Phew! What a busy month September has been. We've gone from months of trying to fill the hours with books and home-learning to back-to-school routines, lunchboxes and a smattering of clubs. As a result, our blog has slipped behind.
What I did notice, when looking back over our recent reviews, is that I have neglected a write-up of chapter books. This was not my intention as chapter books are my favourite type of children's book and the age-group that I am now actively reading to my children. In fact, a year ago, I blogged about the trouble we were experiencing transitioning from picture books to chapter books.
Happily, we have made masses amount of progress. Myself and my five year old son have had a chapter book on the go, alongside picture books, for most of this year. And, with a steady supply of brilliant new chapter books coming in, even my seven year old reluctant reader is jumping on board. We even have a queue lined up and they are loving the ownership of choosing the next book to read from a selection.
So here are some of the chapter books we have been sharing and enjoying together. Please also bear with us as we have a sizeable backlog. This means there are many more books we are sure will be brilliant but having got around to reading yet.
Published by: Little Tiger , October 1st 2020 👍👍👍👍
This beautifully illustrated, full-colour book is the perfect step up from picture books. Only a few thousand words in length, it tells a charming story about Henry, a boy with a secret.
When Henry doesn't know what to do with his secret, Grandpa gives him a hat to keep it under. But, Grandpa's hat is already full of secrets and it's time they were discovered.
The visual tags given to the secrets in this story worked well. The anecdotes were very sweet and there was a fun, surprise at the end when the readers learn what Henry's secret it. It allowed me to open up a discussion with my little ones about 'secrets' and when a secret may be okay to keep.
This book would also make a lovely gift for an independent reader who is just taking off. My son loved it!
Horace and Harriet by Clare Elsom
Published: OUP Oxford, 2018 👍👍👍👍👍
Published a couple of years ago, there are now at least four books in this series and we would definitely read them all. Horace and Harriet is a perfect series for 5-7's and again was very popular with my son. We also loved what an original but simple concept this was and how the author/illustrator has had great fun with it.
Harriet is astonished when the statue in the park comes alive. Fed up of being pooped on by pigeons and covered in graffiti and litter, Horace is determined to find a new home. But when he makes himself comfortable in Grandad's shed, Harriet needs to find him somewhere more suitable... before her mum finds out.
This is a super, funny story with brilliant characterisation. Horace's larger-than-life antics cause endless trouble for Harriet, which Horace is oblivious to. But, as the story shapes into a heart-warming tale of friendship and community, it's clear that this pair are a match made in chapter book heaven.
Unipiggle by Hannah Shaw
This series, also perfect for 5-7s, is beautifully produced and, as advertised on the front cover, full of shiny, colour images. It's a fun, fantastical adventure story, packed with action and drama and a short but satisfying length. Unipiggle, of course, is the main attraction and his ability to turn everything his horn touches into chocolate is an exciting bonus.
Princess Pea is desperate for an adventure and so embarks on a journey around Twinkleland. As they uncover an out-of-control dinosaur, Princess Pea and Unipiggle must race to save their home town and the palace.
For me, the dragon and the dinosaur together created a bit of confusion. However, not for my son! He loved this adventure and found the dinosaur very funny. Unipiggle's solution to Twinkleland's dinosaur problem is fun and one that all children will surely love. There were some great supporting characters in this story and everything you want from a magical chapter book: unicorn pigs, rainbows, dragons, dinosaurs and chocolate. Enough said!
The Naughtiest Unicorn and the Spooky Surprise
by Pip Bird and Dave O'Connell
Published: Egmont, 1st October 2020
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This latest book in The Naughtiest Unicorn open series is our current read and has a strong, spooky opening. My son absolutely loves these books and is a huge fan of Dave, Mira's lazy, greedy, parping unicorn.
Mira spends her holidays at Unicorn School, where each pupil is assigned their very own unicorn. However, when Mira wound up being partnered with Dave, he was far from the perfect partner she'd dreamed of and bonding proved tricky. However, now the pair are inseparable and have had all sorts of magical adventures together. When a mysterious stranger arrives at Unicorn School during Halloween, strange things start to happen. Just what is going on?
