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: Shadowhall Academy: Ghost Story Society

*Written by Phil Hickes*
*Cover illustration by Keith Robinson*
*Published by Usborne*

Shadowhall Academy: Ghost Story Society is the second spooky adventure in the Shadowhall Academy series which opened with The Whispering Walls. This is such a welcome return to Shadowhall Academy where the ever-curious and determined Lilian finds herself immersed in another spine-tingling mystery … a creepy, chilling adventure that kept me utterly gripped from start to finish.

It’s midwinter and the start of a new term at Shadowhall Academy. Lilian and her friends, Serena, Marion and Angela are sneaking out of their room to attend a secret meeting in the library: the inaugural meeting of the Shadowhall Ghost Story Society. But what should have been deliciously, spooky fun turns into something much more menacing when an uninvited guest tells a truly terrifying tale … a dark tale from the academy’s past involving the manifestation of secrets entrusted to a sinister book.

Where there’s a mystery waiting to be solved, there’s Lilian determined to unravel it. Following a trail of clues soon leads Lilian and her friends to the drama room and the discovery of an ancient book: could this be the book which captures secrets in its whispering pages? What better way to prove if this is the book of secrets than to give it one? Despite her unease, Lily is determined to uncover the truth so she writes a secret and places it in the book …

And so begins a truly spine-tingling mystery as Lilian and her friends battle against an adversary intent on bringing their deepest secrets and nightmares to life. Could Lilian have unwittingly put her friends lives in danger? Can she find a way to outsmart an adversary that holds the knowledge of secrets and is prepared to use them against Lilian and her friends?

I absolutely loved the blend of eighties boarding school life with a chilling, creepy mystery which felt deliciously unsettling. This is an absolute page-turner that had me on the edge of my seat and gasping at some of the twists, cliffhangers and revelations as the danger intensified. There are some genuinely scary and jumpy moments, especially when secrets revealed relate to your own fears. I was absolutely gripped by the piecing together of the clues from the past to discover whether the book of secrets held real power. I loved the feeling of time running out as danger moved inexorably closer, wondering if the friends would be able to extricate themselves before it is too late … genuinely heart-pounding moments!

A firm friendship has developed between Lilian, Serena, Marian and Angela but will it be able to withstand Lilian’s determination to solve the mystery despite the increasing danger? Will they continue to support each other when their friendship is put to the test?

A superbly sinister mystery guaranteed to bring frissons of fear to those brave enough to open the pages and discover its secrets … perfect for readers of 9+.

Thank you to Jessica Feichtlbauer and Usborne for sending me a copy of Shadowhall Academy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blog Tour: All Brains are Wonderful written by Scott Evans and illustrated by The Boy Fitz Hammond

All Brains are Wonderful is an inclusive guide to help children talk about their brain power – and what a brilliantly informative and much-needed book this is! Perfect for both class and school libraries and for parents to use as a guide for young children to help understand and celebrate the diverse ways brains work and the unique way in which their own brain works.

The book is divided in to three sections focusing on science, society and taking action, each with clear explanations and lots of bright, fun illustrations and diagrams to aid understanding.

Science: Children are going to be utterly fascinated by some of the facts in this section from brain size comparison with other animals, how their brain begins, how it controls their body, how it helps them to understand the world, how they can train their brain and the challenges they may face. I really liked the analogies which helps with understanding alongside the illustrations and labelled diagrams. I also liked that children are not ‘talked down to’ but are given the correct scientific terminology alongside labelled diagrams to aid understanding.

Society: This sections focusses on the uniqueness of our brains and shares how neurodivergent people’s brains often work differently, helping young children who may be neurodivergent to understand why they may think, learn, communicate and process information differently but also emphasising that their neurodivergence is a special and unique part of them. I think any text that helps children – and adults- understand others encourages empathy and inclusion. The sections on discrimination and the importance of word choice when talking about neurodivergence will help children understand the importance of being inclusive and challenging stereotypes.

Taking Action: This section focusses on ways that children can ask for help from others when needed and also ways in which they can keep their minds healthy and happy. I loved the Mindful Maintenance section which is such a brilliant way to share with young readers ways to look after their unique and wonderful brains. The final section on What Can You Do? really empowers children to celebrate differences, to question and challenge stereotypes and bullying and to show empathy towards others through knowledge, acceptance and understanding.

