One

I read One several weeks ago but I have been having great difficulty writing this review. I really wanted to do justice to such a wonderful, powerful book that it was hard to put into words. I could have just written I love it again and again to fill the page, but that wouldn't be of much use to anyone else. I hope I have done it justice.

 

Title: One

Author: Sarah Crossan
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: August 2015
Format: Hardback
Source: Library copy

One is the story of Grace and Tippi, 16 year old conjoined twins who, in the words of Grace, have 'two heads, two hearts, two sets of lungs and kidneys, four arms and a pair of fully functioning legs'. When they walk they need crutches to support themselves. At the start of the book their mother tells them that they will be going to a private school, having been home schooled all their lives. At school they have to cope with the stares of other pupils, but they also make friends for the first time and Grace falls in love. It is also the story of their family who all have their own problems to deal with.

One is told in free verse from Grace's point of view and is written in the present tense. The book is presented as a series of poems, each with their own title, that, together, make a single story. A story that is so beautifully told that you want to read it again immediately. I found myself reading certain verses again and again. Writing a story in verse is a brave choice, because every word becomes so much more important, along with the breaks in between. I hadn't really thought about how powerful spaces between words are until I read this. It is also possible to repeat a phrase again and again which would just look wrong in prose. In One it is used to great effect and can be heartbreaking. This is such a beautiful book. I loved it so much that, having borrowed it from my local library, I have had to buy my own copy so that I can read it again in the future.

Are Children's Books Really Being Dumbed Down?

If you have read about books in the newspapers recently, you will probably know by now that the bestselling author Anthony Horowitz has criticised other authors such as David Walliams for what he calls “dumbing down” children's books. He was quoted saying that Walliams and other authors like him are writing “books that are witty and entertaining but nowhere near as ambitious” and that they should “write up for children, not down to them”.

As a keen reader and aspiring author myself, this is a personal issue for me as well as a universal one, so in this post I will be exploring Horowitz's argument in further detail. In the past, the language in children's books used to be very sophisticated and formal, with more challenging words and phrases such as “make an exhibition of myself” instead of “make a fool of myself”. Nowadays, simpler and less formal words such as “farting” are making their way in, much to the disgust of people who don't like that sort of thing. It could be argued that this is because of the introduction of social media and texting, which has placed limitations on the use of language, formality and structure and is now creeping into children's books in an attempt to “modernise” them.

It's not just the language in children's books that is being dumbed down though. The topics seem to be getting simplified as well, with many books focusing on either comedy or drama rather than both. Moreover, the books that focus on comedy tend to focus on the toilet variety, rather than the “intelligent” type featured in older works. For example, you are likely to find children's books with words such as “poo”, “fart” and “bogeys” mentioned in the title along with a picture involving said word. This understandably puts off some parents and even children who aren't into this sort of thing already.

I can see why Horowitz would be worried about this. If the themes are getting dumbed down along with the language, this would mean that the children would have a limited array of books to read. They would all have the same plots and be of the same genre, which makes them much less interesting. This applies to the language too, such as the reading books that you find nowadays that seem to be copying “Janet And John” instead of being more ambitious like the works of Dr Seuss and Roderick Hunt. This makes the writing appear to be stale and dull and as a result, it prevents the readers from being engaged as well as learning how to read.

Of course, if the children are finding these books easy to read as well as fun, then maybe it doesn't matter if they're being dumbed down at all. Recently, I have discovered “The Clumsies” books by Sorrell Anderson, which is a comedy series overall. The writing is very simplistic compared to other books that I have read, but the plotline and characters were so engaging and entertaining that I could not put them down. This is coming from a reader who has moved onto more complex reading in general, so if a similar reader can also be entertained by these types of books, can the same not can be applied to children themselves? Plenty of the plotlines and characters in these books also tend to be much more appealing for a wider audience than ones in books aimed for older readers, such as “Twilight” and “Divergent”, rather than the other way round as is sometimes suggested.

