Tag Archives: Family

Can I Come Too

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Owen Davey. Rocket Bird Books. (32p) ISBN 9781915395009

Can I Come Too

Can I Come Too

As soon as I saw the cover for this book I really wanted to have a proper look at it, I was lucky to be sent a copy for review.

I received the hard back version and there is a sculptural quality to the cover that fits with the block shape style of illustration, really lovely to feel.

The story is one of sibling bears where the youngest bear wants to tag along with the older sibling, and through the enthusiasm, rather than malice, of the younger one things keep going wrong and the older bear keeps getting frustrated and angry.

The story explores these feelings well and has a lovely resolution for the siblings.

I’m still not quite sure whether the art work reminds me of 50s or 60s design aesthetics, leaning toward the 50s, but the palette is a lovely set of warm browns, fresh greens, and cool blues and make the book gorgeous to look at whilst following the story.

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Jayben and the Golden Torch

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Thomas Leeds. Hachette Children’s Group. (288p) ISBN 9781444968637

Jayben and the Golden Torch

Jayben and the Golden Torch

Another that I fancied the brief description on NetGalley and glad I persevered through a bout of brain fog to finish.

This sees Ben/Jayben switching between Earth World and Elf World and discovering that he is the ninth and final Dreamer, and he has a great destiny to fulfil to set the balance of the worlds right once again, but in the Elf World he has no memories of who he is or what he has to do.

Worse still there is a fake Dreamer who is after him and his power, throw in an acid-spitting witch who can duplicate things, agents who can see his purple aura, and an array of fantastical creatures out to stop him you can see how this might be a wee bit difficult.

Jayben though is not alone and gathers a group of friends, all with different skills and from different elf clans and not only does he discover his own inner strength but the strength of friendship and trust.

Loved the world building and strange creatures that inhabit the world and was kept on edge throughout the book as to what was going to happen next, laugh out loud at times and really sad at others.

It was also a warm and honest look at a child who has seizures and how they felt and how they made him feel and I’m sure this will be developed further in the next book. The best part of this is that it didn’t feel tacked on and felt as though it was part of the main theme of memory and what we all take for granted and how that would feel if taken away.

Overall a great magical adventure with great potential.

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

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Missing You

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Phellip Willian, illus. Melissa Garabeli, trans. Fabio Ramos. Oni Press. (120p) ISBN 9781637152072

Missing You

Missing You

I picked this up at the same time as Tiny Fox and Great Boar without realising what either were about I was just drawn in by the wonderful art on the covers.

I also didn’t realise at the time that both were from Oni Press.

Reading a second book about family, loss, grief, and growth in as many days may have been a bit too much, but these were so well presented and thought out that it really wasn’t.

Missing You is about a young family who have lost their mother/wife and in the case of grandma, daughter.

As the young family are driving through a forest they come across an injured fawn which they take home and into their hearts to fill that gap.

Lion (the fawn) also grows and has their own thoughts and desires which don’t always mesh with those of the family and it is this tension which comes to a head that drives the conclusion of the story.

The art work throughout uses a soft, almost pastel palette for most of the book, except there are some dark and threatening passages that are enhanced by the appropriate palette.

Sweet, humorous, and supportive. Well written and drawn and suitable for a larger age range than to 8-12 suggested.

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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Mum, Me and the Mulberry Tree

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Tanya Rosie, illustrated Chuck Groenink. Walker Books. (32p) ISBN 9781406389807
Mum Me and the Mulberry Tree

Mum Me and the Mulberry Tree

I received this from Walker Books recently after seeing it on Twitter a few times and falling in love with the cover illustration.

Got a chance to savour it this afternoon!

A beautiful little story about a young girl and mother who take an annual trip to ‘their’ tree, through a town on a bus and a bit of a walk.

There is a simple rhyming structure throughout which gives a pleasant pace to the story, the pace matching the journey and the shared experience.

The illustrations by Chuck Groenink beautifully match the story, feeling very late summer / autumnal and give the whole a very traditional feel to it.

A wonderfully sweet and warming story, felt like a hug throughout, and scanned really well when I read it out loud.

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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The Time of Green Magic

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Hilary McKay. Pan Macmillan. (224p) ISBN 9781529019247

The Time of Green Magic

The Time of Green Magic

I was really lucky to get a proof copy of The Time of Green Magic from Macmillan as I really loved The Skylarks’ War and was looking forward to this.

When Theo and Polly met Abi’s life went through some big changes, two families blended, and she didn’t have her dad Theo all to herself anymore. More than that though she also had Max and Louis, two new stepbrothers to share everything with.

When they move into a mysterious ivy-clad new house for the extra space, mysterious happenings start to haunt them.

Shadows throughout the house and a mysterious visitor makes for a magical mysterious adventure with a real hint of danger.

Themes of change, growth, and familial love give this book a wonderful magical depth that needed a couple of read throughs to get everything out of 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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You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Jungledrop

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Abi Elphinstone. Simon & Schuster. (288p) ISBN 9781471173684

Jungledrop

Jungledrop

I’ve got to admit that this is the first in the series that I’ve read and was a bit worried that I wouldn’t be able to follow the story and miss out on the full experience.

I’m so glad to say that Jungledrop stands alone as a wonderful adventure in a stunningly magical world.

We follow the adventures of Fox and Fibber Petty-Squabble who’ve been brought up to believe that stomping on people and not thinking of others was the way to success and success equals monetary wealth and power over others.

They are unceremoniously brought to Jungledrop, the source of rain in our world, where Morg the Harpy has been draining the world of its magic which will eventually spell the end of both worlds.

Strong themes of trust, growth, friendship, kindness, and family are dealt with throughout this exciting adventure and what seems impossible at first becomes easier with friends and family.

Jungledrop is an imaginative and beautiful world, lots of strong supporting characters and Morg is a great baddie.

Looking forward to reading the preceding book and what’s still to come.

Another Elphinstone cracker!

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

Ella on the Outside

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Cath Howe. Nosy Crow. (240p) ISBN 9781788000338

Ella on the Outside

Ella on the Outside

Ella is at a new school, her best friend is far away, her father is in prison, and she is finding this difficult to deal with.

Then the troubles really start, who can you trust, who is your friend?

Ella on the Outside is a well-written look at a young girls difficulties in steering through the complexities of new school and friendships, whilst dealing with domestic problems and growing up.

We watch as Ella grows and conquers all these difficulties, finding out what it means to be a good friend.

A great middle grade book, exploring lots of issues but still a good read with that.

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.

Sisters

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Daisy Johnson. Vintage. (192p) ISBN 9781529111057

Sisters

Sisters

Just having finished Fen I was delighted to see that Sisters was up for request on NetGalley.

I loved Daisy Johnson’s writing style in Fen, the giver of secrets and revealer of ancient mythologies. This continues in Sisters, on the surface a story of an intense sibling relationship and of modern calamities.

September is the oldest of the two sisters, with July coming along less than a year after. September is the dominant personality in the family, July follows on.

September is the builder of tales, mythologies, and games. This leads to some very dark places that July has little choice but to follow.

Exiled to Yorkshire, to Settle House on the coast after an unexplained incident the darkness and claustrophobia of the house and the memories it invokes (it was their father’s house) twists and becomes part of the revelations of that incident.

As you tumble through the story you get caught up in the feverish telling of stories, of the mixing of narratives, of being in someones skin and behind their eyes.

Promises are made to be kept and the conclusion brings that around so frighteningly.

Absolutely stunning work, if I was you I would preorder this ready for July and dive in as soon as you get 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.