryside. Grandfather John is a magician but
for many years he has set those talents aside. Yet
every room in his rambling house is filled with
strange artefacts of one sort or another – and
even spirits who sometimes speak (usually when
there are no adults around…). But although he
rarely mentions it, John holds a heart-breaking
secret. Many years ago, his wife mysteriously
disappeared, and he has never recovered from the
loss. The children are determined to discover what
really happened.
This is a story steeped in the world of magic
realism where the reader will quickly learn to
expect the unexpected. Like many observant
106 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

MFL Readers
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Many readers include:
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children, Hedy and Spencer soon discover a
number of allies in Grandfather John’s big old
house – including a mounted stag’s head that
talks and a bear rug who speaks. With a number
of twists and turns the pace of the story moves
quickly with some welcome surprises and lots of
excitement along the way. The epilogue at the
very end of the story hints that there may be
further adventures ahead.
Rosemary Woodman
Love, Damien
Monstrous Devices
Rock the Boat, 2020, pp352, £12.99
978 1 78607 752 3
Alex lives with his Mother, his
Dad having died when Alex was
young. Alex is bullied by an older
student at school and doesn’t
report it either to school or his
Mum but tries to stay out of his
way. Alex’s Grandad travels a lot
and one evening drops in saying he is going to
Paris. That day, a toy robot, sent to Alex some
time before by his Grandad with a message
saying it was special, causes a few scares for Alex
and his tormentor. Grandad suggests Alex
accompany him to Paris and they find themselves
in a series of bizarre events, which Grandad takes
in his stride, but offers no explanation to Alex. This
is an adventure story and moves at a fast pace. It
is unpredictable, fantastical and raises more
questions than answers throughout the
excitement of the story. I was expecting these
questions to be answered at the end, but they
were not, therefore suggesting a sequel? This
book doesn’t fall neatly into one genre rather
than another and will appeal to a wide age
range, so will provide many readers with a meaty
read to enjoy.
Dawn Woods
Mackenzie, Ross
Evernight
8 to 12
Andersen, 2020, pp352, £7.99
978 1 7834 4831 9
The first in a new fantasy trilogy by this awardwinning
author tells the story of Lara, an orphan
who finds a mysterious box in the sewers beneath
King’s Haven while scavenging for treasure. She
quickly finds herself in the middle of a dangerous
conflict in which she must defeat the evil Mrs
Hester and the sinister Shadow Jack.
This is a fast paced yet thoughtful read. The
thrilling plot is combined with themes including
the importance of love and loyalty and how
power can be used to control and manipulate. The
world building is excellently done and from the
first pages the reader is immersed in a land of
dark magic, witches, breath-taking risks and
friendship and bravery too. Lara is a fabulous
character, brave yet slightly vulnerable. Her
friendship with Joe, another child who lives in the
sewers, is portrayed as a strong and important
one, almost like that of siblings. The character
development is another positive aspect of the
book and Lara matures and develops as the story
progresses. She alters from a child with a sense of
self-preservation to a young woman who is
determined to help those she loves and do the
right thing in difficult situations. There are a
number of characters with whom Lara develops
both friendship and animosity and these all feel
believable. The villains are sinister and the plot is
both gripping and richly written, containing
several key scenes that feel cinematic and
although not usually a great lover of fantasy this
engaged me very quickly. There is a lot of heart in
this book with its messages being conveyed subtly
and I think it should give readers much to think
about. Evernight would be a fabulous read for
upper primary and lower secondary.
Anne Thompson
Marks, Janae
The Faraway Truth
Chicken House, 2020, pp304, £6.99
978 1 912626 38 0
On Zoe’s 12th birthday, an
unexpected letter arrives from
her Dad, Marcus, a man who
she has never met as he went
to prison before she was born.
Zoe knows little about her
Dad, has one photo that her
Grandma gave to her and has been told he is a
dangerous man. However, he seems nice in his
letter, he calls Zoe his ‘Little Tomato’ and tells her
about his favourite songs. So, without telling her
family Zoe decides to write back and discovers
that everything is not always as black and white
as it can seem as innocent people can be wrongly
accused and go to prison. As Zoe exchanges more
letters with her Dad, she believes she can discover
the truth once and for all, which leads to going on
a mission with her best friend Trevor to discover
the truth and try to get justice for her father.
This is a heart-warming tale of family, friendship
and how the truth can set us free. It deals with a
range of issues from racial prejudice to injustice
within legal systems through an age sensitive
approach. There are also some very interesting
cupcake recipes as Zoe is an aspiring chef!
Lucy Carlton-Walker
McClure, Alan
Callum and the Mountain
Beaten Track Publishing, 2019, pp226, £8.99
978 1 78645 326 6
Callum and his friends live in a quiet little town in
the west of Scotland where nothing much
happens. Until, for no apparent reason, the school
blows up in mysterious circumstances, and a
chain of peculiar, and often scary events starts to
unfold, plunging Callum and his friends into the
magical, but often frightening, world of the
ancient spirits of nature.
The story is firmly rooted in Scottish folklore and
has echoes of Alan Garner, particularly when our
protagonists are faced with forces beyond their
understanding. It explores our relationship with
nature, reminding us of its beauty, but also its
strength and danger, without ever being
moralising. Indeed, the reader is left to draw their
own conclusion. The characters are well-drawn
and the relationships between them are authentic
and warm. The plot is fast-moving but, for me, it
is the language that is particularly noteworthy.
Alan McClure also writes poetry, songs and is an
oral storyteller, and you can tell. Callum and the
Mountain begs to be read aloud, and this is
reinforced by the second person address. The
imagery and descriptions are beautiful, the rhythm
is easy, and it has great humour too – there were
quite a few moments when I was chuckling out
loud. The use of Scots adds colour to the local
setting and is never intrusive – a glossary is
provided, but not essential.
Agnès Guyon
Messenger, Shannon
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Simon & Schuster, 2020, pp512, £7.99
978 1 4711 8937 1
This magical series has been out in the US for
eight years but has only just made its way across
the pond. The story has several parallels with the
infamous story of Harry, the boy wizard, but
similarities aside, it’s an enjoyable read with a
strong theme of the importance of relationships
with family and friends for happiness. The main
protagonist Sophie is likeable and intrepid, and
this first tale very much sets the scene for her
further adventures. With some touching scenes of
grief, this is fast paced and exciting and I loved
the magical creatures.
Bev Humphrey
Milner, Kate
Duncan Versus the Googleys
Pushkin Press, 2020, pp224, £7.99
978 1 78269 251 5
Poor Duncan has been condemned to a summer
with his Great Aunt Harriet at Arthritis Hall and,
as you can imagine, he is not thrilled by the
prospect of a very dull summer with an old
relative he has never met. He realises that nothing
is as it might be at Arthritis Hall, when, upon
arrival he meets evil Mrs Grunt who threatens to
confiscate his phone, and orders him to stay in
one place and never make a noise. Thankfully, he
also meets Ursula, the daughter of the caretaker,
who knows every hiding place in Arthritis Hall.
Soon the two children are plunged in a madcap
adventure, featuring fiendish octogenarians,
robopets, and dangerous inventions.
108 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

This is a quirky, fast paced read, with a zany plot
and a cast of eccentric characters. The humour is
also idiosyncratic, and may not be to everyone’s
tastes, with a non-sequitur, or simply wacky
choice of terms. The black and white illustrations
have a very old-fashioned feel to them, which is a
contrast to the very subtle underlying social
commentary about consumerism and technology.
Agnès Guyon
Murray, Struan
Orphans of the Tide
Illustrated by Manuel Sumberac
Puffin, 2020, pp352, £7.99
978 0 241 38443 5
From the original and distinctive opening to the
very last page, Orphans of the Tide is an
immersive middle-grade fantasy adventure. In the
last city on Earth residents live in constant fear of
the Enemy, a malevolent spirit that invades bodies
in a bid to cause further destruction. Ever
distrustful and watched over by a suspicious team
of inquisitors the residents do not welcome
newcomers. When bold, young inventor Ellie
rescues Seth from the marooned carcass of a
whale he’s instantly presumed to be the next
vessel and a portent of approaching misery, but
Ellie knows better. Together they struggle to evade
the city’s inquisitors and defeat the Enemy for
good.
This is vividly written middle grade fantasy at its
very best. With a strong female lead, evil spirits,
sea gods, secret diaries and exciting inventions
there’s something for everyone. Full of exciting
twists, a racing plot and nuanced characters,
readers will be swept away and left yearning for
the next in what promises to be a gripping series.
Amy McKay
Patel, Serena
Anisha, Accidental Detective
Illustrated by Emma McCann
Usborne, 2020, pp224, £5.99
978 1 4749 5952 0
The big day has finally (nearly)
arrived. Anisha’s Aunty Bindi is
getting married and she is the
(reluctant) bridesmaid, what
could possibly go wrong? Well
when a mysterious ransom
letter appears with the
shocking news that the groom
has been kidnapped and they have until 7pm to
call off the wedding, Anisha suddenly becomes an
accidental detective and goes on a mission to
save the day.
As Anisha starts to hunt for clues, she needs the
help of best friend Milo (who is able to talk to
animals), her Granny Jas, Elivis and some other
unlikely allies to help her solve the case. Will she
be able to discover the truth in time and save the
wedding? What are her cousins Mindy and
Manny really up to? Is everyone else’s family this
weird?
This is the first title in the funny new detective
series from Serena Patel, featuring a multigenerational
British Indian family and an array of
quirky characters (I am hoping Larry the Lobster
will make a return). Watch out for the next
instalment, Anisha Accidental Detective: School’s
Cancelled! due in summer 2020.
Lucy Carlton-Walker
Pearson, Jenny
The Super Miraculous Journey of
Freddie Yates
Illustrated by Rob Biddulph
Usborne, 2020, pp304, £6.99
978 1 4749 7404 2
Freddie Yates lives with his dad
and gran. He is a boy who likes
facts and doesn’t believe in
miracles. That is until he sets off
on a road trip with his two
friends, Charlie and Ben, to find
his biological father. The boys’
secret trip quickly gets out of hand. They start by
going to Cardiff but find that Freddie’s dad is no
longer there. Then they head for St Davids, but
they are running out of money fast. By accident
they end up in Barry and enter an onion-eating
competition to try and replenish their dwindling
funds. After getting some money but losing their
clothes, the boys head off to St Davids dressed as
superheroes. Finally, with a bit of luck and a few
miracles along the way, they get to St Davids, and
Freddie thinks his goal is in sight. However, things
turn out a little differently, and Freddie realises
that sometimes the dreams you pursue have been
with you all the time.
This is a hilarious story that will also touch your
heart. It is funny, fast-paced and enjoyable but
also contains important insights into non-nuclear
families, friendship, love and grief. It is a poignant
reminder of the importance of caring and
kindness that will make you laugh but also bring
tears to your eyes.
Andrea Rayner
Penfold, Nicola
Where the World Turns Wild
Stripes, 2020, pp352, £6.99
978 1 78895 152 4
This dystopian story is set 50 years after an
ecological catastrophe, much like the one we are
living through now. Faced with the threat of
global extinction, a group of desperate ecoterrorists,
the ReWilders, introduced a new tickborne
disease, fatal only to humans, which has
drastically reduced human numbers. For half a
century it has confined almost all survivors to
sterile cities sealed off from all wildlife and
danger of disease. Juniper, aged thirteen, and her
six-year-old brother Bear, are the children of
8 to 12
ReWilders but are lodged with their grandmother
in the bleak city, longing to flee from it into the
forest. And they can, because they are immune to
the disease. Somewhere out in the Wild are their
parents, or so they hope, and when their very
immunity puts them at risk from city authorities,
they make their escape. The second half of the
book is the story of their quest, as novices in the
wild, to find their parents at their last known
location in the Lake District.
The loving and caring relationship between
Juniper and Bear is the best part of the story. The
risks and hardships of their journey are not
understated, and their courage and growing
resourcefulness are all the more convincing
because the wild is not sentimentalised. Neither
the city nor the wild are easy places to survive.
But the first is sterile, joyless and repressive, while
the second is natural, free and full of life. Actually,
after fifty years of minimal human presence it
would be even more full of life than the world the
children find. Nature recovers quickly when no
people are about. Even so, this is a stirring and
timely story about environmental calamity and,
above all, children’s biological need for freedom in
green places.
Peter Hollindale
Pennypacker, Sara
Here in the Real World
HarperCollins, 2020, pp320, £6.99
978 0 00 837169 2
Ware is a daydreamer. He’s content in his own
thoughts and happy spending his time on his
own. When the long summer holidays begin, he’s
more than at ease spending his days in the pool
at his grandmother’s retirement home, lost in his
thoughts and soaking up the warm Florida
sunshine. And then his grandmother falls and
breaks her hips. Ware is forced to return to his
parent’s home. As they’re out all day working to
settle their mortgage, Ware is enrolled in a holiday
club at the Rec. It is everything that he hates:
organised activity, forced friendships and no space
to spend time with his own thoughts.
When Ware discovers an abandoned and wrecked
church next to the Rec, he can’t help but go and
explore. The abandoned church reminds Ware of
medieval castles, chivalry and knights. Lost in his
thoughts, he doesn’t notice the strange girl
cultivating papayas in the church grounds. Over
the course of the narrative the relationship
between Ware and the girl, Jolene, blossoms as
they set out on a quest to transform the
abandoned church grounds.
Here in the Real World is an affirmation of the
importance of being true to yourself; of not
feeling the pressure to change and embracing the
person within yourself. The book gently deals with
juvenile neglect, the pressures of poverty, wildlife
conservation and personal identity. The book is
quietly compassionate; never preaching its
message. The book also holds true to its title. The
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 109

