Strong women: may we know th1em, may we be them, may we raise them.

Little Red gets a bold look and a feisty new attitude in this defiant interpretation of the traditional tale, Little Red Riding Hood. Whilst the tale starts off with the typical classical tone, with Little Red strolling through the woods to deliver a basket of homemade goods to her ailing grandmother, the bold, visually arresting graphic-art style illustrations offer a whole new contemporary twist to the tale. Contrasted against the black and white pages Little Red stands out in her strikingly vibrant red cape and she’s not about to be fooled by any wolf. She’s brave. She’s sassy. And she’s about to take control of her own story. No wolf is going to make her his dinner, no woodcutter is going to sweep in and come to her rescue, instead Little Red holds a plan (and an ax) close to her heart. A witty and satisfying ending - think Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes - even if Grandma’s outcome remains unmentioned.. Be sure to check out Bethan Woollvin’s other witty wonders, Rapunzel and Hansel and Gretel. Find the books via these links Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Red-Bethan-Woollvin/dp/1447291409/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1520953047&sr=1-1&keywords=little+red+bethan+woollvin Waterstones https://www.waterstones.com/book/little-red/bethan-woollvin/9781447291404 Little Red • Bethan Woollvin • Peach Tree Publishers © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

Everyone knows that tigers live in jungles and not gardens right? But when Nora is encouraged by her Grandma to escape the boring confines of the house and explore the garden, Nora is about to discover a whole new world. A world where butterflies have wings as big as your arms, hungry plants try and eat your toy giraffe and a grumpy polar bear who likes fishing, and just maybe, there’s a charming tiger lurking in the garden too.. There’s a Tiger in the Garden is a magical, colourful picture book that explores the power of imagination and the ability to discover untapped worlds when we open our minds. The watercolour style illustrations are simply beautiful. The further Nora ventures into the garden the more detailed and jungle-esque the illustrations become, blending a sense of magical realism with the richly coloured sense of adventure inherent in nature. Plus young readers will love trying to spot the hidden tiger in the earlier pages of the book - a flick of a tail behind a bush, a twitch of an ear beside the pond is not to be missed. Prepare for your imagination to run wild.. 🐯 You can find the book via these links Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Theres-Tiger-Garden-Lizzy-Stewart/dp/1328791831/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1520952751&sr=1-1&keywords=there+s+a+tiger+in+the+garden Waterstones https://www.waterstones.com/book/theres-a-tiger-in-the-garden/lizzy-stewart/9781847808073 There’s a Tiger in the Garden • Lizzy Stewart • Frances Lincoln Children's Books • Quarto Kids © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

Ruta Sepetys, for me personally, is the Queen of YA historical fiction, and her inspiring novel, Salt to the Sea, without a doubt justifies that. In this emotionally gripping read Sepetys draws on the true event behind the sinking of the German military transport ship, the Wilhelm Gustloff, in 1945 - over 9000 civilian refugees on board, including women and children, perished in the sea. Told from the perspective of four fascinating characters, each different ages, from different background but all desperate to flee Germany by any means, even if this is by a dangerous overcrowded vessel in a Baltic port.. Driven and haunted by their own dark secrets, Sepetys weaves together four unforgettable stories into one captivating account. While at times the constant back and forth between each character narrative made me feel a little distant from the characters and somewhat emotionally disconnected, I nevertheless cannot flaw Sepetys’ pure skill at creating such vivid and interesting protagonists. Personal, moving and a deserved winner of the 2017 CILIP Carnegie Medal, Salt to the Sea is a must read for both teens and adults. Perfect for fans of Markus Zusak’s exceptional novel, The Book Thief. You can find the book via these links Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Salt-Sea-Ruta-Sepetys/dp/0141347406/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520951825&sr=8-1&keywords=salt+to+the+sea+by+ruta+sepetys Waterstones https://www.waterstones.com/book/salt-to-the-sea/ruta-sepetys/matt-jones/9780141347400 Salt to the Sea • Ruta Sepetys • Penguin • Penguin Random House • Penguin Teen © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

