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Happy Summer holidays!! I had to kick off the holidays with a children’s book review post – I hope you find something here that you and your children will enjoy!
Here Be Dragons*
by Susannah Lloyd
The Blurb
Children will love this hilarious book about a funny knight who goes in search of a dragon to battle!
The other knights have told him that there’s no such thing as dragons, but he says, “Forsooth! There is TOO such a thing!” You just need to know where to look!
And luckily, this knight has something very special that no one else has – a map that says: “HERE BE DRAGONS”!
So, he sets off armed with the map, his sword, and his trusty steed. He travels straight to the spot marked ‘X’, past shiny treasure, some suspicious bones and many signs telling him to TURN BACK!
But alas, he’s too busy looking at his map to notice. He wanders up and down a spiky hill (the dragon’s back), shouts into a burrow (the dragon’s nose), and eventually walks into a very dark cave (the dragon’s mouth).
In this laugh-out-loud story, young readers will love seeing the hapless knight search for the dragon, all the while not seeing how close he truly is to the beast!
Will he see the dragon before it’s too late?!
With expert storytelling from the author of This Book Can Read Your Mind, Susannah Lloyd, and whimsical illustrations from the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal nominee, Paddy Donnelly, this is a book that will delight time after time. Kids will love coming back to the bookshelf and seeing if they can spot the fearsome dragon in the background. Comedic illustrations with hidden clues hinting at the dragon’s whereabouts accompany funny and lively text which kids and parents alike will love to read aloud!
What I Thought
Here Be Dragons is a funny story about a knight who sets off in search of a dragon – even though people tell him they don’t exist! While he doesn’t have much luck (maybe someone is giving him a helping hand there), the reader is invited to see if they can spot the dragon on each page which is a detail I loved, reminding me of books I read when I was little.
The illustrations are great and the story will make you and your little ones laugh – definitely a fun bedtime read or one for the classroom. A five star children’s book for me, definitely worth a read!
Where To Buy
Buy Here Be Dragons by Susannah Lloyd
Dear Rebel*
145 Women Share Their Best Advice for the Girls of Today
The Blurb
More than 125 extraordinary teens and women share their advice, experiences, and the secrets of their success-in their own words. Through letters, poems, essays, self-portraits, and more, the authors tackle topics like overcoming obstacles, discovering your passion, and dreaming big.
Learn how Ms. Marvel actor Iman Vellani connected with her roots through her character. Read about how March for our Lives co-founder Jaclyn Corin found her voice as an activist. Follow mountaineer Carla Pérez on the final 100 meters to the top of Mount Everest. This rich collection of first-person stories has something for everyone, inspiring young readers to try new things, face their fears, and be themselves.
Dear Rebel includes contributions from:
Samantha Barry
Jill Culton
Melinda French Gates
Laurene Powell Jobs
Maria Teresa Kumar
Philomena Kwao
Geetha Murali
Catt Sadler
Randi Zuckerberg
. . . and many more! Plus, scannable codes let you listen to bonus audio stories in the Rebel Girls app.
What I Thought
Another amazing title from the Rebel Girls series – I really do love these books!
This one brings together a diverse and amazing group of teens and women who share their experiences and advice with the reader. These letters, poems and essays are from people who are not necessarily well known and famous, but who all have an incredible life and experience to share with the younger generation.
I love the way these books are put together with a range of great illustrations. This is another fab addition to the Rebel Girl series!
Where To Buy
Buy Dear Rebel
The Gratitude Goggles*
Wholesome Children: Self Awareness
by Andrea Mendoza-Vasconez
The Blurb
Extensive research provides support for the positive effects of gratitude on well-being and on physical and mental health. But how can we give our children an understanding of the value of gratitude?
The Gratitude Goggles guides children as they imagine a special pair of goggles that can appear by simply feeling gratitude. These are goggles that reveal the world in its true, colorful splendor. The book explains the pitfalls of comparison and want, which can cast a gray pall over everything—as if we were wearing gray goggles. But fear not; we can always trade our gray goggles for the sparkling gratitude ones, thereby illuminating life’s wonders!
What I Thought
Gratitude can have a positive effect on a person’s mental health and this book is great to help children get involved with he practice.
I love the idea of putting on your gratitude goggles and this would be a great conversation starter, both at home and in the classroom. The story is sweet and the book has some lovely illustrations.
I really like the concept this book suggests and I think this story can be a starter for so many great conversations and habits for children.
Where To Buy
Buy The Gratitude Goggles
WARNING! Magic Can Be Dangerous
by b. Ware
The Blurb
Tyler isn’t thrilled to be spending yet another mundane afternoon at Great Uncle John’s. And that’s putting it mildly! But after his visit sparks a chain of inexplicable events, he delightedly discovers magic at his fingertips.
Being able to conjure up a swimming pool and a wodge of cash are certainly perks. Yet the magic proves tricky to control. What’s more, it seems to be irreversible.
Unable to properly harness his new-found powers, Tyler ends up getting those around him into all manner of mischief and mayhem. And when things begin to go catastrophically wrong, he fears magic is a curse, rather than a blessing. Will normality ever be restored, or will Tyler be forced to adapt to his new, altered reality forever? It all depends on whether he’s able to find Lottie’s loophole…
What I Thought
I read this with my year 4 class (8/9 year olds) and they LOVED it! I was regularly asked to read an extra chapter which I think speaks volumes about how much they were loving the story.
The book was easy to read and well paced. The main character was likable and the children really enjoyed predicting what mayhem would happen next – as well as suggesting what they might do with the same powers!
It was a resounding vote to give this one 5 stars – perfectly written and pitched for this age group!
Where To Buy
Buy WARNING! Magic Can Be Dangerous by B. Ware
The Most Ginormous Joke Book Ever
Laughs for All Ages and Occasions
by Cider Mill Press
The Blurb
Get ready to laugh nonstop with hundreds of classic knock-knock jokes, silly one-liners, and hilarious puns sure to tickle your funny bone.
From silly wordplay to treacherous tongue twisters, this humongous book has something for every kind of jokester. Never get tired of the same old jokes again. Jam packed with thousands of the funniest jokes, these goofy gags will have kids rolling on the floor with laughter.
Including:
- Where did Sir Lancelot go to pay his parking tickets? Knight court.
- What does the Abominable Snowman get if he stays out in the sun too long? Freezer burn.
- Why did the pirate join a health club? He wanted to be in ship shape.
- What’s a Scarecrow’s favorite fruit? Strawberries!
Kid-friendly content makes this a must-have for your family’s bookshelf. So, what are you waiting for? Start laughing with The Most Ginormous Joke Book Ever!
What I Thought
A joke book aimed at primary aged kids. Like a lot of joke books around there are some jokes in here that tickled us, some that made us laugh out loud and some that didn’t hit the spot.
A good buy for young ones with a taste for comedy!
Where To Buy
Buy The Most Ginormous Joke Book Ever!
Hope this gives you some inspiration for your next reads with your kids or maybe even a gift idea or two!
Happy reading,
The Spoonie Mummy 
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