Younger Fiction round-up – October 2019.

Kitty series by Paula Harrison and Jenny Løvlie. 

Kitty wishes she could be a superhero just like her Mum, but she’s not certain she is brave enough. Then she listens to the magic of a starry night and discovers that she has special powers all of her own. What’s more, the cats in Hallam City need her help. 

Kitty’s very special powers make her the hero of the feline world. Together with the cats, she prowls the rooftops, ready to rescue those in need and to return priceless treasures to their rightful owners. This new series is exceptionally charming, with the action of any good superhero story but the friendship and security of a story for very young readers. 

The illustrations are a perfect match for the story. They have a slight roundness to them, making them feel cute and friendly, but the action comes across too. The orange and black creates a world that is dark but magical. There is always something brighter to ensure it is only scary enough. 

This is shorter than a young middle-grade story or early chapter book, but longer than a picture book. This format is growing in popularity, and for good reason – it allows less confident readers to feel like they have a ‘real book’ because it is divided into chapters and builds up a plot in the same way as a shorter novel. 

 

Isadora Moon Makes Winter Magic by Harriet Muncaster. 

Isadora is back – half fairy, half vampire, and happy to play in the snow.

Isadora is disappointed and lonely after she is the only person not invited to a party, but not for long. Aunt Crystal – whose specialty is snow magic – comes to play, and soon Isadora has made a snow boy and a snow bunny and brought them to life. They are brilliant friends, but when he starts dripping, Isadora realises that snow magic can’t last forever.

Aunt Crystal makes a suggestion, but can Isadora come to the rescue?

A charming tale filled with sparkles and frost and the magic of friendship.

The Isadora Moon books are fabulous because they balance the pink and pretty with some dark and gothic. Children shouldn’t feel pressured to fall into one camp or another, and this series demonstrates that just being yourself is the best way to be.

This would make a lovely gift for a stocking or a Christmas Eve bag. It is long enough to snuggle up with and listen to over hot chocolate, but short enough to wrap up in one session.

 

Kevin’s Great Escape by Phillip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre.

Kevin the roly-poly flying pony is back for his next adventure. He’s been very happy in his new home, with his friend Max, and Max’s big sister Daisy, and a constant supply of biscuits. Especially custard creams.

There is huge excitement when Misty Twiglet announces that she is moving to Bumbleford. Everyone knows who Misty Twiglet is. She’s the famous, all-singing, all-dancing pop star who has everything she needs. A car, a manager, and a ginormous house. Misty has everything – except a roly-poly flying pony.

Kevin isn’t the only one in trouble. Misty and her manager have trapped lots of magical creatures. Luckily, Max is on the case, and he’s not afraid to utilise his big sister …

A fantastic and funny tale from the amazing duo of Reeve and McIntyre.

Just picking this book up makes life feel instantly 325% better. It contains custard creams, guinea pigs, shiny-edged pages and a beautiful flying pony. Stories by Reeve and McIntyre seem to summon up all that is good and interesting and tie them together in a brilliant narrative. The illustrations are filled with such life and energy, too, that at times it feels as if they will burst off the page.

A must for readers who love whimsy and fun.

 

Speedy Monkey by Jeanne Willis. Illustrated by Chantelle and Burgen Thorne.

Deep in the rainforest, everything is peaceful and quiet until Speedy Monkey arrives. He is a bit different from the other animals. He is bouncy, and jumpy and loud and happy and his energy is endless. Day and night, he moves and makes noises. Eventually, the other animals get fed up of him and he leaves their company.

Then a storm comes. Suddenly Speedy’s quickness and loud voice don’t seem like such a bad thing after all.

This is a charming story about acceptance and being true to yourself. It could also be used to open conversations about neurodiversity, especially ADHD and hyperactivity generally.  Knowing that everyone is a valuable member of society and that we don’t all present in the same way is pivotal if the next generation is to change the narrative and welcome true diversity.

