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Lindsay Quayle - Editorial Expert
Lindsay Quayle was always that child pleading for an extra half an hour of reading time before lights out. It was no surprise to anyone that she went on to study English Literature once she’d worked her way through every book she could lay her hands on at home and at school.
After a spell of time in Finance, the draw of books brought her back to her real passion; she finished her masters in Publishing Studies and spent time working as a bookseller before landing a role at non-fiction publisher, Mainstream. Several years later, she went on to work for Scottish Book Trust and had the enviable job of writing about the life-changing benefits of reading and stories. She was also responsible for curating book lists for organisations including Children in Scotland, Education Scotland and LGBT Youth Scotland, as well as writing regular reviews for Children’s Books Ireland and other internal publications.
Lindsay is now a freelance writer and editor with her own company, Pencil Press. She has never lost her love for a good novel, and still wishes there was an extra half an hour at the end of each day for one more chapter.
Latest Reviews By Lindsay Quayle
If I could choose anyone to man the kitchen at my next tea party or bake sale, Great British Bake-Off winner Peter Sawkins would be close to top of the list! As those who watched him in the tent will know, the confident but unassuming Scot isn’t short of creativity, and it’s this side of his baking that really shines in his latest recipe book for children and families. From lemon meringue towers to Malteser squares, rainbow swirls, babkas and cookie cakes, the line-up of lip-smacking treats is bound to ignite any child’s passion ... View Full Review
If you’ve got a budding astronaut, scientist or star gazer in your life, Big Questions about the Universe is a book you should probably keep up your sleeve. From general questions about the make-up of planets and life in the International Space Station, to more technical aspects of neutron stars and telescopes, this well-crafted fact book breaks down some tricky concepts into digestible chunks for young readers (and some not-so-young ones too!).
Alex Frith and Alice James have done a stellar job on the learning side – but kudos to the creative team for bringing explanations to life ... View Full Review
Tell me a child who doesn’t love mud. Or fire. Or splashing in puddles! If there is one, they might think differently after spending a day outdoors with Forest School Wild Play.
From cloud spotting to fire pits, mudslinging to shelter building, this smart little guidebook is buzzing with activities that take children back to nature in the most elemental of ways: the exploration of water, air, earth and fire. Each carefully balanced chapter includes a healthy dose of messy play, tool use or risk assessment, all so crucial in different ways to our children’s emotional ... View Full Review
Enticing children away from digital screens and other indoor attractions can be a challenge. But with these 48 pocket-sized activity cards up your sleeve, Jane Worrol and Peter Houghton might have made the task that little bit easier.
Adapted from their bestselling Forest School guidebooks, this portable deck of wipe-clean cards is ideal for throwing in your bag for any trip to the park or woods. Beautifully bright colours differentiate the four ‘suits’, or themes (connecting to nature, team games; forest crafts and survival skills) and it’s up to you whether you pre-select a few before heading ... View Full Review
Like its predecessor, Play the Forest School Way, the latest handbook from Jane Worroll and Peter Houghton is bursting with interactive games, skill building-activities…and fun!
The carefully considered guide embodies the Forest School philosophies of learning through play and reconnecting with nature, and while some of the activities take a similar line of thread to those in earlier books, the focus on creativity and tool use seems to really ramp up.
Entries such as blackberry ink/feather quill pens and evergreen paintbrushes are relatively simple – but beautifully effective – and for an older audience, the use of ... View Full Review
Passionate and rebellious, magical and wicked, what a fascinating bunch the gods, goddesses and pharaohs of ancient Egypt were! And what a wonderful job Jean Menzies and Katie Ponder have done to bring them and their stories to life in this striking compendium of Egyptian myths.
Beginning with the enchanting story of Creation, young readers are immediately catapulted into a world of mystical creatures, powerful gods and more poisonous serpents than you can shake a stick at. They will discover how Osiris was tricked by his own brother and ended up becoming the first ever Mummy…and why the ... View Full Review
Poor Bella! Her best friend, Rosh, has moved away and the dreaded class talk she has to give is looming. To make matters worse, it’s Feeling Good Week at school – the last thing Bella needs when she’s feeling this low… Or is it? An inspirational talk from mindfulness teacher Kris helps to settle a few nerves and opens up some healthy discussion about emotions and how we manage them. It also presents the perfect opportunity for Bella to connect with new friends, tune into how she’s really feeling…and set herself ... View Full Review
What better way to encourage young children to reconnect with nature, spend time with family and friends and have oodles of fun in the process than with this wonderfully simple activity book.
The perfect size to throw in your rucksack, this accessible introduction to the Forest School philosophy packs so much into its 160 pages: wildlife-themed team games; arts and crafts inspired by nature; exploration activities; and everyone’s favourite – survival skills (think shelter-building, fire-starting and foraging!).
Jane Worroll and Peter Houghton strip away any need for fancy equipment or expense and are very careful to make their ... View Full Review
What better way to encourage children to connect with the natural world than with the promise of tasty treats? There’s an abundance of wild delights available in our gardens, parks, seas and forests, and foraging expert, Adele Nozedar, celebrates 52 beauties in this inspiring guide for families and classrooms. Each wondrous plant or tree, fungi or herb is given its own moment in the spotlight - Nozedar cleverly weaving together fascinating facts, folklore and recipe ideas to bring these diverse specimens to life.
Who knew that Daisies made the ideal bruise salve, or that Nettles are used to colour ... View Full Review
