School holidays for Easter are fast approaching here in the UK and whether you are at home, or travelling abroad, we have reviewed the latest  books to keep your young ones entertained …

Board books

I’m a Dinosaur and I’m a Car – Matthew Scott (illustrator), Templar Books (publisher)

These two board books are some of the cutest around at the moment! With sturdy cardboard pages crafted in unique shapes to work perfectly alongside simple facts about different dinosaurs or vehicles, little hands will be grabbing for these books constantly. 

In I’m a Car, your little ones will be fascinated by simple first facts about cars, boats, helicopters and other vehicles while practising the sounds of tooting, beeping, nee-nawing and more! Perfect for bringing on vocabulary and language skills.

In l’m a Dinosaur, your youngest readers can stomp, roar and chomp with the brightly-coloured delightful dinos whilst boosting their dinosaur knowledge and vocabulary.

Perfect for any curious children, engaging and fun, these gorgeously-illustrated bold and bright board books are perfect for your travels out and about. 

Bizzy Bear Recycling Truck – Benji Davies (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)

Does your little one love Bizzy Bear books? This latest book in the series is a vibrant and fun book to let them explore and learn all about recycling. Perfect for little preschoolers, each sturdy page of this board book has a superb interactive element to really engage your little reader with the recycling process.  They can push up the sliders and watch the rubbish go into the truck, they can spin the wheel to sort the different types of waste, and so much more. 

There’s a riot of colour and fun on every page and there is so much to see, comment on and explore together in this robust little book.  Add to all of this, the sweet, rhyming text which accompanies the adorable illustrations and you can see why this book is such a brilliant board book to explore the world of recycling and you can use this to talk about the importance of recycling and reusing with your little ones. 

We also love that you can scan the QR code so you can listen to the story being read out loud. Interactive, vibrant and fabulously fun, another brilliant Bizzy Bear book.

Match the Shape – Susie Hammer (illustrator), Templar Books (publisher)

What a gorgeously interactive and clever board book this one is! Three brightly coloured shapes (a circle, a triangle and a square) are securely attached to ribbons to allow your little one to try their maths and shape-sorting skills to match the shapes to the slots in the book.

Each chunky page has bold and colourful illustrations on it with shape-sized slots for your little one to work on their fine motor skills and insert the correct shape. Whether a bird needs a beak, or a hot air balloon needs a basket, your little ones are sure to have fun problem-solving with this book. Educational, interactive and fun, it’s a perfect introduction to first shapes and vocabulary.

Picture books

We are Definitely Human – X. Fang (author and illustrator), Pushkin Press (publisher)

From award-winning author and illustrator, X. Fang, comes this gorgeous new picture book about kindness and community spirit.

Mr Li is woken at midnight by a loud crash outside his window. Leaving Mrs Li to sleep on, he goes outside to investigate and discovers three strangers in his back garden. The strangers are rather bizarre in shape and colour but they say hello and explain that they are definitely human. They need to be able to fix their car to get home but, as all good human’s know, garages aren’t open at midnight so, Mr Li being a kind human, offers for them to stay at his house. The next morning, Mrs Li and her husband offer the strangers “from Europe” all hospitality and the people in the store even help the visitors fix their car. After partying with the villagers, the three visitors go on their way with their hearts full of love and kindness. 

This is such a sweet, quirky book highlighting the importance of kindness and empathy and celebrating differences. It is exquisitely illustrated with out-of-this-world drawings and a stunning and stark colour theme of popping neon pink and blue being used throughout. It is a visual delight as well as being a beautiful and humorous story. A new favourite with my twins. And any book that emphasises kindness and love is a winner in my eyes. 

There’s a Bear on my Chair (10th anniversary edition)- Ross Collins (author and illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)

Wah!! How can it be ten years since this book was first published?! What a way to celebrate though with this gorgeous shimmering blue and gold foil cover edition for this much-loved author’s bestselling work.

This story has long been one of my twins’ favourite bedtime stories. And for good reason. From when they were tiny toddlers there would be giggles galore as bear parks his huge bottom on mouse’s chair and refuses to budge!  But clever mouse, after trying all kind of tactics, comes up with an ingenious way to move the mountain of a bear from his chair ….. And bear is certainly not expecting to find a mouse in his house!!

Vibrantly colourful pages combine with a fabulously fun rhyming text and laugh out loud illustrations to make this one of the most raucously fun and special picture books around. A perfect read for families who love to have fun. 

Long Dog – James Davies (author and illustrator), Templar Books (publisher)

Long dog wasn’t long when he was little. As a puppy he was normal-sized but now he is extra-long. He just won’t stop growing. But his owner thinks he is just perfect as he is,  and it is everyone else who has the problem. His young owner plays all sorts of fun games with him but when they go to the park, everyone says mean things about long dog. Until, that is, one day when all of their dogs go missing. And only Long Dog can save the day and rescue their beloved canines for them….

We were captivated by this gorgeous picture book. We love Long Dog. We love the bold and bright red, yellow and black colour tones of the book. We love the messages of firm friendship and staying true to yourself and appreciating differences. And we loved the fun, fold-out flap at the end of the book. It’s funny, it’s fresh and it’s fabulous. Perfect for any little animal lovers out there.

Mr Norton’s New Hat – Huw Lewis Jones (author), Corey Egbert (illustrator), Little Tiger (publisher)

On a not particularly exciting Monday morning one week, Mr Norton finds a mouse has made a house in his hat. Being a kind man, he didn’t want to disturb it so off he went to work all the same. On Tuesday, he found that birds had built a nest in his bicycle basket. On Wednesday, a squirrel was asleep in his shoe…. Now, this was getting ridiculous!! What would the rest of the week have in store for Mr Norton? And what would he do about it?! 

We loved this animal-filled caper of a picture book. It is zany and fun and chock-full of adorable animal illustrations and quirky drawings. We adored the messages of kindness, empathy and animal affection that this book instills and it has become a favourite bedtime read with my son. Cleverly teaching youngsters the days of the week to boot, this is a sensational story book. 

Eid for Nylah – Nizrana Farook (author), Zelma Firdauzia (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)

Nylah is not having a good day. No one seems to want to play with her. As she pads from house to house, everyone is too busy to scrunch paper with her or play with ribbons…. They are all too busy making decorations, baking sweet treats, wrapping presents and decorating their hands with henna patterns. Nylah is sure that there is something going on. What on earth could it be?  

When she goes with her family to pray in the park the next morning, she realises exactly what it is!! It’s the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations and Nylah the cat and her neighbours and friends are going to celebrate all day. 

