UPCOMING RELEASE: You Can't Let an Elephant Drive a Racing Car by Patricia Cleveland-Peck and David Tazzyman

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Published by: Bloomsbury, 12th May 2022

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Uh oh! It looks like more chaos is afoot as the next book in the You Can't Let An Elephant series is released on 12th of May. And thanks to NetGalley, we have managed to get a sneak peek.

Have you ever seen an elephant driving a racing car? Or a weight-lifting wombat? NO? Then how about a figure-skating alligator. Prepare for more hilarious capers as a whole host of animals take on your favourite sports. 

Perfect for fans of Kes Gray's Oi! series and Rashmi Sirdeshpande's Never Show a T-Rex a Book!, this story, told in pacy rhyme and fantastically illustrated by David Tazzyman, is a simple concept executed with absolute hilarity. Easily as fun as the four other books in the series: You Can't Let an Elephant Drive a Bus, You Can't Let an Elephant Drive a Digger, You Can't Call an Elephant in an Emergency and You Can't Take an Elephant on Holiday, it will make readers giggle on every page. Our particular favourites were the ping-pong playing octopus and the footballing puma but who knows what other animals you'll encounter!

And, after all the silliness, the story ends on a satisying note, leaving us with an important takeaway; it's not the winning that counts, it's the taking part. Although that's a message little ones will have probably heard before, I doubt it's been relayed to them in such a fun and enjoyable way. So sit back and let the animals do all the work for once. And never be afraid to try new things!

A big thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for a digital review copy. You Can't Let an Elephant Drive a Racing Car is now available to pre-order. 

UPCOMING RELEASE: Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale by Hannah Durkan

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Published by: Hachette Children's Group, 12th May 2022

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It's only a couple of weeks until Hannah Durkan's debut novel, Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale, is launched into the world and - WOW!- what a treat reader's are in for. Winner of the Hachette Children's Group Northern Writer's Award 2020, this fantasy adventure is packed full of imagination and a cast of colourful characters. 

Zeina Starborn is desperate to escape the smog-filled city of Ravenport where she is about to begin a lifetime of servitude. But her chance comes when she wins the chance to visit the Willoughby Sky Whale Hotel - a hotel in the Upper Atmosphere perched on the back of a flying whale. Drawn into a dazzling and exciting world, Zeina becomes starstruck. But Jackson, heir to the Willoughby fortune, senses something isn't right. Can he make Zeina listen as they become pawns in a deadly plot?

With echoes of Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials series (but perhaps for slightly younger readers) and Vashti Hardy's Brightstorm, this is perfect for fans of adventure, inventions and airships. The narrative alternates between the viewpoint of Zeina - a flawed, feisty and rather loud heroine with huge ambition and heart (I loved her!)- and Jackson, the humble and timid heir to the Willoughby fortune. I really enjoyed the distinct personalities of these characters, their internal struggles and their contrasting backgrounds and the dynamic between the two was brilliant. There were some great villains, in lots of different guises, and if you loved Mrs. Coulter in His Dark Materials then she may have met her match!

Although airships and sky whales seem to have been quite popular in recent books, Hannah Durkan makes this plot completely her own. It was the concept of a hotel on the back of a whale which instantly pulled me towards this book and I wasn't disappointed. With a strong eco message, the sky whales' plight is the highlight of the novel - desperate, poignant and moving - with the reader being shown the devastation caused by humans rather than told. In fact, as a teacher, I firmly believe everyone needs to read the whale hunt scene.

There's some great twists and turns as the story progresses; some surprising revelations and very strong character arcs. Watch out for the nail-biting climax and I definitely have the feeling there is a LOT more to come from what hopefully will be a series. 

A big thanks to Hachette for sending me a review copy. Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale is now available to pre-order. 

Marvellous New Middle-grade: A round-up of some fantastic spring releases

The kids are back at school, there's sunshine and warmth in the air and it's been a relaxing two weeks of reading. So what better way to get going again than to round-up all the brilliant new middle-grade novels I devoured in the holidays. Middle-grade is on fire at the moment and with my fondness for fantasy, I really have been spoilt with the selection below:

The Thief Who Sang Storms by Sophie Anderson, illustrated by Joanna Lisowiec

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Published by: Usborne, March 2022

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The Thief who Sang Storms is the fourth book from Sophie Anderson, author of The House With Chicken Legs, and is as beautiful and lyrical as her other stories. Based on Slavic folklore, this tells the tale of Linnet and her battle for unity on her island home. 

