The last few months have been an absolute treasure trove of new middle grade fiction; it has ranged from favourite series reaching their conclusion, to the start of some fantastic and truly imaginative adventures. Recurring themes seem to include elements of ‘Steam Punk’ , Time slip adventures, magic and crime. In other words there is something for everyone if they can search out the books. As always I hope that these little tasters will help people find something that suits them.
Chicken House, 9781911077657
“Tin” by Padraig Kenny is the first book by a very talented writer and it is set in a world where mechanical persons and animals are commonplace. Christopher is a ‘real’ boy who was orphaned as a small child and is now apprenticed to an inventor who creates mechanicals. It is a great story that is full of adventure and a few secrets that will tug at your emotions when they are revealed
Bloomsbury, 9781408854877
“The Explorer” by Katherine Rundell is a wonderful story of a group of children who find themselves stranded in the Amazon Jungle after their aeroplane crashes and the pilot dies. When they find evidence that someone has been in the area before them, they start to see if they can find the person or ways out of the jungle.
Nosy Crow, 978-0857638427
“Evie’s Ghost” by Helen Peters is a lovely time slip story for middle grade. When Evie is sent to stay with an elderly and rather eccentric godmother she does not expect to find herself transported back to 1814. She finds that the daughter of the house is being forced to marry a friend of her father; however back in the modern world there is a story that this same person has been imprisoned by her father and then mysteriously disappeared, presumed dead . How Evie copes with life in the 19th century and searches for a way to help the daughter makes for a thrilling story which I really enjoyed.
Scholastic, 9781407181707
“Brightstorm” by Vashti Hardy is a wonderful mix of steampunk, exploration and the importance of family. It has two strong and determined siblings who set out to find what has happened to their explorer father, after he is pronounced dead and accused of having sabotaged another airship crew. I think we are going to have great fun with Arthur and Maudie as they take on further adventures. We also have a wonderfully evil villainess in the shape of the aptly named Eudora Vane.
Sky Pony Press, 978-1510739420
“Me and Mr P” by Maria Farrer is a truly delightful story of Arthur and his younger brother Liam. Arthur often feels left out because of the problems that Liam has to cope with (he is on the autistic spectrum), so when the mysterious Mr P, who just happens to be a Polar bear, turns up on the doorstep he wonders what is going to happen. This is a gorgeous story that leaves you feeling warm and cuddly inside, even though Liam has to cope with some serious issues. I am looking forward to Mr P’s next adventure as he continues to help those in need.
Egmont, 978-1405282901
“The Midnight Peacock” by Katherine Woodfine is the final book in the ‘Sinclair’s mysteries’ series and the author provides a really exciting and satisfying finale. When Sophie and Lil are invited to a Christmas/New Year party at Winter Hall,they did not expect to find yet another mystery for them to solve. Thy are pitted against old enemies and are in a race against time to prevent a disaster. It has recently be announced that the intrepid duo will be starring in a new series of books over the next few years, so all of their fans will be jumping up and down with joy.
Bloomsbury, 978-1408872758
“The Prisoner of Ice and Snow” by Ruth Lauren is set in a country not dissimilar to old Russia with snow, wolves and warring nations. Valor has created a situation where she has been sent to a terrible prison called Tyur’ma, made of ice and stone; however this is part of her plan to free her twin sister from this same place. Why they are there and how they can escape and save their country forms the basis of this exciting story. I loved the relationship between the girls but there were also lots of twists and turns in the plot which kept me guessing for a while.
Puffin, 978-0141373782
“Spoonful of Murder” by Robin Stevens is the latest in the “Wells and Wong” series featuring the two schoolgirl detectives Daisy and Hazel. This time they are staying in Hong Kong, after the death of Hazel’s grandfather, so that she is the one who is comfortable and in control, unlike daisy who is quite out of her depth. This is an extremely personal investigation for the two girls and is a worthy addition to the series. I find myself recommending this all the time and the followers are growing, book by book.