The illustrations beautifully capture emotion with use of colour – the sadness Speedy Monkey feels when he is all alone, and the joy when he is accepted and welcomed back by the other animals.

Another big hit from the Stripes colour illustration range.

 

A Sea Of Stories by Sylvia Bishop. Illustrated by Paddy Donnelly. 

Grandpa’s house is filled with objects, and every one of those objects has a story. When Roo goes to stay, she thinks at first that the whole world must be stuffed inside his cottage. Every night, Grandpa tells Roo a story. A memory from his life which is attached to a possession.

There is one place which crops up in his stories more often than anywhere else – the sea cove which his elderly legs will no longer carry him down to. As Roo realises that so many of his memories are associated with this special place, she formulates a plan.

Winner of the ‘Not A Singe Eye Dry’ award. This beautiful and gentle tale had me in tears because it captures how much we love the people we have lost, and how their stories remain a part of our lives. Objects and places and even special moments like a sunset can bring memories of them flooding back inside our hearts.

The illustrations by Paddy Donnelly give a sense of the sea cove waiting around the corner to be discovered. Of waves and sunsets and breezes creeping into our memories.

A beautiful story about the importance of memories and tales.

 

Jasper & Scruff – Hunt For The Golden Bone by Nicola Colton.

Jasper the cat likes the finer things in life. Scruff the dog prefers the simple. This doesn’t stop them from being friends, and they happily run a bookshop together.

When a rare book about the pirate cat Black Whispers appears in the shop, the pair find a treasure map and set out on an adventure. However, as the trail runs cold, the pair realise that they have been tricked by the Sophisticats – the society who only accept cats like themselves. Will anyone come to the aid of the duo who dare to like each other regardless of difference?

Jasper & Scruff is one of my favourite series for younger readers. The stories are well written and the running theme of accepting each other as we are is woven into the tales. I also love the illustrations, which look effortless (but probably take ages to perfect) and make me itch to pick up a pencil or a crayon every time I see them.

Highly recommend this series.

 

Little Penguin Rescue by Rachel Delahaye.

Fliss travels magically on incredible adventures with animals.

A snow day lands her in the Antarctic, where she meets a colony of penguins with chicks who are ready to head North for the winter. Then a blizzard sweeps in and when it is over Fliss finds an injured mother with her chick, separated from the other birds. Fliss realises that it must be her mission to help them, but how will they ever catch up when the mother bird has an injured leg?

Luckily Fliss knows all about animals, and her respect and determination will see her through.

This series of beautifully written tales won me over from the first book. The stories show total understanding of the relationship between humans and other animals. How we can bond with our fellow creatures only if we fully respect them as intelligent beings. Fliss sets a great example to her young readers in how to treat other animals.

The third book in the series is perfect for wintertime as it takes us into a land of ice and snow.

 

Peanut Butter And Jelly by Ben Clanton.

The fabulous friends are back for a whole new underwater adventure. And this time they have peanut butter. Lots of it.

Narwhal is certain nothing can beat waffles. Then Jelly gives him some peanut butter cookies and a whole love affair begins. Everything in Narwhal’s life is peanut butter.

Like the previous volumes in this series, this book contains three main stories, one fact-file and a side story that will have readers in stitches. This is cartooning at its best – whimsical and expressive and packed with fun and laughter. By the end of the volume, we feel as if we know the two friends like our own.

These books have been a big hit in book corners according to the educators I talk to during Twitter chats. I can see why they would appeal to a generation who speak Meme and GIF as fluently as they speak their first language. There are pages and spreads and individual boxes that could be copied into relatable and entertaining posters. The humour speaks directly to the social media generation.

Bright, bold and witty, these offer readers an alternative format to novels and stories.

 

Thanks to Egmont Publishing, Oxford University Press and Stripes Books for the titles in this feature. Opinions my own.

