Heather James's Blog, page 19

The House of Hidden Wonders

Zinnie and her sisters live in the murky tunnels beneath Edinburgh's Old Town. They keep out of the way of the authorities and remain undetected. Until, that is, rumours of a ghost bring unwanted visitors into the caverns they call home. Among them, a young Arthur Conan Doyle, keen to investigate, and MacDuff, the shady owner of Edinburgh's newest attraction, the House of Wonders. Caught up in a world of intrigue and adventure, Zinnie seeks answers. But how can she discover what secrets lie in the House of Wonders while also protecting the sisters she holds so dear?
Fast paced and full of heart, I loved this MG mystery novel and think it will be a huge hit with young readers this year. Here are three reasons why:
1. There is a beautiful sibling relationship at the heart of this novel - in Zinnie's found-family of girls - and the affection the sisters felt for each other was at the heart of their every decision. Nell, the youngest sister, falls ill at the beginning of the novel and it is her survival and happiness that drives many of Zinnie's actions. Aelfine is the newest sister and her resourcefulness and bravery made her a fantastic character, along with her lovely pet monkey Ruby. I also loved the clever, resourceful Sadie who has a brilliant knowledge of herbal healing.

2. The Victorian Edinburgh setting was incredible, with plenty of atmospheric historical details. The inclusion of real historical figures like Arthur Conan Doyle, was a lot of fun and I loved all of the little references to his writing, and the Sherlock Holmes vibes which ran throughout the book. It was also particularly interesting to learn about Dr Jex-Blake and the struggles the first female doctors faced and there were some great facts included at the back. I can see this novel being great for classes studying the Victorian period as it provides a vivd representation of what life was like at the time, especially attitudes to race, gender and disabilities. 
3. The House of Hidden Wonders was a mystery story with a difference. We know who committed the crime quite early on in the narrative, and the protagonist is instead trying to prove their guilt. This provides a change of pace from a traditional mystery, but there's still plenty to speculate and wonder about. There is a lot at stake for Zinnie and her sisters and it was thrilling to watch them cope with all the complications that came their way.
Thank you Little Tiger for providing me with a copy of this novel for review. 

Picture This: Bunny Makes Breakfast

This lovely picture book has over 35 flaps and a recipe in the back!
Follow Big Bunny and Little Bunny as they gather up the ingredients for Little Bunny's breakfast. Butter from the fridge, berries from the garden and even eggs from a chick coop. This book is extremely interactive and lots of fun. My three-year-old giggled with glee when we opened a flap to find something you definitely wouldn't want to bake. My five-year-old took the search for ingredients very seriously. 
Bunny Makes Breakfast is bright and engaging. It explains the different steps that go into baking and even gives you a yummy recipe at the end so you can have a go yourself - which both of my children are very keen to do. 
The illustrations are sweet and there's lots of detail and fun things to find beneath the flaps. On the day this arrived, I was asked to read it repeatedly in quick succession and it's still just as popular now.


Bunny Makes Breakfast is illustrated by Seb Braun and written by Kathryn Smith
Thank you Little Tiger Group for sending us a copy to review. 

Captain Whiskers

Cats in the bath! Cats in the cupboards! Cats and more cats everywhere!
Everyone in Jackson’s class has a pet, but all Jackson has is his little brother Freddie. And little brothers don’t make very good pets. But when Jackson meets The Man With The Top Hat and his lovely cat Mrs Wilson, he’s about to get the pet he’s always wanted – and many, many more …
This fun book is part of Barrington Stoke's Little Gems series - short, first chapter books with bright illustrations that are perfect for emerging readers (5-8). It has a dyslexia friendly layout that makes it clear and accessible to a large range of readers.
Jackson is desperate for a pet. When a man in a top hat offers to give him some of his (100 to be exact!), he agrees, certain the old man must be joking. But when he gets home, there are 101 cats in his house. 101 might be too many, but if the man takes 100 back, maybe what's left will be just right...
My five-year-old really enjoyed reading this story out loud to me. She needed a but of help, but I think in another year she could read this to herself. It's a good level of difficulty and the bright, funny illustrations make it easy to follow and interact with.
We giggled throughout Captain Whiskers and especially loved all of the cats' names. We don't have any pets, so Jackson's predicament was familiar to my daughter (luckily allergies mean that she's not now on the look out for her own top-hatted pet provider!) He was a thoughtful and likeable protagonist, who many readers will identify with.