“The Eye of the North” by Sinead O’Hart sees another intrepid young girl, this time called Emmeline, setting off to discover the whereabouts of her missing explorer parents. It is a steampunk novel with two opposing and still very nasty villains both of whom want to stop Emmeline and her companions from solving the puzzle and finding the missing parents. (Stripes, 978-1847159410)
“The Empty Grave” (Lockwood and Co.) by Jonathan Stroud brings the Lockwood and Co. series to an end and it does so with a really fantastic story which brings all of the story strands together. A really great series for those who love the supernatural, magic and a fair bit of investigation. The unlikely team of investigators face not only the supernatural but also real adversaries and finally discover secrets from the past. (Disney-Hyperion, 978-1484778722)
“Carnival of Monsters” (S.C.R.E.A.M) by Andrew Beasley is the second story in a new series by this author and featuring a Victorian crime-fighting duo called Charley (a girl) and Billy. The twist is that they are part of an organization that specializes in dealing with the supernatural. It is also great to see that Charley is a strong and leading character in the books, with no ground being given because she is in a wheelchair; an excellent role model. (Usborne, 978-1474906937)
Usborne, 978-1474940665
“The House with Chicken Legs” by Sophie Anderson gives the game away with its name; that is if you know the Russian folk tale “Baba Yaga”. this is an updated version of the story, where the heroine live with her grandmother, the eponymous Baba Yaga but does not want to follow in her footsteps and help the dead to cross into the next world. All Marinka wants is to be a normal girl, live in the same place and have some real friends. Her attempts lead to some unfortunate events and she gradually learns that she needs to compromise in order to get the best for herself and those she loves.
Hodder, 978-1444936704
“The Wizards of Once” by Cressida Cowell is the first in the new series by the wonderful Cressida Cowell. She has moved away from Dragons but this time she has Wizards and Warriors who are hereditary enemies. However things are about to change when it is accidentally discovered that Witches are not extinct and that the queen of witches is on the move and wanting to get rid of the two groups who banished her in the past. A very funny story with two great characters in the centre of things. I can’t wait to see how this continues.
Orion,978-1510104112
“Nevermoor” by Jessica Townshend is yet another story set in a magical world. Since early childhood Morrigan has been blamed for every bad thing that has befallen the people of her village: from her mother dying in childbirth to people tripping over or even wishing someone a good day. Because she was born on Eventide night she is doomed to die at the same time on the night she turns 11; unfortunately that date is fast approaching. However before this date there is the annual ‘bid’ ceremony where children are chosen to attend different types of education. Morrigan is allowed to attend as an observer and is shocked when someone bids for her. When the eccentric Jupiter North offers her the chance to train for the Wundrous Society in the secret city of Nevermoor, Morrigan jumps at the opportunity to escape her fate, but is it ‘out of the frying pan’? This is the first part of a wonderful new series that is gaining lots of fans and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I do hope that people find stories that they will enjoy among this selection. I thoroughly enjoyed all of them and had a roller-coaster ride as I looked forward to the next stories in new series and said goodbye to old friends as other tales came to an end. With Easter about to arrive I hope that you find time to enjoy several of these magic and imaginative stories.
“A Newborn Child” by Jackie Morris is a totally wonderful, magical retelling of the Christmas story. the author has created the most sumptuous illustrations and the text is short but totally reflective of the images. The name Jackie Morris always means quality and she has maintained her high standards with this book. It is a real classic.
Harry is playing the role of Scrooge in the school play and desperately wants his dad to attend, but that is beginning to look very unlikely. There is a very poignant and yet uplifting contrast between the plot of the play and the everyday life that harry is having to cope with. Yet another one to add to my Christmas shelf.
young Theo who has been left at home on Christmas Eve while his parents are both still at work. When he thinks he sees a shooting star he makes a wish that he could have some friends for company and that is when the magic starts. The book is truly lovely object and has a feel of the 1950s about it; the paper is thick and creamy, the illustrations are of the period and the colour palette is bright but without the harshness that is often found today.
of what happens when people misunderstand what they hear. This is a delightful story from Barrington Stoke with matching colour illustrations from our previous Children’s Laureate.
Department Store. Our heroines Sophie and Lil find themselves spending the holiday at Winter Hall but danger and intrigue seems to have followed them. A cracking read and thankfully there is a hint that the girls will be back for more adventures in the future.
