Kid's Picks
Picture Books
Show and Tell. Rob Biddulph
When Mr Lumsden offers a prize for the most interesting Show and Tell talk the kids in his class become very excited. They also become very competitive. What they bring to school will astound you. Among the prized objects are a spacesuit, a racing car and a monster resembling the creature from Loch Ness. There’s even a volcano. When a visitor from Alpha Centauri appears Mr Lumsden’s plans are sent awry. Who will the prizewinner be? This is a most entertaining story. It is well illustrated, humorous and written in rhyme so it is very easy to read aloud.
Mother Bruce. Ryan T. Higgins
Bruce is a bear with a taste for culinary delights. He spends his days searching the internet for recipes and gathering the ingredients from the woods where he lives. When one day he steals some goose eggs (to go with salmon) Bruce finds himself with a problem. The eggs hatch and the baby birds think he is their mother! No matter how hard he tries to get rid of them they always return. He has to come up with quite a creative idea to solve his problem. This is another story that will have you laughing out loud. It is a lovely book.
Fiction 6-8
The Wombles. by Elizabeth Beresford
Wombles are endearing and resourceful little characters who live in cosy tunnels under Wimbledon Common in the very heart of London. Once they come of age each Womble is allowed to choose a name from an old atlas, before heading out to work on the Common. They pick up rubbish and left-behind-stuff that humans leave lying around, and take it home where it is sorted and upcycled. Wombles always seem to find some use for the stuff they find and share it with everyone in the community. Some of the Wombles in this story are, Orinoco, who loves his food and a snooze when he should be out working, handyman Tobermory, who can turn almost anything into something useful, Madame Cholet, who cooks the most scrumptious food, and Bungo,one of the youngest and cheekiest Wombles, who is due to venture out on to the Common on his own for the very first time. And not least, wise Uncle Bulgeria, the oldest womble who is always ready to give words of kindly advice to young inexperienced Wombles.
First published in 1968, this title is now available to download as an ebook from our Borrowbox collection.
Where Dani Goes, Happy Follows. by Rose Lagercrantz
Dani’s father has gone to Rome for a break and has left her with his parents, who are very pleased to have her to stay. However Dani is not happy. She would much rather have gone on holiday with her father. She soon hatches a plan to cheer herself up. She will travel to her best friend’s house and surprise her for her birthday. Dani plans to be her present. She convinces her grandparents that she will be alright traveling alone on the train and sets off on her adventure. It is a big deal for an 8 year old and things don’t quite go as planned. This is a delightful story from Gecko Press. There are beautiful illustrations on nearly every page.
Fiction 10+
A Sprinkle of Sorcery. Michelle Harrison
The Widdershins have been living in the same village for generations. It is an eerie place and the names of the nearby islands (Repent, Torment and Lament) give you a sense of the oppressive atmosphere of the place. The family would love to leave the area but are having trouble selling their business, a hotel, 'The Poacher's Pocket'. When they find a wanted runaway in their back garden everything changes and their lives become endangered. This is a great read full of magic and suspense. It is an absorbing tale by the author of the highly recommended book A Pinch of Magic.
The Buried Crown. Ally Sherrick
This is another book that, once started, is difficult to put down. The story is set in England during World War 2 and revolves around an ancient legend involving precious buried treasure. It is a great combination of adventure and mystery.
George, after recently losing his parents, is sent to the countryside to be kept safe from the bombings in London. However the person who is meant to be looking after George turns out to be so nasty and violent that George runs away, taking the man’s dog with him. He is lucky to befriend a young girl and her grandfather and together they manage to change the course of the war. Highly recommended.