Prepare yourself to journey across the magical snowy Icelands as we join Stella Starflake Pearl and her three fellow explorers on an unforgettable adventure to reunite with their expedition. But peril and death lurk within the shadows of the snow as the explorers come face to face with a whole myriad of magical curiosities and creatures, some good, some evil, including frost fairies, snow queens, pygmy dinosaurs and carnivorous cabbages.. But can Stella, Shay, Beanie and Ethan cross the frozen wilderness and live to tell their epic tale? I read this book in one sitting - the writing is fast-paced, light toned and engaging, but it was the characters that really made it for me. Stella is a delightfully sassy, brave and determined heroine, someone who isn’t afraid to push the boundaries. And along with Shay, a wolf-whisperer; Beanie, a healer; and Ethan, a magician, they form the perfect explorers club! Reminiscent of Philip Pullman and Katherine Rundell, Bell creates a world both whimsical and charming, perfectly mixing together adventure and fantasy to form a frosty tale to get lost in. But look deeper through the magic and adventure and you’ll see an important meaning between the pages, one of friendship, equality and the acceptance that ‘you can be whatever you want to be’. Sequel out in November 2018! The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club • Alex Bell • Faber Children's Books • Faber&Faber © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

Winner of the Waterstones Children Book Prize 2017 comes a stunning debut novel from Kiran Millwood Hargrave, The Girl of Ink and Stars. Set in the beautifully imagined parallel world, the Isle of Joya, comes an enthralling fantasy-adventure tale, as Isabella, a truly fierce and courageous heroine, sets out on an unforgettable journey to the island’s Forbidden Territories to save her closest friend. But beneath the hidden caves, black forests and smoking mountains, a legendary fire demon is stirring from its sleep.. Kiran’s language is rich and lyrical and the design is beautifully presented inside and out. From maps to margin illustrations, Kiran’s own use of cartography within the pages adds a whole other layer of magic. Steeped in mythology, shrouded in mystery and submerged in magic, Kiran creates a beautiful tale of wonder, friendship and finding your way. Perfect for fans of Philip Pullman, Katherine Rundell and Cornelia Funke, The Girl of Ink and Stars is a tale that will stay with you long after the stars have gone to sleep✨ Get your copy from Bookshop UK here. WHAT TO READ NEXT MORE FROM KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE

Jaw-dropping true stories Survival against the odds The power of the human spirit These are just a few of the tag lines that sum up David Long’s incredible anthology, Survivors. Across 23 extraordinary tales from the wild and beyond, Long recounts stories of incredible bravery, courage and resilience that take place in different times, in different corners of the globe, starring different type of people. These real-life stories of adventure, survival and danger include, Poon Lim, the man who sucked blood from a shark; Juliane Koepcke, the girl who fell from the sky; and Aron Ralston, the canyoneer who cut off his own arm, inspiring the nail-biting film 127 Hours. With straightforward and gripping language and dramatic colour illustrations by the talented Kerry Hyndman, the only thing missing for me was a lack of maps or a table of contents to accompany the hard hitting truths behind these stories. Overall though, a deserved winner of the Blue Peter Book Award 2017, Survivors is a terrifying but inspiring read that will leave readers of all ages gasping in both shock and amazement. Find the book via these Amazon here, and Waterstones here. Survivors • David Long • Kerry Hyndman • Faber Children's Books • Faber&Faber © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

