At the start of the book, Emily Webster seems like an 11 year old any reader would recognise, forgetting homework and sometimes a bit too distracted by her phone and friends. But her mum finds a listing for an old farmhouse and the family take a year off from a busy suburban life to move to an area with no internet, television or phone. What follows opens Emily’s eyes to a wonderful world of imagination that allows her to understand more about herself without her previous distractions.
Emily Swan and the Dream Pillow also delivers more than just ... View Full Review
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Siblings Kya and Neo want to have fun, not sit and listen to their Grandmother’s lecture about the Thirukkural. So they escape to her shed and discover an ancient stone archway that transports them onto an adventure that helps them learn more about the Thirukkural in a different way. Finding they’ve travelled back in time to a Tamil village they meet Thiruvallavar and through a series of quests and riddles uncover the first piece of wisdom of the Thirukkural.
The First Letter & The Forgotten Path ... View Full Review
A daft rhyming caper about the misfortunes of Poor Barry. Poor Barry is very accident prone, a fact that isn’t helped by the rather clueless adults in his life. One accident swiftly follows another and the illustrations show Barry is now a rather sorry sight trapped in a full body cast. However his friends are on hand to do as much as they can to keep him out of their teacher’s way and further mischief. The rhyming throughout dives the story onwards and makes this quite a pacey read. Although the rhyming style means that the ... View Full Review
A sweet story of finding where you belong, with a cute Pug main character. In Janina Kelly’s vibrant picture book we meet Paula the Pug who lived a luxurious life in a castle until her human had to send her to live in the mountains. In her new chalet home her human is grumpy and she is laughed at by her neighbours. A chance encounter of a family of marmots helps to welcome her to her new home. The Pug Who Didn't Belong is a really sweet story about belonging, opening up conversations about spreading kindness, friendship and ... View Full Review
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Just as vegetables are packed with nutrition, this book is packed with humour. The vegetable characters are beautifully illustrated and have amusing expressions, guaranteed to make you smile or laugh out loud. Ralphie’s vegetables all have something to say to him, especially those who think they have been unjustly treated, like Green Pea, who was eaten by the dog, or Sprout who was thrown in the bin! It’s such a unique idea to bring vegetables to life and write letters to a little boy. Vegetables and fruit are not always liked by children, ... View Full Review
A story filled with empathy and love told through a young boy’s conversations with his dog. Alex loves playing with his mum but sometimes she’s unable to do the things he wants. But that’s ok, Alex assures his dog Nico, because he knows she loves him by the things his mum is able to do, and how she is able to spend time with him. This is a really sweet story filled with empathy as each day Alex shows understanding as to why mum can’t do all the activities. I also love ... View Full Review
A beautifully illustrated book that highlights the importance of all the animals found in a woodland ecosystem. When a man in the bulldozer arrives to tear down trees declaring that “this land is too full” he finds the animals of the woodland in his way. He takes the time to ask each one what they do and realises they’re important to maintaining the woodland. This is a gentle way to introduce young children to the role each child has in an ecosystem, from the typically less likable creatures like wasps and rats to more cuddly characters ... View Full Review
A simple picture book with a positive message. This little picture book forms part of a series that shares the importance of different gifts. In this book we see the Gift of Resilience. In the short rhyming text we’re told that although it’s a gift you can’t buy it in a shop or online, but it can help you to overcome challenges and bounce back from setbacks. Showing resilience can also be a great example to others and help them to unlock their own gift. The examples and situations used throughout the book are ... View Full Review
Available from Stories for our hearts
Ruairí and Charlie are author Breege Hoyne’s own children and in Ruairí's Rocket to heaven, the love the two brothers share and how Ruairí’s death affected Charlie is conveyed. The book has gentle illustrations with soft pastel tones throughout as we see how much Charlie loved his younger brother and the ways they used to spend time together. I liked that when Charlie was told the sad news of Ruairí’s death, it was conveyed in clear and simple yet still compassionate language, rather ... View Full Review
This is a delightful collection of four short stories by Kevin O’Flaherty. The common themes throughout are reflection, choice and outcome made by fictional characters in a variety of geographical locations. Each story is a modern parable demonstrating the triumphs and flaws of human nature. The four stories are set in the locations of Tucuman, Argentina, the Basque region of Spain, Gloucester and the west coast of Ireland. In Argentina, the story is set around James as he travels from New York to Tucuman to seek fulfilling work of building a health care centre. It describes how he ... View Full Review
More challenges for Riley on and off the pitch in this nail biting sequel. It’s the start of a new season for Riley and the Highfield flyers. With another shot at the league after last year’s painful loss, changes in school and the grief of his mum’s terminal cancer diagnosis, Riley is exhausted. When bad news arrives Rile must once more show his strength of character in the darkest times, with his team there to offer support and a moment of escape. I found the first book in this series, Life of Riley - ... View Full Review