We loved the excitement, anticipation and joy surrounding the Muslim celebration of Eid-al-Fitr that this beautifully illustrated picture book portrays. We felt like we were joining in and getting ready for the celebrations ourselves. We love Nylah’s impish feline character and that you see the community getting ready for the celebrations through her eyes. Just the book to get my children’s excitement levels even higher for the Eid party at their school in a few weeks. 

A Home is a Nest – Emma Carlisle (author and illustrator), Big Picture Press (imprint of Bonnier Books) (publisher)

If you have a friend who has just had a baby, or you are expecting a little one yourself then this is the book to buy! Exquisitely illustrated, this is the perfect book for those welcoming a new child into the world. 

This hard-backed book is a beautiful and heart-warming celebration of love and security, exploring the relationship between parent and child and the safety of a home for children. Its gentle rhyming text makes it a superb read aloud to your little one at bedtime, and the exquisite artistry means that the pages can be pored over with your children at any time of the day, looking at the beauty of the natural world depicted there. 

We love how the book draws parallels between the way birds care for their babies and the way human parents do the same for their babies, providing safety and security in the form of a home, as a nest for their child to always come back to. 

This book is mindful, filled with nature, lyrical, dreamy and hopelessly enchanting and we know it will be well received if you buy it for any new parent.

Chapter books 

Murray and Bun! Murray the Pirate – Adam Stower (author and illustrator), Harper Collins Children’s Books (publisher)

Well, I really do have to say thank you to this author because this is practically the first ever chapter book I have managed to persuade my son to read. Okay, so we have taken it slowly, with him reading one page (or 2 sometimes!) out loud every day to me but he has been loving this series of funny, original and engaging chapter books. 

Why, you may well ask?! Well, not only is there a larger font sized used though out but the amount of text on the pages varies too and each two-page spread has fantastic black and white illustrations so I think he feels like the transition from a chapter book is not over-facing. Added to that is the fact that each story is hilariously funny, adventurous and filled with a brilliant cast of characters and these books are a total winner in our house. 

In Murray the Pirate, Murray’scat flap leads not to the garden but to a pirate adventure, oooo-aaargh me hearties! Murray and Bun are thrown into the world of treasure and shark-infested waters when they are kidnapped by fearsome pirates. But when Bun is made to walk the plank by the cruel Captain Patch and his penguin (yup, you read that correctly!) and things don’t quite go to plan, Murray realises that these feared pirates aren’t quite as scary as they pretend to be! Will a treasure map lead  them all to Monster Island, or will they be gobbled up by the beast from the deep….?

Each book has adventure, fun and friendship at its heart and it really doesn’t matter about reading them in order because each story stands alone on its own humour, wit and fun. We love this duo. Thank you. 

Dungeon Runners – Level 2: Sky Battles – Kieran Larwood (author), Joe Todd-Stanton (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)

We adored the first book in this fantastic new black and white chapter book series by one of our all-time favourite authors so we were very excited when the next level in the books dropped onto the doormat! 

It’s time to flight. I mean fight! (Or do I?!) Kit and his teammates, Sandy and Thorn, also known as Triple Trouble, are about to embark on their first real adventure as bona fide Dungeon Runners. Kit just wishes that they didn’t look like such amateurs with their tea-cosy-looking knitted vests and Kit’s wooden sword and shield. If only people would take them seriously. 

But Kit has more problems than how his team looks. There are real-life dangers at every turn in the dungeons: from other competitors trying to squash the threesome into oblivion, frightening feathered monsters attacking them and imps jeopardising their progress, Kit will need support and bravery to get his team through the big leagues of dungeon running. Are you ready to take flight with him on this level to enter the dungeon? And will the team survive the challenges thrown at them?! 

My youngest daughter and I have adored this series of unique chapter books and this second story is a huge page turner; we raced through it like a dungeon-runner trial. The story is filled with humour, fun (I mean, any story with a vegan vampire who knits is always going to be hilarious!) and friendship and we adored the ending of the book which really focuses on what matters: love and friendship. As with the first story, we love Kit and his friends and always cheer them on when the bullies are defeated or shown up.  We also love the chat-show hosts, Jenna and Dirk, and their brilliant commentary throughout, as well as how the book sets up the next level of the adventure (what is the broken piece of the amulet?!) and we cannot wait for this next book to come out! 

There are brilliant black and white illustrations plentifully interspersed throughout the pages and these really bring the imaginative world-building of the author to life. With larger font size and a gripping adventure, this is another superb chapter book in the series for those starting out on their independent reading journey. Five stars from us! 

Bad Panda: For Sale! – Swapna Haddow (Author), Sheena Dempsey (Illustrator), Faber & Faber Ltd (publisher)

Sob. Our hearts are broken. This is the final instalment in the Bad Panda series and we are not sure what we will do without our loveable Lin, the Bad Panda! We knew it would be the usual giggle fest of fun (I mean, with comments about pandas “going” when they feel a “heavy pull in the bottom area” who can fail to laugh!) but what we hadn’t quite expected was just how poignant and beautiful this final farewell book would be. We have loved it!

Sad times. The animals have realised that something is up: the zoo is going to close. And all of the animals will be sent to other zoos or back where they came from. But Lin is NOT happy about that. You see, although she is so happy about the thought of being re-united with her brother (Face-like-a-bag-of-potatoes), she is not happy about the thought that she might be split up from Liony, Fu, Malo and all of her other zoo friends (apart from the bitey tigers, annoying parrots and the orangutans!). Lin wants to keep everyone together like one big, happy animal family. 

It’s about time some bad pandaness was unleashed as she sets about trying to keep her zoo family all together …. But Lin begins to realise that not all the animals will be able to survive in the panda sanctuary she came from. Will they be able to stay a family, regardless of distance?!

With brilliantly funny drawings and some comic-strip style pages, this is a wonderfully visual read as well as a heartfelt and funny piece of fiction.  It’s a superb ending to the brilliant books all about the adorable Bad Panda Lin and the whole of the series is wonderful for those who find reading more of a challenge because there is large spacing between the font (which is easy to read) and plenty of illustrations to break up the text. We adored the words at the close of the story : “being a family is not always about sharing the same loo roll or eating at the same dinner table. Sometimes, it’s just about who you treasure and who you keep close to your ginormous panda hearts.” Aww. I am just off to find a tissue.

