I love Christine Hamill’s writing. Her book B is for Breast Cancer is a non-fiction work for adults based on her own experiences. The Best Medicine is a middle grade fiction book about twelve-year-old Philip who writes hilarious letters to his hero, Harry Hill, looking for advice to help him achieve his goal of becoming a comedian. But Philip’s life is interrupted when his mum gets breast cancer. What follows is a story which is heart-warming, uplifting, moving and also very funny.
I first heard about this book when I was in Yorkshire teaching creative writing with Malachy himself – and I instantly fell in love with the picture of the tiger prancing in the moonlight on the cover. Malachy is a wonderful storyteller from Ireland so imagine it with his soft accent making the words dance! It is also a rhyming story so burrows its way into your mind: ‘There’s a quiet, gentle tiger/In the woods below the hill…’ It is also challenges the idea that tigers are scary – quite the opposite in this case – so is the perfect, calming bedtime story for little ones.
This one is an oldie but a goodie. This fast-paced, hilarious, rhyming text follows Eddie. who is looking for his teddy in the woods. It’s super-fun to join in with the repeated rhymes and readers will love the HUGE surprise in store for Eddie when he eventually finds what he’s looking for. This book is a timeless classic, gorgeously illustrated throughout.
I’m sure this book crops up on every list of favourite bear books, favourite hat books, favourite massive twist books, favourite squashed rabbit books, favourite picture books – basically all the favourites – and with good reason. Jon Klassen is the master at taking picture book noir and making it palatable and this book is no exception. It’s a mischievous and brilliant story about a bear trying to find his hat and told completely in dialogue so get ready with the voices if you are reading this one aloud.
Bear is utterly exhausted and is looking to get a good night’s sleep but his neighbour Duck has other ideas. This hilarious story, illustrated by Benji Davies who is the master of drawing an increasingly knackered bear, has me giggling every time I’ve returned to it. As it turns out, it also happens to be a true-to-life reimagining of my son’s toddler years where I am played by Bear and he is played by Duck.
I’m a huge fan of Sophy Henn’s bold illustrative work and this stunning book is one of my favourites. Pom Pom wakes up in a terrible mood and nothing seems to go right from that point on. I love a grumpy character so Pom Pom stole my heart from the moment he woke up. The entire story is a delight. It’s also an absolutely brilliant book for talking about emotions with young readers.
From the lost boys to the mischievous mermaids and madcap swagger of Captain Hook, there’s so much I love about this book. But what gets me most, every time, is the heart-breaking ending – the disconnect between Peter and Wendy now that she is grown-up and he never will be. I’ve tried to capture something of that painful disconnect in the relationship between my mortal and vampire characters.
When I’m asked to recommend pirate books for younger readers, I always cite talented author/illustrator Jonny Duddle and his Jolley-Rogers series. Filled with Jonny’s trademark humour in the story and art, this title had me at “scurvy”!
A fresh and funny take on the pirate adventure for young readers from talented Mabbitt. Mabel Jones is kidnapped and forced to serve aboard pirate ship ‘The Feroshus Maggot’, captained by the – brilliantly named – wolf Idryss Ebenezer Split. The first in a page-turning series of adventures featuring the sparky heroine.
The first book of the Rook Saga – a trilogy within the wonderful Edge Chronicles – follows the fortunes of Rook Barkwater, who breaks out of the sewer-chambers of Undertown to journey to the Free Glades and an encounter with the mysterious last sky pirate. A deeply satisfying fantasy adventure from two master storytellers.
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)
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Any other comments