A new picture book tiger to love, an action packed story of superheroes, a paperback version of an award winning information book and the first in a brand new spooky series have been part of my reading over the last month. I hope that something here will tempt the young readers in your life.
This debut from Mariesa Dulak accompanied by illustrations by award winner Rebecca Cobb has a delightful appeal and reminded me a little of a well-known and much loved classic tiger picture book. There’s a Tiger on the Train follows a father and son as they go on a train journey to the seaside and highlights the very different ways the two of them experience this outing. Dad is so engrossed in his phone that he misses all the fun on the way so there is relevance and a message conveyed here but thankfully there is a happy and fulfilling ending.
This is an enjoyable book to read aloud with repetition and a rhythm that matches the sound of the steam journey’s travel. Dulak’s text bounces along with touches of humour too. Rebecca Cobb has a distinctive illustrative style which captures and conveys both the excitement of the small boy, the chaos of the journey and the father’s distance from it all. The busy pictures of the hippos, crocodiles, piglets and pugs who join the tiger, the boy and his father are perfect for talking about with a young child. Along with fun this is also a celebration of the imagination and the importance of the parental bond with their child. A charming book full of joy, humour and family. Published by Faber Children’s Books on 1st February. Thank you to the publishers and Simi Toor for my review copy.
The first in an action packed series featuring an unlikely trio of superheroes, or maybe that should read ‘would be superheroes’ this is utterly bonkers but with bags of appeal to younger readers. A clever blend of graphic novel and early chapter book this will probably appeal to fans of Bunny vs Monkey and could well convert reluctant readers.
Invisidog is determined to clean up the streets of Justice City and wipe out crime. He is brave, good and kind and he is stalking the streets to stop evil villains with the help of his superpower. However his superpower is that he is invisible which turns out is not quite as useful as he hoped it would be. The deadly and dangerous Trouble Gang led by Captain Bad aided by his sidekick Daniel are under surveillance by Invisidog but unfortunately as they can’t see him his attempts to foil their dastardly plans are unsuccessful. The dog decides he must team up with super hero Quack Attack and genius Detective Octopus to finally defeat Captain Bad. What could possibly go wrong?
Stuart Heritage’s narrative style with many asides and explanations to his readers adds to the fun and this would be a joy for an adult to read aloud either at home or in school, particularly if they enjoy “doing the voices”! The visual impact of Vincent Batignole’s vibrant illustrations, the varying typeface and the overall presentation give this additional appeal. Batignole has a background in comics and has studied cinema history and this is apparent in his style. I have a feeling the O.D.D. Squad will be a hit with many children so it is good news that the second adventure is due out later this year. Published by Puffin on 18th January. Thank you to Liz Skelly for my review copy.
The hardback edition of this appealing information book published in 2018 won the STEAM Children’s Book Award in that year and was also nominated for the 2019 Kate Greenaway Medal. This new paperback published by B Small Publishing on 1st February brings the book to a new audience and would be a valuable addition to both school and home bookshelves.
How Does a Lighthouse Work? provides a fascinating insight into both the science and the history of lighthouses around the world as the reader accompanies a group of school children as they ask questions such as What are the most unusual lighthouses in the world? When and where did lighthouses first appear? and How are lighthouses built? Each of these questions and others have a double page spread devoted to them and the answers are interesting, informative and clear alongside some excellent illustrations in a slightly retro style. We learn how they have helped sailors to navigate dangerous seas for hundreds of years, how modern technology has changed how they work and how they still provide a vital service to those at sea. As an adult I learned a great deal from this well presented book and it is an absorbing read as well as being a useful source of information. Although slightly different in that there is no contents page or index the style ensures that this book is a valuable tool to share both in school and at home and curious children will lap this up. The accompanying publicity material suggests a suitability of age 5+ however I think children quite a lot older will enjoy this book too. Highly recommended. Thank you to Naomi Weeks of B Small for my review copy.
The first in a spooky new series by Phil Hickes, the author of the popular Aveline series, Whispering Walls introduces readers to the mysteries of Shadowhall Academy with its noises in the night, ghostly sightings and troubled history. A brilliant blend of Malory Towers and Point Horror this is a treat for young lovers of creepy mysteries.
Lilian Jones is nervous about starting at boarding school and leaving her family behind. Shadowhall Academy is creepy, cold and large and Lilian worries about finding her way around and making new friends. When the other girls in her dormitory tell her the school is haunted she thinks they’re just trying to scare the new girl. But then strange things start happening, first tapping and whispers in the walls at night then tales of missing students and strange figures in the woods. Lilian discovers that not only are the school ghost stories true, but her new friends could be in danger. So she sets out to uncover the secrets of Shadowhall Academy.
Phil Hickes takes all the familiar tropes of boarding school stories, cold dormitories, cross country runs, miserable school food and comforting biscuit feasts and adds a mystery that develops from intriguing, to spooky to utterly scary. The plot romps along and this will keep young readers well and truly hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed this, Lilian is a likeable protagonist and the developing friendship between the very different characters of the four girls is well drawn. Set in the 1980s Hickes also neatly gets round the issue of the internet and mobile phones allowing the friends to try to solve the mystery themselves. And there’s a helpful school librarian! I particularly liked that aspect. A mention too of the great cover by Keith Robinson which captures the mood of the story well. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series. Published by Usborne on 1st February. Thank you to the publishers and Jessica Feichtlbauer for my proof copy.