Whilst Horowitz complains about this supposed “dumbing down” in children's books, we still overlook other factors that serve as an even bigger problem. This mainly links to the publishers, who chase trends rather than look for quality in a book. For example, when “Diary Of A Wimpy Kid” was released, hundreds of diary-formatted books followed such as some of the blatant cash-ins. The same goes for teenage books, with horror romances being released in the wake of “Twilight” and dystopian novels being released following the publication of “The Hunger Games”. Perhaps this is the main reason why the topics in children's books are being dumbed down, rather than the writers themselves doing it.

There are even still cases in which books are promoted for a specific gender, with pink books about cupcakes and fairies being promoted for girls and blue books about footballs and robots being promoted for boys. This is evident with the covers released for the books, which feature illustrations and colours suited for one gender rather than the plain and neutral covers that used to be around. Whilst this certainly makes them eye-catching, it also risks putting the other gender off the books before they actually read them. Research also shows that toys that parents give to their children affect the way that they grow up and whether they become girly or boyish. Could this be the same for the books that we give them? Furthermore, there seems to be the belief from publishers that boys won't read a book if it has a female protagonist, though the success of “The Hunger Games” proves this belief wrong.

Personally, I feel that a good book is one that is entertaining and gets children reading and thinking at the same time. Never mind whether the words in them are challenging or not, if they're well written and the kids enjoy them, they're still good. In fact, what we should be worrying about today is the marketing of children's books by publishers, whether they are being shoehorned into a specific gender or cashing in on other books of a similar theme. Maybe it's time for them to stop worrying about quantity and start worrying about quality.

The Bolds

Title: The Bolds
Author: Julian Clary
Illustrator: David Roberts
Publisher:  Andersen Press
Published: 2015
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

Two English speaking hyenas leave the Masai Mara to take on the identities of Fred and Amelia Bold, a young couple from Twickenham. Fred gets a job writing jokes for Christmas crackers and Amelia makes hats from unusual items such as egg boxes. They have two young children Bobby and Betty and are very happy with their new life in the suburbs. The children have a human friend, Minnie, who knows their secret, but can be trusted not to let on to anyone else. The only problem they have is their grumpy next door neighbour, Mr McNumpty, who is extremely unfriendly. One day the Bolds visit the local safari park so that the children can see the wild animals and get a taste of what life in Africa was like for their parents. Whilst there they make friends with the park's hyenas and hatch a plan to rescue Tony, an elderly hyena at risk of being put down by the vet.

The story is told in such a way that you can imagine Julian Clary reading aloud to you. The style is very chatty with plenty of asides from the narrator which makes it very easy to read. I think that this book would be great to read aloud. An audio book read by Julian Clary would be brilliant except for one small problem; you would miss out on David Robert's fantastic illustrations. The book is packed with illustrations which complement the text perfectly and really bring the story to life. I particularly liked the way that the pages are black with white writing when the story takes place at night or in the dark. Mr Bold's job writing jokes gives Julian Clary the excuse to include plenty of Christmas cracker type humour, which can make you groan, but in a good way. The story itself is really funny and made me laugh out loud a lot. I was particularly amused at the thought of Mr McNumpty dating Joan Collins and living the high life. The book is quite thick for one aimed at younger readers, but that is because there are so many illustrations which will appeal to children making the move to longer books. It is really easy to read and the story races along. I am really looking forward to the publication of The Bolds to the Rescue in March 2016. It sounds as if it will be another brilliantly funny book.

The Next Together

Title: The Next Together
Author: Lauren James
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: 2015
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

Katherine and Matthew meet, fall in love and change the course of history, again and again, with one or both dying in the process. So what do they need to do to break the cycle? 'The Next Together' covers four of these meetings during the siege of Carlisle in 1745, the Crimean War in 1854, 2019 and 2039. They play a vital role in preventing catastrophes, but why do they keep being born over and over again and who is controlling their lives?

