Families Book Reviews

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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Name: Louise Gahan
01 October 2026;

Genre: Seasonal

One Little Lamp by Rashmi Sirdeshpande is a gentle, uplifting picturebook that follows a single lamp as its light travels from person to person, showing how kindness grows when it is shared. Its rhythmic text and glowing illustrations make it ideal for Year 2 children (...

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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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Name: Sue Wilsher
25 September 2026;

Genre: Funny Stories

Fed up with being overlooked, Broom is determined to become the centre of attention. Using Witch's new Wish Potion, she attempts to make her dreams come true . . . only to find that perhaps things weren't so bad after all! Full of Hallowe'en humour, The Broom of Doom is perfect...

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Name: Tracy Parvin
25 September 2026;

Genre: Funny Stories

Many years ago, a friend of mine recounted a story about a visit she and her two young children made to a Dr Who exhibition. In one of the rooms was a button, a big, red button; a big, red, ominous button. A big, red, ominous button with the words 'DO NOT PRESS' clearly displayed (in BIG red w...

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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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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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Name: Sue Wilsher
18 September 2026;

Genre: Mystery & Detective

Nothing is more exciting than a new book about Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam! In The Robber Ghost, these robber dogs turned prize-winning chefs are heading for a posh hotel to do the catering for a Hallowe'en party. Greeted with the news that a ghost thief is on the loose, t...

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Name: Lizi Backhouse
18 September 2026;

Genre: LBGTQ+

A little girl loves watching her pumpkin plant grow with her mum but then mum's partner, Sam moves in and everything changes. Sam brings with her suitcases books and a 'bin with no bottom!'; a compost bin. As the plant grows, the little girl's life changes - some things are good but some thing...

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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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