I’m a massive fan of Suzy Senior’s vibrant, giggling-inducing, lighthearted picture book Octopants! Octopants tells the story of young octopus and his quest to find a pair of perfect pants that will fit all eight of his legs! But finding a pair of octopants proves much harder than he thought until he discovers the wonder of the Under-Sea Emporium, a shop that sells all kinds of clothes from bobble hats for barnacles to slipper socks for seals! The octopus realises that he’s been looking for the wrong item of clothing all along so he buys something else instead... Suzy's fun rhyming text makes this a page-turning delight. The little octopus is a really endearing character, and you really feel for him over how disheartened he is for not finding a pair of pants. But Suzy's important message that, no matter if you have eight legs, a tale or a fin you’ll always find something that’s perfect for you, shines bright and beautiful. And not to mention Claire Powell’s vibrant and lively underwater illustrations! Claire's vision of the Under-Sea Emporium and all the sea creatures in all their quirky underwater underwear is just fantastically fun. NB: I received this wonderful picture book of behalf of Toppsta for an honest review! Toppsta is a brilliant children's book review site where the books are read and reviewed from a child opinion. You can sign up for a chance to win giveaways, browse books, review books and keep up to date with their blog posts. Sign up on Toppsta here today, you won't be disappointed! IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY...

The Lion Inside No matter your size, we all have a mouse AND a lion inside! Rachel Bright's The Lion Inside is one of my favourite picture books of all time! It's an utterly feel good story about one little mouse trying to make himself heard and noticed among the other animals and discovering along the way that even the smallest of us has the heart of a mighty lion. Bright’s rhyming is on point and Jim Field’s illustrations are fantastically quirky! The contrasting personalities of the mouse and lion are so effortlessly expressed through the tiniest details, whilst important messages of bravery, finding your voice and making friends positively radiates from both. A must for fans of Julia Donaldson and Lu Fraser's The Littlest Yak. MORE FROM RACHEL BRIGHT... IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY...

Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival is perfectly perfect. Norman had always been perfectly normal, until the day he grew a pair of wings. But Norman never imagined a life with wings and afraid of what his parents and school friends might think, Norman hides his wings under a big, stuffy yellow coat. But life proves even more difficult under the constraints of a coat - bath times prove problematic, playing in the park is no longer fun and, Norman doesn’t want to go to friends parties anymore. With gentle encouragement by his parents, Norman finds the courage and acceptance he needs to shed off his coat and show off who he really is. The illustrations are truly wonderful. Norman is the only character displayed in colour compared to his black and white surroundings and this contemplates the story’s theme perfectly. The final spread especially is magnificent! Children need books like this to show them that it is okay to be yourself and to embrace being different and unique. I encourage all children and adults to read this one. I simply can’t wait to see what Tom’s newest book, Ruby’s Worry, will bring! MORE IN TOM'S 'BIG BRIGHT FEELINGS' SERIES... IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY...