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Younger fiction and young middle-grade round-up: March 2019

Amelia Fang And The Half-Moon Holiday by Laura Ellen Anderson

Amelia Fang and her Rainbow Rangers troop are off to Sugarplum Island. They’re going to earn their Food Foraging Badge by making meals from bobbin-berries, frillyflowers and dung pods of all sizes. After eating plums from a curly branch, something strange happens. Amelia and her friends shrink to the size of insects. They need to break the curse, but suddenly the island feels like a huge place. 

Packed with humour and adventure, Amelia Fang and the Half-Moon Holiday is the latest installment in the hit series. 

This is my first Amelia Fang book, something which I can’t comprehend given the popularity of the series on my bookish Twitter network. Parents, teachers and librarians all report is as being a big hit with their young readers, and I’ve noticed that is has transcended age divisions to be a big hit with older readers. The setting must play some part in this. With its band of supernatural friends, the adventure island and the strange things which grow there, The Half-Moon Holiday is exactly the sort of world I would have adored as a pre-teen. There is something Studio Ghibli about the assortment of beings and worlds contained within a single location. 

Laura Ellen Anderson’s illustrations are amazing to the extent that this is worth buying for the art alone. The book makes me want to sketch imaginary worlds, or design costumes or start a mood board. I love how the amount of space the illustrations take up on a page is so varied, from the best part of a double page spread to a small illustration at the bottom.

This will doubtless delight fans of the series and as a new reader I was spellbound. 

Little Lion Rescue by Rachel Delahaye. Illustrations credited to Artful Doodlers.

Fliss is disappointed on a school trip to the zoo when the new lion cubs are asleep. Keeper Jonty offers Fliss a sneaky peek at the end, and Fliss finds herself transported to the Serengeti where she comes across a lost lion cub. Her knowledge of wildlife helps her to come up with a plan and she and the cub set out across the plains. There are all kinds of dangers for a girl in the wild. Fliss must overcome hunger, thirst and stampeding bison to reunite the cub with its pride.

Little Lion Rescue is the first in a new series which follows aspiring vet Fliss on magical adventures which bring her into contact with wild creatures. Although Fliss is transported to different locations via a portal – in this case the zoo – her powers are entirely based on real-world knowledge.

This will appeal to readers who love animals, and what makes it special is that it differentiates between finding toy animals and animal videos cute and really appreciating animals for who they are and learning to recognise their communication ranges, habits and needs.

The book is well written and introduces a promising series.

Vlad The World’s Worst Vampire by Anna Wilson. Illustrated by Kathryn Durst.

Vlad is a vampire but unlike his family he isn’t the slightest bit scary. He hasn’t found his super strength. He’s also been going to a human school in secret. 

When the school play is announced, Vlad is delighted to find he has been given the main part, but then it causes all kinds of problems. Having his photograph taken is tricky for a start, as vampires really can’t deal with camera flash. And how will he ever keep it a secret from his parents? 

A wonderful series about fitting in and being comfortable with your own identity. Vlad doesn’t want to go to a special vampire school to study fitting in with humans. Not when he fits in perfectly well with his friends. He is under constant pressure to be as good as his cousin Lupus, but his parents fail to see that Vlad has different strengths. At times they don’t get the chance. Vlad is desperate to keep his place at human school a secret. 

I adore the illustrations which are very character-centric and make great use of exaggerated facial expressions. I also love how the spooky vampire castle is full of homely touches, like a roaring log fire in the living room and a pair of socks on the floor beside Vlad’s coffin bed. 

Make friends with Vlad and you’ll root for him from the word go. 

Isadora Moon Has A Sleepover by Harriet Muncaster

What fun is staying up until midnight when vampires do that every night?

Half vampire, half fairy Isadora is off to a sleepover at her friend Zoe’s. A school baking contest has been announced, and Isadora hopes her magic wand can her entry the edge so that she and Zoe can meet television personality Whippy Mcfluff. However, when the lights go out, Isadora is unable to sleep. Her conscience is bothering her and the cake doesn’t seem so magical after all. They bake a different cake, but it seems Zoe has other ideas about which one they should enter.