There’s a Tiger on the Train written by Mariesa Dulak illustrated by Rebecca Cobb
This debut from Mariesa Dulak accompanied by illustrations by award winner Rebecca Cobb has a delightful appeal and reminded me a little of a well-known and much loved classic tiger picture book. There’s a Tiger on the Train follows a father and son as they go on a train journey to the seaside and highlights the very different ways the two of them experience this outing. Dad is so engrossed in his phone that he misses all the fun on the way so there is relevance and a message conveyed here but thankfully there is a happy and fulfilling ending.
This is an enjoyable book to read aloud with repetition and a rhythm that matches the sound of the steam journey’s travel. Dulak’s text bounces along with touches of humour too. Rebecca Cobb has a distinctive illustrative style which captures and conveys both the excitement of the small boy, the chaos of the journey and the father’s distance from it all. The busy pictures of the hippos, crocodiles, piglets and pugs who join the tiger, the boy and his father are perfect for talking about with a young child. Along with fun this is also a celebration of the imagination and the importance of the parental bond with their child. A charming book full of joy, humour and family. Published by Faber Children’s Books on 1st February. Thank you to the publishers and Simi Toor for my review copy.
The O.D.D. Squad: Rise of Invisidog by Stuart Heritage illustrated by Vincent Batignole
The first in an action packed series featuring an unlikely trio of superheroes, or maybe that should read ‘would be superheroes’ this is utterly bonkers but with bags of appeal to younger readers. A clever blend of graphic novel and early chapter book this will probably appeal to fans of Bunny vs Monkey and could well convert reluctant readers.
Invisidog is determined to clean up the streets of Justice City and wipe out crime. He is brave, good and kind and he is stalking the streets to stop evil villains with the help of his superpower. However his superpower is that he is invisible which turns out is not quite as useful as he hoped it would be. The deadly and dangerous Trouble Gang led by Captain Bad aided by his sidekick Daniel are under surveillance by Invisidog but unfortunately as they can’t see him his attempts to foil their dastardly plans are unsuccessful. The dog decides he must team up with super hero Quack Attack and genius Detective Octopus to finally defeat Captain Bad. What could possibly go wrong?
Stuart Heritage’s narrative style with many asides and explanations to his readers adds to the fun and this would be a joy for an adult to read aloud either at home or in school, particularly if they enjoy “doing the voices”! The visual impact of Vincent Batignole’s vibrant illustrations, the varying typeface and the overall presentation give this additional appeal. Batignole has a background in comics and has studied cinema history and this is apparent in his style. I have a feeling the O.D.D. Squad will be a hit with many children so it is good news that the second adventure is due out later this year. Published by Puffin on 18th January. Thank you to Liz Skelly for my review copy.
How Does A Lighthouse Work? by Roman Belyaev
The hardback edition of this appealing information book published in 2018 won the STEAM Children’s Book Award in that year and was also nominated for the 2019 Kate Greenaway Medal. This new paperback published by B Small Publishing on 1st February brings the book to a new audience and would be a valuable addition to both school and home bookshelves.
How Does a Lighthouse Work? provides a fascinating insight into both the science and the history of lighthouses around the world as the reader accompanies a group of school children as they ask questions such as What are the most unusual lighthouses in the world? When and where did lighthouses first appear? and How are lighthouses built? Each of these questions and others have a double page spread devoted to them and the answers are interesting, informative and clear alongside some excellent illustrations in a slightly retro style. We learn how they have helped sailors to navigate dangerous seas for hundreds of years, how modern technology has changed how they work and how they still provide a vital service to those at sea. As an adult I learned a great deal from this well presented book and it is an absorbing read as well as being a useful source of information. Although slightly different in that there is no contents page or index the style ensures that this book is a valuable tool to share both in school and at home and curious children will lap this up. The accompanying publicity material suggests a suitability of age 5+ however I think children quite a lot older will enjoy this book too. Highly recommended. Thank you to Naomi Weeks of B Small for my review copy.
Shadowhall Academy: Whispering Walls by Phil Hickes
The first in a spooky new series by Phil Hickes, the author of the popular Aveline series, Whispering Walls introduces readers to the mysteries of Shadowhall Academy with its noises in the night, ghostly sightings and troubled history. A brilliant blend of Malory Towers and Point Horror this is a treat for young lovers of creepy mysteries.
Lilian Jones is nervous about starting at boarding school and leaving her family behind. Shadowhall Academy is creepy, cold and large and Lilian worries about finding her way around and making new friends. When the other girls in her dormitory tell her the school is haunted she thinks they’re just trying to scare the new girl. But then strange things start happening, first tapping and whispers in the walls at night then tales of missing students and strange figures in the woods. Lilian discovers that not only are the school ghost stories true, but her new friends could be in danger. So she sets out to uncover the secrets of Shadowhall Academy.
Phil Hickes takes all the familiar tropes of boarding school stories, cold dormitories, cross country runs, miserable school food and comforting biscuit feasts and adds a mystery that develops from intriguing, to spooky to utterly scary. The plot romps along and this will keep young readers well and truly hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed this, Lilian is a likeable protagonist and the developing friendship between the very different characters of the four girls is well drawn. Set in the 1980s Hickes also neatly gets round the issue of the internet and mobile phones allowing the friends to try to solve the mystery themselves. And there’s a helpful school librarian! I particularly liked that aspect. A mention too of the great cover by Keith Robinson which captures the mood of the story well. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series. Published by Usborne on 1st February. Thank you to the publishers and Jessica Feichtlbauer for my proof copy.