Cover of Roots of Happiness for review. Image shows a tree, with multicoloured leaves and swirling roots. Amongst the branches and roots there are words. At the base of the tree, a greyhound digs a hole, while a young boy flies a kite.
Book Reviews

Non-Fiction November | Roots of Happiness | Book Review

Written by Susie Dent, illustrated by Harriet Hobday (Puffin Books, 2023)

We have so many words for sad thoughts and emotions, which means it is much easier for us to moan rather than celebrate. In fact, many more positive words did once exist, but they have been left behind over the centuries, and others have been forgotten altogether.

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Loki book cover, showing a black circle with horns and the word 'Loki' in it, surrounded by doodles and scribbles of various things and people on an orange background.
Book Reviews

Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good | Book Review

By Louie Stowell (published by Walker Books, 2022)

In which case I may as well be honest in these pages. There’s a first time for everything.

My tragedy began with a trick involving the goddess Sif, her long, golden locks, a pair of scissors and an ill-timed nap. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say that no one in Asgard can take a joke. Or a haircut.

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Graphic Novels Autumn 2022 review book covers
Book Reviews

Graphic Novels for Autumn 2022 | Reviews

Graphic novels are a great way to get reluctant readers to pick up a book; from Dog Man to Alex Rider, they have kick-started many reading journeys. So I decided to try a few I hadn’t read yet for our newest review selection.

All entries in this round-up are illustrated in full colour.

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May 2021 review round-up book covers
Book Reviews

Libraries 4 Schools 2021 Review Round-Up 2

Welcome to our most recent review round-up, where we take a quick look at just some of the books you might like to add to your school or personal bookshelves. And what a great selection we have for you!

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Candy book cover
Book Reviews

Candy | Book Review

By Lavie Tidhar, with illustrations by Mark Beech (Scholastic Children’s Books)

“If I’d ever thought about it before, I imagined the candy trade was just a game, a handful of chocolates at a time, but this shocked me – the scale of it was much bigger than I’d expected. It didn’t feel so much like a game, all of a sudden.”

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Rabbit And Bear Attack Snack review
Book Reviews

Rabbit & Bear: Attack of the Snack | Review

By author Julian Gough and illustrator Jim Field (Hodder Children’s Books)

There are some books that can get younger readers (and me!) chuckling before they even open the cover. One such series is ‘The Bad Guys’ by Aaron Blabey, and another is Gough and Field’s ‘Rabbit and Bear’.

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Chocolate Factory Ghost review
Book Reviews

Out Now: The Chocolate Factory Ghost

By author David O’Connell, with illustrations by Claire Powell (Bloomsbury Publishing)

When Archie McBudge finds out that he is heir to a sweet-making dynasty, it takes him and his Mum completely by surprise.

Everything from now on should be perfect; after all, isn’t it every child’s dream to own a sweet factory?

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