Families Book Reviews

Name: Jane Rew
04 September 2024;

Genre: Non Fiction

From the bright, stylish cover and end papers to the informative content within, this is an attractive hardback. Playful illustrations, combining clarity and realism with humorous captions, add extra appeal. Author Fran is a scientist, but clearly a great team is behind...

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Name: Elen Green
04 September 2024;

Genre: Family & Home

A perceptive, engaging story about the emotions a young boy goes through when his father leaves home. Shingai's struggle with his sadness and loss leads to upheaval at home as both he and his mother try to reshape their lives around the father's absence. This poignant narrative is brill...

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Name: Eileen Armstrong
03 September 2024;

Genre: Friends and family

Exactly one year after her mum's death and the night before she goes back to school, Suzy Button makes three wishes in the light of the supermoon in her garden at midnight, desperate for things to change, but not at all believing that they can or will. What Suzy definitely hadn'’t bargained fo...

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Name: Nathan Cox
03 September 2024;

Genre: Mental Health & Wellbeing

Popcorn by Rob Harrell is a heartfelt and humorous story that follows Andrew, a young boy navigating a particularly difficult day at school - school photo day. From dealing with a bully to a disastrous science experiment and upsetting news about his grandmother, Andrew's anxie...

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Name: Cathy
03 September 2024;

Genre: Friends and family

I loved meeting Geoff the less than ordinary dog in Ged Adamson's Be Normal!, a wonderful story about friendship and difference, all wrapped up in a heartwarming story about a new dog who isn't quite what his young owner expected. When Theo gets a new dog, he's thrilled...

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Name: Jacqueline Harris
02 September 2024;

Genre: Historical Fiction

In Circus Maximus: Return of the Champion, Dido is back in her fourth and final adventure in this action-packed historical series.  Dido is living in North Africa, training horses and keeping her head down.  A slave boy from Rome, Damon, is thrown into her path, with their dei...

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Name: Amanda Shipton
02 September 2024;

Genre: Fantasy

Highly illustrated, this fourth book in the Ivy Newt series, Ivy Newt and the Vampixies, continues the amazing work of Derek Keilty. In this adventure we are introduced to new characters in the form of the Vampixie Queen and her daughter as well as Captain Hec...

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Name: Sue Wilsher
02 September 2024;

Genre: Myths & Legends

When a strange creature is rescued from the sea and brought to the marine sanctuary where Sasha works, she finds herself fascinated by the beautiful sea-girl, who is kept for scientific research and exhibited to a curious public. As Sasha spends time with 'Marissa', as she names her, the sea-g...

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Name: Margaret Pemberton
02 September 2024;

Genre: Adventure

When Joey and her friends were chosen to represent the school at a competition in the local Museum, she did not bargain on seeing Harry, an ex-pupil and her nemesis. But then something strange happens and she and Harry find themselves being kidnapped by what appear to be Imps. Soon, they find...

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Name: Louisa Farrow
02 September 2024;

Genre: Myths & Legends

This haunting new novella from Berlie Doherty with gorgeous illustrations by Tamsin Roseweil is a gem - a wonderful, imaginative story to share, stitched from the glittering threads of traditional tales of mermaids. At the start, a strange and wonderful creature is brou...

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