This is an incredibly engaging, uplifting book that addresses young readers directly, helping them focus on their own unique brains. There are so many positive and empowering messages within the book that I really hope young readers take on board as they grow and develop their wonderful brains. I absolutely loved the message about being curious, asking questions and being a critical learner as they grow into their own person. Many young learners fear failure so it is wonderful to see a strong message about mistakes being stepping stones to success. I’m a firm believer that knowledge is power and I think that reading this book will really empower both children and adults to understand neurodivergence, recognise and challenge stereotypes and discrimination and develop empathy.

As a teacher, I think that All Brains are Wonderful is a much-needed and brilliantly informative, engaging read for both adults and children. It provides a perfect opportunity to open up discussion about neurodiversity and mental health issues. This is a book I cannot recommend highly enough to both class and school libraries, and to parents who want a book to help them open up a conversation about neurodivergence with their child.

Who’s behind the book?

Scott Evans is a neurodivergent primary school teacher, reading for pleasure adviser and enthusiast, and the children’s books consultant, content creator, critic and influencer, also known as The Reader Teacher.

The Boy Fitz Hammond is an illustrator who lives in Edinburgh. He has worked with various clients including Oxfam, Shelter, BBC, Honda, Microsoft and the Barclays Premier Leage.

Dr Rachel Williams is a neuroscientist researching the science of the senses, currently focussed on hearing. Rachel has featured on broadcast, live and live-streamed events for clients including the BBC, Wellcome Collection and Cheltenham Science Festival.

Thank you to b small publishing for inviting me to be part of this Blog Tour and for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion. You can check the other posts at:

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: Guardians of the New Moon: Ming and Miaow’s Great Race/The Year of the Rat

Guardians of the New Moon: Ming and Miaow’s Great Race and The Year of the Rat are the first two books in an exciting, action-packed and new series steeped in Chinese mythology.

Ming and Miaow’s Great Race

The Jade Emperor is bored but, when he looks into his magical pool, he sees something that gives him an idea that fills him with excitement. He decides to invite the animals of Earth to compete in a race where there will only be 12 winners with each winner having a lunar year named after them as a prize.

Meanwhile, temple cat Miaow is enjoying life as a guardian, frightening away intruders and getting rid of rats. Just as he finally has a pesky rat, Su, in his paws, they are interrupted by a visit from the Chief Consul to the Jade Emperor who tells them that they have both been selected to take part in the Great Race.

After agreeing to the offer, they find themselves at the start of the race alongside other animals taking part including Ming, a nine-tailed fox. Whilst Ming is gregarious and eager to make friends, Miaow prefers being on his own, finding it difficult to make friends. But when Ming helps him during the race, Miaow begins to realise that having a friend may be just what he needs during the race … especially as someone is intent on sabotaging his chances of finishing the race.

And so begins a wonderfully exciting, action packed adventure as the animals compete in a race through forest, mountain and river to be one of the fortunate twelve to reach the finish line. I really enjoyed the trickery and danger as events in the race heat up which made this a wonderfully fun and engaging read.

A wonderful friendship develops between Miaow and Ming who are polar opposites. Miaow is much more of a loner with a reserved, thoughtful nature whilst Ming is much more sociable with a more fiery, impetuous temperament. Together, they balance and complement each other and make a great team.

The Year of the Rat

Impressed by Ming and Miaow’s resourcefulness and kindness, the Jade Emperor has appointed them as Guardians of the Moon, responsible for ensuring that the Year of the Rat goes perfectly. Their first mission is to take the winner of the Great Race home to prepare for the inaugural Year of the Rat celebrations.

Unfortunately for Miaow, this means spending lots of time with the winner of the Great Race, Su, whose trickery and sharp sense of humour has not endeared the rat to him. As soon as they arrive back at their old home, the temple, there is instant animosity between them which leads to disaster when they incur the wrath of Mazu, goddess of the sea.

And so begins another exciting, fast-paced and humorous adventure as the Guardians are faced with trying to contain the chaos caused by water spirits and whale demons whilst trying to keep the truth from the Grand Consul. Can natural enemies, rat and cat, learn to put their differences aside and work together to save the Year of the Rat? Can what they learn about each other build empathy and allow them to finally develop a genuine friendship?

It was wonderful to be back with Miaow and Ming who have now developed a firm, supportive friendship. Both are determined to do all that they can to save the first Year of the Rat. I also really liked that, through shared empathy, Miaow and Su learn to appreciate each others’ strengths and weaknesses so that the door opens for a genuine friendship to develop.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations in both books are wonderfully energetic and expressive and complement the narrative perfectly.

