Travels with My Sketchbook
7+ readers 9+ readers 11+ readersA beautiful illustrated record of Chris Riddell's time as the Children's Laureate 2015-2017 with cloth quarter binding, ribbon marker and beautiful end papers this truly is a book to treasure.
Darkness Visible Philip Pullman and His Dark Materials
11+ readers 13+ readers YA readersThoroughly fascinating exposition of Philip Pullman’s life and work, from a childhood punctuated by impactful travel to the likes of Australia, to anticipating the eagerly awaited, forthcoming The Book of Dust. The chapters covering Science and Religion, and Philosophy, lay down the intellectual landscape of His Dark Materials with depth and rigor, and there are lighter moments too. One notable nugget is the disclosure that Lyra’s habit of crawling college roofs is based on Pullman’s own Oxford undergraduate antics, though he acknowledges that Lyra’s head for heights is somewhat greater than his own! Combining in-depth analysis with illuminating personal insights, and family photos (the book’s esteemed author is a friend of Pullman’s), this lucidly written treasury does great justice to the expansive majesty of Pullman's work. ~ Joanne Owen
Books! Books! Books!
7+ readers 9+ readersApril 2017 Book of the Month Who better to take young readers on a guided tour of the British Library than Mick Manning and Brita Granström? Words and pictures work perfectly together to give children a vivid sense of the greatest library in the world, and some of the amazing books to be found there. It begins with a look at the St Cuthbert Gospel, a photo of the book part of a collage also featuring a representation of the saint in his coffin and sketches depicting the book’s extraordinary history. There are equally lively pages on the Lindisfarne Gospel, Beowulf, Mrs Beeton’s cookbook and many more. The approach is as varied as the books featured, while the facts contained will inform and fascinate readers of all ages. It concludes with notes on the authors of the featured books and a helpful glossary. A unique and fascinating way of examining the history of the book through one of our greatest institutions. ~ Andrea Reece
Write Your Own Mystery & Ghost Stories
7+ readers 9+ readersFull of really useful tips and fun writing activities this is a great book for any youngster who enjoys telling stories. As well as breaking them down into the component parts that make up a successful ghost or mystery story, the book is packed too with suggestions on how to plot, create character and build suspense. There are lots of examples of vocabulary and phrases to make your writing more exciting and effective and a selection of tempting story starters too so there’s no excuse for not putting pen to paper and creating some thrilling stories. You can fill it in, scrapbook like, and atmospheric illustrations by Pam Smy add further inspiration. ~ Andrea Reece You might also like the companion guide, Write Your Own Adventure Stories by Paul Dowswell.
Agatha Christie
5+ readers 7+ readersWith stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, this empowering series celebrates the important life stories of wonderful women of the world. From designers and artists to scientists, all of them went on to achieve incredible things, yet all of them began life as a little child with a dream. These books make the lives of these role models accessible for children, providing a powerful message to inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world! Women in the Little People, Big Dreams series include:Ada LovelaceAgatha ChristieAmelia EarhartAudrey HepburnCoco ChanelElla FitzgeraldFrida KahloMarie CurieMaya AngelouRosa Parks We have a special category for the Little People, Big Dreams series. Click here to view them all.
The Shakespeare Timeline Wallbook
7+ readers 9+ readers 11+ readers 13+ readersThe Shakespeare Timeline Wallbook will give readers (of all ages) special insight into all the 38 plays, as well as into the man and his time. A colourful 2 metre long wall chart illustrated with intriguing picture scenes lays out the plays in chronological order, providing a plot summary and introduction to the main characters, and highlighting key quotes. In What On Earth? style a timeline across the bottom tells us what was happening in Shakespeare’s world – political and personal – as his plays were performed. Extra material includes 30 different newspaper-style reports on different aspects of the Bard. Typically of this innovative, inspiring series it will catch young people’s interest and encourage them to discover even more about our greatest playwright. ~ Andrea Reece The wallbooks are an amazing feat of publishing. The Shakespeare Timeline Wallbook is a unique introduction to all thirty-eight histories, comedies and tragedies by William Shakespeare on a timeline set in the iconic Globe Theatre. On the reverse, a newspaper-style narrative reviews all the most significant moments in the legacy of William Shakespeare from his death to the present day. In addition to the Wallbook, The Shakespeare Timeline also includes a Chronicle which features more than 30 newspaper stories and a quiz.