esolution is realistic and not sugar-coated in that
it’s satisfying without pushing beyond what might
happen in the world inhabited by its readers.
Rachel Clarke
Rasheed, Leila
Empire’s End: A Roman Story
(Voices)
Scholastic, 2020, pp208, £6.99
978 1 4071 9139 3
Camilla is born in Leptis Magna in Syria. It is part
of the Roman Empire. One day, her father, a
renowned physician, is called to Rome. There he is
told he is to accompany the Emperor, Septimius
Severus, to Britain. Camilla and her mother go
with him. But on the way, there is a storm at sea
that results in tragedy. In Britain, it is cold, and
everything is different. From Londinium they travel
up to Eboracum (York), where Camilla stays under
the protection of the Empress, Julia Domna, while
her father travels with the Emperor to the wall in
the north. However, the rivalry between the
Emperor’s two sons, Caracella and Geta, threatens
Camilla’s safety, and it is only through Arcturus
that she glimpses the possibility of a new life in a
new land.
A Roman Story is extremely engaging, and the
protagonist, Camilla, has a strong voice. The
author, Leila Rasheed, has completely captured
her personality. It is an enjoyable read that does
not shy away from the more difficult aspects of
the historical period but writes about them in a
non-distressing way. A Roman Story is part of the
Voices series. These are stories about the lives of
young British immigrants throughout history.
Andrea Rayner
8 to 12
Rivers, Holly
Demelza and the Spectre Detectors
Chicken House, 2019, pp336, £6.99
978 1 91262 603 8
The intelligent, energetic and
fearless heroine, Demelza Clock,
is a force to be reckoned with.
Not only is she a keen inventor
but in this story, the first of
more to come according to the
blurb, she finds she is also a
novice spectre detector. Her grandma, Maeve,
complete with Cornish accent (I was expecting
Ross to appear as the story unfolded) is one of a
long line of spectre detectors who have special
powers which enable grieving folk to meet their
recently departed loved ones as a comfort to
them. (Has the author read Lincoln in the Bardo I
wondered.)
A fast-moving, twisting plot which involves a
variety of well-drawn characters including Lord
Balthazar the talking skull, and takes the reader
through trapdoors, locked doors and eerie forests
in pursuit of snatchers, a kidnapped grandmother
and in the end a satisfying conclusion.
Chapters are short and the language is
sophisticated, exaggerated and offers humour and
suspense in equal quantities… imagine riding on
a ghost train at the seaside. Be aware of the
slightly macabre articulation of death and dying
and potential after-life possibilities. Chapter 32 is
particularly full-on when we discover not only that
Demelza’s friend and accomplice, Percy, is actually
a spectre but also that Percy’s father killed her
parents!
This book has all the ingredients needed for an
enjoyable read and is well constructed. Demelza’s
robotic hand invention introduced in Chapter 1
did come in useful at the end! Children will lap it
up and beg for more. I imagine sequels will be on
their way.
Janet Sims
Roberts, Dashe
The Big Woof Conspiracy
Nosy Crow, 2020, pp272, £6.99
978 1 78800 686 6
Love UFO’s? Love mystery stories? Want to take a
step back in time? If you tick yes to any or all of
these questions, then this is the book for you. A
fast-paced and funny book starting a brand new
series in a very retro style, this is a conspiracy
book with a difference.
Lucy Sladan is a UFO fanatic to say the least and
when she sneaks out in the middle of the night
(be prepared for great adventures and don’t
forget you may by now be on the edge of your
seat) she finds more than she could have
expected is ready to greet her and she is about to
uncover some very mysterious and deep-rooted
secrets.
This is a great read – strong plot line, clever ideas,
well written, absorbing and the first in a possible
series, it is certainly possible to see where the
author has left options open to explore avenues
just touched on in this story. There are also things
which will be in the mind of the reader as they
question the events, try to unravel the mystery for
themselves and remain gripped to see if they are
correct.
Can Lucy and her new friend – the stranger
named Milo – get answers from the mystery in
which they are entwined? You can only learn
more by reading this book and perhaps
recommending it to one or two others.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Robinson, Hilary
Jasper: Viking Dog
Illustrated by Lewis James
Strauss House Productions, 2020, pp96, £7.99
978 1 999 33891 6
This book is the second in a series of stories
aimed at emerging independent readers and
follows the first book in the series, Jasper: Space
Dog.
The book is a series of letters from eight-year-old
Charlie and Jasper the dog, who believes himself
to be a Viking, to Astrid the Curator of the Viking
Museum in Bogna, UK. The book is very
humorous and accessible for younger readers with
a great section of Viking facts in the final chapter
which will be a great help to any youngsters who
may need to do a homework project on Vikings.
The book is also a great introduction to the idea
of letter writing for younger readers and has
fantastic illustrations throughout.
Jane Pepler
Sami, Annabelle
The Missing Diamonds (Agent Zaiba
Investigates)
Illustrated by Daniela Sosa
Stripes, 2020, pp256, £6.99
978 1 78895 206 4
Set in a glorious palatial hotel, this detective story
is a compelling page turner. Our hero, Zaiba, is
captivated by a series of detective novels that
provide a link to her late birth mother. When her
cousin’s wedding celebrations share a grand
venue with an A-list celebrity film launch party,
Zaiba is determined to prove herself a fine sleuth.
Zaiba together with younger brother Ali and best
friend Poppy have the perfect mystery to solve
when the celebrity’s beloved dog escapes and his
diamond collar goes missing.
The hotel proves itself to be a delightful setting
for a mystery complete with turrets and a secret
staircase. The family relationships and friendships
provide engagement and warmth to the story
which is rich with details about British Pakistani
weddings. Even the interfering, tell-tale cousin is
recorded with a degree of sympathy and
understanding. Almost too exciting to read at
points, this wonderful mystery adventure has a
most satisfactory happy ending. An attractive,
dynamic cover and engaging blurb presented as
Agent Zaiba’s casebook ensure that this will not
be left unread on the shelf.
Chantal Kelleher
Shaw, Hannah
Unicorn Muddle (Unipiggle the
Unicorn Pig)
Usborne, 2020, pp128, £5.99
978 1 4749 7217 8
Another twist on the unicorn story and
phenomenon, this time a pig who thinks, or
maybe he is, a unicorn… but this pig is not the
only one who likes to break the rules; there is a
heroine to this story too, a princess. Unipiggle is a
royal unicorn who happens to be a pig, sorry a
unicorn. Why, I can imagine you asking! Well of
course because the princess likes to break the
rules which means her pig can too.
Hannah Shaw’s newest title is a magical, fun,
royal adventure. She is known to many for her
110 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

illustrations and here we find her turning her pen
to writing stories too. This is a new world; this is
Twinkle Kingdom and it is a place where
everyone and everything is perfect – or is it?
Princess Pea certainly isn’t.
Princess Pea loves to get muddy. She loves having
fun. She is not very keen on poncey unicorns or
parades, but she does love her new Unipiggle
and when the pair of them find themselves on a
number of adventures the real fun begins.
This book will make children laugh. They will
want to pick it up. It is bright, bold, silly, funny
and easy to access as well as read. Highly
recommended.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Sloan, Michelle
The Baby Otter Rescue (Animal
Adventure Club)
Illustrated by Hannah George
Kelpies, 2019, pp104, £5.99
978 1 78250 592 1
The second book in this delightful series for
young environmentalists follows the adventures
of the Animal Adventure Club as they care for
wild animals in Scotland and learn about
themselves along the way. In The Baby Otter
Rescue, Lexi, Buzz, Gracie and Isla find a baby
otter that has been flooded out of his riverside
home. They decide to look for his mum, but
there’s a surprise waiting for the four friends.
This title will delight younger readers and grownups
alike as it is a heart-warming story about
friendship and a wildlife adventure packed with
fascinating facts on Scottish animals and what
steps to take if you find an injured animal in the
wild – I highly recommend it!
Océane Toffoli
Stamp, Emer
PESTS
Hodder, 2020, pp192, £6.99
978 1 444 94962 9
Now and again you will be asked to read a book
which you may not have sought out for
yourself… and be VERY glad that you were! I
laughed out loud at this clever book. The hero
introduces us to the other creatures in his flat and
he refers to the humans as ‘lady mans’,
Schnookums, and ‘man mans’, MyLove. The baby
mans is Boo-Boo. By the end of the second page I
was hooked!
Meet Stix. He’s the size of an egg cup, can jump
the width of a dog’s bottom, and LOVES cheese.
That’s because Stix is a mouse. He probably lives
behind your washing machine, but you wouldn’t
know it, because his Grandma’s taught him to
always stay out of trouble and NEVER let the
humans know he’s there. But now Stix has
stumbled across PESTS – the Peewit Educatorium
for Seriously Terrible Scoundrels, in the basement
of his block of flats, and along with a whole host
of new pesty friends (and enemies), he’s about to
rip up Grandma’s rule book and make a REAL
pest of himself.
Carolyn Copland
Tooke, Hana
The Unadoptables
Illustrated by Ayesha L Runio
Puffin, 2020, pp384, £12.99
978 0 24141 746 1
This atmospheric story of five
orphans overcoming adversity is
set in nineteenth century
Amsterdam and combines
elements of adventure, fairy
tale, mystery with hints of the
supernatural. The five children
at the heart of the story were all abandoned as
babies at The Little Tulip Orphanage in
Amsterdam, in, variously, a tin toolbox, a coal
bucket, a picnic hamper, a wheat sack and a
coffin-shaped basket, all thus breaking the strict
‘Rules of Abandonment’ set by sinister Matron
Elinora Gassbeek. As they grow up the five
‘Unadoptables’, now aged 12 and all very
different characters, become firm friends and vow
to stick together, escape the Orphanage and find
their families. The ensuing adventures involve
escape from a cruel sea captain, refuge in a
windmill, restoration of a puppet theatre, a pirate
ship, a clockmaker and the possibility of
werewolves.
This is a long novel and will demand some
reading stamina, but the five characters, all
fascinating, quirky individuals, demand sympathy,
the escapades and plot twists come thick and fast
and child readers should be drawn deep into this
historical adventure with its atmospheric Dutch
setting, humour, chills and intriguing mysteries.
Above all, this is a heart-warming story, extolling
the power of deep friendship to overcome all
odds and the strength and love of a ‘found’
family. All in all, an enjoyable read by a debut
author.
Sue Roe
Treml, Renée
Sherlock Bones and the Natural
History Mystery
Allen & Unwin, 2019, pp272, £8.99
978 1 91163 154 5
When the world’s most valuable gemstone, The
Royal Blue Diamond, goes missing from the State
Natural History Museum, Sherlock Bones is on the
case. As an inhabitant of the museum, he has the
inside knowledge to solve the mystery, along with
his trusty sidekick Watts. This is despite the fact
that Watts is a stuffed parrot and Sherlock
himself is the skeleton of a tawny frogmouth, a
carnivorous bird. Teaming up with Grace, a
walking, talking, breathing, chocolate-loving
8 to 12
racoon, they must track down the thief and save
the museum from closure.
In this entertaining, black and white graphic
novel, readers can follow the clues alongside
Sherlock, Watts and Grace to discover the
whereabouts of the diamond. The museum
setting allows for a little surreptitious learning
about Australian and world wildlife to be
included, with the exhibit labels forming part of
the narrative. I’m sure this will prove popular with
fans of illustrated fiction and reluctant readers
alike; the 272 pages contain a minimal amount of
text and lots of humour and excitement.
Jayne Gould
Webb, Holly
Star
Stripes, 2019, pp192, £8.99
978 1 78895 116 6
Holly Webb has written a beautiful story set in a
small Russian village. The story begins when
Anna finds a small wooden tiger on her
grandmother’s mantelpiece. When she wakes the
next day she is in a different world and is
Annushka, the Russian name for Anna. Unlike
the rest of the village she is unafraid of the tiger
that has been spotted near the village. Instead
she sneaks out to try to help the tiger. This story
is based on the story of a tiger cub that was
found, rescued and taken to a rehabilitation
centre. It was later released into the wild. The
illustrations at the beginning of each chapter add
to the magical feel of the story. This would be a
lovely book to read aloud in class and would
appeal to children who enjoy stories about
animals. I can see how it could link really nicely
to a topic on animals and endangered animals.
Kate Keaveny
Willis, Inky
Notes in Class (Scribble Witch)
Hodder, 2020, pp240, £6.99
978 1 44495 165 3
A delightfully playful introduction to a new duo in
the Tom Gates/Amelia Fang zone. Meet Molly,
devastated by the news that best friend Chloe is
to move to another school and coping with both
snooty classmate, Emily, and a grumpy teacher,
Mr Stilton. Into Molly’s gloomy predicament
comes Notes, a tiny witch who comes to life
when Chloe cuts out a doodle from a piece of
paper. Notes lives in a pen pot in the classroom,
eats pencil sharpenings and communicates – not
unexpectedly – through notes.
Notes, who turns out to be both a help and a
hindrance, is initially invisible to all but Molly.
However (spoiler alert) as a plot to keep Chloe at
Dungfields School develops, Notes becomes
visible to Chloe too, and facilitates the upbeat
ending – flying on her pencil she carries notes
between the two schools, so that Chloe and
Molly can stay friends.
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 111

It has to be said there is quite a lot about
stationery in this book – pencil cases (at one
stage Molly identifies her favourite Top 10),
notebooks and pencil toppers feature quite
significantly, but this adds to the sense of familiar
territory for a primary reader, and provides scope
for some lovely warm humour.
The page design is buzzing with lots of line
drawings and creative typography. Notes’s notes
are initially a little challenging to read in terms of
typography and language, but convey the
character very effectively. The book contains
humour in the plot, language (especially digs at
Mr Stilton) and presentation. It also carries some
strong messages about friendships in the target
age group. Book Two is excellently set up.
Sally Perry
Woods, Matilda
Otto Tattercoat and the Forest of
Lost Things
Illustrated by Kathrin Honesta
Scholastic, 2020, pp300, £6.99
978 1 407184 91 3
This readable, hectic story is a mixture of
Dickensian melodrama and Grimms’ fairy tales.
Otto and his mother move to the city of
Hodeldorf. His mother makes coats, and since
Hodeldorf is trapped in perpetual winter, trade
there should be good. But one morning his
mother sets out from their lodgings to sell coats,
and doesn’t come back. Alone in the city, Otto is
first robbed of his own good coat, then tricked
into slavery, along with other lost children, in Frau
Ferber’s boot polishing factory. Life in Hodeldorf is
terrible for children. Those not trapped by Frau
Ferber are destitute street children, who have
joined together in a band called the Tattercoats.
They live by a strict code of mutual help and
friendship, a way of coping with adversity which is
celebrated as an ideal throughout the story.
When Otto makes his escape and joins up with
the Tattercoats, they support his quest to find his
lost mother. This takes Otto and two special
friends from the city to the forest, and strong
reminders of the Brothers Grimm. (Not for nothing
do all the adults have German surnames.) In the
forest are many dangers and excitements,
including a wicked witch, magic potions and a
friendly giant who lives in a shoe. Otto and his
resourceful friends overcome many perils, find his
mother, and in the best tradition return to
Hodeldorf to vanquish Frau Ferber and release her
captives. And bring warmth and summer back to
the city.
It will be clear that this story uses many tried and
trusted staples of fairy tale and folk tale, but it
makes enterprising and inventive use of them in
an easy, undemanding, page-turning story which
will appeal especially perhaps to less fluent
readers of eight to ten.
Peter Hollindale
8 to 12
8–12 Information
Agard, Sandra A.
Harriet Tubman: A Journey to
Freedom (Trailblazers)
Illustrated by Luisa Uribe and George Ermos
Stripes, 2019, pp176, £6.99
978 1 78895 222 4
This is a valuable biography of a true hero. As
many will know, Harriet Tubman was a slave who
escaped from her plantation in Maryland to
freedom, then returned many times over to help
others to reach the free states or Canada, despite
enormous risks. Slave owners hated her and there
was a huge price on her head. Her bravery was
legendary and inspirational in her time and
remains so. She became a well-known abolitionist,
in great demand as a public speaker. During the
Civil War she worked both as a nurse and as a
spy. She was made a commander of intelligence
operations. The first and only woman to lead a
military operation in the Civil War – the
Combahee River Raid led to the liberation of 700
slaves – she became internationally famous, but
despite her service in the Union army she was
virtually penniless afterwards. For the rest of her
long life she continued to actively campaign for
the rights of people of colour and of women and
was an acclaimed speaker into her old age.
Sandra A. Agard is a storyteller, writer and cultural
historian. This account of Harriet Tubman’s life is
her first book for children, and it is impressive. The
prose is clear, direct and very informative, with lots
of interesting facts. Numerous illustrations help
make the book attractive and accessible. There is a
useful timeline as well as a glossary, an index and
suggestions for further reading.
Anne Harding
Brian, Rachel
Respect: Consent, Boundaries and
Being in Charge of You
Wren & Rook, 2020, pp64, £7.99
978 1 52636 221 6
Fantastic clear and user-friendly guide to the topic
of consent, from the person who made the ‘tea
and consent’ short film which went viral recently.
The book clearly explains the idea of consent
(specifically relating to bodies) but without being
explicit. Examples are general and fun without
being sinister, and the cartoony illustrated human
characters are purposely vague in terms of gender
or background. However, the examples given do
rely on the reader’s ability to infer. For example, for
the question ‘does someone’s outfit tell you if they
consent?’ the creator has a character at a
swimming pool wearing a swimming costume –
who doesn’t want to actually swim. I estimate a
Year 7 student could rattle through this during a
library lesson but it would equally be fine for a
younger or older student to read and take in and
is easily accessible.
Lovely short section at the back about how to
proceed if the reader feels someone has
overstepped any boundaries, with numbers and
websites. Highly recommended addition to a
junior or secondary school library.
Helen Swinyard
Brown, Danielle and Kai, Nathan
Be Your Best Self
Button Books, 2019, pp120, £12.99
978 1 78708 038 6
Paralympic gold medallist
Danielle Brown has coauthored
this self-development
title with (extremely young, 7-
year-old) new author Nathan
Kai. There are inspirational
passages from celebrities
included throughout the book. For example a
section on how to stay positive from David
Walliams and another on building your support
team from Jamie Oliver.
The pages and illustrations are colourful with a
fairly muted colour scheme that attracts attention
but isn’t in your face. Regular text box help
sections from Danielle and Nathan break up
pages and the style of writing lends itself well to
being able to dip in and out of the book, if this is
the way children will best access it. Having tips
from Nathan, who is a similar age to the age
range of probable readers, builds trust and
empathy from the first page and his and Danielle’s
sections are written in a friendly, conversational
way that makes them easy to read and relate to. I
am very impressed with the no nonsense, practical
tone and can see it being a much-thumbed
resource for younger kids. The book would be an
excellent addition to any primary school library or
reading corner and would be a wonderful gift for
any young relatives exploring their self-esteem
and identity.
Bev Humphrey
Bruno, Nikki
Working with Rubbish (Gross Jobs)
Raintree, 2019, pp32, £12.99
978 1 4747 7505 2
This is a heavily illustrated factual book with a
good size text and a clear style of writing. Each
double page examines one gross job in some
detail with a colourful informative photo forming
the backdrop. Clear headings identify which job is
being examined and the text proceeds to describe
what the role involves, and the types of rubbish
handled. There are helpful explanations of word
meanings on the relevant pages plus a glossary at
the back. Most double pages include a text box
with an entertaining gross-o-meter plus quick
facts and statistics. There is a find out more page
suggesting further books and websites with
relevant information. The book is completed with
an index listing all the gross things any young
112 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

