Author & Illustrators
This colourful and high energy read-aloud is so much fun for early years children to enjoy, and dog-lovers especially will enjoy its playfulness.
The story follows a series of dogs, from tiny Agnes the Chihuahua to scruffy Shelby, each hoping to claim the title of the biggest dog in the book. It’s a lot of fun watching the dogs get bigger and bigger as the pages turn.
The repetitive ‘he is not the biggest dog’ refrain is perfect for shared readings, as children will quickly join in with the storytelling.
With its vibrant illustrations and a fun fold-out flap at the end, this is a joyful celebration of dogs of all shapes and sizes.
When Bear meets Dragon on an old, rickety bridge, they don’t see eye to eye.
Bear thinks Dragon should stand aside and let him pass and Dragon thinks Bear should definitely let her go first.
Fur is ruffled, and sparks fly in their heated conversation, but who is going to back down?
Meanwhile, the bridge is getting creakier and creakier!
Nominated for “Favourite Books of 2020” by: Kristen Hopwood (primary teacher and BooksForTopics review panel member)
The first in the Sky Pirates series, this story introduces us to Echo Quickthorn, who lives in the kingdom of Lockfort. Echo is an orphan, but lives inside the castle after being taken in by the King. Echo yearns for adventure and to find out about her real family. One evening, a mysterious airship carrying Professor Daggerwing lands within the castle grounds, just outside Echo’s window. The Professor talks of his home and adventures from distant lands, which begins Echo’s voyage into the unknown. However, Echo’s journey may not be as straight forward as she expects, with rumours of formidable Sky Pirates and their tyrant leader nearby…
Sky Pirates is the first middle-grade title from Alex English – and what a story it is to launch her into the children’s book limelight!
The first in the Sky Pirates series, this story introduces us to Echo Quickthorn, who lives in the kingdom of Lockfort. Echo is an orphan, but lives inside the castle after being taken in by the King. Echo yearns for adventure and to find out about her real family. There is one major problem: the people of Lockfort know that nothing exists outside of the Kingdom’s wall apart from barren wasteland, an idea that the King supports entirely, and no-one would ever question the thinking of the King. One evening, a mysterious airship carrying Professor Daggerwing lands within the castle grounds, just outside Echo’s window. The Professor talks of his home and adventures from distant lands, which begins Echo’s journey into the unknown wasteland, all in pursuit of the truth about the world outside of Lockfort and her family. However, Echo’s journey may not be as straight forward as she expects, with rumours of formidable Sky Pirates and their tyrant leader nearby…
This was such an enjoyable, well-paced book and I found the story idea to be really refreshing. Echo, as the main character, is likeable and relatable: her confidence and self-belief grow as the story progresses, even when she faces tricky challenges or tough decisions to make. There are plenty of memorable secondary characters too, but one that really stands out is Gilbert, who is Echo’s best friend. Gilbert is a lizard who he acts as Echo’s moral compass and I really liked how Alex English brought him to life through his expressions and quirky actions. Gilbert is bound to be as huge-a-hit as Echo and a favourite character for many readers.
This book is highly recommendable for upper Key Stage Two and I cannot wait to read the next instalment of Echo’s adventures!
Reviewer: Hayley Warner
A superhero story with a difference…. and lots of cheesy puns! When Supermouse holds auditions in Mouseopolis for The League of Remarkable Rodents, he isn’t sure he has found the best animals for the job. That is until Mount Fondue explodes and cheese covers the town. With Supermouse facing a cheesy end, the League of Remarkable Rodents zoom to the rescue. Will they save their hero or is he truly “fondoomed”?
This book is full of cheesy puns which are laugh-out-loud funny and make this book an enjoyable read for adults and children. Each page features flaps to lift and holes to see more of the story making it an interactive experience. The story is told through speech bubbles and text and is enhanced by great, brightly-coloured illustrations. With just the right amount of peril for our hero and some daring deeds, this has become a firm favourite already.
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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
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