Freeze- Chris Priestley

Freeze is the newest offering from Chris Priestley, recognised as a master of horror writing for children drawing in the weaving, building style of classic Gothic writers such as Mary Shelley and Edgar Allen Poe rather than gore or shock tactic. These tales creep into you consciousness rather than jump scare you, and oh so …

The Bewitching of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes

I’m delighted to be celebrating the publication fo The Bewitching of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes, a second adventure for our eponymous hero who we last saw Haunted, this time stepping into the supernatural world of witchcraft.  The Bewitching of Aveline Jones is such an incredible and haunting book, chilling in the clever way that …

A Galway Fairytale/ Síscéal Ó Ghaillimh by Caitriona Sweeney

The most beautiful twin books came through my door last Saturday from O’Brien Press. Caitriona Sweeney’s dreamy watercolours swirl around a modern fairytale firmly orientated in Galway and available in Gaelic too. A Galway Fairytale or Síscéal Ó Ghaillimh tells the tale of Séan and Gráinne’s journey into Galway market to buy their mother a …

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 …

Blossom – Laura Dockrill & Sara Ogilvie

Blossom is Laura’s second collaboration with Sara Ogilvie for Barrington Stoke, and once again explores candidly the wobbly life of a young inner city child on the precipice of change.  These snapshots of life, of real experiences told with honesty and innocence are truly a gift to any reader.  Laura Dockrill’s writing reminds me of …

The Haunting of Aveline Jones – Phil Hickes

I missed out last year on The Haunting of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes which was universally lauded for its glorious creepy Halloween setting and everyone agreed on not to read it at night! So when I purchased a copy last winter, I had originally planned to read it as part of a glorious spookfest this …

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 …