Women ROCK!

There's no denying that our young women have some stunningly good role models to look up to. There's a rich herstory of game-changing women across all fields of life. The key is re-writing the history books to bring these women to the surface and celebrate them as they deserve. And that's where books like these...

Animals at Home matching game

I am a big fan of Claudia Boldt's quirky illustrations so when I spotted that she had illustrated this matching game for Laurence King Publishing I knew it would be a thing of beauty. I wasn't disappointed. With 27 animals to match with their homes, there's lots to look at, learn about and love in...

Show + Tell activity books

These Show + Tell activity books are a bit special! There are giant posters to pull out and display, there are stickers to add, there's colouring to be done and a host of fun and imaginative activities to complete. All with delicious design and illustration by the Nous Vous collective. In Transport Activities you can...

Paws Off My Book

Paws Off My Book by Fabi Santiago is a joyous celebration of reading and finding your own way. With lots going on and gorgeous illustrations with bright fluorescent colours, this is a fab book for sharing and discussing. Olaf the giraffe is excited when he finds a book. He settles down to read it but is...

The Explorer

Katherine Rundell has a beautiful way of making writing like new. Her phrases are bright and unexpected jewels, waking you up to the world. She gives seriously good simile! Her descriptions transport you to the amazon and throw you in to the jungle. The Explorer is an adventure in language as well as storyline. 'From his seat...

Goodnight, Boy

Goodnight, Boy by Nikki Sheehan is a small book in that, like a Sarah Crossan, it is sparse, poetic, considered. But it is also huge beyond compare. In heart, in depth and in hope. It is one I will come back to again and again. 'A tale of two very different worlds, both shattered by the...

Piglettes by Clémentine Beauvais

I can't tell you how much I loved this book. To do so I would have to come and meet each of you individually and just hug you, really tight, go off on an animated political rant and then possibly dance and force feed you cheese. Because there is so much going on in this...

All About Cats

Cats sleep all day, never getting up to mischief... right? Hmmm. Not so much! All About Cats by Monika Filipina (ChildsPlay) is a peek at what happens when the humans are out of sight and cats are left to their own devices.  Starting their own band, going crazy with the art equipment and getting creative in...

My Little Book of Big Freedoms

Politically, our world is in a bit of a mess at the moment and it can be hard to explain things to our young folk. And yet, the latest election in the UK in particular has shown us the importance of educating our youth in politics, in empathy, in tolerance and equality. Our children are...

Never Take a Bear to School

I love a starting school story. It's such an important time for children - and their grown ups - and can often be fraught with worry, mostly on the part of the parents! Sharing books about a potentially worrisome situation is a wonderful way to start a discussion and soothe those worries away. Especially when...