Kids' Picks
Picture Books
Tooth Fairy in Training. Michelle Robinson
This has all the elements of a great picture book and will be enjoyed by young and old alike: it is written in rhyme, has wonderful colourful illustrations and is a fascinating story. Who doesn’t want to know how tooth fairies work their magic? The tooth fairy in training visits interesting animals and sea creatures as she is taken around the world learning her vocation. This is a delightful book.
The Dinky Donkey. Craig Smith
Fans of The Wonkey Donkey will appreciate this sequel and will fall in love with Wonkey’s child, Dinky. The book is full of great and quirky images and the story is equally entertaining. It is full of fun and will have you laughing out loud. It’s another great book to read aloud and you can even download or stream the Dinky song.
Fiction 7-9
Tilly and the Bookwanderers. Anna James
Tilly’s mother disappeared when Tilly was very young and ever since then she has lived with her grandparents in the bookshop they own. It is a lovely place full of cosy nooks and crannies where one can curl up and read. Tilly is very happy there, until all of a sudden the characters from her favourite books start to appear in the bookshop and take her home with them. Will Tilly remain safe and manage to find her way back to the bookshop? And will she ever see her mother again?
The Mystery of the Black Salamander. Helen Moss
Friends and super sleuths Jack, Emily and Scott are thrilled to be able to view the Black Salamander, a car that is so amazing that it can even be made invisible. The car has been made for a new x-men movie and is the most high-tech vehicle that has ever been built. When the car goes missing the team waste no time beginning an investigation even though doing so puts them in grave danger. This is the most recent in the Adventure Island series. It is full of excitement and action and, like the others in the series, provides a very entertaining read.
Fiction10+
Secret Suffragette. Barbara Mitchelhill
Life is very tough in the slums of early 19th century London and Daisy and her family struggle to make ends meet. When she secretly becomes involved with the suffragette movement Daisy is happy and excited. However things soon spiral out of control as she finds herself in danger from the police and, along with her mother and sister, is thrown out of the family home. This is a great story that once started is difficult to put down.
The Mapmakers’ Race. Erilys Hunter
Join the Santander family as they embark on the journey of a lifetime. Their aim is to find and map a route so that a railway line can be built through the mountains. Each family member has a unique talent to contribute as the team battles the elements and wildlife in a race through the rugged wilderness. This is a wonderful story full of adventure and courageousness. It is another book that will be enjoyed by children of all ages. A real page-turner