Review: Marty Moose: First Class Mischief written and illustrated by Claire Powell

*Published by Walker Books on 6th February*

Marty Moose: First Class Mischief is a first-class start to a new two-colour illustrated series for younger readers – and it’s completely charming and fantastically funny.

Marty Moose is definitely not a moose, but a mouse, but has this name due to the rather unfortunate placement of an ink splodge on his Birth Certificate. It’s his first day as a Postmouse at Little Ditch Post Office and he’s feeling perfectly prepared with his ironed uniform, polished buttons and waxed whiskers. He is both excited and nervous that he is at last able to follow in the paw steps of his Great-Aunt Ada, the greatest Postmouse who ever lived. After introducing himself to 27-times-in-a-row Employee of the Month, Cyril Snorter, he is taken to the sorting room where he takes charge of his first bag of postal deliveries …

With a successful start to his day, Marty is feeling confident, but then things take a downhill turn as he heads underground to Whisker Warren and promptly gets lost. Luckily, he meets Nibbles Frizzby, a brilliantly bonkers rabbit, who helps him deliver his letter and decides to keep help him with the rest of his deliveries … When the two find themselves in a booby-trapped yard with two warring toads, Marty begins to wonder if there is any way to escape … and get home in time for his favourite jam sandwiches. Could his far-from-perfect start to his new job have anything to do with a postal prankster?

Giddy goodness! This book is absolutely gorgeous from the detailed map of Little Ditch to the lively, expressive illustrations to the chapter headings and typography which will offer endless appeal to young readers not to mention the smaller size of the book which suits the tale of a mouse to perfection. And then, of course, there’s the story which is filled with zany humour and just the right amount of peril and scares for younger readers which will keep them giggling and turning pages but not too quickly as there is so much to explore in the illustrations. I really loved Marty’s marvellously awesome alliterative phrases which definitely made me giggle as I have no doubt they will be remembered and enjoyed by young readers.

A terrific tale of fearless friends and postal pranks, guaranteed to delight young readers of 6+ who I have no doubt will enjoy returning again and again to explore Little Ditch as they wait for Marty’s next adventure.

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

Review: Dragon Riders of Roar

*Written by Jenny McLachlan*
*Cover Illustration by Ben Mantle*
*Interior Illustrations by Alla Kharkevich*
*Published by Farshore (an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers)*

I am a huge fan of The Land of Roar series so was super-excited to learn that Rose and Arthur would have more adventures in Dragon Riders of Roar which is an epically brilliant return to the most imaginary place where an incredible adventure awaits.

Twins Arthur and Rose are excited to be returning to spend two weeks in Roar, the imaginary world they have created, a world that becomes real when they crawl through the old camp bed in their grandad’s attic.

But, when Arthur discovers a secret story that Rose has been writing about Roar, he is annoyed that she has been leaving him out and makes a few additions of his own. Catching him reading her story, Rose is furious and they begin to fight with Arthur shoving the book in to the camp bed and Rose retrieving it, but its a fight that ends in giggles and memories of when they were younger, creating their imaginary land of Roar through imaginative play.

Soon afterwards, bursting with excitement and happiness, they crawl through the camp bed and find themselves back in Roar. Calling for her three dragons, Rose and Arthur fly to meet their friends Win and Mitch, only to discover that Mitch is missing! Could something have entered Roar that is a threat to the twins and their friends?

When Rose sees that creatures that she has created in her notebook are now in Roar, she realises that the Dragonlands of her notebook have come to life in Roar and, in order to find Mitch, they will need to travel to the island of Spindrift which is the location of the Dragon Rider Academy, a school where students learn to ride fearsome dragons to protect the island. But, does the island need protection against the terrifying Witch-King, who steals children for his army and leaves changelings in their place? Could there be any truth in the rumours that he is still alive and intent on revenge? And, if so, do Arthur and Rose have enough fire in their hearts to battle a terrifying villain and save both Roar, and someone closer to home, from harm?

Just wow! I absolutely loved being back in Roar with Arthur and Rose and with familiar friends as well as new friends. This is such a thrilling, action-packed adventure that transported me into a richly drawn world of danger, secrets and revelations where I was never quite sure who to trust. I really enjoyed the school setting with its dragon sorter, houses and trials to become Dragon Riders coupled with the rumoured return of a terrifying villain which brings a real sense of peril for those at the school. I also really enjoyed the camaraderie between the twins and their friends which brings lots of humour to counteract the dangerous and tense moments.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations are absolutely stunning and complement this exciting adventure perfectly.