If you haven't come across any of best-selling author Emma Carroll's middle grade books yet I highly recommend to give her a search right now because you won't be disappointed. Carroll, in my opinion, is the queen of historical fiction. With Sky Chasers set in 18th century, Pre-Revolutionary France during the reign of King Louis and Marie Antoinette, to a thrilling historical murder mystery set in the winter of 1881 in Frost Hollow Hall, to an enthralling adventure of mystery and courage set in the Second World War in Letters from the Lighthouse, it goes beyond saying that Carroll deserves this title. Middle grade historical fiction is continually taking up a bigger sector of the children's fiction market each year. In the last few years there was Lauren Wolk's hauntingly beautiful historical novel set during the 1920s Beyond the Bright Sea; Hilary McKays World War One tale The Skylark's War; and Lucy Worsley's dramatic and touching alternative stories of women across history including Queen Victoria in My Name is Victoria and Princess Mary, the daughter of Henry the Eighth and Catherine of Aragon in Lady Mary. And not to mention popular historically set series like Julia Golding's 'Cat Royal' series set across 1790s London, and Katherine Woodfine's Edwardian London 'The Sinclair's Mysteries' series. Emma Carroll has been steadily carving a niche as a writer of evocative and spine-tingling middle grade children’s fiction, justifiably earning her writing comparisons not only with classic children’s writers including Joan Aiken but also Michael Morpurgo and Philip Pullman. Emma Carroll is roughly churning out on average one new book a year, and Faber & Faber have already announced the exciting news that Emma will return to World War II with a thrilling new short story collection: When we were Warriors, to be published February 2019. Here's a list of Emma Carroll's books so far! You can see my personal reviews on Carroll's books on my home page, including my recent review of the fantastic Sky Chasers. 2018 Secrets of a Sun King London, 1922. A discovery from ancient Egypt... A cursed package... The untold story of a young pharaoh... When Lilian Kaye finds a parcel on her grandad's doorstep, she is shocked to see who sent it: a famous Egyptologist, found dead that very morning, according to every newspaper in England! The mysterious package holds the key to a story... about a king whose tomb archaeologists are desperately hunting for. Now Lil and her friends must embark on an incredible journey - to return the package to its resting place, to protect those they love, and to break the deadly pharaoh's curse. The author of the Waterstones bestseller, Letters from the Lighthouse, Emma Carroll returns with a classic exploration story that takes readers to the heart of the Golden Age of Egyptian archaeology. Full of twists, turns, sinister discoveries, hidden tombs, firm friends and deadly curses, brought together by Carroll’s firm sense of real history, Secrets of a Sun King is the ideal summer adventure. Sky Chasers A encounter with a boy dangling from the sky changes pickpocket Magpie's life forever. Like her, the boy dreams of flying over the rooftops of Paris. His family, the Montgolfiers, are desperate to be first to discover the secret of flight. Together with Pierre, Magpie is soon caught up in a world of inflatable bloomers, spies and a trio of unruly animals in a race to be the first to fly a hot air balloon - in front of the King and Queen of France. 2017 Letters from the Lighthouse February, 1941. After months of bombing raids in London, twelve-year-old Olive Bradshaw and her little brother Cliff are evacuated to the Devon coast. The only person with two spare beds is Mr Ephraim, the local lighthouse keeper. But he's not used to company and he certainly doesn't want any evacuees. Desperate to be helpful, Olive becomes his post-girl, carrying secret messages (as she likes to think of the letters) to the villagers. But Olive has a secret of her own. Her older sister Sukie went missing in an air raid, and she's desperate to discover what happened to her. Then she finds a strange coded note – a note that changes everything and which seems to link Sukie to Devon, and to something dark and impossibly dangerous. 