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The Blurb On The Back:

Amazing sisters are everywhere!

Some sisters are twirly.
Some are whirly.
Some are brand new …
And some NEED THE LOO!

Every sister is different.
But when you need a helping had or a great big hug …

They’ll always be therefor you!

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Alison Brown’s picture book (part of a series about family members) is a cute affair that celebrates the different kind of sisters you can have and your relationship with them. The rhyming is a bit twee in parts but I enjoyed the illustrations, which have energy and humour to them. If you are looking for a gift for a young sister or young sister to be, then I would definitely suggest this.

AMAZING SISTER was released in the United Kingdom on 4th January 2024. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Korinna has simple priorities: stay on the Navitas, stay out of trouble, and stay alive. She may be a Redseer, a blind priestess with the power to manipulate space-time, but she is the weakest in her order. Useless and outcast. Or so she has been raised to believe.

As she takes her place as a navigator on an Imperium shop, Korinna’s full destiny is revealed to her: blood brimming with magic, she is meant to become a weapon of the Imperium, and pawn for the Order that raised her. But when the shop is attacked by the notorious pirate Aster Haran, Korinna’s world is ripped apart.

Aster has a vendetta against the Imperium, and an all-consuming, dark power that drives her to destroy everything in her path. She understands the world in a way Korinna has never imagined, and Korinna is drawn to her against her better judgment.

With the Imperium and the justice-seeking warrior Sahar hot on her heels, Korinna must choose her side, seize her power and fulfil her destiny - or risk imperilling the future of the galaxy, and destroying the fabric of space-time itself.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Meredith Mooring’s debut SF space opera romance has some interesting ideas, e.g. the use of a visually impaired protagonist, the idea of atomic manipulation and space ships built from asteroids, but the plotting is all over the place with some developments sign posted too early and a credibility defying plot twist in the final quarter, the central romance being under developed and ultimately a sense that nothing that happens to Korinna is earned.

REDSIGHT will be released in the United States on 27th February 2024 and in the United Kingdom on 29th February 2024. Thanks to Rebellion Publishing for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

This book tells the human story of one of man’s greatest intellectual adventures - how it came to be understood that light travels at a finite speed, so that when we look up at the stars, we are looking back in time. And how the search for an absolute frame of reference in the universe led so improbably to Einstein’s famous equation E = mc2,, which represents the energy that powers the stars and unclear weapons. From the ancient Greeks measuring the distance to the Sun, to today’s satellite navigation, the book takes the reader on a gripping historical journey. We see how Galileo with his new telescope discovered the moons of Jupiter and used their eclipses as a global clock, allowing travellers to find their Longitude. And how Ole Roemer, noticing that the eclipses were a little late, used this to obtain the first measurement of the speed of light, which takes eight minutes to get to us from the Sun. We then move from the remarkable international collaborations to observe the Transits of Venus, including Cook’s voyage to Australia, to the extraordinary achievements of Young and Fresnel, whose discoveries eventually taught us that light travels as a wave but arrives as a particle, and all the quantum weirdness which follows. In the nineteenth century, we find Faraday and Maxwell, struggling to understand how light can propagate through the vacuum of space unless space is filled with a ghostly vortex Aether foam. We follow the brilliantly gifted experimentalists Hertz, discoverer of radio, Michelson with his search for the Aether wind, and Foucault and Fizeau with their spinning mirrors and light beams across the rooftops of Paris. Messaging faster than light, Einstein’s theory, quantum entanglement, and the reality of the quantum world, conclude this saga.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

John C H. Spence teaches physics at Arizona State University and is Snell Professor and Director of Science for the National Science Foundation’s BioXFEL Consortium. This is an absorbing historical account of how scientists learned to measure the speed of light but although I enjoyed the personal details Spence gives on the scientists and he does try to simplify the complicated mathematical formulae, some of the book was above my skill level.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Thomas and Bruno

Join Thomas and his new friend Bruno for an ALL ENGINES GO adventure!

