Tag Archives: Simon & Schuster

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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The Little Match Girl Strikes Back

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Emma Carroll, Lauren Child. Simon & Schuster. (208p) ISBN 9781398512818

The Little Match Girl Strikes Back

The Little Match Girl Strikes Back

I’d been saving this for my holiday and the train journey to and from Hull, well it lasted the train journey to Hull…

Another brilliant book from Emma Carroll and Lauren Child, looking forward to seeing the finished illustrations as the copy I had was a bound proof and they were all greyscale, but still stunningly beautiful.

This takes the story of the little match girl and gives her agency, rather than letting her die she is allowed to live and change things for the better along with others in similar circumstances.

Very apt at the moment when more and more workers are seeing that collective action is the only way to make a lasting and real change in the world.

There are tones of Christmas Carol, especially the idea of three revelatory scenes that change the protagonist and the outcome of the story.

Well written at a cracking pace (I finished it on a single train journey) the illustrations and word play add a strength to the book that words alone wouldn’t convey.

I’m always happy to get an Emma Carroll or Lauren Child book to read and this is just wonderful having the two together

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.

Into Goblyn Wood

by Stephen | 1 Comment

Anna Kemp. Simon & Schuster. (320p) ISBN 9781398503830

Into Goblyn Wood

Into Goblyn Wood

Who doesn’t love the story of a badly treated orphan escaping the cruel orphanage and discovering their true potential? Especially if that true potential is out there in the world of faeries.

In this magical tale we follow the story of Hazel, the orphan, as she and her friend Pete escape from the orphanage and go the Goblyn Wood to join with the Wild Children, other orphans and such that have previously escaped.

All does no go to plan and as soon as they enter the wood Pete is snatched by unknown assailants and Hazel starts her journey to rescue him finding the truth about herself in the process.

A fun and fantastic story that gives a different twist on the lives of faeries and how there are different types of faeries and how they all came to be, with a creeping evil at the core that needs to be defeated and it looks like Hazel will be the only one to do it, and there’s a prophesy to prove it!

A beautiful book about friends and family, but especially about a young girl finding herself and the confidence to rescue those she loves. There is a brilliant training montage-style episode in the book where Hazel is left to develop her growing powers.

Really looking forward to book two as this ends on such a cliff hanger and I really hope Anna gets round to this quite quickly.

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.

Dragon Mountain

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Katie & Kevin Tsang. Simon & Schuster Ltd. (336p) ISBN 9781471193071

Dragon Mountain

Dragon Mountain

I’ve loved Katie and Kevin’s Sam Wu series and was really looking forward to reading their foray into the fabulous Realm of Middle Grade and I wasn’t disappointed.

A fabulously fast-paced adventure including dragons, super powers, friendship, and an ancient evil, Dragon Mountain has it all!

I was gripped from the start when the main character Billy was introduced along with the rest of the main cast Charlotte, Dylan, Ling-fei, and ‘Old Gold’. It follows their adventures into the Dragon Realm to save us all from the Dragon of Death and the nox-wings.

There is a strong theme of cooperation and understanding others throughout the book, and having a group of main characters so that there is someone most readers can relate to (Dylan) is important.

Dragon Mountain has done a great job setting the series up, great heroes, dastardly villains, and a series of worlds to explore make me really want to read the follow up, Dragon Legend, now.

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.

Sky Song

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Abi Elphinstone. Simon & Schuster. (288p) ISBN 9781471146077

Sky Song

Sky Song

Sky Song started as if it was a children’s classic, with an evil Ice Queen corrupting what used to be good and fair and after the first chapter I was hooked.

It concerns the quest of Eska and Flint, with various other companions, to fight the Ice Queen and restore balance to the land and free the prisoners of the Ice Queen.

The pace was excellent and helped me keep going through the book, always wanting to know what was going to happen next to these characters.

It was another wonderful touch that all the adults were prisoners and it was up to children to not only save the world but more importantly to keep the world running.

The magic in the world was subtle, but powerful and developed well from a beginning where it isn’t trusted to where it becomes so important and an integral part of the world once more.

There were touches of Philip Pullman in here, and touches of old fairy tales, but overall it is a beautifully described world with an exciting adventure.

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.

Rewild Yourself

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Simon Barnes. Simon & Schuster. (208p) ISBN 9781471175428

Rewild Yourself

Rewild Yourself

It was the cover of this book that drew me to it as all I wanted to do was spend some time at the side of the water.

Split into 23 accessible chapters, each focusing on a different change you can make to feel more within the wild that is always around us but that you haven’t noticed.

I love books that have small chapters as it’s a great bedside read, dipping in and out before you fall asleep. This is especially true of books on art and nature due to the positive feelings you get from them. The big problem with ‘Rewild Yourself’ was I was so spellbound by it I read it in a day.

From learning to identify a few butterflies to wearing waterproof trousers, each change is small, but taken as a whole could make a great difference to your appreciation of the plants and animals around you, it will also help make those #lockdown walks more interesting.

A well-written and well-argued collection of essays it will be a great reference to return to when I want to learn a new spell beyond the ones I’m already doing.

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.