The Smell of Other People’s Houses

Sometimes a title just calls at you. The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock (Faber and Faber) is an evocative title that immediately had me reminiscing and stitching together memories of childhood. And that is how this beautiful YA debut felt to read; like stitching together stories and dreams. It tells four intertwining coming-of-age...

Through the Woods – Giveaway

(Competition now closed. The winner was Damyanti!) Happy New Year! I've decided not to give anything up for New Year- January can be gloomy enough as it is. Instead, I am going to continue. To carry forward. I had such a delicious warm and scrummy Christmas and I want to bring as much of that...

Reluctant readers and early chapter books

There are some children who don't like to read. It's not that they can't, they just don't *want* to. Sometimes there may be underlying issues around ability, confidence, or peer pressure, but sometimes they just don't fancy it. They think books are boring, or for other kids, or for school. These children often get lumped...