Malamander

Proud of his job of ‘Lost and Fouder’ at the Grand Nautilus Hotel in Eerie-on-Sea, Herbert Lemon does his best to reunite lost belongings with their rightful owners. However, when a girl - Violet Parma- appears declaring he is the only one who can help her, Herbert finds himself drawn into solving the mystery of Violet’s missing parents. The trail seems to lead them to the legendary Malamader, a monster supposed to lurk on the shores of their town. Is the monster real and is it responsible for the disappearance of Violet’s parents?

With vivid descriptions and plenty of action, this is a brilliant fun-filled adventure. Herbert and Violet are wonderful characters. Herbert is loyal and conscientious and find plenty of courage when it’s most needed. Violet is impulsive and keen on action and together they make a dynamic pair as they set about solving the mystery.

Eerie-on-Sea is created with such imagination! I love The Book Dispensary and all the colourful characters who inhabit the town, like Jenny Hanniver and the wonderful Erwin, the dispensary cat. The eccentricity of the town’s inhabitants and locations adds greatly to the charm of the story, absorbing you into its world.

With wonderfully wicked villains and the mysterious Malamander, this is a brilliant story. Read it now!

Malamander Thomas Taylor

Walker Books ISBN: 978-1406386288

Rain Before Rainbows

In the midst of the rain,

Rainbows can be hard to see.

Leaving a dark castle behind them, a little girl and her fox friend set off together in the pouring rain on a long and perilous journey, facing many challenges and dangers. Finally, they arrive in a new land where they are surrounded by many animals who are there to support and guide them as they gradually rebuild their world.

Told in rhyme, this beautiful book offers hope for the future. Although it obviously holds great significance with the current situation, this is a book which will last the test of time as it carries such a powerful message: there is always hope for the future. One of nature’s special beauties, the rainbow is a powerful symbol of hope in many cultures, offering a shared understanding of the joy that can follow despair. Smriti Halls’ text conveys this perfectly, reminding us that we experience joy all the more keenly for having known sorrow.

The illustrations are pure David Litchfield joy! Glowing with colour, each spread is rich in detail to explore and discuss. I don’t know whether it’s just me, but the spreads seem to be tinged with the colours of the rainbow as the story moves from the girl and her fox (red clothes and fur against the dark) to the indigo edged waves of the sea and then again from their arrival on new shores to happily dancing beneath the rainbow at the end. Wonderful for inspiring art work, the whole book is a thing of great beauty, perfect for sharing again and again.

‘Rain Before Rainbows’ is a stunning book offering much needed comfort and hope.

Rain Before Rainbows Smriti Halls, illustrated by David Litchfield

Walker ISBN: 978-1406382358

Playing from the Heart

From the author of 'The Dot', Playing from the Heart is a beautiful and poignant story about the power of music and of family love.

Too small to even reach the pedals, Raj was delighted by the sounds the piano made as he plunked the keys. Hearing his early attempts, his father supports Raj, hiring a piano teacher to nuture his talent.

However, his early love of and delight in making music fades as he becomes more and more skilled. Gradually, Raj leaves his piano playing behind and moves on until his father's request makes him 'play from the heart'.

Alongside the beautiful story are equally gorgeous illustrations. The soft, muted colours and hand-written font make the book something special. Peter H Reynold's unique way of viewing things is thought provoking- notes as zoo animals peering through bars...wanting to escape say so much about the story and the characters- inspiring!

Like all books by this talented man, Playing from the Heart is one not to miss.

Playing from the Heart Peter H Reynolds

Walker    ISBN: 978-1406368406

Blue Penguin

Blue Penguin was born far away in the south. Although surrounded by other penguins, he was different. He did all the same things as the others, but still all they could see was the fact that he was different.

"But you're not like us," said the other penguins and they wandered away.

Left all alone,  Blue Penguin sees a white whale in his dreams who saves him from his loneliness. He makes up a song about the whale which he sings across the ocean...

Another penguin came to listen to his song and when they sing together, the other penguins come to listen- with the white whale, called by Blue Penguin's song. However,  Blue Penguin no longer needed whale to take him away as he now had new friends- and a new song to sing.

Beautifully told with gorgeous illustrations, this is a special story about belonging and finding that friend-in-need.

Petr Horacek's amazing artwork perfectly complements the story. Vibrant blues and greens stand out sharply against the shades of white, creating the snow and ice. There is such a textured feel to the landscape with frost patterns and snow flurries adding to the atmosphere.

This book is perfect for starting discussions about difference, how we treat others and how to create a 'song of friendship' for ourselves.

Blue Penguin Petr Horacek

Walker Books   ISBN: 978-1406358285