Book Title: Bauble, Me and the Family Tree (available here)
Author: Jenny Moore
Illustrator: Kiersten Eagan
Publisher: Maverick
Publication Date: Sept 2020
Most Suitable for: Upper KS2
Reviewer: Claire Coates
Bauble, Me and the Family Tree is a heart-warming novel which skilfully and sensitively enables children to think about some quite challenging issues. The central characters; Bauble and Noel, live with their mum. Their dad died in the fairly recent past and it is clear that the family is still coming to terms with the loss. At the start of the novel, Bauble tells her brother that she has seen her mum kissing Father Christmas and that this might just be their dad, who hadn’t died after all. As the story unfolds, the two children try and uncover the truth, with some unexpected results.
There is such a lot of gentle humour throughout the novel, which helps the reader to warm to the characters and to empathise with how Noel deals with his mum moving on to a new phase in her life. It affirms that every family is different and that love is the most important aspect of any relationship; the two Mikes and their bond with mum adding in further depth through their past within foster care.
It’s a mystery and a family drama, all rolled into one; with a little bit of Christmas magic added in as well.
It would be a really great novel to share when looking at sensitive issues in upper KS2, or as a class novel during the winter months.
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You can order Bauble, Me and the Family Tree online or from an independent bookshop.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to our Review Panel member for reviewing it.
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