What We&#8217;ve Been Reading: Reviews Round-Up

Nine-year-old Jasper loves birds – in fact he loves them so much he has his own book featuring birds he has seen. It is Spring and he is waiting for the nightingale to arrive. He is also waiting for his big sister Rosie to come home from university. But neither of them has turned up, so Jasper goes to look for them. Despite being very anxious, Jasper somehow manages to walk a very long way and make friends as he goes.

What the reader knows but Jasper has not really taken on board, is that Rosie has in fact died. This is a study in grief, how neither Jasper nor his parents have really managed to deal with the awful tragedy that has befallen them. It makes the book heart-breaking but also uplifting at the same time.

Jasper manages to overcome huge obstacles and somehow has to overcome the terrible truth that he is constantly pushing away. Jasper is so well written as a character that it is entirely believable that he would set off by himself. The whole book is infused with his anxiousness and love for his sister.

Each chapter starts with a fact about birds and the birds themselves are beautifully illustrated, almost with personality, by Sharon King -Chai. Written to emulate the book that Jaspar carries with him, the bird details are both fascinating and pertinent to the story. This is a very beautiful piece of writing and one of the saddest books. Teachers would need to think about their audience if reading aloud and some children might not have the maturity to realise the main plot is about how Jaspar is looking for something he can no longer find. With appropriate support and reserved for the right audience, this is an absolutely wonderful book.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication date: January 2022

2. The Case of the Smuggler’s Curse

By Mark Dawson & Ben Mantle

Reviewer: Caroline Waldron

Chapter book (7+)

Join ‘The After School Detective Club’ on their first adventure in the sleepy seaside town of Southwold. Consisting of Lucy, Max, Charlie and her canine companion, Sherlock, the group of children become friends one dark, wet evening when Sherlock decides to pick a fight with a mysterious stranger who appears to be signalling from some large rocks to ships at sea.

When Sherlock ends up being kicked into the dangerous, stormy waters around the rocks, the children band together to save him, thus securing both Sherlock’s safety and their friendship. Is the man a wrecker, luring ships to their doom on the rocks? Or maybe a smuggler, bringing in illegal goods? Determined to find out what’s going on in their quiet hometown, the friends embark on an exciting adventure that ends up taking them out onto the water, and even into police custody, in pursuit of a gang of dangerous but clever villains. The pursuit of answers drives the reader through the story. Will the children be arrested? Will they catch the criminals? Will the grown-ups ever believe their wild story? It would make a great class read as the chapters aren’t too long and there are plenty of end-of-chapter cliffhangers.

This is an exciting, fast-paced adventure story with plenty of action. The illustrations, by Ben Mantle, are liberally sprinkled throughout the text and beautifully illustrate it. Reminiscent of both Fleur Hitchcock and Enid Blyton, this series promises to be one to watch. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

A great read for ages 8 to 12 and a must-read for anyone who loves a good adventure story.

Publisher: Welbeck Publishing

Publication date: 20th January 2022

3. Harley Hitch and the Missing Moon

by Vashti Hardy & George Ermos

Reviewer: Julie B

Short chapter book (6+)

This is the second book in the Harley Hitch series and sees Harley trying to win the Pupil of the Term award at school. When the circus comes to town, she is reluctant to attend, but her best friend Cosmo persuades her that she needs a night of fun. When STEM-loving Harley tries to take a look at one of the machines used in the show, she accidentally breaks it and then everything starts to go wrong…

Although this is the second Harley Hitch book, it can be read with no prior knowledge of the series. The reader quickly gets drawn into Harley’s world and gets to know her, her friends, her dog and her grandfathers. The story moves at a good pace with lots of action and adventure and the premise of the moon going missing adds an extra layer of originality and excitement.

There is a strong STEM theme running throughout the book, as Harley invents, creates and fixes various items. It promotes curiosity; Harley asks questions but it is shown as a good thing, as a way to find out more about the world around her. Harley is a strong lead character who is not afraid to follow what she wants but is supported by those around her.

The illustrations by George Ermos help to add to the story and also to break up the text, which makes this an ideal read for newly confident readers.

This is a great book for lower key stage 2 children to read independently and would also work well as a read-aloud for Year 2.

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication date: January 2022

4. Song of the River

By: Gill Lewis & Zanna Goldhawk

Reviewer: Louisa Farrow

Short chapter book (dyslexia-friendly format) (8+)

Cari and her mum both miss Dad after he’s killed in a road accident. For Cari’s mum, a new start in a cottage by the river where they can open a tea shop seems a positive way to move on; for Cari, it’s just another painful wrench. When a storm is followed by a devastating flood, it looks like a disaster to them both. Cari’s the one to realise that there’s no path back, only forwards.

