Posted on: 08/12/2016
We are often asked what books we would buy for our own children or for friends. Here's an insight into some our top picks of 2016 that may be landing in a stocking near you soon...
Written entirely in verse and documenting the struggles of a pint-sized budding scientist who does not give up on her desire to make sense of the world, this beautifully illustrated book has exactly the right sort of message we want to- need to- give our girls: you can become a scientist, you can become an inventor, you can realise your dreams. By the same talented author-illustrator combination who penned Iggy Peck, Architect, this is perfect for all would-be scientists and this Christmas I will be giving a copy to my very own plucky girl, who happens to look just a little like Ada herself!
A novel for older children, this is an exquisitely written piece about the deep bond between a child and an unusual pet and the trauma experienced when one is forced to let the other go.
Dealing with the themes of loss, loyalty and the need to be where you should be in the world, this will likely make you howl (but in that delicious way a really moving book does). It has the strong message, 'Just because it isn't happening here doesn't mean it isn't happening' and is utterly spellbinding and evocative. This Christmas I will be gifting a copy to the elder child of one of my oldest friends, for all 11-somethings MUST read this.
Technically this book came out at the end of last year but we didn't see it on shelves until this year and we couldn't wait to find a reason to review it.
Oliver Jeffers is an all time favourite at The Literacy Tree but Eoin Colfer can do no wrong either, and the topic of Imaginary friends is much discussed (my youngest daughter had one for two years called John. Yep, John Lewis). But this tackles more than imaginary friends. It explores friendship and loneliness and how these are big issues for our small people. This is a hug in a book, a tale told with humour and kindness and I can't wait to give it to my youngest - and maybe she'll share it with John.
We are very lucky to occasionally have the opportunity to work with authors and a while back we worked with Polly Ho-Yen on a resource for her first book, Boy in the Tower. Luckily it had been one of our favourite books that year and since then we have waited eagerly for a second book.
Where Monsters Lie, like Polly's previous, explores adult issues through the eyes of a child and is told in the first person - a girl called Effie, who lives in a remote and superstitious community in Scotland with her father. It's spookier than Boy in the Tower and at times takes on the genre of psychological thriller with its tense narrative. Word of warning and slight spoiler alert: if you didn't like slugs before, you won't like them any more for reading this...
We have gifted Boy in the Tower many times to both boys and girls alike in Y5, 6, 7 and 8 who love fantastical and apocalyptic mysteries and we know many of them will be more than happy to have Where Monsters Lie for Christmas.
This beautifully illustrated novel for older primary-age children from powerhouse author-illustrator combo A.F. Harrold and Levi Pinfold is about finding unlikely friendships in the unlikeliest of places. Darkly comic, this tale explores how relationships can blossom when you least expect them to. Nick, who is big, weird and smells (or at least that’s what everyone thinks), rescues Frank from bullies. Returning to Nick’s house, Frank feels happy for the first time in a long while. As their relationship grows, Frank discovers that she is not the only one keeping secrets - or who needs help. We love this story and think many a child out there will too!
From the team at Big Picture Press who have previously brought us such delights as Animalium and the Story of Life comes this latest offering produced in conjunction with Kew Gardens, which features the same moreish style of illustrations that Katie Scott shared with us in her previous picture books. Beautifully illustrated, well thought-through non-fiction books are always such a gift - and we think make beautiful gifts as well! We love how the information is laid-out and particularly how relatively complicated concepts appear accessible to younger minds. We think this book will appeal to children both big and small - but beware that it may also be nabbed by an intrigued parent, so broad is this book’s appeal!
