Heather James's Blog, page 11

My Other Life and The Story Thief

Bloomsbury are publishing some lovely chapter books for their Bloomsbury Readers series this month. I was lucky to read two of them through NetGalley.


In My Other Life, Mae's life is full of trips to the hospital for her asthma. She worried that it is the only thing that defines her, and that it makes life harder for everyone around her. When mysterious portals begin to appear, she discovers an alternative life that isn't at all what she expected. 
This chapter book is a great representation of childhood asthma, which lots of children will be able to relate to. It's a great way to discuss chronic illness both with children who experience it, and those who don't. Mae's adventures through the portal help her to learn that something that makes you, you, could have huge implications on your life if it vanished. 
This is also a lovely story on the importance of family and friendship. It's the right level for readers gaining in confidence to read alone and there's lots to discuss, so it would work well in a school setting. 

In The Story Thief. clever Anansi is determined to make the sky god share his chest of stories with the world below him. He sets her a series of impossible tasks, but Anansi is more than a match for them thanks to her quick thinking and trickery.
This chapter book is perfect for emerging readers gaining in confidence. It has a clear format and a good range of vocabulary. Young readers will love Anansi's clever tricks and there's lots to think about and discuss as you go through. 
Sara Ugolotti's illustrations are really lovely and bring the words to life. 

Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Poison Plot

Agents Zaiba, Ali and Poppy of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency (UK Branch) are back with a brand new mystery to solve, but this time, they're going to need help! The school fete descends into chaos after the new headmistress is poisoned in a baking competition. Can Zaiba solve her second case and clear her relatives' names? And is this mystery more complicated that it first seems? 
Packed full of baking fun, teamwork and face paint, the follow up to Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Missing Diamonds is just as exciting and fun as the first. This is shaping up to be a really strong series which will be extremely popular with Middle Grade mystery fans. 
Zaiba's bond with Poppy and Ali is very special, and Zaiba is clear throughout that she couldn't solve mysteries without her friends. In this story, she also has a more positive relationship with her cousin Mariam, which was so nice to see! I felt really sorry for Mariam in book one, so it was lovely to witness her getting involved in the detective fun this time around. All of my other favourite characters from book one were back too, even if some of them are only there via video call!
There are plenty of twists and turns in this story, but also lots of clues to keep young reader's guessing and to help them solve this mystery along with Zaiba. There are also some great puzzles, tips and games at the back of the book, which would be great for Summer Holiday entertainment, or to inspire some fun activities in school next year. I think reading about Zaiba will inspire lots of children to start detective agencies of their own. There's also a snippet from an Eden Lockett mystery, so readers can see Zaiba's hero in action. I love the way these stories inspire Zaiba throughout her detective work, and the link they give her to her Ammi is very special. 
Sosa's illustrations are a delight again. She does a superb job of bringing Sami's words to life. 
Overall, this is another must-read for mystery fans. Sami is fast becoming one of my favourite Middle Grade authors. I can't wait to see what she writes next. 

Thank you Little Tiger for letting me review this wonderful story. 

Picture This: Bears Love Squares

Bears love squares. Not rectangles. Not triangles. And certainly not circles. But there is one other shape that Bear might love just as much...
This sweet, funny picture book is a great way to introduce shapes to young readers. Every page includes a few basic facts about shapes which, because of the rhyme scheme, fit naturally into the story without it feeling didactic. There are real world applications for the shapes too, such as triangular mountains and balls. This story would be excellent at home or in an early years setting.
The illustrations are bright and the shapes pop on the page. They're funny too, and had my three-year-old giggling from page one. 
Thank you Bloomsbury for sending me an advanced digital copy to review. 
Bear Loves Squares is written by Caryl Hart and illustrated by Edward Underwood