Struggling to rebuild their home and their livelihood, she and her mum hear of a plan to reintroduce beavers to the area. Conservationists believe they may hold the key to regulating flood waters and protecting the village but there is intense local opposition. Cari is stung to action. Can she persuade the community to give beavers a chance? And if she does, will the plan work?

Gill Lewis writes so powerfully of the natural world and the need to work with it rather than against it, to balance the needs of communities and the landscapes they inhabit. This moving story from Barrington Stoke uses deliberately accessible language but handles the themes of loss and grief with sensitivity and depth. The themes of rewilding, conservation and environmental change are both topical and challenging.

The book could be used to provoke thoughtful discussions about resilience and courage as well as to build reading stamina and nurture an interest in the natural world. It would fit well alongside science projects on climate change and environmental responsibility and would lead naturally into work on persuasive writing. This is a good book to recommend to children who love animal stories, too.

Publisher: Barrington Stoke

Publication date: February 2022

5. Gretel the Wonder Mammoth

By Kim Hillyard

Reviewer: Gabby McConalogue

Picture book (3+)

Gretel, a woolly mammoth from prehistoric times, has been encased in ice for thousands of years until one peaceful Tuesday morning when the ice cracks and she pops out to greet the world again. At first, everything is marvellous – she learns about the modern world, shares amazing stories and is loved by the locals (some very friendly seabirds). But all these new changes are a little fast and overwhelming and, being the last mammoth left on Earth, Gretel starts to feel a bit lonely.

Gretel the Wonder Mammoth shows us that, no matter your size, how many talents you have and even if you are surrounded by friendly faces, everyone can feel anxious, alone and sad. It demonstrates how important it is to speak up and share your feelings when life becomes overwhelming and stressful. This very relatable story is perfect for younger pupils and teaches its readers that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is ask for help.

The illustrations are fun and engaging, with simple language and cheeky sea birds adorning the pages. The colours link to the emotions of the text and one cannot help but instantly take to the gentle, gregarious Gretel.

I would highly recommend this book for younger readers – in PSHE lessons, assemblies or for children requiring support in overcoming their fears.

Publisher: Ladybird

Publication date: March 2022

6. Lift the flap Questions and Answers about Racism

By Jordan Akpojaro & Ashley Evans

Reviewer: Jane Carter

Non-fiction (6+)

Racism can sometimes be a difficult subject to broach and to discuss in primary schools. Children have perceptive questions that seem to adults, to require rather complex answers. This book seeks to address these questions and open up a forum to enable children to talk about how they feel as well as address possible misconceptions and myths. It provides the teacher or parent with a starting point from which to support children understand an issue that must not be avoided.

The format is simple: questions under the main headings of the what, why and how of racism and answers provided when you lift the flap. Each page groups together questions under the main headings in order to probe each area more deeply – for example, to consider not just what racism is but what it feels like as well as questions about what we mean by ethnicity and why we use particular terms e.g. heritage and ethnicity rather than ‘race’.

The book seeks to support children in thinking more deeply about their behaviours, like whether it could be racist to copy people’s clothes and traditions. It tackles some of the things that children will hear in wider society – why the Black Lives Matter slogan is not the same as saying that not all lives matter. The book also addresses the causes of racism from slavery to fake news and explores questions about our identities and how each of us can play our part in tackling racism. The book finishes with some fairly unsettling facts – that in the past, humans were exhibited in zoos; that people are still enslaved today; and that in wars, millions have been killed because of racism. The book’s author was supported by the ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ organisation, a child psychologist and a history professor ensuring that the answers are clear, accurate and approached with sensitivity and respect.

This is a powerful and necessary addition to a primary classroom.

Publisher: Usborne

Publication date: January 2022

7. Corpse Talk: Ground-breaking Explorers

By Adam and Lisa Murphy

Reviewer: Marion Park

Graphic Novel (9+)

Corpse Talk originates from a strip from The Phoenix comic, written and drawn by Adam Murphy. This full-length graphic novel version will please comic fans and history buffs alike. In the context of a graveyard chat show featuring many a corpse, each chapter of this graphic novel introduces a new ‘guest’ and details the voyages and actions of a different real-life explorer.

The featured figures come from a range of historical periods and from across the globe. This allows the book to be read in its entirety or readers can pick and choose what interests them. Each section is packed with information and the injection of humour adds to the enjoyment, making it ideal to enthuse children’s historical learning. While the stories of the explorers are told in an entertaining way, this book doesn’t shy away from the fact that some of the events that took place contain elements that are less than heroic, e.g. the story of Christopher Columbus.

