Book Reviews

See our latest book reviews and search for all previous reviews. We’ll be adding more over the coming months, so check back to see if your favourite book has been reviewed by us.

Hoot and howl across the desert: Life in the world’s driest deserts

Hoot and howl across the desert: Life in the world’s driest deserts

Vassiliki Tzomaka

An introduction to life in deserts across the world.

Mrs Noah’s pockets

Mrs Noah’s pockets

Jackie Morris, illus. James Mayhew

Imagine what Mrs Noah was doing while Noah was building the ark.

Shakespeare’s Bear

Shakespeare’s Bear

Harry Oxford

This delightful story is narrated by Mummer, a bear adopted as a cub by the Shakespeare family in Stratford-on-Avon.

Young Palestinians speak: Living under occupation

Young Palestinians speak: Living under occupation

Anthony Robinson & Annemarie Young

Life in Occupied Palestine told by the children and young people who live there.

The visitor

The visitor

Antje Damm

A unique and beautifully illustrated picture book about loneliness and friendship.

Travels with my granny

Travels with my granny

Juliet Rix, illus. Christopher Corr

A young child joins her granny on her reimagined journeys from a time before dementia took over her life.

We are artists: Women who made their mark on the world

We are artists: Women who made their mark on the world

Kari Herbert

This book celebrates the work of 15 female artists from around the world and their impact on the art world.

Wild world

Wild world

Angela McAllister, illus. Hvass & Hannibal

An exploration of some of the last great wildernesses of the world explored through stunning images and lyrical poetry.

The Thief, the Witch and the Shop of Curiosities

The Thief, the Witch and the Shop of Curiosities

Mark Isherwood, illus. Drew Sinclair

When Peter wakes in the middle of the night, he is sure he can hear an intruder – but time has been frozen; no one else is aware of this and no one hears him speak to Peter.

Quill Soup

Quill Soup

Alan Durant, illus. Dale Blankenaar

Noko the Porcupine is tired and hungry. Surely, he will find a welcome from the other animals. Sadly, not. One by one, they turn him away making excuses. Something has to be done.

High-Rise Mystery

High-Rise Mystery

Sharna Jackson

Norva (age 13) is the emotional one who believes in intuition, Nik (11) her younger sister looks to facts to make her deductions. Together they act as a detective agency for the housing estate that is their home.

Old man of the sea

Old man of the sea

Stella Elia, illus. Weberson Santiago

Grandfather is old; often visits pass in silence. It is far from exciting. Until one day, Grandfather starts to tells stories of his youth when as a sailor he travelled the world.