For those who are already familiar with Roar, this will be a much-welcomed addition to this fantastic world, but it can also be read as a stand-alone for those who want to jump into this adventure first, but I have no doubt they’ll then want to read the first three books in this epic series.

Take an exhilarating ride into an unforgettable world of dragons, witches and courageous friends … perfect for young adventurers of 8+.

Thank you to Farhore for providing me with a proof copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Speedwheels 3000: The Race Against Crime

*Written by Jenny Pearson*
*Cover Illustration by Nick East*
*Interior Illustrations by Katie Kear*
*Published by Usborne Books*

An hilarious, action-packed race across Europe, Speedwheels 3000: The Race Against Crime, is guaranteed to win first podium place in the hearts of readers as they join Evie and her dad on an unforgettable, zany adventure.

Evie Clutterbank is determined to have some father-daughter bonding time, but her dad’s attention has not been on his daughter for a long time. Instead, his energy and time is taken with his single-minded determination to win the world’s most famous – and most definitely, craziest – race: The Speedwheels 3000 which races through seven European countries. Can she convince her Dad to take her along as his co-pilot? Of course not! But, Evie has a plan …

Whilst her mum is fully immersed in her efforts to save the slow-worms (yes – seriously!), Evie makes a quick getaway by stashing herself in the boot of her Dad’s car, Toots, after creating a little more room by throwing out his suitcase. If only, she’d known about the lucky pants she’d unceremoniously dumped on the roadside, maybe she wouldn’t be dangling from a cliff with a boot full of stolen gold, and the police on their trail …

And how exactly did she and her Dad end up in this precarious situation? Well, Evie is the perfect person to tell her us about her racing adventures as she allows her brain time to think of a way out of her current unintended death-defying situation …

And what a tale she has to tell! All she wanted was some bonding time with her dad as they share his love of racing through Europe, but what she gets is the high-octane adventure of her life! I mean, yes, there’s incredible danger, car chases, disasters galore and the chance that her dad might go to prison, but there’s also wild camping, a bison traffic jam and a mystery to solve. Can Evie solve the mystery of who wants to frame them as gold thieves? Could it be one of the other competitors? And, is there even the teeniest chance that they could become the Speedwheel 3000 champions?

Oh wow! This is another absolute winner that had me giggling and, at times, sniffling- and not with the cold! As always with Jenny’s books, I loved the blend of humour and heart, the authentic relationships and the action-packed, brilliantly ridiculous situations that arise that guarantee laugh-out-loud moments blended with heart-warming interactions that bring both smiles and tears.

Evie is the most incredible 11¾ year old girl who I absolutely adored as she faces every situation and challenge with such positivity – even that of getting her dad to realise that he can still look for happiness even when something unbearable has happened. The relationship between Evie and her dad is beautifully and authentically portrayed as they find heart-warming moments of connection amidst the zaniness and danger of their race across Europe. I loved Evie’s cheeky, quick-witted, impetuous and confident manner which makes her incredibly likeable, but I can also understand her dad’s frustration with her! I also loved her loyalty to her dad as she stands up for him – even if it sometimes leads to disastrous situations for her had – but hilarious ones for the reader!

The illustrations throughout are absolutely wonderful – full of energy, expression and humour – and complement this brilliant story perfectly.

Race to the finish line with a story that it’d be a crime not to read – a perfect blend of humour and heart wrapped up in race like no other.

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

Review: Hunt for the Golden Scarab (Time Keys)

*Written by M.G.Leonard*
*Illustrated by Manuel Šumberac*
*Published by Macmillan Children’s Books*

Hunt for the Golden Scarab is the first book in an exciting, new time-travelling adventure series, Time Keys that swept me into a rollercoaster of an adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout – absolutely riveting!

Twelve-year-old Sim Lockier lives with his mum, Callidora, in a small attic flat attached to the Sir John Soane’s Museum where his mum is a caretaker. Whilst helping his mum clean the Museum after it has closed for the day, they are disturbed by a man and a boy who should not be there. Running from them, Sim’s mum takes him through a locked door to ask for help from the old man they meet there, telling him that hunters have found her.