Captain Whiskers is written by Jeremy Strong and illustrated by Matt Robertson. 
Thank you Barrington Stoke for sending us a copy to review. 

Picture This: Most of the Better Natural Things in the World

Sometimes with picture books, less is more. Most of the Better Natural Things in the World is a visually stunning tour of the Earth's geographical features which leaves the pictures to tell the story. 
With only one word on each page, the illustrations take centre stage, and I could easily sit and look at them for as long as I would usually spend reading the text. My three-year-old especially liked the Oasis and Taiga, and my favourite page was the Chaparral. The same tiger features on each page, carrying a chair on his back, and we had fun guessing what he might be up to, until his journey comes to an end on the final page of the book.
I came across geographical terms I hadn't heard before, but the detail in the illustrations gave me a clear idea of what each feature looked like, and the back two pages of the book contain a really useful glossary (great for when young readers ask what the words mean and you're not sure how to describe them!) This story is both informative and beautiful. It is very special and is one we will enjoy looking at again and again. 

Most of the Better Natural Things in the World is written by Dave Eggers and illustrated by Angel Chang
Thank you Abrams & Chronicle Books for sending us such a stunning book to review. 

Eco Rangers: Wildfire Rescue

There’s been a devastating wildfire in the bushland and Ebony and Jay, our Eco Rangers, are doing their best to find injured animals. As they rescue a cute little possum with burned paws, they also discover that some people have been camping in the area that was devastated by the fire. What were they doing there? This is a mystery for the Eco Rangers!
Eco Rangers is an action-packed series centred around two best friends, who rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured wildlife through their local conservation centre. Ebony and Jay love helping others and looking after the environment. In each story, they meet new animal friends, solve mysteries and learn more about nature. Meet the Eco Rangers and dive into their brand new adventures! {goodreads summary}
With the recent devastation of the Australian bush fires, Eco Rangers: Wildfire Rescue is a very timely story which will capture the imagination of school children who watched the fires blazing and wished they could help. Here are three reasons I would recommend it:
1. Eco Rangers: Wildfire Rescue is packed full of brilliant information about caring for Australian wildlife. I loved Mira, the possum, and how devoted Ebony and Jay were to helping her - and how she, in turn, wanted to help them.  While Ebony and Jay work closely with their local vets and always seek an adult's approval before doing anything, there were lots of small things that readers could pick up on and learn from. There is even a list of ten ways to be an eco ranger at the end of the book. As I was reading, I was reminded of the Animal Ark books and I think this series will be just as popular with readers who enjoy stories about animals. 
2. The mystery element to Wildfire Rescue was really fun. The narrative was fast paced and there's plenty to keep readers guessing and lots to discuss as the story progresses. 
3. As well as being full of animal facts, Wildfire Rescue also has lots of practical advice about looking after the environment. Even children who don't live in areas prone to forest fires will be able to learn from the fire safety tips in this story. There is some really good advice about how to behave if you are caught in a fire of any nature and I think Ebony and Jay's adventure will stick with readers long after they have finished. 

Thank you New Frontier Publishing for providing me with a copy of Eco Rangers: Wildlife Rescue for review.

Picture This: Where do Teachers Go at Night

Where do teachers go at night? Do they swim from sharks with very big teeth, or watch the Aurora Borealis in Scandinavia? Do they jet around the world and return to their classrooms ready to teach the next day without any sleep?
With bright, funny artwork these picture books ask the question that a lot of young school pupils are thinking. 
Some of the humour in these stories was lost on my children as my husband is a teacher, so they've never viewed their teachers as people who live in schools and don't exist outside of them! But children without that personal connection would definitely find lots to smile and wonder at, and my children still enjoyed the silly antics the teachers get up to.
I was really excited to spot a page about the Isles of Scilly in Where else do Teachers Go at Night as it's one of my very favourite places. Across the two books, the teachers visit everywhere from New Zealand to Iceland, so these books are also a great way to look at different countries.