person could possibly want to know about. This is
an engaging, high interest read that includes
information that might not be found elsewhere.
Chantal Kelleher
Cavell-Clarke, Steffi
Magnets (First Science)
The Secret Book Company, 2019, pp24, £6.99
978 1 78998 008 0
An excellent introduction to the world of
magnets. Part of a comprehensive series on
science topics for early learners this volume is
simple and easy to use. It looks at the basic
elements of magnetism and is a good starting
point for further study. Magnets always seem to
appeal to children and their fascinating properties
are always popular with younger ones. I have
written a large number of science books over the
years which always seemed to contain a section
on the intriguing experiments you can carry out
with just two bar or horseshoe magnets. There is
a simple index and glossary at the back of the
book. I like the bright and attractive photos which
I am sure will be popular with lots of children.
I would have liked to have seen slightly more
diversity in the illustrations but looking at the
covers of the other volumes this seemed to have
been addressed elsewhere. We live in a very
diverse society and it is therefore important to
have children of many ethnic groups represented,
particularly in non-fiction books. However I still
think this is would be an excellent addition to a
class or school library.
Godfrey Hall
Clarke, Jane
Busy Bodies (Al’s Awesome Science)
Illustrated by James Brown
Five Quills, 2019, pp128, £6.99
978 0 993553 76 9
Shortlisted for the STEAM
Children’s Book Prize, Busy
Bodies is designed for six
years and upwards. The
series is full of great ideas
and will introduce the
younger reader to a wide
variety of science topics. This
book which is part of a series follows two
enthusiastic children who decide to build a time
machine that will take them back in order to get
together with their father, when he was alive. The
story looks at how their bodies might be affected
as they go back into the past, examining issues
such as gravity, balance and motion sickness!
While the books can be read individually, they
can also be linked together as a complete series.
Al and his sister Lottie are both real characters
and I am sure will appeal to all ages ranges.
Younger readers will certainly find them
8 to 12
entertaining and hopefully will be encouraged to
try out some of the experiments highlighted in
the text. I was most impressed with both Lottie
and her brother and their enthusiasm for science
generally. There is also a dog Einstein who I am
sure will become a real favourite with the readers
of this wonderfully fresh and lively approach to
science. The text is written to be user friendly and
so gets you involved immediately. There is a lot in
the book that children will be able to associate
with and much of the action takes place in the
home. A great read.
Godfrey Hall
Kershaw, Steve
Mythologica
Illustrated by Victoria Topping
Wide Eyed Editions, 2019, pp112, £20
978 1 78603 192 1
At 28.5 cm wide and 34.5 cm long, Mythologica
is a very big book. It is brilliantly coloured both
inside and outside and its subject matter is
ambitious; for it sets out to introduce us to 50
major characters from the mythology of Ancient
Greece. These include gods and goddesses
ranging from Athena to Zeus, mortals from
Achilles to Pandora and monsters from Argos to
Typhon. As well as all this, some stories such as
The Twelve Labours of Heracles are retold at
somewhat greater length. All the contents are
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 113

8 to 12
written in a brisk, no-nonsense style and every
effort is made to catch the reader’s attention.
Each of the 50 subjects is awarded two pages,
one devoted to an imagined portrait, the other to
informational details. But information pages are
also brightly illustrated with large and small
illustrations. Typographies are varied and
presented on a range of background colours.
Overall the approach has a generously expansive
feel about it. My small sense of worry is whether,
in the reading, the book feels a bit too bitty.
Hopefully it will not only catch but hold attention
and inspire readers to go on to seek out material
that will take them on further.
Mary Medlicott
Martineau, Susan
Cool Circuits and Wicked Wires (Next
Steps in STEM)
Illustrated by Kim Hankinson
b small publishing, 2019, pp24, £7.99
978 1 911509 95 0
Children love practical science, both in school and
at home. This colourful book lives up to its claim
of providing ‘sparky, scientific fun.’ The
experiments utilise some resources commonly
available at home, such as pencils, salt and paper
clips, although other items, such as crocodile clips
and insulated wire, are more specialist. Susan
Martineau explains all about electricity via
experiments, including how to make a circuit using
saline water and making a compass out of a
needle, kitchen towel and a magnet. Each page
also includes detailed descriptions of how the
science works. Interesting facts include the
function of a resistor in electrical circuits, how
electro-magnets are used to move heavy metal
objects and how electricity creates soundwaves.
Martineau explains these complex concepts in
simple language, thus opening up the world of
electricity in an exciting way. I was pleasantly
surprised by the amount of detailed information in
the book. Kim Hankinson’s illustrations are simple,
appealing and clear in the step-by-step
instructions and children will love the jaunty
cartoon characters dotted about.
This slim, lively book will encourage children’s
interests in STEM subjects in both a school and
domestic context.
Lucy Chambers
Otter, Isobel
Our World (Turn and Learn)
Illustrated by Hannah Tolson
360 Degrees, 2019, £12.99
978 1 84857 842 5
This book explores five different habitats across
ten pages. Packed with facts it is an interactive
book requiring the reader to pull a ribbon inside
the book to reveal further information and
drawings. I liked the interactive idea which I am
sure will appeal to children of all ages. The book
includes spreads on the deserts, the sea and
rainforests. Each double page spread is packed
with different sections looking at the weird and
wonderful and various areas of interest. For
example, the page on savannahs includes sections
on the baobab tree which stores water efficiently
in the rainy season ready for the dry periods of the
year and also a piece on termites. I have seen
these creatures in several locations around the
world and am always amazed by the structures
they can build.
This is very novel way of presenting new facts and
in my opinion, it is very successful. I would
suggest that it would be suitable for primary aged
children and ideal for class libraries.
Godfrey Hall
Pankhurst, Kate
Fantastically Great Women Who
Saved the Planet
Bloomsbury, 2020, pp32, £6.99
978 1 4088 9929 8
From bestselling author
and illustrator Kate
Pankhurst, descendant of
Emmeline Pankhurst,
comes another ‘smart,
informative, inclusive and
accessible’ book about
trail-blazing women. This time, it’s women who
have helped protect our natural world from way
before it was on a political agenda.
This fantastic book introduces the reader to a wide
range of female activists, both well-known people
(Jane Goodall and Anita Roddick) and those who
will probably be new to most of us (Wangari
Maathai, Eileen Kampakuta Brown and Eileen
Wani Wingfield). These women have all stood up
for what is right and have sowed the seeds of
change, from the recycling of plastic bags into
objects which could be sold for the development of
solar energy, the banning of CFCs to reduce the
thinning of the ozone layer to the reduction of
trade in bird feathers. It shows that we can all play
a part in helping our planet and that each good
idea can build on what has gone before.
The text is clear and eye-catching and the
cartoons and speech bubbles make this highly
attractive and accessible to the very generation
who will shape the future. I cannot recommend it
too highly.
Carolyn Copland
Rooney, Anne
Animal Atlas
Illustrated by Lucy Rose
Lonely Planet Kids, 2019, pp32, £12.99
978 1 78868 260 2
Fold-outs, flaps and some life-size pictures
enhance the experience as readers are invited to
travel across continents and under the oceans to
discover the amazing animals that share our
world. A huge amount of information is packed in,
delivered in bite size chunks, accompanied by a
range of illustrations which include photographs
as well as drawings and maps. A range of habitats
on each continent and in the seas is covered.
Every other opening features fold-out pages,
which allow more facts to be packed in. Alongside
the variety of animals, birds and insects covered
are some of the naturalists who studied them, in
Who’s Who panels. These include Maria Sibylla
Merien who produced a number of books about
insects in the late 17th and early 18th centuries
as well as Jane Goodall, renowned for her studies
of chimpanzees.
This is a book with wide appeal, ideal for dipping
into and sparking interest and further research. It
is recommended for both primary and high school
libraries, for children of eight plus.
Jayne Gould
Rosen, Michael
The Missing
Walker, 2020, pp128, £8.99
978 1 4063 8675 2
This is an account of Michael Rosen’s search to
find out what happened to his family in the
Second World War. Michael Rosen is from a Jewish
family and his father was an American soldier in
Berlin during the war. Michael set out to find out
what had happened to his two uncles; they simply
went missing during the war – they were there
before the war and no longer there after the war.
Michael interviewed family members, searched the
Internet and travelled to France and America in his
quest to discover what had happened to the two
brothers.
The book is laid out in chapters with poems,
letters, photographs and maps interspersed
throughout. It is an account of Michael’s
childhood and a very readable narrative account
of what happened to one family during the
Holocaust.
I think it resonates with the current refugee crisis,
which primary school children should equally be
made aware of. This current crisis links back to the
Second World War, giving children a chance to link
how the war made so many people refugees. At
the end of the book there is an excellent
bibliography of both fiction and non-fiction for
children to further their reading about this topic.
Jane Pepler
Sanz, Verónica and Hirn, Johannes
Discovering Energy (Discovering Big
Ideas)
Illustrated by Eduard Altarriba
Button Books, 2020, pp48, £12.99
978 1 78708 048 5
Published by Button Books, this volume looks at
the various sources of energy found, not only on
114 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

our planet, but also elsewhere in the universe. It
explains many of the questions asked by younger
readers, such as ‘what is electricity?’ and ‘how do
solar panels work?’ It examines how people have
used different energy sources over the years and
the changes that have taken place. The delightful
illustrations support the excellent pieces of text
which are bite sized and easy to understand. This
is a very beautifully produced book which will
cover a large number of topics that can be further
discussed and researched in the classroom and at
home. I was impressed with the design of the book
and the layout. There is a comprehensive contents
page but unfortunately no index or glossary at the
back. A very comprehensive volume on energy that
I am sure would be a valuable asset to a school or
class library in both primary and lower secondary
schools.
Godfrey Hall
Seed, Andy
A Giant Dose of Gross
Illustrated by Claire Almon
QED, 2019, pp64, £12.99
978 0 711243 50 7
As you would expect, this book is not for the
fainthearted. There are some seriously gross details
in this book, however it’s all factual and
informative and even prompted me to do some
independent research. Great illustrations, nice
quality feel to this book, clear contents page and
two fun quizzes make this a great book to dip into
or share with a friend. It will be a welcome
addition to my school library where I’m sure it will
be well used!
Tracy Hart
Thomas, Isobel
This Book Will (Help) Cool the
Climate
Illustrated by Ales Patterson
Wren & Rook, 2020, pp192, £6.99
978 1 5263 6241 4
It is barely possible to dislike or to not admire this
book. Attractively presented, with short bites of
text in a variety of fonts and filled with imaginative
illustrations, just about every aspect of global
contamination is covered. With 50 titled
subsections and a decent index, topics can be
located individually with ease. The accessible
format also invites readers to work their way
straight through the whole book. It does lack a
bibliography or a section indicating other reading
recommendations. With facts, explanations and
inspiration for action, this cornucopia of eco
awareness provides an invaluable handbook for
young people.
Alison Hurst
8 to 12
Twiddy, Robin
Whale Shark (Teeth to Tail)
Booklife Publishing, 2019, pp24, £12.99
978 1 78637 613 8
From the fascinating cover close-up of a whale
shark’s mouth onwards this is a beautifully
presented book with stunning photos. The text
covers general facts about whale sharks, such as
their habitat and size, as well as more detailed
information about parts of the body, such as the
skeleton, fins and teeth. Every double-page spread
has information at different levels, from close-ups
with captions to ‘Biting Facts’ text boxes. From one
of these I learnt that it’s a puzzle as to why whale
sharks have so many teeth, as they don’t use them
for feeding. The text on each page is explained in
simple language but Twiddy includes technical
words, such as the different kinds of fins, clearly
captioned, and the terms ‘apex predators’ and
‘spiracle’. Words underlined in green are explained
in a detailed glossary at the end of the book and
long and complicated words are spelled out
phonetically in the text to aid pronunciation. I liked
the photo showing the relative sizes of a diver and
a whale shark and the explanation of how whale
sharks protect their eyes without eyelids. This book
is full of interesting facts explained and illustrated
for the intended age group. Children love larger
animals and will love this book too.
Lucy Chambers
OUT 23
JULY
Five amazing children . . .
one most UN-ordinary adventure
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 115

