Wild is a beautifully illustrated, inspirational hardback picture book which celebrates the wonderful wildness of nature and the joy and freedom to be had in our connection to it.

Written in first person, this story follows a young girl who enjoys the freedom and wildness of the woods. Climbing into the branches of a tree to get closer to the sky, she sees the birds flying above her as she shouts her name into the air – just joyous! The woods is a place where her imagination ignites and she sees both secrets and stories around her. Her love for this wild place shines brightly through both the lyrical language and the beautiful illustrations.

But one day, the little girl leaves her wild woods behind. Moving to the city, she is surrounded by grey buildings taller than trees and loses her wildness, feeling her own loneliness and that of the city. Until one day, a friend calls to her and takes her on a journey to discover the hidden wildness in this urban environment … can she find the wildness within herself?

This is an incredibly inspirational and uplifting story that shows us that the natural world can be found in the most unlikely of places if only we are prepared to notice the small things, the hidden treasures, and to search for the wildness that lies within, and close to, the urban landscape.

I absolutely loved the poetic imagery within the story: I can’t climb [buildings] fish scale sides, gulls scribble themselves into the sky, a twist of fox. I also really enjoyed that it is written in first person and in the present tense which brings a feeling of immediacy, taking us into the world of the little girl to connect with her experience as she explores the city and finds the wildness within.

The illustrations are absolutely stunning and perfectly express the changing mood of the little girl as she enjoys the colourful wildness of the woods at the start of the story, changing to the dull grey of the city with her bringing the only colour into this landscape. As she connects with her wildness again, the colour palette moves through a blend of colour and greyness to a much more colourful palette. I also loved the endpapers with their repeating images of plants, leaves and insects – perfect for young children to use as part of a nature trail to see how many of these they can find.

A stunning tale of the wild beauty of nature and our connection to it in unexpected places, bringing joy, hope and a wildness within.

Thank you to Walker Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Gargoyles: The Watcher is the second action-packed, perilous adventure in this mesmerising, magical trilogy, an adventure that completely captured me as I returned to Gargoyle’s Rest to join young Callen and his friends as they search for a missing magical creature…

Eleven-year-old Callen has just begun his Guardian training with his gargoyle, Zariel, when his Dad reveals that Oculus, the organisation who oversee all magical Sources, is coming to visit. Ahead of their visit, they are sending a Watcher to ensure that the magic now flowing from the restored Source beneath Gargoyle’s Rest is no longer tainted by dark magic. This Watcher will also assess Callen to ascertain whether he has the qualities needed to be sole Guardian with the responsibility of keeping the Source open to protect the magic which flows from it bringing to life the gargoyles and other magical creatures that live close to the Source.

Whilst Callen is understandably worried that he does not have enough training to pass the upcoming assessment, Zariel reassures him that she will always be with him as he undertakes his Guardian training, including learning to fly on a gargoyle and developing sword skills with his Dad. Callen is also worried about his friend, Angus, who is determined to find his kelpie who saved them from a grotesque created by dark magic, but has now disappeared … Can Callen convince the Watcher that he is a suitable Guardian? Can he help Angus find his lost kelpie and return this dream creature home? And, could dark magic be contaminating Sources as a magical blight spreads beyond Gargoyle’s Rest, enabling the ghasts to hunt again, but who has created them?

I absolutely loved this action-packed adventure which is brimming with excitement, danger and brilliant twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat as I was never quite sure who Callen could trust and in what direction peril came. Callen’s loyalties are tested as he strives to protect both the Source of magic and his friends who dream the magical creatures who rely on the flow of pure magic from the Source for their existence. I really enjoyed the fascinating magical system which is linked to strong emotions, some of which are capable of creating ghasts, creatures of dark magic, but I really liked that there is hope for those tainted by this dark magic. I also loved that the Source brings to life the most wonderful magical creatures including the gargoyles and the creatures created by Dreamers including kelpies, fairies and forest imps who bond with, and help, those who dream them.

Callen is a wonderfully courageous, loyal and determined young boy. He has become a Guardian to protect his family and friends, but is still learning what this role entails when he suddenly finds himself being judged by the Watcher who holds the power to take both his gargoyle and his new home if he doesn’t meet his high standards. Callen finds himself in a real dilemma when he is faced with difficult choices: is his loyalty to his friends endangering his duty to the Source, or could there be a way to ensure that he can protect both?

