Nell and the Cave Bear

A long time ago, Nell lived with the Cave Clan. Her best friend was a small cave bear cub who she found hiding in the deepest, darkest part of the cave. The two are inseparable so when Nell hears some of the grown-ups planning to make a gift of Cave Bear to the visiting Sea Clan, she decides their only option is to run away. Together, Nell and Cave Bear embark on a great adventure, following the river and facing all kinds of dangers.

Beautifully told, ‘Nell and the Cave Bear’ is a lovely story, full of warmth and humour. Nell is a very appealing and likeable character who children are sure to relate to. Her loyalty to her friend, Cave Bear, leads her on an exciting adventure as she tries to make sure that they stay together. Whilst they are on their journey following the river to wherever it ends, the hunters from her clan are unsuccessfully trying to capture a mammoth, adding plenty of humour with their hapless attempts!

Obviously, the Stone Age setting will make this an appealing read for children learning about that period in school (and their teachers!), but it would be a great shame if it were pigeon-holed in this way as it will tempt children of all ages at any time! The story is full of lovely descriptions and the settings and characters are well developed, offering much to discuss and enjoy. I love the quirky name spellings - I think I shall be Soo from now on!

The story is highly illustrated in shades of blue, making it attractive and eye-catching. There is a section on ‘Cave Bear Care’ at the end- the cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) was a real prehistoric species of bear, making this a great starting point for finding out more about these creatures! Martin’s wonderful illustrations are familiar to many from the Horrible Histories series and the pictures in Nell are delightful. I hope this is the first of many adventures for Nell and Cave Bear!

Nell and the Cave Bear Martin Brown

Piccadilly Press ISBN: 978-1848129689

Guided reading notes for this book are available in Reading Resources.

The Stolen Spear

Wolf lives with his family on Great Island. In a society where being strong and brave is valued, Wolf struggles to fit in, When a sacred spear is stolen from a burial mound, Wolf finds himself blamed for the crime and must leave his home to try and clear his name.

Set at the end of the late Neolithic period, ‘The Stolen Spear’ is full of details about the lives of the people of this time. Saviour has used the Orkney Islands and Skara Brae as the setting for the story, making this the perfect story for using to support history work on this period. As Wolf leaves his home in search of the truth, the reader is allowed to compare life in Wolf’s settlement with that on the other islands. The illustrations by Davide Ortu, spread throughout the book, add much to the story.

As well as its historical detail, the story is one of friendship and bravery, of finding your place in the world. Wolf is a very likeable character, easy to empathise with and suggested questions are included at the end of the book to encourage discussion.

A thoroughly enjoyable adventure, ‘The Stolen Spear’ is a great story which is perfect for using with work on the Stone Age.

The Stolen Spear Saviour Pirotta, illsutrated by Davide Ortu

Maverick ISBN: 978-1848864085