Today we have a bumper edition of reviews of gorgeous books, from imaginary dogs to neon chameleons; a biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to a factual book bursting with fascinating information about sharks; a baby wolf who\u2019s left with bunnies to a goat and a stoat in a boat. And finally, a polar bear who could use that boat to find his way back to his family. There are a lot of animals doing impressive things!<\/p>\n
Get Real, Mallory! by Daisy Hirst, published by Walker Books<\/h5>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/childtasticbooks.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image.png?w=199\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nNomi likes to draw but her brother says she\u2019s only good at drawing fish. Nomi says this is because they have fish, which makes it easier. If they had a dog, she could draw one just as well. But they\u2019re not allowed dogs in their flat, and Nomi becomes so despondent that she crumples up her drawing of Mallory the dog. But then magical things happen! This is a beautifully written and illustrated book, highlighting the power of imagination and celebrating creativity. Gentle humour drives the story forward, and the illustrations cleverly reflect what is happening, and adding further details for sharp eyes. A real treat to treasure; I will be getting more of Daisy Hirst\u2019s books for the library.<\/p>\n
Everything You Know About Sharks is WRONG! by Dr Nick Crumpton and Gavin Scott, published by Nosy Crow<\/h5>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/childtasticbooks.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-1.png?w=888\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nSharks have a bad reputation; you only have to watch\u00a0Jaws<\/em>\u00a0to frighten yourself silly about ever swimming in the ocean again! However, according to Dr Nick Crumpton, and a little boy in Year 1 who wears a shark sun hat and comes up to tell\u00a0me\u00a0things at break time, sharks are not the vicious murderers we imagine them to be. Yes, they are predators, and they will snack on a human if one presents itself at mealtimes, but, in the grand scheme of things, people are hardly ever attacked by sharks (says Dr Crumpton). This is statistically <\/em>speaking \u2013 when you weigh up how many people swim in the seas each year, and the number who are attacked by sharks, the number is surprisingly low. In fact, you are more likely to be murdered by a cow than a shark (22 deaths caused by cows in the USA in 2011 as opposed to 11 shark killings worldwide). I am still not convinced that I would like to swim in a known shark hangout, though. Other facts include the good that sharks do in the scheme of life \u2013 they keep their ecosystem in balance and help combat global warming (by scaring away seagrass-munching animals such as turtles \u2013 thereby allowing these grasses to remain and lock in carbon dioxide). As regular readers know, I am a big fan of factual books and I could happily read this book all day. So, goodbye\u2026<\/p>\nWolfie the Bunny, by Ame Dyckman and Zachariah OHora, published by Andersen Press<\/h5>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/childtasticbooks.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-2.png?w=894\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nDot and her family come home one day to find a basket with a curious baby in it. Mama and Papa are instantly in love but Dot is suspicious. This is not a baby bunny \u2013 it\u2019s a baby wolf, but, no matter how many times she tries to tell her parents, their love goggles make it impossible to get through. As Wolfie gets bigger and bigger, Dot worries that the danger is also growing as exponentially as Wolfie\u2019s appetite. Will Wolfie live up to her expectations? I love Ame\u2019s stories, and Zachariah\u2019s illustrations match them perfectly. They are full of zany humour that have our children rocking with laughter. They also manage to defy expectations in interesting ways. If you want to share a story that is infectiously funny, look no further.<\/p>\n
Leaf, by Sandra Dieckmann, published by Flying Eye Books<\/h5>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/childtasticbooks.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-3.png?w=500\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nA polar bear, perching on a tiny piece of ice, arrives on an island one day and the birds and animals regard it with curious mistrust. The bear makes its home in a remote cave and spends the days gathering leaves; this incomprehensible behaviour earns him the nickname \u2018Leaf\u2019. Soon, he is doing all sorts of strange and dangerous things such as jumping off of cliffs into the sea. The animals are torn \u2013 should they help him or should they keep well away? The illustrations in this story are stunning and Dieckmann conveys so much emotion in the expressions of the animals. I felt tearful reading this, with background knowledge of course as to why polar bears are becoming stranded more and more often. This book is a feast for the eyes, but you\u2019ll need some tissues ready.<\/p>\n
