Friday 28 April 2017

ReadItDaddy's Chapter Book of the Week - Week Ending 28th April 2017 - "Bird Girl" by Maudie Smith and Lucy Fleming (Orion Children's Books)

This weeks chapter book of the week fulfils a hugely important role - that of a book that Charlotte can see herself in...
"Bird Girl" by Maudie Smith, with a fantastic cover from Lucy Fleming, is the sort of book that I always hope we'll stumble across in our book blogging efforts.

We've always championed books that feel like they're down to earth and yet feature characters whose imaginations allow them to soar, and also have a tinge of magic about them too.

That's how it is with pink-haired Finch Field, a character Charlotte instantly fell in love with right from page one.

She is, to be fair, a bit of a daydreamer. A creative soul who dreams of flying - not in a plane, but swimming through the sky like a bird. 

Finch's classmates aren't always kind. They call her Dream Bird, but when Finch goes to stay with her beloved Granny Field for the summer, she finds herself face-to-face with a monster intent on stealing people's dreams. 

Finch must find a way to believe her own dreams can come true if she is to save the dreams of everyone in Sunview on Sea. It's a huge responsibility that sees Finch draw on her inner strength and her belief in her own ideas and fantasies but is that enough to win the day? 

You know us - no spoilers - but this is a scintillating set up for a story that may seem light and breezy at first, but draws you in to an amazing magical plot that bites deep, particularly if you're like us - and a lot like Finch. 

Utterly brilliant. Charlotte devoured this and demanded more so we'll be hunting out more from Maudie very soon. 

"Bird Girl" by Maudie Smith with cover by Lucy Fleming is out now, published by Orion Children's Books (Kindly sent for review).