Fly, Tiger, Fly! by Rikin Paresh

 

Link to publisher

Published: Hachette, August 2020

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We have loved our book post over the last few weeks with lots of exciting new picture book releases and Fly, Tiger, Fly! written and illustrated by Rikin Parekh, was another one which my son got hugely excited about. After all, the idea of a flying tiger is pretty exciting and HOW he was going to manage that was my five year old's key question.

Riku is desperate to be the world's first flying tiger. Everyone in his family has achieved something special and now it is his turn. But Riku soon discovers that it's not easy for a tiger to fly. His best friend Jim knows exactly what the problem is but Riku is determined to persevere. Seeing how much it means to his friend, Jim sets about making his dream a reality. Will Riku finally get off the ground?

There are several stars of this story. Firstly Riku, for his endless determination, perseverance and brilliantly creative ideas, which will have little ones shrieking with delight. Secondly, Jim for having doubts but standing by his friend regardless and endeavouring to make his dream come true. And finally, the entire feathered community for teaming together to make Riku's dream become a reality. Help comes to those who help themselves and although Riku doesn't quite manage to solve his dilemma on his own, he remains focussed and pro-active through out, showing readers that determination really is the key. 

Not only is the plot funny and ingenious, Rikin Parekh's illustrations are eye-poppingly good, bursting with so much character and personality that the characters feel vividly alive! Just look at the expression on Riku's face as he drifts across the front cover! Priceless! Although we have read similar themed animal books in recent years, it is the vividness and vibrancy of this story which makes it stand out. 

The presence of the tree, for me adds an extra layer to the tale. Riku feeling pressured to live up to the achievements of his relations makes the story more dynamic and adds to the tiger's motivation to succeed. Comparing themselves to a sibling, friend or feeling like they need to live up to a parent's expectations is something readers will be able to relate to, whether young or old. However, the strength of friendship between Riku and Jim makes it feel safe, should he fail. Jim loves Riku as he is and doesn't need him to fly and yet he endeavours to help him because he can see it means so much to him.

So, if you are after a humorous, uplifting picture book about reaching for the stars, the power of friendship, teamwork and not giving up, then this is one for your bookshelf. It is a feast for the eyes and will tug on your heartstrings. Your little ones will have bags of fun predicting ways that a tiger can fly and will be rooting for Riku to get lift-off! 

Fly, Tiger, Fly was released in August and is now available to buy. 

UPCOMING RELEASE: I Really Really Need a Wee by Karl Newson and Duncan Beedie

                                                                      

                                                                         Link to publisher

                                               Published by: Little Tiger Press, 3rd September 2020

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If Wanda's Words Got Stuck was perfect for my daughter, then this book is spot-on for my son! (Although he really liked Wanda too.) I Really Really Need a Wee is a funny story about not waiting until you're bursting to go to the loo, something my five year old does on a very regular basis. 

Bush Baby does NOT need a wee. That is, until he leaves home and suddenly realises he is bursting. But where can he go? Everywhere is just so busy! Ah, at last he finds a loo but oops...there is a queue! Will Bush Baby be able to hold on?

This book is a perfect, laugh-out-loud mix of two of our previous favourites; I Need a Wee by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet and Queue for the Loo by Jeanne Willis. Thankfully, unlike the bear in Sue Hendra's book, Bush Baby does find a toilet but why is there always a queue?

My seven year old middle child, a notorious reluctant reader, was instantly enticed by the title and cover of this story. She knows that toilet humour stories are outrageously funny and there was a lovely moment where she excitedly gave me the night off and read the book to her younger brother, with lots of giggling in the process. Result!

Bush Baby is cute and funny with huge and hilarious eye expressions drawn brilliantly by Duncan Beedie. He is the perfect character to enact this amusing but infuriating situation, which most parents will have found themselves in, probably a thousand times over. And of course, just when you think it's all fine, Karl Newson ramps it up a notch with an hilarious twist at the end. 

A few weeks ago, I recently found myself up on the top of nearby beauty spot with my five year old and he re-enacted this story for me almost to the letter. Sadly, there was no toilet in sight and I'd stupidly come unprepared. I'll save you the details but the point is, what I needed this book so I could whip it out in the car, right before we left for our trek.

"Do you need a wee, son?"

