Book after Book

Welcome to the blog tour  The  Family Tree  by Yasmine Anane and Mark Beech One day before winter, Mole sets off to find his family tree. A family tree, he explains, is a place where he will find others just like him. He is tired of being on his own. During his journey, he is joined by Owl, Squirrel and Rabbit. They are tired of being on their own too, and the idea to find somewhere they belong sounds amazing! However, winter arrives, and so does the end of the wood. If there are no more trees to explore, it means that the family tree doesn't exist and the four friends are going to be alone forever. Or does it? A beautifully rhyming and gorgeously illustrated book about the meaning of family and belonging. The first time I read it to my girls, they made me start again as soon as we reached the last sentence. A definite hit, and highly recommended by all of us!

Welcome to the blog tour for Too Many Moose by Kathy Sherman & Torey Butner! More about the book… A rip-roaring moose family reunion songbook starring one extremely surprised host and exactly 256 moose (no more, no less). How many moose is too many moose? Two? Four? Eight? Sixteen? What happens when a herd of moose invites themselves over? In Too Many Moose, a herd of moose have a rip-roaring family reunion full of dancing, cartwheels, pillow fights and more! My impressions… This book is so entertaining! Told in an engaging and fun rhyme, it tells the story of a young girl who can’t believe her eyes when she sees a constantly growing family of moose take over her garden and then her house, getting up to all sorts of mischief. With the numbers getting bigger and bigger, her patience starts wearing thinner and thinner until… Mesmerised by the colourful illustrations, my children love describing what the moose are doing on ea...

Welcome to the blog tour for Whispa and the Waves  by Ffion Jones & Elena Mascolo! More about the book… Whispa and the Waves  is a a powerful and practical picture book exploring anxiety and mindfulness. Whispa the mermaid worries about everything. Until, one starry night, her worries spiral into a storm. Although the storm so big that she almost gives into it, she focusses on a happy memory from childhood, a kinder inner voice which tells her that she knows what to do to calm the storm.  Through mindful relaxation techniques, Whispa manages to calm the waves and make her way back to shore. Other storms will come, but she knows she will be able to ride the waves. Inspired by a desire to help her daughter in her struggle with anxiety,  Whispa and the Waves is a book that hopes to help children explore other ways of responding to these feelings, empowering them to overcome the waves and giving them the strength to calm the storm. My impression...

Welcome to the blog tour for Felix's Favourite Day by Fiona Lowry! More about the book… Felix’s Favourite Day is a gentle rhyming picture book encouraging positive thinking. Perfect for children ages 3-5 years Felix loves animals and dreams of being a vet when he is older. The only problem is, he doesn’t have his own pet to look after yet. After begging, badgering, and bothering his parents, Felix is finally taken to the local animal shelter for what his parents hope will be a sensibly chosen cat or dog... Felix may have other ideas! More about the author… Fiona is a Scottish children’s author based in Perthshire, where she lives with her family. Having grown up in the idyllic, peaceful, and secluded countryside, her childhood was full of freedom and adventure. Fiona shares her power of positive thinking through children’s stories of encouragement, self-growth, and belief. My impressions… What a cute and uplifting story! Felix wants to be a vet and he feels like the first step tow...

Welcome to the blog tour for The Giant at Number Two by Emily Wensley & Helen Morgan ! More about the book… Daisy-May is known to everyone as having a vivid imagination, so when she tells her family that there is a  giant living on their street, as usual nobody believes her. Nobody that is, except her Gran! Excited that there may be a giant living in the neighbourhood (especially one that wears funny masks!) they form a plan to find out all they can about him, in order to lure him into a trap. My impressions… The children and I had so much fun with this book! Could there really be a giant living at number two, or is it just a very tall person who looks like a giant to a small girl? I don’t wish to spoil your fun and give anything away, but I can tell you that Daisy-May and her Gran, who hasn’t lost the ability to use her imagination despite her age (!), are going to take you on a fun adventure. The illustrations by Helen Morgan are lively and colourful, and the r...