The book jumps back and forth through time, but it is easy to keep track because a different font is used for each period and the time and place is listed at the start of each chapter. I really liked the fonts used because they fitted the period described. I could open the book at any page and know immediately where Katherine and Matthew were in time. The story is told in the third person for the most part, but for 2019 hand written notes, texts and emails between the two allow the reader to eavesdrop on what is happening. It was interesting to see the part that changing technology played throughout and to consider how different the story would be if that technology had been available in the earlier periods. Lauren James has clearly researched the historical periods thoroughly, but hasn't allowed herself to be obsessed with accuracy at the expense of a good story.

I loved this book, the idea is brilliant and I was kept gripped to the end. And what an ending, the very last page opened up a whole new line for the story to follow. I found myself thinking, 'oooh does that mean what I think it does?' It also hinted at other periods that are still to be covered. I am really looking forward to the sequel 'The Last Beginning' coming out to find out if my ideas are correct, although I'm not sure if I can wait a whole year.

What Happened When in the World

Title: What Happened When in the World

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley

Date of Publication: 2015

Format: Hardback

Source: My own copy

  

The cover says “history as you've never seen it before!” So it has a lot to live up to and it does. This book uses maps to illustrate history though the ages. Each double page spread features a different map to demonstrate the impact of events through time, starting with the Ice Age and ending with the rise of China as a trading nation. As we have come to expect from DK the information is presented in short paragraphs with colourful illustrations and photographs. Most pages include a quote from someone involved at the time, thus bringing the history to life. The pages are jammed with facts and dates, but are easy to read and will keep most readers engrossed.

There are pages about all the usual periods in history along with others that will make you think, such as the spread on slavery which shows that there were more slaves transported to South America to work in gold and diamond mines than anywhere else. It really brings home what a terrible trade this was, showing the slaves going to the Americas, the essential products being shipped to Europe and guns, rum and beer amongst the products sent to Africa in exchange for people.

Using maps as a device to illustrate history really brings it to life and makes it a lot easier to understand at times. Children will be able to learn a lot about their history through this book and it will really make them think about the impact of their forefathers' actions. It is the sort of book that you will pick up for a few minutes and still be reading an hour later.

You Rule! Create Your Own Country

Title: You Rule! Create Your Own Country

Author: Scott Forbes and Emma Laura Jones

Publisher: Lonely Planet Kids

Date of Publication: September 2015

Format: Hardback

Source: Complimentary copy from publisher

I live in the UK, but I also live in Thanesia which is part of the Empire of Austenasia. As a result I was extremely curious to read You Rule! Create Your Own Country. The book is set out in chapters dedicated to the different stages you need to go through to create your own country. It explains in detail how to choose a site for your country, make it official and everything that is needed in the day to day running of your own state. It gives information about other micronations as well as details on “real” countries. There are short tests to complete which will help you to decide how to set up and rule your country. By the end of the book you will be able to set up your own micronation.

I found this book very easy to read. The information is split up into chunks so you can read as much or as little as you like in one sitting. The pages are colourful with plenty of cartoon-like illustrations and photos. There is also a serious side to the book as it explains the politics of “real” countries and the United Nations. Children will learn a lot while having fun. It can lead on to lots of activities, at home or in school, based around maps, design, law and government. There was only one problem with the book; it didn't mention Austenasia! Despite this it is still a really good book.

Beegu

Title: Beegu
Author: Alexis Deacon
Publisher:  Red Fox
Published: 2003
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

Beegu is one of the many books that the author and illustrator Alexis Deacon has created by himself. Like his other books, it carefully balances charm and poignancy.

At the start of the story Beegu has crashed onto Earth and has just woken up in entirely new surroundings. She finds it hard to communicate with other living beings and the humans seem to be cold and apathetic to her at first…until she meets up with a group of schoolchildren. The text is short and simple and most of the story is told through the pictures, which are beautifully drawn. The character of Beegu is drawn as a small bioluminescent yellow creature with long rabbit ears and this plus her friendly yet lonely personality makes her a lovable character. The book has some sad moments in it, but it also has happy moments such as when Beegu meets the schoolchildren who are eager to let her play with them. The message of Beegu is about being lonely and finding friends, but also of childhood innocence, which is reflect in both our protagonist and the human children.

