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Andrea Reece - Editorial Expert

Andrea Reece has spent almost her entire working life in children’s books, first as publisher, latterly as consultant, project manager and critic.

She has reviewed for LoveReading4Kids since 2015, is editor of the leading children’s books review journal Books for Keeps and administrator of the Klaus Flugge Prize and Branford Boase Award.

She was children’s programme director of the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival until 2023, spent three years as manager of National Poetry Day and works with CLPE on the CLiPPA (CLPE Children’s Poetry Prize) and with The Full English on the Poetry By Heart national competition. She has judged children’s prizes including the Costa Children’s Book Award and Alligator’s Mouth Award.

Latest Reviews By Andrea Reece

Petr Horáček’s books are real favourites with so many young readers and Blue Monster is set to win hearts too. All he wants to do is play with his friends but when Rabbit says he doesn’t want to play because he’s sleeping, Blue Monster … well, you’ll have to read the book to find out exactly what he does, ideally with a young person who will find it very funny indeed! The story is full of surprises, with a wonderful page-turning quality and the ending is very satisfying. Blue Monster ... View Full Review

Mary Anning – young, poor, female – had none of the advantages of her contemporary scientists in Victorian England. What she did have though, was determination, knowledge and understanding gained from studying the fossils she found in the cliffs of her hometown Lyme Regis, plus the creativity and imaginative power to dream up creatures no one had imagined before. The story of her life, her discoveries and her impact as one of the most important figures in early palaeontology is told brilliantly in this superb and inspiring information picture book. Mary clearly struck a chord with its creator Kate Winter, ... View Full Review

The little blue dot of the title of this engaging information story book is, of course, Earth, here feeling somewhat over-shadowed by her bigger neighbours in the solar system. What follows is an introduction to each planet, from an unseen narrator, with descriptions of their characteristics, atmosphere and planetary surfaces. Earth thinks they’re all more exciting, more special than she is; she’s not very big, not overly warm or cold, has no giant storms. The little voice pipes up again, and turns out to be that of a child who wisely reminds Earth that this planet ... View Full Review

Jellyfish are extraordinary creatures, and this book takes us deep into their world. It succeeds in being both a gorgeous object, with stylish illustrations throughout on carefully designed spreads, and a treasure trove of information. Readers learn much, from the scientific name for the group of animals to which jellyfish belong (Cnidaria), to details about different aspects of this lives, how they swim, how they sting (and how to treat it), how they reproduce. There are pages on different jellyfish, such as the enormous lion’s mane jellyfish, featured in a Sherlock Holmes story, the huge and very poisonous ... View Full Review

This lovely, sensitive and insightful picture book could massively boost the number of young children deciding to become florists. Juhi loves helping her Appa (dad) in their flower shop, choosing the perfect flowers to convey thoughts and sentiment: she knows the language of love and celebration and as a result she also knows everything that’s happening on her street – weddings, the arrival of a new baby, all of it. Her favourite customer is Mr Potter, who is always full of stories and jokes, living life to the full. When Mr Potter dies, Juhi knows just how she ... View Full Review

We’re all familiar with the phrase, ‘step into someone else’s shoes’ and when the young girl at the centre of this picture book does so literally, she suddenly understands the person closest to her in a whole new way. Matou, who lives on the outskirts of Paris, gets into the habit of trying on the shoes left outside the mosque she passes on her way home from school. She plays at guessing who their owners are and what they’re like, and gets it right quite often. Then at home, grumpy because their ... View Full Review

This flamboyantly large, fantastically illustrated book introduces 38 extraordinary and unforgettable children. A full colour map-cum-index on the first spread shows us their homes, with page numbers. Perhaps it will tempt you to turn to page 54 to meet the Foldaway Child, or to page 28 and the Springy Child, or page 40 and the Flying Child, but better by far to read from start to finish as each child introduces themselves, starting with the Electric Child, ‘I’m a live wire!’. Across wonderfully varied pages they list their capabilities and give us extra insights into their personalities – favourite things, ... View Full Review

Best friends Tito and Neena are used to exploring magic worlds and to dealing with magical creatures. They’re Dreamweavers, able to create their own amazing adventures and share them. The two are looking forward to a visit to Tito’s fun-loving grandparents but when they arrive, something strange has happened. It’s as though all the fun has been sucked out of the seaside town, and out of its residents too, including Tito’s Nan and Grandad. Someone is up to no good and it’s likely to be the Bhoot, Neena’s ... View Full Review

David Lindo’s passion for birds is catching, especially in this fascinating and beautifully illustrated information book. Across fifteen sections we encounter no less than 150 different birds, grouped according to habitat or distinguishing feature. The ‘hero’ of the section entitled Fantastic Feet for example is the harpy eagle, native to the rainforests of Central and South America and able to carry monkeys in its huge talons. The flamingo is the hero of the Friendly Flocks, the sooty shearwater the hero of the Open Ocean, while the hero of the Urban Jungle is the peregrine falcon, an increasingly ... View Full Review

From planting seeds in spring, to enjoying a picnic in the summer, wearing your favourite cosy jumper in the autumn, and catching snowflakes in winter, the different seasons are celebrated in this charming, pocket-sized book, and more than that, young children’s experiences of them. Short poems, like little bursts of colour, accompanied by bright, lively illustrations make this a lovely book to share at bedtime or to dip into while out and about in the open air. The poems all describe experiences little children will know and enjoy, whether that’s watching a bee or fireworks, and ... View Full Review

Alexandra Dawe’s inventive, original fairy-tale-style adventure is as twisty and interwoven as the branches of the tree that grows up through the middle of Stitchwort House. Etta lives there, a somewhat lonely life with her family, the house’s multitude of spiders keeping her company. Neither she nor any member of her family can leave the house unless they want to risk an unfortunate and pretty much certain death, thanks to an old curse. But then three new members of the family arrive, looking for a refuge from the outside world where World War II is beginning.&... View Full Review

Let’s face it, every one of us struggles with a lack of confidence at least sometimes, so helping young children understand what confidence is and how to be confident is one of the most important things adults can teach them. This book aims to help young children understand just that through a series of examples and practical strategies such as using positive self-talk, setting achievable goals, and encouraging others to feel better. It also explains that everyone makes mistakes, and how positive that can be. Our narrators and guides are two friendly little (childlike) furry creatures, which makes ... View Full Review