Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys – review
'This book is very well written and Lina's pain and emotions are conveyed brilliantly. It is moving and heart-wrenching'Between Shades of Grey is about a Lithuanian girl called Lina whose town is taken over by the Soviets. One night she, her mother and...
Barry the Fish with Fingers by Sue Hendra – review
'A cute book with a puppet in middle of book really making the story come alive'Both my daughters, aged 4 and 1 years old, adored this book it's been read countless times already!I particulary focus on my youngest daughter when reading it, as I love th...
Ruby Redfort – Look Into My Eyes by Lauren Child – review
'It's not perfect, in fact there are a lot of painstakingly cliché bits but overall it is one fabulous story!'Wowsers. Yeah, sounds near enough something Ruby Redfort would say…Ruby Redfort…what a character! I tell you, Lauren Child has done it ag...
Operation Diamond: can you crack the code?
Helen Moss, author of the Adventure Island series of books, is kicking off a competition, Operation Diamond, here on the Guardian children's books site. She explains how a real life treasure trove inspired the mystery behind the first book in the seri...
The Pirates Next Door by Jonny Duddle – review
'A brilliant, funny and entertaining book about a pirates life'If I'm honest I was slightly unsure of this book, as Keeley has never shown an interest in pirates, but when I showed it to her she seemed excited by the front cover.As soon as we started t...
Alfie Gives a Hand by Shirley Hughes – review
'This edition also comes with a read along CD so Bryn is able to enjoy the story on his own too'"I love it," Bryn announced as soon as we finished Alfie Gives a Hand. Another classic Alfie story, here he goes to a birthday party and overcomes his shyne...
Around the world in Eighty days by Jules Verne – review
'An unforgettable classic which is recommended for all the ages'Phileas Fogg lives at No. 7, Saville Row, Burlington Gardens. He's a rich bachelor, around 40 years of age, but nobody knows his source of his ₤40,000 fortune. This amount was significan...
The Adventures of Nanny Piggins by RA Sprat – review
'Imagine the adventures the children have with Nanny Piggins'One dumb father, three intelligent children and one clever adventurous flying nanny pig!! Mr. Green hires a pig called Sarah Piggins to be the nanny of his three children, Derrick, Samantha a...
Jack and the Baked Beanstalk by Colin Stimpson – review
'Bryn was tickled by the nice giant but would have preferred him to be eating people and grinding bones to make his bread'There was plenty of laughter while reading this modern retelling of a classic fairytale, "'a beanstalk with cans of baked beans!,'...
Butterfly Summer by Anne-Marie Conway – extract
When Becky finds an old photo in a box under her mum's bed, everything she thought she knew comes crashing down. Sample the first chapter of this tale of friendship, secrets and discoveries
Your elephants!
Elmer creator David McKee taught you how to draw elephants. Here's your best work
Wanda Wallaby Finds Her Bounce by Jonathan Emmett – review
'As it is published by London Zoo it has interesting facts about animals'Luke was excited when his latest two books arrived to review and we had to read both of them at bedtime over the week. However, this one was his least favourite. It is a story abo...
