When I was a child, I dreamed of exploring like the little hero of this fabulous and lusciously illustrated book. Our Second Book of the Week this week is the gorgeous "Nara and the Island" by Dan Ungureanu

Definitely a case of love at first sight for this week's first book of the week. We couldn't keep our hungry peepers off "Harold's Hungry Eyes" by Kevin Waldron

No doubt many of you will have read the rather sensationalist claims by a head teacher regarding children's reading matter over the last couple of weeks. A bold claim that fantasy books, beloved and favoured by children the world over, are in fact dangerous to their mental health. "Fantasy damages kids' brains" went the headlines, clamoured by just about every news site that has a passing interest in literature (childrens or otherwise).

Graeme Whiting, quoted in the Telegraph article, mentioned several fairly high profile and 'popular' titles - kicking off with (of all things) Game of Thrones but also laying into books you'd more readily associate with child reading, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and The Hunger Games.

I wasn't happy with the article - Not just because it went on to contradict itself within the space of a sentence by recommending kids stick to 'comfortable' classics like Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Keats and Shelley ("no dark mind-bendingly grim stuff in there kids, you'll be OK" I mumbled with a modicum of sarcasm in my inner voice) but because the article itself mimbled on without actually coming to any useful conclusion, when it so easily could have touched on two very important issues.

First - reluctant reading. With profuse apologies to Shakespeare, Wordsworth and Keats fans, being given anything like that when I was a word-hungry 6 year old would have put me off reading for life. (though I've developed more of a taste for them in adult life).

I read early, I started reading properly at 4 and was devouring bigger books shortly afterwards (and, hah, guess what genre they predominantly were? The whole driving force behind my thirst for reading was knowing that there were so many awesome fantasy books around when I was growing up in the 1970s)

If I'd been force fed classics and been entirely limited to those, well we probably wouldn't be here today. I wouldn't be writing a passionate book blog, and you wouldn't be reading this rant because I'd have long given up on books and would probably be sitting on a river bank with a fishing rod in my hand instead.

Secondly - age ratings. It feels like this discussion is never going to go away but there's a very fine line between being told you can't read something because it's age inappropriate - or having enough of a moral compass to know that books well known for being graphically violent or sexual in overtones (such as the Game of Thrones series) aren't going to be a cuddly fluffy read for anyone under the age of consent. Sometimes it feels like parents just want a get out of jail card when it comes to age ratings, purely so that they can wave a PG or 18 sticker under someone's nose when they're called out for basically not giving a poop about what their kid does until someone calls them out on it.

It would be making a very broad statement that children should do as we say, not as we do. I've mentioned before on the blog how on one fateful school trip at the tender age of 9, I'd nabbed a friend's illicit copy of James Herbert's "The Rats" and read it from cover to cover in one sitting (thank heavens for long coach journeys to welsh coal mines).

Had I known that this typical act of youthful rebellion had irreparably damaged my brain, I'd have probably not bothered (he says sarcastically). The book wasn't even that great but at the time I remember thinking that much of its appeal came from the fact that I was reading a 'grown up' book full of 'grown up' stuff - the simple childhood thrill of doing something that you know you're not supposed to do - that has been there since Eve first took a bite of a snake in the garden of Sweden (sorry forgive me, I can never forget how that old fantasy story goes).

Amazingly, I haven't gone on a mad axe-fuelled rampage, I seem to be holding down a steady job, have a sense of right and wrong and I'm still reading fantasy novels, including Game of Thrones, Hunger Games, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings for what it's worth.

I am also, by Graeme's measure, being a terrible parent because I let Charlotte read fantasy stuff - nay I positively encourage her to, and her mum also reads C.S Lewis books to her as well. Tsk tsk, aren't we horrors! How were we to know that we were steadily turning her into a monster?

After reading the entire thing, the article felt an awful lot like those other well-meaning articles where a vociferous 'expert' tells us that "videogames are extremely bad for kids" before launching into a diatribe about how letting little Timmy play Grand Theft Auto will lead to antisocial behaviour, and how we really shouldn't let our kids play the 18 rated MurderDeathKill simulator (because again, we parents need to have the bleeding obvious stated to us in this manner - we're hopeless, we need experts to tell us how to do everything or we'll just crumble into dust!)

Perhaps it's merely this. There's no profit to be made in wrapping yourself up in fantasy stories, and sticking to a regimented diet of the classics will ensure that your brain isn't distracted (damaged) and focuses on the important stuff like passing meaningless tests to prove your worth instead. The more tests you pass, the more likely you'll be able to swing a highly paid and important job - say, becoming headmaster of a private school or something of that ilk, and be well on your way to becoming a voice of reason, a yardstick by which others may measure themselves (with no disrespect intended to school heads whatsoever, I have rarely met one that spouts such unutterable garbage as this fella).