Where do Teacher go at Night is written by Harriet Cuming and illustrated by Sophie Norsa

Thank you Little Steps Publishing for providing us with copies of this story for review

Clever Cakes

Are you smart enough to escape from a hungry grizzly bear? Could you trick a grumpy king out of a giant golden belly-button?
It pays to be able to think on your feet, especially if you’re about to be eaten alive or cheated out of a valuable prize! So it’s just as well that Masha and Peggy are two clever kids, each with a cunning plan …
This wonderful book is part of Barrington Stoke's Little Gems series - short, first chapter books with bright illustrations that are perfect for emerging readers (5-8). It has a dyslexia friendly layout that makes it clear and accessible to a large range of readers. Clever Cakes is split into two very funny stories.

Masha's Granny warns her not to venture too far into the woods, but when Masha gets caught up in a game of hide and seek she ends up kidnapped by a bear! Masha will need to combine her baking skills and quick thinking to outmatch her captor and return home to Granny. 
King Jabber is bored of all his usual entertainments, so he devises a competition that will be sure to amuse him: whoever tells him the biggest lie will win his Great Golden Belly-button ("Use? You don't use a Great Golden Belly-button. It just is.") The competition isn't as exciting as King Jabber had hoped, until a clever girl called Peggy arrives. 
Both of these stories really made us laugh! They were just right for my five-year-old to read aloud to me, providing some great variety from her usual phonics-based schools books. My three-year-old enjoyed listening in too, and they both loved the colourful pictures and quick-thinking, clever protagonists.


Clever Cakes is written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Ashley King

Thank you Barrington Stoke for providing us with a copy to review

5 Picture Books for British Science Week

British Science Week is coming to an end, so here are five picture books to keep scientific discussions going at home.

Engibear's Dream is a fun STEM book about engineering and the importance of redesigning, never giving up, and learning from your mistakes.
The Astronomically Correct Twinkle Twinkle is a picture book version of this song which rewords the classic nursery rhyme so that it's scientifically correct. 
Once Upon a Star uses gentle rhyming verse and beautiful artwork to explore the Big Bang and the formation of life on Earth. 
The Darkest Dark is the story of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield's early love of space and experience of the first Moon landing. 
Questions and Answers about Animals is a lift-the-flap book full of interesting questions about animals. We learn something new every time we open it. 
I would have loved to include Look Up on this list too, but I didn't have a copy to hand to photograph  with the group (it's one we borrowed from the library) so it is my bonus sixth choice - a must-read for young, aspiring astronauts!

Picture This: The Boy on the Page

One morning, a boy landed on a page. What follows is a story filled with amazing experiences and wonderful connections. From planting a tree to helping someone in need, the boy - who becomes a man over the course of the pages - impacts the lives of everyone around him, but one thing still troubles him: why is he there?
The Boy on the Page is a lighthearted way to discuss big questions about the purpose of life and our value to those around us. The final pages show how even our smallest actions can have a big effect on those around us and that everyone is vitally important to someone else. 
It is a story about growing up and finding your place, and gently encourages children to acknowledge that it's okay to feel a bit lost sometimes. 
The artwork in this picture book is colourful and sweet, often telling its own story beyond the words on the page. 

The Boy on the Page is written and illustrated by Peter Carnavas

Thank you New Frontier Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book for review - and for introducing me to Peter Carnavas' books, which are now firm favourites in our house!

Picture This: Round Fish Square Bowl

This fun, silly picture book turns cliches on their heads to show young children that it's okay to be different. 
The first half of Round Fish Square Bowl features some well known sayings - as mad as a hatter, ugly duckling - and the second reverses them in fun ways, pointing out that ugly ducklings turn into beautiful swans and that the slow tortoise beats the hare. 
Everyone has their own unique time to shine and Round Fish Square Bowl encourages children to be themselves - while giggling at the funny artwork.


Round Fish Square Bowl is written by Tom Skinner and illustrated by Mini Goss
Thank you New Frontier Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book for review