Mission Impossib-hole Ben Sanders (author and illustrator), Little Tiger (publisher)

Ditch what you are doing immediately and join Agent Harrier in his mission to find the culprit (or should that be cul-pit!) making the plot holes in this book. Holey moley!! Will he ever manage it?! With each plot hole taking him to deeper and darker depths filled with dragons, duels and beasts, this mission is taking him to places no self-respecting intelligence officer should be going. With mixed up words and craters galore, he might even be orbited into outer space!! But Agent Harrier has one fear and one fear only ….. it wouldn’t be very top secret of me to tell you though! Be prepared for paw-fulls of giggles, plays on words and much fun throughout this holey mission. 

We loved this graphic novel in its popping colour tones of neon-green, grey, black and white which really add to the storyline and draw the reader in like all the others in the series. This graphic novel is explosively funny, very witty and incredibly clever, inviting your young reader into the brilliantly-hot poled, I mean, pot-holed story. 

We love the superb illustrations throughout, the brilliant twists and turns (quite literally) and the clever nods to the world of books and fairytales as well as the spy world. Like the other books in the series, it’s funny, silly, captivating and clever and it engages your reader in the best of ways. My youngest daughter and I cannot wait for more in the series (pretty please!).

The Guinea-Pig Party – Holly Webb (author), Rosie Butcher (illustrator), Barrington Stoke (publisher)

Ace animal fiction writer, Holly Webb, teams up with award-winning publisher, Barrington Stoke, to bring us this adorable read for emerging readers. 

Katy has always wanted a guinea pig of her very own. She loves the sweet noises they make and their scruffy, fluffy fur … so she thinks her dreams have all come true at once when she sees a ginger and white little creature nibbling the lettuce leaves in her garden! Where on earth can this gorgeous guinea have come from? And does it really matter? Katy can look after it herself and keep it fed, watered and happy! 

But when new girl, Isabel, joins school and says she lost one of her beloved guinea pigs in their house move – a ginger and white one who loves lettuce leaves – Katy knows that she should return the adorable animal back to its rightful owner. But will she?!

With joyful, bright illustrations sprinkled liberally throughout the pages, this is the perfect book for any children transitioning from picture books, or those who have to work harder with their reading. It’s perfect for animal lovers and the guinea pig facts at the beginning of the book have been a real hit in our house. We also loved the fact that the guinea pigs were at the heart of the blossoming friendship between the two young girls and the sweet (yet important) message about doing the right thing. A gorgeous guinea pig caper.

Graphic novels 

The Baby-Sitters Club – Mallory and the Trouble with Twins (based on the novel by Ann M.Martin (author))- Arley Nopra (illustrator), Scholastic (publisher)

It turns out that this gorgeous graphic novel is actually part of a sensational series (The Babysitters Club books). We haven’t read any of the others but it matters little because this one could easily be read as a standalone.

Mallory comes from a large family – she has seven younger brothers and sisters (including triplets (her poor mother!!)) whom she has been looking after for years. So she knows she has some great babysitting skills going on. When she’s offered a job sitting for identical twin girls she thinks it is going to be a breeze; right?! Wrong. 

The twins might look cute as buttons but as soon as their mother is out of the door, they turn into twin-town terrors!! Ignoring Mallory, confusing her by tricking her so she can’t tell them apart, talking in a made up language and generally being spoiled brats has Mallory dreading her afternoons with them. But maybe there is more than tantrums and twirly dresses to these twins. Perhaps there is something else going on with Carolyn and Marilyn? And, like any great babysitter, Mallory is going to get to the bottom of it. 

Brilliantly illustrated, fun and fresh, we raced through the pages of this fabulous graphic novel. We loved the storyline and the lovely messages about celebrating individuality and truly trying to get to know a person. Filled with themes of friendship, family, growing up, individuality and style, we are captivated by this series and are off to the library to search out the others in the range. 

Middle grade fiction 

My Dog – Olivia Wakeford (author), David Litchfield (illustrator), Harper Collins Children’s Books (publisher)

If I am honest, I don’t think any of my words can do justice to just how much I adored this novel! I will give it a go though.

Rhys finds a lost black Labrador under his mother’s hospital bed. It has velvet ears and soulful conker eyes. He has always wanted a dog so he cannot quite believe his luck. The only problem is that he has now got to go and live with his dad in  London and his new baby sister. And guess what?! His dad does not like dogs. He thinks they smell of socks (in fairness, Labradors actually do!!). 

Rhys names the dog Worthington, after his mother’s love of the toffees, and decides it is best to try and keep the dog hidden from his father. But waking up at the crack of dawn to walk Worthington and worrying about his health is not easy …. Especially when Rhys overhears his Dad say that maybe he shouldn’t have brought Rhys to live with them……

This is an achingly beautiful story about friendship, love and loss. It’s hauntingly beautifully written and I spent lots of the first half of the story with a lump in my throat and I outright sobbed at the ending of the book!! But that’s not to put you off it because it is absolutely brilliantly written and it is a wonderful story. Yes, there are themes of parental loss, aching grief and despair but, ultimately,  this is a heartwarming book which ends on a hopeful, joyful note and reminds us of the healing power of animals. 

I don’t want to spoil things for you but I loved how clever this book was and the idea that just because you can’t see things doesn’t mean you can’t love them is so reassuring and comforting for anyone who has ever experienced loss or grief. A sensationally stunning story with exquisite black and white illustrations from one of our all time favourite illustrators, this is one of THE books of the year. Just make sure you have your tissues handy! 

Vanya and the Wild Hunt – Sangu Mandanna (author), Kristina Kister (illustrator), Macmillan Children’s Books (publisher)

What a book!! I savoured every page of this wonderful fantasy story which is steeped in folklore and Indian mythology. 

Vanya Vallen can hear the books talking. It’s only one of the things that she thinks sets her apart from her friends and family. But when a monster comes calling to her family’s bookshop, she soon realises that there is a magical world just waiting to be explored! She’s not safe at home with her parents anymore. Off she goes to stay with her parents’ best friends, Jasper and Roman, in the magical land of Auramere where she learns all about runes, mythical beasts, old ones and enchantments. 

She also discovers true friendship and how to accept who she really is for the first time in her life. But dark creatures are lurking in the shadows… there are glimpses of silvery, shadowy wolves and rumours that the Wild Hunt is prowling… is Vanya safe in the place she now calls home? And, if not, surely it will not be up to an eleven year old to try and save all they hold dear?!