8 to 12
Tzomaka, Vassiliki
Hoot and Howl Across the Desert
Thames & Hudson, 2020, pp56, £12.95
978 0 500 65198 8
Having personally
visited a number of the
deserts featured in this
large and impressive
book I was fascinated
to read of the many
creatures and plants
that live in and around these ofteninhospitable
locations. It is written and
illustrated by an expert in her field who has
collected together information on over 250
species of desert cacti and succulents. Using
plenty of drawing and sketches the book is
divided into fifteen double-page spreads each
looking at different aspects of the locations
chosen for investigation. These include the
Gobi, Arabian and Sonoran Deserts and the
Arctic and Antarctic.
There are many very unusual species
mentioned in this volume which examines the
ways in which they adapt to their conditions
and what kind of tactics they use to survive
the extremes of temperature. I have come
across several of these creatures and plants in
the Arabian, Austrian and Sonoran deserts. I
particularly liked the double-page spread on
Anna’s Hummingbird and the section on the
Arctic and Antarctic.
A very interesting book which will provide a
great deal of information on the various
regions which are both fascinating and at the
same time very important to an overall
understanding of the world in these times of
global warming and changing temperatures. I
learnt a great deal from this book which I am
sure will be an ideal addition to primary
libraries.
Godfrey Hall
Vegara, Maria Isabel Sanchez
David Attenborough (Little
People Big Dreams)
Illustrated by Mikyo Noh
Frances Lincoln, 2020, pp32, £9.99
978 0 71124 563 1
This biography in the popular series is
brilliant for primary schools and the everpopular
naturalist David Attenborough is an
excellent subject. Maria Vegara describes
how Attenborough became interested in
animals as a child when he studied in the
library and went on fossil-collecting trips,
leads us through his university degree, on to
his fame as a television presenter in the
1950s and his interest in conservation today.
The text is simple and clear with delightfully
detailed illustrations. I enjoyed the paw print
endpapers and humorous pictures, such as
the one of the child Attenborough reading
about chameleons, while a chameleon sat
opposite studying a book about the human
body. The illustrations of animals are in
simplistic, jocular style, but if that encourages
children to read about interesting people,
then that is a good thing.
I enjoyed the pages of captioned drawings of
a ship, animals and plants named after David
Attenborough, such as the Materpiscis
attenboroughi (a fish). At the end of the book
are two pages of more details about
Attenborough, a brief timeline of photos and
a very short bibliography. I recommend this
biography for primary schools.
Lucy Chambers
Weil, Jonathan
Abraham Lincoln (First Names)
Illustrated by John Aggs
David Fickling Books, 2020, pp160, £6.99
978 1 78845 045 4
What a delightful and useful book. From the
beautifully designed contents page to the
comprehensive and accurate timeline,
glossary and index this is a practical and
thoughtful book bursting with information
presented in a charming and engaging
manner.
Jonathan Weil uses obscure facts as well as
the better known to paint a picture of a
kindly, clever, scruffy, disorganised man who
came from poverty and made plenty of
mistakes along the way. His effortless writing
style makes this a quick and fun read, with
plenty of detail to bring Abe to life for the
reader.
John Aggs provides quirky and informative
illustrations throughout, which add hugely
to the reader’s understanding of the text.
Using Abe as well as various other
characters and famous quotes, he manages
to inject additional titbits that might have
interrupted the flow of the main text but
which clearly belong on the same page.
Quotes are presented in speech bubbles in
a slightly different font to other comments
made by characters, a fact which is
explained in small print on the bibliographic
detail page – this could do with being
made a bit clearer.
I particularly like the use of double-page
spreads to present graphics explaining
complex ideas such as the differences
between the Whigs and Democrats, and
how the political system works.
All in all, a tidy and useful book which
deserves a place on any bookshelf.
Helen Thompson
Poetry & Plays
Coe, Justin
The Magic of Mums
Illustrated by Steve Wells
Otter-Barry Books, 2020, pp96, £6.99
978 1 910959 64 0
This is an alphabet of poems for primary school
children about that universal junior concern,
mothers and mothering. The 46 poems include at
least one highlighting each alphabet letter
(though ‘Z’ has to make do with a dozy ‘zzzz’).
Most of the verses are light and simple, and good
for reading aloud, either by teacher or children.
Together they touch on most aspects of being a
mum or having one, and there is plenty of fun.
Serious topics are not omitted, though they are in
the minority. They vary in quality. Climate change
appears in ‘Earth Mother’, but in a trite and
disappointing poem which many young children can
and do surpass in their own writing, and ‘Windrush
Mum’ (on ‘Mother Country’) says all the right
things but is obvious and dull. Personal rather than
political sadness is much more imaginatively
covered, in the excellent ‘Dad-Mum’ (after Mum
has died) and ‘Young Mother’ (where a mother’s
illness leaves a twelve-year-old girl with premature
family burdens). The majority comedy poems pick
up many domestic situations that children will
recognise and enjoy, and the best of these is the
outstanding ‘Ringmaster Mum’, which may stir up
young readers to ask for the first time, ‘How does
she do it?’ and ‘How much does anyone notice?’
Following on from the writer’s previous collection,
The Dictionary of Dads, these are lively, thoughtprovoking
verses for younger juniors, with lots of
variety.
Peter Hollindale
Coelho, Joseph
Poems Aloud
Illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett
Wide Eyed Editions, 2020, pp40, £11.99
978 0 71124 768 0
This book would be a wonderful addition to any
whole school library but would be even more
valuable in a KS2 class library. Gray-Barnett’s
illustrations will draw children in and then Coelho’s
poems will captivate them. The more I look at this
book the more use I can see for it, from its intended
purpose as a how-to and source book for
performance poetry, to drawing on the poems as
models for children’s own work.
This is a very diverse collection, covering many
topics relevant to the KS2 curriculum, such as
space, the contents of pencil cases, magic and
wonder at night, movement of traffic from the city
to the countryside, and even puzzle poems. There
are great models throughout for children’s own
116 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

The best new non-fiction
for your library
Books for
making new
discoveries
5+
7+
8+
9+
A look at the jobs people
do and how they help
to make our lives safer,
cleaner and happier
An introduction to the
different instruments
in an orchestra,
produced in association
with the LSO
A fun, quirky science
book that tackles the
questions other books
are afraid to ask!
This book embarks on
20 epic expeditions
alongside real-life
explorer Levison Wood
5+
9+
9+ 9+
Books to
inspire
young
eco-activists
An approachable look at
climate change, with ideas
of fun ways to help keep
Planet Earth happy
An accessible guide for
children on how they can
help the United Nations
to save the world
This book celebrates the
eco-heroes around the
world who are building a
better tomorrow
Everything kids need
to know about climate
change and what they
can do to help combat it
Books to
promote
a positive
mindset
7+
9+
9+
9+
Out in
Sept
This book is full of tips
to help children think
positively and achieve
a growth mindset
A mental health toolkit
for children with 12
simple steps to build
happiness
A guide to the life skills
that will keep kids cool,
calm and collected in the
modern world
A groundbreaking,
practical book to help
kids develop their
inner condence
Find free posters, activities and author videos at
hachetteschools.co.uk

Poetry & Plays
work, on the pages Objects with Voices, Say How
You Feel and the riddles.
Teachers wanting to do something different for
their class assembly could do no better than
getting some of these poems on their feet and
adding a range of movement and choral speaking
elements. This is the strength and uniqueness of
this collection that throughout there are tips and
advice about different ways to perform each poem
and also technical information such as crescendos,
with a poem written specifically for this purpose
‘Turn The Radio Up’. In my mixed KS2 class I
taught a session on homophones using the ‘Chilly
Chilli’ fridge poem.
This is truly a delightful, inspiring and diverse
collection that any KS2 teacher would go back to
again and again, and that children could use
independently for their own pleasure. Highly
recommended.
Ingrid Spencer
Cookson, Paul
There’s a Crocodile in the House
Illustrated by Liz Million
Otter-Barry Books, 2020, pp96, £6.99
978 1 91307 400 5
The performance poet specialist,
Paul Cookson, hits the spot once
again with this collection of
poems on a wide variety of
subjects. From the Crocodile of
the title to Pirates to Welly
Boots and quite a few mentions
of bottoms – which will cause
great delight in classrooms everywhere.
There is a selection of poems where we encounter
some strange animals such as the Warty Hog, the
Chimpanzeel and the Gorillama. Some of the
poems have appeared in previous collections, so if
you are a fan you may well find poems you have
already come across. However, for many of the
poems in this collection there are suggestions for
audience participation which is a useful addition.
The illustrations by Liz Million definitely add some
visual stimulus to the ideas in the poems and will
amuse the reader and provide prompts for
discussion. This book is a great way of getting
children involved with the poems, responding to
the words and having fun.
Brenda Heathcote
Donaldson, Julia
Chariots and Champions
Illustrated by Thomas Docherty
Hodder, 2019, pp48, £12.99
978 1 44494 131 9
This play is based on true events and is essentially
about the Roman Emperor Claudius but starts out
in early 20th century Britain in a village by a river.
Arthur is playing at the river’s edge when he finds
a metal head. He is excited to show it to his friend
Gertie. Although Arthur and Gertie decide that it
looks really tatty so they decide to paint it with a
pot of white paint they have lying around.
We then jump back in time to the Roman Emperor
Claudius, where we find him planning to invade
Britain. The book covers a few of the Emperors of
Rome as it takes several decades into account. We
also learn of the tribes who marched the Romans
out of Britain. The play ends in 1965 at Southerly’s
Auction House where the bust that Gertie and
Arthur found is finally sold for a large amount of
money.
This play is written with lots of different parts that
would work well in a classroom and the book
gives you clear information about how large or
small the part will be, that would help if you have
students who are not confident with acting as you
can tailor the part to the student’s ability.
At the back of this well written story is
information about staging and costume, and this
would be a good way to get a class into Roman
history as well as acting a short play.
This book is also beautifully illustrated and would
interest younger students who would enjoy
looking at the pictures.
Elain Burchell
Gittins, Chrissie
Sharp Hills
Indigo Dreams Publishing, 2019, pp86, £9.99
978 1 912876 17 4
This collection opens with ‘Dancing in Silchar’, a
sequence of poems arising from a journey across
India in which the poet re-traces her father’s
experiences during the Second World War. The
variety of responses ranges from advice to the
traveller: ‘There is only so much insect repellent,
sunscreen and Antisan repellent you can spread
across your body’, to impressions of the country,
accounts of travel and research, and a vivid
reconstruction of a Christmas Dinner at an air
base in 1943. India and points East recur in the
rest of the collection, both formally, with
celebrations of painting and music, and
unexpectedly, as when a loquat tree is seen in a
garden beside the South Circular, among
‘lumbering buses and ranks of council marigolds’.
Location is an important theme, as is food, with
some wonderfully sensual descriptions:
‘strawberries hung in their syrup /like air balloons
in a red sky’.
As in the opening section, the variety of
approaches and tones throughout continues to
surprise and delight: one moment, we are smiling
at the ‘needful inner life of birds’ who ‘must shit
on the French windows of the artist as she looks
out to sea’, and the next caught up in a haunting
account of the letters between Professor Heger
and Charlotte Brontë, considering the effect on
those who found them. Other artists are
celebrated throughout. There is a lovely memoriam
to Helen Dunmore, while elsewhere, Donizetti and
Bach inspire, Pisarro is invoked and W.H. Auden
gets married in the Ledbury Tesco. We visit an
apology lab, an unconscious room and a ‘hot
renal waiting room’, and travel to Clevedon for
fish and chips. All of this can only give a flavour of
the consistently engaging variety of what is
contained in this collection, evocative and
surprising, thought-provoking and often moving.
Frank Startup
Stevenson, Anne
Completing the Circle
Bloodaxe Books, 2020, pp80, £10.99
978 1 78037 498 7
This remarkable collection closes
with a sonnet written on the
poet’s 85th birthday in which, as
‘a bewildered survivor facing up
to the realities of time’, she
looks ‘from the tower of years I
call my life’ across memories of
people, places and events to
youth and childhood, a time when ‘old is an age
that doesn’t need to be’. The poems are prefaced
by a fascinating essay in which she gives a lucid,
frank account of her intentions, how some of the
poems came to be written, the process of
compilation and ideas about the nature of art and
poetry. She writes, here and throughout the
collection, about the joy – and frustrations – of
writing, and the importance of art, which ‘has to
triumph over experience or all will be lost.’
The poems between the preface and the
summation are, without exception, relevant to us
all, regardless of age: trenchant, forceful,
sometimes witty, sometimes sombre, in a wide
variety of forms and with a direct honesty which
can be startling. In ‘An Old Poet’s View from the
Platform’, a title which speaks volumes about her
general approach, she tells us ‘I can’t like poems
that purposely muddy the waters, confuse in order
to impress’. She wants clarity which avoids the
simplistic, and that is what she gives, from
religious fanatics ‘Crazed by Faith, they named it
Truth’, to some powerful reflections on ‘Poppy
Day’ and its symbolism. There is a lyrical response
to Richard Dawkins, memories of and tributes to
past friends, a beautiful memory of Fleur Adcock
with the injunction that a poet should ‘For first
and last things, trust to poetry. Then, for a lifestyle,
choose simplicity’, and even a thank-you
note to her dentist. There are two long narrative
poems which exemplify the form.
Whatever your age, there is something on every
page to make you think, gasp, and, at times,
wince, from the aphoristic ‘Life is too short to
drink bad poetry or read bad wine’, a ‘turnabout
of terms’ which is explained with great humour, to
the bluntly reflective ‘age is an inconvenient
foreign country we never thought would
inconvenience us.’ I cannot recommend this
beautiful collection highly enough.
Frank Startup
118 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

