Schools & Libraries Book Reviews

Name: Sue Wilsher
03 July 2026;

Genre: Representation & Inclusion

With a comfy place to live and three good friends, the stranger - who once arrived with nothing but a suitcase containing a teacup and a picture of home - has settled, finding safety and contentment. One day, however, a new stranger arrives and a misunderstanding quickly leads to suspicion and...

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Name: Sue Wilsher
03 July 2026;

Genre: Adventure

Bella Day is the new captain of The Sunshine, the best ship in town. With a wonderful crew and lots of passengers, she is all set to be the best she can be like those who captained the ship before her. However, when things start to go wrong, it seems that her predecessor might have set her up...

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Name: Beverley Somerset
03 July 2026;

Genre: Magical Realism

Leonie was born with magical powers; taken from her parents at a very young age, she was sent to live at the Wishmaker Institute. Here, other children with wild magic like Leonie have their powers tamed and trained. Once they reach the age of 12, they are sold to a rich family and Matched with...

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Name: Sue Wilsher
03 July 2026;

Genre: Funny Stories

Pincho the capybara is extremely laid back, taking everything in his stride. However, a very energetic little yellow bird has decided that today is Pincho's day. Armed with a long to-do list and plenty of enthusiasm, the little bird is determined that Pincho will make the most of every second...

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Name: Amanda Shipton
03 July 2026;

Genre: Comics & Graphic Novels

Paige Braddock has an amazing way of designing graphic novels which are engaging from the very first page. Her style of illustration is bold, bright and brilliant at capturing children's interest and imaginations. At the start of Kitty Capers: A Peanut, Butter &...

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Name: Lizi Backhouse
02 July 2026;

Genre: Family & Home

Who will Indie be today? A stylist? A cleaner? Maybe a librarian or a dentist? This lovely early reader tells the stories of Indie, a little girl with a big imagination. Each morning, Indie gets up and chooses to be something and then dresses accordingly. The stories ar...

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Name: Jacqueline Harris
01 July 2026;

Genre: Adventure

Benedict Allen is a real life explorer and Nine Times I Nearly Died charts some of his many, hair-raising adventures. From the Amazon to the Arctic, he has travelled to some very far flung places and got into difficulties in many of them. The book has nine different adv...

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Name: Louise Gahan
01 July 2026;

Genre: Representation & Inclusion

The Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros is a powerful picture book that introduces children aged five years plus to themes of kindness, empathy, belonging and welcoming others. Through the story of a stranger arriving with a suitcase and the suspicion he faces from other anim...

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Name: Louise Gahan
01 July 2026;

Genre: Representation & Inclusion

The Teacup is a beautifully illustrated and thought-provoking picture book that tells the story of a mysterious stranger who arrives carrying only a suitcase containing a teacup and a photograph of home. Having once experienced kindness themselves, the animals must deci...

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Name: Michelle B
29 June 2026;

Genre: Environment & Nature

National Trust: Look What I Found At The Park is a delightful new children's book that encourages young children to get outside and explore their surroundings. Filled with colourful illustrations and engaging text, the book introduces children to the fascinating plants, animal...

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