In conclusion, Beegu is a sweet and poignant picture book with beautiful illustrations and a message about loneliness and friendship. Children and their parents will equally love the cuddly Beegu herself and these contributing factors mean that this story will appeal to audiences both young and old.

Dork Diaries

Title: Dork Diaries

Author: Rachel Renee Russell

Illustrator: Rachel Renee Russell, Nikki Russell, Leisl Adams

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Date of publication: 2009

Format: Paperback

Source: My own copy

Dork Diaries (originally named Dork Diaries: Tales From A Not-So-Fabulous Life in the USA) is the first instalment in the tween book series of the same name which concentrates on the antics of the dorky Nikki J. Maxwell and her family, friends and rivals.

In spite of the marketing advertising it as the girl’s counterpart to Diary Of A Wimpy Kid, the story’s plotline itself is entirely different, with Nikki moving to the elite Westchester Country Day school and facing off against the resident queen bee MacKenzie Hollister in a school’s art competition. She also makes friends with the zany Chloe and Zoey and attracts the romantic attention of the school newspaper’s photographer Brandon Roberts. All of these characters are memorable and fleshed-out and the hijinks that occur as the plot progresses will have you both laughing out loud and sympathising for Nikki at the same time. The pictures, another gimmick of the book that stand out, are drawn in either a cartoony stick-figure style or a manga influenced style. Being a big fan of manga myself, I really liked this addition to the book and felt that these pictures were really well-drawn and humorous. Furthermore, it features nearly all of the high school genre conventions that we know and love as well as some new additions to it.

Overall, this is a very funny book with brilliant cartoons and memorable characters that everyone can enjoy and sets the tone of the series as a whole as well as providing a good start to it. I would definitely recommend it for the pre-teen and early teenage market.

My Brother is a Superhero

Title: My Brother is a Superhero
Author: David Solomons
Illustrator: Laura Ellen Anderson
Publisher:  Nosy Crow
Published: 2015
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy


Luke is a massive comic fan and, as a result, is an expert on superheroes and the powers they use to defeat evil villains. So it's not surprising that when Zorbon the Decider needs to create a superhero to save the universe he arrives in Luke's garden. Unfortunately Luke needs a wee and so his brother Zack, who has never read a comic in his life, receives the super powers instead. Zack is going to need all the help he can get to defeat Nemesis.

Luke has to take on the role of the superhero's sidekick and try to overcome his envy to help Zack save the world. He is helped in the process by his best friend Serge,who is a massive fan of Star Lad, as Zack is known, and Lara, a reporter on the school newspaper, who is desperate to unmask Star Lad. Trying to keep Zack's identity from these two whilst requiring their help adds to Luke's problems.

This book made me burst out laughing on a train full of people, it is that funny. I could not stop reading it and had to stay up late to find out if Zack (and Luke) managed to save not one, but two universes. The story flows really well and I found myself reading “just one more chapter” until I reached the end. It manages to strike the right balance between humour and thrills so that the reader is gripped to the end. I really enjoyed it and cannot wait until the sequel, My Teacher is an Alien Overlord, comes out next summer.

Poetry Books

As it is National Poetry Day I thought I would include a few reviews of books that I like. I love reading poetry and read a poem every night before I go to bed.

Title: A Great Big Cuddle
Author: Michael Rosen
Illustrator: Chris Riddell
Publisher: Walker
Date of Publication: September 2015
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

This book involves poems written by former children’s laureate Michael Rosen and illustrated by current children’s laureate Chris Riddell. It is designed for especially young children and so features poems that are easy to read and fun to participate with such as “The Button Bop” and “Hello Goodbye”. The poems feature a lot of repetition that very young children will appreciate and there are funny poems as well as more deep and meaningful ones that will appeal to all ages. These poems encourage the child to join in when they are read aloud and will inspire a life-long love of poetry.

