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Deborah Maclaren - Editorial Expert
Deborah is a book reviewer, passionate literacy advocate, regular speaker and presenter about the power of books and the importance of reading for pleasure.
MD of LoveReading and LoveReading4Kids since 2018, Deborah has led the brand into a new world, filled with brilliantly bookish content and the launch of an online bookstore with social purpose. Their mission to share book love and to get more people reading is a daily reality.
Deborah’s ten years governing in schools has given her a strong perspective on the issues facing our education system and she feels passionately about doing more. Deborah has been a Fellow of the RSA since 2020, she is a trustee of two children focussed charities and a judge of several awards including The Week Junior Book Awards, Coram Voices and The Shine Media Awards. She adores sharing book love.
Albert is grumpy. He doesn't like any of the things the rest of us do. Like picnics. Or fishing. Or singing. But he LOVES a bubble bath. Don't we all?
Well that was kind of the problem, the forest animals loved it too. I'm not surprised because it was an absolute beauty of a bubbly bathtub. It even has a floating tray to put his tea and biscuits on. (I want one of those!).
Of course grumpy Albert was not a good sharer. He tried everything to keep the animals at bay. But when he gets himself into hot water, ... View Full Review
Life for kids today is a little bit more complex than when I was a kid and embarking upon my life after A-Levels. Then, much like the Game of Life, you had college or career. But now the landscape is hugely different.
If you decide that the university path is one for you, take a look at this Backpacker's Guide, so named to ensure every student takes advantage of their time at Uni, the planning, the investment, the fun and the course. Be an active explorer, and make sure to maximise the opportunity, and travel well.
Navigate the lingo with ... View Full Review
Poor scatterbrained little Pablo. Constantly misplacing things. Leaving things behind. Popping things in the most bizarre spots. Including his precious Mr Crunch. And his baseball cap. Several times. Oh and his marble collection, and his special water bottle. Oh and we can't forget his favourite dinosaur. His Mummy and Daddy would move heaven and earth to find them. Go to all sorts of trouble. Climbing, tunneling. And mostly they were found, but not always.
Pablo wasn't a good thing-finder. Easily distracted, he just didn't like searching for stuff. Why bother when his parents did it for him? Until they didn't. ... View Full Review
This book feels like another instant classic from the award-winning team of former Children's Laureate Rosen and the incredible Ed Vere. Featuring an otherworldly collection of a dozen dazzling poems, Out of This World is full of poems to make you laugh, make you smile and make you think. Properly think.
What if you lived in AD3528 and lived in Underwater London? Imagine a beast, a monster whose only food was letters, gobbling up the whole alphabet. What a nightmare that would be! What would it be like to be a red blood cell? Imagine a day in the life ... View Full Review
Whether a trip down memory lane or an introduction to the hedgerow for new fans, this is a book to be treasured.
Many of us who grew up in the 80s were introduced to the hedgerow when Spring Story, Summer Story, Autumn Story, and Winter Story all came out, introducing readers to the world of the hedgerow mice. Later books followed, including The Secret Staircase, The High Hills and Sea Story.
Right from the very first page, 5 year old me was entranced by the shadows between the roots of the trees, with the tiny windows with tiny curtains and tiny ... View Full Review
When Matilda starts at The Meadows, she's sad when Mummy comes to leave. Whilst the idea of school is super exciting, it feels strange without her Mummy. She's unsure what to do now. What to play. Who to play with.
But of course Mummy comes up with a great idea: a hug button. She draws two hug buttons: one on Matilda's wrist and one on her own. Then, when Matilda wants a hug, or wants to give one to Mummy, she can press the hug button and know that Mummy is thinking about her too. That a virtual hug is ... View Full Review
Through interactive elements like lift-the-flap pages, children can explore the inner workings of flowers, meet various pollinating animals, and understand how these processes contribute to the food we eat. Brimming with facts, and bursting with science, the incredible illustrations guide you through pollination with vibrant detail and a sense of wonder that makes complex concepts feel both accessible and exciting for young readers.
Designed for curious minds, the book not only explains the science behind pollination but also includes hands-on activities. At the end of the book, readers are encouraged to conduct their own pollination investigation, complete with instructions ... View Full Review
Join Dave, Brian (the dogs), Sheldon, Mai (the cats), Benni (the bearded dragon) on their adventures because Donna Ashworth does it again with this beautiful book bursting with love, and kindness, hope, and acceptance. It's easy to see why and how she is currently the UK's bestselling living poet. Her accessible, emotionally resonant poetry has struck a chord with a wide audience, and here, in reminding us that life is a pick-and-mix of all things, she holds our hand through change - from the changing of the seasons, to our changing emotional state, to growing, to loss, to grief.
For ... View Full Review
Starting with a tiny little seed growing inside an apple, this picture book takes you and your little readers on an adventure through our world, showing how we are all connected to each other.
Exploring the world with beautiful, bright illustrations and die-cut shapes to investigate on every page, it's a fun voyage of discovery. And make sure you're paying attention and spot the details on every page as the characters appear throughout the story.
From a caterpillar, to a bird, to a dog, to a cat, to some flowers, to people, to a lake, to a city, to the ... View Full Review
Leila loves painting and bright colours, her bedroom walls featuring her artwork. But she's not a fan of the dark. When one night she notices a girl's face peering down at her from the moon, Leila waves back and a friendship is born.
As Moon Girl accompanies Leila on her midnight adventure, her magic paintbrush lights up the dark and enables Leila to banish her fear of the dark. Page by page they discover gems hidden in the darkness as Leila realises perhaps the night isn't so scary after all.
Showing that children can take control back and banish their ... View Full Review
Bursting off the page are Hector Dexet's bold and bright illustrations, introducing young readers to the wonders of nature. It's a triumph of interactive storytelling, as you follow a little seed on their journey through nature, season by season. The journey of a tiny seed as it bravely adventures, grows, and transforms.
With a blend of education and enchantment, this book encourages curiosity about the natural world, with the flaps and die-cuts on every page keeping the reader engaged, entertained and enthralled. Perfect for bedtime reading and early learning, it’s a delightful adventure that nurtures a love for ... View Full Review
Those cheeky crayons of The Day the Crayons Quit fame are back. Colouring has never been the same again since Drew Daywalt collaborated with Oliver Jeffers to create this award-winning series of picture books. This one, for Mummies everywhere, is part of a new set of picture books celebrating our loved ones.
Full of the usual colour and bursting with life this is an absolute treasure of a book, celebrating mummies, daddies, grandparents and carers of all shapes, sizes, and colours. It's a beautiful and inclusive book with the Crayons' trademark humour and heart, highlighting diverse families united by love, ... View Full Review