Diesel is given an urgent job to do, but Bruno, the new brake car, wants him to slow down and be careful. Diesel doesn’t see things the way Bruno does, and he races straight into a rockslide. Can the pair work as a team to get back on track?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Christy Webster’s picture book adaptation of the THOMAS & FRIENDS episode, ‘Shake, Rattle, and Bruno’ (by Daniel Share-Strom) is an enjoyable read that suggests Bruno is neuro-divergent (he memorises the train schedule to keep calm) and emphasises the importance of listening, not rushing into things and working together in order to resolve things. Although the pictures are a little flat and generic, young readers should still enjoy the story.

THOMAS AND BRUNO was released in the United Kingdom on 6th July 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Once there was a girl. She had a big laugh and a big heart and very big dreams.

The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning and bestselling creator Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Vashti Harrison’s self-illustrated picture book is a beautifully executed look at fat bias and its impact on young children. The text is sparse with the focus on the images of the nameless little girl as she endures the taunts and well-meaning but still hurtful comments from adults. It’s wonderfully done and very moving such that I am still thinking about it. I’d definitely read more of Harrison’s work on the strength of this.

BIG was released in the United Kingdom on 11th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Discover a world of friendship and adventure where feelings are always welcome!

The sun is shining and the Little Seasons are on their way to the beach. But Summer is feeling hot and bothered. With one setback after another, his emotions are bubbling over.

Luckily Summer’s friends know the perfect way to relax: building a giant sandcastle. The only trouble is, no one has noticed a big wave rolling in …

Perfect for any little reader learning how to manage big emotions.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The third book in Jo Lindley’s self-illustrated picture book series is a charming look at the fun things that you can do in the summer but also how to handle it when you feel angry and everything gets on top of you because things keep going wrong. I enjoyed Lindley’s illustrations and the friendship of the four Little Seasons really comes through such that I’d be happy to read the other three books in this series.

HELLO SUMMER was released in the United Kingdom on 8th June 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Welcome to the unpredictable world of the Maliks!

Maysa and Musa Malik are twins who are TOTAL OPPOSITES. But when their cookies for a baking competition at the mosque are destroyed, can they become an UNSTOPPABLE DETECTIVE TEAM?

Look out for: - a floor made of LAVA
- An arch-nemesis called SLIME-AH
- Detective Inspector Norman a.k.a Musa’s best friend
- And a VERY big, out-of-control spiralling LIE …*

* Did we mention that Maysa can be a bit of a drama monster?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Zanib Mian’s new mystery for readers aged 7+ (illustrated by Kyan Cheng) features fun protagonists and Maysa’s insecurity that Musa has other friends than her is well done. I also enjoyed how their Muslim identity is central to the story, as it’s a great way of learning about their faith but as the first in a series this needed more telling to establish backstory (especially Maysa’s antagonism with Slime-ah) and the mystery itself is a limp.

MEET THE MALIKS TWIN DETECTIVES - THE COOKIE CULPRIT was released in the United Kingdom on 31st August 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

At the edge of the field, Oliver saw something lying in the mud. It was a bird made of iron.

Then something amazing happened …

From an acclaimed literary voice comes a magical story which explores friendship, loyalty and the power of hope.

Oliver loves birds - watching them soar into the sky and wishing that just sometimes they would stay close. So when he discovers a robin made of iron, he thinks he’s found the perfect friend - even if his toy dragon isn’t quite so sure!

When the robin begins to glimmer and hop, Oliver is amazed. But in a terrible turn of events, his new friend is lost.

Nevertheless, there is wonder and excitement ahead for Oliver - with a storm on the horizon and Iron Robin’s magic in the air …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Rose Tremain’s debut picture book has some beautiful writing but it isn’t clear if Oliver’s affinity for the robin comes from loneliness, although I did enjoy the snarky Draggi. Richard Jones’s illustrations are superb and really get across Oliver’s isolation and the robin’s magic. All in all, I think it’s a good read but the open ending and the fact that some of the themes are not fully explored may make it go over some young readers’ heads.

