Chameleon Dad Author Feature: Debbie Thomas on Writing for Children

When Little Island Books contacted me about Chameleon Dad, the latest middle grade adventure from Debbie Thomas I was sold on the blurb alone and agreed to help support this book which looks at some incredibly powerful themes and situations but with the gentle hand of writing for middle grade. A tale that looks at …

DreadWood by Jennifer Killick

Today I'm one of three stops on the mega celebration blog tour for Jennifer Killick's DreadWood! I’ve been a huge fan of Jennifer’s writing for some years, she is a literal diamond of contemporary storycraft with a twisted element whether turning her hand to unfortunate superpowers, mysterious disappearances or tween horror , Jen is a …

The FCBG Childrens Book Award- Anisha: Accidental Detective by Serena Patel

When I first reviewed the debut Anisha novel, I knew that Serena Patel had created something special, and with the publication of each book, both Littlefae and I have been swept away in these young reader mysteries that explore so much more than the social or interpersonal problem presented, and yet capture the very real …

The Puffin Portal Vashti Hardy illustrated by Natalie Smillie

You may have guessed that I’m a huge fan of Vashti Hardy’s writing and she’s a wonderful person too ! The Puffin Portal is the sequel to her first collaboration with Barrington Stoke The Griffin Gate, a tale that blends the Hardy-verse of STEM steeped societies and steam punkery into it in accessible form for …

Midnight Magic- Michelle Harrison and Elissa Elwick

Black cats and magic for early readers? Midnight Magic by Michelle Harrison and Elissa Elwick is the PERFECT book for any little one with the call of wonder in their soul. Midnight Magic is such a joyful and positive depiction of magic and wonder with a twinkling dose of mischief to keep the giggles.  I …

His Royal Hopeless – Chloë Perrin

If I could only say one thing about His Royal Hopeless I would say imagine a Disney- Pixar movie but in book form- it has all the magic, the layered storytelling and jokes and growth of those animated movies imagine Onward with a dash of Luca and a frosting of Frozen meets a dollop of …

Sindhu and Jeet’s Detective Agency by Chitra Soundar illustrated by Amberin Huq

You may have realised if you have read my blog before that I do love a mystery: historical, contemporary, fantastical- I’m in my happy place when I can play in the world of a mystery.  And so are my daughters, which is why I’m absolutely loving the current wave of young illustrated mysteries, and even …