Christmas Countdown Week 1

The Advent Book Tree of Joy is working its magic again this year. With one book to open each night in the build up to Christmas, the first week has brought back some old favourites... Are You Ready For Christmas Santa is Coming to Sussex The Lion, the Unicorn and Me Winter's Child (For a...

Gigantosaurus

I grew up with The Land Before Time. It's the first film I can remember seeing at the cinema and one that I watched over and over on video. I loved those dinos! Such characters! So when Gigantosaurus arrived I was instantly whipped back to the eighties and my adventures with Cera, Ducky and Littlefoot....

Lift the Flap books with a difference

I love quirky lift the flap books. I love it when they are smart and innovative and have beautiful design. When the flaps are really incorporated into the concept of the book and stretch the minds of the readers. Three of my recent favourites are Who is in the Tree that Shouldn't be? by Craig...

The Odd One Out

Ah, spotting books. Those delicious non-fiction-with-a-twist gems. So much potential. And so often... a bit pants. Allow me to introduce you to the very definitely NOT pants The Odd One Out by Britta Teckentrup. This book is Beautiful! It lives up to the potential of the genre and delivers something truly stunning. Its cloth-effect cover...

Are You Ready for Christmas?

Ooooooo this book is pretty! I appreciate that's not the kind of thought out, meaningful and heartfelt review I usually produce on here. But it's Christmas, and at Christmas time I like a bit of pretty! I love the glitter and the window displays and the handmade decorations and the metallic sheen on everything. I...

Winter’s Child by Angela McAllister and Grahame Baker-Smith

A haunting Christmas book from Templar by Angela McAllister and Kate Greenaway medal winner Grahame Baker-Smith, Winter's Child is beautiful. From the moment you look at the cover you know you have something special. The paper has a metallic sheen and catches the light beautifully and Baker-Smith's illustrations are magical. His fusion of drawing, painting...

My Zoo by Ellen Giggenbach

My Zoo by Ellen Giggenbach is a stunner of a playbook. Just look at this deliciousness: It takes the concept of the press out and play book and mixes it with stunning contemporary illustration and design, and Templar Publishing's incredibly high production values to create this: Everything about this book oozes thought and quality. The...

Magic books at the Rainbow Library

Books are magic! Anyone who loves books knows how therapeutic they can be, how they can grab you, open up hidden worlds, teach you about yourself and the person you could become. But today I learned that books can actually Be Magic. This morning I took a box of new books to one of the...

More Fab Female animal characters

The quest to highlight positive female animal characters in picture books continues. I have received brilliant suggestions through twitter and comments on my previous posts, thank you so much to everyone who is joining in the hunt. Between us, we have sourced some fabulous female crocodiles. But I am still yet to track down that...

Hans and Matilda by Yokococo

This book ticks all the boxes for me. It has a strong female animal character, it is quirky and clever, both in design and concept. It is a book that begs to be stroked, makes you smile and makes you think. Hans and Matilda was shortlisted for the Little Rebel Children's Book Award. Guest judge...