Children Book Reviews

Name: Sue Wilsher
28 April 2024;

Genre: Fairy Tales & Folk Tales

Loveday Gwynne is a shapeshifter, able to transform into Hare. Running wild and free in this shape, she is full of joy, but she has to keep her ability secret as Old Magic is no longer tolerated in her home village of Penros. The new Elder is determined to get rid of all shapeshifters, ruling...

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Name: Lorraine Ansell
26 April 2024;

Genre: Magical Realism

Silvester is tired and reclusive, remembering the life he once had with his lovely Belinda; the puppet shows they held were renowned far and wide. A van arrives to take all his once-revered work away for a museum exhibition and Silvester reminisces on his purpose. Woken that night, sitting in...

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Name: Rebecca Green
26 April 2024;

Genre: Non Fiction

On Your Marks, Get Set, Gold!: A Fact-Filled, Funny Guide to Every Olympic Sport is a book that every school should have. It is clearly laid out and appeals to children from ages 8+. It is colourful and clearly structured. As a teacher, I would use this book not only to...

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Name: Hayley Summerfield
26 April 2024;

Genre: Magical Realism

Alyssa and the Spell Garden is an enchanting fantasy story that is set in a small London community. Alexandra Sheppard uses the story to highlight the reality of gentrification within a poor urban area of London that has its heart in the centre of a magical garden. Alys...

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Name: Giselle Age 11
26 April 2024;

Genre: Non Fiction

I think On Your Marks, Get Set, Gold! is a great book because it really lives up to its title - 'A fact-filled, funny guide'. I think that the funniest bits in this book are the basic training boxes - especially the trampolining one. Apart from being funny, On Your Mark...

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Name: Jenny Caddick
25 April 2024;

Genre: Fantasy

"Astrid has lived in the rhubarb shed her whole life." When just the first line of the blurb of a story has you immediately burning with intrigue, then you know that the story that lies ahead is going to be captivating. Starminster is a simply stunning story about a life in the skies, where hu...

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Name: Jacqueline Harris
25 April 2024;

Genre: Fantasy

When her sister vanishes after a mysterious earthquake, Ysolda sets off to find her, setting foot in the castle of the dreaded Wolf Queen. Can Ysolda rescue her sister by doing as the Wolf Queen commands? In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen is a story of magic and adventure...

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Name: Jane Rew
25 April 2024;

Genre: Environment & Nature

On first appearances, I supposed Explodapedia: Rewild - Can Nature heal Our World? would appeal more to adults and doubted whether primary school children would have the stamina to read it. However, I now think it will not only interest but excite some youngsters - those who a...

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Name: Sue Wilsher
25 April 2024;

Genre: Environment & Nature

Containing 50 poems inspired by nature, Outside In: Nature Poems is a wonderfully uplifting collection. Daniel Thompson's love of the outdoors and the healing joy of nature shines through each poem. There are poems about the weather, animals, the season… showing all the variet...

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Name: Sue Wilsher
25 April 2024;

Genre: Myths & Legends

East Asian Folktales, Myths and Legends, the latest title in the Scholastic Folktales, Myths and Legends series, offers a collection of stories from East Asia, thoughtfully retold by Eva Wong Nava. The anthology includes tales from China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan and Mon...

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