12–16 Fiction
Abercrombie, Lou
Fig Swims the World
Stripes, 2020, pp352, £7.99
978 1 78895 153 1
A wonderful, feel-good story
with some cartoonish characters
that nonetheless sweeps the
reader along.
Fig’s mother is a ‘tiger mom’
whose expectations have
produced a daughter who feels
fearful of everything. For a New Year’s Resolution
Fig makes a private one; to swim one swimming
race on six different continents during a year.
Without her mother knowing. From being barely
able to climb into a pool, she runs away while on
holiday and succeeds in her mission. The whole
premise feels unbelievable from the beginning but
as Fig joins a swimming club, is supported by the
friends she makes and starts with a small, local
race, the reader begins to be won over. With all
her safety precautions in place and endless lists
for budgets, plans and travel, Fig’s adventure
becomes a more realistic proposition.
Having the older generation as the friends who
support her balanced the story well by giving
some more subtle characterisation and depth,
something the story lacks in places. Her father,
mother and The Boss were a little too cartoonish
for my liking and began to grate. Fig, however, is
a delight. Fig’s tone is joyful, amusing and often
melodramatic, catching hold of our sympathies
and dragging us with her. A thoroughly enjoyable
read, about strong women and finding your
independence.
Rachel Ayers-Nelson
Akala
The Dark Lady
Hodder, 2020, pp336, £12.99
978 1 444 94369 6
In Elizabethan London, life is not easy for the
poor, but Henry also must deal with racism and
prejudice. Abandoned by his mother, the
eponymous Dark Lady, for mysterious reasons, he
is brought up by Joan, a witch with strong
powers, and relies on pickpocketing with his stepcousins
for his survival. But Henry has magical
powers of his own, he can translate books into
any language, and when a burglary goes wrong
this will save and transform his life, but also put
him in a position where he will need to question
his loyalties.
Akala’s debut YA novel is a mix of historical fiction
and magical fantasy. Inspired by Shakespeare’s
‘Dark Lady’ sonnets, it brings to life a brutal and
ruthless society. Akala does not shy away from
graphic details, such as a description of animals
fighting to the death for entertainment. However,
the message about race and prejudice is one that
will resonate with a lot of young people today.
Despite its size, and the use of simplified
Elizabethan slang, The Dark Lady is a fast read.
The language can be lyrical at times, and the
narrative is interspersed with sonnets that Henry
makes up in his head, but there is plenty of action
and suspense to keep the reader going. The
ending is obviously set up for a sequel, and there
are a few loose ends which, I suspect, will be
dealt with in subsequent instalments.
Agnès Guyon
Alexander, K. R.
The Collector
Scholastic, 2020, pp304, £5.99
978 0 70230 056 1
This is a genuinely creepy story for young fans of
supernatural horror. Josie and her young sister
Anna have been taken by their mother to live in
their Grandma’s house near some dark woods.
Grandma has three rules – 1. Never leave the
windows open after dark, 2. No dolls in the
house, 3. Never, ever go by the house in the
woods. Josie feels lonely and friendless at her new
school until she meets Vanessa who lives with her
mysterious aunt in a house in the woods. Josie
and Anna begin to have strange, frightening
dreams about a dark house and dolls and they
both hear voices calling them from the woods. The
sinister mystery deepens when kids start going
missing. When Josie accepts Vanessa’s invitation
to visit her house, she finds that it is filled with a
huge, frightening collection of dolls. The tension
ratchets up as Josie fights the evil inside the
house. Gripping stuff – but not for the fainthearted.
Nigel Hinton
Bradford, Chris
The Return of the Warrior (Young
Samurai)
Puffin, 2019, pp384, £6.99
978 0 141 37416 1
Jack Fletcher returns to an England he left seven
years before, to be reunited with his younger
sister, Jess. During the intervening years he has
become an accomplished samurai warrior,
following the shipwreck of their trading vessel on
the coast of Japan and the death of his father. Life
has been a series of extreme challenges as he
fought his way across Japan, pursued by samurai
and ninja alike.
Now Jack is keen to show his home city of
London to his companions, Akiko, female samurai,
and Yori, a young monk. But the city in 1616 is
very different to that which he remembers, with
the trio assaulted on all sides, not just from the
dangers which lurk in the streets, but from
suspicion of strangers and rumours of killer
12 to 16
shadows. From the moment they disembark from
their ship, Jack, Akiko and Yori are swept into a
maelstrom of adventure, from fighting a duel to
escaping the hangman and fleeing the city when
they discover that Jess is missing. Their search for
her takes them to Stratford-upon-Avon, where
Jack must face enemies old and new.
In a gripping, fast-moving adventure, full of twists
and turns, readers will learn a great deal about
life in 17th century England alongside the
Japanese warrior code. Chris Bradford is skilled at
martial arts and samurai swordsmanship which
brings a thrilling authenticity to his writing. This is
the ninth book in the Young Samurai series but
can be read as a standalone, with Jack’s previous
adventures referenced throughout to give
background to the story and entice those
encountering the young warrior for the first time
to seek out the rest.
Jayne Gould
Brueggemann, Wibke
Love is for Losers
Macmillan, 2020, pp508, £7.99
978 1 5290 3372 4
Love is for Losers is exactly the
book everyone needs right now.
Witty, light, clever and
absolutely absorbing.
Phoebe is suffering the loss of
her BFF to a boyfriend, and she
doesn’t hold back as she tells
her diary (us) how disgusted she is. Polly doesn’t
even wish her a Happy New Year (a fact
mentioned throughout the book). Of course,
Phoebe is no stranger to abandonment and
disappointment, with a dead father and a mother
who spends 90% of her time dashing around the
world saving people in various natural disaster
and war zones.
Despite the kind of sharp humour that makes you
laugh aloud, this has a deft touch when it comes
to the deeper issues faced by Phoebe. Her
burgeoning romance with Emma, worries about
her mother’s safety, curiosity about her father and
his family (does she have grandparents
somewhere?), not to mention everything
happening at the charity shop and with the
designer cats, make for a hilarious and beautifully
observed book sure to be snapped up by young
(14+) readers.
Helen Thompson
Bushnell, Candace and Cotugno,
Katie
Rules for Being a Girl
Macmillan, 2020, pp304, £7.99
978 1 5290 3608 4
At the start of this novel, Marin and her best
friend Chloe are both a bit smitten by their
charismatic English teacher, ‘Bex’. He gets on
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 119

12 to 16
easily with all his students and supports the girls
as they edit the school newspaper, the Beacon.
Marin’s view of the world is quite clear: she
unthinkingly stereotypes Gray Kendall as a jock,
and Deanna as ‘slutty’. Her clarity starts to blur
when her teacher offers her a ride home; this
involves a stop at his house where he kisses her.
The confusion she feels is skilfully explored:
should she report the incident? Should she tell
her parents? Was she somehow to blame, did she
give the wrong signals? What if she is responsible
for ruining the teacher’s life?
The book really gets to the heart of how difficult
it is for young women to make sense of this kind
of violation, and to reframe the way they navigate
their path. It brilliantly explores the seeds of
doubt which girls are prey to, and the way
predators exploit these. I particularly enjoyed the
second half of the novel where Marin starts to see
and challenge the school structures – the absence
of women writers on the English syllabus; the
head humiliating Deanna over the length of her
skirt; the lack of support for the girls’ sports
teams. Marin reacts by writing a powerful
editorial – ‘Rules for Being a Girl’ which brilliantly
lays out the contradictions women face: ‘Be flirty,
but not too flirty. Be confident but not aggressive.
Be funny, but in a low-key way...’ Her English
teacher retaliates by failing her essay, and then
blocking her university application. It’s a tough
time, but a time of discovery – that Gray (who has
two mothers) is thoughtful; that her conventionalseeming
grandmother had been arrested for civil
rights protests; that she has never considered
what life is like for outsiders. This is a great book,
so important for our time. It will be really helpful
to many youngsters grappling with the
complexities of ‘being a girl’.
Sophie Smiley
Charlton, Darren
Wranglestone
Stripes, 2020, pp384, £7.99
978 1 78895 121 0
We are told on the flyleaf of this
book that the author, Darren
Charlton, has ‘lifetime obsessions
with the National Parks of
America, horror, film music, and
80s kids’ music’, and it shows.
The main character in the story,
Peter, lives on an island in a lake, tucked in
between the Great Glacier to the north and the
Shark Tooth mountains of the south. The island is
a refuge built by the National Park Escape
Programme. The post-apocalyptic setting of the
book is sustained and the evocation of the wilder
parts of the USA is vivid. There is a sensitively
drawn and beautifully presented love affair; no
reader of this book will lightly use the word ‘gay’
as a term of abuse. The horror elements in the
book will appeal to some readers, just as they will
turn others off. This is an unusual book, with a
graphic storyline that will appeal to readers in the
middle secondary school who have fairly robust
tastes in fiction.
Martin Axford
Christo, Alexandra
Into the Crooked Place
Hot Key Books, 2019, pp496, £7.99
978 1 47140844 1
Tavia survives Creije, a bleak
cityscape fuelled by magic, by
busking, trickery and selling
magical wares on behalf of the
ambitious local crime
underboss and once close
friend Wesley. Her dream is to
earn her freedom and a better
life, but instead she and Wesley get caught up in
a sequence of events that reveals a plot by the
shadowy Kingpin overlord Ashwood to destroy all
the realms by channelling a new form of dark
magic.
Surprisingly Tavia discovers that Wesley wants
power but not at the price Ashwood wants his
beloved city to pay and he suggests a bold
countermove. To save the city and their world, the
duo form an alliance with Tavia’s friend Saxony, a
magical Crafter in hiding and out to avenge her
family, and deadly Karam, a warrior and Wesley’s
bodyguard. All agree to journey across the land to
seek Ashwood’s secret lair and prevent him
amplifying his power on the night of the shadow
moon.
As they trek across the land, the quartet of antiheroes
constantly bicker and trade insults as they
go but there is an undercurrent of strong
emotions and desires being reignited. Through the
narrative told from all four perspectives we
become intrigued as we gain an insight into what
motivates or in some cases even haunts them to
be part of this desperate mission. When the
confrontation comes and battle begins, it all
comes down to trust and sacrifice and the
surprising twist at the end for one of the
characters leaves much unresolved and sets the
scene nicely for the next book and battles to
come in this dark fantasy duology City of Spells.
Sue Polchow
Corcoran, Helen
Queen of Coin and Whispers
O’Brien Press, 2020, pp464, £11.99
978 1 78849 118 1
When untested young queen, Lia, inherits her
uncle’s bankrupt kingdom, she finds herself in
need of a Spymaster who she can trust. Enter
Xania, a sparky commoner whose father may
have been murdered by the kingdom she has now
been asked to serve. Faced with political danger
and enemies at every turn, Lia and Xania must
decide what they will sacrifice for their country,
and as their feelings grow, for each other. Will
duty and power tear them apart, or bring them
together?
The young adult fantasy market is notoriously
crowded, and it can be hard to find anything that
stands out – especially where the subject matter
concerns young queens, grand castles and
political plots. However, Corcoran’s novel feels
fresh due to her cast of predominantly female
characters and a really sweet, well-written
romance between Lia and Xania. The setting
Corcoran has created is distinctive – patriarchal
structures don’t exist as they often seem to in
many fantasy worlds, and LGBT+ relationships are
accepted by the whole of society. The freedom
from gender-based discrimination and the
resulting feminist feeling this book has is really
refreshing.
Featuring an unpredictable plot, a girl who loves
code breaking, good old-fashioned treason and
just a touch of murder, Queen of Coin and
Whispers is another entertaining addition to the
YA fantasy treasure chest.
Sammie Boon
Doherty, Berlie
Deep Secret
Andersen, 2020, pp368, £7.99
978 1 7834 4902 6
This latest publication from an acclaimed and
prize-winning writer will not disappoint her many
admirers. It is a novel which can be highly
recommended on so many levels; a readable and
gripping storyline which also engages with such
elemental issues as bereavement, the problems
attendant on old age, physical disability, and its
compensating awareness. The idea of ‘mirroring’
is a pervasive motif throughout the narrative: one
sister being the mirror image of the other. Certain
scenes/incidents are quite unforgettable as, for
example, the row between two teenage boys, the
details of which are reversed when they meet up
later during active service in Afghanistan. Again
we see it worked out beautifully and poignantly in
the heroine’s gradual emergence from grief being
reflected in nature’s spring-time resurgence.
Doherty brilliantly captures the complexities of
having to leave a place that you love. Her book is
based on a young girl grieving the death of her
twin sister while her community is being evicted
from the homes they have lived in for years. The
way she presents relationships during these
troubled times is what makes the novel such a
moving read. Using evocative language, she turns
tragic events such as the loss of a sibling and the
destruction of homes into a compelling story. She
describes feelings of love, jealousy and despair by
connecting them with a common theme – the
fear of change. This novel is redolent with the
most beautiful and compelling storytelling just like
the Derbyshire valley where two young twins used
to live.
Elizabeth Finlayson and Catherine Balfour
120 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

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12 to 16
Drewery, Kerry
The Last Paper Crane
Illustrated by Natsko Seki
Hot Key, 2020, pp304, £7.99
978 1 47140 847 2
Mizuki’s beloved grandfather,
Ichiro, is depressed and
desperate. ‘I’m a bad person,’ he
tells his grandson, and then
begins to narrate the story of
what happened to him when he
was 17. The atomic bomb
exploded over Hiroshima. He was terribly injured
but struggling through the ruined, smoking city he
finds himself in charge of his best friend’s fiveyear-old
sister, Keiko. Eventually he is forced to
leave her, promising that he’ll come back to get
her. Four weeks later he wakes in a Tokyo hospital
and becomes racked with guilt at having broken
his promise. Nearly 70 years later, Mizuki tries to
help Ichiro find Keiko.
This is an important, well written and sobering
book that will teach many young people about
the horror of Hiroshima. It will shock them if they
previously knew nothing about the event because
it is realistically graphic and gruelling in its
description of the aftermath of an atomic
explosion. It is a terrible reminder of what
happened and, despite the positive ending, it is
the details of injuries and the total chaos that
linger in one’s mind.
Nigel Hinton
Duffy, Malcolm
Sofa Surfer
Zephyr, 2020, pp320, £10.99
978 1 786697 66 0
15-year-old Tyler is furious when
his parents decide to move the
family from London to a quiet,
Yorkshire town. With no friends,
little money and nothing to do,
he faces a long and boring
summer holiday. When strange,
skinny Spider offers to pay him to teach her to
swim things start to look up. But Spider has
secrets Tyler has never even considered and
meeting her will change more than just his
summer holiday.
Sofa Surfer is a touching, relevant story of the
hidden homeless. Through no fault of her own
Spider has no family, security or home; when she’s
lucky someone will offer her a sofa for the night,
when she’s not she must sleep on the streets.
Sadly, not everyone is as understanding or
sympathetic to her situation as she or Tyler might
hope.
Through Tyler’s eyes adolescent readers have the
opportunity to learn about and empathise with
the hidden homeless, while reflecting on the
everyday comforts most of us are lucky enough to
take for granted. Duffy’s writing is touching,
considerate and illuminating, carefully avoiding
negative stereotypes or unrealistic rescues.This is
a fast-paced story with real heart that will leave
all readers ever-changed. A must for all school
libraries.
Amy McKay
Fountain, Ele
Lost
Pushkin Press, 2020, pp192, £7.99
978 1 78269 255 3
Lola and Amrit seem to have the good life; they
may only have one servant Mila, not six like Lola‘s
best friend Bella who lives in the new expensive
part of town. But Mila is kind, father is loving,
and although there is just the three of them,
things seem good in their shiny large new
apartment. What the children don’t know is that
their father’s business is struggling. Because of
this secret, he ventures out on a buying trip in a
terrible monsoon and doesn’t come home.
Resourceful Lola is able to keep herself and Amrit
fed and safe for two weeks although she
becomes increasingly anxious, described with
great sensitivity by author Ele Fountain. But the
father’s secret debts come home to roost and
after two weeks the children are evicted. Lola has
to quickly learn the habits of a street rat if she
and her brother are to survive. They are very
quickly robbed and cornered, and things only get
worse when in a crowd, Amrit is separated and
disappears. From this point the first-person novel
focuses on Lola and her attempts to find her
father and brother, and on the cautious friendship
that develops between her and an older homeless
child, Rafi.
This is a gritty novel but would be accessible to
skilled readers between eight and twelve if
parents and teachers felt that they were mature
enough to handle the themes, some scenes with
children being beaten and the suggestion of even
worse menaces that could befall a girl. Otherwise
it will be suitable for the younger end of the 12 to
16 age range. There is some very good writing
here for young people to enjoy and learn from as
a model, and it would be good chapter book to
read with a class in KS2 or KS3.
There is a universal message about what is truly
valuable in life. At the end of the novel the
children are reunited with their father who tells
them about their own mother whose family had
fallen from high status to the slums. All three of
them re-evaluate what is important in life, the
people they choose to be with and how they
choose to treat others around them, especially
those society treats as invisible.
The novel is set in an unnamed Indian city and
although written by a non-Indian it does seem
authentic, and respectful of aspects of Indian life.
The message about valuing others and what
makes for true happiness is relevant to all children
and I found this an affecting and powerful read.
Ele Fountain avoids a saccharine ending as Rafi is
injured and missing in the final chapter. However
Lola’s commitment to finding him and her newfound
understanding of the world gives the finale
a sense of hope and a better future.
Ingrid Spencer
Glines, Abbi
Making a Play
Simon & Schuster, 2019, pp320, £7.99
978 1 4711 8106 1
Pick-up trucks are the car of choice and American
Football reigns supreme in Making a Play, the
fifth book in Abbi Glines’ popular romantic series
for older readers.
Resident bad boy Ryker is enjoying his final year
of high school – he’s a star of the football team
and he has no shortage of female attention, but
everything changes when Aurora starts school
and the two of them spark an instant and intense
connection. Will their ability to communicate and
prejudice in their small Alabama town keep them
apart?
Aurora is deaf, and there is some interesting
exploration of how this influences the way people
treat her and how her relationship with Ryker
means they both have to learn new ways of
expressing themselves. I really enjoyed this
element of the story, which led to some genuinely
tender moments between the two main
characters. The inclusion of a more diverse and
representative cast of characters is a real plus
point, but it is unfortunate that the subplot
around Aurora’s Dad’s racism towards Ryker
(which is hinted at, but not properly introduced
until later in the book) falls flat, with the short
time-frame not really allowing for a nuanced
exploration of such an important topic.
Making a Play contains enough swooning and
soapy high school drama to satisfy existing lovers
of The Field Party series, but the somewhat
unfinished feeling and lack of depth may be
unlikely to attract any new die-hard fans.
Sammie Boon
Gomes, Nátalia
We Are Not Okay
HarperCollins, 2019, pp384, £7.99
978 0 00 829184 6
We Are Not Okay is a story about the issues
which both bring together and tear apart young
women in today’s society. The book focuses on
Lucy, Ulana, Trina and Sophia: four teenage girls
at the same school who seemingly have nothing
in common, but who are all secretly dealing with
issues that threaten to upend their lives.
The chapters are told from the different points of
view of each of the girls, allowing the reader to
gradually get to know each of the protagonists.
The chapter structure, chatty style of writing and
dramatic subject matter combine to make this a
122 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