An enthralling, magical adventure brimming with wonderful friendships, fantastical creatures and the light of hope.

Thank you to uclan publishing for providing me with a copy of this book. It was my decision to write a review and my review is my honest opinion of the book.

The Narzat and the Shifting Shadow is the next hilarious, heart-warming adventure for the Narzat and his friends – and what a rip-roaring, arr- mazing tale it is!

An ancient pirate ship, The Shifting Shadow, sails over the treetops of the Jumble Jungle Wood, intent on capturing more creatures to add to their monstrous menagerie before unleashing a terrifying takeover …

Meanwhile, the Narzat and his friends have just finished a day at the Jungle School where the Narzat’s favourite subject is monster studies led by the wise Giant Taught-Us. After school, they visit their favourite place, the Jumble Jungle Wood Cafe which is run by a grumpy gorilla, Pertinax, who loves cooking but not customers! As a storm blows up outside, the candles are blown out and the Cafe is plunged into darkness. Heavy footsteps approach … and the Gloom Badger, second-in-command to the legendary Captain Carver, reveals himself.

He has come for the Chatty Chirper, the only creature who can read the map that reveals the location of a great treasure, the eggs of the Gorgonaconda, a two-headed snake whose eyes can turn those who look into them into stone. And why should the Chatty Chirper agree to become the Captain’s navigator? Because the Captain has someone he thought he’d never see again …

The legend of Captain Carver has travelled far, a fearsome, terrifying pirate but, despite this reputation, the Narzat and Looky Lizard are determined to help their friend. But the Chatty Chirper does not want to lead his friends into danger although they may just have other ideas … Can these firm friends come together to defeat a vile, vicious villain? Can they survive aboard the Shifting Shadow and amongst its nefarious crew?

What a joyous delight! An action-packed, laugh-out-loud adventure that kept me utterly entranced! I absolutely loved the blend of humour and heart, the playfulness of the language, and the imaginative brilliance of the jungle creatures such as the retractable giraffe, the gossip gibbons and the dandy-lion … and so many more! What a fantastic opportunity for children to create their own jungle creatures and monsters! Oh, and did I mention the twists and revelations – just brilliant!

I absolutely loved being back with the irrepressible Narzat and his two best friends. They have so much to teach others about friendship, kindness, encouragement and working as a team. They show real courage, but will their bravery be enough to defeat a monstrous miscreant who rules by instilling fear in others?

The full-and-partial page illustrations are brilliant – energetic and expressive – and complement the humour and heart in the story perfectly.

Venture into the Jumble Jungle Wood for an adventure brimming with humour and heart, with daring and danger, a magical place where pirates prowl and friendships flourish.

Thank you to Mikka at Everything with Words for sending me a copy of The Narzat and the Shifting Shadows. It was my decision to review this title and my review is my honest opinion.

Fyn Carter and the Legends from Atlantis is the second instalment in this thrilling sci-fi adventure series – and what a brilliantly exciting return it proved to be!

12-year-old Fyn and his friends may have escaped the Agents of Eromlos but they are not safe as the agents are still hunting them, determined to gain something that only Fyn can give them. Can Fyn find a safe way back to Earth and save himself, his family and his friends from the danger that follows them? Can he find out what happened to his father before he has to find a way to leave?

When Fyn returns to Homehill, the village where his father had been, he discovers that it has been attacked and destroyed by the Agents. Finding one of the young villagers, he tells Fyn that the villagers have escaped and gone to their secret refuge. Fyn and the others take the young boy there where they are reunited with the village leader, Rogan. He tells them of an ancient Atlantean legend, of a powerful mechanism that can both defend and destroy. Could this weapon exist and are the Agents capable of using it against the people of Eromlos? But there is another legend from Atlantis, the legend of a boy who is a descendant of Atlantis, a boy with the power to open windows between worlds … with the power to bring hope …

And so begins another action-packed, exhilarating adventure, as Fyn and his friends face great peril both from the earthquakes that are becoming more frequent and the agents who will stop at nothing to get to Fyn. I absolutely loved this explosive adventure and learning more about Fyn and his connection to Ermolos which is a parallel Earth. I really liked the setting of the snowy mountains combined with the danger from deep within the earth. I loved the twists and turns, the breathtaking revelations and the sense of unease from the uncertainty of who Fyn could trust.

