Neal Layton

Faber & Faber, 9780571348985

“The Great Reindeer Disaster” by Kate Saunders and Neal Layton is a brilliantly funny look at what happens when a young and accident prone reindeer called Percy lands on the Trubshaw family’s roof. We meet the villainous Krampus and the various teams of reindeer who make sure that all presents are delivered on the great day. There are thrills and laughs as young Jake and Sadie Trubshaw try and save Christmas from being ruined. This is a great read for those who are just beginning to read with confidence and will make a great present.

OUP, 9780192767455

“The Santa Surprise” (Winnie and Wilbur) by Laura Owen and Korky Paul once again has the hilarious Winnie the Witch and Wilbur preparing for the festive celebrations, but then Winnie wonders ‘who gives presents to Father Christmas?’ she and Wilbur hatch a plan to prove Santa with a surprise and of course all sorts of things go wrong before finally they get sorted out. This is one of the stories intended for the young reader of chapter books and is full of Korky Paul’s delightful and energetic illustrations.

Walker, 9781406379648

“Angel on the Roof” by Shirley Hughes is a magical and hopeful story about a young boy called Lewis Brown and what happens when he finds a golden feather floating down from the roof of the flats where he lives. The setting is quite bleak as everyone lives separate lives and there are frictions all around in the community. Lewis is often bullied by other young people because of a weak leg but things might just be about to get better. When he climbs to the roof of the flats he discovers an angel and begins to talk to him, thus beginning a new friendship. gradually over a few days the presence of the angel has an impact on people, even though they are not aware of his existence. this is a beautiful story about developing friendships and not judging people; it has lessons for all of us.

Nosy Crow, 9781788000314

“Rose Campion and the Christmas Mystery” by Lyn Gardner is the third and final story in the series about the young Rose Campion, who had been left as a baby outside the doors of Campion’s Music Hall. There is danger and deception as the performers prepare for Christmas and the pantomime season. Murder and mayhem follow as the criminal called ‘The Duchess’ sets her sights on stealing a precious emerald necklace from a friend of Rose. Eventually all is revealed, and this includes the secret of Rose’s parents, but will it be a truly happy Christmas for everyone?

Simon & Schuster, 9781471170454

“Snowflakes, Silver and Secrets” (Seaview Stables Adventures) by Tracey Corderoy is the third in a series of books about the pony-mad Bryony and her collection of friends. There is a Christmas fair and a pantomime but in the middle of this some silver goes missing from the home of Bryony’s arch-nemesis Georgina Brook. It is up to Bryony and her friends to find out what has happened and to stop others from being blamed for something they didn’t do. A perfect gift for those pony-mad members of the family.

Puffin, 9780241338520

“The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch” by Tom Fletcher and Shane deVries follows on from the original ‘Christmasaurus’ and this time the young hero Will discovers that Christmas itself is under threat. Children are beginning to lose their belief in Christmas and when they all do this then the festival itself will cease to exist; not only that, but the reindeer, elves and Father Christmas will also disappear. Will needs the help of his step-sister Brenda and his friend the Christmasaurus to go back in time and save Christmas from being banned. What a glorious way to start the holiday season; this book is full of joy but it will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, just in case the villains actually win. It is a great book for any middle grade reader (and the adults in their lives).

I hope that you will find something here to enjoy over the holiday and that many of them will become firm favourites over the coming years. Happy Christmas everyone.

Well we are now midway through the summer break and according to the papers have just passed the worst day of the holiday for parents. One of the mainstays of the summer break is the “Summer reading Challenge” and this year they have linked with the Guinness book of records to promote the theme of Record Breakers; this is bound to be a really popular theme and it would be great if they could break the million participants barrier.

Nosy Crow, 978-0857634795

Some of the books that could prove popular over the coming weeks are”My brother is a Superhero” by David Solomons, which follows the adventures of Luke and his brother Zak. Luke is a mad comic fan and totally in to superheros, whereas his brother is more into homework. Due to an urgent need to go to the loo, Luke misses out on getting superpowers and has to help his brother come to terms with becoming “Star Lad”. When an asteroid heads on a collision course with Earth it is up to the two boys, together with friends Serge and Lara to save the day;despite the machinations of a crazed Comic Empire owner.

Piccadilly Press, 978-1848124776

“Rampage” by Julia Wills is the second in a series of books about Aries, the ram from the legend of the Golden Fleece and it is set in the Amazon jungle. This story continues the adventures of Aries and his friend Alex, together with the ‘Hero’ Jason, as they try and save their friend Rose from the grip of the evil Medea. One again we have a story full of humour and adventure thanks to the ram with attitude.

Faber & Faber, 978-0571317578

“In Darkling Wood” by Emma Carroll is yet another brilliant book by this author. It is the tale of Alice, who is sent to live with her grandmother when her young brother is taken into hospital. When she arrives she finds that there is a local campaign to stop her grandmother cutting down the Darkling wood that surrounds the house. This is a story full of magic and mystery and has links to the tale of the Cottingley fairies which was a public sensation just after the First World War. Alice does not want to leave her family and the bleak atmosphere at Darkling Cottage does nothing to help. This is the third book I have read by this author and they just keep getting better and better. Of course I might be slightly biased as Emma Carroll is a graduate of the amazing writing course at Bath Spa University.

Chicken House, 978-1909489004,

There has been a real surge in the number of books with school setting, especially boarding schools. The actual stories range from mystery and magic to murder and mayhem and they seem to cover from 7 to 17, so something for everyone. “Mischief at Midnight” by Esme Kerr is the second in a series about Edie and her friend Anastasia who attend Knight’s Haddon and this year they have to cope with new girl Janet, a mystery at a local tower and environmental protesters. It is a great story about friendship and is full of excitement and adventure, so we hope for more to come.

August brings a new title from Louis Sacher, author of “Holes” and this one is called “Fuzzy Mud”. It is about bullying at school and also the issues surrounding genetic modification of food. This is a great read with a very serious message underlying it. Thanks to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.

For younger readers there are lots of great reads. Michael Rosen has got a new character who makes his first appearance in “Uncle Gobb and the dread shed”. It is a totally whacky story about Malcolm and the frightening Uncle Gobb who lives with the family and is very strict about homework etc.Neal Layton’s illustrations are dramatic and atmospheric and add so much to the story. While Gill Lewis has brought out another title in the Puppy Academy series, this one is called “Scout and the Sausage thief” and is about a puppy who wants to follow in her parents’ paw prints and become a police dog, a lovely school based tale. Kjartan Poskitt has a new tale about his barbarian hero called “Borgon the Axeboy and the Prince’s shadow”, this is full of action and humour with great illustrations by Philip Reeve. Finally we have “Nelly and the Quest for Captain Peabody” by Roland Chambers, a story of lost explorers, daring young heroines and dastardly postman pirates.

Margaret's reading shelf

a personal look at a reading life.

Snow is all around

A Simply Super Summer

Subscribe By Email