Kids' reviews: 1 – 6 Years

Kid’s Book Review: Saving Mr Hoot

Kid’s Book Review: Saving Mr Hoot

This delightful picture book is by one of our favourite authors and illustrators – Helen Stephens. It is about a boy who has a special friendship with an owl that he calls from his bedroom to named Mr Hoot. The grown-ups think Mr Hoot [...]

September 22, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: The Best Diwali Ever

Kid’s Book Review: The Best Diwali Ever

In this happy, vibrant picture book the reader gets drawn into the excitement and anticipation during the preparations for the celebration of Diwali. The story touches on the relationships children have with their sometimes annoying siblings that kids will be able to relate to. [...]

September 22, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Sophie’s Stories

Kid’s Book Review: Sophie’s Stories

This whirlwind of a brightly illustrated picture book incorporates classic fairytale characters that children may be able to identify. It is also exudes infectious enthusiasm by the main character Sophie for reading. She just wants one more story, and then another and another… (which [...]

September 22, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Ten Delicious Teachers

Kid’s Book Review: Ten Delicious Teachers

This glossy vibrant counting book about teachers getting eaten by monsters one-by-one is especially perfect for toddlers to enjoy during this back to school season. The story is written in a catchy rhyming verse by Ross Montgomery and the zany illustrations by Sarah Warburton [...]

September 14, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Kitty and the Starlight Song

Kid’s Book Review: Kitty and the Starlight Song

This is the eighth book in the Kitty series suitable for young independent readers aged 5 years and above. If you don’t already know Kitty is a girl by day and a cat by night! These attractive little books are the perfect transition for [...]

September 8, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: When Cucumber Lost His Cool

Kid’s Book Review: When Cucumber Lost His Cool

This is fun story about emotions, written in rhyming verse by Michelle Robinson with bright and bold illustrations by Tom Knight. Kevin the cucumber is so cool. Whenever anyone gets hot and bothered, Kevin is always there to cool them down. He even has his own [...]

September 7, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Fletcher and the Rainbow

Kid’s Book Review: Fletcher and the Rainbow

This is a lovely picture book for young children featuring the adorable fox character called Fletcher. In this story he is searching for the end of the rainbow he can see in the distance. The gentle story written by Julia Rawlinson is beautifully illustrated [...]

August 31, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: The Rapping Princess

Kid’s Book Review: The Rapping Princess

This feel-good and fun story encourages us to embracing our differences and celebrating them. It is about a princess who could not sing, but she found her voice through rap instead! Author Hannah Lee has written the story in verse so it can be [...]

August 23, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Gordon the Gremlin

Kid’s Book Review: Gordon the Gremlin

Gordon the Gremlin is rhyming tale about a kind of mischievous house-elf. Readers discover what happens when there is nobody around to be affected by his naughty meddling. Written by Lizzie Exton with comic-style illustrations by Tom Exton this funny book for children aged 4-6 [...]

August 10, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Colours

Kid’s Book Review: Colours

It is difficult to imagine a more beautifully illustrated board book that delights in introducing a spectrum of Nature’s colours, from red strawberries to the blue sky. With bright, joyful art, it is also a fantastic way to show young children how prime colours can [...]

August 10, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Let’s Get Ready for School

Kid’s Book Review: Let’s Get Ready for School

For toddlers who are wondering excitedly, perhaps a little apprehensively what school will be like this is the perfect book to get young children ready for this big milestone. Questions such as, What will we do there? What if I miss Mummy? Do I have [...]

August 10, 2021

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: 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: 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: 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: The Longer the Wait the Bigger the Hug

Kid’s Book Review: The Longer the Wait the Bigger the Hug

Everyone’s favourite (socially-distanced) characters have returned to entertain us during this seemingly everlasting era that necessitates remote behavioural patterns and a deficit of hugs (for grown-ups too). This gently amusing story is a welcome reminder that hugs from those we love and care about will [...]

July 9, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Ceri and Deri: Pudding for Breakfast

Kid’s Book Review: Ceri and Deri: Pudding for Breakfast

The latest in the educational Ceri and Deri picture book series, Pudding for Dessert teaches children how two people can see things differently: puddings or desserts. It also shows them the importance of community when settling disputes, as well as the value of friendship, [...]

July 8, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: The King’s Birthday Suit

Kid’s Book Review: The King’s Birthday Suit

This is a clever, funny picture book written in verse by Peter Bently that re-tells of the classic fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson, The Emperor’s New Clothes. It contains wonderful illustrations by Claire Powell which provide lots of visual interest for any child who [...]

July 8, 2021

Kid’s Book Review: Big Feelings

Kid’s Book Review: Big Feelings

Inclusive and absorbing, this reassuring picture book helps children name and acknowledge feelings of all kinds, and develop empathy skills. The simple story about a group of children who decide to make a play area for themselves on some waste ground is written by [...]

June 19, 2021