compulsively readable book, but as the title
suggests, We Are Not Okay is certainly not a light
read. Tackling a range of complex and sensitive
topics including cyber-bullying, disordered eating
and consent, there is a lot to unpack in this book
and it would provide a number of good starting
points for discussion groups with older pupils.
Readers who have previously enjoyed books by
Cat Clarke and the Netflix adaption of Jay Asher’s
13 Reasons Why are likely to enjoy this tense and
hard-hitting novel.
Sammie Boon
Gonzales, Sophie
Only Mostly Devastated
Hodder, 2020, pp368, £7.99
978 1 44495 648 1
The author uses lots of nods to the original story
of Grease (even down to tiny details such as
dialogue) to keep fans hooked, but also adds
more to the basic storyline so it feels wellrounded
and fresh. For example, the storyline
about Will’s family and his aunt’s journey with
cancer, is just as important to the overall book as
the will they / won’t they get together love story.
This comes across as a light-hearted read, but
don’t be fooled – there are some deep themes
and issues running through and plenty of
emotional rollercoaster moments.
Very chatty and immediate colloquial style, honest
characterisation, with added flashbacks as well as
text message content, keeps the reader on their
toes. Contains a little swearing and mature
content but is not explicit and so suitable for
younger teenagers.
It is very American, but if you come to it knowing
it’s a new take on Grease, then that feels fine. You
don’t always think it will have a happy ending,
and sometimes you don’t even want it to, but
generally it is a hopeful book and isn’t too twee.
Great addition to your library for a large cast of
characters, LGBTQ+ diversity, fanfiction and
modern life romance.
Helen Swinyard
Grant, Neil
The Honeyman and the Hunter
Allen & Unwin, 2019, pp288, £7.99
978 1 91163 155 2
There are many instances of cultures mixing and
clashing and the fall-out from this is hard to
imagine for those who do not experience it. This
novel manages to take the reader into two
different worlds to imagine what it can feel like
for the young person involved.
Rudra is an Indian-Australian teenager, at a
crossroads. He works for his father, Cord, who is a
fisherman. His father comes across as controlling,
abusive and very distant. When Rudra’s
grandmother visits from India, he begins to learn
more about his mother’s early life, and this makes
him even angrier that she has allowed Cord to
bully and grind her down.
Rudra dredges up a long-hidden secret in his
father’s trawl net and it changes his life forever.
He leaves Australia behind and travels, with his
mother, to west Bengal. He discovers the reality of
dual heritage and starts to see his family from a
different perspective.
The author draws us into Rudra’s world of the
casual racism so common in many parts of the
world and the difficulty of feeling comfortable in a
dual-heritage situation.
He weaves folklore, fable and history into the
narrative; the depiction of both modern Australia
and India is superbly accomplished, and the
resolution of the story is satisfying. This is not an
easy read but it repays the effort – I really
enjoyed it.
Carolyn Copland
Halahmy, Miriam
Illegal
Troika, 2019, pp320, £7.99
978 1 909991 96 5
This is the second book in
Miriam Halahmy’s Hayling
Cycle series – a trilogy of
young adult books about
various characters who live on
the beautiful Hayling Island,
just off the east coast of
Portsmouth.
The story follows teen protagonist Libby Bellows,
whose family have turned to gambling and
alcohol in the wake of the devastating death of
baby Jemma. With options rapidly running out,
Libby finds herself entangled in a drug gang after
taking a job offered to her by her cousin. In way
over her head and without anyone to rely on,
Libby can’t see a way out that will end well for
anyone... that is until she meets a strange new
ally named Karl.
Illegal is different to anything I’ve read recently,
and has a gritty, realistic vibe that reminded me of
Melvin Burgess’s groundbreaking novel, Junk. A
tense and often poignant novel that excels at
exploring family relationships, grief and identity.
Sammie Boon
Hale, Lucretia P.
The Lady from Philadelphia
NYRB Kids, 2019, pp320, £10.99
978 1 68137 377 5
The Lady from Philadelphia: The Peterkin Papers is
the very entertaining story of the life and times of
the Peterkin family. Living on the east coast of the
USA, the Peterkins are a large, well-off and
somewhat chaotic family comprising Mr Peterkin,
Mrs Peterkin, and six children – Elizabeth Eliza,
12 to 16
Agamemnon, Solomon John and three little boys
(whose names are only occasionally used!). Mr
and Mrs Peterkin are a sociable but eccentric
couple who enjoy entertainment and travel but
encounter more mishaps than almost anyone
could imagine. Whenever life becomes too
confusing they always rely on their old friend, ‘The
Lady from Philadelphia’ for words of wisdom. As
their family grows up the children start to spread
their wings. As a special treat, the whole family
embarks on a cruise to Egypt, stopping at many
ports along the way and encountering numerous
adventures and mishaps. Small detailed black and
white illustrations throughout complement the
text.
Author Lucretia Peabody Hale was born in 1820
and grew up in a very distinguished Boston
family. She helped her publisher father with
editorials at The Boston Daily Advertiser. As a
woman with a mind of her own, in her twenties
she supported herself with her writing and
became the first woman member of the Boston
School Committee. Her wry and entertaining
commentaries have stood the test of time. The
Peterkin Papers were first published in 1880 and
have been republished numerous times. Spoiler
alert: as one might suspect the wise lady from
Philadelphia is Lucretia Hale herself.
Rosemary Woodman
Harcourt, Maggie
The Pieces of Ourselves
Usborne, 2020, pp448, £7.99
978 1 4749 4069 6
‘All the pieces that had to
move, all the stars that had to
align…’ for Flora and Hal to
find each other in this heartfelt
journey of romance, history and
mental health.
We follow Flora and Hal on
their discovering of a forgotten story that will
ultimately be the glue that binds them together.
Flora gives pieces of herself to the reader as we
discover about the last year of her life from the
‘incident’ at school to her diagnosis with bipolar
II. Then Hal comes to stay at the expensive hotel
that Flora works at. As a rich heir to his own hotel
chain, it seems this is his last chance to do
something for his beloved Grandfather. To
discover once and for all the truth about Albie
and Iris and what actually happened to them
during World War One.
As they slowly uncover the truth, together they
realise that we all have the ability to keep history
alive through names carved into a wooden post,
or a ribbon given to a loved one, to that last letter
that was never shared as the final act of true love.
By freeing this hidden past it allowed Flora to
open the door to her own future and know where
she is going.
Lucy Carlton-Walker
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 123

12 to 16
Kelly, Erin Entrada
Lalani of the Distant Sea
Piccadilly, 2020, pp416, £6.99
978 1 8484812 915 3
Lalani, a 12-year-old girl, on the brink of teenage
experience, suffering conflicting emotions, finally
leaves an unhappy home. She embarks, in a stolen
boat, on a strange voyage to forbidden islands to
the north. She overcomes dangerous challenges
and meets creatures and plants which animate
themselves in her presence. The background is
remorselessly concerned with death – for many
fishermen and indeed her own father have
drowned – illness and suffering. The story
compensates for this preoccupation with the host
of fanciful but enlightening encounters she
experiences. She gradually makes her way back to
her own island of Sanlagita. She finds village life
has completely changed in her absence and
embraced a new way of living. The stifling
traditions particularly those embedded in the
former annual celebration of Sailing Day have
disappeared. The new emphasis is on living in
harmony with nature and natural resources. This is
an inventive and challenging story which reflects
many topical themes in a brilliantly ambitious and
imaginative way.
Wendy Axford
Noelle, Marisa
The Unadjusteds
Write Plan, 2019, pp414, £10.99
978 1 948115 03 2
On first glance, this book looks like the latest
handiwork of the likes of Suzanne Collins or Teri
Terry or L. A. Weatherly. It radiates all the clever,
prevailing markings of gritty, dystopian teen fiction.
But readers may be surprised to find that The
Unadjusteds is written by an unknown voice and
debut author, Marisa Noelle. Naturally, this is a
pleasant surprise as it is one that excites with the
anticipation of what world this incredible writer
will craft next.
Silver lives in a place where 80% of the population
has modified their DNA. Most people take Nanites
in order to take on some kind of physical or mental
enhancement that can be used to further careers
and, sometimes, relationships. Some people grow
wings; some take on healing powers. But taking
the drug could easily kill you if you react badly to
it. Silver knows this all too well and so lives as an
Unadjusted. But when President Bear announces
that everyone must become an Altered, some flee
the city and try to hide. Silver leaves with her
father and they explore the woods for a secret
hideaway. But when her father is kidnapped, Silver
goes on a mission to try to find him and
potentially, save the world.
This is a well-crafted adventure story that really
does have it all, romance, revolt and brilliant
characterisation. Silver is a plucky and convincing
protagonist; Noelle’s quality writing means that
the people around Silver are always individuals
and are purposeful. Matt is the only character that
seems lacking and I can’t help shake off the
constant feeling that Silver could do better.
However, this book’s success is partly down to the
fact that it doesn’t fall into the trap of being
completely predictable or clichéd. Rather, it has a
winning premise and assortment of exciting plot
twists that give a wide scope to a superb sequel.
Claire Warren
Owen, David
Grief Angels
Atom, 2020, pp320, £7.99
978 0 349 00342 9
This memorable novel is about grief, teenage
angst, friendship and letting go of the past. Owen
Marlow has moved to a new town with his mother
after his father’s sudden death. He meets Duncan,
another 15-year-old boy, and is drawn into his
circle of friends who have known each other from
primary school. Owen is wrestling with a
distressing mixture of love and hatred towards his
dead, emotionally abusive father, while Duncan’s
friends are trying to deal with the changing nature
of their relationships in the confusing time
between boyhood and adulthood. The world of
teenage boys and the way in which they use
macho posturing, sexual jokes and boasting to
cover up insecurities and vulnerability is accurately
and touchingly portrayed. Running alongside this,
is a kind of fantasy quest world which Owen
enters when he is periodically snatched away from
reality by the grief angels of the title. These
hallucinatory episodes require Owen to perform
various acts connected with souls passing from
one world to another. The episodes are haunting
and well done and can be seen as Owen coming
to terms with what he feels about his father’s
death. Confusingly, though, because of Owen’s
actual disappearances from the real world during
these episodes it is not clear if we are meant to
believe they happen or are metaphorical. All this
sits somewhat uneasily alongside the realistic
depiction of the teenage boys coming to terms
with the new dynamics of the group. However, this
is an ambitious piece of work which will intrigue
and challenge sophisticated readers.
Nigel Hinton
Ralph, Vincent
Are You Watching?
Penguin, 2020, pp384, £7.99
978 0 241 36742 1
Jess’s mum was murdered by a serial killer when
she was only 7 years old and he continues to kill
10 years later. Now 17, Jess is determined to bring
the killer to justice by spreading her story and
luring him out of the shadows. She plans to
achieve this by joining a reality series where she is
filmed all day once a week. She uses her
newfound fame to contact victims’ families and
taunt the killer, but her safety behind the camera
becomes uncertain when creepy things start
happening to her. This tense page turner of a
book, great for ages 14+, would be perfect for
fans of YA murder mysteries and thrillers such as
One of Us is Lying and A Good Girl’s Guide to
Murder.
Emily Kindregan
Weston, Kate
Diary of a Confused Feminist
Hodder, 2020, pp384, £7.99
978 1 444 95504 0
Fifteen-year-old Kat doesn’t just want to be a good
feminist, she wants to be the best feminist that she
can be. Only trouble is, she’s a bit confused with
how to go about actually doing that. As she’s about
to find out, being ‘a good feminist’ is trickier than
she ever imagined. Written in a fun and engaging
diary format, Kat’s awkward and often laugh-outloud
tale of self-discovery is essentially a Louise
Rennison book for the Instagram generation.
Touching on everything from periods to school
plays, contouring to bullying, anxiety and
depression to a spot of #TimesUp activism, this
book is infinitely funny, surprisingly moving and fills
a real gap in the market for comedy about, and for,
teenage girls. Fans of Holly Bourne will not want to
miss this one.
Sammie Boon
White, Kierstin
Slayer
pp416, 978 1 47117 899 3
Chosen (Slayer)
pp368, 978 1 47118 327 0
Simon & Schuster, 2020, £7.99
Slayer is set a few years after Buffy season 7 and
follows the last remaining Watcher families after
most of them were murdered by The First. The
main character, Nina, has grown up in the Watcher
castle, and has always been told to stay away from
conflict and combat while her sister Artemis trains
like a warrior. Everything changes when Nina
suddenly becomes a Slayer and must learn how to
use her newfound powers. The first book in the
duology follows Nina coming to terms with her
new identity and fighting her first villain. The
second book is a dual narrative, switching between
Artemis and Nina, as they fight both with each
other and against the next big threat.
The author provides background information so
readers who haven’t seen the series will be able to
understand the basics of the Buffyverse. However,
there are many references to events from the
series and character appearances that only fans
would be able to appreciate. These books are a
more PG version of Buffy, they do not have any of
the sex or gore of the series, and very little
swearing so would be suitable for ages 12+.
Emily Kindregan
124 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