McGifty and Slippery Sam, with the first one being about their attempt to save Santa’s sleigh after it is taken. This is great fun as always.
“The untold story of Father Christmas” by Alison and Mike Battle with Lauren A Mills is another version of how this mythical character became the person we know today. The cover is sumptuous and the illustrations are beautiful, with soft and glowing colours and a feel of Scandinavian scenery. This is for KS2 children probably, but is a great read for telling to younger ones.
his way hoe from the town and with a very precious package. The illustrations are based on very intricate paper collage and this gives a 3-D effect.There is also a battery at the back of the book, which provides lights at different points in the story. The very young children will love this.
“The Nutcracker (The story of the orchestra)” illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle is one for those who love their ballet. This is a very straightforward re-telling of the story but with the magical addition of small excerpts of music; you press the relevant button and are transported to the performance. It would make a wonderful gift for someone about to attend their first performance.
was lucky enough to hear this author/poet speak at a conference earlier this year, so I was excited to see what this story would be like. Well, it was just as hysterically funny as you might imagine with a very determined heroine Greta Zargo, who really wants to be an investigative reporter. There is the case of the missing cakes and the competition to win a reporting prize but in the background and moving ever closer to Earth is a Death Robot; can Greta find the culprit and save the planet at the same time. You will have to read it to see.
novels. He has given us a mystery with two main central characters. Their stories start individually but gradually things begin to merge until eventually we understand how they are linked together. Chipper is a dog that has been kept in a scientific research facility since he was young. He knows that the ‘white coats’ have done things to him, but his increased abilities allow him to escape and go on the hunt for someone (unknown) that he just has to find. On the other side of the State lives Jeff, who has gone to live with his aunt after the tragic deaths of his parents. How these two come together and what their connection is makes for a thrilling and very addictive story. The next in the series should be a real roller-coaster I suspect. One for years 6 and 7.
“You can’t make me go to Witch School” by Em Lynas. Daisy Wart just wants to become a great Shakespearean actress but her grandmother insists that she is a witch and sends her off to witch school. Despite her protests she finds that she can do magic and she and her new friends are called upon to save Toadspit Towers (her school) from an ancient curse. can she do this and also achieve her acting ambitions? This is a funny and exciting story about finding yourself and also about friendship. It is great for the lower end of KS2 and those who just want a light and very enjoyable story.
perhaps I am showing my age to some extent. It is a fantasy with rabbits as the main characters, so there is also a nod to Richard Adams and ‘Watership Down’. They are anthropomorphized, so that we are taken to a somewhat medieval landscape with warring tribes and three young rabbits who are fleeing from a terrifying enemy and who have to save an ancient treasure. It is a thrilling story for ‘middle grade’ children and could well be a favourite for many years to come.
“The Starman and me” by Sharon Cohen (NG) reminded me somewhat of ‘Stig of the Dump‘by Clive King, ‘Nation‘ by Terry Pratchett and another new book by Adam Stower called ‘King Coo’. When Kofi sees an unusual small and very scruffy person on a roundabout he is in for the most amazing adventure of his life so far. The character finally 
makes contact, but is he from our world and if so, how did he get to England? this is one of those books that gradually hooks you and then reels you in. A really great read.
series of books by this French Canadian author and which was first published in 1994. It is a short and very witty story about what happens when Miss Charlotte arrives to teach a class of young children who do not enjoy school. Her somewhat eccentric methods eventually make her very popular, but the children find that they have to fight to keep the teacher they have come to love and admire. As a follow on, you might like to read “The Mysterious Librarian” which sees Miss Charlotte take on the challenge of encouraging children to enjoy reading.
“The Spooky School” by Tracey Corderoy and Steve Lenton is another set of short stories about the cake-baking, crime-fighting duo of Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam. They originally started their adventures in picture book format but have now branched out for the next age group. In this book they save jewels, fight ghosts and meet a fiendish new villain; a Red Panda called ‘Red Rocket’. It is great fun.
in the “Tanglewood Animal Park” series which follows the adventures of young Zoe, whose parents have bought Tanglewood Manor and turned it into an Animal Park. This story revolves around Tindu the male Tiger and the attempts to help him settle down in the park, before the arrival of his new mate. It is a charming story with a lot of information and a cast of characters that you can’t help but like. This is a super series, especially if you are an animal lover.
adventures of young Lady Miranda and her dog called Pug as they visit the local boating lake. However when things get out of control and Pug finds himself in the sea and being rescued by another young girl life becomes quite adventurous. This is the first in a series of adventures for the pampered pooch and joins the list of books written about the breed.