The cover is a spooky, Halloween delight, fabulously designed by Dave O'Connell. However, whilst myself and my daughter were immersed immediately into this book, my five year old son was more timid about the spookiness of it and has now ordered me to read it after school and not before bed. Whilst he is particularly sensitive about scary things, it hasn't stopped him wanting to read the whole thing because he knows it will end up being an hilariously funny Halloween treat, with Dave undoubtedly being the star of the show.
These books are light-hearted, magical and fantabulous fun and a great family read.
Scribblewitch: Magical Muddles (Book 2) by Inky Willis
Published: Hachette, August 2020
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I absolutely fell in love with the first book in this series and my daughter fell in love with the second. This is the author/illustrated chapter book that really got her attention and although she pretended she wasn't listening at the beginning, by the end she was asking for it to be read.
When Molly discovers a paper witch called Notes in her pen pot, her life at school changes forever. Notes is lovable and mischievous and determined to help Molly with her troubles, even if her 'help' doesn't always go to plan.
When Molly's best friend, Chloe, moves to a new school and makes new friends, Molly is devastated. Can she keep Chloe as a friend or is she gone for good?
Set purely in school, this is an adorable series where text and illustrations go hand in hand. Notes’ distinct writing voice is both catchy and charming and Molly makes for a very relatable main character with her try-hard, easily distracted, bad-decision making personality.
I felt that book two featured Notes less than book one and focused more on Molly's friendship dilemma. Molly's decisions take centre stage as she battles with her emotions over losing her best friend. However, Notes is both wise and hilarious in her supporting role and the spelling bee is great fun. There's a lovely heart-warming ending with a fun, spelling twist and the power of friendship truly prevails. My son loved Captain Purrkins and the pencil toppers and there are some great, flourishes of detail which magically brings this story to life.
Boot: The Creaky Creatures by Shane Hegarty and Ben Mantle
Publisher: Hachette, September 2020
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As with Scribblewitch, Boot is aimed more at the 7-9 age-group. Crusty Creatures is the third book in the series but the first I have read to my son and he just about coped with it. It was such fun to be back with this adorable robot again and I agree with the comparisons that Waterstones make to Toy Story. Any avid fans of Woody and Buzz should definitely give this series a go.
In this third instalment, Boot and his robot friend Noke are taken by surprise when they discover a city park full of creaky robot creatures. But when they discover that Coffee Lady plans to destroy the park and build a cafe instead, Boot and Noke must join forces with brother and sister, Jordan and Melody and find a way to save the precious green space.
As with the previous two Boot books, I thoroughly enjoyed this story but found that I missed some of Boot's robot friends (Red, Gerry and Rusty), who don't feature as heavily in this plot. However, there are a lot of new faces to get to know and my son absolutely loved the creaky creatures, especially the dinosaur and the hypnotic hamster. A lot of the story focuses on Boot feeling broken and struggling with his emotions, which made a good platform for discussing emotions and feelings with my five year old.
Coffee Lady made for an enjoyable baddy and the name stuck very clearly with my little one, who named her as one of his favourite villains. The story has an important eco message and bags of warmth and heart to go with it! Boot is a truly adorable character and I can see him having many more adventures in future.
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Sitting on the border between chapter books and middle grade, Anisha, Accidental Detective is a brilliant mystery series full of humour, fun and friendship. This second book in the series is easily as good, if not better than the first because re-visiting Anisha and her loveable, crazy family felt a little bit like going home.
When Anisha and her friends, Milo and Govi are chosen to participate in the science fair with their volcano project, they are thrilled. Anisha has her sights firmly on the prize...until their volcano is sabotaged in spectacular style! Now their team are not only in big trouble, they are disqualified from the science fair altogether. But Anisha smells a rat! Can she and her friends, with the support of Granny Jas and a high school Vlogger, get to the bottom of who has set them up?
This is an easily accessible, laugh-out-loud read with big-hearted characters, an intriguing plot and a bold and satisfying ending. Anisha may be a reluctant detective but she is perfect for the role. The mystery side of the plot is greatly enhanced by Anisha's wonderful and chaotic family, making it an all round cracking read. The style and tone is fresh and contemporary and I particularly enjoyed the vlogger's role in the story.
Family is a recurring theme which sits firmly at the root of this series. Blended families, extended families (and the love, trouble and complex emotions which accompany them) are explored beautifully by Serena Patel and I'm sure this is a family that readers are going to love for the duration of this series.
So if you are a mystery lover, science lover or simply a fun lover, then this is a book for you!
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