Arthur Who Wrote Sherlock, by Linda Bailey and Isabelle Follath, published by Andersen Press<\/h5>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/childtasticbooks.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-4.png?w=386\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThis is a biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of arguably the most famous detective of all time. We learn how Arthur grew up loving books and stories, a passion developed by his mother. His early life was characterized by lack of money \u2013 he only made it to boarding school because of the financial generosity of some richer uncles. Medical school followed on but in fits and starts \u2013 he had to often take on jobs, such as surgeon on a whaling ship, to afford his tuition. But books and stories always remained essential to his life and one day he sat down to write a story of his own , and we all know how that turned out! I\u2019d bought and enjoyed Linda Bailey\u2019s previous graphic biography of Mary Shelley and this was equally entertaining \u2013 full of fascinating details and wonderful illustrations bringing the characters and settings alive. Fans of Sherlock Holmes will appreciate this background information and the book will hopefully also generate future Sherlock admirers! \u00a0<\/p>\n
The Goat and the Stoat and the Boat, by Em Lynas and Matt Hunt, published by Nosy Crow<\/h5>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/childtasticbooks.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nNomi likes to draw but her brother says she\u2019s only good at drawing fish. Nomi says this is because they have fish, which makes it easier. If they had a dog, she could draw one just as well. But they\u2019re not allowed dogs in their flat, and Nomi becomes so despondent that she crumples up her drawing of Mallory the dog. But then magical things happen! This is a beautifully written and illustrated book, highlighting the power of imagination and celebrating creativity. Gentle humour drives the story forward, and the illustrations cleverly reflect what is happening, and adding further details for sharp eyes. A real treat to treasure; I will be getting more of Daisy Hirst\u2019s books for the library.<\/p>\n
Everything You Know About Sharks is WRONG! by Dr Nick Crumpton and Gavin Scott, published by Nosy Crow<\/h5>\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nSharks have a bad reputation; you only have to watch\u00a0Jaws<\/em>\u00a0to frighten yourself silly about ever swimming in the ocean again! However, according to Dr Nick Crumpton, and a little boy in Year 1 who wears a shark sun hat and comes up to tell\u00a0me\u00a0things at break time, sharks are not the vicious murderers we imagine them to be. Yes, they are predators, and they will snack on a human if one presents itself at mealtimes, but, in the grand scheme of things, people are hardly ever attacked by sharks (says Dr Crumpton). This is statistically <\/em>speaking \u2013 when you weigh up how many people swim in the seas each year, and the number who are attacked by sharks, the number is surprisingly low. In fact, you are more likely to be murdered by a cow than a shark (22 deaths caused by cows in the USA in 2011 as opposed to 11 shark killings worldwide). I am still not convinced that I would like to swim in a known shark hangout, though. Other facts include the good that sharks do in the scheme of life \u2013 they keep their ecosystem in balance and help combat global warming (by scaring away seagrass-munching animals such as turtles \u2013 thereby allowing these grasses to remain and lock in carbon dioxide). As regular readers know, I am a big fan of factual books and I could happily read this book all day. So, goodbye\u2026<\/p>\nWolfie the Bunny, by Ame Dyckman and Zachariah OHora, published by Andersen Press<\/h5>\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nDot and her family come home one day to find a basket with a curious baby in it. Mama and Papa are instantly in love but Dot is suspicious. This is not a baby bunny \u2013 it\u2019s a baby wolf, but, no matter how many times she tries to tell her parents, their love goggles make it impossible to get through. As Wolfie gets bigger and bigger, Dot worries that the danger is also growing as exponentially as Wolfie\u2019s appetite. Will Wolfie live up to her expectations? I love Ame\u2019s stories, and Zachariah\u2019s illustrations match them perfectly. They are full of zany humour that have our children rocking with laughter. They also manage to defy expectations in interesting ways. If you want to share a story that is infectiously funny, look no further.<\/p>\n
Leaf, by Sandra Dieckmann, published by Flying Eye Books<\/h5>\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nA polar bear, perching on a tiny piece of ice, arrives on an island one day and the birds and animals regard it with curious mistrust. The bear makes its home in a remote cave and spends the days gathering leaves; this incomprehensible behaviour earns him the nickname \u2018Leaf\u2019. Soon, he is doing all sorts of strange and dangerous things such as jumping off of cliffs into the sea. The animals are torn \u2013 should they help him or should they keep well away? The illustrations in this story are stunning and Dieckmann conveys so much emotion in the expressions of the animals. I felt tearful reading this, with background knowledge of course as to why polar bears are becoming stranded more and more often. This book is a feast for the eyes, but you\u2019ll need some tissues ready.<\/p>\n
