Sunday 2 October 2011

'Iggy Peck, Architect' written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts

One of my favourite picture books ever! A brilliant combination of David Roberts' detailed illustrations and Andrea Beaty's rhyming sentences.

Iggy Peck has been building with whatever materials he can get his hands on, whether that be nappies, pencils or apples and peaches. His parents love their son's talent, but when he starts school his teacher, Miss Lila Greer, isn't happy with Iggy's interest in architecture. You see, Miss Greer has had a fear of heights since the age of six where she spent a rather long while stuck in a lift with circus performers at the top of a very high building.

But what happens when on a school trip, Iggy's class incurs a disaster and Miss Greer passes out?! Can Iggy and his talent help save the day with some shoestrings and a a couple of fruit roll-ups?

A few of my friends are studying architecture at university and I have bought several of them copies for their birthday's and they have been very well received!



Recommended age 3 and a half +


Published by Harry N. Abrams in paperback and is £7.95






Friday 30 September 2011

'Journey To The River Sea' written by Eva Ibbotson

Eva Ibbotson has written over twenty books, but this is by far my favourite. I rarely read a book more than once, maybe twice if it's extra special, but this I have now read five or six times. Each time I revisit the book I discover a new meaning to something I hadn't really noticed before. 

Maia is living in a British orphanage when she is told she has relatives living in the Amazonian jungle in Brazil. Hearing she has an uncle, aunt and twin cousins - Gwendolyn and Beatrice, hugely excites Maia. 

She is given a new governess, Miss Minton, who accompanies her on the long journey to her new home where she meets her family and soon realises they are not quite was she was expecting. The twins certainly have key similarities to the ugly sisters in Cinderella! None of the girls are allowed outside, certainly not to explore and only eat tinned food sent over from England!

Maia then meets Finn. His mother, who was part of an Indian tribe called the Xanti, died shortly after giving birth to Finn. His father died more recently and left a huge fortune for Finn back in England, but he'd much rather stay in Brazil. How will Finn and Maia get around the two men that are trying to bring him back to England? A brilliant novel and, in my eyes a modern classic. 

Recommended age 9+

Published by Macmillan in paperback and is £6.99

Wednesday 28 September 2011

'There Is No Dog' written by Meg Rosoff


From the author of 'How I Live Now' comes her brilliant new novel 'There Is No Dog'. This is a story about God. But probably not any kind of God you've heard of before. He is sixteen and called Bob.

Bob doesn't care much for the world he created, so leaves Mr B to sort all that complicated stuff out like prayers, tsunami's and famine. Bob's primary interest is girls. But what happens when he falls in love with the most beautiful girl in the world (that HE created), of course they can't be together - she's a mortal.

A brilliant compendium of characters including Bob's mother Mona; a mad goddess, and Eck; Bob's pet who is the last of his species and can eat anything and everything (and does!). Despite it's recent controversy with a few Christian schools I think it's a great book, it's only fictional - at least I hope God isn't a sex mad sixteen year old!

Recommended age 16+

Published by Puffin in 2011 in hardcover and is £12.99

'The Unforgotten Coat' written by Frank Cottrell Boyce


From the author of the fantastic book 'Millions', comes a touching story of a primary school friendship; between a girl from Liverpool and two Mongolian brothers. Adventures in Bootle, Liverpool begin when Chingis and Nergui join Julie O’Connors’ year six class at school. 

They stood out at first because both brothers came into school wearing long coats lined with fur, even though the air was scorching hot. With a Polaroid camera in tow, Chingis educates his classmates about Mongolian culture and the famous Chingis Khan (whom he is named after) and enlists Julie as their ‘Good Guide’ to teach them the ways of Bootle. 

Dispersed with Polaroid photographs every few pages, this is a truly unique and wonderful read teaching children about the wonderful but sad parts of meeting refugees.

Recommended age 8+

Published by Walker Books in 2011 in hardcover and is £10.