Fyn is an incredibly courageous young boy who takes great risks for his friends to ensure that they are safe. But he is also someone who feels guilt and who doubts himself. Having others believe in him really helps him to believe in himself. Amy is a wonderfully supportive and loyal friend to Fyn. I also have to mention Henry Flame who is just the most adorable fox who is such an encouragement and comfort to Fyn. I adored the close bond between Fyn and his Grandad Bernie which is just gorgeous.

A gripping, action-packed adventure, perfect for readers of 9+.

Thank you to the author, Ian Hunter for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour and for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour:

A Flash of Neon is a contemporary fantasy which completely enthralled me: a story of family and friendship, an exploration of selfhood, and of the power of stories and creativity to change lives.

14-year-old Laurie helps out in her mums’ bookshop, Every Book and Cranny, and enjoys both the stories within the books and imagining the stories of the customers. Whilst her mums are heading to London for a week long book promotion, she has secretly invited her best friend, Neon, to visit. She has told him to catch the bus from the train station in Inverness to her small town on the banks of Loch Ness. But this plan is scuppered when best friends, Caitlin and Hannah, insist that she meets him at the station – and they’re coming too! Laurie is not surprised when Neon does not get off the train and her friends even admit that they don’t believe he exists. But then she hears her name, and Neon steps into her life. But that should not be possible as she created Neon six months before … he only lives in her imagination and in the online life she has created for him …

But now she’s taking this boy home, a boy whose story matches exactly the life she has created for him, but can he be the friend that she deserves and needs? And what happens when Neon’s reality comes crashing into her world? Can they work together to defeat the ominous Blanks who have followed Neon? And, will Neon be able to find a home in her town, or will he be forced to return to the realm of imagination?

This is such a fantastic, imaginative delight of a story that completely enthralled me. I absolutely loved the fantastical elements from the mythical creatures to the ominous destroyers of creativity to the imaginary-friend turned real. I really liked that Neon did not exist just in Laurie’s imagination but that she has made him real to others through creating his online presence, almost like a form of catfishing, so that others accept him readily into their lives.

As well as the fantastical elements, this is a story very much grounded in the contemporary. Laurie has projected the things she doesn’t have in her life, but would like to have on to Neon, such as friends who love and accept her as she is, confidence and an ability to perform in public without being crippled by fear and self-doubt.

She is such a sympathetic teenager who has lost her best friend from primary school when she went to secondary school and is not really sure how this has happened, and doesn’t know how to resolve this growing apart. She has drawn the attention of two of the popular girls in school, Caitlin and Hannah, but doesn’t always feel welcome within their friendship, especially when they are together, with them often teasing her and smirking at her. They can be really mean to her and put her under pressure to address things that she isn’t really ready for, or which she still doesn’t know about herself, including her feelings about attraction. But Caitlin and Hannah can also be kind to her, especially when they are not with each other, and this is something that really confuses Laurie and is perhaps instrumental in her creating Neon to offer her some sort of protection and relief from their more toxic friendship – and to make her feel ‘normal’ within the friendship trio.

Neon shines so brightly and is a real force of nature, exuberant and excitable, with a real talent for singing, dancing and playing instruments. I adored the friendship between Laurie and Neon and loved how he supports her, defends her, and encourages her to believe in herself and to be true to herself.

I also loved that this story celebrates the positive power of books and the imagination to bring people together, to make connections, to reignite memories and to celebrate difference. It is so important that young people can see themselves in stories and also empathise with others so I really enjoyed the inclusivity within the story and the timely message of the current worry around book censorship. Children learn so much through wandering through stories, about themselves and others, about acceptance and kindness, and I only wish more adults would wander through these stories too.

A marvellously mesmerising story of finding friendship, of the power of imagination and of having the courage to shine brightly … an unmissable, unputdownable read for children of 11+.