All of the poems are simplistic yet entertaining at the same time, and the light-hearted illustrations that Riddell provides match them very well. The characters that appear on each page, such as the multi-coloured monkeys in “Hello Goodbye”, will appeal to children and their parents as well. The design and layout of the book is excellent and the colours and fonts help the poems and pictures to stand out. Overall, this is a must-have for young children and their parents, as well as anyone who likes to have a fun poem to read aloud and join in with.

Title: Read Me... series
Author: Gaby Morgan, Louise Bolongara, Nick Toczek and Paul Cookson
Illustrator: Georgie Ripper
Publisher: Macmillan
Date of publication: Various
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copies

The “Read Me…” series is designed with schools in mind and each collection features 366 poems, one for every day of the year. The first two books are “Read Me 1” and “Read Me 2”, but now other books have been released for the series that explore different types of poems. For example, “Read Me First” includes poems designed for younger children, “Read Me And Laugh” includes funny poems and “Read Me Out Loud!” includes poems that can be read out by one or more persons.

All of the poetry collections feature a variety of poems from old to new in many different forms. The collections include works by well known and less well known poets as well as many by anonymous authors. The poems included are engaging and will appeal to different people whether they are old and young. I feel that it’s also a treat to have a different poem to read every day. It gives the reader a chance to discover different poets and styles and will inspire them to search out more of the same elsewhere. Additionally, there are illustrations by Georgie Ripper included in “Read Me First” that children will love for their appealing nature. For these reasons, these books are a must-have for schools, families and people who just like to have a good poem to read everyday.

Cookery Books for Children

In honour of the Great British Bake Off final this week I thought I would review some cookery books aimed at children and teenagers. I had planned to include the Farmyard Tales Cookbook, but as far as I can find out it is no longer in print. If this is the case I would beg Usborne to bring it back as it is brilliant for younger children.

I like these books because they don't talk down to children and don't assume that they have to be wacky and fun all the time. The recipes are for real food rather than items with faces or funny shapes. I prefer cookery books with photos of the finished food, because I am far more likely to want to cook something if I can see what it will look like.

 

Title: The Usborne Beginner's Cookbook

Author: Fiona Watt

Publisher: Usborne

Date of publication: 2007

Format: Hardback

Source: My own copy

This is a new edition of an old favourite, now in a spiral bound format which makes it much easier to use. It is actually four different cookbooks in one: Cooking for Beginners, Pasta and Pizza, Vegetarian Cooking and Cakes and Cookies.

The recipes are usually spread over two pages and set out in clear easy to understand steps with full illustrations. This makes it much easier to understand how to complete each stage. There is a photo of every completed dish so you can see what it should look like when finished. This book is easy to use with very clear instructions. Younger children will need some adult supervision, for example when putting something into the oven or heating items on the hob, but can easily make all the different things. There is a good mix of recipes and I would definitely recommend the brownies and the carrot cake. These are the recipes that we always use in our house. I really like using this book. The illustrations are clear and make it very easy to follow for beginners and more experienced cooks alike.


 

Title: The Ultimate Children's Cookbook

Author: Katherine Ibbs, Denise Smart, Nicola Graimes

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley

Date of publication: 2009

Format: Hardback

Source: Library copy

This book starts with a chapter on healthy eating including the basic rules for safety in the kitchen. It explains the importance of the different food groups and how to ensure that you get a good variety in your diet. The recipes are divided up into breakfast, light meals, main meals, desserts, baking, party food and drinks and treats.

The recipes are clear and easy to follow with good photos of the different steps. The tools required are listed along with the ingredients which help you to get everything together at the start, rather than having to search for something half way through cooking. A red triangle with an exclamation mark indicates when adult supervision is required. Each recipe includes tasty tips to allow children to personalise them to their own tastes. I really like the Jambalaya and the profiteroles. The first recipe I made from here was for smoothies which were delicious. I like the way that the timings are included so you can see how long it will take to prepare and then to cook each recipe. This makes it much easier to decide what to cook.


