Tag Archives: Fun

The Princess with the Blazing Bottom

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Beach. Simon & Schuster. (32p) ISBN 9781471197284

The Princess with the Blazing Bottom

The Princess with the Blazing Bottom

The latest in the “A Very Fiery Fairy Tale” series from Beach and I always feel so privileged when I get sent a copy to read and talk about, especially such fun books.

This continues the adventures of Sir Wayne and Dragon, brave and fearless and full of parp!

This sees Sir Wayne and Dragon going to the rescue of a princess in a tower, Sir Wayne with his sword of Dragon with his bottom of flame and they both think they are the perfect hero and will be. the one to rescue the princess.

Who will be right, who will do the rescuing, why has the monster three eyes, all these questions will be answered in this fun and colourful addition to the series.

Beach’s illustrations once again really bring the story to life with lots to explore on the page and the pace perfectly set between words and images.

Another book I’ll be using for storytimes at the shop as who doesn’t like blazing bottoms?

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Bertie and the Alien Chicken

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Jenny Pearson, Aleksei Bitskoff. Barrington Stoke. (120p) ISBN 9781800901810

Bertie and the Alien Chicken

Bertie and the Alien Chicken

I asked for this from NetGalley as I’ve always loved Barrington Stoke and what they stand for when I worked in special needs education. Now that I’m a bookseller I love knowing that I can direct children and parents to these books which are tailored for their needs.

This is great but what is even better is that the stories are always brilliant as well.

Bertie and the Alien Chicken is no different here, we find Bertie being sent away to his Uncle’s farm for the summer holiday as his mum is going to America to work.

Bertie really want’s nothing to do with this as he believes it is going to be smelly and boring.

He couldn’t have been more wrong, OK not about the smelly bit but definitely about the boring bit.

After a gentle bit of ribbing by his Uncle things start to go very strange when he meets Nugget the talking alien chicken who is on a mission and enlists Bertie to help. At least it is only the fate of the planet that’s at stake nothing too important.

A fun little adventure ensues with a lot of silliness, but at it’s core it is a lovely little book that looks at exploring those more intangible things that are so important like feelings and how it’s so crucial to acknowledge them.

This story was superbly supported by the funny illustrations of Aleksei Bitskoff, lots of detail and humour really added to the whole experience.

It feels like there could be a sequel in the works which is great and I’d love to see more adventures with Bertie and Nugget.

I received this through NetGalley for an honest review.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

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Magic Keepers: Crystal Chaos

by Stephen | 1 Comment

Linda Chapman, Hoang Giang. Little Tiger. (160p) ISBN 9781788954402

Magic Keepers: Crystal ChaosThe first in a new series from Linda Chapman, and filled with really cute illustrations from Hoang Giang.

This sets up a new magical world based in Curio House, where Ava’s Great-Aunt Enid used to live and collected all sorts of interesting curios from around the world.

In her will Enid insists that all the curios have to be kept together and this is where Ava and her mum come in as they go to live in the house after Enid’s death.

With her dog Pepper and her new friends Lily and Sarah Ava falls into a world where they discover magic is real and that crystals do hold their own potential and energy.

They all have to learn how to use these powers rather SNAPPY as they accidentally let loose a scaled terror on the local fish population.

It is also a wonderful story of friendship and how everyone is different and have their own strengths and weaknesses but together they are better.

Fun and with a nice easy read I got through this in an evening and looking forward to seeing how the story develops.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

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How Not To Be A Vampire Slayer

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Katy Birchall. Scholastic. (272p) ISBN 9780702307966

How Not To Be A Vampire Slayer

How Not To Be A Vampire Slayer

I’ve been really lucky with what I’ve picked up to read recently, really enjoying them all and gradually working through my shelves I got to his just in time for spooky season.

This tells the story of Maggie (Slayer) and Sharptooth (Chosen One), who become friends rather than trying to kill each other.

Maggie Helsby goes to live in her recently deceased Great Uncle Bram’s house on the edge of Skeleton Woods and finds it strange that the house is surrounded by garlic and there are huge mirrors everywhere she turns, this is all before her birthright is explained to her.

Skeleton Woods are a forbidden place on the Yorkshire coast where nobody goes as it’s full of ghosts, ghouls, monster, and worst of all, vampires! Humans are repelled at the fringes of the forest as it is so dark and foreboding. The population of the local village have always kept away and heeded the legends, until Maggie goes in and finds out the truth of what is in the woods.

Full of enchantments, scary bats, creepy castles, swishing cloaks, and lots of hints about warlocks, witches, and other ghostly and ghoulish beings.

A wonderfully fun adventure all about friendship and getting past differences so everyone, vampire and human (but no cauliflowers…) can live together in peace.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

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Kate on the Case: The Call of the Silver Wibbler

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Hannah Peck. Piccadilly Press. (164p) ISBN 9781800780132

Kate on the Case: The Call of the Silver Wibbler

Kate on the Case: The Call of the Silver Wibbler

I was given the first in the series out of the blue by the publisher and I liked it so much that when I found out there was a second coming out I had to ask for a copy to read and review.