Information
Hawking, Stephen and Hawking,
Lucy
Unlocking the Universe
Illustrated by Jan Bielecki
Puffin, 2020, pp432, £14.99
978 0 241 41532 0
Are you confused by quarks,
perplexed by photons, dazed
by Dark Matter or baffled by
the Big Bang theory? Billed by
Puffin as ‘the ultimate
children’s guide to space, time
and everything in between’, this book will help all
readers of inquiring minds with those great
quandaries about life – how do we exist, how
was life formed on earth, what’s really out there
in space, the science behind time travel theory,
aeronautics, astronomy, planetary exploration,
what’s happening to our climate, futuristic
technologies, robotics and much more.
Compiled by Stephen and Lucy Hawking as a
fitting finale to their popular George’s Secret Key
to the Universe series which served as a code
cracker for complex concepts. For Lucy it is the
realisation of her father’s goal, who ‘realised how
important it was to talk about the work he did in
ways that people could understand.’ Her intention
is to enhance the understanding of Science,
Technology, Mathematics and Engineering in
schools by using arts-based learning as a conduit.
Here, she has carefully curated all the insightful
essays from the previous volumes into a
cornucopia of astounding answers about our everchanging
universe. This is enhanced by new
explorations of vital topics for the 21st Century –
the ethics of Artificial Intelligence, internet security,
3D printing, genetics, computers and driverless
cars. It also includes a particularly apt essay from
Nitya Kapadia, a young climate change activist,
urging readers to stop and think about
deforestation, harmful energy sources and
pollution. As she cautions, ‘it is imperative that we
take action now.’
The Hawkings’ seventh book is also designed
with visual learners and navigation for readers in
mind. It contains seven detailed chapters which
can be read in chronological order. Alternatively,
budding scientists can dip into sections that
cover topics that they are particularly curious
about. Packed with eye catching illustrations
from Jan Bielecki, informative diagrams and
statistics, coloured photographic inserts that
show the latest discoveries including an image of
a Black Hole (courtesy of NASA), biographies of
important scientific theorists throughout history
such as Galileo, Einstein, Planck, and Watson and
Crick, summaries of key hypotheses and useful
‘find out more’ page markers guiding the reader
onwards, it is an accessible must have for any
school library and a great learning tool for
science classes. It will appeal to adults just as
much as teens. There is also an index and
glossary for further elucidation.
Tanja Jennings
Maddox, Dr Lucy
What is Mental Health? Where Does
it Come From? And Other Big Questions
Wayland, 2020, pp48, £13.99
978 1 5263 1113 9
Colourful, clear and easy to read, this book
provides a sympathetic introduction to mental
health issues. With definitions and descriptions of
negative states of mind and many anecdotal
accounts, reassurance and hope are offered to
readers. Winston Churchill often suffered from
paralysing despair and depression, referring to it
as his ‘black dog’, which sometimes went away.
He dreaded it returning. In this book the author
states, puzzlingly, that Winston Churchill described
his low moods as being like a black dog. This book
may well provide a starting point for young people
suffering mental trauma and it might encourage
them to realise that they are not alone and that
help is there for them if they need it. Are mental
health problems normal? Why do many people
find it difficult to talk about mental health issues?
As well as children experiencing difficult emotions,
this book will help young people who simply want
to know more about this troubling and
widespread concern.
Alison Hurst
Marshall, Tim
Prisoners of Geography: Our World
Explained in 12 Simple Maps
Illustrated by Grace Easton and Jessica Smith
Simon & Schuster, 2019, pp80, £16.99
978 1 78396 413 0
This is an abridged picture-book
version of the original but crams
a huge amount of information
into its large pages. Each chapter
on a continent begins with a
double-page map. Each map is
fully annotated and labelled. There is a short
introduction and additional fact boxes. The map is
followed by between one to three pages focusing
in on particular issues. Africa looks at geographical
problems, rivers, colonial history and Africa Today.
The Middle East chapter has additional pages on
oil reserves and political history.
Beautifully presented, the mock hand-written text
occasionally takes a bit more effort to read. There
is no index, but the detailed contents page and
format just about gets away with it.
Recommended for Geographers but also anyone
interested in International Relations, Politics and
World Affairs. It will pair up well in the school
library with its full-text counterpart.
Rachel Ayers-Nelson
12 to 16
Rudkin, Dr Angharad and Fitzgerald,
Ruth
Find your Girl Squad
Illustrated by Sarah Jennings
Wren & Rook, 2020, pp160, £7.99
978 1 5263 6250 6
The makers of this book have tried very hard to
make this advice book trendy and relevant with
buzz words such as bounce-back ability, cartoon
style drawings, diverse characters and diary-style
nods. Even the book’s shape has rounded corners
like a personal diary or journal. A quick flick shows
a diversity in page styles with different friendly
fonts and drawings in the vein of Pichon, Kinney
or Russell. The two writers have invented a girl
called Poppy, whom they talk to on the
‘Poppycam’ to observe her life and friendship
issues, which they then use to offer advice and to
show that the problems a reader may be having
with their friends are not theirs alone. However,
hiding underneath this, in essence is basic
empowerment advice about being your own
person and learning to understand, but not always
agree with, other people. While the advice is
sensible and universal, I think the book will date
and so it’s definitely one for getting into the
isolation room, advice corner or reluctant readers’
hands, and not worrying too much about the
condition it is returned in, for its permanent
collection value. There is also a substantial index,
but the book is not sectioned or designed for topic
reading – more for someone to re-read a section
as necessary. This is narrative non-fiction.
Helen Swinyard
Whipple, Tom
Physics (Get Ahead In)
Illustrated by James Davies
Walker, 2020, pp208, £7.99
978 1 4063 8824 4
Why flag this book up as a GCSE revision guide
when it really is not? These days, revision for GCSE
involves doing past papers, learning facts and
formulae, and knowing where the marks are
awarded.
Get Ahead in Physics is a quirky, light-hearted
approach to some of the key elements of physics
including background information about scientists.
Eight chapters divide the content and each
concentrates on a specific area of interest: energy,
electricity, waves for example. An anecdotal style
interspersed with funny cartoons help to illustrate
the topics and at the end of each chapter is a
‘What you need to know’ and ‘What you don’t
need to know but might like to’ page…again
highlighting the irrelevance of the sub-title. The
book is indexed.
The bright red cover is bold and might attract
interest on the shelf but in my experience very few
GCSE students would read a book like this. It is
more likely to attract 11–14 pupils (and probably
mostly boys unfortunately) but then the subject
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 125

16 to 19
matter may be too advanced for them to
understand.
I can imagine that the author is really keen to
convey his enthusiasm for what can often be seen
as a dull or inaccessible subject but, sadly, I do
not think this book will be well read. It may,
however, serve as a resource book for physics
teachers keen to develop schemes of work with a
new angle.
Janet Sims
16 to 19
Hussey, William
Hideous Beauty
Usborne Publishing, 2020, pp336, £7.99
978 1 47496 617 7
A page-turning thriller and an LGBTQ+ coming
out story with a difference, Hideous Beauty tells
the heartbreaking story of geeky teenager Dylan
and his romance with the newly arrived,
handsome, charismatic Ellis. It moves backwards
and forwards between ‘Then’, as it charts the
meeting of the two boys at school and their
developing emotional and physical relationship,
and ‘Now’ – just a few months later, when
everything has changed. Told in the first person,
the novel sensitively conveys all Dylan’s doubts
and insecurities: can he tell his best friend Mike?
His parents are liberal, but will they really
understand? Much of the story revolves around
the fact that people are not as tolerant and
accepting as they claim to be, building to tragic
consequences. After some initial blissful weeks
together, Dylan is stunned when Ellis disappears
from his life completely over Christmas. When he
eventually reappears, it is clear that something
has happened to Ellis, and that he is very
frightened. We learn early on in the book that
soon afterwards a terrible accident occurs in
which Ellis is killed; and that someone has failed
to save him. The rest of the story pieces together
events before and after the death and follows
Dylan’s anguish as he tries to find out what had
really happened during his boyfriend’s absence.
The reader will be turning the pages in order to
get the answers, too. Given the explicit nature of
some of the subject-matter, librarians and
teachers may want to guard against offering it to
younger readers.
Marianne Bradnock
Hunt, Tristram (ed.)
The Lives of the Objects: Collecting
Design
V&A, 2019, pp256, £30
978 1 85177 972 7
The subtitle of this book – ‘collecting design’ –
does not do it justice. It certainly contains pictures
of innumerable possessions of the Victoria and
Albert Museum but, essentially, many of them are
accompanied by a lengthy and wide-ranging
essay. The layout of the text is slightly challenging
– small print and double columns – but the
pictures are so fascinating and the text so
interesting this hardly matters. The Victoria and
Albert Museum began with the Great Exhibition
of 1851; its £180,000 profit was spent on land
purchased for public use. The Museum was to be
‘a Schoolroom for everyone’, ‘like a book with its
pages always open’, with a restaurant to
encourage attendance.
The Lives of the Objects contains an enormous
selection from the innumerable objects in the
Museum. The book opens with the magnificent
Ardabil Carpet, beloved by William Morris, and
follows with items as diverse as the Rodin gift
collection of sculptures, a poster for Olivier’s
Henry V film, and a collection of fashion textiles.
My own favourite is the ‘Great Bed of Ware’,
which beautifully illustrates the controversies
which beset every museum selection. The V&A
had to pay what was felt to be an exorbitant price
for the bed. Experts said it was not good of its
kind; there were many better examples of these
beds available and much cheaper. Eventually, the
Museum gritted its teeth
and bought it because the
public loved it. This is a
delightful book, which
deserves to be in every
college and senior school
library.
Martin Axford
Noelle, Marisa
The Shadow Keepers
Magnolia Press, 2019, pp332, £10.99
978 1 7331037 0 1
A novel designed to scare, opens with the heroine
being left in a state of fear and misery at a
mental health hospital. Sixteen-year-old Georgia
recounts her heart-breaking story as it unfolds.
She is accompanied by her mother, her stepfather
and her brother, Bart. It is a wealthy family, but to
some extent dysfunctional. Georgia longs for
affection from her mother but the one she is most
close to, the one who comes closest to
understanding her and who feels for her is Bart.
Both Georgia and Bart have alcohol problems.
Georgia drinks ‘to blot out the shadows in (her)
life’. These shadows are creatures which reside in
mirrors and other glossy surfaces. Georgia is
constantly pursued by them and lives in a state of
fear. Crashing a mirror in a shop is what
eventually leads to her being committed to the
hospital. While resident in the hospital, she is
involved in numerous exciting adventures and
there are mysteries to be solved. The writer draws
her tale to a very satisfactory happy ending.
A classic example of horror fiction, this novel will
delight readers of that genre. It is a fairly lengthy
read but the writer handles the plot skilfully and
maintains interest throughout. Both narrative style
and dialogue are racy and convincing. But there is
more on offer than simply a competently delivered
tale. Issues of mental health and family tensions
are also explored sympathetically. A thoughtprovoking
debut novel from a writer who, it
would seem, has much to offer in the future.
Elizabeth Finlayson
Sheinmel, Alyssa
What Kind of Girl
Atom, 2020, pp384, £7.99
978 0 349003 29 0
A provocative title which relates to the heroine of
the novel, Hannah, a 16-year-old high school
student. The story, set in California, opens with
Hannah presenting herself in the Principal’s study
to report that her boyfriend, Mike, also a student
at the school, has assaulted her: ‘It wasn’t quite a
black eye, not at first, but there was an
undeniable bruise.’ Mike is very popular, liked as
much by the Principal, as by the other students.
The only exception is Hiram, who Hannah is
aware has ‘a crush’ on her: ‘Mike Parker, man,’ he
said. ‘Never liked him.’
A fairly long read involving numerous characters
and a variety of relationships which readers,
particularly girls, in their mid-teens will find both
familiar and engrossing. Characters and the
predicaments they find themselves in are
presented in ways which pose questions and
invite assessments and judgements. A fast-moving
storyline which brings to mind issues of topical
interest – the #Me Too movement for example. It
focuses, too, on traditional attitudes and values
which are brought into view for scrutiny. In
particular the victim and attitudes towards the
victim are highlighted. Running through the
action are such surface questions as ‘Is the victim
to be believed?’, ‘What about the “aggressor”?’,
interlaced with more in-depth issues of relative
culpability. Is it possible, for example, that the
victim is the aggressor? An impressive novel.
Elizabeth Finlayson
Tellegen, Toon
Translated by David Colmer
I Wish
Illustrated by Ingrid Godon
Elsewhere Editions, 2020, pp90, £18.99
978 1 9398 1032 8
Dutch poet Toon Tellegen’s arresting imagination
was evident in the animal correspondence in
Letters to Anyone and Everyone, published in
2011. In I Wish, Tellegen’s focus is on the
reflective human child, whose poetic and sombre
musings reveal hidden inadequacies and fears.
One child wishes to face life with more courage,
another acknowledges his deeply secretive nature,
and a third (named Red Riding Hood) speculates
on the sense of relief she experiences when
obligations are cancelled. Accompanying every
poem is an image by Flemish illustrator Ingrid
126 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

Godon, each one resonant with attitude and
repressed emotion. Haunting portraits stare out at
the viewer in the manner of historical
photographs: the use of transparent paper
between sections is reminiscent of the tissue in
old photo albums. So much can be read into
individual faces, all of which invite questions and
imagined interaction.
Life’s challenges and enigmas engage children
just as deeply as they engage adults, and how
welcome it is to see the diversity and extent of
children’s personal and philosophical speculation
represented in this sophisticated picturebook.
First published in The Netherlands in 2011 and
reprinted many times since, this is an album that
will captivate and challenge the contemplative
reader and viewer.
Gillian Lathey
Professional
Salisbury, Martin and Styles, Morag
Children’s Picturebooks: The Art of
Visual Storytelling
Laurence King, 2020, pp200, £29.99
978 1 78627 573 8
We already know from the
distinctive first edition of
Children’s Picturebooks
(2012) that the matchless
collaboration between
Martin Salisbury and
Morag Styles has resulted
in a unique contribution to
the field of picturebook study. The depth and
range of their combined knowledge is further
revealed in this second edition. Eight chapters
cover the diverse scope of the genre touching on
the various aesthetic and practical aspects of
publication. Although comprehensive in its
coverage, the book also includes a ‘Related
Reading and Browsing’ section (p.195) offering
readers additional reference material for extended
study or exploration.
In their celebration of visual texts, the authors
have exemplified the power, diversity and delight
of illustration. A pleasing feature of this book is
the generous use of images, thus ensuring that
visual reference supports textual commentary.
Even the Contents page immediately captures the
eye, with Bernado P. Carvaho’s enticing
illustrations from Don’t Cross the Line (Gecko
Press 2016) scattered around the list of chapters.
An updated selection of books illustrates each
chapter, including such award winners as: The
Journey by Francesca Sanna (Flying Eye 2016)
which won the UKLA Book Award, and Town is
by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz and Sydney Smith
(Walker Books 2018), which won the Greenaway
Medal. Another title, used as a case study
example, and on the 2020 Greenaway and UKLA
shortlist, is Child of St Kilda (Child’s Play 2019).
Although, intrinsically, Children’s Picturebooks is
an academic text, its appeal will be widely
accessible to the range of readers who seek
serious study, quick reference or simply an
enjoyable read. For librarians, teachers and
lecturers, recognising that picture books and
storytelling are key elements of effective
pedagogy, this will be an essential text.
Prue Goodwin and Catriona Nicholson
Cox, Bob, Crawford, Leah and
Jones, Verity
Opening Doors to a Richer English
Curriculum for Ages 6–9
Illustrated by Victoria Cox
Crown House, 2019, pp272, £12.99
978 1 78583 398 4
For teachers looking to delve deeper into the
teaching of English, exploring rich texts, this book
is essential, with 15 units, seven on poetry and
the rest on prose. Clear links are made to a range
of texts that can be used to help pupils to
develop their understanding and their writing.
The examples of writing produced by children
using the techniques in the book are inspirational
and show the impact of using poems and prose
that teachers may think too challenging. The link
reading is a really useful list to ensure that pupils
are gaining a wider range of reading. This book
will really help to develop the teaching of English
through quality reading. Through the use of these
ideas pupils’ vocabulary will develop along with
their comprehension skills.
Each unit in the book takes the teacher through
the key reading strategies and how to engage the
children. Pupils are encouraged to debate, put
things in a continuum, and teachers are
encouraged to use props, model the reading and
start with quick writing tasks. There is also plenty
of scope to differentiate to support those who
find it challenging while stretching those pupils
who are ready for further challenge.
Opening Doors is an inspiring yet accessible book
for teachers that will encourage wider reading in
both teachers and pupils.
Kate Keaveny
Cox, Bob, Crawford, Leah and
Jones, Verity
Opening Doors to a Richer English
Curriculum for Ages 10–13
Illustrated by Victoria Cox
Crown House, 2019, pp256, £12.99
978 1 78583 397 7
This book is a new addition to the established
‘Opening Doors’ series on the teaching of English.
Although the authors avoid the term ‘Key Stages’,
the matching coverage is clear, together with the
indication of quiet dissent from current
Professional
arrangements. These are not revolutionary or
subversive books, but they do set out by a
systematic method to restore major literature, the
reading of whole texts, and ambitious children’s
writing to the place they have lost as teachers
attend to the demands of a mechanical
curriculum. The authors aim to show that you can
do what is necessary to heed curriculum
requirements, but at the same time do much more
for children’s future as skilled and enthusiastic
readers and writers.
The book is split into fifteen units, eight on
poetry and seven on prose, each following the
same basic structure (and ‘strategy’ to use that
compulsory word). With a single text, or extract
from a novel, as the point of focus, the unit
design moves from ‘Access strategies’ (starting
points) to ‘taster drafts’ of short initial writing
and then a ‘Reading journey’ (a term the
authors rightly prefer to ‘Comprehension’). A
very helpful method here is to set out a central
‘challenge question’, with radical ‘support
questions’ for those who need them, and a
single more ambitious target enabling classes to
explore more deeply a chosen focus of interest.
The approach is flexible but the goal is the
same for all. Work then moves on to wider ‘link
reading’, not just as a vaguely hopeful add-on
to the topic but as something essential to it.
Units end with ‘Wings to fly’, which are
opportunities for pupil response to take shape
in free writing.
One may have a few reservations – for instance
about the little inserts clearly designed to boost
teacher morale – but they in no way detract from
the value of this excellent enterprise. Without
attempting to wrench teachers away from things
they have no option but to do, it restores
literature to its place in the curriculum for its own
important sake, not as a mere vehicle for teaching
utilitarian language skills.
Peter Hollindale
Index of Advertisers
Andersen Press 93
Applied Network Solutions 121
Belle Media 113
European Schoolbooks 107
Garmoran Publishing 107
Hachette Schools 117
Hot Key Books 103
IS Oxford
inside front cover
JCS Online Resources 71
KPC Book Protection 107
National Book Tokens inside back cover
OverDrive 95
Penguin Random House 115
Piccadilly Press 103
Reading Cloud
outside back cover
Wellbeing through Reading 115
The SL 68-2 Summer 2020 127