The next day, his mum tells him that it is no longer safe for them in London so they have to leave and find his uncle, Emmett, an uncle that Sim has never heard of. After a dangerous journey, where they are chased by a hunter, they arrive at Emmett’s home to discover a red-haired girl, his daughter, Jeopardy.

It is not long before Sim discovers the secret that his mum has been keeping from him: she can open time doors and travel back into the past. She is being hunted by the Council of Keys, an organisation who aim to control time travel, and is convinced they will take Sim if they catch up with them. The Council is searching for an ancient artefact, the golden heart scarab of Neferiti, said to grant eternal youth. Callidora aims to thwart the Council and find the golden scarab before they can use it for any nefarious purposes.

And so begins a heart-racing, action-packed adventure as Sim, Callidora and Jeopardy find themselves heading to Egypt to hunt for the golden scarab. But they are being hunted by someone who will stop at nothing to procure the artefact for the Council. Can Sim and his friends save both themselves and the golden scarab before time runs out? Can they find a door into the past and a way to protect a precious artefact?

I absolutely loved this adventure which has plenty of danger, unexpected twists and turns and a feeling of not being sure who to trust which made it a real page turner. I adore books involving time travel and I loved the idea of a link between music and doors in time that allow those who are keys to travel through time. I also really enjoyed the Egyptian setting which is richly described and gives a wonderful insight into this fascinating time period, especially the death rituals of Pharaohs.

Sim and Jeopardy form a wonderful bond of friendship and make a fantastic team when discovering the clues that may help them foil the sinister Council stealing the golden scarab. They show great determination, astuteness and courage as they face dangers and uncover secrets of the past and present – and learn more about themselves. I’m really looking forward to joining them on their next adventure. I also really liked that this adventure has such a strong, female adult role model in Sim’s mum, Callidora, who clearly adores her son and wants to protect him, even when this means keeping secrets from him, whilst at the same time giving him the skills to defend himself should the occasion arise.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations are stunning and complement this time-travelling mystery adventure perfectly.

An action-packed, exhilarating time-travelling adventure, perfect for young adventurers of 9+.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher, Macmillan Children’s Books, for approving me to read an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blog Tour: The Notwitches written by Gary Panton and illustrated by Dotty Sutton

*Written by Gary Panton*
*Illustrated by Dotty* *Sutton*
*Published by Chicken House Books*

The Notwitches is a feast of fun, heart and hope – a wonderfully wacky adventure that is guaranteed to delight young readers of 7+.

Eleven-year-old Melanda Notwitch lives with not one, not two but three absolutely awful aunts who treat her like their servant, demanding that she do all their chores including boiling notepads and cleaning toe junk from socks! Often feeling sad and upset, the only joy Melanda gets is from using her incredible imagination to write scary, spooky stories. But her cruel Aunt Claggy loves munching paper and crunching paper clips, so delights in snatching her niece’s latest story as a snack.

When the doorbell rings unexpectedly, Melanda opens it to discover an older girl – accompanied by a black cat- in an unconvincing witch costume and a false witch’s nose who gives her a piece of paper and invites her to ‘Join the Witches.’. Of course, Melanda knows she’s not supposed to be a witch, so she closes the door … but later that evening, she hears a noise from under the bed. Rolo, the black cat, has sneaked in and asks her to ‘Join the Witches.’ How can she ignore an almost-talking witch’s cat?

Melanda sneaks out with Rolo who takes her to a cottage where she meets the witch who had visited her earlier that day. Both girls are lonely and in need of a friend so, when Melanda tells Mitch about life with her appalling aunts, Mitch agrees to help her defeat these vile villains. Mitch knows a spell to get rid of the aunts … but it requires an item from a mythical creature.

And so begins the most brilliant, fast-paced, hilarious adventure as Melanda, Mitch and Rolo meet some rather unusual new friends who can help them in their mission. Biker-less bikers, mythical creatures with an unexpected twist, miserable goblins and sleep-deprived rock monsters: wacky and wonderful! Can Melanda find what she needs to defeat her aunts before they catch up with her and return her to a life of misery?