2016 Strange Star They were coming tonight to tell ghost stories. 'A tale to freeze the blood,' was the only rule. Switzerland, 1816. On a stormy summer night, Lord Byron and his guests are gathered round the fire. Felix, their serving boy, can't wait to hear their creepy tales. Yet real life is about to take a chilling turn- more chilling than any tale. Frantic pounding at the front door reveals a stranger, a girl covered in the most unusual scars. She claims to be looking for her sister, supposedly snatched from England by a woman called Mary Shelley. Someone else has followed her here too, she says. And the girl is terrified. This breathtaking new book from Emma Carroll, the critically-acclaimed author of Frost Hollow Hall, The Girl Who Walked On Air, In Darkling Wood and The Snow Sister, is a deliciously creepy story inspired by the creation of Frankenstein, and is brought to life by a leading talent in children's literature. 2015 In Darkling Wood 'You're telling me there are fairies in this wood?' When Alice's brother gets a longed-for chance for a heart transplant, Alice is suddenly bundled off to her estranged grandmother's house. There's nothing good about staying with Nell, except for the beautiful Darkling Wood at the end of her garden - but Nell wants to have it cut down. Alice feels at home there, at peace, and even finds a friend, Flo. But Flo doesn't seem to go to the local school and no one in town has heard of a girl with that name. When Flo shows Alice the surprising secrets of Darkling Wood, Alice starts to wonder, what is real? And can she find out in time to save the wood from destruction? 2014 The Girl Who Walked on Air Louie, who was abandoned at Chipchase's Travelling Circus as a baby, dreams of becoming a 'Showstopper', but Mr Chipchase keeps her hidden, tucked away in the ticket booth. No Death-Defying Stunts for her. But Louie has been secretly practising her act - tightrope-walking - and dreams of being the Girl Who Walked on Air . . . she just needs to be given the chance to shine. And the circus needs her too - Wellbeloved's rival show is stealing their crowds. They need a Showstopper. Desperate, Mr Chipchase reluctantly lets Louie perform. She is a sensation, and gets an offer from the sinister Mr Wellbeloved himself to perform ... over Niagara Falls. But nothing is quite as it seems and soon Louie's bravery is tested not just on the highwire but in confronting her past and the shady characters in the world of the circus ... Fans of Frost Hollow Hall will love this epic adventure about following your dreams and becoming a showstopper! 2013 Frost Hollow Hall The gates to Frost Hollow Hall loomed before us. They were great tall things, the ironwork all twisted leaves and queer-looking flowers. And they were very definitely shut. Tilly's heart sinks. Will's at the door of their cottage, daring her to come ice-skating up at Frost Hollow Hall. No one goes near the place these days. Rumour has it that the house is haunted . . . Ten years ago the young heir, Kit Barrington, drowned there in the lake. But Tilly never turns down a dare. Then it goes horribly wrong. The ice breaks, Tilly falls through and almost drowns. At the point of death, a beautiful angel appears in the water and saves her. Kit Barrington's ghost. Kit needs Tilly to solve the mystery of his death, so that his spirit can rest in peace. In order to discover all she can, Tilly gets work as a maid at Frost Hollow Hall. But the place makes her flesh crawl. It's all about the dead here, she's told, and in the heart of the house she soon discovers all manner of dark secrets . . . Frost Hollow Hall is a thrilling historical fiction debut. Told in Tilly's unique voice, it is a tale of love and loss, and how forgiveness is the key to recovery. All the book synopsis included have been used from Waterstones, you can shop all of Emma Carroll's books via their website here. © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

