Here's a n excellent idea for a last-minute Christmas present, although you should never need a reason to buy a book by @fleurhitchcock.bsky.social . This one is set in Bath and is a great story of family as well as a murder mystery. And I love #ElisaPaganelli's front cover @nosycrow.bsky.social

This new book from @alexcotter.bsky.social is complex and satisfying, a perfect winter read for confident, mature young readers. With much going on around her she doesn't understand Dina struggles to settle into life in Sheffield with her aunt. Can skating make things smooth? @nosycrow.bsky.social

Here's a perfect book for bedtime reading from #LouiseFitzgerald, #MargaritaKukhtima and @nosycrow.bsky.social. The rhyming text gradually slows down and the colour palette becomes more muted as the gentle and engaging story moves along until all the little animals are fast asleep.

Set 1918-1920 this focuses on two sisters and the parts they play in what comes after the War. Stella goes to Paris as a typist at the peace conference; Corran joins the YMCA School of Education to teach soldiers about to be demobbed. Loved it @florajowriter.bsky.social @allisonandbusby.bsky.social

Who wouldn't want a world of cats? This fascinating book is full of drawings and information, stories and history about the domesticated creatures of that ilk. It's beautifully produced as you'd expect from @nosycrow.bsky.social @lupencita.bsky.social #CarlieSorosiak

How much fun is this?! A dolls' house that can be neatly packed up and taken everywhere. Little ones can let their imaginations run riot as they use the pop-out pieces to decorate and furnish the house for this family of furry friends @nosycrow.bsky.social #IngelaPArrhenius

A new book from the ever-readable and hugely enjoyable @helenpeters.bsky.social published by the lovely @nosycrow.bsky.social

Just out @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social is a new edition of a @brianwildsmithart.bsky.social classic that's stood the test of time. It's all about the strong, vibrant colours and dynamic actions of the players in the traditional song. It might also remind you of the lyrics as the numbers get higher!

From @barringtonstoke.bsky.social comes another great non-fiction title by @catwrote.bsky.social and #KatieHickey. This is the (somewhat sanitised) story of Josephine Baker and it's compelling, taking her from poverty in the US to stardom in Paris, through high-life, conflict and disillusionment.

Following on from Teatime Around the World, here are some soups for you courtesy of #DenyseWaissbluth #ChelseaOByrne and @greystonebooks.bsky.social. Bright, vibrant, interesting, full of facts and appealing, this straddles categories. Just a word of warning: the spelling is American.

What a fun series this is! The Weather Tots don't just learn about the weather at school. Guided by Professor Cloud, they also learn how to work well together. #NiaGould's cute illustrations complement @crowehoho.bsky.social's engaging stories beautifully @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Lots and lots of cats from @nosycrow.bsky.social in this counting book. They get everywhere so young readers will need to be sure to peek behind all the flaps. Lovely! @jonathanemmett.com #RobHodgson

I love #EkaterinaTrukhan's illustrations in this beautiful little picture book. It's an ode to autumn and is filled with seasonal blocks of colour and dynamic characters as a small girl revels in the joys of autumn, outdoors and in @nosycrow.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk

This book won me over because it has a cat on the cover! It will win over little children with its sounds and flaps and the mirror at the end. Parents will be be delighted to know that the noises can be turned off! Another bright, engaging, solid book from @nosycrow.bsky.social #PuiLee

Junie and Ruby bicker all the time, poking and chasing and shouting. Their Mummy is always showing them how to behave but they just carry on squabbling. The one day the Mummy Monster appears and is even worse than the sisters. How can they tame her? #RochelleFalconer @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Albert is a VERY grumpy bear. There aren't many things he likes (not picnics or fishing and DEFINITELY not ukeleles) but he does love a bubble bath. But so does everyone else in the forest. How is going to keep it to himself? #MarkMcKinley @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Is perfection really ... well, perfect? Pedro thinks so. Everything in his life is perfect but he doesn't have a perfect friend until he meets Poppy. But as they practise for the talent show things become...not perfect. #EllaOkstad @simonphilipauthor.bsky.social @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

This is a fun little series about dressing up with specific accessories. Anwar and Seren find lots of different jobs they can do with them. On Monday Anwar is a postman while on Thursday Seren is a ski instructor. Full of brightly-coloured fun #FernandoMartin @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Harry is a wriggly, curious otter. One day he's distracted by a heron standing all by himself and dances off to meet him. Ray the heron is very happy and the two have fun together until the other otters interfere... #WendyMeddour @magillustration.bsky.social @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Frank is happy being a caterpillar. He likes munching on leaves, looking at the view and being with his friends who all long to be gorgeous butterflies. Time moves on, chrysalises are formed and finally butterflies emerge. Who will be the happiest? #AlexLatimer @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is not the most brilliant student at the Training School for Vikings and Dragons but somehow he gets embroiled in tremendous adventures along with his friends @cressidacowell.bsky.social @hachettechildrens.bsky.social @hachetteuk.bsky.social

picturesandconversations.co.uk/2024/11/11/a... A third book from @tompalmerauthor.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

picturesandconversations.co.uk/2022/12/19/r... Another book from the wonderful @tompalmerauthor.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

picturesandconversations.co.uk/2021/05/19/a... Continuing my reposts of reviews of books set during the Second World War @tompalmerauthor.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

This is my third choice for VE Day @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social @ewein2412.bsky.social picturesandconversations.co.uk/2020/07/28/e...