A charming tale about friendship, honesty and cakes galore.

The first thing I noticed about this young reader was the design. It balances pink and glitter with bat wings and black. It would be perfect for the smallest readers who want to explore their inner vampire without letting go of the pink and glittery. After all, Isadora Moon can be two things at once.

The supernatural details are grounded by a story set in the ordinary world. Isadora goes to a human school, has human friends and likes to the same things as anybody else. It would be lovely for young readers who want to explore fantasy while feeling secure in the known world.

Although most small children have never used magic, most will, at some point, push the boundaries with cheating. Learning why cheating is unfair, and that it doesn’t feel like much of a win without the achievement, is a big step.

An attractive book with a relatable storyline.

Shifty McGifty And Slippery Sam – The Aliens Are Coming by Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton

Three mysteries with our two favourite baker dogs.

Have aliens really landed? How does Red Rocket manage to win the sandcastle contest without putting in any work? How is Miss Peachy Pie’s Cafe attracting so many customers? This collection of stories sees the heroes use their quick wit, daring … and skills at running away, fast.

There is something Scooby-Dooish about these mysteries. They are just the right level of scary with plenty of laughs thrown in. The heroes are fallible and mysteries are not their whole lives – rather, they interrupt everyday life at the bakery.

The illustrations use a minimal colour palette to great effect – different shades of grey, black white and lime green. The green runs throughout the book and makes it different to others in the series. This is a lovely way of making books quickly findable. It is easier to remember that a story was in ‘the red book’ than to recall a title.

Tracey Corderoy is a master of humour for younger readers. Shifty and Sam have already featured in picture books and it is lovely to see the characters in a different format. A big thumbs up for laughs and for memorable main characters.

The Rescue Princesses – The Amber Necklace by Paula Harrison. Illustrations credited to Artful Doodlers.

Princess Zina loves the lemurs and their forest home, and she would do anything to protect them, but she finds herself with a fight on her hands. The carnival is passing through the kingdom of Ramova but the floats are too wide pass. A team has been contracted to cut down the trees, but this will leave the lemurs without a home. Can Princess Zina and her friends persuade the demolition team to step back, or is there a magical stone which will save the day?

The latest in a popular series about a group of princesses who use their knowledge of magical gemstones to protect the wildlife.

This story will appeal to readers who like their princesses with some social responsibility, determination and a hint of magic. The illustrations look so much like a particularly beautiful colouring book that they would make a lovely gift for anyone who likes to colour in their own readings books (nb. This is not always advised. Only if the book belongs to you and you especially want to add colour.)

A story with a strong environmental message, a beautiful setting, and a great group of friends.

Magical Kingdom Of The Birds – The Missing Fairy-Wrens by Anne Booth

Maya loves her new friends in the human world, but she is always pleased to be called into the colouring book to meet her bird and fairy friends. Maya is excited to see the new fairy-wrens, who present their mates with petals, but more than half the birds have gone missing. As guardian of the book, it is Maya’s duty and pleasure to help. 

Maya sets out towards the fairy castle to find out whether villainous Lord Astor is up to his usual schemes. 

The Missing Fairy Wrens is the third book in this delightful series, and it just keeps getting better. 

It is lovely to find a younger book about fairies and petals and sparkles which is totally palatable and attractive to a large number of readers. Stories about fairies can lapse too easily into sentimentality, but this series is genuinely well written, the threat level is just right and the world is unique and interesting. 

The fact it teaches readers about birds is an added bonus. Fairywrens are real Australian birds with beautiful plumage. With the ability to identify birds dwindling among adults, it is important that this knowledge is passed down to younger generations. Introducing birds through stories and illustration is a great idea. There is a reason we are all familiar with robins regardless of how many we see. It is time this was extended to a wider range of species. 

A real favourite series. The books are a joy from start to finish. 

 

Many thanks to Egmont UK, Nosy Crow Books, Oxford University Press and Stripes Publishing for gifting the titles reviewed in this feature. Opinions remain my own.