Pumkiniah the Brave by Georgia Beyers (Tate Publishing)

Today is "Happy Launch Day" for a book we've had for a while now, and as it takes us just that little bit longer to read through chapter books we thought we'd publish our review today.

So who is Pumkiniah the Brave, and do you really need another fairy story in your life?

Of COURSE you do, particularly if you have children at home who love fairies and absolutely cannot resist a story about a particularly gutsy and cool fairy like Pumkiniah (or Pumki for short).

Pumki is a young fairy who enrolls at the Bureau of Young Human Defence (BYHD) to become a secret fairy agent. Unbeknownst to the human world, fairies help to bind the world together, constantly vigilant and always ready for when evil forces may threaten the world we know and love, unseen but ever present.

Pumkiniah embarks on an adventure with her friends that will not only help her learn more about the world but will test her to her limits as the forces of good and evil clash.

We particularly liked an approach in fairy stories to make the fairies more contemporary-feeling, while still paying homage to all the familiar classic fairy traits that children may have encountered in other novels. Though this is a book more suitable for older children than Charlotte (ages 8-12 perhaps), it's a good meaty and long-lasting book to read to younger children who start to develop a taste for words and language over pictures (though I thought the lovely little pre-chapter illustrations of the awesome Pumki were a lovely touch).

Atmospheric, nicely flowing and definitely a must if your children still believe in fairies. The good news is that a second novel is complete (still waiting for a publisher) and the 3rd and 4th Pumkiniah books are also in progress. Georgia is one busy lady!

Find out more about Pumkiniah the Brave, Georgia Beyers and how to order the book through the Pumkiniah Website

Charlotte's best bit: Giggling about Trolls acting up in class (and out of class). Just like the boys at Charlotte's school, in fact!

Daddy's favourite bit: An accomplished and neatly contemporary slant on classic fairy folklore. The sort of fairy heroine you really wouldn't mind your daughters (or sons) idolising. Move over Tinkerbell, your time's up!

(Very kindly sent to us for review all the way from the land of Oz by Georgia Beyers)