Welcome to the blog tour for Lively Lila: A Dance of Happy Discovery by Ben Levey! More about the book… Step into Lila’s whirlwind world in  A Dance of Happy Discovery! Embrace Lila’s unique sparkle as she twirls through life’s ups and downs with ADHD, showing us all how to love who we truly are. Young readers, prepare to be dazzled by this exciting adventure that’s bursting with boldness, bravery, and the fun of being different. Dive into Lila’s story and uncover a tale that’s all about standing strong, letting your creativity fly, and celebrating the superhero within! More about the author… Ben Levey is originally a Chartered Project Manager in the construction industry from East London, but he has tapped into his love for the creative world through his fashion brand and now, children’s books. My impressions… If you have been following me since I’ve become a mamma, you will know that I love sharing my love of books with my two little girls. I love all books under the sun but...

Welcome to the blog tour for Captain Vlad and the Mary Rose by Kate and Sam Cunningham! More about the book… King Henry VIll's favourite ship, the Mary Rose, is sailing to Portsmouth to stop a French invasion. This should be the easy part of the journey, but for Captain Vlad flea and his crew of rats, the humans and their pets create dangers on every deck. More about the author and illustrator… Author: Kate Cunningham Kate was a primary teacher, and Sam is the eldest of her three boys. She is married to historian, Sean and is author of the Flea in History series. Illustrator: Sam Cunningham As well as the Vlad flea books, Sam has worked on graphic novels with The National Archives and created the murals in the Florence Nightingale Museum family corner My impressions… This is my first book in the Flea in History series, and most certainly not the last one. Following Captain Vlad – the flea in question - and his crew on an adventure above and below deck, we learn both how ...

Welcome to the blog tour for Anna’s Garden by Sarah Hewitt! Anna is a little girl who is aware of what she can and can’t do. Playing with a ball or running down a hill is not for her, but she shows her care for her friends in other ways. We are all different, but our differences don’t have to separate us. With a delicate colour palette and beautiful illustrations, Anna’s Garden is a very special book, which conveys a powerful message of kindness and acceptance. More about the book… Anna knows what she likes and what she is good at. Even though catching a ball is not her favourite game and loud noises make her ears hurt, there are lots of other things that Anna can do. Although she likes to spend time on her own, she is also very kind and loves sharing with others. 'Anna’s Garden' is a classic rhyming picture book with a charming art style. With a memorable cast and unique handling of its themes, this story will help young readers embrace their true selves. Here’s what the auth...

Welcome to the blog tour for A Swift Return  by Fiona Barker! More about the book… Aria has her head in the clouds. Yusuf keeps his feet on the ground. But when they work together to save a bird who has lost her way, something magical happens. When  Swift loses her way on her epic migration. Aria and Yusuf come to her rescue and are inspired to think big about looking after the sky above their city. Inspired by Fiona and Howard's love for wildlife of all kinds and is the follow-up to Setsuko and the Song of the Sea . Howard's beautiful illustrations evoke a strong sense of place, strengthened by the beautiful Arabic text distilled by Maysoon AbuBlan. More about the author… Fiona is a middle-aged, married mum of one. She is positively potty about picture books; reading them and writing them. When writing, she longs for alliterative loveliness but is reluctant to rhyme. When reading, she looks for a marriage of words and artwork and loves anything that is fun to r...

Animals Brag About Their Bottoms by Maki Saito If you have or know children, by gifting them this book you will make their day, month or, possibly, year! My children were all over it as soon as they laid eyes on it. A book about bottoms? Wonderful! The fascination is constant, and giggles are guaranteed, regardless of how many times you have already inspected these animals’ derrieres! With elegant illustrations and a simple text, translated from the Japanese by Brian Bergstrom, this is a great tool for parents to teach their children that we are all equal and beautiful, each in our own individual way. The little ones think we’re just having fun, while, in reality, we’re imparting an important lesson. Sneaky. I love it! More about the book…  All bottoms are wonderful! Don’t you agree? Each animal in this adorable book has a different reason for loving their behind—from cute and round to fashionable and striped. Maki Saito makes readers laugh out loud with playful illustrations of th...

