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Good morning! I thought it would be a good idea to get this up early this month in case you are looking for something to keep the kids busy – here are 5 books we’ve read and reviewed for you.

Rebel Girls Celebrate Pride*

25 Tales of Self-Love and Community

by Rebel Girls

The Blurb

TRUE STORIES OF PRIDE AND POWER!

This collection features 25 inspiring tales of proud members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Read about how these women, girls, and nonbinary people broke down barriers, honored their identities, and lived authentically no matter what anyone else said.
Find your voice with Janelle Monae. Play for equality with Billie Jean King. Protect your community with Marcia P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. And organize joyful celebrations with Dr. Lady Phyll and Molly Pinta.
This book pairs inspiring, easy-to-read text with colorful full-page portraits created by female and nonbinary artists from all around the world. Plus, scannable codes let you listen to longer stories on the Rebel Girls app!

What I Thought

Released just in time for Pride month, another fab book from the Rebel Girls.

I love the Rebel Girls series and this one focuses on 25 women and non-binary artists, athletes, writers and more who all fall under the LGBTQ+ umbrella.

Just like other books in the Rebel Girls series, the book packs 25 short, easy to read and interesting stories. The book is colourful and bright with lots of great illustrations and portraits of the people it features, plus a host of inspiring quotes and a whole lot of self-love.

So many important themes that are very ‘of the moment’ and I love the activities at the end which are inspired by the stories the books tells and invites the reader to reflect on what they read.

I am a huge fan of these books and this latest one does not disappoint!

CLICK TO BUY REBEL GIRLS CELEBRATE PRIDE

More Peas Please!

by Tom McLaughlin

The Blurb

A vibrant picture book story to help encourage picky or reluctant eaters, perfect to read together with children aged 3+

“I can’t eat peas!” exclaimed Milo.

“They’re too GREEN!

Greener than a stinky, swampy pond,

greener than a giant dragon,

greener than a fleet of space-sick aliens.”

It’s fair to say that Milo doesn’t like peas! Is it possible that his sister could help him change his mind by showing them how cool they can be? A fun, fantastical picture book which might just encourage little ones to give peas a chance!

What I Thought

Any parent of a picky eater will have heard lots of excuses as inventive as Milo’s in this story about why their child couldn’t possibly put a piece of {insert any food here} and will have a giggle with this book.

A great story if you have a picky eater that is full of bright illustrations. I think peas are generally not a vegetable that cause a lot of issues at meal times but it could represent any vegetable that you may be struggling to get your child to try! And hopefully – it won’t just give them more ideas NOT to want them!

CLICK TO BUY MORE PEAS PLEASE!

Cracking Cricket

by Robin Bennett

The Blurb

Third book in the Stupendous Sports series which aims to do for PE what Horrible Histories did for Year 7 History lessons – out in time for the ICC World Cup in October.

Full of jokes, fun facts, cartoons and spotlight on famous cricketers, perfect for cricket fans and reluctant readers.

What I Thought

As a massive Horrible Histories and Horrible Science fan I couldn’t turn this one down!

A fun little book which I am sure will be popular. I haven ‘t seen any of the other Stupendous Sports series before but I think they will be great at engaging some unwilling readers with a fun look at different sports.

CLICKTO BUY CRACKING CRICKET

Winnie-The-Pooh and Me

by Jeanne Willia

The Blurb

Winnie-the-Pooh and Me is a brand-new Winnie-the-Pooh story, featuring the best-loved characters from the Hundred Acre Wood.

Someone has come along to join Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin on their adventure, but who could it be? It can’t be Kanga and Roo – they’re sailing a boat – and it can’t be Owl, because he’s at home. Could it be Heffalumps who want to eat Pooh’s beloved honey? Or perhaps Pooh and Christopher Robin are accompanied by a pair of friends who are never far away on a sunny day.

With a gentle rhyming story by bestselling author Jeanne Willis, inspired by A. A. Milne’s classic poem ‘Us Two’ from Now We Are Six, and charming illustrations by Mark Burgess, in the style of E. H. Shepard, this authorised sequel is the perfect gift for anyone who loves the enchanting world of Winnie-the-Pooh and friends.

What I Thought

A lovely picture book but I don’t feel it quite captures the magc of the original stories – as a fan of those I am not sure anything could measure up though!

The story is a kind of continuation of the ‘Us Two’ poem by A.A. Milne. While it rhymes, it doesn’t follow the same pattern as the original.

It i a sweet rhyming story with lovely illustrations and I am sure many will love it, I am just being picky as I love the originals so much!

CLICK TO BUY WINNIE-THE-POOH AND ME

Rhino’s Don’t Cry

by Mark Grist

The Blurb

Milo’s a rhino.

He likes to do all sorts of rhino-y things . . .

He likes writing and climbing

and banister-sliding

and mountain bike riding,

he paints and he sings.

Milo just loves being a rhino – but there’s one small problem . . . rhinos don’t cry.

At least that’s what Spike-O Mcree, his movie-star hero, always says. But when Milo meets Spike-O face to face, he finds out that not only is crying OK, it’s also very brave!

This energetic and engaging rhyming story is the first in a series of books highlighting the importance of children expressing their feelings.

Mark Grist is a multi-award-winning poet and international battle rapper with over 40 million views for his poetry and rap videos online.

What I Thought

The sweetest story with an important message – everybody is allowed to cry!

Milo is a rhin o and loves to do all things rhino-y. He sticks to the no-crying rule he learnt from his favourite TV superhero – until one day his pet cat goes missing and he struggles to stick to it!

A greta blance of humour and an important message, with bright and fun illustrations – I loved it!