Age 9
Sona Sharma Very Best Big Sister by Chitra Soundar & Jen Khatun
Sona Sharma Very Best Big Sister is a beautifully written story that encompasses all the emotions and preparations involved in the arrival of a new baby. It oozes with warmth and love and gives a fabulous insight into family relationships, friendships and the traditions and everyday lives of an extended Indian family.
Kindness Grows by Britta Teckentrup
Kindness Grows is a beautifully illustrated picture book which uses the analogy of a tree to demonstrate the difference between a crack developing in a relationship when we are unkind and the blossoming of a relationship when we care. In a world that is polluted by selfishness and disrespect the book gives readers, young and…
Chef Junior by Will Bartlett, Katie Dessinger, Paul Kimball, Abigail Langford & Anthony Spears
Chef Junior 100 Super Delicious Recipes by Kids for Kids! is a fabulous first cookery book which is written by children from the US and Canada. But the book doesn’t just include recipes, there’s also advice about shopping, kitchen equipment and cooking for people with allergies. We spent a lot of time in the kitchen during…
Marshmallow Pie the Cat Superstar by Clara Vulliamy
Marshmallow Pie the Cat Superstar is a very entertaining, hilariously egocentric character. We immediately warmed to Marshmallow Marmaduke Vanilla-Bean Sugar-Pie Fluffington-Fitz-Noodle (Marshmallow Pie for short) who belongs to a little girl called Amelia. Amelia is determined to make him into a cat superstar. But that is easier said than done…
The House of One Hundred Clocks by A. M. Howell
The House of One Hundred Clocks is an atmospheric mystery set in Cambridge in 1905. It’s a real page turner which weaves 19th century clockwork and engineering, women’s equality and dealing with grief into the story. Heartache, family secrets and an intriguing cast of characters, including a parrot, become more intertwined throughout the book and…
The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame & Grahame Baker-Smith
We have just finished reading The Wind In The Willows, a classic story that I loved as a child. This new edition has a sturdy, gold embossed hardback cover and includes stunning illustrations by Grahame Baker-Smith. Introducing Mole, Ratty, Badger and Mr Toad, this would make a fabulous present and introduce a new generation of…
A Bear named Bjorn by Delphine Perret
A Bear Named Bjorn is a wonderful, humorous first chapter book about Bjorn’s everyday adventures. Bjorn lives in a cave in the forest and his friends include The Fox, The Weasel and The Badger. Their simple forest life is juxtaposed with elements of the human world and the gentle humour in each chapter comes from…
HELLO, UNIVERSE by Erin Entrada Kelly
HELLO, UNIVERSE won the 2018 Newbery Medal, it’s a heartwarming adventure story with diverse characters and complicated relationships at its heart. Four middle grade students are thrown together when Bully Chet’s actions set off a chain of events that put Virgil’s life in danger. The story had us turning the pages to find out what…
KIDS CAN COOK Fun and yummy recipes for budding chefs by Esther Coombs
We’ve been spending more time in the kitchen lately and are really excited about Esther Coombs’ new book, Kids Can Cook. It’s a great book to introduce children to basic cooking and Esther has written and illustrated it in the same style as Plant, Sow, Make & Grow which has helped us learn about basic gardening.
Sequin and Stitch by Laura Dockrill & Sara Ogilvie
Sequin and Stitch is the story of nine year old Sequin who lives with her Mum and baby brother, Stitch, on the twelfth floor of Primrose Mansions. Sequin has a strong, heartwarming relationship with her mother but their lives are impacted by agoraphobia, mental illness, loss and bullying. It’s a compelling, poignant read with a…
