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.
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
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
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
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
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.
You’re strong with me
Chitra Soundar, illus. Poonam Mistry
The baby giraffe is very young and the world is a new exciting place to be explored, but frightening as well. Luckily mother is there to support and encourage. “You’re strong with me”, she reassures her little one.
The Jackal Who Thought He Was a Peacock – A tale by Rumi
Fereshteh Sarlak, illus. Firoozeh Golmohammadi, transl. Azita Rassi
This title introduces children to a fable of the great Iranian poet, Rumi. It is a story about the futility of wishing to be something other than you are.
Migrations: Open Hearts, Open Borders
A collection of postcard images addressing the subject of migration, featuring bird images.
Fiddle Dee Dee!
Dianne Hofmeyr, illus. Piet Grobler
Monkey makes an exciting find – a musical bow which makes magical sounds; finders keepers surely? But no, Hyena lays claim to the bow. How can the dispute be resolved?
Tiger walk
Dianne Hofmeyr, illus. Jesse Hodgson
A little boy visits an art gallery to see the painting “Surprise” by Rousseau, and the tiger in the picture draws his attention. In his dreams the tiger comes to him and together they go on various adventures. But there is always something that scares him – what does he actually fear?
White horse
Yan Ge, ill. James Nunn, transl. Nicky Harman
Yun Yun is ten. With her older cousin she is looking forward to “growing up”. But then her cousin does grow up, leaving her behind.
Sinbad the Sailor & Other Stories from the Arabian Nights
Transl. Laurence Housman, ill. Edmund Dulac, intro. Marina Warner
We all know The Arabian Nights – or do we? Though today we are most likely to meet the stories in collections made for children, the originals were for an appreciative adult audience.
Shadow
Lucy Christopher and Anastasia Suvorova
After the move to a new home, Ma seems completely preoccupied. She doesn’t see the Shadow; the Shadow that lures the child into the forest to become truly lost and alone.
Iced out
C. K. Smouha, illus. Isabella Bunnell
Wilfred and Neville do not fit in. How can they? One is a Walrus (rather large and smelly), the other a narwhal (with a dangerous pointed horn). The arrival of Betty Beluga changes everything.
The Little Fir Tree
Christopher Corr
The little Fir Tree wishes to be cut down and go and see the world, but whilst the other trees are taken to be used in what is perceived as exotic and wonderful places, he is left to grow.
Life on Mars
Jon Agee
Everyone says there is no life on Mars but is there? Whilst the little space boy roams around Mars looking for life, life just evades him, always one step behind or not quite where he looks…
Fly flies
Ziggy Hanaor, illus. Alice Bowsher
The little Fly just wants to have lots of fun practising flying in her own way. But there are others who think she is doing it all wrong, and convince her to try flying their way.
Here comes Lolo
Niki Daly
This book is part of a mini series; it consists of four short stories all featuring Lolo, a spirited ordinary seven-year-old girl of colour.
Beyond the Fence
Maria Gulematova
Piggy lives with Thomas. They do everything together – but only what Thomas wants. Then one day Piggy gets the opportunity to do something by himself and he meets Wild Boar. Will Piggy be able to break free from the stultifying life in the Big House controlled by Thomas?
Child of St Kilda
Beth Waters
What was it like to live on the “islands on the edge of the world” – or rather on Hirta, the largest island of St Kilda? Beth Water’s has based her account of life on this the remotest island off the coast of Scotland on the memories of Norman John Gillies, the last child to be born on Hirta.
Born Bad
C K Smouha, illus. Stephen Smith
Does the way we look affect the way we see ourselves? The wolf of this story would certainly say yes. He was born bad, he looks bad and in turn, he is expected to act bad. But what happens if he wants to radically change?
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