My budget for books is small! I always overspend but, this month, it's well and truly been BLOWN! September sees the release of new books from some of my favourite authors that I just can't wait to get my hands on...
The Wizards of Once: Knock Three Times by Cressida Cowell (MG)
I have to confess that I had never read Cressida Cowell before The Wizards of Once. The How to Train Your Dragon series has shamefully passed me by, maybe because, due to being so busy, I am reluctant to find myself drawn into a lengthy series that I don't want to emerge from. However, this trio of middle grade books, written by the current Waterstones Children's Laureate, offers us mind-blowing imagination and a unique adventure into a world of Magic and Iron.
Xar is the son of a powerful enchanter and Wish is the daughter of an Iron Warrior Queen. The two worlds are divided but, when Xar and Wish meet, they collide with startling force. But they are not alone, for rumours say that the Witches are rising again.
Both The Wizards of Once and Twice Magic blew me away, firstly because of the fantastically gripping and atmospheric plot, but, secondly, because of the way the story is told. Cressida Cowell allows a mysterious narrator to tell this story. This gives it a wonderfully unique voice that speaks right into the hearts and minds of the readers. There is a wonderful air of respect and inclusion for the reader, which I think children will really respond to. They are given advice and wisdom with out any hint of being patronised. I love Cowell's ability to sum up life's mysteries and complexities in single sentences, which ring out as clear as a bell.
Knock the Times, the third Wizard of Once book, is out on September 19th.
Dracula Spectacular by Lucy Rowland and Ben Mantle
I would have bought this book purely on the cover art alone but the fact that it is a new picture book by Lucy Rowland and Ben Mantle means we are counting the days until it's release on September 19th. Lucy Rowland and Ben Mantle won us over with Little Red Reading Hood, a firm favourite that comes out on pretty much every car journey. Have you seen my blankie? is another of Lucy's charming rhyming tales as well as Catch that Egg, Jake Bakes a Monster Cake and Gecko Echo.
Our favourite Lucy Rowland tales are the ones with echoes of fairytales. However, a Halloween themed book that includes a rainbow Dracula is bound to get families excited. I doubt Lucy'srhyming talent will disappoint- I think we are in for a treat.
The Girl who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson
I can't speak about The Girl who Speaks Bear without first talking about Sophie Anderson's debut novel, The House with Chicken Legs. In my first blog post, I talked about finding those breadcrumb books that speak to your soul and leave an imprint on the rest of your life. This book is one of those books.
For the first time in a long time I was tempted to hide under the covers and read through the night (and if it had been the weekend, I certainly would have).
The story of Marinka is beautiful and haunting. Based on the Slavic folklore and Russian fairytales about Baba Yaga, it centres around a house with chicken legs which guides the dead to the next life. Death is not an easy subject but Marinka's tale is moving and compelling. Just stunning!
Released on September 5th 2019, The Girl who Speaks Bear is an entirely new story also inspired by Slavic folklore. Yanka's story is interspersed with traditional takes, giving it the promise of a truly magical read.
The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
This is Kiran Millwood Hargrave's first foray into the YA market. Telling the story of Dracula's brides, it looks like the perfect Halloween read for older readers.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Kiran Millwood Hargrave's middle grade books but it was The Island at the end of Everything that placed her amongst my new favourite authors. In the same ilk as Anderson's The House with Chicken Legs, this read was soulful and moving. It beautifully portrays the strength of a parental bond and explores how beauty can mask discrimination, prejudice and
ugliness.
These are only a few of the brilliant books available this month-the ones I have eagerly awaited and pre-ordered. I'm certainly like a kid in a sweetshop this September and can't wait for the packages to start hitting the doormat. Happy reading!
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