And I wasn’t disappointed.

The Call of the Silver Wibbler is as fun and fast-paced as the first book in the series, and Hannah’s illustrations still compliment the story wonderfully and are full of energy and humour.

In this story Kate has been asked to write a review for The Lookout Post by her hero, Catherine Rodríguez, but there just seems to be way too much SHRIMP! but her dad does seem in his element and enjoying himself.

She want’s something exciting to happen, as does Rupert, anything but more shrimp…

As it happens she gets caught up in the search for the most elusive bird, The Silver Wibbler, makes new friends, foils dastardly plots, and follows her true reporters instincts.

I loved this book, another beautiful little book from Hannah Peck, and I’m leaves me wanting to read more from Hannah and Kate.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Amelia Fang and the Lost Yeti Treasures

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Laura Ellen Anderson. HarperCollins. (240p) ISBN 9781405293921

Amelia Fang and the Lost Yeti Treasures

Amelia Fang and the Lost Yeti Treasures

I really love these books from Laura Ellen Anderson and think I look forward to a new adventure as much as the children in the shop (maybe even more).

Amelia Fang and the Lost Yeti Treasures sees the gang visiting the Yeti Pits to celebrate Grand-yeti’s 350th birthday party. This is very exciting in itself as the Yeti pit is a warren of tunnels built into Yeti Mountain, and also we all love a good party with loads of food.

Things aren’t all as they seem though, throughout the day and evening objects, shiny objects, go missing.

Amelia and friends resolve to find out what’s happening but will they be able to do it before things go really wrong.

Another lovely adventure which concentrates on themes of friendship and growing up. It’s this core to each of the Amelia Fang adventures that I love the most; a group of children learning and growing emotionally together and supporting each other.

In this one Amelia is also worried about making new friends outside the core group and this become a bit of a problem and upset, until the group work it out.

Funny, friendly, and really fangtastic. One of the best series of vampire books for this age group (well any age group really).

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Amelia Fang and the Half-Moon Holiday

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Laura Ellen Anderson. HarperCollins. (240p) ISBN 9781405292092

Amelia Fang and the Half-Moon Holiday

Amelia Fang and the Half-Moon Holiday

I really, really look forward to a new book from Laura Ellen Anderson and Amelia Fang and the Half-Moon Holiday kept up the streak of fun adventures that are great to read alone or to children.

The Rainbow Rangers idea was brilliant, we all remember summer camps, some with love, others with less love and Amelia and friends take on the challenges, I was going to say full on, but they are mysteriously shrunk and have to work together to find out why.

Lots of adventures and puns, peppered with great illustrations, I really loved Queen Denise.

An emphasis on friendship and helping people is such an important part of this series, it is a great way to teach this without preaching.

Once more my niece loved this and we both are looking forward to the series continuing as it’s not just a book but a special breed of book.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

The Paninis of Pompeii

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Andy Stanton. HarperCollins. (176p) ISBN 9781405293853

The Paninis of Pompeii

The Paninis of Pompeii

My nephew and I are such great fans of Mr Gum and Andy Stanton and when he found out there was a new book from him to read he was so excited for my visit, though that goes without saying anyway.

The Paninis of Pompeii share in Mr Gum’s humour, which is definitely a vary individual humour. Silly, a wee bit juvenile and definitely wacky in the best sense of the word.

This first book in what looks like a new series from Andy Stanton sets up the characters and world that we will be revisiting.

From the Pompeiian fascination with the fart as a currency to exploring the class system of owner slave in an almost ‘Up Pompeii! With Frankie Howard way, in fact I could just imagine this book done as a 70s comedy show, it would be brilliant, Andy takes us through the world of Caecilius and family in short vignettes with puns galore.

More to the point is that my nephew loved it.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

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Charlie Changes Into a Chicken

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Sam Copeland. Penguin. (288p) ISBN 9780241346211

Charlie Changes Into a Chicken

Charlie Changes Into a Chicken

I was given a copy of Charlie Changes Into a Chicken by Puffin in exchange for a review, and it’s always a relief when you can give a positive review 😉

Charlie McGuffin is nine-years old and pretty ordinary, except for one thing. He changes into different creatures. Through the book we follow Charlie on his adventures and discoveries of how this happens and how he can stop it.

He is supported by his friends, Flora, Mohsen and Wogan. Who as they are Charlie’s friends believe him immediately. There is the problem of Dylan though, Charlie’s nemesis and all-round bully.

The writing is fun, and the book is filled with great, vibrant illustrations by Sarah Horne that compliments the text so well.

I will also never be able to look at a pigeon in the same way again, think Pepé le Pew and Monty Python.

The book explores childhood anxiety and how friends and family can be supportive through trusting and love.

A really enjoyable book, with so many layers to it.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.