I absolutely loved this adventure which has a perfect blend of humour and heart. I adored the unexpected twists and revelations and the playfulness of the language as well as the incredibly imaginative characters. I also loved the references to the power of stories and the imagination to bring people together and to help when times are difficult.

Melanda is such a wonderful young girl. Despite how cruelly she is treated by her truly horrific aunts, she remains kind-hearted and good. She has not been allowed to go to school or to make friends, so it is wonderful to see her friendship with Mitch develop as they work together to defeat her vile aunts.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations throughout are an absolute delight and really complement the energy, humour and wackiness of this adventure.

A zany, zesty delightful adventure, brimming with humour and heart – perfectly giggle-some fun for young readers.

Thank you to Laura Smythe PR and Chicken House Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour:

Review: Ice Apprentices by Jacob North

Ice Apprentices is the first in an epic fantasy trilogy – and what a start this is! I was completely absorbed in this icy world, its magic, its danger and its diverse inhabitants: a world where danger lurks, where secrets twist and turn and where answers lie hidden for a courageous stray to unearth.

Oswin Fields is an outsider – a stray – found in Tundra (the last settlement in an ice-covered world) and adopted by Lullia, a mother who is harsh and cold towards him. His is a hard life, and one that he doesn’t feel will ever change, so he is shocked when his adoptive mother tells him that he has been selected to train as an ice apprentice in Corridor – a school which trains apprentices to contribute to Tundra’s survival.

Oswin is met with hostility by many in Corridor as they cannot understand why a stray would be asked to become an ice apprentice and also because his surname is synonymous with an uncle who is viewed as a traitor to Tundra. But, when he and another apprentice, Ennastasia, are attacked by a monster they’ve just learned about in a lesson, he might just be the only hope of saving the Corridor …

And so begins an absolutely gripping, action-packed adventure that swept me into a richly imagined world of ice, of monsters and of peril and deception. I found the magical system fascinating and really liked that, as this is part of a trilogy, I know there is lots more to learn – but I was given enough to satisfy my curiosity and leaving me eager to find out more. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns, moments of heart-pounding danger and incredible revelations that made this a real page-turner.

I really liked both Oswin and Ennastasia, and loved the friendship that develops between them, a hard won friendship and one they both desperately need. Oswin is impetuous, tenacious and endlessly curious, but he is also someone who doesn’t feel he belongs and doesn’t feel worthy of the place he has been given in Tundra and the Corridor. Ennastasia, because of who she is, fears opening herself up to friendship, yet Oswin, who doubts his worth so much, breaks down her barriers leading to a genuine, honest friendship that is so heart-warming.

This is an adventure that feels like it has so much more to come, and I cannot wait to join the ice apprentices in their next adventure – especially after that ending!

A breath-taking, perilous adventure into an icy world that will undoubtedly capture the hearts and imaginations of readers of 9+ who will be eager to continue the adventure.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Magicalia: Thief of Shadows by Jennifer Bell

*Written by Jennifer Bell*
*Illustrated by David Wyatt*
*Published by Walker Books*

Magicalia: Thief of Shadows is the second book in the Magicalia series, and it is another terrifically thrilling, heart-pounding fantasy adventure that absolutely enthralled me from start to finish.

12-year-old Bitsy and best friend Kosh are attending conjuring training sessions in an academy kept hidden from the outside world of cosmotypicals. Both children are cosmodynamics with the ability to use a meteoritic stone, a farthingstone, to channel their emotions to conjure magicores – incredible creatures, each with a unique power and close connection to their conjuror.

Whilst Bitsy and the other trainee conjurors have a farthingstone inherited from family members, Kosh feels left out as he does not have one. But, when Kosh is summonsed to the chrysalides, a secret cavern hidden within the academy, for his first lesson, he is asked by the Chancellor of the conservatoire to choose his farthingstone item from those in storage. Accompanied by Bitsy, Kosh is excited to make his choice but just as he chooses, everything goes dark …

When the lights return, the best friends discover that they are under attack from a terrifying thief who can control shadow weapons of darkness – the Shadowsmith. And he is searching for something, something that Kosh and Bitsy have saved from his grasp. Before Kosh can explain to the Chancellor why they have taken the object, Kosh is accused of being the Shadowsmith …

And so begins a brilliantly nail-biting, thrilling adventure as Bitsy and Kosh, with the help of their friend, Mateo, race to discover the true identity of the Shadowsmith before a war is instigated between two worlds, something that the thief’s master is determined to achieve. Can they discover the villain’s identity before the conservatoire catches up with them? Will they be able to prove their suspicions – and their innocence – before time runs out?

