August has been a busy month, what with travelling (and maybe seeing a few bookshops on the way!), as well as prepping for our next big giveaway. We always find time to fit in a few books here and there though!
Fiction
Our first couple are short, illustrated fiction, then we have a couple of slightly longer ones. Whatever the length, they’re all fantastic!
Rabbit & Bear: This Lake Is Fake – Julian Gough and Jim Field (pub. Hachette Children’s)
We’ve been avid followers of Rabbit and Bear since they first met in Rabbit’s Bad Habits. The pair have been through many seasons together; Bear always kind and optimistic, trying to placate and jolly Rabbit along, while Rabbit is pessimistic and often grumpy.
It’s Spring at last, but Spring isn’t living up to Rabbit’s perfect vision of it, and Bear’s suggestion of tidying up just seems like hard work. Then Rabbit has a vision of the ‘Perfect World’, and he’s intent on finding it.
With wonderful characters and situations that young and old can relate to, plus the lively illustrations of Jim Field, this is a lovable and funny addition to the series.
Adventuremice: Mice On the Moon – Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre (pub. David Fickling Books)
Adventuremice is another eye-catching illustrated series ideal for entertaining younger readers.
Pedro, Fledermaus and Millie are ‘accidentally’ blasted into space to be the first mice on the moon in Millies’s Uncle Bernie’s rocket. But are they on the moon and are they the first mice there? With a broken rocket and no way to return to Earth, the intrepid Adventuremice must search for help, but all is not as it seems…
The fun story combined with the bright and busy pictures makes this another winner from the brilliant duo of Reeve & McIntyre.
Dinosaur Pie – Jen Wallace and Alan O’Rourke (pub. Little Island Books)
Be careful what you eat!
When Rory wakes up and finds he’s changed into a small, feathered dinosaur, he just knows things are going to be difficult. Especially when his friends think it would be great to be a dinosaur, but it’s really not! What about the hunger? The toilet? And even worse, school?!
As his friends rally round for Operation Make Rory Human, they find that not everyone is keen to help and some will do anything to keep the reason for Rory’s change a secret.
This is a hilarious story adventure, told in short chapters and printed in a dyslexic-friendly font. We will certainly be watching out for other Little Island book titles!
The Beanstalk Murder: A Giant Murder Mystery – P.G Bell (pub. Usborne)
This is a book we’ve been eagerly awaiting, and it doesn’t disappoint! A captivating murder mystery set in a fairytale world.
When a giant falls from the sky onto the village of Old Stump, the village is flattened and all the villagers are left in shock – except for Arwen’s grandmother, a meadow witch who practises Folk Magic.
After examining the giant, Arwen and her grandmother decide that the giant isn’t only dead but he has been murdered! And Arwen, for one, wants to see justice done.
The only way to reach the Sky Kingdom of the giants is by beanstalk, and they’ve all been chopped down…but Arwen’s grandmother has one very old bean left. Will it grow? And if it does, how will Arwen and trainee sorceress Cerys solve the murder, when in the Sky kingdom they’re smaller than mice?
A brilliant murder mystery full of twists, dead ends, friendships and humour (and a great map of the crime scene!).
Non-fiction
Our World, My Roots: Jamaica – Anna Makanda, Sharmane Barrett and Natàlia Juan Abelló (pub. Our World My Roots)
We finally caught up with this wonderful series of books for younger readers interested in finding out more about their cultural background, or just wanting to know the ins and outs of life in (in this title) Jamaica.
Opening with a fact file about the country and a map to show its place in the world, we join 9-year-olds Tashie, Shen and Ziggy on an adventure exploring the places, culture, and daily life of the island.
Filled with colourful and vibrant illustrations, this is a book for anyone looking to know a little more about this beautiful island and those who live there.
Respect the Insect – Jules Howard and Gosia Herba (pub. Wide Eyed Books)
This is a book packed full of information about what insects do for us…and it’s a lot!
Laid out in an entertaining and eye-catching way, with bright, humorous pictures, each chapter heading captures the many tasks insects perform; from “Cleaner-Uppers” to “Inspiring Icons”, and different insects from the dung beetle to the silkworm. There is even an insect that can digest plastic!
This is a wonderful title for browsing, and would be a great addition to any bookshelf.
Little Experts: How to Save A Life – Dr. Ronx and Ashton Attzs (pub. Red Shed)
Few of us are very confident about dealing with emergencies, but this book for 7+ will certainly help reassure children about what they can do should one happen.
It starts with ‘What to do in any emergency’, which gives clear instructions on staying calm, keeping safe, getting help, and calling 999. The book then moves on to basic first aid, for example, for nose bleeds and grazes.
It also looks at scalds, sunburn, fire safety, water safety, stings and allergic reactions, cuts, choking, and finally the recovery position and CPR. All of these are dealt with calmly in a no-nonsense fashion, never demanding more than a child could handle and with no heroics.
This is a book that should be available in every school, and ideally discussed with children in class to remove fear and give them the ability to act in an emergency.
That’s it for our recommendations for August, with fantastical fiction, and truly enlightening non-fiction. Let us know on Threads, Instagram, or Twitter/X which ones you like the look of!
If any of the books have grabbed your attention, then you can pick up a copy of them via our recommendations list below.
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If you’re looking for more book round-ups, check out our previous reviews here.