IRON ROBIN was released in the United Kingdom on 18th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Meet Duggee. He runs the Squirrel Club!

Duggee is telling the Squirrels all about their first days at Squirrel Club. Roly was very quiet, Happy was scared of water and Tag wasn’t so good at listening. But Duggee had an idea!

Join Duggee and the Squirrels in this adorable tale and collect your First Day Badge!

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

This entertaining picture book has been adapted by Rebecca Gerlings from 5 episodes of the kids’ cartoon HEY DUGGEE! (originally written by James Walsh) sets out how the 5 very different Squirrels handled their first days and how Duggee and the other Squirrels tried to make it easier for them. It’s all very charming and although I’m not familiar with the TV cartoon, I can see why it’s so popular with pre-schoolers.

HEY DUGGEE - FIRST DAY AT SQUIRREL CLUB was released in the United Kingdom on 27th April 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Sick and tired of school show-offs?

Mean girls ruining your day?

A mysterious illness sweeping your town … ?

Being the world’s only arty ‘sort-of-superhero’ is never boring. I’ve got a lot on my plate: as well as making comics with my best friend, Beeks, and attempting to avoid the MEAN girls, I’m also trying to work out why EVERYONE seems to be getting sick. Maybe some artistic inspiration from Botticelli will help me get to the bottom of the mystery …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Olaf Falafel’s self-illustrated funny novel sequel for readers aged 8+ is a genuinely hilarious affair that combines Trixie’s love of art with her desire to get revenge on those who have wronged her. I particularly enjoyed the mini fact files on artists and how Trixie incorporates them in her pranks while her cynicism is very entertaining. I hadn’t read the first book but will rectify that mistake and I hope there is more in this series.

TRIXIE PICKLE ART AVENGER - TOXIC TAKEDOWN was released in the United Kingdom on 4th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Meet Indi.

She’s new to Manchester with approximately zero friends. Unless you count Gary, who, unfortunately, is a gecko.

If Indi’s going to find some real mates - and maybe even a boyfriend - she’s going to have to FAKE IT.

How else is she going to survive her first job in a chippy, which is anything but glam vibes? And how on earth will she attract school crush, Johnny Hotpants, while smelling like a haddock in a hairnet?

Will Indi get her first kiss? Will she accept her mum’s new boyfriend (yuck)? And will she EVER learn that just being yourself is the most important thing of all?

A HILARIOUS new teen diary series about trying to be cool when you just want to eat chicken nuggets and chat to your pet lizard.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Lauren Layfield’s debut funny coming-of-age novel for readers aged 11+ has some amusing moments (notably Indi’s imagined conversations with Gary the lizard) but I found Indi to be both a very unsympathetic character and also written in such a way that I didn’t believe in her lack of emotional depth or self-awareness. Indi does grow in the final quarter of the book when she is called out on bad behaviour, but for me it was too little, too late.

INDI RAYE IS TOTALLY FAKING IT was released in the United Kingdom on 31st August 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

In a refugee camp in southern Turkey, Elliot Ackerman sits across the table from Abu Hassar, who fought for Al Qaeda in Iraq and whose connections to the Islamic State are murky. At first, Ackerman pretends to have been a journalist during the Iraq War, but after he establishes a rapport with Abu Hassar, he reveals that in fact he was a Marine. Ackerman then draws the shape of the Euphrates River on a large piece of paper, and his one-time adversary joins him, filling in the map with the names and dates of where they saw fighting during the war. They discover they had shadowed each other for some time, a realisation that brings them to a strange kind of intimacy.

