Kid’s Book Reviews – August 2021
Ad | Some books included have been gifted in return for a review and are marked with a * | Post contains affiliate links | All opinions expressed are our own
It has been a while since I updated what the boys have been reading recently so thought I would do a new post! If you don’t know I have two mini bookworms which I LOVE! I need to pin down Leo to update me on what his thoughts are on some of his recent reads, so they will probably show up in a future post but I have plenty to share with you today.
The Math Kids An Encrypted Clue*
by David Cole
The Blurb
When Stephanie Lewis finds secret writing in the margin of an old book in the library, The Math Kids have a new puzzle to solve. But first, they’ll have to learn about codes and ciphers and how they can use their math skills to solve them.
As one clue leads to another, the kids are drawn into the mysterious old house that overlooks the town. Is it really haunted like some of the townspeople say? And who is the man in the long beard who keeps showing up everywhere they go?
But that’s not their only problem. The town they live in is broke. Unless they can find a solution, the math competition they’ve been training so hard for will be cancelled.
Jordan, Stephanie, Justin, and Catherine will need to use all their problem-solving skills to figure out the clues before it’s too late.
What We Thought
This book is the fourth in The Math Kids series but it didn’t matter that we hadn’t read the others and we still really enjoyed it.
I loved that this one incorporated STEM learning in a fun way and as Maths is one of both boys favourite subjects, they loved hearing about all the different codes and ciphers it introduced.
The story was well written, not overly long so it would lose a child’s attention and the characters were likeable. We will be returning to this series in the future to read more!
Where To Buy
Buy from Amazon – Kindle and Paperback
The Dragon with the Blazing Bottom*
by Beach
The Blurb
The first in a fabulously funny and hugely commercial series about a dragon who has lost his flame – but may just find fire elsewhere . . . Perfect for fans of The DInosaur That Pooped series.
Sir Wayne’s dragon has lost his flame. Are his teeth TOO clean? Is his tongue TOO pink? Perhaps his diet is to blame. Not to worry – Sir Wayne has a meal plan of EPIC proportions, including a big lump of lava, one burning bush, some sparklers and fireworks – the ones that go ‘WHOOOOSH’. Oh, and one VERY mouldy old piece of cheese – almost as green as the snot from a sneeze . . . What could possibly go wrong?!
A hilarious and dynamic character-driven picture book, with a truly explosive ending! From the hugely exciting new picture book talent, Beach.
What We Thought
A sweet, short and funny bedtime story. This was a quick read, however well written by the author. The illustrations were fab and really colourful.
I love a good rhyming book to read and the mentions of farts and snot were definitely right up Riley’s street, prompting lots of giggles! This would go down a treat for a bedtime story or as a gift.
Where To Buy
Pre-order from Amazon (out 02,09,2021) – Paperback, Hardback and Kindle
Charlotte’s Web
by E. B. White
The Blurb
A poignant, humorous story of a pig, a spider and a little girl.
Wilbur the pig’s life has already been saved by Fern, but when he is sold to her uncle, he realises his life is in even more danger. Enter Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful large grey spider. Charlotte is determined to keep Wilbur from the chopping block, and comes up with an ingenious way to do just that.
What We Thought
One of my favourite childhood stories (my Mum still has my very well read copy of this) and I was so excited to share it with Riley. He was reading it for guided reading at school and I grabbed a copy on the Kindle so we could read it together too.
He absolutely loved it too which made me so happy! He often still talks about it, even though we have read a few books since and was super excited to spot a spider with her own sac of eggs a few weeks ago that he said was just like Charlotte!
A classic, and still highly recommended by me and the next generation!
Where To Buy
Buy from Amazon – Paperback, Audible and Kindle
Pogba Rules*
By Simon Mugford
The Blurb
Filled with quizzes, stats and little-known facts, plus illustrated and told with all the fun of a Tom Gates novel, the Football Superstars series is perfect for young readers five and up.
Is Paul Pogba your ultimate football hero? He was a key player in Juventus securing the Italian league title in 2015, a World Cup winner in 2018, and now leads the line for top club Man Utd.
Discover how Pogba went from being a hotshot prospect at France’s famous La Havre Academy to being named as the best young player in Europe in 2013 before making the move to Manchester United for a club record fee of almost £90m!