I raced through this page-turner of an adventure story. Filled with fantasy and folklore, I loved the plot twists and turns (and my goodness are there some huge twists at the end of the book!!). I loved Vanya, our neurodiverse heroine and the insights into her ADHD are sure to resonate with readers who also have ADHD, as well as generating empathy and awareness for those who are neurotypical. I loved her relationship with her best friend, Ben, who is autistic, and to see how the pair bounced off each other and tested the boundaries of their friendship. I loved Vanya’s kindness and bravery and the self-belief she acquires towards the end of the book. I was captivated by the world-building that the author had created – vivid, imaginative and magical, it jumped out from the page. Combined with superb black and white illustrations to really bring the story to life, we cannot wait for the sequel to this story: five stars from us.  

Grumpfort – Jamie Hammond (author and illustrator), Usborne Publishing Limited (publisher)

Ooo, I do love a middle grade with masses of black and white illustrations to captivate the reader!!

Welcome to Bogfoss. Guarded by Wardens against the terrifying monsters of the surrounding woods, it’s home to Monday (Mo) the Sixteenth, newest Warden of the village. But Mo never wanted to be Warden. He finds monsters way too scary and violence is just not his thing. After being ridiculed by the villagers when he was beaten up by a gnome, he knows he has to prove himself by catching a monster, thereby becoming a hero! 

Things don’t go our Mo’s way though and he finds himself in grisly Grumpfort, the monsters’ secret hideout. But the monsters of Grumpfort aren’t quite what Mo was expecting and even they are being terrorised by a gigantic, gruesome Grumpsnatcher. Mo finds himself teaming up with a gaggle of monsters – a gnome, a troll, and a snotwoggle – to fight for his life. Things aren’t always what they seem though and true monsters can spring under the most charming of disguises. Will Mo make it out alive?!

This was a funny, action-packed adventure story filled with superb black and white illustrations and a gorgeous message. Friendship, bravery and kindness play a huge role in this story, as well as reminding children not to judge by appearances. We loved the fun world that the author had created and Mo and his monster friends are just adorable. Fans of Monster Hunting for Beginners will love this charming book. 

Please Don’t Read the Footnotes Please – Rob Walton (author), Reena Makwana (illustrator), The Emma Press (publisher)

Well, I  am listening to my eldest daughter chuckle away as I type this review. She’s reading the footnotes. Ssssshhhh! Don’t tell. 

What a superb story book. It’s a collection of short stories which are brilliantly funny, fresh and sometimes subversive in their own right. But this book not only contains a collection of brilliant stories- it also contains lots of further random facts, asides and thoughts from the author himself, usually in the form of footnotes. Which you should definitely not read unless you want to split your sides laughing. In fact, the publishers recommend that you ignore this nonsense and focus exclusively on the short stories. 

Which you definitely should because they contain insights into the pronunciation of snow in northern England, the importance of always carrying flaked almonds with you, and the effect of sparkling water and pink wafers on ponies. And there is definitely not any stories about dogs and tuna pasta bakes so you can rein your tears in about that one. 

What there is though, is much humour, some brilliant black and white illustrations, a variety of subject matter – from chocolate to time capsules – and one of the best styles of writing we have had the pleasure of reading. Just don’t read those footnotes. Hilariously funny, charming and clever, this is one of the most fizzingly fun books we have read. Five stars from us.

The Cursed Tomb – Iszi Lawrence (author), Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (publisher)

Henut is an 11 year old girl living with her father and step-mother in ancient Egypt in 1249 BC. She is visited by strange dreams, survives a near-death experience from the jaws of a huge crocodile, starts seeing the figure of her dead mother and is taken off on an adventure as the good luck symbol of one of the sons of the Pharoah… all within the space of a few days! She embarks on this quest into the Valley of Kings with trepidation in her heart and cannot believe that she will be venturing into a tomb of a dead person. She feels that this goes against the gods and the order of things …. And tomb-raiding, it seems, can only ever lead to bad things. Henut will find answers to questions that she maybe doesn’t want to know. Things are not always what they seem and poor Henut will have to face some harsh realities on her journey. 

If you have a fan of Ancient Egypt at home then they will be fascinated by this historical fiction adventure story. It is filled with details of the myths, beliefs and magic of ancient Egypt and there are lots of historical facts and details throughout the story. I enjoyed learning more about this period of history and the rule of Pharoah Rameses II and the beliefs of his people.

Solving Crimes is Not my SuperPower – Nathanael Lessore (author), Simran Diamond Singh (illustrator), Little Tiger (publisher)

Welcome to the town of Walsham where speaking to dogs, trumping terrific colours, smelling fear and blowing bubbles out of your ears are all superpowers. You see, because of the town’s mysterious lucky treasure, the weather is always sunny and every person within its walls manifests a superpower. Except for Sara. She’s superpower-less! Can’t even lift a squirrel!

But when the school’s football trophy goes missing, Sara is determined to find the criminal mastermind behind it all, powers or no powers. Strange things are happening in the town though, rain clouds are appearing on the horizon and Sara and her friends realise that they are running out of time to catch the culprit. Can Sara manage it? And maybe she might even manifest her superpowers in the process?!

Case notes and comedic humour abound in this laugh out loud early middle grade reader. We loved the masses of black and white illustrations dotted throughout the story and the messages of friendship, true bravery and community-spirit which run through the story. You see, “being a real superhero isn’t about the powers we have, it’s about the things we do to help others”. And I can’t think of a more perfect ending for this book. A chortle-fest of a book with a gorgeous message, we hope for many more adventures with Sara and her friends.

How to Roller Skate with One Leg – Ella Dove (author), Jennifer Jamieson (illustrator), Orchard books (imprint of Hachette Children’s Group) (publisher) 

What a superb book!! My eldest daughter and I enjoyed it immensely. She was desperate to review it after she read about it in her The Week Junior. Here are her thoughts on it:

“This book was inspirational and confidence boosting. I liked how Maya did not want her disability to hold her back and how she learned  to live her best life with her best friends. I also loved how determined she was.”

Maya Bright had a rubbish year last year: a horrific accident meant that she lost her leg and she has had to learn how to walk all over again using a prosthetic part. But Maya is turning 13 this year and she is determined that this is going to be her best year yet! She’s going to have a fabulous party, get her ears double-pierced and learn how to roller-skate. Even though her parents have forbidden it! She’s also going to try and get her old best friend back because she hasn’t really spoken to her since the accident. With courage and determination, will Maya be able to roll into her teenage years?! 

This was such a moving, special story. I loved how it was upbeat and courageous but that it also explained the really difficult, lonely and hard parts of Maya’s life as a young amputee. I liked that it didn’t gloss over how big a change this would be for a child, both physically and mentally, and yet that the story was so joyful, uplifting and filled with sparkling skirts. It’s a story which is easy to read, fun and filled with insight and you will find yourself cheering Maya along the whole way through the book. Five big disco ball stars from us. 