Maya Angelou
5+ readers 7+ readersWith stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, this empowering series celebrates the important life stories of wonderful women of the world. From designers and artists to scientists, all of them went on to achieve incredible things, yet all of them began life as a little child with a dream. These books make the lives of these role models accessible for children, providing a powerful message to inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world! Women in the Little People, Big Dreams series include:Ada LovelaceAgatha ChristieAmelia EarhartAudrey HepburnCoco ChanelElla FitzgeraldFrida KahloMarie CurieMaya AngelouRosa Parks We have a special category for the Little People, Big Dreams series. Click here to view them all.
Beatrix Potter and the Unfortunate Tale of the Guinea Pig
3+ readersA delightful, illustrated new story featuring none other than Beatrix Potter herself. Based on the well-loved author’s own diary entries Beatrix Potter and the Unfortunate Tale of the Guinea Pig is a hilarious story about Beatrix and her neighbour’s guinea pig. Beatrix does so love to draw and paint animals and as she doesn’t have a guinea pig of her own borrows her neighbours. She promises that no harm will come to it and as this is Miss Potter, what possibly could go wrong? A wonderful, beautifully illustrated story that will be loved by Potter fans young and old.
What's So Special About Shakespeare?
7+ readers 9+ readersSo what was it like to live in Shakespeare's time? What do we actually know about him? And how does someone become that famous? These are just a few of the questions addressed in this lively and accessible book on the life and works of William Shakespeare by award-winning author, Michael Rosen. It includes studies of four of Shakespeare's plays, facts and information about Shakespeare and the world at this time.
William Shakespeare Scenes from the Life of the World's Greatest Writer
7+ readers 9+ readersShortlisted for the English Picture Book Award 2016 | Mick Manning and Brita Granström have developed a picture book approach to non-fiction that brings their subjects to vivid life. Beautifully illustrated throughout in coloured pencil and watercolour and with pen and ink for the hand lettering, this is beautiful to look at and packed with information. There is lots on Shakespeare’s childhood – stories of the famous as children always catch the imagination of young readers – and the book provides a very clear impression of Tudor life. It explains the ‘lost years’, when no-one really knows what Shakespeare was up to, and cleverly puts the plays in the context of Shakespeare’s life and times. There are retellings in a sort of comic-strip of some of the most important plays – Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet – while comic-strip style speech bubbles throughout let readers hear Shakespeare’s words and world. Children can read this book in so many different ways, and Simon Callow, quoted on the cover, is right when he says this is a perfect introduction to the real Shakespeare.
What's So Special About Shakespeare?
7+ readers 9+ readersShakespeare’s writing was extraordinary four hundred years ago, and it’s still extraordinary today says Michael Rosen in this splendid and inspiring introduction to the bard. Rosen demonstrates to young people just why Shakespeare is still acted, read and quoted today and how his work still shapes our language and culture. His enthusiasm is irresistible. Taking examples from Romeo and Juliet he shows how relevant the play still is to young people and explains – clearly and succinctly – how the action, characters and dramatic tension still affect modern audiences. There’s also fascinating information about Shakespeare’s life, times and schooling and about the first Globe Theatre, and this is one of the very best books to introduce children to Shakespeare. ~ Andrea Reece
Boy Tales of Childhood
7+ readers 9+ readersRoald Dahl writing about his own childhood is a treat for any Dahl fan - young or old. These stories are warm, touching, funny and show the development of one of our most treasured children's writers. "An autobiography is a book a person writes about his own life and it is usually full of all sorts of boring details. This is not an autobiography." Roald Dahl
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