Thank you to Little Tiger for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Pia’s Pet Club: Puppy Problem is the first in a gorgeous new illustrated chapter book series, and what a delightfully charming, fun read it is!

After only three days, almost-nine-year-old Pia is already bored of the summer holidays which she is spending between her dad’s new flat and her mum’s terraced home after their recent separation. Pia absolutely adores animals and longs for a pet, something which neither of her parents will allow her to have, despite her best efforts at trying to persuade them.

Pia is busy putting up her pet posters in her bedroom in her Dad’s flat when she hears barking from outside … When she looks out and sees a boy from her year, Hari, in the communal garden with an adorable labrador puppy, she quickly goes to meet him. After helping untangle Hari from his puppy’s lead, he introduces her to both Luna, his six-month old puppy, and his older dog, Basset hound Raja. Friendly and chatty, Hari shares that his mum doesn’t like Luna as she is too disruptive and she has told him he has to train her before his Nani arrives for a visit from India. Hari only has four days left – and the training has not been successful! Luna, who is somewhat an expert in pets, offers to help train Luna and Hari readily agrees.

And so begins a fantastically funny, heart-warming adventure as Luna’s training doesn’t quite go to plan as her exuberant energy leads her, and Pia, into trouble. Pancake chaos, paint mayhem and so many more laugh-out-loud situations. Can Pia and Hari work together to train Luna before his Nani arrives or risk losing her? Can Pia help her other friends with training their pets and even form her own Pet Club?

This is an adventure that both young readers who already have pets, and those who want a pet, will adore as they follow an incredibly likeable young girl, Pia, as she forms new friendships and helps her friends with their pet problems. She understands the responsibility of looking after a pet and takes this seriously by preparing herself for pet ownership through reading about how to look after pets and watching shows about looking after them. She is hopeful that she will one day be allowed a pet and, in the meantime, is happy for her friends who have their own pets, helping them train them. I also really liked the focus on reasons as to why people might be more wary around pets which shows how important it is to be a responsible pet owner, and to offer reassurance to those who are more frightened around pets.

The illustrations throughout are just gorgeous and really complement the humour and warmth in this adventure as well as the strong bonds of family and friendship.

Paw-fect for young readers of 7+ who will be eager to become honorary members of Pia’s Pet Club as they follow her animal adventures in this hilarious, heart-warming series.

Thank you to Georgia at Usborne Books for sending me a copy of Pia’s Pet Club: Puppy Problem. It was my decision to read and review, and my review is my honest opinion.

Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for the second hilarious adventure for the Narzat – and this one’s got pirates! Today, I’m sharing a post from the author, Luke Marchant, about his inspiration for including pirates in this new adventure for the Narzat.

What inspired me to write about pirates

Why are pirates so fascinating? Because they Arr!

If you haven’t said that line out loud in a suitably pirate-y voice, please go back and do it again. Go on. I’ll wait for you.

That’s better! You see, pirates are many things—dangerous, naughty, villainous, adventurous and more—but above all… they’re great fun! They are the ultimate rule-breakers, and the moment you see them turn up in a story, you know that there’s going to be trouble afoot. There’s something timeless about a brutal buccaneer.

I’d finished the Narzat and I’d been faced with a bit of a problem. The first book had two dastardly villains, and I needed someone or something that could match them in terms of danger and deviousness. Luckily, an answer passed my eyes that day.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking. What? You mean a pirate walked past you that day? Whatever! Well, in actual fact, hundreds of pirates passed me that day. You see, the Brixham Pirate Fest was happening that very week. Hundreds of pirates (or people dressed as pirates, it’s always hard to tell) were catching the bus, checking their phones or—in the case of one bearded gentleman— doing their hair in the reflection of a shop window. Apart from a range of spectacular costumes, there was something indescribably fun about a huge gaggle of pirates.

I had my answer. Why try to find two more dangerous villains, when I could have a whole crew of them? I’d always loved pirates and their adventures growing up—and the idea started to grow. I set about reading Treasure Island for further inspiration (as an aside, I love the links to Tarzan from the first book, so it was great to visit another classic adventure story for the sequel).