Football Superstars is a series aimed at building a love of reading from a young age, with fun cartoons, inspirational stories, a simple narrative style and a cast of characters chipping in with quotes, jokes and comments.
What We Thought
I am lucky to have two boys who really enjoy reading – often boys lose interest much more quickly than girls. This type of book is great for reluctant readers!
Riley loved it, it did not take him long to read and the ‘Horrible Histories’ style of the book was enjoyed by him and made it very engaging. If you are trying to encourage a little football fan to read more, I would highly recommend this series – fun, factual and not too long so they lose interest!
Where To Buy
Buy from Amazon – Paperback and Kindle
Would You Rather Game Book for Kids, Teens, and Adults – EWW Edition!*
Try Not To Laugh Challenge with 200 Hilarious Questions, Silly Scenarios, and … Bonus Trivia the Whole Family Will Love!
by Fluffels House
The Blurb
Get your kids off their phone and into the moment, while they laugh and enjoy every second of it.
Do you feel bad listening to your kid talk about all the complications in their life and wish there was something you could do about it?
Or maybe you hear them constantly complaining about how bored they are and want to help them find some healthy solutions?
Perhaps they’re doing just fine, but you still wish they wouldn’t spend so much time in front of the screen?
Things aren’t the way they used to be, that’s for sure. And when it comes to the ways kids keep themselves entertained, it’s safe to say that no adult can actually keep up.
It might be a confusing mess trying to understand what keeps them interested all the time, but it doesn’t have to be something you struggle through.
No matter what your situation is, there will always be one constant in life that nobody can avoid, and you can use this to your advantage.
What is this constant?
Laughter!
Finally, a simple and easy-to-understand game that’ll bring you and your child closer together, as you share some laughs and explore each other’s (sometimes gross) sense of humor.
In Would You Rather Game Book for Kids, Teens, and Adults – EWW Edition!, you’ll discover:
* A fun family-friendly game suitable for all ages
* 20+ of the grossest things you completely forgot even existed
* How to get your kid to laugh without you even having to do a thing
* A look inside the way your kid thinks, strengthening your bond in the long run
* Friendly competition to spice up the bore of the weekdays — see who claims the crown as the Leader of Laughter!
* The perfect activity for when you want to spend quality time with family and friends (but don’t know what to do)
A fool-proof way to add a sprinkle laughter into every day
… and much more!
It’s a simple and straightforward game, guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
You don’t have to keep fighting with your kids to get them to do something (anything) that doesn’t involve their phone.
All it takes is a bit of laughter and, before you know it, you’ll both be asking where the time went — enjoying each other’s company and wishing only that there was more to go around.
What We Thought
We ‘played’ this book while eating tea and really enjoyed it! We didn’t keep a tally of the score but you can if you want to make it into an actual game – we just enjoyed some screen free time, good conversations and lots of laughs!
Some of the questions are quite gross and you wonder who came up with them – but the boys seemed to like these the most! There are plenty of questions in here to keep you entertained for a while, it would make a great purchase for some quality family time or entertainment on a long road trip!
Where To Buy
Buy from Amazon – Kindle and Paperback
Wonder
By R. J. Palacio
The Blurb
Now an Oscar nominated film starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay.
‘My name is August. I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.’
Auggie wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things – eating ice cream, playing on his Xbox. He feels ordinary – inside. But ordinary kids don’t make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids aren’t stared at wherever they go.
Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life. Now, for the first time, he’s being sent to a real school – and he’s dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted – but can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, underneath it all?
WONDER is a funny, frank, astonishingly moving debut to read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page.
What We Thought
Well, I have bought this book not once but twice in the last two weeks! Riley read the book at school and watched the film last year and fell in love with it! He asked me to get it so we could read it at bedtime during the Summer holidays, which we have been doing. Then when we went on the dreaded school shoe shop he spotted it in a book shop and asked if I would buy him the paperback copy too! He has now taken it with him on his holiday with his Dad!
I had watched the film but not read the book before but I absolutely adore both. Such a great message to share with children, the book is told from August’s viewpoint and is well written so kids can really connect with it. Highly recommend, loved by us all!
Where To Buy
Buy from Amazon – Kindle, Paperback and Audible
So there we go! Have you read any of these? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Take care and keep safe everyone,
The Spoonie Mummy 