The Ship of Shadows

Aleja whiles away her days in her family's dusty tavern in Seville, dreaming of distant lands and believing in the kind of magic that she's only ever read about in books. After all, she's always being told that girls can't be explorers.
But her life is changed forever when adventure comes for her in the form of a fabled vessel called the Ship of Shadows. Crewed by a band of ruthless women, with cabin walls dripping with secrets, the ship has sailed right out of a legend. And it wants Aleja.
Once on board its shadowy deck, she begins to realize that the sea holds more secrets than she ever could have imagined. The crew are desperately seeking something, and their path will take them through treacherous waters and force them to confront nightmare creatures and pitch-dark magic. It will take all of Aleja's strength and courage to gain the trust of her fellow pirates - and discover what they are risking everything to find. {goodreads summary}
Today is the first day of the blog tour for The Ship of Shadows! This pirate (and cake!) filled adventure story is gripping from the first page to the last and I was so exited to be asked to take part in this tour. Here are three reasons I loved this story and think you will too:
1. I loved the magic in this story. The shadows, the unexpected rooms, everything was so wonderful.  Young readers will adore this world and be desperate to visit. It's full of surprises and amazement, and felt like a story where anything could happen. There is so much more I want to know about Kuzniar's world and I'm already looking forward to book two. 
2. The settings in The Ship of Shadows were rich and full of details. I'm not sure I could pick a favourite location because they were all so fantastic. They come to life with vivid descriptions, sights and smells, and I would have stepped into the pages if I could.
3. I couldn't possibly end this review without mentioning Kuzniar's brilliant band of pirates. They were all unique and exciting, and readers will be desperate to sign up to join Captain Quint's crew. I particularly loved Frances and her fondness for cake. Aleja's desire for adventure is also contagious. She's a brave, clever and resourceful protagonist. 
I can't wait to discover what adventures this exciting explorers get up to in book two. The Ship of Shadows is not to be missed. 

To Liberty! The Adventures of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas

I've been interested in learning more about Thomas-Alexandre Dumas since I read Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know a few months ago, so when I spotted this story on NetGalley I requested it straight away!
Thomas-Alexandre Dumas is an extraordinary historical figure, who fought against adversity and for the freedom of everyone. He is also the inspiration for many moments and characters in his son, Alexander Dumas', work. 
Johnson's retelling of his life is tense, exciting and emotional. She details both the racism he faces, and his amazing successes. It is easy to read and follow, making it a perfect text to use in primary schools - and it would be lovely to see this story used in them, as an introduction to a black historical figure who is often overlooked, and as a gateway into the works of Dumas. It will also prompt lots of discussions, about freedom, family and equality. 

The Blue Beyond

Join Lana the Butterfly fish as she leaves her rock pool for the first time and explores the ocean around her, making lots of new friends along the way.
The newest addition to the Little Tiger colour illustration series is just as fun and engaging as those that have come before it. Bright, colourful illustrations accompany easy to read text. The Blue Beyond is perfect for readers emerging in confidence, as it doesn't look too grown up or daunting. It is also a brilliant story to share.
Lana fills this adventure with fun and excitement, and her enthusiasm is infectious. We really enjoyed the facts about different sea creatures woven through the story - from seahorse camouflage to ink squirting octopuses. 
The Blue Beyond is a story about following your dreams and being brave, but it also shows readers that everything is better with friends. 
Thank you Little Tiger for sending me a copy of this story to review
The Blue Beyond is written by Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Bethany Christou

Picture This: Meesha Makes Friends

Meesha Makes Friends is a story about a girl who is brilliant at making pictures and crafts, but struggles to make friends. Instead, she creates her own friends out of craft materials, but they can't play catch or football. She feels comfortable and safe when she's with them though, which is why she takes them with her to a party. When a boy called Josh watches Meesha playing with her friends and asks if he can play too, Meesha is able to use her homemade friends to make some real ones. 
Meesha Makes Friends has Tom Percival's trademark style, with cute artwork and a striking contrast between colour and grey. My five-year-old was able to link this story to Ruby's Worry - another Percival story we've enjoyed. Like Ruby's Worry and Perfectly Norman, Meesha Makes Friends explores childhood worries in a way that is clear for young children to follow and relate to. It's a great conversation starter. 
This picture book celebrates being yourself, but also helps young children to understand how who they are fits in with those around them. It is comforting, heartwarming and a joy to read. Absolutely perfect at school, nursery or at home. 

