Our Chapter Book of the Week this week is the third book in a delightful little series about a girl and her best friend (who just happens to be a Puffin!)

Imagine a high school populated by the offspring of well loved fairy tales. That's Ever After High - the subject of a planned series of books, merchandise and movies.
We've been fortunate enough to get an early look at "Ever After High - The Storybook of Legends" by Shannon Hale, New York Times best selling author and award-winning creator of "Princess Academy".

"Ever After High" introduces us to characters like Apple White, who is the daughter of a certain fair maiden with skin as pure as snow. There's also Raven, daughter of the wicked queen who really should be following in mum's evil footsteps but so doesn't want to be evil. Woven around the tale of the Storybook of Legends, the entire fabric of their universe hinges on everyone signing the book - and ensuring a happy ever after for all concerned. But what if one character chooses not to sign?

Though Charlotte is familiar with the morass of fairy tales (both traditional and "Disney-fied" versions) and the characters, she enjoyed the sections we read together (and swiftly adopted Apple White as her favourite character - no real surprise as Snow White is still her favourite princess after all). It's probably a book that's more suited to older children, and it's a huge hefty tome so if you're a parent wanting to read this to your children chapter by chapter, be prepared!

It's quite tricky to find the right balance of injecting a dose of originality into well-loved (and well-trodden) fairy tales but the world created here in "Ever After High" offers a tantalising and tempting glimpse into a rich new fairy tale universe that should delight and enthrall.

Here's a clip of "Ever After High" to whet your appetite for the book!


(Book kindly sent to us for review by Little, Brown)

"The Land of Stories - The Wishing Spell" now out in Paperback from Little, Brown

Imagine tumbling headfirst into a land where your favourite fairy-tale characters are real - as are their evil nemeses!

Chris Colfer - Better known to Glee fans as "Kurt" has been creating "The Land of Stories" since childhood. The book trilogy (with two books currently available - "The Wishing Spell" and "The Return of the Enchantress" - which has just come out in hardback, with a third on the way) is a richly fantastic set of stories for young and old, reminiscent of the works of C.S Lewis or The Brothers Grimm.

Twins Alex and Conner find themselves in "The Land of Stories" after their Grandmother gives them a mysterious book filled with amazing tales. Alex soon discovers that there's more to the book than they thought, and when she becomes a virtual recluse, locked up for hour after hour in her room with the book, Conner decides to investigate.

When he surprises Alex one afternoon, she inadvertently tumbles into the book - swiftly followed by Conner - and they find themselves embroiled in a world where ancient battles are fought, kingdoms are divided and characters they've known and loved from children's books are real.

They meet Froggy, a human-sized Frog who quickly fills them in on what's happening in this fantasy world, which is tinged with darkness. They discover that there may be an obscure path back to their own world through "The Wishing Spell", and they set out on a quest to find their way home.

"The Land of Stories" is divided up into kingdoms, like "Red Riding Hood Kingdom" or "The Northern Lands". Alex and Conner must have their wits about them to survive, but we soon discover that they're not the only ones searching for "The Wishing Spell".

"The Land of Stories" Book 2 - The Enchantress Returns. Currently available in Hardback from Little, Brown

Both books are real page-turners, and reading extracts to Charlotte (while sneaking a more in-depth read myself) reveals a rich tapestry of tales, brilliant characters and some novel twists on children's fairy tales and the folk who dwell in them. Colfer aims to produce a "Land of Stories" movie at some point, so here's a chance to get in on the action before the movie goes into production (it might seem a bit jarring when there are several other TV shows that dip into the rich back catalogue of children's fairy tales, but the stories here really do stand on their own two feet and are quite epic in scale). Ideally suited to children aged 8 upwards, they're also great to chip away at chapter by chapter when read to younger children too.

With sumptuous covers (and chapter illustrations) by Brandon Dorman, come and visit "The Land of Stories" soon - and you'll find yourself as immersed as we did!