Midge & Mo

These two titles from Little Tiger Group are designed to bridge the gap between picture books and chapter books for children aged 5-8, while also addressing emotions such as anxiety, loneliness, anger and sadness. Both books are fully illustrated throughout, in colour, and would work well as class reads for PSHE themes. Two Sides is a story about two friends - Lula and Lenka - whose differences normally complement each other, however, on 'The Day That Everything Goes Wrong', their varied natures cause the friendship to end. Lula and Lenka must learn to listen and forgive before their relationship can be repaired. Midge and Mo tackles slightly trickier issues that must be sensitively handled. Midge is dealing with a lot of change: his parents' separation, a new school and the loss of his old friends. Mo has been assigned as Midge's buddy but no matter how hard she tries to befriend and cheer up Midge, the more withdrawn and sad he seems. Until Mo is reminded of a time she felt the same way and her empathy and encouragement starts to turn the tide. Aimed at less confident independent readers, both books deal with poignant themes that will not be suited to all readers but will be especially valuable for those struggling to deal with similar situations. 84 pages / Ages 6+ / Reviewed by Rhiannon Cook, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 5+

Midge doesn't want to go to his new school. It's too big, his teacher is too big, and his teacher's smile is definitely too big. Buddied up with Mo, she tries everything she can think of to be a friend to Midge, but he doesn't want new friends. He just wants everything to go back to the way it was before. This is a beautifully poignant story of friendship and moving on. Midge is struggling to cope with the changes in his life and is too sad to see anything good in his new life. Mo is relentlessly cheerful and desperate to be a good buddy. It was wonderful to see her ask for help when she ran out of ideas, and not give up on the frightened, lonely sad little boy she'd been partnered up with. Moving house, moving school and divorce, and the emotional turmoil this can cause are discussed with sensitivity, turning a heartbroken child into a hopeful one. With a clear message of not giving up on people, even when they turn you away, and especially when they are sad, this is a heartfelt reminder of what friendship really is. The beautiful illustrations add depth and warmth, perfectly pitched to enhance the emotions the characters are feeling. One of the With Colour Illustrations series from Stripes, this is perfect for young readers setting off on their own independent reading journey, and a lovely read to build empathy in younger children. 96 pages / Ages 6+ / Reviewed by Nicola Cleveland, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 5+