Pug related story only this time the hero is called Pugly and he is trying to bake a cake for his owner. Unfortunately his efforts seem to be being sabotaged by Clementine (Clem) the family cat. Most families with a mix of pets will understand the frictions between the main characters and the very funny scrapes that they get themselves in to.
“Marge and the Pirate baby” by Isla Fisher is the second book featuring Marge, a truly unique babysitter. This time she is looking after Jemima and Jake as usual, but finds herself having to look after their demon of a baby cousin called Zara. There are three short stories in this offering and I think that the author is really starting to be comfortable with her characters, which means that we become more involved with the stories. This is a funny and quirky book for both boys and girls.
where he is from. That is the situation that D.J and Gina find themselves in and they then have to try and find a way of sending him back home. This book is the first in a series of comic style books being published by Puffin. It is bright , well illustrated and full of humour; in other words it is great for boys in particular, although the strong female character makes it fun for everyone.
another one of their fantastically funny collaborations. Set in Funfair Moon it is full of zany aliens, dastardly villains and a clever heroine called Emily. As you would expect this will take you on a ‘roller coaster ride’ of excitement. The illustrations are full of the energy and humour that we have come to expect. It is a great book to read alone or to a class.
Teddington, disguised as humans. This book sees them and their friends going to Cornwall on their summer holidays. As usual there are lots of ‘groan worthy’ jokes as well as puns, both written and visual. I love the way that the author’s voice comes across so easily and the illustrator’s ability to translate all of this visually. A really great read for all ages.
on his nose as they are leaving his cave; that is when he finds that all his food is missing. He goes outside and discovers the wonder of the snow. Rabbit offers him a moldy old carrot to eat, which he is very grateful for. However he does not know that it is Rabbit who has stolen his food. When a wolf comes looking for some food the two friends have to work together and Rabbit in particular learns a few things about friendship. What a funny story with some gross elements such as Rabbit eating his own poo (yuck!)
Toad frozen solid in the ice house, little did they guess that it was the (in)famous Toad that they had heard stories of from their grandparents. Toad of course is just as excitable as in the past and when he finds that the weasels have taken over Toad Hall and want to knock it down for a housing estate, he is determined to get it back. With the help of his new young friends he finds a way to challenge the weasels. This is a great story full of charm and humour that really retains the spirit of the original and this is captured by the super illustrations by Holly Swain.
Whilst most of my time on a visit is spent helping the schools, I do get time to look at what has been arriving in the last few months and these are some of the picture books that caught my eye when I visited three weeks ago.
called Alice Jones and I must admit to being a fan. It fits into that group of writers who would be perfectly at home in the “Golden Age” of crime fiction, although these books are set in the current period. A great series for those who love Robin Stevens and Katherine Woodfine.
introduction to the cycles of the Moon, aimed at the youngest of readers. It is told in rhyme and can be read as both a story and as a source of information. Basically it is a conversation between the Moon and a small child who loves watching its changes. The illustrations are beautiful and use the dark blue of the night sky to balance the brightness of the Moon. This is brilliant for Foundation stage and beyond.
The author is well known in the education field and he has produced another clear and concise book about science. The book is divided into nine sections from magnetism to water and nature and there are a range of experiments within each area. As you would expect, there is a good glossary and index, so that this is useful as a class text as well as a library book. The pages are bright and clearly laid out. the text is logical and understandable with the processes being explained in an effective way. A lot of the ‘experiments’ do not require special equipment so they could be done in a classroom, or even at home.