Everyone knows of the worlds most famous princesses, but, there are many, who until now, have remained anonymous, mysterious and forgotten. Equally magical yet far from the fairy-tale crowd, these princesses are finally stepping out of the shadows where they’ve been hidden for far too long.. Whilst there are no tales of poisonous apples, forgotten glass slippers or beauty sleeps that last for a hundred years, Philippe Lechermeier creates tales that are far more unique and captivating. There’s Princess Paige who, everyday, climbs the thousand steps to her library where she reads everything she can find, dreams up titles for her days, and who’s simple quest is to find the perfect pair of glasses. There’s Princess Oblivia, who’s memories are always playing hide-and-seek that she forgets everything, even herself, and not to mention The Unknown Princess, who no one knows exactly who she is, but everyone knows she does exist. Beautifully illustrated by the ever so talented Rèbecca Dautremer, The Secret Lives of Princesses will warm your heart and awaken the inner princess within you. But be warned, whilst their mischief may marvel you and their beauty behold you, there are wild women, lazy ladies and slippery sneaks that hide between the pages. But remember, all princesses are elegant and unique in their own princess way. Find the book via Amazon here, and Waterstones here. The Secret Lives of Princesses • Philippe Lechermeier • Rebcca Dautremer • Hodder Children's Books • Sterling Children's Books © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

From picture books to teen here are some children's books that explore and explain the ongoing refugee crisis and what it means to have to flee you home and have to start your life over. © Francesca Sanna PICTURE BOOKS The Journey • Francesca Sanna Flying Eye Books • 9781911171348 What is it like to have to leave everything behind and travel many miles to somewhere unfamiliar and strange? A mother and her two children set out on such a journey: one filled with fear of the unknown, but also great hope. Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children Book Prize 2017 My Name is Not Refugee • Kate Milner Barrington Stoke Ltd • 9781911370062 A young boy discusses the journey he is about to make with his mother. They will leave their town, she explains, and it will be sad but also a little bit exciting. They will have to say goodbye to friends and loved ones, and that will be difficult. They will have to walk and walk and walk, and although they will see many new and interesting things, it will be difficult at times too. A powerful and moving exploration that draws the young reader into each stage of the journey, inviting the chance to imagine the decisions he or she would make. 9-12 Oranges in No Man's Land • Elizabeth Laird Pan Macmillan • 9781509802920 Ayesha lives in a battle-scarred building with her granny. Outside, a war is ripping the city apart - but Ayesha doesn’t even know why the two sides are fighting. Life gets even scarier when Granny’s medicine runs out. So Ayesha takes matters into her own hands - and in her search for a doctor makes the forbidden journey across no man’s land . . . Welcome to Nowhere • Elizabeth Laird Pan Macmillian • 9781509840472 Twelve-year-old Omar and his brothers and sisters were born and raised in the beautiful and bustling city of Bosra, Syria. Omar doesn't care about politics - all he wants is to grow up to become a successful businessman who will take the world by storm. But when his clever older brother, Musa, gets mixed up with some young political activists, everything changes . . . Before long, bombs are falling, people are dying, and Omar and his family have no choice but to flee their home with only what they can carry. Yet no matter how far they run, the shadow of war follows them - until they have no other choice than to attempt the dangerous journey to escape their homeland altogether. But where do you go when you can't go home? A Story Like the Wind • Gill Lewis Oxford University Press • 9780192758958 A beautifully illustrated story of freedom, music, and seeking refuge. A small group of refugees is crowded on to a boat on the sea. They share their stories as the boat travels towards the dream of safety and freedom. One boy, Rami, has brought his violin, and his story of how the violin was invented, and of a stallion that could run like the wind, weaves through the other stories, bringing them all together into a celebration of hope and of the power of music and story. A very special, beautifully illustrated, fable for all who strive to understand, and to stand together with, those around them. Who Are Refugees and Migrants? What Makes People Leave Their Homes? And Other Big Questions • Michael Rosen • Annemarie Young • Hachette Children's Group • 9780750299855 What does it mean for people to have to leave their homes, and what happens when they seek entry to another country? This book explores the history of refugees and migration around the world and the effects on people of never-ending war and conflict. It compares the effects on society of diversity and interculturalism with historical attempts to create a racially 'pure' culture. It takes an international perspective, and offers a range of views from people who have personal experience of migration, including the campaigners Meltem Avcil and Muzoon Almellehan, the comedian and actor Omid Djalili and the poet Benjamin Zephaniah. Aimed at young people aged 10 and upwards, the book encourages readers to think for themselves about the issues involved. There is also a role-play activity asking readers to imagine themselves in the situation of having to decide whether to leave their homes and seek refuge in a new country. TEEN The Bombs That Brought Us Together • Brian Conaghan • Bloomsbury • 9781408855768 Fourteen-year-old Charlie Law has lived in Little Town, on the border with Old Country, all his life. He knows the rules: no going out after dark; no drinking; no litter; no fighting. You don't want to get on the wrong side of the people who run Little Town. When he meets Pavel Duda, a refugee from Old Country, the rules start to get broken. Then the bombs come, and the soldiers from Old Country, and Little Town changes for ever. Sometimes, to keep the people you love safe, you have to do bad things. As Little Town's rules crumble, Charlie is sucked into a dangerous game. There's a gun, and a bad man, and his closest friend, and his dearest enemy. Charlie Law wants to keep everyone happy, even if it kills him. And maybe it will ... Refugee Boy • Benjamin Zephaniah • Bloomsbury • 9781408894996 Acclaimed performance poet and novelist Benjamin Zephaniah's honest, wry and poignant story of a young refugee left in London is of even more power and pertinence today than when it was first published. Life is not safe for Alem. His father is Ethopian, his mother Eritrean. Their countries are at war, and Alem is welcome in neither place. So Alem is excited to spend a holiday in London with his father - until he wakes up to find him gone. What seems like a betrayal is in fact an act of love, but now Alem is alone in a strange country, and he must forge his own path ... The Bone Sparrow • Zana Fraillon • Hachette Children's Group • 9781510101555 Born in a refugee camp, all Subhi knows of the world is that he's at least 19 fence diamonds high, the nice Jackets never stay long, and at night he dreams that the sea finds its way to his tent, bringing with it unusual treasures. Then, one day it brings him Jimmie. Carrying a notebook that she's unable to read and wearing a sparrow made out of bone around her neck - both talismans of her family's past and the mother she's lost - Jimmie strikes up an unlikely friendship with Subhi beyond the fence. As he reads aloud the tale of how Jimmie's family came to be, both children discover the importance of their own stories in writing their futures. Shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize NOTE: Each synopsis is taken directly from the books blurbs, writing in italics is not my own work.