The island of Morovia is shaped like a broken heart, with humans living on one side and alkonosts -bird-people-on the other. Linnet is desperate to reunite the two halves - if only she had her singing magic! But when her father is captured, Linnet realises she must emerge from her banishment in the swamps and find another way to heal the hurts and right the wrongs of her homeland.

This is a gently told tale with a hard-hitting message. The themes of division and persecution that run through the book have, sadly, never felt more relevant and yet echo throughout history. The setting and characters are extraordinary, the world-building is exquisite and the storytelling will make you smile, cry and, most importantly, think.

Although there is a magical element to the novel, which adds an extra sparkle to the story, I found the exploration of the actual magic interesting. Linnet is desperate to get her singing magic and yet magic becomes a source of manipulation in the novel. I love how Sophie Anderson explores the viewpoints of both the alkonosts and the humans in the story, culminating in a resolution that we would surely all hope for in the real world. 

Despite the serious nature of the novel, there are some wonderful moments woven throughout. Lumpy and Whiskers are a particular highlight as are the friendships between the characters. There are several stories within the story, which adds an extra beauty and depth to the narrative, and the setting is both unique and memorable. There's a lovely appearance from a familiar character and I was left with a similar haunting feeling to when I read The House With Chicken Legs, which still remains one of the best novels I've ever read.

The Sky Over Rebecca by Matthew Fox

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Published by: Hachette, April 2022

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The themes of division and persecution are as vivid in this novel as in The Thief Who Sang Songs, and yet, this time, are firmly based on actual events. Winner of the Bath Children's Novel Award 2019, The Sky Over Rebecca explores the consequences that World War II has on two young children, told through a time-travelling story that will give you goose pimples.

When ten-year-old Kara from Stockholm spots mysterious footprints in the snow, she sets out to discover who made them. But when they lead her to Rebecca and Samuel, two refugees from another time and place, she becomes desperate to help them stay safe and find their way home. 

This is a simply told, hauntingly brilliant novel with an utterly compelling voice. It had me so hooked from the first page that I couldn't stop reading until I'd finished it. Told in a fresh and original way, it tells the tale of both Kara, a girl from Sweden who gets caught up in a timeslip, and Rebecca and Samuel, a brother and sister who are in hiding in World War II. I have since questioned whether Rebecca and Samuel's story alone would have been just as powerful a novel. Yet weaving together the two stories has allowed Matthew Fox to create something truly special, poignant and unique with both a heart-breaking and heart-melting resolution. 

Despite Kara being 10, steering this towards the younger end of middle grade, the challenging content of the novel feels more suited to the older end of middle grade, but obviously depends on the individual. The hard-hitting truth of history combined with to-and-fro leaps through time and place is beautifully portrayed but uncomfortable at times. Balancing this out is Kara's heart-warming relationship with her grandad and the sprinkling of magic which dusts the story like snow. And, with the current state of the world and the sense of history repeating itself, this novels feels like a well-timed warning - one that is relevant to readers of all ages in the here and now. 

Dreadwood by Jennifer Killick

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Published by: Farshore, March 2022

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Offering a bit of light relief and a fear-factor of a very different kind, Dreadwood, the first book in a new series by Jennifer Killick, is full of chills, thrills and laugh-out-loud gags. Following the movements of a group of four secondary pupils trapped in a school on a Saturday, you really wouldn't want to be one of them. 

When Angelo, Hallie, Naira and Gustav are summoned to school detention on a Saturday, things take a terrifying turn when their teacher is dragged underground. Coupled with the creepy caretakers humming the tunes to 'Incy Wincy Spider' , it's not long before they realise that something is out to get them. Something big, something scary and something that isn't going to let them escape...