Having someone in a position of educational authority make a rather bold and headline grabbing statement must sell an awful lot of newspapers (or school places perhaps). It certainly must've racked up a lot of clicks for the Telegraph too.

More fab rhyming from Elli Woollard, this time teamed with ANOTHER of our favourite artists, the awesome Laura Ellen Anderson for a piratical tale with a difference...

This pretty miss is actually quite vile, though she does have a modicum of fashionable style...

We're extremely glad to see these truly gorgeous versions of classic Grimms fairy tales getting a timely reprint...

There's a glorious picture book mechanism which we don't have an official label for...

Kids love getting together over a good book! Join in! (Photo © Paul Watt)

Today sees the start of the Scottish Book Trust's awesome "Book Bug Week" - a week-long series of events and activities sharing all that's great in children's books.

Bookbug Week 2016 takes place between today and Sunday 22nd May with hundreds of free story, song and rhyme events for families with babies and young children held across the country. The theme this year is Bookbug Around the World, an international theme that will inspire children and adults to explore songs and rhymes from around the globe.

Bookbug encourages mums, dads and carers to talk, cuddle, sing, and share stories and rhymes with their children from birth. Bookbug provides every child in Scotland with four free packs of books, and runs free Bookbug Sessions with stories, songs and rhymes for children and their families. Funded by the Scottish Government, Bookbug is Scottish Book Trust’s Early Years Programme.

Bookbug Week 2016 will see free around the world themed events taking place in every local authority in Scotland, with special appearances from some of the UK’s best-loved children’s authors and illustrators. This year’s flagship event will take place at The Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre in Stirling on Monday 16 May.

Schools and nurseries across the country can tune in to watch a fun-filled Authors Live event with Ed Vere, streamed live from the BBC’s studios in Glasgow on Thursday 19 May. Some fantastic Bookbug prizes will also be up for grabs in on-line competitions throughout the week.

For more info about Bookbug week visit www.scottishbooktrust.com or pop into your local library.

Join in, be inspired and help celebrate the brilliance of books!

The fab folk at Ginger Books contacted us recently to tell us all about their brilliant range of diverse and original children's picture books and non-fiction titles.

Ginger Books have been around for a few years now, but they've very kindly sent us a crop of their titles to take a closer look at.

We love diverse books, and we love world stories so we were particularly interested to see that Ginger Books ticks two of the boxes we most like to see ticked when it comes to children's books.

1) Fabulous art. Like it or not, kids are very demanding when it comes to the pictures in their picture books and the illustrations in their non-fiction titles. Ginger Books works with some extremely talented artists to ensure that their books look as good as they sound

2) Original stories. We love new versions of classic tales, but equally we love to read classic tales from other countries and cultures - thoughtfully translated and retold paying due homage to the originals. Once again Ginger Books uses talented translators such as Grace Bowman and Alice Hemming to ensure that the stories are as exciting and vibrant as they were when told in their original languages.

We looked at a few titles but were most taken with Korean Cinderella, a brilliant retelling of the classic Cinderella story with a fabulous eastern charm all of its own. Retold by Kyu Hee Lee and illustrated by So Young Kim (with translation by Grace Bowman), "Korean Cinderella" is a truly gorgeous book!


"While Mummy Hen Was Away" by Young So You and Byeong Ho Han (with translation by Grace Bowman) is a thoroughly original and exciting tale of a clucky mother hen and a rather nasty old wolf, a classic good vs evil tale that feels fresh and original, and gorgeously illustrated.

We do love a nasty old wolf in stories, and this innovative counting book with hilarious rhymes is a fantastic way to get your tiny little ones counting (and giggling a lot at the same time).







We also really enjoyed "Show Me a Shadow" by Hee Jeong Yun and Hye Won Yeom (again with translation from Grace Bowman). A fab tale of a little girl and her pet cat, playing with light and shade and various objects to make the most incredible shadows.

Of the three, this was our favourite by a long chalk and it was great fun to try and replicate the shapes and shadows the little girl came up with for ourselves.

The books are brilliant for home, and would also work really well in school too - particularly non-fiction titles such as "Show me the Air" and "Let's Play some Music" which are fun ways of teaching children without feeling too 'schooly'.

Overall, Ginger Books have impressed our socks off with these so they're definitely worth taking a closer look at.

You can find out about the whole range of Ginger Books over at their website: http://gingerbooks.co.uk

We're sneaking in an extra-special Chapter Book roundup this month with just over a month's voting left for the awesome "Lollies" - the Laugh Out Loud Children's Book Awards 2013.

We've been taking an extra-close look at the 9-13 Age Group category for the Lollies shortlist.