The Boy with Big Decisions – Helen Rutter (author), Scholastic (publisher)

Fred’s parents have always made every decision for him. I mean, that’s probably for the best, right, when he finds it too difficult to choose for himself which boxer shorts to wear in the morning!! But it’s one thing picking his breakfast cereal for him and another thing picking a high-pressured secondary school for him to continue his studies. He really doesn’t like it and would much rather be attending the nicer, more laid back school that they dismissed as unsuitable for him. 

So when, on the first day of term, two buses turn up going to the two different schools, Fred starts to wonder if he should take matters into his own hands and make his own destiny. What’s the worst that can happen?! Which bus should he get on?

This unique story sucks you in right from the very beginning so that you are desperate to turn the pages and make decisions for Fred and see how things turn out. At each big decision, there is a turning point for you, as reader, to decide what Fred should do, helping him understand what he believes in and what he should stand up for. Will you make good choices for him?!

We loved the concept of making choices for Fred and therefore ultimately changing the story for Fred. My daughter and I made different choices at various points and it was fun to see the different outcomes. There are 8 different endings to choose from and even though this is a fun book, there are lots of moving and serious topics detailed throughout. I think this would also be fun for any reluctant reader. 

Cafe Chaos – Catherine Wilkins (author), Katie Abey (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)

Fresh and fun, my eldest daughter and I both really enjoyed this superbly illustrated novel about friendship, family and food!

Hope Crumble’s family run Cafe Crumble. But the cafe’s profits are crumbling (sorry, I had to!) around them and Hope’s family needs to think of a way to keep the creditors at bay. And quick! And while life is usually chaotic for the family, who live above the cafe and have their conversations interrupted by panini orders all the time, it is even more so at the moment. Which would be just fine if Hope wasn’t also going through a tricky time herself. She’s started a new school, is being bullied by some mean people who incorrectly think she’s a “posh-o” and is being forced to dress up like an ice-cream in front of her whole school to drum up business for the cafe! Will Hope’s world come crumbling down around her?

We loved the plentiful black and white illustrations on practically every page of this middle grade read which is perfect for the tweens in your life. The story is relevant, funny and outrageously chaotic in the best of ways. Although it has family and friendship at its heart, it also packs some big punches in terms of themes, dealing with bullying, the effect of financial distress and hardship, broken family relationships and more. Yet it remains an upbeat, fresh and funny read which you will find hard to put down.

School For Fireflies – Erica Gomez (author), Knights Of (publisher)

Debut author Erica Gomez explodes on to the middle grade scene with this magical mystery!

Siddy and Zadie are best friends and have just discovered that they are far from ordinary! You see, Siddy and Zadie  have found out that they are magical and they are due to attend a hidden, magical institution known as the School for Fireflies. Here, they are trained to harness their different magical abilities and as the girls play with potions and make new friends along the way, they become embroiled in a decades-old mystery which will have them itching to employ their detective skills to solve it. They must piece together the clues, drawing on ghosts and long-lost diaries, to try and solve the mystery. But the more the girls uncover, the more they realise that this mystery all links back to Siddy’s missing father. Is he really guilty of everything everyone says he is? And will they end up finding him?

This was a fun magical mystery filled with friendship and imagination. I liked the way magic combined with mystery and spook (but not the scary kind – we loved Malcolm!) The themes of friendship and family are strong throughout and we enjoyed reading about the resilience and ingenuity of this detective duo. 

Non fiction 

Don’t Squish a Slug – Yussef Rafik (author), Riley Samels (illustrator) Words & Pictures (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)

My children were desperate for me to get this book based on the title alone! Why? Because their Nanna does not like the slugs munching on her flowers and vegetables and “teaches them to fly” with a stick (🙈 – poor slugs!). So any book which will educate children and Nannas about the  magnificence of minibeasts is a winner in my eyes!  And this book is one of the best! 

Cleverly designed to celebrate the brilliance of bugs, this wonderful work of non-fiction helps children have empathy for the creepy-crawly world so that they never squash a spider, stand on an ant and definitely don’t squish a slug (or teach them to fly to another part of the garden)!  Split into sections – masters of disguise, amazing evolution, daring defence, record breakers and all sorts of relationships – this book focuses on some of the most unique and interesting insects out there. From bombardier beetles to banana slugs, web-slinging wasps to hissing cockroaches, there are facts to gross you out (the tongue-eating louse!) and facts to make your jaw drop. Over 40 of the world’s crazy critters are featured and you and your children can discover that these creatures are actually super-important and super-cool! 

Written by zoologist and wildlife expert Yussef Razik , this book is a fascinating insight into the superheroes of the natural world, and with insight comes empathy and understanding about the importance of insects. Exquisitely illustrated in vibrant and bright colour tones, this is a fabulous fact book about marvellous minibeasts.

Recycling Day – Polly Faber (author), Klas Fahlen (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)

Printed using vegetable inks and sustainable paper, this unique blend of fact and fiction book is perfect for educating children (and adults) about the processes of recycling and re-using. 

There are lots of things that need to be recycled in Misha’s house- things that are broken, things that no longer fit, stinky food waste and more… your children can turn the pages of this vibrantly illustrated book to discover what happens to the things we throw away when we no longer want or need them. From Darcy’s truck delivering glass into the crunching machine to Stan helping turn metal cans into new cans and lots of other different items, your readers can follow the busy lives of those people who are involved with recycling and disposing of our waste. 

We love that the end of the book focusses on how we can all try and help by not placing as much strain on the system … by having a “not-for-the-bin day”. The book provides useful (and practical) tips on how to reduce our waste by reusing, upcycling , buying less plastic, passing things on, making a compost heap, joining a toy library and many more fantastic ideas.

With detailed and colourful illustrations, fabulous facts and a helpful guide to caring for our planet, this book is a wonderful insight into what happens when we throw things away. 

How to be Disabled and Proud – Cathy Reay (author), Jaleel Hudson (illustrator), Puffin Books (publisher)

What a superb book: everyone can learn something from this, whether you are a child or an adult, whether you are disabled or non-disabled. In fact, it’s a book that I would encourage everyone to read.

Perfect for those aged 9 and above to reach for themselves, or to read with their families, or for caregivers to delve in and out of, this brilliant book is empowering and engaging in equal measure. Not only does it provide support and warm words of encouragement from the author (disabled journalist and mother of two) for any disabled readers who are struggling in their lives but it also allows non-disabled children and carers to empathise more and advocate for a more accessible and understanding world.