Emma Carroll is the queen of historical fiction for kids! Combine Carroll's literary craftsmanship with a prizewinning story idea about the first air balloon flight from Neal Jackson, and you have a wonderful tale of adventure, spies and unsung heroes. Set in Pre-Revolutionary France during the reign of King Louis and Marie Antoinette, Sky Chasers, follows Magpie, a young orphan destined to stand out when she unexpectedly becomes involved in the country’s race to become the first to fly a hot air balloon! Sky Chasers is beautifully written and perfectly captures 18th century France. Emma has created a truly magnificent character in the form of Magpie - she’s smart, strong and spirited, and born to stand out. Her determination and will to follow her heart and chase her dreams makes her a character that all young readers will look up too. You’ll be soaring in the air alongside Magpie with every turn of the page. Get your copy from Bookshop UK here. WHAT TO READ NEXT DISCOVER MORE BY EMMA CARROLL

For the majority, William Shakespeare isn't introduced to young readers until around their GCSE's when a range of Shakespeare's most popular plays are introduced. And even these plays can be almost a culture shock compared to the mass market books on offer today. Shakespearean language, content and flow are not for the fainthearted, but his plays and poetry are filled with wit and wisdom, tenderness and magic, mischief and merriment. William Shakespeare is one of the greatest playwrights the World has ever known and I was very lucky to be introduced to his imagination at such a young age through Andrew Matthews collection of Shakespeare stories. If you’re looking for a child friendly twist on Shakespeare stories then I can’t recommend this series of books by Andrew Matthews and illustrator Tony Ross enough. There are 16 of William Shakespeare’s most popular and engaging plays within the collection of paperbacks and each makes an excellent introduction to Shakespeare for young readers. Tony Ross’s captivating illustrations is what brings these classic plays to life with a unique and new twist, and Andrew Matthew’s writing is accessible and simplified to make the plays more understandable and enjoyable for young readers. There are lots of other fantastic child approachable Shakespeare stories and here are some of my favourites. The Orchard Book of Classic Shakespeare Verse by Gina Pollinger, illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark An exquisite collection of Shakespeare's writing featuring favourite passages of verse, familiar to many, along with lesser-known pieces, all of which sparkle in the mind and fire the imagination. The poems and verse have been carefully selected to ensure that even younger readers develop a lifelong love of the Bard and his timeless legacy. Published by Hachette Children's Group you can shop this book via Waterstones here. A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories by Angela McAllister, illustrated by Alice Lindstrom Step on to a stage full of stories with this beautiful anthology of 12 stories from Shakespeare. Featuring much-loved classics such as The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Othello, each story is rewritten in a comprehensive way that is accessible for children and stunningly illustrated by collage artist Alice Lindstrom. This lavish follow-up to A Year Full of Stories and A World Full of Animal Stories is the perfect gift for book lovers young and old. Published by Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd you can shop this book via Waterstones here. Poetry for Kids: William Shakespeare edited by Marguerite Tassi, illustrated by Merce Lopez This beautifully illustrated hardback book offers an enchanting introduction into the work of William Shakespeare. With more than thirty of his most famous and accessible verses, sonnets, and speeches, the words and poetry of one of the greatest playwrights in history is magically brought to life on the page. With whimsical, watercolour illustrations by rising talent, Merce Lopez, each poem is also accompanied with an explanation by an expert and definitions of important words to give kids and parents the fullest explanation of their content and impact. Usborne have published some beautiful hardback illustrated stories of Shakespeare that make a perfect introduction into Shakespeare's plays and poetry. You can shop The Usborne Complete Shakespeare via Waterstones here. The Usborne Illustrated Stories from Shakespeare here, and the shrink-wrapped, luxurious cloth-bound edition, making it a gift to treasure here. Tales from Shakespeare by Marcia Williams Marcia Williams retells fourteen of Shakespeare's best-loved plays in her trademark witty, accessible style. Take your seats in the Globe Theatre as Marcia Williams presents fourteen of Shakespeare's most famous plays. From the heartbreaking tragedy of Romeo and Juliet to Puck's hilarious escapades in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Marcia brings Shakespeare's stories vividly to life. Published by Walker Books Ltd you can shop this book via Waterstones here. As for Shakespeare inspired books suitable for younger children, around 5-8 years of age, Shakespeare Sticker Book and See Inside World of Shakespeare. both published by Usborne are fantastic! Shakespeare Stick Book allows children to tread the boards and learn about William Shakespeare with these hilarious and progressive sticker scenes. And See Inside World of Shakespeare takes you back 400 years to visit rowdy playhouses and royal palaces and discover Shakespeare's tales of doomed princes and mischievous fairies causing trouble. With over 70 flaps to lift and lively illustrations, this book brings to life the world of Shakespeare and his best-loved works from Romeo and Juliet to A Midsummer Night's Dream. You can shop Shakespeare Sticker Book via Waterstones here, and See Inside World of Shakespeare here. © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