A wonderfully exciting, action-packed new adventure series for readers of 7+ who I have no doubt will enjoy meeting the Guardians as they venture with the animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Thank you to Little Tiger for providing me with copies of these books 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 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.

Review: The December Witches

*Written by Jennifer Claessen*
*Illustration by Heidi Cannon*
*Published by Uclan Publishing*

The December Witches is the final book in the A Month of Magic trilogy – what a wonderfully satisfying, heart-warming and magical conclusion to this brilliant adventure series.

It’s Clemmie’s thirteenth birthday which should be a time of celebration, gifts and cake, but instead she’s been given an unwanted gift, a gift that could not only destroy her and those she loves, but also allow twisted magic to enter the world.

There has never been magic in December, yet Clemmie is full of magic, magic that she can’t control and magic that is causing explosive harm not only to Clemmie, but to her home. When tragedy strikes, she must leave her home and fight a battle both within herself and against a force intent on making her a conduit back to the human world. Can Clemmie and her friends find a way to release her star-fuelled magic and defeat the ancient, twisted magic of their ancestors?

This is an absolutely brilliant adventure, intricately woven, and with a perfect blend of tension, peril and excitement as a magical battle weaves through the pages, taking the reader on an unforgettable journey with Clemmie and her friends. I really enjoyed the wintry, snowy setting and the Christmassy feel, especially the reference to Clemmie as Sister Christmas, the giving of star gifts and the comfort to be found in giving. I also loved Connie’s cookbook references at the start of each chapter which perfectly depict the joy, messiness and togetherness of family time!

Growing up, I absolutely loved the Arthurian legends, so I really enjoyed the references in this trilogy, from the family names of the Merlyns and Morgans to family rivalry, the Round Table, knights and mythical places.

Clemmie is the most wonderful, caring and courageous young girl who really finds her voice, her self-awareness and inner strength as she fights against those intent in taking these from her. I loved how she finds strength both through her family and her friendship with Mirabelle, Senara and Kerra who are always there for her and anchor her when she needs support.

A magical, uplifting and festive adventure with family and friendship at its heart – a perfect witchy wintery feast of a story.

#NNFN2024: My Big Book of Questions About the World

*Written by Moira Butterfield*
*Illustrated by Cindy Wume*
*Published by Walker Books*

National Non-Fiction November is an entire month dedicated to celebrating the wonderful range of non-fiction books which are published each year. This is co-ordinated by the brilliant Federation of Children’s Book Groups. I am delighted to have been invited to join the 2024 Bloggers’ Tour and today I am sharing my review of My Big Book of Questions About the World. Thank you to the FCBG for organising a copy for me, provided by the Publisher, Walker Books.

My Big Book of Questions About the World is a brilliant book for curious young minds as it answers a wide range of questions about the world around us in a fun and engaging way. Guaranteed to fascinate young readers – and have them generating further questions of their own! What a wonderful way to introduce some big ideas to children and to engage their natural curiosity when learning about the world around them.

This beautifully illustrated book opens with question prompts and images of a diverse range of young characters who lead readers through the book, making them feel like they’ve joined a group of friends to explore questions about the world … and they’ll know many answers to big questions which they can then share with their real-life friends by the end.

The book is divided into seven sections: Our World, The Land Around Us, The Sea, Plants, Animals, People, The Weather and Out in Space. Have you ever wondered … what is the world made of? Why is the sea salty? Do animals play games? Why is the sky blue? Or even, can we go on holiday to space? There is such a wide range of questions about our world that I have no doubt will fascinate young readers as they read the answers and pore over the illustrations. I can also imagine many of these questions being a catalyst into further engaging children’s interest in finding out more about the world around them. A brilliant way into STEM learning!

Each section of this book includes a series of between 5 and 8 questions with answers given in a clear, engaging manner all of which are easily accessible for younger readers. I really liked the way comparisons were made with things young readers will understand and have knowledge of such as the layers of the world being compared to a chocolate-covered lolly with ice-cream and toffee in the middle. I also really liked the friendly, chatty style of the writing that talks directly to the reader. As well as this, there are labelled diagrams and gorgeous, vivid illustrations which reinforce answers in a clear and fun way on every page.

This is a perfect book to share with younger readers of 5+ or for newly independent readers to enjoy on their own. Either way, there is lots for curious young minds to delight in and engage with as they learn more about the world around them.

Do check out the other stops on the #FCGB #NNFN2024 Bloggers’ Tour and enjoy learning about a wide range of non-fiction books this November – and beyond!