Posted on: 04/03/2019
In a change to our usual reviews this month, we were so overjoyed by the incredible selection of authors and titles included with this year’s World Book Day £1 books that we thought it would be very much remiss of us not to review some of our favourites! So, what follows is a selection of just six of the twelve texts released this year, including offerings from Lauren Child, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Malorie Blackman and Abi Elphinstone. No theme this month, just a celebration of some great opportunities to get children reading some fantastic new books!
(Macmillan Children’s Books)
We adore most (if not all) things Frank Cottrell-Boyce pens and this is no exception, particularly as we are enormous dog-lovers at The Literacy Tree and this is a story all about a very famous dog indeed! This gorgeous, hilarious and (ahem) historical narrative recounts the story of Laika, the first animal to have been sent into space! But, it is really the story of the events that lead up to the rocket taking off that are dealt with and the group of street dogs, led by Laika, who are on a quest to find a real place to call home (as well as Laika’s personal quest to track down the sailor who was so kind to her and her friend). Funny and touching, the story is told through the eyes of a mysterious canine introduced in the first chapter (whose identity is shockingly revealed in the final chapter!).
We are suckers for the comic detail included about why dogs behave as they do and their unique relationship with humans, and Cottrell-Boyce nails it here with some laugh-out-loud moments. We would strongly recommend this book to any reader from year two upwards who has an interest in dogs or space (or dogs in space!).
(Macmillan Children’s Books)
We love this ever-growing series of chapter books for younger readers as penned by our very own children’s laureate and this is a great new addition. Picking up the story when Horatio is but an infant and long before the Bobton-Trent family had fallen on financial hard-times, this highly-original story recounts the events following the discovery of a ‘silver voucher’, which leads Horatio’s irresponsible parents to carelessly lose sight of H’s pram whilst their attention is distracted as they browse their local departmental store – finding what they believe to be the perfect gift for the child who has everything! Horatio meanwhile goes on an adventure that sees him being flung into the water, where he is later dredged out with some fresh haddock and placed on a fish counter! An unsuspecting woman purchases the infant and is surprised with the contents, but ultimately helps Hubert to be reunited with his thoroughly unsuspecting parents.
We would definitely recommend this to any child moving on from picture books who wants to build their stamina without too text-heavy a tale, and still enjoys some brilliant illustration.
(Hodder Children’s Books)
We don’t, as a rule, review YA fiction, but every so often an author or a book comes along that makes us move our self-imposed goalposts! We adore Patrice Lawrence’s hugely accessible style, especially this novella released for World Book Day. The narrative, as told through the eyes (and voices) of Soraya and her younger brother Farhad, recounts the events following the murder of their uncle Jimi-Luke – their father’s younger brother. Farhad deals with the death particularly badly and shortly after the funeral Soraya notices he’s disappeared. A social media post reveals clues about his location, which leads his sister and her friend, Austin, in a race against time to track him down before the freezing weather gets the better of him. Through her journey and Farhad’s narrative, we learn the truth about Jimi-Luke’s death and the events leading up to it, as well as revealing insights into their relationship with their father and estranged mother. All within a hundred pages – skilful stuff indeed.
We think this gritty story will be perfect for a teen reader and we’re so pleased it’s been included as part of the WBD offering.
(Hodder Children's Books)
We adore the Claude series and have recommended the books to many children looking for a first illustrated novel, so we were delighted to see our favourite beret-wearing dog return in a hilarious short story about The Great Waggy Dog Show. If only Claude knew of a dog he could enter…
Luckily, Claude’s best friend, Sir Bobblysock, is always on hand to accompany him on his adventures and dressed as Butch the dog, they enter every competition to be in with a chance of winning a medal. Alex T Smith’s description of their failed attempts is highly paced and hilarious. A gift of a book and ideal for Reception to Y2 children looking for a short independent read.
(Simon and Schuster)
Ever Dark is wonderful value for a World Day Book as it is actually more like an actual novel than a novella. We adored Sky Song and the Dreamcatcher trilogy and think Abi Elphinstone is a gifted fantasy writer. This is the first adventure in ‘The Unmapped Chronicles’ and if this is a taster of what is come then we are in for a real literary treat as she has created yet another magical world, full of colourful characters and creatures, such as Smudge and Bartholomew (an 11 year-old girl and a talking monkey) as well as elves, goblins and an obligasauraus (you’ll have to read to find out…) Fans of fantasy from Y4 to Y6 will love to immerse themselves in this world.
(Penguin Books)
When we first read Noughts and Crosses back in 2001 we knew this was a special book that would help young adults to question the world they were living in by looking at the subject of segregation through the eyes of a world flipped. As before, this dystopian narrative takes place alternative 21st-century Britain and picks up the story of Dan from Double Cross who we learn has been shot and is now on the run from a gang who want to kill him. It’s looking bleak until he meets Eva, mourning her daughter, but wanting to help him. But not all is what it seems and both are hiding secrets. To be read by all young adults everywhere.
Posted in: Literature Review