Welcome to the blog tour for Peas on Earth  by Huw Lewis Jones, illustrated by Ben Sanders! More about the book… In this festive edition, Bad Apple faces his greatest challenge yet: it’s Christmas day and everyone is just so ... jolly. Granny Smith’s carol singing and Pineapple’s incessant dancing are grating  to say  the least, but it’s  the cheery arrival  of  Pea and his extended family that pushes Bad Apple over  the edge. It’s beginning  to feel a lot like Christmas ... but how long can  the  Peas last? More about the author and illustrator… Huw Lewis Jones is a polar-exploring author and historian who lives  in Cornwall, UK. His books include Explorers’ Sketchbooks,  The Writer’s Map and Archipelago (all Thames & Hudson). Ben Sanders is an award-winning illustrator and graphic designer based  in Ballarat, Australia. He is  the author and i...

Welcome to the blog tour for Do Penguins Like The Cold? by Huw Lewis Jones and Sam Caldwell! More about the book… In this entertaining and highly informative book, polar-explorer Huw Lewis Jones and nature illustrator Sam Caldwell take readers on an intrepid field trip to Antarctica and beyond to discover the secret life of penguins. Journeying throughout the Southern Hemisphere to incredible locations including Argentina, Australia, Chile, the Galápagos Islands, Namibia, New Zealand, Peru and South Africa, Do Penguins Like the Cold? introduces readers to the 18 species of penguin and the conservation work underway to protect them and their habitats. More about the author and illustrator… Huw Lewis Jones is a polar-exploring author and naturalist who is lucky to have met many animals in  the wild. He is Associate Professor at Falmouth University, teaching natural history, and has written history books abo...

Welcome to the blog tour for If I Had A Polar Bear  by Gabby Dawnay! More about the book… What would it be like to have a polar bear as a pet? It might be an unconventional choice, but it would be sure to give the best bear hugs... Polar bears are cuddly but they're also very strong. As marine mammals, they can swim for days at a time – that's serious perseverance! So if Santa ever needed help delivering his presents, guess who he would call? Join our funny female protagonist as she wonders 'what would life be like... if I had a polar bear?' More about the author… Gabby Dawnay is a writer and poet. She is a regular contributor to OKIDO magazine and a script-writer for children’s television. Alex Barrow, a London-based illustrator, is the art director for and a regular contributor to OKIDO magazine. Alex and Gabby are the duo behind children’s picture books If I had a dinosaur, A House for Mouse and A Song for  Bear , all ...

Welcome to the blog tour for Emma and Bob by Ágnes Horváth! More about the book… You are perfect and wonderful just the way you are! And the key to your life is in your hands. Don’t know what that means? You can live a joyful and full life. You can calm your emotional storms and the thoughts swirling in your head. You can find deep peace even when you are hurt or grieving. Don’t know how? Let the story of Emma and Bob guide you. Thanks to their curiosity, Emma and Bob’s ordinary holiday becomes extraordinary. In addition to enjoying time at the beach, in the forest and at home, Gran explains to them ‘the endless cycle of life’ and the importance of ‘self-kindness’, ‘positive thinking’, ‘listening to your heart’ and ‘being present’. You can learn these too, just open your mind and heart. You’ll find that even simple things like breathing, a sandcastle, half a glass of lemonade or a little flower can teach you things about yourself and life that you may have never heard before. More abou...

Welcome to the blog tour for Your Rainbow  by Lynn How! More about the book… Join Erin and Rowan as their bedtime is transformed into a multicoloured rhyming journey, where they are magically transported to each colour of the  rainbow in turn. In this colourful adventure, Erin and Rowan are provided with the wisdom and unconditional love they need to face any of life's challenges. This inspirational bedtime tale both nurtures and grows the strong bond between parents and children. With mesmerising pictures and a powerful message, it is sure to become a firm favourite for this and the next generation of your family. More about the author… Lynn How loved to write poems from a young age and was encouraged by both her parents and teachers. After fostering a love of literacy, Lynn became a primary school teacher and stayed in the profession for twenty years. Within this time, she taught across the primary age range and gained her Masters degree, SENCO and headteachers' qu...