I’m obsessed with Maz Evans’ Who Let the Gods Out series, if you haven't read them yet then you're seriously missing out ⚡️ A super, hilarious adventure series full of Greek mythology, brilliant characters and a dash of saving the world drama! Here are my reviews! Who Let the Gods Out (Book One) Everyone knows and loves Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson - half boy, half god, all hero. Riordan absolutely nailed it when he brought Greek mythology into children’s literature as it’s an idea that’s rarely drawn on within the diverse and broad world of kids lit. I’m a massive fan of myths, legends and folk tales, especially the Greek Gods, so coming across Maz Evan’s Who Let the Gods Out I was VERY excited! Twelve-year-old Elliot Hooper has a lot on his plate: he’s being bullied by a teacher at school; his mums health is disorienting; his home is under threat, and to top it all off he accidentally discovers that Gods are real and finds himself drawn into an ancient mythological war with the fate of the world hanging in the balance! Maz has such a fresh, time relevant, hilarious outlook on the Greek Gods. The scenes with the Zodiac Council were especially my favourite - bringing to life the star signs was a magical touch. But in between the laugh out loud moments, Maz perfectly grounds the novel with the touching relationship between Elliot and his mother and Elliot and Virgo’s friendship. Who Let the Gods Out is a brilliantly fast-paced adventure story that will have kids, and parents, reading way past their bedtimes ⚡️ Simple the Quest (Book 2) I absolutely LOVED Who Let the Gods Out and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the eagerly anticipated second instalment, Simply the Quest! Elliot, by far is one of my all time favourite characters, and I was so excited to carry on with his continuing friendship with Virgo, and also with his moving relationship with his mum, but did it match up to the first? Oh boy it matched up and more! The book literally absorbed me from page one and the pages practically turned themselves as I laughed, cried and cheered with Elliot and his motley crew of Gods. Simply the Quest follows on almost directly from Who Let the Gods Out as Elliot and the Gods try to prevent Thanatos, the daemon of death, from getting his hands on the Chaos Stone. We meet a bunch of new Gods and Underworld characters along the way, likes Hades and Persephone, and Maz is excellent at writing her villains - Nyx is terrifying but hilarious. However, the story is extremely poignant in parts, such as Elliot’s mums worsening dementia, that I had tissues on hand. Maz Evans is an extremely talented author to be able to capture such a perfect depth and balance of adventure and humour versus emotion and sensitive subjects in a middle grade novel is masterful. The characters are so realistic, genuine and hilarious that if I could have a dinner with anyone in the world it would be with Elliot and the Gods! Simply the Quest is true to the pun - simply the best!⚡️ Beyond the Odyssey (Book Three) As you know from my past reviews, I’m a huge fan of this series! Who isn’t?! Throughout the series we meet Elliot as he teams up with the Greek Gods (who have abandoned Olympus and now live on earth with Elliot and his mum) to search for the Chaos Stones, to prevent Thanatos from ruling the world! Keeping up with the hilarious, breath-taking, fast pace of the previous two books, Beyond the Odyssey, offers just as many twists and turns, laughs and tears, as Elliot and the Gods try to track down a potentially magical potion that could cure Elliot’s mums dementia. The tone of the book felt a lot darker compared to the others, as the stakes are incredibly high for Elliot, but Maz still maintains the hilarious humour that the series is known for. The odyssey begins with new characters, old favourites, new places, old haunts, but can Elliot save his mum, even if it means sacrificing the fate of the world? I absolutely cannot wait for the fourth instalment - Against All Gods (Book Four) is out February 2019! Pre-order now via Waterstones here.

Wizard of Oz meets Pinocchio in Pádraig Kenny’s debut novel Tin. A science-fiction fairy-tale centred around a group of young mechanicals who set out to rescue their friend Christopher, a mechanical boy with a real soul. I loved the overall storyline - robots discovering what it means to be human, along with the mysterious terms that Kenny imagined up like ‘ensoulment’, and ‘refined propulsion’ which I was completely captivated by. But, sadly for me, the novel fell flat throughout. Whilst the plot twist had me hooked and the punchy short chapters kept me reading, it unfortunately fell short of my expectations. Kenny captured a brilliant tale of friendship, bravery and what it means to be human, but it lacked the adventure and drive that I craved for from the cover. I wanted more from the fascinating alternate 1930s Britain that Kenny dipped into and the parallel tin version of Emerald City that the cover suggests, but I felt this element was pushed to the sidelines and was made to feel shapeless and detached from the rest of the action. There was so much emphasis on trying to create a grand finale, that I lost all emotional attachment I had from the start of the novel. Kenny’s character development fell short as well. Whilst certain characters were captured better than others, like Round Rob and Mr Absalom (what becomes of him we’ll never know), but Jack and Christopher, two of the main characters, lacked the personality and distinguishability that could have made them great. Overall this book had the potential to be a special gem amongst a very overpopulated genre, but just because the book wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a read. You can buy Tin via Waterstones or Amazon! Tin • Pádraig Kenny • illustrations by Katie Hickey • Chicken House Books You can check out more of Katie Hickey's wonderful illustrations here!

