Review: Setsuko and the Song of the Sea, by Fiona Barker, Illustrated by Howard Gray

Blurb 

Setsuko loves the sea. She swims its shallows. She dives its depths. But she worries that her friends have chosen to abandon her way of life. Then she meets a whale who also fears he is the last of his kind. In return for giving him hope, he gifts her a song which she uses to remind people of the beauty of the ocean. Setsuko took the song and made it her own. They played together from the first crisp light of morning until the setting of the evening sun. Everyone who heard Setsuko’s song was filled with the wonder of the sea. They remembered the beauty and mystery of the ocean. A story of an unlikely friendship, Setsuko and her friend the whale have one thing in common ― their love of the sea. Much like the revered ama-san, ― women who have been diving off the coast of the Shima peninsula in Japan for over 2,000 years ― Setsuko is a strong girl who is on the path to becoming one of these real-life mermaids. 10% of the net profits from each book will be donated to the Marine Conservation Society, the UK charity working for seas full of life. Visit www.mcs.org.uk to find out more.

Buy Links

Publisher Shop – https://bit.ly/3cfj7mp

Waterstones – https://bit.ly/2YgEDz2

Foyles – https://bit.ly/3ooqzxS

Amazon – https://amzn.to/3a63xHb

Goodreads – https://bit.ly/3iNZ0gw

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Children’s Book Review: Dad! I’ve Hurt Myself!, by Andrew Rogerson, Illustrations by Christopher Dodd

Publisher : Clink Street Publishing (1 April 2021)
Language : English
Paperback : 36 pages
ISBN-10 : 1913962393
ISBN-13 : 978-1913962395
Reading Age: 4 – 7 years

Blurb

This is the story about how a dad tries to distract his daughter when she has hurt herself or feels ill. These are all real moments.

Written by Andrew Rogerson, this book is for anyone who enjoys reading time with their children. It especially highlights the unique relationship between a father and his daughter and shows how acting silly can sometimes distract and defuse a tricky situation.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Christopher Dodd who has a unique perspective because he has known the author for many years and has seen Poppy grow up from being a toddler. The illustrations offer an insight into the world of books and well-known children’s characters providing a wonderful point of discussion between parent and child.

Review

This book shows various attempts by ‘Dad’ to distract ‘Poppy’ after she gets minor booboos. Tea and biscuits, ice cream, sweets and being silly are the main ways ‘Dad’ distracts ‘Poppy’. There’s a list of story references at the back for children to find in the illustrations.

It is quite a funny little story. Very simple to read and understand. There are questions on each page for the reader to ask/answer.

The illustrations are colour pencil drawings in a cheerful, slightly wacky style. There are all sorts of strange creatures and references to a range of nursery rhymes and children’s books. Some of them seem to be on the wrong page for the words, but that might be an ARC feature?

I think the reading age range is a little high, maybe 3 to 5, rather than 4 to 7 years.

Nice little book for early readers.

Review: What the world needs now: Bees!, by @cherylrosebush @freshly_press @lovebooksgroup #lovebookstours

Blurb 

Inside the sprawling forests of Ontario, Canada lives a  friendly black bear named Melly. One of Melly’s favourite  things to do is EAT! And many of the delicious fruits she  snacks on wouldn’t grow without the help of some very  important little forest creatures. 

What the World Needs Now: Bees! explores the vital role  busy, busy bees play in helping plants to grow the food  people and animals love to eat.

A message from the Author:

As you might have seen on IG, our UK Shopify online store is now open for business: www.Environmentalkids.co.uk.  We are really proud of our set up in the UK. All books in the series are printed in and shipped from the UK, which means we can pass along shipping savings to the customer, and the books have the lowest carbon footprint possible.

100% recycled paper, biodegradable lamination, vegetable-based inks and carbon-balanced printing we use, and now more than ever, these are books you can feel REALLY good about buying.

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Children’s Picture Book Review: Nomit and Pickle go shopping, by C.E. Cameron

Nomit And Pickle Go Shopping
ISBN-13: 9781913568320
ISBN-10: 1913568326
Author: Cameron, C E
Edition: Illustrated
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing
Published: September 2020

My Review

This is a children’s book about two siblings called Nomit and Pickle who need to go shopping. Nomit is a bit absent-minded and Pickle gets a little frustrated. There isn’t much food left in the shop and but Nomit finds a treat that she knows Pickle will like, so the pair learn to compromise. It’s rather a sweet book that teaches the lesson of compromise and tolerance of differences, with some fun illustrations. The abstract shapes of the characters adds to the joyous nature of the story.

