A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals edited by Clare Grace Illustrated by Christopher Corr

Frances Lincoln Children’s Books ISBN 9780711245426  £9.99 This is an excellent book that is great value for money. We travel the world finding out about over 90 celebrations and festivals. There are religious, cultural and historical dates including national holidays. We are given information in appropriate language and plenty of colourful, playful illustrations that engage…

The Tigers in the Tower by Julia Golding

Lion Hudson ISBN 9781782643173 £7.99 What a great idea – take a little-known true story about the Tower of London menagerie and the attempt by its keeper, Alfred Cops, to buy new animals to keep it working as a viable attraction. Add a special delivery from India of two tigers. Weave around it the tale…

The Witch’s Boy by Kelly Barnhill

Piccadilly ISBN 9781848129351 £6.99 This is a magical tale about a young boy Ned, the surviving twin child of Sister Witch.  She uses a pot of magic to help those in need and is called to the palace after saving the Queen’s life.  While she is away the magic escapes and Ned manages to capture…

The Tech-Head Guide: Drones by William Potter

Wayland ISBN 978-1526309662 £12.99 This is an excellent book that is informative and thought-provoking. Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, are playing an increasingly important role in our modern world. The book explains what a drone is and explores the history of drones. The timeline highlights how rapidly they have developed. Then we see a clear…

The Greatest Inventor by Ben Brooks Illustrated by George Ermos

Quercus ISBN 9781786541123 £9.99 From the author of The Impossible Boy comes another fast-paced adventure hooking the reader in from the start: the writer, apparently suffering writer’s block meets a boy with a tortoise who tells him the following tale. Victor is tired of his endless daily chores In Rainwater, so is delighted by the arrival of…

The Abbey Mystery by Julia Golding

Lion Hudson ISBN 9781782643340 £7.99 When her older sister Cassandra breaks her arm in a carriage accident, the 13-year-old Jane Austen is sent to Southmoor Abbey, to act as a companion to Lady Cromwell for a week; all part of the celebration for the son of the house’s coming of age party.  However, it is…

Roman Britain and Londinium Time Travel Guide by Ben Hubbard

Franklin Watts ISBN 97811445157313. £8.99 This colourful, well illustrated, visually appealing addition to the Time Travel Guides series draws in all the major strands of Roman daily life such as religion, housing, leisure, entertainment and military matters, and puts these in the context of Roman Britain, with particular reference to Londinium itself. Even the Latin…