Oh my goodness! This is a fantastically fast-paced, gripping adventure that proved to be an irresistible page-turner. I was completely immersed in this adventure with its breath-taking levels of danger, twists and revelations as Bitsy and her friends hunt for clues whilst themselves being pursued by both the Shadowsmith and the conservatoire. Utterly unputdownable!

I absolutely loved the richly drawn, intricate world of Magicalia with its incredible range of magicores who are conjured by the conjurors’ memories of occasions which recall particular emotions. These creatures are each unique and form a strong bond with their conjuror. I loved that their personalities really shine through in their interactions as they support and help their conjuror. I also adored the gorgeous illustrations of these magicores at the start of each chapter as well as the references to them which Bitsy shares with the reader through her mother’s Magicalia encyclopedia.

Bitsy, Kosh and Mateo have formed a wonderfully strong, loyal and supportive friendship making them a brilliant team. They are becoming much more confident and assured when conjuring magicores. They show exceptional strength, courage and resourcefulness when faced with the most terrifying danger, taking great risks to discover the truth, foil a villain and prevent a war.

An exhilarating, action-packed fantasy adventure, guaranteed to hold young readers of 9+ spellbound.

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

Review: Libby and the Egyptian Escapade

*Written by Jo Clarke*
*Illustrated by Becka Moor*
*Published by Firefly Press*

Libby and the Egyptian Escapade is the final adventure in the truly wonderful Travelling School Mysteries series. And what a perfect ending to this fantastic series: an exhilarating, action-packed and intriguing mystery in a wonderfully vivid setting that kept me completely enthralled.

Libby and her best friend Connie arrive in Cairo, ready to participate in another term of learning and exploration with her aunt, Miss Mousedale’s, Travelling School. Meeting up with twins, Sebastian and Noah, and new student Anastasia, it is not long before they are visiting a museum to see some of its ancient treasures, including Tutankhamun’s death mask. And, as in all good school excursions, it ends with a visit to the gift shop where Noah buys a replica canopic jar. But, just as they are about to leave, an alarm sounds and Noah bumps in to a rather rude stranger …

When the children discover that an ancient artefact has been stolen from the museum, they wonder if a mummy’s curse has been reawakened, a curse that brings great danger to those who have the treasure. But the children are not thieves, so why does it feel that danger is following them …

And so begins another intriguing, action-packed mystery as Libby and her friends find themselves in perilous situations as they visit the pyramids of Giza, take a night train to Luxor and even join a cruise on the Nile. Could the children have unleashed a mummy’s curse, or could there be a more logical explanation for the bad luck that seems to be following them on their Egyptian travels?

I absolutely loved following these determined sleuths as they work to unravel another conundrum. I adored the twists and turns, the sense of peril and the uncertainty as to what/who the culprit could be. This is another really clever mystery that kept me turning pages as I was as eager as Libby discover the truth.

I have really enjoyed following Libby and her friends on their adventures with the Travelling School. They have formed such a close bond which feels really authentic and have made a brilliant sleuthing team, always looking out for each other. Despite Libby being distracted by her mum’s search for her dad, she is still determined to get to the bottom of a mystery that puts her and her friends in danger.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations are wonderfully expressive and really capture the perils faced by the friends, and the stunning Egyptian locations they visit, as well as the closeness of the bonds between those who attend the Travelling School.

A fantastic finale to a brilliant adventure series: action-packed, exciting and fun – and perfect for young readers of 8+.

Thank you to Firefly Press for sending me a copy of Libby and the Egyptian Escapade in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The Zombie Project by Alice Nuttall

*Written by Alice Nuttall*
*Cover Illustration by Ali Al Amine*
*Published by Chicken House Books*

The Zombie Project is a gripping, thought-provoking, one-of-a-kind zombie story that completely captured me from start to finish.

