The fascinating thing about The Islands of Chaldea is not that it is Diana Wynne Jones’s last book but that she died with it unfinished and it was completed and published posthumously. DWJ’s younger sister…
Time to celebrate the fabulous fathers of fiction. James Lane Madison Lane and the Wand of Rasputin Grounded Book 1 by Elle Carter Neal Maddie’s father is a librarian — a cover for his top secret…
Mothers are so often missing in children’s fiction (and YA), that it’s refreshing and uplifting when a book does feature a mother character or two who are multi-dimensional, fully-realised human beings raising children to be…
Because sometimes being an outcast is a superpower… Upper Middle Grade and Early Teen… Madison Lane and the Wand of Rasputin Grounded Book 1 by Elle Carter Neal Ages 10-15 Note: At middle-grade level, Madison Lane…
We all want to create a positive and enjoyable reading experience for the children in our care. But sometimes, for certain children, diving straight into a book can backfire. Have you ever had the sense…
Book 1 : A Dash of Trouble Leonora Logroño’s family owns the most beloved bakery in Rose Hill, Texas, spending their days conjuring delicious cookies and cakes for any occasion. And no occasion is more…
Here’s an idea for your next book club catch-up: Many children’s books include the characters eating something, and some authors even make a point of including recipes at the back of the book. Your book…
Sponsors Find out more… I Own All the Blue by Elle Carter Neal “Pink is a flamingo colour. Blue is for bowerbirds.” Join bowerbird and his friends in a colourful tale of mayhem as they experience…
The Convoluted Key audiobook is very, very nearly here! I’m so excited, and I can’t wait to share it with you. Here’s an extract… Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Title sequence: onedsgn via Canva
It’s good to be getting back into the flow of things after returning from our holiday to Tasmania (we were so incredibly lucky that all the sparkly things in the sky aligned and we actually…
Sign up to receive your complementary copy of the At-a-Glance Parents’ Guide to 300+ Fabulous Feminist-Friendly Children’s Books Drop in your email to grab your free copy I will use the information you provide on…
It’s true. A lot of expertise goes into creating a cover so that it conveys genre and age-appropriateness, and hints at the content. If you’re looking for your child’s next favourite book or series, you…
The Amelia Bedelia chapter book series is a spin off written by Herman Parrish based on the character created by his aunt Peggy Parrish in the 1960s. While the original features Amelia Bedelia as an adult, Herman Parrish’s series places an approximately 10-year-old Amelia Bedelia in a current-day setting and explores school and small-town life in general through her eyes. Amelia Bedelia might not be one of the “cool” kids, but she always somehow manages to pull off the most spectacular wins when it counts.
This review contains SPOILERS and is intended for parents.
The Way In is a great start to what will presumably continue as an 88 Lime Street series, although there is very little information on any follow up books. Beginning as a standard-fare haunted house story, the plot twists into more of a time-slip adventure with some big scares unsuitable for young or sensitive readers. It’s a bit Indiana(s)-Jones-for-teens with booby traps and hazards.
This review contains SPOILERS and is intended for parents.