Children Book Reviews
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SPYGLASS: Coldfinger
Name: Sam
02 October 2026;Genre: Spy stories
If you are a KS2 primary school teacher looking for a book to inspire and motivate readers in your class, then the Spyglass series by David Solomons is just what you are looking for. Coldfinger is the second book in the laugh-out-loud Spyglass series and the adventure s...
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Thrive: Inspiring conservation stories from Zoological Society of London
Name: Jane Rew
02 October 2026;Genre: Environment & Nature
'Thrive' may not be a word in the vocabulary of most children, so the title adds an element of intrigue, even before we get to the slightly cryptic double page headings listed in the Contents. When I shared the book with a Year 5 child (aged 9), we scanned this list and chose...
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African Queens
Name: Jacqueline Harris
01 October 2026;Genre: Non Fiction
African Queens: Incredible Stories of Africa's Legendary Women Leaders is a very accessible history book for younger readers. Starting in 1504 BCE with Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt, it travels through time telling the stories of African Queens up until1924 and Queen Mekatilili of...
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Earth Ever After
Name: Sue Wilsher
01 October 2026;Genre: Environment & Nature
Mother Earth tells her story from its very beginning to the present day, exploring her many beauties and wonders as well as her relationship with other beings. Offering a message of hope for the future, she tells a poignant tale about our connection to the land, a bond which m...
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The Chairs: A Story About the Power of Community
Name: Louise Gahan
21 September 2026;Genre: Personal Growth
The Chairs by Britta Teckentrup is a beautifully illustrated and thought-provoking picture book that explores themes of community, belonging, inclusion and standing up for others. T he story begins with a single yellow chair appearing in a forest clearing, followed by m...
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University of Cambridge: The Animal Queendom: A Celebration of Nature's Fearless Females
Name: Jane Rew
18 September 2026;Genre: Animals
First off, the cover of The Animal Queendom: A Celebration of Nature's Fearless Females is very striking, with its weird and sinister-looking praying mantis and its bold, vivid pink lettering. It seems to declare "don't think this book is just for girls," while the attribution...
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The Hexton Chronicles: The Trouble with Magic
Name: Beverley Somerset
18 September 2026;Genre: Fantasy
When he was very young, Fray Mantle was left in Brigstone by his grandfather, Old Skeg. Fray grows up living with Mrs Gibbons, but when his grandfather dies and Fray is sent a magical Croxometer, his hidden magic is revealed and Mrs Gibbons throws him out of her house. Alone, he returns...
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A Cat Called Cobweb (The Jasmine Green Series)
Name: Jane Rew
18 September 2026;Genre: Animals
First off: the cover for A Cat Called Cobweb is a winning design, with spot foiling and a very cute cat pictured sitting beside a pumpkin, making it irresistibly attractive to many newly independent readers, well suited to an Autumn-themed display, or even one devoted to Helen...
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Home is Where the Herd is
Name: Jane Rew
18 September 2026;Genre: Animals
This large format hardback presents young readers with a new way of looking at animal classification, not by class/genus/order, but by behavioural traits. So, dolphins, penguins and orangutans appear on the same double page spread because all exhibit superlative devotion in pa...
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Tackling Racism Together: In partnership with Show Racism the Red Card
Name: Jane Rew
17 September 2026;Genre: Representation & Inclusion
Tackling Racism Together is an important book, jam-packed with material that will inform, challenge and maybe even correct those of its readers who are open to learning. It's a worthwhile read for any KS2 child - and adults for that matter - even (especially) if racism isn't t...
