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.
Grobblechops
Elizabeth Laird, illus. Jenny Lucande
The story starts with Amir not wanting to go to bed because he is working himself up into a state: ‘there might be a monster’. His imagination runs riot: ‘he might have huge teeth and growl like a lion. He might try to eat me.’
Little People, BIG DREAMS (Muhammad Ali, Stephen Hawking)
Isabel Sánchez Vegara
These two Frances Lincoln books are part of a series entitled Little People, BIG DREAMS. They contain brief and lavishly illustrated biographies aimed at readers aged 6 to 10.
The wall in the middle of the book
Jon Agee
The little knight is essentially happy mending a hole on his side of the wall, but when danger overcomes him he sees things in a different light and finds the other side of the wall has much to offer after all.
In blossom
Yooju Cheon
A beautiful tale told in the simplest of forms with limited palette illustrations, and where the reader becomes intoxicated through the scent of the story.
The flight of Mr Finch
Thomas Baas
Mr Finch lives a quiet life in the middle of the city. He has always lived in this neighbourhood but keeps himself to himself. His only friend and companion is his little bird Pip. However, once day Pip stops singing. He seems to be unhappy. Will the plant from the deepest jungle help?
There’s room for everyone
Anahita Teymorian
How to explain the social world we live in to children? Anahita Teymorian takes her young audience on a journey – a metaphorical journey from birth to growing up to become an adult.
You’re snug with me
Chitra Soundar, illus. Poonam Mistry
“You’re snug with me” whispers mother polar to her two little cubs as outside the Arctic winter reigns. The seasons move, and the little cubs have questions as they gradually move out of their den to explore and mother bear answers but always ends with the reassuring words ”You’re snug with me”.
The elephant in the room
James Thorp, illus. Angus Mackinnon
Oh dear someone has broken the china elephant in the room – Father Giant is not happy. Who is the culprit?
Somewhere there is still a sun
Michael Gruenbaum, with Todd Hasak-Lowy
This is Michael Gruenbaum (Misha)’s own story, recalling the events eighty years ago, when he was a nine-year-old Jewish boy living with his family in Prague and Nazi troops invaded Czechoslovakia, his country.
Pebble
Julia Jones, illus. Claudia Myatt
Liam is rising ten and feeling increasingly isolated from family life, like "a single pebble on a shingle beach".
Peace and Me
Ali Winter, illus. Mickaël El Fathi
Peace and Me focuses on 12 women and men who received the Nobel Peace Prize, describes their stories and explains the reasons behind their nomination.
Tomorrow
Nadine Kaadan
This picture book focuses on the isolating impact of war on Syrian children, who are forced to always stay at home because the once safe and fun world outside has changed to a place of danger.