Children’s Book Review: The Pirate and R, by Daniele Forni

Summary:

The Pirate and R is a simple introduction to the statistical software R, specifically aimed at future data scientists.

Got to http://www.thelittledatascientist.co.uk for more codes to use and to stay up to date regarding future publications.

Information about the Book

Title: The Pirate and R

Author: Daniele Forni

Genre: Picture Book

Publication Date: 2nd June 2020

Page Count: 30

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53666365-the-pirate-and-r

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pirate-R-Daniele-Forni/dp/1913340686/

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Children’s Book Review: Sully’s Glow, by Simi Godagama, illustrated by Nicole Bartlett

Information about the Book

Title: Sully’s Glow

Authors: Simi Godagama

Illustrator: Nicole Bartlett

Release Date: 5th March 2020

Genre: Picture Book

Page Count: 294

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Summary:

Harpi the eagle discovers her inner voice that guides her to Sully, a boy with a glow. Sully is unaware of his glow until he discovers he has the capacity to help someone in need. After he meets Harpi, together they meet more friends who each in turn have their own issues that heal and transform through their encounters with one another. Eventually with their combined energy, they transform the world they live in. Sad Sully becomes Smiling Sully, Hopeless Harp becomes Hopeful Harpi, Perfect Parrot becomes Pitch Perfect Parrot, Greedy Giraffe becomes Grateful Giraffe and Cranky Croc turns into Courageous Croc.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52044366-sully-s-glow Amazon Link:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sullys-Glow-Simi-Godagama/dp/191285094X

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Children’s Picture Book Review: Oliver Doliver’s Dinosaur Comes to Stay, by Papa Perkins

Summary:

Oliver Doliver (who is really just Oliver but he does like having both names) will be mostly Oliver in this story. Oliver is six years (and one month) old and has a friend who is a Dinosaur called Aya Buddn.

This is the story of how they met!

And more adventures will follow.

Information about the Book

Title: Oliver Doliver’s Dinosaur Comes to Stay

Author: Papa Perkins

Release Date: 6th February 2020

Genre: Picture Book

Page Count: 20

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50655012-oliver-doliver-s-dinosaur-comes-to-stay

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oliver-Dolivers-Dinosaur-Comes-Stay/dp/1913136132

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Children’s Picture Book Review: ‘The Alphabet For Life’, by Fran Norris

Summary:

An alphabet book with a difference! Who said A is for Apple? Why not A is for Acceptance?! Let’s learn the alphabet using words that will inspire and empower everyone to thrive in life! Packed with fun illustrations and thoughtful quotes and themes, The Alphabet For Life is a unique children’s book the whole family can enjoy and learn from for a lifetime.

Information about the Book

  • Title: The Alphabet of Life
  • Author: Fran Norris
  • Release Date: 29th October 2019
  • Genre: Picture Book
  • Page Count: 30
  • Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48571802-the-alphabet-of-life
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alphabet-Life-Fran-Norris-ebook/dp/B07XH2C6YY

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Children’s Picture Book Review: ‘Whee to the Moon’, by Arron Charman, illustrated by Martin Scott

Neil is a young boy who likes to scream “whee!” with excitement when he’s at the playground. Neil develops a love of flying. As he gets older, he learns how to fly aircraft that will take him on many different adventures. Even though he is now a grown up, Neil still excitedly screams “whee!” as he gets to fly all the way to the Moon!

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Review: ‘The Arrival of Tavish the Tractor’, by Anne K Stewart

 Summary: 

Meet Tavish the Tractor, he’s a bit different from the other tractors, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a busy tractor! Let him show you how!

Information about the Book 

  • Title: The Adventures of Tavish the Tractor
  • Author: Anne K. Stewart 
  • Release Date: 27th June 2019 
  • Genre: Picture Book
  • Page Count: 26 
  • Publisher: Clink Street Publishing 

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28535427-the-arrival-of-tavish-the-tractor

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arrival-Tavish-Tractor-Anne-Stewart/dp/1913136507/

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