Continuing my Second World War reviews. This is one of three books by #DoritaFairlieBruce written, published and ser during the war. The others are Toby at Tibbs Cross and Dimsie Carries On @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social picturesandconversations.co.uk/2020/04/17/m...

Part of my nod to the commemoration of VE Day @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social picturesandconversations.co.uk/2020/05/02/m...

Another excellent novel from @lindanewbery.bsky.social @lindseyfraser.bsky.social picturesandconversations.co.uk/2025/04/29/t...

Here's the sequel to I Am Wolf @alastairc.com's clever, twisty, dystopian story. Brann is back trying to find the life and crew she once knew. Can Raven's crew rise again? Special shout-out to @jensine.bsky.social for a wonderful map and #KaritasGunnarsdottir's illustrations @nosycrow.bsky.social

Another delightful book from @barringtonstoke.bsky.social about perceptions and friendship. Hayley gets angry when her cat runs off to play the garden of a strange old lady. But then she gets to know her and realises that they're not that different @lesleyparr.bsky.social #RichardJohnson

This is an imagining of the early life of Grace Darling, daughter of a lighthouse keeper who famously helped to rescue survivors of the Forfarshire wreck. Written by @hilarymckay.bsky.social, illustrated by @keithrobinson.bsky.social it's powerful and personal. Another keeper from @BarringtonStoke

This is such a beautiful book of letters from Jamie in hospital waiting for a big operation to Dog languishing in a Dogs' Home. About grief, love and communication, it's warm, genuine and funny. Adults beware: it will make you cry! @pierstorday.bsky.social #AliceMcKinley @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

The wonder, power and frustration of words are brought to life in #KateRolfe's dynamic book. The frustration of trying to control and confine dancing letters is brought to life as is the joy of succeeding even while knowing that there are always new words to learn #TwoHootsBooks

Shona's parents sing her to sleep; as she drifts off all manner of thoughts and then dreams slide past in a beautifully evocative story told in Scots by #JackieKay. With warm and enticing illustrations by #JillCalder this is a delightful book @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social @lindseyfraser.bsky.social

I'm loving this from #CatherineWilkins @katieabey.bsky.social @nosycrow.bsky.social. Hope Crumble (I know, right?) lives above her family's cafe, you guessed it, Cafe Crumble. They're styling it out. It's pretty crazy but Hope is sure that secondary school will give her life some structure. Ah...

Containing short stories by @robwaltonwriter.bsky.social and illustrations from @reenamakwana.bsky.social it also and more importantly, has footnotes which you should ON NO ACCOUNT read. The publisher @theemmapress.bsky.social cannot be held responsible if you do. Warning: will make you laugh.

The Dungeon Runners are back courtesy of Kieran Larwood, Joe Todd-Stanton and Nosy Crow. It's a carefully put together book from the helter-pelter story and the graphic black and white illustrations to the clear, readable font. And there's a map. All books should have one!

Cat and Dumpling both need new flats. Dumpling wants a garden to grow lots of plants and Cat needs cupboards for her wool. Finally they both find the right place. Only problem is that it's the same place! Can two such different people share? @nicolakent.bsky.social @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

This amusing early chapter book from @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social is full of brightly coloured illustrations and tales of adventure drawn and written by @superhappymatty.bsky.social. Croaky and the Woggle Scouts are off on a quest to prove that Winston's Grandpa really discovered the Gemosaurus...

It's only Isadora, Emerald and Mirabelle! Here they are having new adventures in these cute little books by Harriet Muncaster and brought to us by the lovely people at @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social. Can vampire fairies ride bikes, is magic ever cheating, and what mischief can a fairy witch get up to?

Just right for a last-minute Christmas present for the young reader in your life @nosycrow.bsky.social @fleurhitchcock.bsky.social picturesandconversations.co.uk/2024/12/20/m...

A suitably chilly adventure for this time of year. When Maisie's Dad crashes their plane into the vast white continent of Antarctica, Maisie's sure there's something he's not telling her. Apart from the fact he doesn't know how to survive in the ice @jackjackman.bsky.social @nosycrow.bsky.social

A novel from #KeithGray is always a thing to be welcomed. He has an authentic voice as he writes about males friendships. Denny is about to move due to his Mum's new job but before he goes he has some things to do with the help of Jake, his best friend... Another great book from #BarringtonStoke

Here's another collaboration from @nosycrow.bsky.social and @nationaltrust.bsky.social this time looking at the seasons. It's packed full of information, colour and general excitement thanks to @acwilsonwriter.bsky.social and #CarolinaRabei.

It's always fun in the world of @nosycrow.bsky.social . And this is tremendous fun from @jonathanemmett.com and #IngelaPArrhenius. I was going to keep it for myself but I know a little girl who will love lifting the flaps, counting the animals, enjoying the colours and moving the train along.

A collection celebrating eighty years of Pippi Longstocking. There's a very funny introduction by #SandiToksvig along with the original illustrations drawn by #IngridVangNyman. And of course there are extracts from #AstridLindgren's wonderful stories @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

My favourite girl/cat is back in the latest book from @paulabooks.bsky.social and #JennyLovlie. In this story Kitty saves the day when the plans for the Autumn Festival are ruined @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

This book is very funny. And it's by @tommclaughlin.bsky.social . That's probably all you need to know. Jack's only just discovered that he's a fairy. It was sprouting wings that did it! @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Happy 150th birthday to Lucy Maud Montgomery @katherinewoodfine.bsky.social @nosycrow.bsky.social @lmmontgomery.bsky.social @lmmonline.org

The second part of my fan fiction attempt. Probably only of interest to readers of Dorita Fairlie Bruce's books.