Blog Archives
Author: Sarah Tyson

Book Review: Colour Blindness and Me

Book Review: Colour Blindness and Me

  This is a book written by  ten-year-old Malachi who inherited colour blindness from his grandfather via his mother who carries the gene. Significantly [...]

July 29, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Silverwing

Kid’s Book Review: Silverwing

This moving story is about a ten year old boy who is a bit of a loner at school. He rescues and cares for an injured wild goose and whilst he wants it to get better, as his bond with it grows over time, [...]

July 27, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: The Three Hares

Kid’s Book Review: The Three Hares

Teen readers who enjoy reading fantasy quest stories with an exotic historical setting will love the The Three Hares trilogy by authors Scott Lauder and David Ross. Our 14 year old reviewer has read the first two books in the series and is looking [...]

July 26, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: You’re So Dead

Kid’s Book Review: You’re So Dead

This is a thrilling (yet funny) story that will have you laughing out loud one moment on on the edge of your seat the next. From US writer Ash Parsons this is entertaining dark humour that teen readers will really appreciate. It is published [...]

July 26, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Football School Terrific Teams

Kid’s Book Review: Football School Terrific Teams

In this book you will find out the stories behind the most legendary clubs in football history and discover how these teams have overcome failure and tragedy to win leagues and lift trophies and enter the record books. Football fans will also learn fascinating facts about [...]

July 20, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Wishes

Kid’s Book Review: Wishes

Inspired by actual events in the author’s life, this is a narrative that is both timely and timeless. Told through the eyes of a young girl, the story describes a family’s difficult and powerful journey packing up what they can carry, leaving their familiar [...]

July 20, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: The Tale of Mrs M’Grady

Kid’s Book Review: The Tale of Mrs M’Grady

This twisted fairytale is deliciously dark and definitely too sophisticated for young children. It is written by Alison Paige, illustrated by Paddy Donnelly and published by Tiny Tree Press. Mean old M’Grady is up to no good and it’s up to Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, [...]

July 20, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Noah’s Seal

Kid’s Book Review: Noah’s Seal

This is a lovely picture book for toddlers with a message about having hope and being patient. Author and illustrator Layn Marlow also includes a little bit of magic making this the perfect summer holiday storybook. It is published by Oxford University Press. Noah waits [...]

July 20, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: The Pirate Mums

Kid’s Book Review: The Pirate Mums

This picture book is about a child called Billy who happens to have two mums. Billy is embarrassed by his family because Billy’s mums sing sea shanties and dance jigs in the lounge. Their clothes are highly unusual, they have a rude parrot for [...]

July 20, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Megamonster

Kid’s Book Review: Megamonster

Here is another entertaining adventure story for readers aged 7-11 years from the bestselling writer David Walliams and illustrator Tony Ross. On a volcanic island, in the middle of shark-infested waters, stands The Cruel School. The lessons are appalling, the school dinners are revolting and [...]

July 18, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Musical Truth

Kid’s Book Review: Musical Truth

This non-fiction book is a celebration of musical culture for readers aged 12 years + The book contains 28 chronological chapters, each focusing on a song and Jeffrey Boakye explains and describes the social and political context in which it was written. There are also [...]

July 18, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: A Tiger Named Lee

Kid’s Book Review: A Tiger Named Lee

This is lovely picture book for toddlers with all the best ingredients: Fantastic illustrations, a central character the kids will love, catchy, rhyming narrative and a positive message to reflect upon and discuss after story time (in this instance about being brave). It is [...]

July 17, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: The Smidgens

Kid’s Book Review: The Smidgens

This is the first book in an amusing series for readers aged 7-10 years who like adventures with a twist of magic. Smidgens are creatures who look and sound like miniature humans. They are the creation of David O’Connell whose world has been brought [...]

July 17, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Skywake

Kid’s Book Review: Skywake

For kids who like gaming this is an exciting action adventure by author Jamie Russell, who has always loved computer games. It is published by Walker Books. Fifteen-year-old girl gamer Casey Henderson is obsessed with smash-hit game SkyWake – and she’s good at it, too. [...]

July 13, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Rise to the Sun

Kid’s Book Review: Rise to the Sun

From bestselling American writer Leah Johnson this YA novel is described by the publishers, Scholastic, as  a “joyous, Black girl rom-com about finding love and being true to yourself”. At one life-changing music festival are two girls: Toni is grieving the loss of her roadie father and [...]

July 12, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Welcome to Trashland

Kid’s Book Review: Welcome to Trashland

A search for treasure reveals the toxic consequences of modern life in this thrilling adventure set against the usual backdrop of the world’s largest e-waste dump in West Africa. It is written by Steve Cole and contains black and white illustrations by Oriol Vidal. [...]

July 12, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: See What I Can Do

Kid’s Book Review: See What I Can Do

This is a hugely interesting and informative book that adults can learn from as well as children. Jon Roberts tells the stories of a number of children with a variety of differences inspired by the real-life experiences of his daughter, Kya who is on [...]

July 12, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Crowfall

Kid’s Book Review: Crowfall

Crowfall is a fantasy adventure from award-winning author Vashti Hardy. For readers who like a thrilling adventure, a central character who invites empathy, incredible world building, and a thought-provoking message about the fragility of the natural world this book is perfect! It is published [...]

July 12, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: How To Be Brave

Kid’s Book Review: How To Be Brave

How to Be Brave by Daisy May Johnson is a big-hearted celebration of the power of resourceful girls. Described by our 11 year reviewer Iona as ‘a wacky, gripping story’, it is published in the UK by Pushkin Press. Iona’s full review can be [...]

July 12, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Agents of the Wild – Operation Sandwhiskers

Kid’s Book Review: Agents of the Wild – Operation Sandwhiskers

This is the third title in the AGENTS OF THE WILD series: fun-packed adventures for readers aged 6-10 years with wildlife conservation themes by Jennifer Bell and Alive Lickens. You can find out more about the other books in the series here, they all [...]

July 12, 2021