Just in case you missed our previous post all about this awesome award, check it out and check out the details over at the Scholastic Lollies Website:
https://shop.scholastic.co.uk/lollies

Here are some fab kids telling you exactly what they think about funny books!


Get involved, get your school involved and GET VOTING in any of the categories you see fit - and perhaps get some brilliant goodies to add to your school's library.

Back to the awards and without further ado, let's take a closer look at the 9-13 age group titles.


Danger is Everywhere by David O'Doherty and Chris Judge (Puffin)
Expect crazed and chaotic comedy in this madcap adventure featuring Docter (sic) Noel Zone who, let's face it, is a cowardly custard extraordinaire. Despite having a big old brain, Noel Zone is absolutely petrified of everything. Post-it notes, coffee stirrers. You name it and he's scared of it so when a cute pup called Napkin comes to stay, Doctor Zone does the only thing he can do - Hides in the nearest wardrobe.

It's exceedingly difficult to be a top-flight scientist and danger-ologist when you're trapped while a puppy goes on the rampage, so hopefully this hilarious spoof self-help book might give you a heads up and turn you into an expert POD (Pupil of Dangerology) before it's too late.
Hilarious and brilliant comedic timing, sheer and utter chaos and cute drooling puppies. What could be better!

"Danger is (Still) Everywhere - Beware of the Dog" by David O'Doherty and Chris Judge is out now from Puffin.


The Parent Agency by David Baddiel and Jim Field (HarperCollins Children's Books)

Take one comedic genius, team him up with an awesome artist, and dig into the thorny subject of why parents are (mostly complete lunatics) and you've got the recipe for a hugely original and funny book. In "The Parent Agency" you're whisked to an alternative world where children are actually allowed to choose their parents! This sounds absolutely perfect to the story's hero, Barry Bennet, who truly wishes that he had different parents himself. As the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for because even the most well informed choice might go horribly wrong.
This is a fantastic book, fused with the sort of dark humour that you'd expect from writers like Neil Gaiman and Eoin Colfer but tinged with David Baddiel's obvious razor sharp observations about what kids expect from their parents and vice versa.


"The Parent Agency" is out now from HarperCollins Children's Books.


Emily Sparkes and the Friendship Fiasco by Ruth Fitzgerald (Little, Brown)

The next title we looked at was absolutely brilliant for Charlotte, with an immediately identifiable main character going through all the sort of annoyances that girls Charlotte's age have to put up with. New babies, best friends moving away, and (ugh) the grossest thing of all - annoying boys in class!. When Emily Sparkes is lumped with Gross-Out Gavin on the school trip, it's just the start of a catalogue of woes that see Emily veering between new baby issues (We did love that her nickname for the new baby was Yoda!), crazy teachers (Mrs Lovetofts made us giggle) and fair-weather friends.

Brilliant characterisations and a goodly dose of fab and inspired observation make this a laugh out loud winner if ever we saw one.



"Emily Sparkes and the Friendship Fiasco" (Emily Sparkes Book 1) is out now from Little, Brown Publishing (and don't forget to check out the other brilliant books in the series too!)


Petunia Perry and the Curse of the Ugly Pigeon by Pamela Butchart and Gemma Correll (Nosy Crow)

Sticking with madcap school-based adventures, meet Petunia Perry, star of "Petunia Perry and the Curse of the Ugly Pigeon" by children's book superstar Pamela Butchart. We've loved her picture books but this is the first time we've dipped into her middle grade stuff and it's HUGELY funny.

Petunia has a problem. Her friend is completely loony (the sort of girl who thinks staging one-person flashmobs in the school canteen is a winsome trait). Her parents are uber-embarrasing (imagine a mum who pretty much gives away WAY too much awful inside information on your home life at parent's evenings) and her English teacher could do with a good shower.

Petunia has decided to write her memoirs, the life and times of a schoolgirl struggling to live an ordinary life when completely mad and random things keep happening to her.
Petunia Perry (just call her Peri) dishes up important information about starting secondary school, avoiding black bananas, avoiding really annoying boys who think drawing you unicorns will somehow win your love and friendship. Oh and did we mention those terrible parents?

Pamela's brilliant comic genius adapts beautifully to an older audience, and we really love Gemma Correll so we were delighted to see her illustrations really bringing the chaos to life.

We personally think the judges have a mountain to climb picking just one of these books, but if we were forced to, I think we both agree that "Petunia Perry and the Curse of the Ugly Pigeon" was our clear winner (any book that can make you simultaneously snort coffee and / or strawberry milk out of your nose really does deserve a Laugh Out Loud award!

"Petunia Perry and the Curse of the Ugly Pigeon" is out now from Nosy Crow.

We'll keep you posted on the eventual winners in each category once the votes have been cast and counted. As we said at the top of the article, GET INVOLVED and join in the fun!