Index of books reviewed
A
Abercrombie, Lou – Fig Swims the World 119
Addison, Amanda and Adreani, Manuela – Boundless Sky 89
Agard, Sandra A. – Harriet Tubman: A Journey to Freedom112
Agbabi, Patience – The Infinite (The Leap Cycle) 100
Agee, Jon – Lion Lessons 89
Akala – The Dark Lady 119
Alemagna, Beatrice – Forever 89
Alexander, K. R. – The Collector 119
Applebaum, Kirsty – Troofriend 100
Asuquo, Sarah and Bohi, Florelle – Shine 89
Atinuke – Too Small Tola
B
Bailey, Susanna – Snow Foal 100
Banker, Ashok and Prabhat, Sandhya – I Am Brown 89
Bemelmans, Ludwig – Madeline in London 90
Bradford, Chris – The Return of the Warrior 119
Bradman, Tony – Queen of Darkness (Flashbacks) 100
Brian, Rachel – Respect: Consent, Boundaries and
Being in Charge of You 112
Bright, Rachel and Chatterton, Chris – The Worrysaurus 90
Brown, Danielle and Kai, Nathan – Be Your Best Self 112
Brueggemann, Wibke – Love is for Losers 119
Bruno, Nikki – Working with Rubbish (Gross Jobs) 112
Burgerman, Jon – Everybody Has a Body 90
Burnell, Cerrie – The Ice Bear Miracle 100
Bushnell, Candace and Cotugno, Katie – Rules for
Being a Girl 119
C
Carter, Ally – Winterborne Home for Vengeance and
Valour 101
Cavell-Clarke, Steffi – Magnets (First Science) 113
Charlton, Darren – Wranglestone 120
Chisholm, Alistair – Orion Lost 101
Christo, Alexandra – Into the Crooked Place 120
Clarke, Jane – Busy Bodies (Al’s Awesome Science) 113
Claydon, Jon and Lawler, Tim – The Stig and the Silver
Ghost 101
Coe, Justin – The Magic of Mums 116
Coelho, Joseph – Poems Aloud 116
Cookson, Paul – There’s a Crocodile in the House 118
Corcoran, Helen – Queen of Coin and Whispers
Cousins, Dave – Is MY Teacher a Robot? 101
Cox, Bob, Crawford, Leah and Jones, Verity – Opening
Doors to a Richer English Curriculum for Ages 6–9 127
Cox, Bob, Crawford, Leah and Jones, Verity – Opening
Doors to a Richer English Curriculum for Ages 10–13 127
Cross, Gillian – Five Ways to Make a Friend 101
Crossley-Holland, Kevin and Lugert, Susanne – The Animals
Grimm 101
D
Daynes, Katie and Tremblay, Marie-Eve – Questions and
Answers about Plastic (Lift-the-Flap) 90
Dieckmann, Sandra – Waiting for Wolf 90
Dikstra, R. D. – Beyond the Deep Forest (Tigeropolis) 102
Dikstra, R. D. – Caught in the Trap (Tigeropolis) 102
Dikstra, R. D. – The Grand Opening (Tigeropolis) 102
Dockrill, Laura – Sequin and Stitch 102
Doherty, Berlie – Deep Secret 120
Dolan, Taylor – Welcome to Camp Croak! 102
Don, Lari – Fierce, Fearless and Free: Girls in Myths and
Legends from Around the World 102
Don, Lari and Ilincic, Nataša – The Legend of the First
Unicorn 90
Donaldson, Julia – Chariots and Champions 118
Dorfman, Ariel – The Rabbits’ Rebellion 102
Doyle, Malachy and Corr, Christopher – The Miracle of
Hannukah 90
Drewery, Kerry – The Last Paper Crane 122
Duffy, Malcolm – Sofa Surfer 122
E
Eagle, Judith – The Pear Affair 104
Eland, Eva – Where Happiness Begins 91
F
Farooki, Roopa – The Cure for a Crime 104
Fenton, Corinne and Smith, Craig – A Cat Called Trim 91
Finlay, Lizzie – The (Ferocious) Chocolate Wolf 91
Foreman, Michael – I Didn’t Do It! 91
Fountain, Ele – Lost 122
French, Fiona – Wild Wolf 91
G
Gifford, Lucinda – Duck, Duck, Moose 91
Gillingham, Sara – Animals in the Sky 92
Gittins, Chrissie – Sharp Hills 118
Glines, Abbi – Making a Play 122
Gomes, Nátalia – We Are Not Okay 122
Gonzales, Sophie – Only Mostly Devastated 123
Grant, Neil – The Honeyman and the Hunter 123
Gunderson, Jessica – Sleeping Beauty (You Choose) 104
H
Haig, Joan – Tiger Skin Rug 104
Halahmy, Miriam – Illegal 123
Hale, Lucretia P. – The Lady from Philadelphia 123
Harcourt, Maggie – The Pieces of Ourselves 123
Harrell, Rob – Wink 104
Hawking, Stephen and Hawking, Lucy – Unlocking the
Universe 125
Haworth-Booth, Emily – The Last Tree 92
Hegarty, Patricia and Abbott, Greg – Everybody’s Welcome 92
Hegarty, Patricia and Teplow, Rotem – Two Bears: An Epic
Journey of Hope 92
Hicks, Zehra – Pug Hug 92
Hoghton, Anna – The Mask of Aribella 105
Holmes, Kirsty – Sparky’s Stem Guide to Diggers 92
Howell, A. M. – The House of One Hundred Clocks 105
Hunt, Tristram (ed.) – The Lives of the Objects: Collecting
Design 126
Hussey, William – Hideous Beauty 126
I
Ismail, Yasmeen – Would you Like a Banana? 92
J
Jones, Lex H. – The Old One and the Sea 105
Jones, Richard – Perdu 94
Joseph, J. M. – Fire Boy 105
K
Kelk, Lindsey – Fairies in the Forest (Cinders and Sparks) 105
Kelk, Lindsey – Goblins and Gold (Cinders and Sparks) 105
Kelk, Lindsey – Magic at Midnight (Cinders and Sparks) 105
Kelly, Erin Entrada – Lalani of the Distant Sea 124
Kershaw, Steve – Mythologica 113
King, Amy Sarig – The Year We Fell from Space 106
King, Zach – Mirror Magic (My Magical Life) 106
L
Lapinski, L. D. – The Strangeworlds Travel Agency 106
Lee, Hannah and Fatimaharan, Allen – My Hair
Lewis, Gill – Willow Wildthing and the Swamp Monster 106
Lish, Mikki – The House on Hoarder Hill 106
Lisle, Rebecca and Watson, Richard – I, Pod 94
Lloyd, Susannnah and Grant, Jacob – This Book Can Read
Your Mind 94
Love, Damien – Monstrous Devices 108
M
Mackenzie, Ross – Evernight 108
Maddox, Dr Lucy – What is Mental Health? Where Does it
Come From? And Other Big Questions 125
Magerl, Caroline – Nop 94
Marks, Janae – The Faraway Truth 108
Marley, Bob, Marley, Cedella and Cabuay, John Jay –
Get Up, Stand Up 94
Marshall, Tim – Prisoners of Geography: Our World
Explained in 12 Simple Maps 125
Martineau, Susan – Cool Circuits and Wicked Wires 114
McClure, Alan – Callum and the Mountain 108
McDonnell, Flora – Out of a Dark Winter’s Night 96
McKinley, Alice – Nine Lives Newton 96
McNiff, Dawn and Metola, Patricia – Love from Alfie
McPoonst, The Best Dog Ever 96
Messenger, Shannon – Keeper of the Lost Cities 108
Milner, Kate – Duncan Versus the Googleys 108
Muhammad, Ibtihaj, Ali, S. K. and Aly, Hatem – The
Proudest Blue 96
Munsch, Robert and Martchenko, Michael – The Paper
Bag Princess 96
Murray, Struan – Orphans of the Tide 109
N
Nilsson, Ulf and Eriksson, Eva – All the Dear Little Animals 97
Noelle, Marisa – The Shadow Keepers 126
The School Librarian is also indexed by EBSCO, Gale and ProQuest.
Noelle, Marisa – The Unadjusteds 124
O
Otter, Isobel – Our World (Turn and Learn) 114
Owen, David – Grief Angels 124
P
Pankhurst, Kate – Fantastically Great Women Who
Saved the Planet 114
Patel, Serena – Anisha, Accidental Detective 109
Pearson, Jenny – The Super Miraculous Journey of
Freddie Yates 109
Penfold, Nicola – Where the World Turns Wild 109
Pennypacker, Sara – Here in the Real World 109
Perry, Emma and Davey, Sharon – I Don’t Like Books.
Never. Ever. The End 97
Powell-Tuck, Maudie and Mountford, Karl James – The
Moonlight Zoo 97
Q
Quarry, Rachel – Polly and the New Baby 97
R
Ralph, Vincent – Are You Watching? 124
Ramm, Natalie and D’Alconzo, Gaia – Man in the
Mountain 97
Rasheed, Leila – Empire’s End: A Roman Story (Voices) 110
Rickards, Lynne and Harris-Jones, Kirsteen – Willow the
Wildcat 98
Rivers, Holly – Demelza and the Spectre Detectors 110
Robbins, Rose – Talking is Not My Thing 98
Roberts, Dashe – The Big Woof Conspiracy 110
Robinson, Hilary – Jasper: Viking Dog 110
Rooney, Anne – Animal Atlas 114
Rooney, Rachel and Hicks, Zehra – The Problem with
Problems 98
Rosen, Michael – The Missing 114
Rowland, Lucy and Mantle, Ben – Dracula Spectacular 98
Rudkin, Dr Angharad and Fitzgerald, Ruth – Find your
Girl Squad 125
S
Salisbury, Martin and Styles, Morag – Children’s
Picturebooks: The Art of Visual Storytelling 127
Sami, Annabelle – The Missing Diamonds (Agent Zaiba) 110
Sanz, Verónica and Hirn, Johannes – Discovering Energy 114
Schubert, Susan and Bonita, Raquel – I’ll Believe You
When: Unbelievable Idioms from Around the World 98
Scobie, Lorna – Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit! 98
Seed, Andy – A Giant Dose of Gross 115
Shaw, Hannah – Unicorn Muddle (Unipiggle) 110
Sheinmel, Alyssa – What Kind of Girl 126
Sloan, Michelle – The Baby Otter Rescue 111
Stamp, Emer – PESTS 111
Stevenson, Anne – Completing the Circle 118
Stoian, Iona and Cardona, Dawn M. – Always Be You 99
T
Tellegen, Toon Translated by David Colmer – I Wish 126
Thomas, Isobel – This Book Will (Help) Cool the Climate 115
Tooke, Hana – The Unadoptables 111
Treml, Renée – Sherlock Bones and the Natural History
Mystery 111
Twiddy, Robin – Whale Shark (Teeth to Tail) 115
Tzomaka, Vassiliki – Hoot and Howl Across the Desert 116
U
Usher, Sam – Free 99
V
Vegara, Maria Isabel Sanchez – David Attenborough 116
Voake, Charlotte – Some Dinosaurs are Small 99
W
Webb, Holly – Star 111
Weil, Jonathan – Abraham Lincoln (First Names) 116
Weston, Kate – Diary of a Confused Feminist 124
Whipple, Tom – Physics (Get Ahead In) 125
White, Kierstin – Chosen (Slayer) 124
White, Kierstin – Slayer 124
Williamson, Lara – Midge and Mo 99
Willis, Inky – Notes in Class (Scribble Witch) 111
Wood, A. J., Jolley, Mike and Sanders, Allan – Search
and Find a Number of Numbers 99
Woods, Matilda – Otto Tattercoat and the Forest of
Lost Things 112
128 The SL 68-2 Summer 2020

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LITERACY
360
Created in
collaboration with
Adam Lancaster,
experienced
Senior Librarian,
Head of Literacy &
former Assistant
Headteacher.
The insights you need to ensure no child is
left behind
Literacy 360 is an innovative whole-school tool that
enables you to understand and monitor each child’s
individual attitude to reading and how they feel about
themself as a reader. It gives you valuable insights to help
inform early evidence-based interventions in key stages 2
and 3 to ensure all students develop positive attitudes to
reading and read for pleasure.
Created in collaboration with Adam Lancaster,
experienced Senior Librarian, Head of Literacy & former
Assistant Headteacher, Literacy 360 incorporates the
tried and tested Impact Through Reading methodology
and the Attitude to Reading survey providing schools
with everything they need to carry out the student survey
and surface, evaluate and share the valuable insights it
provides.
Reading for pleasure is a fundamental habit that we want to instil in
all young people. It is the bedrock to a richer, fuller life and a truly
rounded individual. In terms of education its impact should not be
underestimated or ignored yet more often than not this is exactly
what is happening in schools today. In my experience this comes back
to a lack of understanding on the importance of reading for pleasure
and in a system where evidence is king, an inability to prove this.
However, in ignoring this we ignore the bigger picture of a child
and miss out on the opportunity to really make a difference.
Adam Lancaster
Get a full 360° view of literacy
in your school today!
0161 449 9357
info@capita-readingcloud.co.uk
www.capita-readingcloud.co.uk
Find out more at:
www.capita-readingcloud.co.uk/
Literacy360
Literacy 360 can be used in any school, whichever library management system you’re using!