Elliot Ackerman’s extraordinary memoir explores how he came to this refugee camp and what he hoped to find there. Moving between his recent experiences on the ground as a journalist in Syria and his Marine deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan, he creates a work of astonishing atmospheric pressure.

At once an intensely personal book about the terrible lure of combat and a brilliant meditation on the meaning of the past two decades of strife for America, the region and the world, Places and Names bids to take its place among our great books about modern war.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Elliot Ackerman is a novelist, journalist and former Marine who received the Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valour and Purple Heart during tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a sparsely written, thoughtful meditation on the US wars in the Middle East and his place in them and his meetings with Abu Hassar (an Al Qaeda fighter) are poignant but his reticence to go deep into the conflict make it a little frustrating at times.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

In January 2314, Rowena Savalas - a curator of the vast archive of the twenty-first century’s primitive internet - stumbles upon a story posted in the summer of 2024. She’s quickly drawn into the mystery of the text: is it autobiography, fantasy or fraud? What’s the significance of the recurring number 381?

In the story, the protagonist Fairly walks the Horned Road - a quest undertaken by youngsters in her village when they come of age. She is followed by the “breathing man”, a looming presence, dogging her heels every step of the way. Everything she was taught about her world is overturned.

Following Fairly’s quest, Rowena comes to question her own choices, and a predictable life of curation becomes one of exploration, adventure and love. As both women’s stories draw to a close, she realise it doesn’t matter whether the story is true or not: as with the quest itself, it’s the journey that matters.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Aliya Whiteley’s standalone SF novel is a technically clever piece of writing (each section of Fairly’s story is exactly 381 words) but its literary nature is one you either absolutely love or really don’t dig. Sadly, I was in the latter camp as there isn’t enough characterisation of Rowena or Fairly for me to engage with while the coming of age theme is under-developed and Fairly’s story so thin that I couldn’t understand Rowena’s fascination.

THREE EIGHT ONE will be released in the USA on 16th January and in the United Kingdom on 18th January 2024. Thanks to Rebellion Publishing for the review copy of this book.