Inspired by the discovery of the biggest type of titanosaur ever discovered in Argentina in 2014 comes a tale of imagination, childhood spirit and all things dinosaur! When a young girl dreams of having a pet, one that isn’t so ordinary like a cat, a dog or a fish, her mind and imagination wonder to what it would be like to have a dinosaur.. With a mouth to feed and tricks to teach the young girl knows that with a giant pet comes giant responsibilities, but with her determination and the dinosaurs friendly nature, the pair are in for a laugh indeed. Written in lively, witty rhyme and accompanied with charming, childlike illustrations, If I Had a Dinosaur will leave both adult and child wanting a dinosaur of their very own 🦖🦕 If I Had a Dinosaur • Alex Barrow • Gabby Dawnay • Thames and Hudson © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

Love isn’t always easy and Rachel Bright’s slightly hairy, I suppose a bit googly-eyed monster knows all too well of the trickiness of love. For who wants to be the only monster in a town filled with adorably cute, cuddly kittens, puppies and bunnies? So, feeling lonely BUT determined monster sets out in search of love. He looks high, he looks low, he looks middle-ish, but, it’s only when he’s just about to give up that he finally finds what he’s been looking for... With bright, bold and boisterous illustrations Bright perfectly captures the meaning of being different, being yourself and finding love when you least expect it. A wonderfully warm and witty tale to share with your love monsters this Valentine’s Day ❤️ • Love Monster • Rachel Bright • HarperCollins © 2018 Bluebird Reviews