 

Title: The Kids Only Cookbook

Author: Sue Quinn

Publisher: Quadrille Publishing Limited

Date of publication: 2013

Format: Hardback

Source: My own copy

Like the Dorling Kindersley book this has clear photos of each stage of preparation along with a picture of the finished product. The pictures show children cooking the food and often eating it as well, which makes it more appealing. The recipes are straightforward, without too many ingredients, and easy to follow with each stage numbered. There is a coloured flash labelled 'adult help alert' whenever supervision is required. I love the sticky toffee puddings in a jar. There is also a good section at the end with edible presents including some delicious lemon curd. There are lots of recipes for 'proper food' along with a few fun ideas such as Kick 'n' Roll Tin Can Ice Cream which needs no explanation.

Title: Nosh for Students (4^th edition)

Author: Joy May

Publisher: Intrade (GB) Ltd

Date of publication: June 2013

Format: Paperback

Source: My own copy

This book is for students but will be appealing to older teenagers. I specified the 4^th edition because this includes a photo for every recipe. The recipes are short and easy to follow. They have been written for someone living in a hall of residence or a student house where they won't have lots of equipment. They are also costed per portion and are all fairly cheap to cook. Rather than using weights for the ingredients everything is measured using a mug or measuring spoons, which I really like. It makes it much easier to cook and takes less time as well. Each recipe has a simple key which explains how long it takes to prepare and cook, how many it will feed and how easy it is to make, scored on a scale from 1 to 5. There are quite a lot of pasta recipes and sausages appear in lots of the main meals. There is a good variety of recipes from quick and easy ones to home-made versions of takeaway favourites. I really like the sausage and bean bake and the snickerdoodles. It is a bit harder to keep open than the other books reviewed here so you will need to weigh the book down when cooking, but that is not a real problem.

 

Title: Grow It Eat It

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley (with the Royal Horticultural Society)

Date of publication: 2008

Format: Hardback

Source: My own copy

This is not strictly a cookery book, but a gardening book with recipes. It encourages children to grow their own food and then cook it. There is an introduction with basic gardening information and then the book is divided into double page spreads devoted to different crops. There are simple instructions supported by photos which will enable children to grow a wide variety of fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes and strawberries. We have used this book to help us grow blueberries which are delicious and much better for being freshly picked when we use them. After each page of gardening instructions there is a recipe using the crop you have just grown. There are photos of all the different ingredients along with clear pictures and instructions for the different stages. Like the other DK book there are red triangles with an exclamation mark to indicate when adult help is needed. Growing the food themselves will encourage children to try different food and it is much more satisfying to eat something you have produced yourself. I loved the carrot and orange muffins and the green leaf tartlets. There are extra recipes at the end without the photos of each stage, but completing other recipes in the book gives you the confidence to try these ones. Most of the plants are grown in containers so children won't need a large garden to appreciate this book.

Croc and Bird

Title: Croc and Bird

Author: Alexis Deacon

Publisher: Red Fox

Published: 2012

Format: Paperback

Source: My own copy

 

 

Here’s another Alexis Deacon book that have I read and enjoyed. Published in 2012, Croc And Bird is one of his more recent books created by him alone and has the same introspective message and gorgeous artwork as the other stories.

In the story, a crocodile and a bird hatch out of their eggs next to each other and as a result, they mistake each other for brothers. Bonding between them ensues as they begin to share their lifestyles with one another and go on adventures together. The story is very funny and simplistic, but also poignant and heart warming as it explores the themes of brotherhood and friendship. As always, the pictures are beautifully drawn and coloured and we also get to explore, through both the illustrations and the text, the growth of the characters both in age and in personality.

In general, Croc And Bird is a meaningful tale of brotherly love with humour and poignancy blended together seamlessly. The main characters are absolutely lovable which will appeal to children and their parents alike and furthermore, the tale serves as a celebration of siblings everywhere, therefore making it a must-read for whole families.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Author: Jeff Kinney
Publisher: Puffin
Published: 2008 (2007 in USA)
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy

In light of recent comments that Anthony Horowitz made about today’s books, I thought I would re-read the first Diary Of A Wimpy Kid book. In contrast to what Horowitz said, I feel that it is not an example of “dumbed down” literature and there is a lot more to it than might first appear.