Thank you Bloomsbury for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this story for review.
Meesha Makes Friends is written and illustrated by Tom Percival. 

Picture This: Superhero Baby!

When there's trouble nearby, Superhero baby is always on hand to save the day. Cats stuck in trees, BBQ fires - nothing is too difficult for this fearless superhero, who saves the day with nappies and rattles while her perfect brother sleeps. But is her brother as innocent as he seems? And is superhero baby about to face her most formidable nemesis yet? 
Children will be drawn in by this story's comic book style, with pictures in panels and lightning bolts in the corner of the pages. There's lots to enjoy in this fun picture book. I love the little details, like superhero baby's backwards-bib cape. My five and three-year-old really like calling out "Go-Go Baby Power!" whenever it appears and reading the speech bubbles on the final page. 
Every superhero needs a nemesis, and superhero baby's is revealed in an exciting and surprising way. I would love to see a second superhero baby book to find out what these siblings get up to next.

Thank you Little Tiger for sending us a copy of Superhero Baby to review. 
Superhero Baby is written by Patricia Hegarty and illustrated by Alex Willmore

The Wild Way Home

When Charlie's longed-for brother is born with a serious heart condition, Charlie's world is turned upside down. Upset and afraid, Charlie flees the hospital and makes for the ancient forest on the edge of town. There Charlie finds a boy floating face-down in the stream, injured, but alive. But when Charlie sets off back to the hospital to fetch help, it seems the forest has changed. It's become a place as strange and wild as the boy dressed in deerskins. For Charlie has unwittingly fled into the Stone Age, with no way to help the boy or return to the present day. Or is there … ?
What follows is a wild, big-hearted adventure as Charlie and the Stone Age boy set out together to find what they have lost – their courage, their hope, their family and their way home. {goodreads summary}
The Wild Way Home will tug at your heartstrings! Here are three reasons I would recommend this emotional, heartfelt story:
1. Charlie goes through a lot in this novel. His much longed for baby brother is seriously ill, and when he runs away - trying to make sense of the devastation, fear and guilt building inside him - he becomes stuck 6000 years in the past in a forest both alien and familiar. His emotional responses drive the plot and make this an extremely moving story. 
2. Landscape and nature are really important in The Wild Way Home. Charlie loves living on the outskirts of Mandel Forest and knows its every track and cave. When he travels to the past, the forest comes alive in a new way, reflecting the wild, dangerous landscape of England long ago, with lynxes, bears and wolves round every bend. It was an exciting location which MG readers will love. The Stone Age sections will also be very popular with readers, and they felt very realistic and believable due to the descriptions and scene setting. 
3. Home and family are at the very heart of this story. It will make you hug your loved ones a little bit tighter and makes a particularly heart warming story while stuck social distancing and unable to connect with family and nature as much as we might like. 
The Wild Way Home is the perfect book-based antidote to weeks spent inside. 

Picture This: Poo in the Zoo - The Great Poo Mystery

I've already lost count of the number of times I have been asked to read this book since it arrived - when I finished for the first time, my three-year-old asked me to start again immediately! It has been an instant hit in my house, and I'm sure it will be equally popular with other young children. 
Bob McGrew's zoo is kept clean and tidy by Robbie the Robot, who whizzes around cleaning up after all the animals. But one morning, Bob wakes up to find Robbie gone and his zoo covered in poo. Arabella Slater, Poo Investigator, arrives to save the day. Can she find Robbie and work out what's going on in Bob's zoo? 
Steve Smallman is the author of many of our funniest picture books, and young children will find this story very, very funny. The rhyming scheme makes it fun to read aloud too, and Ada Grey's artwork is sweet and cute, despite the less-than-adorable subject matter! My three-year-old particularly likes the double-page illustrations of the zoo at the beginning and end of the book, which are full of tiny details and give us lots to talk about. 
Thank you Little Tiger for sending me a copy of Poo In The Zoo - The Great Poo Mystery, to review. 

Poo In The Zoo - The Great Poo Mystery is written by Steve Smallman and illustrated by Ada Grey