Perfect for fans of Stranger Things and Jennifer's previous novels Crater Lake and Crater Lake: Evolution, this is not for the faint-hearted reader. Yet again, though, Jennifer Killick provides the perfect balance of fear and humour, making me snort with laughter of one page and then making me pull the blanket over my head on the next. The creepy use of a popular nursery rhyme is a genius twist and, judging by the sneak preview of the second book which you can find at the back, is something which is going to run throughout the entire series. 

Not only does the book offer a spine-tingling, edge of your seat plot, the characters (as in Crater Lake) are brilliant. Each one has their own internal struggles to overcome, their own backstory and their own distinct personality and yet, together, they make such a great team, you just want to spend time hanging out with them. Their banter is edgy, hilarious and spot-on the age-group and highlights the fact that you don't necessarily have to have things in common to form connections with others...apart from the obvious fact that something wants you all dead.

This novel plays on our natural fears to bring us a nail-biting, page-turner of a story. Thank goodness for the light nights because you may not want to read this in the dark...

The Eternity Engine by Struan Murray, illustrated by Manuel Sumberac

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Published by: Penguin, March 2022

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Previous reviews: Orphans of the Tide, Shipwreck Island

Easily one of the most gripping trilogies I've read in children's fiction, the final instalment of the Orphans of the Tide series doesn't disappoint. Winner of the Bath Children's Novel Award and the Branford Boase, The Eternity Engine brings about the climax of Anna's battle with the enemy in a deliciously dark tale of strength and betrayal. 

After forcing Seth to part the seas, Kate and her army are marching northwards towards the Enemy's City. Now it's up to Ellie Lancaster and her friends to stop the brewing war. 

But the parting of the seas has also uncovered The Eternity Engine - a machine with the power to destroy or remake the world. But who will be able to control it and can the enemy ever be defeated?

This is fantasy at its best; dark, gritty and utterly absorbing. Struan Murray's plotting and world-building is 'singularly brilliant', as it states on the cover, and also highly original. There's a great synergy in this book as the characters from book one and book two merge together, each of them getting their chance to shine, and of course Ellie's battle with the enemy continues - the enemy again, for me, stealing centre stage in every scene it appears in. 

Again, this isn't a novel for the faint-hearted. The themes are challenging and as with The Thief who Sang Songs and The Sky Over Rebecca there are echoes of our history written across the pages. I was particularly moved (and distressed) by the young boys being made to fight in the war and yet the difficult exploration of rich versus poor, good versus evil and the abuse of power are balanced with the warmth of unity, friendship and loyalty. I don't want to give away any spoilers so I'll stop here but it's epic, ambitious and I absolutely loved it!

The Royal Leap-Frog by Peter Bently and Claire Powell

 

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Published by: Bloomsbury, 14th April 2022

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Spring is well and truly here and in our gardens wildlife and bugs are stirring, ready for a season of hopping and bouncing around. But I bet they're not half as bouncy as the characters in this new picture book release, written by Peter Bently and illustrated by Claire Powell, which features a grasshopper, a flea and a frog.

When an argument breaks out between a grasshopper and a flea over who can jump the highest, they decide that only the King can settle the matter. Accompanied by a frog, they set out to the palace and unleash an hilarious chain of riotous chaos that dismally fails to impress His Majesty. But who will have the last laugh by leaping the highest?

This is a comical caper of a story, vibrantly illustrated and full of fun. Peter Bently's fabulous rhyme and rhythm is, as always, on top form, making the tale bouncier than the grasshopper, flea and frog put together. Despite being small in size, the characters are larger than life and full of so much energy, it makes the story zing! 

Claire Powell's illustrations are both joyous and hilarious, portraying the slapstick humour of the text brilliantly. And yet, the story's climax hinges on a cleverer form of humour - a pun. The fact that this picture book is a innovative play on a joke not only makes for an unexpected but laugh out loud ending, but it also champions the underdog...or should I say the underfrog...

So, if you're looking for something light-hearted and frivolous but which also has the feel of an Aesops Fable crossed with a joke book, then this is the book for you. Little ones will love both the creatures and the comedy and will be bouncing up and down for you to read it over and over. Just don't let them leap too high!