You can guess what the answer would be! But gentle reminding children that they can be self-aware and have the confidence to speak up is no bad thing. After all, it happens to the best of us!

I Really Really Need a Wee is released this Thursday 3rd September 2020 and is available to pre-order. 

UPCOMING RELEASE:Wanda's Words Got Stuck by Lucy Rowland and Paula Bowles

Link to publisher

                                              Publisher: Nosy Crow, September 3rd 2020
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The joy of pre-ordering a book is that sometimes your much anticipated copy comes early. Thankfully, this was the case with Wanda's Words Got Stuck, a picture book we have been excited about for the following reasons:

1) We love witchy stories! Although there out there, witches in picture books is not something we have recently seen a lot of and we've missed them. 

2) This is a story about a child who has difficulties with speech and communication, something which is close to our hearts as my autistic daughter developed speech late, struggles to speak clearly enough to be understood and who some days doesn't want to speak at all, choosing instead to communicate her feelings in a rainbow of different ways.

3) As a primary teacher, I have encountered many children with speech and language difficulties, or who suffer with shyness, who desperately need to see themselves represented on the printed page.

Wanda can't get her words out! Despite her determination, they just won't come. But when a shy new witch starts at her school, Wanda finds alternative ways to communicate. Soon, the pair are inseparable and preparing for the school's spell magic contest but Wanda is terrified. When her friend, Flo, ends up in danger, can Wanda find the words to save her?

Written by Lucy Rowland, a speech and language therapist, this story is as enchanting as the cover, superbly illustrated by Paula Bowles. Wanda is adorable but her anxiety is clear from her expressions and children will be able to relate to her desire to avoid noisy, social situations. Only when Wanda meets a kindred spirit and forges a firm new friendship which doesn't need words does she begin to grow in confidence.

The magic contest inspires the same dread in Wanda that a school performance or social gathering can inspire in a child who has worries about communicating. However, it is the magical element that lifts this story into delightful and nail-biting fantasy, allowing readers to forget their own reality by being swept up in potions and dragons, but empowering them to tackle those tricky situations when they return to it. The power of friendship allows Wanda to find the strength to speak out but I love that even following her big moment, there is still an acknowledgement that it is an ongoing struggle and that sometimes words just aren't needed.

Looking at the world through Wanda's eyes won't just help children like Wanda. Sharing these kinds of stories will hopefully help little ones to develop empathy and awareness of others and also to forge strong and positive friendships. Wanda's words certainly haven't got stuck on the page! Her story is written, so dive into the words and enjoy sharing her empowering adventure.

Wanda's Words Got Stuck is released this Thursday, 3rd September 2020 and is available for pre-order. 

UPCOMING RELEASE: Bauble, Me and the Family Tree by Jenny Moore, cover by Kiersten Eagan

Link to publisher

Published by: Maverick, 28th Sep 2020

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When Maverick Publishing offered me the chance to review the latest novel by Jenny Moore I jumped at the chance. Following the success of Agent Starling:Operation Baked Beans and Audrey Orr and the Robot Rage, which was selected to be part of the Summer Reading Challenge 2020, I knew I would be in for an exciting and quirky read.

I wasn't disappointed! Yet there is no whiff of historical time travel or robot clones in this novel. Instead, Jenny Moore shows off the extent of her wide-ranging ideas by plunging us into the heart of an everyday family home. 

Noel and his super-smart sister, Bauble have an unusual family set-up. After losing their father at a young age, they only have their mum and their gay uncles next door to depend on. But when Bauble insists that she has seen Mummy kissing Santa Claus in August, Noel is baffled. Convinced that their dad may be alive after all and assuming a special secret identity, excited Noel and Bauble turn detective. But the secrets they uncover prove to be far more shocking and unexpected than they imagined.

Bauble, Me and the Family Punch packs an emotional, heartfelt punch right from the get-go. Although it is not unusual for main characters in children's fiction to have lost one or both parents, this whole novel explores the grief and impact that such a loss can cause. Noel's early memory of his mum holding his baby sister under the wishing bow is both raw and heart-wrenching, as is his blind hope that his father is still alive. Jenny Moore shows through a child's eyes how the sadness of losing a loved one never fades and woven through the chapters are some truly touching and beautifully written moments (and letters).