1. Fake Law: The Truth About Justice In An Age Of Lies by The Secret Barrister.

2. Winterland by Alan Glynn.

3. Speak Out, Leonard! By Jessie James and Tamara Angeón.

4. Ella And The Waves by Britta Teckentrup.

5. Be More Harry by Satu Hämeenaho-Fox.

6. Secrets So Deep by Ginny Myers Sain.

7. Be Confident Be You by Becky Goddard-Hill.

8. Scrublands by Chris Hammer.

9. Cash Is Queen by Davinia Tomlinson.

10. Rainbow Magic: Kat The Jungle Fairy by Daisy Meadows.

11. Beast Quest - Ossiron The Fleshless Killer by Adam Blade.

12. Beast Quest – Styx The Lurking Terror by Adam Blade.

13. Sea Keepers: The Missing Manatee by Coral Ripley.

14. The Pug Who Wanted To Be A Fairy by Bella Swift.

15. I Am Enough by Sheridan Stewart.

16. Blue Badger And The Beautiful Berry by Huw Lewis and Ben Sanders.

17. Reinventing Capitalism In The Age Of Data by Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and Thomas Ramge.

18. The Song Walker by Zillah Bethell.

19. Crookhaven - The School For Thieves by J. J. Arcanjo.

20. Rainbow Magic – Hope The Welcome Fairy by Daisy Meadows.

21. Two Places To Call Home by Phil Earle.

22. A Little Book Of The Orchestra – The Clarinet by Mary Auld and Elisa Paganelli.

23. Project Logic – Prove It: How To Think Rationally by Katie Dicker.

24. A Little Book Of The Orchestra – The Violin by Mary Auld and Elisa Paganelli.

25. Beware The Blue Bagoo by Karl Newson and Andrea Stegmaier.

26. The Swifts by Beth Lincoln.

27. Don’t Wake Mum by Eden Wells & Sharon Davey.

28. Wilder by Penny Chrimes.

29. Dread Wood Fear Ground by Jennifer Killick.

30. Dread Wood – Flock Horror by Jennifer Killick.

31. Connected Women by Kate Hodges.

32. Momo Arashima Steals The Sword Of The Wind by Misa Sugiura.

33. The Sad Ghost Club 3 – Find Your Kindred Spirits by Lize Meddings.

34. The Dinosaur That Pooped Easter by Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter.

35. The Stickleback Catchers by Lisette Auton.

36. To The Other Side by Erika Meza.

37. Peter’s First Easter by The World of Peter Rabbit.

38. Stand Up by Nikesh Shukla.

39. The Truth Detective: How To Make Sense Of A World That Doesn’t Add Up by Tim Harford.

40. Superpoop Needs A Number Two by Sam Harper and Chris Jevons.

41. The Shattered Lands by Brenna Nation.

42. Jamie by L. D. Lapinski.

43. Wilder Than The Sea by Serena Molloy.

44. Why Do People Fight Wars? by Ali Brownlie and Alex Woolf.

45. The Kids’ Guide - Dealing With Death by Liz Gogerly.

46. The Ten Percent Thief by Lavanya Lakshminarayan.

47. A Dark Inheritance by H. F. Askwith.

48. The Lizzie And Belle Mysteries – Drama And Danger by J. T. Williams.

49. The Kids’ Guide - Anti-Bullying by Louise Spilsbury.

50. The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries – Portraits And Poison by J. T. Williams.

51. Beano Dennis & Gnasher – Little Menace’s Great Escape by Craig Graham and Mike Stirling.

52. Mr Men Little Miss The New King by Roger Hargreaves.

53. Myriad by Joshua David Bellin.

54. Mr Men Little Miss Sharing by Roger Hargreaves.

55. Mr Men Little Miss Be Yourself by Roger Hargreaves.

56. Not Now, Noor! by Farhana Islam and Nabila Adani.

57. Captain Looroll by Matt Carr.

58. Throwback by Maurene Goo.

59. Rudy And The Secret Sleepskater by Paul Westmoreland.

60. The Artist by Ed Vere.

61. Rainbow Magic – Sara The Party Games Fairy by Daisy Meadows.

62. Ten Minutes To Bed Little Library by Rhiannon Fielding and Chris Chatterton.

63. Breasts: An Owner’s Guide by Philippa Kaye.

64. Flames Of Mira by Clay Harmon.

65. God Save Texas: A Journey Into The Future Of America by Lawrence Wright.

66. Simply Artificial Intelligence.

67. Horrible Histories – The Worst In The World by Terry Deary.

68. I Am You Are by Ashley Harris Whaley.

69. Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland.

70. How To Be A Boy And Do It Your Own Way by Dr Ranj.

71. The Rule Of Three by Sam Ripley.

72. Murder On A School Night by Kate Weston.

73. The Starlight Stables Gang by Esme Higgs and Jo Cotterill.

74. Standing By The Wall by Mick Herron.

75. The Inner Level by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett.

76. The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu.

77. Castle Rock Mystery Crew by Vicky McClure and Kim Curran.

78. The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo.

79. Lads: A Guide To Respect And Consent by Alan Bissett.

80. A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle.

81. The First Move by Jenny Ireland.

82. Rebel Fire by Ann Sei Lin.

83. The Secret Hours by Mick Herron.

84. The Murder Game by Tom Hindle.

85. The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman.

86. Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan.

87. The Leadership House by Patrick Flesner.

88. The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal.

89. The Art Of Being A Brilliant Teenager by Dr Andy Cope and Amy Bradley.

90. Where Are You Really From? by Adam Rutherford and E. L. Norry.

91. The Launch Party by Lauren Forry.

92. Reporter: A Memoir by Seymour Hersh.

93. Lily Grim And The City Of Undone by Andy Ruffell.

94. Diary Of A Pint-Sized Farmer by Sally Urwin.

95. Clarity Jones And The Magical Detective Agency by Chris Smith.

96. Unequal Planet by Anna Claybourne.

97. The Pronoun Book by Chris Ayala-Kronos and Melita Tirado.

98. I Love The Seasons – Summer by Lizzie Scott and Stephanie Fizer Coleman.

99. Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam.