The Royal Leap-Frog is released tomorrow, April 14th 2022. A big thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for allowing me a review copy. 

The Strangeworlds Travel Agency: The Secrets of Stormforest by L.D.Lapinski

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Published by: Orion Children's Books, 14th April 2022

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There are risks aplenty and more worlds in danger as L.D Lapinski transports us across the multiverse in the final instalment of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency series. Arriving on the 14th April, this is an epic ending to what has been a fantastical, magical and enthralling read. 

When Flick discovers the real reason why the whole multiverse is on the brink of collapse, she, Jonathan, Avery and her long-lost grandfather set out to save it in an urgent race against time. But the enemy they're up against is powerful and Flick will have to unlock the secrets of more undiscovered worlds and rely on alliances, past and present, to give herself and her friends any chance of surviving. Could this really be the end of...everything?

After having the privilege of reviewing both book 1 and book 2 in the series, this third novel doesn't disappoint. Throwing us into the thick of Flick's family history and the fragile future of the multiverse, the initial, carefree 'kid in a sweetshop' travelling days of the first book are long over. Now we are immersed in a dark and perilous journey where everything is at stake.

This is a book of revelations. The true enemy is revealed, the truth about Jonathan's father is revealed as well as further truths about Flick's own family. But the biggest reveal centres around Flick herself - who she is and what she is capable of. Whereas the story was previously shared between herself and Jonathan- highlighting his internal struggles as much as hers-this feels very much like Flick's battle as Jonathan becomes almost a secondary character, showing how much Flick has grown and how much the story has evolved. There's a lovely scene with Flick's parents and, as the age-old explanation of time standing still (or moving differently) in different worlds becomes strained to breaking point, L.D. Lapinski offers a brilliant fresh take on how to handle the constantly-disappearing-teen-who-never-comes-home issue.

As with the previous two novels, L.D Lapinski's fabulous imagination remains completely on point. I love the magical world that becomes 'the stormforest' and the extraordinary concept of the trees that live there. The plot is vividly imagined and executed with both skilful writing and timing and the true enemies are ruthless and horrifying. Again, there are themes of grief and loss, accountability and family and amid the relentless, fast-paced quest are some genuinely tender moments that give the novel its heart. 

As you would expect at the end of the trilogy, there's a big and daring climax involving both old and new characters. But one particular thing that hit me here was how much this series has come into its own. Having previously spotted parallels - in a good way- to classic literature such as Peter Pan, Oz and Phillip Pullman's Northern Lights, I didn't make any such connections this time round, simply because this series is what it is; fresh, original, exciting and one which pushes the fictional science of worlds-with its schisms and magical energy-to new boundaries. What started out as a fantastically simple concept- travelling to different worlds through a variety of suitcases- has unpacked itself into a dark, complex fantasy trilogy that has more depth than an ocean. And that is what I love about it!

A big thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy. The Strangeworlds Travel Agency: The Secrets of Stormforest is now available to pre-order. 

The Girl Who Lost A Leopard by Nizrana Farook

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Published by: Nosy Crow, 7th April, 2022

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Publishing on 7th April is this third fabulous novel from Nizrana Farook. Following on from The Girl Who Stole An Elephant and The Boy Who Met a Whale, this is probably my favourite of the three - and I love them all - due to its fast pace, rich setting and satisfying resolution. 

Selvi enjoys spending her days alone, climbing the mountains of her island home, Serendib, often accompanied by Lokka, a wild leopard. But when she stumbles across an illegal poaching ring, who are determined to ensnare Lokka for his extraordinary coat, Selvi must act fast if she wants to save her beloved friend. 

Struggling alone, Selvi begins to open up to her classmates. Soon she's surrounded by children who want to help. But can they get to Lokka in time and who is really responsible for his capture? 

This is the second animal adventure novel I've read this month and they are quickly becoming one my favourite genres. Just like in The Lost Whale by Hannah Gold and Levi Pinfold, The Girl Who Lost a Leopard focuses on a child's extraordinary bond with a beautiful wild creature and explores how that bond helps them deal with their internal struggles. However, whereas the pace of The Lost Whale bobs along like the tide, building to a brilliant and tense dramatic climax in the same way a whale breaches the surface of the ocean, this novel is pacier from the off, the short chapters often ending in tense cliff-hanger endings that had me gripped. 