This book looks at what it means to be disabled (and how this is unique to different people) and helps to guide disabled readers through some tricky situations, providing practical advice to children and parents on school, friendships, growing up and puberty, thinking about a family, getting a job and so much more. Written with warmth, strength, and humour, the author’s words are powerful, inspiring and celebratory, encouraging disabled readers and those who surround them to celebrate themselves for who they are and to be proud of that person. 

It’s brilliantly illustrated with black and white illustrations and there are various activities dotted throughout the book which are designed to assist children and parents to challenge their behaviour and help them decide the best and most appropriate action to support disabled friends or family. 

An absolutely essential guide for everyone.

The Secret Life of Bugs, Bees and Trees – Moira Butterfield (author), Vivian Mineker (illustrator), Happy Yak (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)

This is just the most gorgeous, fun-filled book about our marvellous minibeasts, bees and trees around the world. We love this series of fact and folklore because it is so clever: you and your children can take flight with Luna the ladybird as she tells us more about brilliant bugs and guides us through the flora and fauna of leaves and flowers. Luna points out who lives where, why trees can be the ideal home for  lots of insects , big and small insects, the gruesome gang of supervillain insects,. After that, we follow Buzzwing the honey bee and visit his home hive, as well as following him on his terrific travels. There are fabulous facts about honey and hives, bee wiggles, world-saving bees and so much more. Finally, we hear from the ancient and wonderful Oakheart, the Brave, the eldest tree in the wood. Following his story, we can take a look inside the  secrets (and animal life) he holds, the wide web he uses to talk, how he changes through the seasons and so much more. 

This book looks into the secrets and stories of the natural world and will captivate your readers with its fascinating facts and its magical tales.  We have loved the spell-binding tales from the natural world – the Lady of the Moon and Why The Ants Can  Never Win being the particular favourites here  – as well as the fun facts looking at the different types of bugs, bees and trees. And I am not even finished singing its praises yet because this book is adorably illustrated with colourful and cute illustrations of the natural world spilling out from the vibrant pages. 

We love how unique this series of books is because it breaks up the fascinating facts with tales from legends and folklore and also instilling a love for nature in your children by teaching them how to be tree-happy, a bee friend and a bug lover with great, practical examples. Sumptuously illustrated, educational, filled with facts snd magical stories, this book imparts a love and respect for the natural world and celebrates the wonder of nature.

What’s the Actually Factually Difference?   – Jane Wilsher (author), Liz Kay (illustrator), Words & Pictures (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)

Never mind the children, I have learnt so much from this book! The actual, factual difference between frogs and toads. Tick. The actual, factual difference between a toboggan and a sledge. Tick. A tornado and a hurricane (this was a hazy memory from GCSE geography days 😂)? Now I remember again. And the children are little geniuses quoting the differences between all of these similar concepts.

If your child wants to know where space starts and the sky ends, or the difference between a mega city and a megalopolis then this is the beautifully illustrated fact book for them! It’s an absolute treasure trove of useful information about all those things you might just get mixed up in your head and not really know the difference between. Like a coppice and an orchard. An iceberg and a growler. The weather and the climate. And so many more concepts. There are even “what’s similar” features and little quizzes to test your knowledge. 

Each two page spread is bright, colourful and exquisitely illustrated in gorgeous detail. The facts are set out in easy to digest short paragraphs and sentences making this book easily accessible to all. You can dip in and out of it, read it from cover to cover or test your family and friends on their actually, factually genius! A brilliant book.

Children in History – Nicola Edwards (author), Alejandra Ruiz (illustrator), Little Tiger (publisher)

Vibrant and colourful, this is a superb work of non-fiction to get your children interested in history. In the best possible way. By making it relate to them. Taking a trip back in time to explore the daily lives of different children through the ages ….

Your little ones can discover what pick n mix was like in Ancient Egypt, how people cleaned their teeth with rags rubbed in salt, how people pooed in stairwells in the Sun King’s palace and who shared a bed with a lion as a teenager (this will genuinely shock you!!). This book is filled with fascinating (and some pretty disgusting!) facts about children at school, work, play and home through the ages and will perhaps make your children grateful that they weren’t born in the times when children were sent up chimneys to sweep them! For my children, by far the most interesting section of the book was the part on children being “posted” to their relatives! Yes, you read that correctly!  Indeed, an eight month old little boy was posted to his grandparents in the early 1900s when the American postal system was set up!! All for the bargain price of 15 cents! 

This wonderful work of non-fiction is jam-packed full of superb and eye-catching illustrations, fabulous facts set out in easy to digest paragraphs and is a riot of joyful celebration for the bravery and creativity of the children that have gone before ours. Superb.

Easter – Nancy Dickmann (author). Emma Randall (illustrator), Words & Pictures (an imprint of Quarto) (publisher)

Written in a fun style and an accessible format, this colourful book is a blend of fact and fiction explaining all about the joyful celebration of Easter for Christians. 

Your reader can join Sam and his family (my twins love that there are twins in this book!) as they enter the period of Lent and countdown to Easter Sunday – a day which is packed with yummy chocolate, rolling eggs, Easter hunts, hot cross buns  and lots of time spent with friends and family having fun and displaying affection.

This book is so great because not only does it contain a detailed description of the  Easter story and a timeline of lent and Easter but we love the fun facts at the back of the book about Easter celebrations around the world and the quiz at the end (just to check you have been paying attention!!). There are superb interactive ideas such as making your own Easter basket, as well as real life photos of Easter celebrations around the world. 

The illustrations are bold, joyful and fun, making this a really engaging read. Educational, well-written, engaging and filled with love, life and joy, this is fantastic work of non-fiction. 

Little People, Big Dreams – Roald Dahl – Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara (author), Francis Martin (illustrator), Frances Lincoln Children’s Books (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)

As a child, little Roald loved sweets (I am still a little child in this respect!!) and didn’t enjoy school which was harsh and punishing at the time. After he finished his studies he wanted to discover the wonders of the world and was working in Africa when the Second World War broke out. He became a pilot but suffered a horrific accident when his plane crashed in the desert, leaving him with a fractured skull and blind for six weeks. He was unable to pilot a plane again because of his injuries but his accident made him realise that he wanted to write about his experience. From that date on, he never put his pen down, authoring screenplays, short stories for adults and magical stories for children where the characters often overcame wicked adults. His life teaches young readers about the lasting impact of words… and to look for the magic everywhere.

