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.

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The Garden of Inside-Outside<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy'/>

The Garden of Inside-Outside

Chiara Mezzalama, illus. Régis Lejonc, transl. Sarah Ardizzone

More than a story of childhood fantasy, this book provides a powerful treatise on civil war and its impact on young lives.

Max + Xam<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy'/>

Max + Xam

Ariane Hofmann-Maniyar

When Max and Xam fall out, they start a competition to see who is the most popular, using all their ingenuity to ‘make’ friends and prove a point.

I’m NOT a mouse!<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy'/>

I’m NOT a mouse!

Evgenia Golubeva

Olivia’s nickname, Mouse, gets her into some sticky situations. But will her mum ever stop using it? This fresh and funny look at pet names holds a deeper message about identity.

A Story about Afiya<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy'/>

A Story about Afiya

James Berry, illus. Anna Cunha

In this beautiful book, award-winning Jamaican poet James Berry creates a magical, dreamy world for a little girl who enjoys the freedom of spending her days outside.

Maia and What Matters<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy'/>

Maia and What Matters

Tina Mortier, illus. Kaatje Vermeire, trans. David Colmer

This is an extraordinarily powerful book dealing with the difficult subject of illness and bereavement.

Lost<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy'/>

Lost

Ele Fountain

Lola and her brother Amit wait for their father to return home after a days work. But days pass, and he fails to arrive...

Belonging Street<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy'/>

Belonging Street

Mandy Coe

Much of the book is a quest, a search for a sense of belonging, whether the searcher is a child, a tree-that-walks, the colour grey, or a butterfly...

The Wanderer<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy'/>

The Wanderer

Peter Van den Ende

A paper boat makes its way around a fantastical ocean world, discovering wonder after wonder until it reaches the shore.

Mrs Noah’s Garden<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy'/>

Mrs Noah’s Garden

Jackie Morris, illus. James Mayhew

As Mr Noah turns their vessel into a house, Mrs Noah sets about growing a fabulous garden… and a new addition to the family

Ella May does it her way!<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy'/>

Ella May does it her way!

Mick Jackson, illus. Andrea Stegmaier

Children are often encouraged to try new things but feisty Ella May takes that idea to a whole new level.

Calm Beasts<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy'/>

Calm Beasts

Herberts Dorbe, illus. Gita Treice, trans. Žanete Vēv ere Pasqualini and Kate Wakeling

Herberts Dorbe paints a curious world where wolves fall silent and lions lie down to be stroked.

Poems the Wind Blew In<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/10599b06dd355a179eb9929ef1cd6ad7?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy'/>

Poems the Wind Blew In

Carmelo C. Iribarren, illus. Riya Chowdhury, trans. Lawrence Schimel

Be careful when you open this book: as soon as you do, the wind will whisk you up and take you on an adventure across the city. These poems reveal the magic in small, everyday things.