Welcome back Bookworms!
The Bea and I had the most wonderful weekend away with family - birthdays, Gilmore Girls, decorating the Christmas tree and a quick viewing of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (I could give this a post of it's own, I loved it so much!) - but!
I can assure you, it wasn't all fun my friends, I was determined to put in the hard work for all of you and mercilessly hassled my nieces (5-12) for their best book recommendations. Here's what they're reading now, and hoping for from Santa.
1. Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty
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Andrea Beaty continues the tradition of naming her heroes after amazing real life world-changers - Ada Marie is named for the incredible female scientists, Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie. This story is great for little girls, to inspire their curiosity and love of science, and for boys too, to learn more about the female scientists who have changed our world. A friend also mentioned to me that it would be great for kids with Aspergers as Ada displays many characteristics in common with them. I personally love the bonds of family:
"They watched their young daughter and sighed as they did,
what would they do with their curious kid,
who wanted to know what the world was about
They smiled and whispered, we'll figure it out".
It's a must, best suited for 5-7, though the Bea at two and a half adores the rhyme and illustrations. Keep an eye out for what's causing the mystery smell and for some familiar faces among Ada's school friends at Blue River Creek!
2. The Great Big Enormous Book of Tashi, by Anna Feinberg and Barbara Feinberg
"Well, it was like this". And so begins the many (32!) amazing tales of Tashi, the little boy from very far away, sold by a warlord but saved by a swan. Tashi came to me via my now eight year old niece, who has loved this series since she was about six and a half. Miss A tells me that she loves these books because they're funny and because she loves seeing how Tashi will escape his next near disaster, always through outsmarting the baddies and "using his brains". He's funny and clever (and his best friend Jack is pretty cool too. Not so much Jack's Dad who always asks the wrong questions!).
She assures me that boys and girls will love this book (everyone in her class did) and they're good for kids from six and up.
3. Ballet Cat - Dance, Dance, Underpants by Bob Shea
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Ballet Cat loves to dance with her friend Bear and can't understand why, oh why, he keeps coming up with excuses not to boogey! All is revealed in the final pages...quite literally.
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Cute illustrations, a cat with attitude and some extremely honest friends - what's not to love? It's a great giggle for 5-6 year olds and their parents.
4. Hilda and the Troll by Luke Pearson
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Darling Niece A, please stop reading now....
Is she gone? Good! This is the book that I picked up for her for Christmas! Best for kids seven and up, who love fantasy and adventure, this is the story of Hilda, who lives with her mother and deerfox, Twig. In this, the first of Hilda's adventures, she meets a mysterious Wood Man and a rock. Shaped suspicously like a troll...
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5. Smart about Sharks by Owen Davey
Full disclosure - I am crazy about sharks. Loves of my life if I'm honest (in addition to the Bea and Harry Potter, of course). Perfect for the ocean lover in your life, this illustrated guide to sharks is divine and bursting with information about these amazing creatures. Younger ones will need some help getting through the text, however the illustrations are awesome and do most of the explaining so I think kids from six would love this.
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Informative and beautiful, and perfectly timed to combat the "maneater" messages we get on our televisions every summer, I love that it encourages passion about these amazing creatures and understanding about their importance and beauty.
6. Zog, by Julia Donaldson
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Julia Donaldson is a genius. We adore all of her books in our house, especially Snail and the Whale, Room on the Broom, Gruffalo and Paper Dolls (which will have it's own special post soon!). The downside of her popularity of course is that it makes these books really hard to buy as presents - chances are the little people in your lives will have them already. So, may I present, for all kids five and up, ZOG!
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Not as well known as the others but just as brilliant, Zog tells the story of a dragon, his years at dragon school and his blossoming friendship with a helpful and brave girl who is always there to help him when his dragon lessons go wrong. One day, Zog discovers something surprising about his new friend - she's the Princess Pearl! But does she really want to be a Princess? Kidnapped and rescued and wearing frilly dresses? This book is brilliant for turning traditional gender roles on their heads (for both girls and boys) and the rhyming language packs the usual Donaldson charm. Keep and eye out for the sequel - Zog and the Flying Doctors!
7. Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
Remember how I'm not such a fan of Princesses? Well. That still stands BUT my niece (at five, a firm Princess fan) insisted that The Princess in Black join our gift list as a book that boys and girls will like.
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Funny and packed with adventure, this series offers respite from the usual princess story. Princess Magnolia is tough and brave but also enjoys the finer frilly things in life. After all, why can't a girl try everything?
There's four books in the series, with the latest, "Princess in Black Takes a Vacation", released in November.
Happy reading bookworms - hope your Tuesday (and your Christmas shopping!) brings you the kind of joy that can only be felt on the first page of a new favourite book.
Book and the Bea x
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