Eleven-year-old Merian wakes to a familiar sound: a zombie tapping at her cabin window. Unperturbed by such occurrences, she traps it and drops it into a dead-trap pit and then takes her cat for a walk in the forest … where she is confronted by another zombie. Luckily, friend and ranger, Justin, is on hand to help her deal with the danger. Despite this perilous situation, Merian does not wish to kill zombies as she knows human survival depends on them …

Merian is the daughter of scientist, Dr Gwen Hope, who is the leading expert in the field of death-flies, the world’s most important pollinator after the extinction of many other insect pollinators, including bees. The larvae of the death-flies incubate in humans and are activated when they die, turning them into zombies until the death-flies hatch. This makes zombies a vital part of the ecosystem and instrumental in the survival of the human race, but what if there are those whose greed supersedes the needs of humanity?

As Merian and her mum leave their home to attend a science exhibition in the city where her mum is facing challenge from those with opposing views, they leave behind possible sabotage and head towards dangerous encounters. Will they be able to convince people that zombies are essential to survival, or will others persuade people that they have been fed a lie about the necessity of zombies?

And so begins an action-packed, edge-of your-seat read that I absolutely couldn’t put down. With plenty of scares, horror and unexpected twists and turns, this is a story that completely gripped me as tension builds and danger intensifies to heart-pounding levels. A perfect blend of excitement and terror!

This is such a thought-provoking read with so many powerful messages around environmental issues, media manipulation and influence, corporation control, activism and fake news conflicting with science. I found the portrayal of zombies as both something to be feared, but also absolutely necessary to the survival of humanity, absolutely fascinating. I won’t deny that I found the zombies scary but they also engendered pity and, with dawning realisation, hope.

Merian is an incredible character: strong, determined, resilient and courageous. She understands the importance of the zombies to the ecosystem and, when she makes an important discovery, she takes great risks to ensure the future of the zombies – and the future of humanity! When she finds others trying to manipulate situations, she takes control, often placing herself in danger, to ensure that the truth unfolds.

An unmissable, one-of-a-kind zombie adventure for our time – a thought-provoking story of courage and determination, survival and hope, frights and horror … young readers of 11+ will absolutely devour this!

Thank you to Laura Smythe PR and Chicken House Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The Moonlight Mystery Agency: The Birthday Cake Thief

*Written by Vashti Hardy*
*Illustrated by Agnes Saccani*
*Published by Barrington Stoke (an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers)*

The Moonlight Mystery Agency: The Birthday Cake Thief is the first adventure in a brilliant new series for younger readers.

Hana has always wanted a pet but she gets a little brother instead – a little brother who is allergic to fur. When Arlo takes Hana’s teddy cat, Tibby, she gets cross with him and upsets her little brother. Storming off to her bedroom, Hana calms down by lying on her bed and drawing pictures of the farm she dreams of living on one day.

At midnight, Hana is woken by the sound of tapping at the window and opens it to find a black cat waiting to be let in, a cat with a strange key around its neck – a key which fits the bedstead which belonged to her Great-Grandpa, Monty. But this is no ordinary cat … Ace is a detective cat and a member of the Moonlight Mystery Agency and he invites her to join the Agency.

And so begins the most magical adventure as Hana finds her bed turning into a hot air balloon which takes her to Moonlight where she meets Spark, a bionic unicorn with a rainbow mane who needs her help to find the culprit who has stolen her birthday cake. Can Hana solve her first case before Spark’s birthday party turns in to a disaster? Will she learn a lesson about the importance of kindness and friendship?

I absolutely adored this gorgeous mystery which has all the hallmarks of the author’s fantastic books for middle-grade readers: STEM references, encouraging empathy, magical world-building, steampunk, discovering new places and heart-warming messages of friendship, family bonds and kindness. I have no doubt many young readers will be secretly wishing for an invitation to join the Moonlight Mystery Agency!

The full-colour illustrations throughout complement the story perfectly: magical, vibrant and so wonderfully expressive and full of warmth.

What a fantastic start to a wonderful new mystery series for younger readers of 5+ who I have no doubt will be eager to return to Moonlight again and again.

This book is published by the wonderful Barrington Stoke who publish dyslexia-friendly, super-readable and accessible books for children of all ages. This one is from the Little Gems series of fully-illustrated first chapter books for ages 5-8.

Thank you to Barrington Stoke for sending me a copy of The Moonlight Mystery Agency in exchange for my honest opinion.