I found the style of the storytelling to be really engaging and I can see how this would appeal to perhaps reluctant yet capable readers. Engaging pictures, the chat show context and plenty of factual content mean that there is something for everyone. This is a great addition to the collection of Corpse Talk books which includes scientists, storytellers and “dead famous” women. It’s definitely something a bit different that deserves a place on classroom shelves.

Publisher: David Fickling Books

Publication date: January 2022

8. Above and Below: Dusk till Dawn

By Harriet Evans & Nic Jones

Reviewer: Hayley Warner

Non-fiction (5+)

Above and Below: Ducks Till Dawn is a non-fiction book with flaps that take the reader on a night-time (dusk till dawn) journey around the world, including habitats such as the Arctic tundra and Himalayan mountains. Split pages allow readers to explore each landscape further by seeing which night-time wildlife can be found out in the open and which stays hidden within its shadowy habitat. Though the book focuses mainly on the animals found in different habitats and biomes, there are references to some plants and other organisms too.

From the moment I opened the book, I was instantly hooked by the illustrations by Nic Jones. They are beautiful and some of the most intricate I have seen in a non-fiction book. Furthermore, the choice of colour found on each page really adds to the element of the ‘dusk till dawn’ theme and would help the reader to really envisage any of the animals or plants from each place. Every page offers something slightly different, and the illustrations alone could easily inspire an art project or a piece of writing.

The author, Harriet Evans, has filled each page with lots of interesting, memorable and informative facts that will engage the reader straight away. Each page features a paragraph that explains about each place, with references to the dusk till dawn theme that runs throughout. The choice of language pitches the book to be accessible for a Lower Key Stage Two class, with just the right amount of new, challenging and subject-specific vocabulary to stretch more confident and independent readers.

The use of flaps in the book adds a real element of fun to each page. When lifted, they reveal the surprise of further illustrations and information. Any young reader interested in animals, habitats and nature would be enthralled in this book and it is one that I would certainly recommend for school libraries and classrooms. This non-fiction book could also be used to support curriculum learning in the subjects of geography and science.

Publisher: Little Tiger Press

Publication date: January 2022

9. The Horror of Dunwick Farm

By Dan Smith & Chris King

Reviewer: David McBride

Short chapter book (dyslexia-friendly formatting) (8+)

The Horror of Dunwick Farm is a fast-paced adventure that will appeal to older KS2 children. It is the third instalment of the stories set in the town of Crooked Oak.

Crooked Oak is under attack again; this time from strange, deadly spiders. Birds, animals and even humans disappear. Where have they gone? How can these creatures be stopped? Pete, Krish and Nancy try to find out how the spiders appeared and how they can be defeated. The mystery is compounded by the appearance of strange people in black suits and Range Rovers. How do these people fit in to the mystery and what are they hiding?

As ever with Barrington Stoke books, this is an accessible book, printed with clear text on a coloured background that is specially formatted to cater for dyslexic readers. The illustrations by Chris King really add to the atmospheric mood of the book and also draw upon the details contained in the descriptive writing.

The children I read this to absolutely loved the story and moaned at the end of each session when it was time to finish. Each chapter finished on a cliffhanger, so it left them eagerly anticipating the next instalment. This was a definite hit with them!

Publisher: Barrington Stoke

Publication date: January 2022

10. Dogs in Disguise

By Peter Bentley and John Bond

Reviewer: Jane Carter

Picturebook (3+)

Both of these author-illustrators have separately created some joyous picture books for children and in this collaboration it sees the two create a humorous rhyming picture book with a canine theme.

The premise requires the reader to enjoy the notion that dogs really like dressing up in clothes and do this so they can ‘blend in’ with everyday human life. The idea of dogs in high heels “to make them look big” certainly can’t help but raise a smile! Dogs can sneak into all sorts of places when disguised, whether it’s a fancy café, a gym or a swimming pool. The rhyming is masterful and it would be great to see if dog-loving children can spot which dog must be dressed in the disguise based on the rhyme. It could, after all, only be a Shih-tzu that does jujitsu, and schnauzers that wear trousers!

I love the idea that dogs train their puppies to sit at tables and to walk on two legs to ensure they make the most of a disguise. Dogs are also shown in other types of disguises: dressed as a tree for example. Of course, this comes with its own disadvantage, shown rather amusingly, with a range of undisguised dogs relieving themselves against the disgruntled looking dog who is disguised as the tree! The illustrations deserve to be pored over with so many dogs in unusual outfits doing everyday jobs – I particularly like the dog disguised as a bouncer outside a club.

This is a fun book that will raise a smile on the faces of dog-lovers and non-dog-lovers alike!

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication date: February 2022