We learned so much about this author from this book! As usual, there is a fantastic further facts and black and white photo section at the back of the book where your little reader can learn more about the lifetime achievements of this writing great. What we really appreciated though was that this book acknowledges that some of Dahl’s writing used prejudiced language and also that he held some racist and anti-Semitic beliefs, which were wrong. It acknowledges that even great writers get it wrong sometimes and words can have a lasting impact in both good (I mean, who doesn’t love words like lickswishy frobscottle?!) and bad ways. He is known for magic, imagination, adventure and fun – the secrets to being young at heart.

The artwork is superb: vibrant and colourfully fun scenes of Roald Dahl and the magic he weaves through his work .  If you would like to find out more about this wonderful series, do take a look at the Little People, Big Dreams website Little People, BIG DREAMS – Be Bold, Be Brave, DREAM BIG! (littlepeoplebigdreams.com) to subscribe to their newsletter so you can stay up to date with the latest releases.

Encyclopaedia of Birds – Jules Howard (editor), Namasri Niumim (illustrator), Wide Eyed Editions (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)

I am a real bird lover at heart. Having had pet canaries when I was a child, I have a huge soft spot for all kinds of birds and I love hearing them sing and watching them outside in nature. If you have a little ornithologist at home then this is THE book for them! 

This beauty of a non-fiction book looks at over 300 of our feathered friends from every corner of the world and ensures that you and your children can recognise a jungle babbler or a motmot, a sapsucker or a trogon! If you don’t know what I am talking about then you need to read this book!

Split into areas depending on the group of birds you are reading about (and you can handily navigate around this by using the tabs at the side of the book to work out which type of birds you are looking into), 

there is a handy guide at the front of the book explaining how to use it. You can navigate your way through these tabs at the side to work out which group of birds you are reading about, looking at the chapter header for more information on how the species on these pages are linked together. Each bird has its English name and scientific Latin name and a fascinating short fact file of information about it. We love that you can pick up and put down this book, read it in any order, take it with you wherever you go, or snuggle down under the duvet with it. But by far the best thing to do with it, in our opinion, is to take it outside into nature and read it while listening to the birdsong and looking up any birds you discover while you are out and about. You are bound to discover lots of brilliant birds that you never knew existed and some fascinating facts about them. We have been blown away by the breadth of information in this book.

Combined with absolutely stunning illustrations of our feathered friends and captivatingly colourful two page spreads of the wildlife, this truly is a fabulous fact book celebrating the beauty of birds. A go-to guide to dip in and out of, or an engaging encyclopaedia to pore over, you and your bird loving children are sure to adore it (and I guarantee that you will learn lots!). A real pleasure treasure. 

Messi Mania – Luis Miguel Echegaray (author), Holler (imprint of Quarto Group) (publisher)

Do you have a football fan at home? Then they can delve into the life of one of the all-time footballing greats, World Cup winner, Leo Messi with this fantastic fact book. 

Following the life of Leo, from his first match at five years old, using his small stature to be fast on his feet, through his early career playing football, on to his brilliant Barcelona tears, to amazing Argentine glory at the World Cup to his marvelled  Miami move. With fascinating photographs of his performance along the way and superb facts about his highs and lows, his determination and resilience, his generosity of spirit and hard work he has put into his career, this is a captivating biography of this sporting superstar. 

My twins really like Messi and this book encourages children everywhere to take inspiration from him: to aim high, work hard and chase their dreams. 

Talking History – Joanne Haig and Joan Lennon (authors), Andre Ducci (illustrator), Templar Books (publisher)

Fantastically illustrated in a pop-art, graphic novel style, this superb work of non-fiction looks at some of the most inspirational and motivating speeches of the last 150 years. 

Your readers can travel back in time and explore the events in history leading up to the speech and read this book on chronological order, or they can dip in and out of it, looking at any of the speakers that takes their fancy. From Abraham Lincoln’s words to inspire a divided nation through Winston Churchill’s stirring words to rally a nation, to the courageous Malala Yousafzai’s “one pen can change the world” speech, this book is fascinating, insightful and totally inspirational. 

It educates readers in the best of ways to learn from the events of the past and allows them to discover and feel the impact that they have had upon the world. Each chapter refers to one of the sixteen speakers that the book covers and goes into detail about the historical events surrounding the speech and replicates parts of the speech itself. Engaging and captivatingly illustrated, this book is designed to inspire, to allow our children to think for themselves and to decide where they stand on important themes such as women’s rights, global warming, war, civil rights and much more. A bold beauty of a book, brimming with brains, this work of non-fiction will certainly get your readers thinking and talking. 

The World at Night -Ben Lerwill (author), Paula Bossio (illustrator), Buster Books (publisher)

Stunningly illustrated and vibrantly colourful, this book shines a light on the world that wakes as nighttime falls…..

In the blackest of deep, dark night, there is a whole world of nature waking up and singing its magical song … from the emperor penguins laying eggs in the long polar night to the hazardous nocturnal journey of baby turtles, your reader will be fascinated by the stories of the world at night! This fascinating fact book explores the wonders of the natural world at night – from the northern lights and stargazing to fish in the oceans and bioluminescent seas – as well as looking at those people who have to work hard through the darkest of hours. People like fishermen and hospital workers, security guards and bakers.  

There’s a wealth of information about nighttime across various landscapes and your reader can learn about this world that comes alive when others are sleeping. They can see the animals that hunt at night across cities round the world, the animals prowling the Amazon rainforest at night and the stealthy stalkers of the deserts.

All of the information is set out in easy-to-digest chunks of text which is detailed in short paragraphs and surrounded by detailed illustrations of the flora and fauna of the world at night. A fact-filled, quirky and fun book which will open your child’s eyes about the hidden wonders of the world that comes alive as they close their peepers at night. 

A Day with the Artist – Jocelyn Norbury (author and editor) Nia Gould  (illustrator), LOM ART (imprint of Michael O’Mara Books Limited) (publisher)

To say that we love this book would be an understatement. It is a riot of colour and fun. A brilliantly illustrated and cleverly educational take on search and find books combined with fascinating facts. A very clever way to step inside the studio and mind of nine different artists.

If you have a little artistic genius at home then this is THE book for them. But it is also THE book for everyone else because it is such fun. How does it work then? Your reader can step inside the studios of nine world-famous creatives – Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, and Yayoi Kusama – and discover the different styles of their artistic genius. They will read about their interesting lives, delve into the places they worked and marvel in the colour and creativeness of their worlds. There are things to spot in each scene (always be on the lookout for the mischievous mice!) and digestible chunks of information to discover about the artist. 

Bursting with vibrancy and creative colour, this book just makes my children happy! They love learning about the artists and their styles as much as they love poring over the beautifully illustrated pages. A book to wow – pop it on your coffee table and watch as your children devour it. 