But, with this being the Jumble Jungle Wood, my pirates needed a bit of a twist. The image of a huge and ghostly pirate ship stalking across the tree-tops of the jungle-wood started to emerge, and the Shifting Shadow began to take shape. It was great fun creating the motley crew of Jungle Pirates themselves—some of them are downright fierce and fearsome (such as the mysterious Captain Carver, and the cunning Gloom Badger) and others are utter scoundrels (I doubt you’d want to run into the explosive ba-baboon or a giant tiger-gator on the high seas)! And maybe, just maybe, there’s more to some of them than meets the eye…

Above all, I wanted the jungle-pirates to be a group of baddies that readers (young and old) would remember—the type of villains that inspire laughter and booing alike. There’s something wonderfully fun about a real scoundrel.

And how do you know you are enjoying reading about these pirates? Because you Arr!

Thank you so much to Luke for providing me with this post and for Mikka at Everything with Words for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour:

Finders of Silverthorn Forest is the first book in a new series about a secret world hidden within our own – an endearingly charming, magical adventure that completely enchanted me from start to finish.

Young Max is busy in his grandma’s garden at Pickwick Cottage, digging holes, trying to find something precious: his grandma’s memories box which she buried when she was 10 years old during a solar eclipse. She wants to find the time capsule and open it before the next solar eclipse which is only a few days away, something that now seems impossible as she has sold her cottage to move in with Max and his mum who have come to help her with the move.

Max can see his grandma’s disappointment when he hasn’t found her treasure in the garden so, when she tells him that she might have buried the time capsule under an old oak tree in the woods, and gives him a map to its location, he is determined to investigate …

Next morning, Max heads into the woods and finds the ancient oak tree which has a rope ladder leading into a treehouse. Climbing into the treehouse, he is surprised to find shelves of labelled items, and something he’d lost the day before. He is even more shocked when he hears footsteps approaching and someone climbs into the treehouse, and he meets Tuftorious Snook, a Finder who scavenges lost objects using his whiskers.

We Finders have what we call the Golden Rule: Finders Keepers.

Hoping that he can convince the other Finders to let Max go back to his grandma’s cottage, Tuft tells them that Max is a friend who they can trust not to reveal their secret existence in Silverthorn Forest. But when they discover that Max has broken an important Finder rule, they banish him from the forest and Tuft is tasked with taking him home.

The seeds of friendship have been sown between Max and Tuft over a cup of tea so, when Max asks him to help him find his grandma’s memory box, Tuft agrees to help, a decision that leads them into an adventure filled with danger, discoveries and daring deeds. And, when Max discovers that great danger threatens the existence of Silverthorn Forest, can he find the courage to save Tuft and the other Finders before time runs out?

I absolutely loved this adventure and adored the idea of hidden creatures living a secret life amongst humans, scavenging the things that humans have thrown away or lost and keeping them as treasures with a fantastic re-naming system or re-using them as much-loved items such as chipped teacups and mismatched footwear. I loved the environmental messages within the story about the importance of caring for the environment, re-using and re-purposing items and looking after our ancient woodlands. I hope that this is a story that will encourage young readers to get out into nature and explore its wonders … great treasures might just be waiting for them.

Max and Tuft are the most wonderful, adorable characters who quickly form a bond of friendship and mutual trust. I loved how kind-hearted and curious they are and how willing they are to support each other, including by bending the rules, when others are much more set in their ways.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations, including chapter headings and borders, are stunning and really capture the warmth and charm of this adventure perfectly. And there’s a map – always a perfect addition to a story!

This story is a treasure of a find, which will capture the imagination and hearts of young readers of 7+, as they venture into the forest to discover the most magical adventure.

Thank you to Walker Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Well April went quickly! This has been a much better reading month for me as I had most of the Easter holidays to catch up on my reading – and it’s a Bank Holiday weekend again!

Books I’ve read:

I’ve read 18 books this month. My highlights were Shrapnel Boys, Inkbound and Dragonborn (middle-grade books) and The Crimson Moth (adult book).

NetGalley:

I have three books on my Netgalley shelf and, despite temptation, have only requested one book in April. My feedback ratio is at 98%.

Books sent by publishers:

I am grateful to have been sent 12 books by publishers this month.

Books Bought:

I’ve bought 6 books this month:

How has your reading month been? Have you read any of these? Have you any of them on your TBR?