The connecting link between all of Nizrana Farook's novels is the setting. The fictional island of Serendib, part of Sri Lanka, hosts all three stories and yet each time we are exposed to a completely different part of the island- the city, the coast and now the jungle covered mountains- making each one feel fresh and different. The plot has more twists and turns than a mountain path and the twist at the end is particularly brilliant. Selvi proves herself to be another strong and determined female lead but I also love her vulnerability and her burgeoning friendships prove particularly touching. 

As with The Lost Whale, the novel emcompasses a serious ecological message without being didactic and the discussion Selvi has with her teacher and classmates about poaching is one of my favourite scenes in the book. There's also themes of friendship, family, loyalty, morality, made all the more beautiful by Lokka's blazing presence. It's heartwarming, nail-biting but, best of all, empowering and I can't wait to see it on the shelves in April. 

A big thanks to Netgalley and Nosy Crow for allowing me a review copy. The Girl Who Lost a Leopard is now available to pre-order. 

BLOG TOUR: Perfectly Weird, Perfectly You by Dr. Camilla Pang, illustrated by Laurène Boglio

Hello and welcome to our stop on the blog tour of Perfectly Weird, Perfectly You - a non-fiction guide to growing up that explores abstract, difficult-to-understand concepts, such as emotions and peer pressure, by comparing them to concrete science. 

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Published by: Wren and Rook Books, Hachette, 17th March 2022

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On a personal level, this new release by Dr. Camilla Pang has come at exactly the right time for our family and one of the reasons why I jumped at the chance to be involved with the blog tour. With an eleven-year-old autistic daughter approaching puberty, I have no idea how to even begin explaining the complexities of growing up to her. And yet, through this insightful and wonderfully illustrated piece of non-fiction, Dr. Camilla Pang has shared her own experience of how she coped with this metamorphis as someone who received an diagnosis of autism, aged 8.

By applying what she couldn't understand to what she could - science - Pang forged a survival guide to growing up, allowing herself to embrace who she was, which in turn, of course, leads to a much higher chance of finding happiness. And, as readers will discover, embracing who we are includes the process of accepting all the 'weird' quirks and foibles that makes us unique, but which are actually perfectly normal.

Chapter of the books include:

Perfectly calm: How to manage your emotions like the weather. 

Perfectly digital: Can computers teach us how to think?

Perfectly new: How animal migration helps us to cope with change.

The font and format of the book is easily accessible and chunked into bitesize paragraphs that will allow readers to dip in and out without feeling daunted. I love Camilla Pang's introduction to herself at the start of the book and the relatable way she talks about her diagnosis, harnessing autism as 'her superpower' and highlighting both the positives and the challenges that arise from being neurodivergent. But the most fascinating aspect of the book, which I was enthralled by and which I can't wait to discuss with all of my children, are the analogies Pang makes between consistent science (the type of science that is all around us and helps us make sense of the world) and abstract human behaviours. For example:

Why does a human always turn the volume up when their favourite song comes on the radio?- Well, why does a plant always turn towards the sunlight?

Why are some people drawn to others in a positive or negative way?- Well, let's think about the forces of gravity and magnetism and also how various metals react with different liquids and gases. Some get on and some don't!

Each chapter of the book, led by Camilla Pang's own narrative voice, explores these analogies in more depth. Each one is explained beautifully and simply and made me realise how much I, as a neurotypical reader, relate to what is being described and how much I use my own analogies in day to day life to interpret, rationalise and understand things that confuse me. It is an absolutely fascinating read for any young reader, especially those struggling with the complexities of growing and maturing and those changeable human relationships. 

Wren and Rook Books produce brilliant non-fiction for children and this is no exception. Not only will I be drawing on it to approach these tricky topics with my daughter, I'll be sharing it with my other children, nephews, cousins, friend's children and the adults too!

Perfectly Weird, Perfectly You was published on 17th March 2022 and is available to buy now. A big thanks to Hachette for asking me to be part of the blog tour.