Aside from grief, the novel also takes a deep dive into 'unconventional' family set-ups, portraying the very important message that a family filled with love is all that matters. Noel and Bauble are faced with a backlash of secrets - kept by flawed but well-meaning adults- and embark on a painful, emotional rollercoaster to uncover the truth. Yet out of the darkness comes light and new beginnings with the promise of a hopeful, if not 'normal' future - and one that thousands of young readers will be able to relate to. 

And if that all sounds a bit heavy, then think again because Jenny Moore does quirkiness by the bucket load. Okay, so there may not be the odd combination of nappy pins and baked beans in this one (see Agent Starling) but there is a healthy dose of food bikinis, Santa hats...oh and eight-legged races (I lost count!) to finish. 

This novel stirs emotion and empathy. It makes you laugh and then cry with the turn of a page. I love the child-centred perspective too. It feels like a child is writing for other children with a deep authenticity and the relationship between Noel and Bauble is great. It is a big-issue book told with heart, soul, humour and complete originality. 

Bravo!

Bauble, Me and the Family Tree is released on the 28th September 2020 and is available for pre-order.

A big thankyou to Maverick for allowing me the chance to review.

The Ship of Shadows by Mia Kuzniar

Link to Goodreads

Published: July 2020, Penguin

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This debut novel by Mia Kuzniar, aka @thecosyreader, makes an instant impact with it's stunning front cover. Exotic, intriguing, legendary...this amazing artwork is just a taste of the things that await you inside. Prepared to be swept away for an adventure of a lifetime. 

Book lover Aleja scours the libraries and horizons around Seville, dreaming of adventure and freedom. Her wish is answered when a legendary ship sails into port; The Ship of Shadows, captained by a fierce female crew of pirates. 

When Aleja boards the ship, she is whisked across the high seas on a quest filled with puzzles, codes, krakens and lost cities. But the crew are keeping secrets and Aleja must employ all her talents to find out what these pirates are seeking. The answer is beyond anything Aleja could have ever imagined. 

This novel is intoxicating. Mia Kuzniar's exquisite writing makes Aleja's world leap off the page. From the salty scent of the seas to the slimy sludge of the kraken to the spiced desert air of Marrakesh, you can see, smell and taste everything that Aleja experiences. By the time you finish reading, the ship will feel like home and the crew will feel like family. 

The tale offers all the excitement of a pirate novel; battles, sea monsters and storms, with a highly original twist. All the pirates on board the eighteenth century vessel are women and they have one united purpose - to outwit the ruthless pirate hunter and find the pieces of an ancient artefact which have long been lost. The swashbuckling pirates themselves fit together like a perfect jigsaw, each with their own personality and talents. Malika is mysterious and haunted, the Captain is fair but focussed and then there is the loveable Frances and the awkward but comfort-loving Griete. However, it is Aleja who truly shines in this novel with her impressionable, heart-warming nature, her hunger for adventure and thirst for knowledge. 

On top of that there is the ship...and cake! The ship is a character in itself, enchanting and secretive with a magic that is not often associated with pirates. As the shadows shift, the ship changes and exploring all the secret nooks and crannies is a delight. It is apt that the author is known as @thecosyreader as I've never known a pirate ship to be conveyed as cosy before...and yet this is! It's warm and homely with cupboards full of cake and a library full of books and quickly becomes the 'safe haven' or 'the heart' of the story, despite the many dangers that lurk around it.

It is unique details like this that sets this book apart from others of its genre. However, not only does the author manage to expertly execute a mix of pirates and magic and yummy food but she also weaves a plot that is fantastical and fabulous. The settings are breath-taking and the quest to the lost city of Zerzura towards the end of the novel is nail-bitingly thrilling. There is something in the writing that feels very authentic. It is rich with detail of the time but adds a thick layer of magic over the top like a crust of baked sand. A lot of time is spent exploring the ship in the first part of the novel but remember that this is the first in a series...and hooray for that!

So if you are a cake-lover, pirate fan or just love adventure, I highly recommend diving into this novel. It's highly likely that you won't be able to wait for the next instalment. 

King of the Swamp by Catherine Emmett and Ben Mantle

                                                    Link to Hive.co.uk   Link to Waterstones

Published by: Simon and Schuster

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Stop Press! The arrival of this picture book from debut author, Catherine Emmett, actually made my five year old son pause his thirty minutes of TV time with the words;

"Can you read it to me now?"

