Latest 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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C is for Cat
Name: Linda Canning
01 October 2026;Genre: Animals
C Is for Cat! is a lovely, playful picture book that will be an instant hit with cat lovers. The rhyming text gives it a brilliant rhythm when read aloud, making it really enjoyable to share, while Sara Ogilvie’s wonderfully expressive illustrations bring the cats and their pe...
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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 Broom of Doom
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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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...