The book begins with the basics and then builds on these by creating various ‘Missions’, where the reader has to build pages and apps in order to move forward in their task. This is not something you can just dip in to, although I am sure that members of a younger generation will find it easier to follow. This is definitely one that my younger son would have loved in his youth, when he was just learning to program.
well laid out and actually understandable. For young people who want to blog and vlog this is a very good place to start; of course it is also definitely for those older people who want to have a go at setting up a blog. It lists the main blog sites but it might be useful for schools to know that WordPress have a separate blog host called Edublogs which is aimed specifically at those working in education and which has more safeguards that normal sites. Yes, that is what I am using as it is a very good and user friendly place to be.
going on in the paintings. Unless the audience is knowledgeable about art they may well not differentiate between the two groups of artists. There is a section at the back of the book which gives thumbnail images and information about each piece of work. It is an excellent introduction to some major artists across the centuries.
visiting a museum and gives information about some of the major civilizations that you are likely to see there. It is aimed at KS1 and asks the reader to search the pictures for hidden items that were important to various ancient cultures. This is bright and cheerful; it is divided into the various sections you might find in a museum but there is no contents, index or glossary.
“50 things you should know about Space” by Professor Raman Prinja is another in this excellent series and the format is the same as the others. The contents page shows that the layout of the book and it starts with the history of the universe and how we have reached the state that exists today; then it looks at our solar system and each of the planets before finally covering the technology that has developed to allow us to explore the space around us. An excellent introduction to the subject.
Moose, Beaver and Bear. Whilst the stories can be read just as picture books, they are also about friendship, sharing and also about the consequences to others when you do something without considering them. The stories and illustrations are amusing, colourful and full of personality as well as providing a lesson for young readers.
The book itself is small (18cm square) and a comfortable size for young readers. The illustrations are clear but almost childlike and there is an element of fun added by the cheeky and amusing worm that appears in all the pages. the words are limited to only two lines of rhyming text per page but they explain the subject manner in a concise and understandable way. You could read this as a story to young children, but the inclusion of an index allows for some degree of searching, although the information given is not always very obvious. This is a nice addition to the mini-beast collections of Foundation and KS1 classes.
and very crawly creatures. The author is a zoologist and TV presenter, so she combines knowledge with the ability to connect with her audience. The illustrations and photographs are clear and accurate, whilst the text explains, without overwhelming the young reader. Even the size of the books is aimed at being comfortable for the small person. There is also a lovely surprise at the back of each book; one has a cut-out spider, whilst the other has a butterfly model. Altogether a well thought out series.
grandson is going to love. it is full of every kind of tractor and bulldozer that he could imagine. The layout is by type of machine and where they are used so that you get a real idea of how the use has developed over the last 100 years. The illustrations are up o date, bright and easily link to the small and concise blocks of text. A great book for KS1 to read and for younger children to share with an adult.
and then back again. Chris Packham is a well know and respected naturalist and he has chosen 15 widely different species to act as examples. Illustrations are used rather than photographs and this allows for some imagination to be added. Most of the images include a group of three children and this links the reading audience with the actual migratory process. Whilst there is not a huge amount of text it does give some fascinating information and acts as a springboard for those who want to go further in their research. It is a great book for KSI classes.
introduction to the world of nature for younger readers. The book is divided into into ‘chapters’ which are just two pages long and consist of beautiful illustrations of various examples of each subject. The text is limited to the names of the plant/animal and perhaps a short question for the reader to answer. It is a lovely book for browsing, but you need additional resources to add to the information.
judging panel. In 2010 we chose Neil Gaiman as the winner of the Carnegie for his book “The Graveyard Book”; the illustrator being Chris Riddell. Since then this duo have collaborated on several other works including “Fortunately the Milk”, a new edition of “Coraline” and “The Sleeper and the Spindle”, which has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie and was the winner of the Kate Greenaway medal for 2016.
It was a great evening with an opportunity to hear our current Children’s Laureate speak and also to catch up with friends and colleagues.
London called Lundinor, that exists below our own city. Ivy and her older brother Seb are left alone when their grandmother is admitted to hospital after a fall (both of their parents are away working) and then strange things start happening and they find themselves transported to Lundinor via a suitcase ! All this is linked to their grandma losing her memory many years before and they face danger and excitement as they try and solve the mysteries.