Ajay and the Red-winged Prince

Children who have enjoyed the previous two titles in this series will already know Ajay as Shyla's cousin, the small, fast, funny one who wants to be an archaeologist. We also meet Leon again (he's usually up to no good) and Fujiko (who is good at tree-climbing) for the first time.

These readers will also be familiar with Willow Wish Woods, but the introductory map at the start of this adventure, Ajay and the Red-winged Prince, will be useful nonetheless. All can learn about our feathered friends, their nesting habits, what they sound like, and which are migratory during the course of this story. The closing pages even provide visuals and facts about some birds we might see on our own woodland forays. And, if winged creatures aren't your thing, maybe ants are, with their awesome abilities. They feature too.

The Woodland Explorers Club series is best suited to competent independent readers, possibly from Year 2 (ages 7+) and certainly from LKS2, and the lifecycle and habitat facts relate quite nicely to EcoCouncil or Forest School activities.

112 pages / Reviewed by Jane Rew, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 7+

Ajay and the Red-Wing Prince is the latest book in the brilliant Woodland Explorers Club series by the hugely talented Ewa Jozefkowicz. This newest creation continue the theme of caring for nature and protecting the woodland environment. It will encourage the reader to spend time in nature and introduce them to new facts and features that they may otherwise have missed.

The story focuses on the difference that children can make. Follow the adventures of the Woodland Explorers club as they bravely stand up for what is right. This is a beautifully written book aimed at an early chapter book reader. The chapters are carefully constructed to allow readers to have a natural place to pause - although in my experience, most become engrossed and will want to read to the end!

In school, classes would love to have this as a shared class story, use it for focused reading sessions or have it as a reading for pleasure book. It would work well if a pupil is developing reading stamina or comprehension.

This is a must have series for schools. I look forward to reading about the next Woodland Explorers Club adventure.

112 pages / Reviewed by Amanda Shipton, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+