I nearly fainted with joy and surprise. As much as we love sharing books, this is a very rare occurrence. But who can blame him for saying it? The stunning front cover, from one our favourite illustrators, Ben Mantle is hard to resist with its mute purples and greens and the quirky main character in all his glory.

McDarkly lives in a swamp and has big plans for making it a truly beautiful home. But when the King appears with plans to turn it into a roller skate park, horrified McDarkly is given only ten days to change his mind. McDarkly gets to work but all his hard work is thwarted by hungry munchers. What on earth will McDarkly do now?

This is a fun rhyming picture book with a great main character and a strong ecological message. The moody swamp offers a unique setting for a picture book and is the perfect dwelling for McDarkly - so much so that we are immediately on his side when the swamp is threatened. The pictures of the plants and bugs who thrive in the muddy waters are a delight all the way through and the rhyme and rhythm allows the plot to 'skate' along nicely.

The theme of urban development is very relevant to today's world and I can see this text being used in schools to spark discussion and debate. As an ex-primary teacher who has taught this subject, it is a story that I would have jumped on for this and many more reasons; art, biology... the list goes on. We loved the message of seeing beauty in the dingiest of places and also that McDarkly works hard to solve his problems. It's a clever plot twist when one of his biggest problems becomes his solution and to round it all off it ends by championing teamwork!

We highly recommend reading this and we bet you'll love McDarkly so much you'll want to see him again. Any chance of a sequel, an early reader, a chapter book...? We'll watch this space!

King of the Swamp published TODAY - 20th August 2020!

Return to Roar by Jenny McLachlan and Ben Mantle

 Link to Goodreads

Published: Aug 2020, Egmont

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After twelve months of excitedly waiting, this is an extra special review for me. Not only because I loved the first instalment of The Land of Roar so much that I could barely wait for the sequel, but also it was the first book I properly reviewed on this blog.  The Land of Roar still remains one of my favourite books I read last year and it's definitely back with a bang!

When Arthur and Rose return to Roar for half term, they plan on celebrating life without villainous scarecrow Crowky on the prowl. But when a sinister message is left outside Winija's cave, it appears that Crowky is very much around and hunting for a terrifying, long-hidden secret that could make all Arthur and Rose's nightmares come true. 

To stop Crowky uncovering their deepest fears, Arthur and Rose must journey beyond Roar to 'The End', an unexplored and unknown place. With allies in tow, they battle through ice and snow only to unearth some deadly enemies. But what exactly is their main threat? Crowky? Hattie Skoll and her wolves? Or the fears inside themselves?

Jenny McLachlan brings all the familiarity of Roar back to us in this novel (hooray) but quickly takes us beyond the boundaries of the last story and into the fresh, iced territory of 'The End'. The beautiful but rather bleak landscape is brightened with brilliantly bright characters (old and new), pacey adventure and bags of humorous dialogue. 

Once again, the novel encapsulates the very essence of children's imaginary worlds; furry whales, blue unicorns, on-off waterfalls and pic-n-mix by the bagful which gives it a frothier, lighter feel to other books in its genre. However, if you think that means that the plot isn't going to be gripping then think again. The threats are hair-raising, the emotions run deep and the second half of the book has a much darker feel than the first. 

As well as a dynamic plot, McLachlan allows us to get to know Arthur and Rose on a much deeper level in this second instalment. Having made the move from primary to secondary school, the twins now have much bigger issues to face. Interestingly, Arthur, who narrates the story, is a much stronger, more together character as he makes his return to Roar, although he remains haunted by one dominant fear. Yet Rose's character, which I previously found rather dominant and unyielding, is peeled back and explored in a sensitive and empathetic way and highlights the impact of bullying on a seemingly confident person.

Crowky remains a loveable and brilliantly sinister baddy and yet remains relatable through his childlike qualities. The friendships are strong and endearing and the magic just crackles around you as you read. Ben Mantle, one of our family's favourites, brings the characters and landscape to life with his unique touch and extraordinary cover, adding a deeper sense of enchantment and awe to an already fantastical read. Roar is truly a delight - a Peter Pan type world that represents all those magical, secret places that exist in the hearts and minds of us all. 

Roar returns in 2021!