Welcome to the blog tour for Cotton Cloud Refuses to Rain , written by Elizabeth F. Hill and illustrated by Hannah George ! More about the book… Cotton Cloud wants to be the best cloud ever! She will never rain, she says, because rain makes people SAD. But the endless sunshine dries up the lake, withers the plants and cracks the soil. Sun and Wind tell Cotton Cloud it is time for her to rain! But stubborn Cotton Cloud refuses to listen. Until one day she looks down on the hot, tired people and sees they are no longer happy. Her heart swells with sorrow, and as her tears turn into rain, the dry earth turns green again. The people laugh and dance happily in the rain, and Cotton Cloud realises the importance of her true purpose. This beautifully illustrated, gentle story provides plenty of opportunities to discuss the importance of working together and how our actions can affect other people. Cotton Cloud is a character that both children and adults will relate to; she thinks she’s doing ...

Welcome to the blog tour for Caring Conservationists Who Are Changing Our Planet by Kate Peridot! More about the book… Travel around the world and discover the stories of 20 conservationists and the endangered animals they are helping to save, including the orangutang, blue whale, Indian tiger, rhino, honeybee, Komodo dragon and sea turtle. Positive, uplifting and packed full of information, with 20 fun activities for children to try, this book will show children no one is too small to make a difference.   More about the author… Kate is an author of both fiction and non-fiction children’s books. Originally from London, she now lives with her family in the South of France. She writes wild and adventurous stories about animals, people and STEM that encourages a can-do spirit, a quest for knowledge and a sense of adventure. Caring Conservationists (Walker Books) is her first non-fiction children’s books. A further nine books are in production launching between 2023-2025. Find out...

Welcome to the blog tour for David’s Bathtime Adventure by Sue Wickstead! This is not the first book by Sue Wickstead that I read with my little ones and, hopefully, not the last. David’s Bin Day is still a firm favourite in this household (as is bin day itself!) and I’m hoping that David’s Bathtime Adventure – which elicited a lot of giggles and ‘That’s silly, mamma!’ – is going to turn the bedtime ritual into something that is embraced with a little more joy! As usual, the entertaining story is accompanied by the beautiful illustrations that have made us fond of the author’s books. More about the book… David loves his bath time! As Mum fills the bath with water, David get himself ready for a swimming adventure. With toys and his fishing gear, he certainly enjoys splashing around in the water. (And making a mess!) Where will his imagination take him? In the words of the author… I am a supply teacher working across Sussex and Surrey. For over 20 years, alongside my teaching career, ...

Welcome to the blog tour for Dreams in a Jar by Kate Staves! What if you could keep a little piece of your dreams to hold on to forever? ​Put on your very best pyjamas and get ready for a magical journey through the land of dreams, collecting trinkets and souvenirs as we go! ​The beautiful – and appropriately dreamy – illustrations by Karen Bunting and the fun, rhyming text by Kate Staves seamlessly combine to create another gorgeous book to be enjoyed by children and adults alike… although the adults might have to pretend that they’re reading it to their little humans! Dreams in a Jar makes for a great bedtime story and we even used it as inspiration for our own collection of bits and bobs in a jar! More about the book… In this story, a flower isn’t just a flower…it’s a pixie hat! A rusty old bolt isn’t just a rusty old bolt…it’s a piece of a rocket ship that blasted past a star! Let’s collect up all of these precious treasures together and keep them somewhere safe…I know, how about ...

Gertrude  by D.M. Mullan and Kirsteen Harris-Jones What a pleasure meeting Gertrude was! This children’s book can be read on various levels. As it says on the very first page ‘… if your spirit is young, no matter your age, the adventure begins when YOU turn the page’! The rhyming structure keeps even younger children entertained, and so do the striking illustrations. It makes for an amazing starting point for meaningful conversations about the environment and our sense of responsibility. I am most definitely going to look for the other Curious Tales in the series! More about the book… If you think that pollution is not your concern, then like little Gertrude you've got lots to learn. She lies in her treehouse like the laziest lump, and shouts from her hammock across the whole dump: "Are you totally crazy? Are you out of your tree? It's not that I'm lazy, it's just not up to me!" More about the author D.M. Mullan is a world-travelled author from County Derry, N...