100. My Name Is Sunshine Simpson by G. M. Linton.

101. In The Ends by Alex Wheatle.

If you fancy buying any of these books based on my reviews, then you can do so through Amazon UK, Waterstone's, or Bookshop.org UK. Please note that I earn commission on any purchases made via these links.

The Blurb On The Back:

Welcome to Crongton where your loyalties and wits will be tested …

Jonah’s the fastest sprinter in the ends. But that won’t help his dad find a new job, or stop his parents arguing over how to pay their never-ending bills.

Getting kidnapped by Manjaro, the most notorious warlord in South Crong, wasn’t the obvious solution to all his problems. But Manjaro likes games. And his latest one comes with a map and the promise of a big bag of cash at the end. Cash Jonah’s family could really use …

Jonah and his friends are up for the quest, but will the map lead them to treasure, or into more trouble instead?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The 5th in Alex Wheatle’s YA CRONGTON SEQUENCE is a pacy affair whose portrayal of life on a council estate gives a feel of community and the ambition of its adolescents without downplaying the issues with living there. Wheatle’s got a great ear for dialogue (although I fear that it may date it more quickly than it deserves) and the rapport between Jonah and his friends rings very true such that I need to read the other books in this series.

IN THE ENDS was released in the United Kingdom on 17th August 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Meet … Sunshine Simpson

Sunshine’s larger-than-life Grandad is always telling her to get out and find her own adventures, but unfortunately BAD LUCK has a habit of coming her way.

Her new friend Evie is fast becoming a FRENEMY, her home haircut is a DISASTER, and the school showcase is so STRESSFUL! Everything seems to be going wrong! Especially with Granddad getting older every week.

Sunshine needs to find her voice, but can she break through the clouds to stand tall, stand proud and show the world she can SHINE?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

G. M. Linton’s debut novel for readers aged 9+ (illustrated by Fuuji Takashi and Emily Bornoff and the first in a series) is a sensitively written book about learning who you are and what’s important to you while also dealing with the difficult topic of illness, death and grief. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on Sunshine’s Jamaican heritage and her and her family’s pride in their identity and I look forward to reading more of her adventures.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Storm has never liked to stand out from the crowd. But ever since she started Year 7, her life has been full of people telling her she needs to speak up, make friends and be more like her popular big brother.

Then Storm breaks a school record, and finds herself the new star of the athletics team. But as she’s thrust into the spotlight, her home life and friendships start spiralling out of control, and it’s time for Quiet Storm to show that she has something to say.

A tender, empowering novel about family, friendship and finding confidence in who you are.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Kimberly Whittam’s debut novel for readers aged 10+ is a well observed novel about shyness, anxiety and standing up for yourself. I think that anyone who is quiet or introverted will find it very easy to relate to Storm and her worries and the way Whittam draws the relationships between Storm, Zarrish and Melissa and Storm and her brother is very believable. All in all this is a very strong debut and I look forward to reading Whittam’s next book

QUIET STORM was released in the United Kingdom on 8th June 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

I Love The Seasons - Summer

What do you love about summer? Do you enjoy the long days and playing outside? Perhaps you like summer foods like ice creams?

In this series explore the many different things to love about the seasons and find to how they affect plants and animals. With beautiful illustrations and simple text, the books give younger readers a great introduction to what happens during the seasons.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Lizzie Scott is a writer and editor of non-fiction books for children who particularly loves plants, animals and the environment. Stephanie Fizer Coleman is an experienced children’s book illustrator who loves illustrating birds. This is a beautifully put-together book (part of a series) for readers aged 5+ that explores different aspects of summer and invites readers to think about what summer means to them and what they like about it.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Everyone has pronouns.
We need them to communicate!
Some pronouns you use every day, others may be less familiar.