Arthur Who Wrote Sherlock, by Linda Bailey and Isabelle Follath, published by Andersen Press<\/h5>\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThis is a biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of arguably the most famous detective of all time. We learn how Arthur grew up loving books and stories, a passion developed by his mother. His early life was characterized by lack of money \u2013 he only made it to boarding school because of the financial generosity of some richer uncles. Medical school followed on but in fits and starts \u2013 he had to often take on jobs, such as surgeon on a whaling ship, to afford his tuition. But books and stories always remained essential to his life and one day he sat down to write a story of his own , and we all know how that turned out! I\u2019d bought and enjoyed Linda Bailey\u2019s previous graphic biography of Mary Shelley and this was equally entertaining \u2013 full of fascinating details and wonderful illustrations bringing the characters and settings alive. Fans of Sherlock Holmes will appreciate this background information and the book will hopefully also generate future Sherlock admirers! \u00a0<\/p>\n
The Goat and the Stoat and the Boat, by Em Lynas and Matt Hunt, published by Nosy Crow<\/h5>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nSharks have a bad reputation; you only have to watch\u00a0Jaws<\/em>\u00a0to frighten yourself silly about ever swimming in the ocean again! However, according to Dr Nick Crumpton, and a little boy in Year 1 who wears a shark sun hat and comes up to tell\u00a0me\u00a0things at break time, sharks are not the vicious murderers we imagine them to be. Yes, they are predators, and they will snack on a human if one presents itself at mealtimes, but, in the grand scheme of things, people are hardly ever attacked by sharks (says Dr Crumpton). This is statistically <\/em>speaking \u2013 when you weigh up how many people swim in the seas each year, and the number who are attacked by sharks, the number is surprisingly low. In fact, you are more likely to be murdered by a cow than a shark (22 deaths caused by cows in the USA in 2011 as opposed to 11 shark killings worldwide). I am still not convinced that I would like to swim in a known shark hangout, though. Other facts include the good that sharks do in the scheme of life \u2013 they keep their ecosystem in balance and help combat global warming (by scaring away seagrass-munching animals such as turtles \u2013 thereby allowing these grasses to remain and lock in carbon dioxide). As regular readers know, I am a big fan of factual books and I could happily read this book all day. So, goodbye\u2026<\/p>\n Dot and her family come home one day to find a basket with a curious baby in it. Mama and Papa are instantly in love but Dot is suspicious. This is not a baby bunny \u2013 it\u2019s a baby wolf, but, no matter how many times she tries to tell her parents, their love goggles make it impossible to get through. As Wolfie gets bigger and bigger, Dot worries that the danger is also growing as exponentially as Wolfie\u2019s appetite. Will Wolfie live up to her expectations? I love Ame\u2019s stories, and Zachariah\u2019s illustrations match them perfectly. They are full of zany humour that have our children rocking with laughter. They also manage to defy expectations in interesting ways. If you want to share a story that is infectiously funny, look no further.<\/p>\n A polar bear, perching on a tiny piece of ice, arrives on an island one day and the birds and animals regard it with curious mistrust. The bear makes its home in a remote cave and spends the days gathering leaves; this incomprehensible behaviour earns him the nickname \u2018Leaf\u2019. Soon, he is doing all sorts of strange and dangerous things such as jumping off of cliffs into the sea. The animals are torn \u2013 should they help him or should they keep well away? The illustrations in this story are stunning and Dieckmann conveys so much emotion in the expressions of the animals. I felt tearful reading this, with background knowledge of course as to why polar bears are becoming stranded more and more often. This book is a feast for the eyes, but you\u2019ll need some tissues ready.<\/p>\n This is a biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of arguably the most famous detective of all time. We learn how Arthur grew up loving books and stories, a passion developed by his mother. His early life was characterized by lack of money \u2013 he only made it to boarding school because of the financial generosity of some richer uncles. Medical school followed on but in fits and starts \u2013 he had to often take on jobs, such as surgeon on a whaling ship, to afford his tuition. But books and stories always remained essential to his life and one day he sat down to write a story of his own , and we all know how that turned out! I\u2019d bought and enjoyed Linda Bailey\u2019s previous graphic biography of Mary Shelley and this was equally entertaining \u2013 full of fascinating details and wonderful illustrations bringing the characters and settings alive. Fans of Sherlock Holmes will appreciate this background information and the book will hopefully also generate future Sherlock admirers! \u00a0<\/p>\nWolfie the Bunny, by Ame Dyckman and Zachariah OHora, published by Andersen Press<\/h5>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nLeaf, by Sandra Dieckmann, published by Flying Eye Books<\/h5>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nArthur Who Wrote Sherlock, by Linda Bailey and Isabelle Follath, published by Andersen Press<\/h5>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe Goat and the Stoat and the Boat, by Em Lynas and Matt Hunt, published by Nosy Crow<\/h5>\n