Author & Illustrators
The first in a magical and mystical series by the incredibly talented Laura Ellen Anderson. Bound to be a hit with fans of Isadora Moon, Pia’s Pet Club or Izzy the Inventor
Tabitha finds a key to her garden shed which takes her to the land of Star Kitties. She has been very much enjoying her weekly visits there and now it’s her birthday and she has arrived in Whiskery Paw expecting celebrations galore. However there is a cat-astrophe: her Royal Pawness is missing and the cats are in chaos!
This illustrated early chapter book series tells the story of a secret world of kitty cats which as a cat-lover was purrrfect (once I was introduced to Reading Kitty, I felt like I’d met my soulmate!). The striking two-colour illustrations make the book very appealing and ideal for children in Year 2 upwards (age 6+). There is also a map at the start for children to follow the characters on their detective mission. It is a great book to use as a stepping tool from KS1 to KS2: it has short chapters and could help children progress from phonics and onto comprehension led reading in small groups or as a whole class setting.
Evil Emperor Penguin’s plans to take over planet Earth are in place, and nothing can stop him . . . wait, is that his arch-nemesis, Evil Cat?! Surely the world is too small for TWO evil geniuses!
Who will become the cutest evil genius in the world?
Giggles are guaranteed in this delightfully silly comic, with extra how-to-draw content so young readers can become creators, too!
I’m a really big fan of Rainbow Grey so I was really excited to review this first book in the new series from Laura Ellen Anderson. It certainly didn’t disappoint!
Marnie is a very young moth, who finally having gained her wings, is off to Mini Beast Academy to learn what being a mini beast is all about. She has always dreamed of visiting the moon like her hero Lunora Wingheart, who was lost on a mission to the moon. When she arrives at school, Marnie soon begins having visions and hearing Lunora calling for help. However, whenever she asks about the moon, the adults go quiet. Marnie and her friends Floyd and Star discover that their teacher Mr. Atlas has a devious plot to destroy the moon. Can they stop him in time and save Lunora?
I enjoyed how the characters lived in a world that was just like ours, except hidden from human sight. Marnie, Floyd and Star are brilliant characters. They have completely different personalities, but they become the best of friends. This is a fabulous book for ages 6-9 for teaching friendship, determination and resilience. The world building and descriptive language are exceptional, making it easy to picture the book in your mind; perfect for young readers. I think this is going to be a fantastic series for engaging young readers exploring short, illustrated chapter books.
Rainbow Grey is a funny, smart and creative tale, sprinkled with weather-related characters and places. The characters are not human, but still remain highly relatable; the main characters had friendship issues to deal with, like any children their age, and it’s important for children to be able to recognise things that they might be going through in their own lives in a book. Likewise, the nod to dyslexia when Ray describes letters as being jumbled on the page and later on, when reading from coloured paper was referred to, would resonate with a lot of children…
Join Tiga on her quest to win Witch Wars and become Top Witch of Ritzy City
When Fran the Fabulous Fairy turns up in Tiga Whicabim’s shed to tell her she’s a witch, Tiga doesn’t believe her. Or at least not until Fran points out that TIGA WHICABIM is actually an anagram of I AM A BIG WITCH and magics her away down the drainpipes to compete in Witch Wars – the competition to crown the next Top Witch of Ritzy City.
Filled with silly spells, delectable dresses, ridiculous riddles and a serious shoe problem, Witch Wars is a witch story like no other.
Snowflakes is a topical story about what it is like to immigrate to a completely new home. It tells the story of Mia, a girl who travels away to live with Grandma in a peculiar new land of forests and snow. The narrative conveys Mia’s sense of displacement at her unfamiliar surroundings and how different she feels to the other children there. One day, Mia watches the snow falling and realises that she is unique and special just like each individual snowflake. This is a compassionate story with an important theme of diversity and new beginnings.
This is such a fun, silly book! I loved Evil Emperor Penguin (“EEP”) and his bumbling sidekicks Mister 8 and Eugene and his minions. Their never-ending antics are hilarious. Poor EEP desperately wants to take over the world but is thwarted at every turn by his employees. They never seem to get things right, much to his dismay.
However, Evil Emperor Penguin never gives up. His resilience is heroic: he won’t give up no matter what. He reminds me a lot of Dick Dastardly chasing the pigeon. I really liked how the book is a collection of small stories that are related. It keeps you engaged. The format of a graphic novel is brilliant and adds to the enjoyment. The illustrations are bright, colourful and perfect for the stories. I think kids (and adults) will go crazy for this book and that it will appeal to even the most reluctant of readers.
review
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?
yes
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Any other comments
Any other comments