So what do you do when you meet someone new? It’s simple, just ask: “What are your pronouns?”

Let’s celebrate our different identities and help make the world a more welcoming place for everyone.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Chris Ayala-Kronos is an experienced children’s book editor and writer. Melita Tirado is a experienced illustrator. This is a well-intentioned but ultimately mis-firing picture book that’s aimed at introducing young readers to the use of pronouns but while Tirado’s illustrations are vibrant and diverse, the text itself is trying to do too much and risks confusing with a giant information dump at the end that has no context or explanation.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Unequal Planet

If everyone on Earth was equal, we would all have the same standards of living, opportunities, wealth, health and other factors that make our lives different. But this isn’t the case, the world is not an equal place and many people experience great inequality in their lives.

UNEQUAL PLANET looks at the reasons behind global inequality - from where people are born, to their income, to the impacts of climate change, and suggests some positive, practical solutions to this complex and challenging issue. It also explores what we can all do to help make the world a more equal and better place.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Anna Claybourne is an experienced writer of non-fiction for children. This is a solidly written book for readers aged 9+ that’s part of a series about issues related to the planet and explains what inequality is and how it can come about. Claybourne breaks down complicated ideas in an unpatronising way, but while it generally gets the balance right there are times when it’s a little over-simplified and too broad.

UNEQUAL PLANET was released in the United Kingdom on 10th August 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

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January 2026

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Page Summary

Amazing Sister by Alison Brown
Redsight by Meredith Mooring
Lightspeed: The Ghostly Aether And The Race To Measure The Speed Of Light by John C. H. Spence
Thomas & Friends – Thomas and Bruno by Christy Webster
Big by Vashti Harrison
Hello Summer by Jo Lindley
Meet The Maliks: The Cookie Culprit by Zanib Mian
Iron Robin by Rose Tremain
Hey Duggee – First Day At Squirrel Club adapted by Rebecca Gerlings
Trixie Pickle Art Avenger – Toxic Takedown by Olaf Falafel
Indi Raye Is Totally Faking It by Lauren Layfield
Places And Names: Dispatches Of War by Elliot Ackerman
Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley
Master List Of Books 2023
In The Ends by Alex Wheatle
My Name Is Sunshine Simpson by G. M. Linton
Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam
I Love The Seasons – Summer by Lizzie Scott and Stephanie Fizer Coleman
The Pronoun Book by Chris Ayala-Kronos and Melita Tirado
Unequal Planet by Anna Claybourne

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I Read, Therefore I Blog

A Book Review Blog Belonging to Caroline Hooton

Recent Entries

Amazing Sister by Alison Brown

Redsight by Meredith Mooring

Lightspeed: The Ghostly Aether And The Race To Measure The Speed Of Light by John C. H. Spence

Thomas & Friends – Thomas and Bruno by Christy Webster

Big by Vashti Harrison

Hello Summer by Jo Lindley

Meet The Maliks: The Cookie Culprit by Zanib Mian

Iron Robin by Rose Tremain

Hey Duggee – First Day At Squirrel Club adapted by Rebecca Gerlings

Trixie Pickle Art Avenger – Toxic Takedown by Olaf Falafel

Indi Raye Is Totally Faking It by Lauren Layfield

Places And Names: Dispatches Of War by Elliot Ackerman

Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley

Master List Of Books 2023

In The Ends by Alex Wheatle

My Name Is Sunshine Simpson by G. M. Linton

Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam

I Love The Seasons – Summer by Lizzie Scott and Stephanie Fizer Coleman

The Pronoun Book by Chris Ayala-Kronos and Melita Tirado

Unequal Planet by Anna Claybourne