Happy Platinum Jubilee everyone! Haven’t managed to either read or post much recently as it’s been a busy time, but I’m now diving back in! While I’ve always loved history, the one thing I’ve always struggled with is understanding what was happening across the world at any one period. For instance, I had no idea…
Writes of Passage: Words to Read Before You Turn 13, selected by Nicolette Jones
My daughter’s back at her Saturday drama club this weekend, which means an hour of quality reading time for me ?. This has been the perfect book to come back with – has anyone read it? It’s an anthology of thought-provoking pieces of writing, whether that be songs, stories, poems, quotes, speeches etc – it’s…
Amira’s Suitcase by Vikki Conley and Nicky Johnston
This is another brilliant book on my ‘to review’ pile. It’s a touching story about a young girl called Amira who, having to leave her home with her family, finds a seedling in her suitcase. Tenderly showering it with love and care, she is delighted as it starts to grow and it provides her with…
The Skies Above my Eyes by Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer
The last book I‘ll share from this week’s Instagram #8brilliantbooks collection for #internationaldarkskyweek is this fantastic book by Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer. It’s a highly-visual and interactive read, which looks at what’s above us layer by layer – from the troposphere, through the ozone layer, crossing the Karman Line and out past our solar…
Maya and her Friends by Larysa Denysenko and Masha Foya
I saw this book featured on Instagram last week and I knew that I needed to buy a copy. It was first published in 2017 in Ukraine, but has since been re-published in the last few weeks, with a new, incredibly moving foreword by the author (see below), which she wrote hiding in a corridor…
A Cat’s Guide to the Night Sky by Stuart Atkinson and Brendan Kearney
This is another of my #8brilliantbooks choices this week. Felicity the Cat (inspired by a French cat who was the first feline to ever travel to space in 1963) guides readers along the path to becoming stargazers, from the equipment they will need, to what they will discover and how to spot everything from constellations…
Planetarium by Chris Wormell and Raman Prinja
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that this is one of the books I featured in my #8brilliantbooks selection this week and it’s one of those reads that delivers on all levels. To start with, it’s beautifully produced – a large, coffee table-sized book which would make a brilliant gift for any Key…
Shakespeare For Everyone by Emma Roberts and Sarah Tanat Jones
Last Sunday wasn’t just St George’s Day, it was also the day most people consider to be Shakespeare’s birthday. So, with me having a track record of being late to a fair few bookish parties, it’s only fitting that I share this book 3 days after the big event! Everything you could ever want to…
Why Do I Feel So Worried? A Kid’s Guide to Coping With Big Emotions by Tammi Kirkness
If you know a Key Stage 2/middle grade-aged child who struggles with anxiety or managing big emotions, then this book is definitely worth checking out. It’s a practical guide to help children deal with their worries. By asking yes-or-no questions and encouraging readers to follow the interactive flowcharts, it helps children to name the emotion…
The Perfect Fit by Naomi and James Jones
I was sorting out my bookshelves a couple of weeks ago and I came across a stack of books that I had really enjoyed but hadn’t got around to reviewing (I really do need to get a grip and become more organised ?). The Perfect Fit is one of those books and it’s a real…