The Secret of Black Rock follows the adventurous and fearless Erin Pike, a fisher-woman’s daughter, and her dog Archie, as they set out to discover the legend of the Black Rock - a gigantic, dark and fearsome mass that is capable of moving throughout the seas and destroying any boats that come near it. Fascinated by these tales, Erin sneaks on board her mother’s fishing boat to find out the truth. Only to discover that the Black Rock is actually a gentle, friendly creature who is home to an abundance of beautiful sealife. But can Erin protect Black Rock and stop the town from destroying the magnificent creature? A daring adventure story that explores themes of acceptance and bravery, but also weaves together a gentle environmental message that our own living habitat needs to be treated with care and protection. By the end of the story you’re not only left cheering for the positive ecological slant in which nature wins over machines, but also for the female centred protagonists. To come across a female version of Tintin is great, and to see Erin’s single mother succeeding in a typically male dominated profession is amazing! And not to mention the illustrations - the bright, bold graphics are infused with a mystical charm that beautifully captures the sharp contrast between land and sea. A big congratulations to Joe for winning the Waterstones Illustrated Book Children’s Book Prize 2018 - a winner on many levels ✨ You can buy The Secret of Black Rock via Waterstones here! Or via Flying Eye Books! The Secret of Black Rock • Joe Todd-Stanton • Flying Eye Books

From the moment the baby arrived, it was obvious he was the boss.. With drinks made to order 24/7, a private jet plane and meetings made around the clock, this boss baby is used to getting his own way. But how far can his demanding nature go before he must succumb to new lengths to achieve the attention he deserves. Marla Frazee brings brilliant wit and humour in the form of this suit onesie wearing boss, and the retro style illustrations deliver those extra necessary punch lines. Although in picture book form this is a definitely a humorous, tongue-in-cheek tale aimed more at new parents, or older siblings - think a funky, simplistic parenting guide with a ‘sigh of relief’ ending. 👶🏼 The Boss Baby • Marla Frazee • Simon & Schuster Children's Books © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

Meet Petra, a mighty, irresistible, eternal little rock who has an exciting adventure ahead of her. When uprooted one day by a dog, Petra suddenly finds herself in constantly changing circumstances. In the plants she is a mountain. In the pond she is an island. In a nest she is an egg. And tomorrow? Who knows what she will be. But she’s a rock, and this is how she rolls! With delightful pastel coloured illustrations (very much Jon Klassen style), and brilliant facial expressions by Petra, this story puts a lighthearted spin on the concept of change and growing. By the end of the story the little rock’s ability to find joy and excitement in her constantly changing situation is inspiring and encourages children to find the positives in new experiences and transitions. Petra is a humorous, feel-good picture book that celebrates imagination, the power of perspective and believing in yourself. Petra • Marianna Coppo • Tundra Books © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

The Journey is a beautiful, heartbreaking, powerful, hopeful, very necessary book by the talented author, Francesca Sanna. Told through the eyes of a family who need to uproot their home and journey across the unknown to find safety, The Journey is ultimately, an empathic tale that encompasses the unsettling reality of the countless number of refugees who fight everyday to cross lands and borders to hopefully reach a place that is promised to be safe. It is an honest portrayal of the horrors of forced migration and the devastation of war, but also of the unconditional love of a mother and her natural instinct to protect her children. We witness the family look up into the sky and see a flock of migrating birds that do not face the barriers that they do. Sanna’s richly block-coloured illustrations are both haunting and graceful, but the fairy-tale like settings and the sensitive cased metaphors resonate at just the right tone for young readers. This book is vital. For young readers and old. A picture book that will evoke questions, encourage empathy and fundamentally help children to understand the world we live in. The Journey • Francesca Sanna • Flying Eye Books © 2018 Bluebird Reviews