The first instalment of the series concentrates on our protagonist Greg Heffley arriving at his new school with his best friend Rowley and the hijinks that he gets up to both there and at home with his blissfully unaware mother, his apathetic father, his grumpy older brother Roderick and his brattish young brother Manny. There are plenty of humorous moments in the book, with the “cheese touch” being a big focus. However, unlike several of the books that have been published in order to capitalize on its success, Diary Of A Wimpy Kid makes no attempts at sentimentalism and instead comes off as a satire of typical school life as well as clichés such as the embarrassing family (there is a strong amount of favouritism going on in the Heffley family that does not appear in other books of the same genre). Greg himself is not always perfect and therefore, he comes across as a flawed yet well-meaning individual that you’ll end up sympathising with. As he is not the type of person who likes to keep in touch with his emotions, the story is written in a straightforward, honest manner that heightens the humour of several scenes. In addition, the cartoons are hilarious and will appeal to anyone, with funny captions and speech bubbles to go along with them.

In my opinion, Diary Of A Wimpy Kid isn’t just a comedy with what people refer to as “boy’s” humour in it. It’s also a brilliant satire of school life as well as the clichés that tend to pop up in other stories. This is what makes it a worthwhile book to read for both boys and girls as well as one of our best comedy books of today.

I Am Henry Finch

Title: I Am Henry Finch
Author: Alexis Deacon
Illustrator: Viviane Schwarz
Publisher:  Walker Books
Published: 2014
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

I Am Henry Finch is the third collaboration between Alexis Deacon and Viviane Schwarz, following the books A Place To Call Home and Cheese Belongs To You!

The story follows the plights of a flock of finches who always do the same things and say the same greetings until the titular Henry suddenly gains the power of thought and decides to take on the beast that threatens them on a regular basis. This is a very funny story that also happens to have a philosophical message behind it about the power of individual thinking and spreading that power around. Both the story and the dialogue are very simplistic at first and become more complex as Henry gains more thoughts and passes them on, therefore matching the progression of the finches perfectly. The illustrations are also very cute, with red fingerprints used to create the bodies of the finches and black pen used to create the rest of their features such as their beaks, feet, wings and eyes, which will appeal to young children immensely.

In general, the blend between humour and philosophy makes I Am Henry Finch both a funny and interesting book to read which can be enjoyed by everyone, both young and old. Children and art fans alike will also love the fingerprint illustrations.

The Moomins and the Great Flood

Welcome to my blog. For my first post I thought I should review the book I am holding in my picture.

Title: The Moomins and the Great Flood.
Author: Tove Jansson (translated by David McDuff)
Publisher: Sort of Books
Published in 2012
Format: Hardback
Source: My own copy

Originally published in 1945 in Finland, reprinted in 1991 and finally translated into English in 2012, The Moomins And The Great Flood is what some have described as a “rediscovered gem”. Furthermore, it serves as the first ever instalment of the much-loved Moomins series with the same magical tone to it.

The book introduces us to the lovable Moomintroll and Moominmamma as they head out on the journey to find Moominpappa, who has gone away with the Hattifatteners. On the way, they meet up with the Little Creature, later to be known as Sniff, as well as the beautiful blue-haired Tulippa who they find in a flower used for light. Not only are the familiar characters just as lovable as remembered, but the same applies to the additional characters in the story such as Tulippa herself. The Hattifatteners described here are quite different to the ones that appear in Finn Family Moomintroll, but their personality is the same. The plot essentially appears to be fairytale-inspired, with a few twists here and there, which will appeal to young children and fairytale fans alike. The artwork in the story is beautifully drawn with black ink and sepia watercolours for the larger pictures and in spite of the Moomins looking quite different to how they look for the rest of the series, they still look endearing and cuddly as always.

I would highly recommend The Moomins And The Great Flood to many readers young or old, including fans of the Moomins series and young children who have just discovered the series. The fairytale motifs and characters are appealing and so are the pictures, making the book a worthy addition to any bookshelf.