Schools & Libraries Book Reviews
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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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Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Robber Ghost
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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The Pumpkin Seed
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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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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Tony Rex's Seven Stomps to Success
Name: Elen Green
18 September 2026;Genre: Funny Stories
For dinosaur-loving children, Tony Rex's Seven Stomps to Success is a tongue-in-cheek guide to life and the steps that will help you succeed - or help a (hungry) dinosaur to dinner! From 'don't be afraid to make mistakes' to 'be sure to look after yourself', Tony Rex delivers...
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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...
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Naughty: A hilarious picture book for children
Name: Linda Canning
15 September 2026;Genre: Funny Stories
Naughty is a joyful, funny picture book that's a hit with little ones. The illustrations are incredibly vibrant and packed with detail, giving plenty to spot, unpick and chat about on each page. I love that the core scene stays the same while small changes creep in - it makes...
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Scientists Making a Difference: 47 Inspirational Scientists Changing the World and How You Can Join Them
Name: Jacqueline Harris
14 September 2026;Genre: STEM
This is a book all about scientists of every variety, from botanists, to chemists to neuroscientists, and what they do as their jobs, alongside the actual science. 47 scientists have been interviewed about their work and the results presented in packed pages of information.</p...
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Ghost, Ghoul, and Little Mouse: A Halloween Tale of Friendship and Fun
Name: Sue Wilsher
11 September 2026;Genre: Seasonal
Mouse lives all alone in a dark, creaking house at the top of a hill. Longing for some friends, he is delighted when two unexpected visitors arrive. Ghost and Ghoul both think that the house is perfect for them and are so busy arguing about how best to haunt it that they fail to notice Little...