Small World – Nick Crumpton (author), Rosie Dore (illustrator), Wide Eyed Editions (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)

Not only is this book a mine of useful and interesting information about the world’s teeniest animals, it is also a breathtakingly beautiful visual delight…. So come along with us to explore the pages of this fabulous fact book. 

Focussing on the 30 of the world’s teensiest creatures (and some of the most adorable!), your readers will not be able to resist turning the pages of this stunner of a book and finding out about their way of life and how they manage in the big, wide world! Split into chapters – birds, fish, amphibians, invertebrates, mammals, and reptiles – this book takes your readers on an adventure to discover the habitats, way of life and fascinating facts about these small sensations that grace our planet. From the cutest little Fennec Foxes to the super-small seahorses, the tiny toads to the diddy deadly killer (the jellyfish known as the common kingslayer!), this book looks at land, air and ocean and provides us with depth and detail on the world’s mini-marvels. 

Exquisitely illustrated with stunning drawings of nature’s beauties, this is a book to treasure. A book to dip in and out of, a book to marvel over. A book with big stories about little creatures. Wonderful. 

Puzzle books and Games and Colouring and sticker books

Knutz and Boltz and the Cosmic Code Action – Tim Collins (author), Louise Forshaw (illustrator), Buster Books (publisher)

Buckle up for a wild and wacky ride through space with this fantastic puzzle adventure from author ofSherlock Bones, Tim Collins.

This is the second book in the series but it can easily be read as a standalone and it blasts your reader off through space with Knutz, a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) whizz, and his clever canine, the pawsome super-inventor, Boltz.

The terrific twosome are on a top-secret mission to urgently destroy an asteroid which is on a course to reduce  planet Earth to rubble. But with a rival team of astronauts trying to sabotage their Earth-rescue attempts, saving the world is not quite as easy as Knutz and Boltz might think. Can your reader put their STEAM skills to the test to solve puzzles along the way and help the dazzling duo save the world?! It’s a race against time! 

We love everything about this book – from the way it mixes graphic novel style illustrations, fun adventure story and mind-bending puzzles,  to the fast-paced action of the story  – and we became totally invested in solving the puzzles along the way. Ideal for children aged 9 and above, it’s an excellent way to get your children putting their STEAM skills to the test without even realising they are learning. Whether they are cracking codes, studying passwords or solving riddles, they are sure to be having fun along the way. (And ssshh!! There is even an answer section at the back of the book if they – or you! – need it.)

Brilliant black and white illustrations abound in this fun, educational adventure puzzle book. We love it.

My Little Museum – Ancient Egypt – Sophie Beer (illustrator), Nosy Crow Limited (publisher)

Produced in collaboration with The British Museum, this brilliantly fun and clever book has been a huge hit in our house with my youngest daughter in particular because she is fascinated with Ancient Egypt. And this book brings all her favourite things to life in a riot of colour of fun: I mean, there are stickers, huge fold out pages which create a museum of wonders and fabulous facts! What’s not to love?! 

Your little historians can fold out the huge fold out scene to create their own museum of ancient Egyptian artefacts, placing them in the correct places set out in the museum. There’s a sticker object list cataloguing the fascinating artefacts so that your children can tell exactly what they are “exhibiting” in their museum. 

But that’s not all! On the other side of the huge fold out museum are superbly illustrated scenes of life from Ancient Egypt, filled with detail and colour and text blocks of fascinating information about ancient life. Your little historian can pore over the details of how the pyramids were built, how mummies were made (my daughter’s favourite part!), join a nobleman’s table and have a feast and explore life on the busy Nile.

Creative, fun, educational, vibrantly illustrated, this is one very clever way to get children hooked on history. What a fantastic fact book with a difference. 

Where’s Taylor? – Paul Moran (illustrator), Buster Books (publisher)

Do you have a Swiftie at home?! Then this is THE search and find puzzle book for them! If your Taylor Swift lover in your life is still hankering after the singing sensation now that the Era’s tour is over then they can still get their Taylor fix with this sensational search and find book. 

Superbly illustrated in bright, beautiful colours there are 17 bustling scenes to explore whilst searching for Taylor. Even when you have found her, there are lots of bonus items to look for on each intricately illustrated spread. Can you find her at the ice-cream parlour? How about in a snow-filled landscape? What about her guitar though? And her three cats? 

We’ve had great fun poring over the details on the colourful and bright pages of this book. We found some pages more tricky than others (although we didn’t cheat by turning to the answers at the back of the book!!) and had a blast globe-trotting with our favourite sparkling singing sensation!

Little People, Big Dreams – Dream Team – A Go-Fish Game (The Quarto Group)

We do love a game that you can slip into a travel bag for added fun and frivolity on your holidays! And this latest game in the Little People, Big Dreamers series is one of the best! For pocket-sized educational fun, then look no further!

The sturdy cardboard packaging contains 36 cards of inspirational figures and a booklet of real-life stories so you can be sure your children (and you!) know who the reali-life genius really is. The booklet also explains the three different ways you can use the cards to play games (our favourite being spoons (or “grab the eggcup” in our house!!) where you have to collect your dream team of four of a kind and then grab the spoon (or egg cup) from the centre of the table before other people) and each way is a riot of fun and card carnage. 

A brilliant game (or games!) learning about history’s heroes in the most fun and interesting of ways, we love these gorgeously illustrated and brightly coloured cards and will not go away without them!

Around the World Colouring Book – Ancient Rome – Andy Passchier (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)

Produced in collaboration with The British Museum, this is a cool (and educational) collection of colouring and sticking activities for your little historian to get creative over! 

The colouring book is split into two-page spreads detailing brilliantly busy scenes based on ancient life in Rome. Your child can explore life at the forum, see what it was like to live in the countryside in ancient times, explore the different food and drink, marvel at the music and theatre performances, live life with the legionaries, goggle at the gladiators in the colosseum, be amazed by how brilliant the Romans were at building, join in at a chariot race and so much more.… there are 20 stunning scenes and patterns to explore, decorate and colour.

With lots of amazing photographic stickers featuring real ancient objects, this book is the ideal introduction to Ancient Rome because it makes learning fun and also provides relaxation and mindfulness as your little historians colour in the scenes. There are short text blocks of information to cover each particular theme or area, as well as the stickers to decorate them with and then all your child needs to do is get our their colouring pencils or felt-tips and let their creative juices flow.

Combining lots of children’s favourite activities – reading facts, colouring and sticking – this cleverly creative book brings history to life through the comfort of your own home.