It seems that gift books, collections of stories and poetry compilations are being published in the run up to…dare I say it? Christmas! I have been saving these new arrivals for the weekend as I knew time was needed to read them, enjoy them and share them. I am becoming more appreciative of poetry and the collections from today’s poets are wonderful, diverse and thoughtful.
Thinking of these gift books, I can imagine them being gifted with the intent of being perfect for bedtime stories, ones that take just the right amount of time for younger readers. Check out my reviews for these delightful books that are ideal for gifting, whether it be for birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah or just because it’s a Tuesday!
The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions by Isabel Thomas and Aaron Cushley, Published by Bloomsbury
This is a new and utterly engaging book ideal for the questioneers we all know. Those special, unanswerable questions that always seemed to be important at bedtime are covered in this incredible book. Some questions are certainly easier to understand and explain while others have a philosophical quality to them, with potentially more than one or two answers. Browsing through, I was giggling with some questions like, What is the world’s worst smell? and Why don’t humans have tails? The literal quality of children is seen in the questions they ask. I can imagine the wonderful conversations taking place when families read this book together. I would love to know how the questions were chosen and how many may have been left out. Perhaps a volume 2 will be needed?
Joyful Joyful, Stories celebrating Black Voices, Curated by Dapo Adeola, Published by Two Hoots
I was lucky enough to meet Dapo Adeola at the recent YLG conference and he is such a formidable and joyful person. When I had arrived home, it was to find Joyful Joyful waiting for me. I count that as perfect timing and when you read the forward by Patrice Lawrence, you know this is a timely book reminding us all that joy is still to be found! These stories, poems and recipes are beautifully written and illustrated by a variety of talented authors and illustrators. Each one draws you in, fills your heart with joy and song. It is hard to choose favourites but there are a couple that I want to read again and again, ones like Halloween Dance by Funmbi Omotayo and Michael Kennedy as well as the poem My Body Knows Beats by Zaïre Kreiger and Ashley Evans. This book deserves its place on every school library shelf, now more than ever as we need to express and celebrate JOY!
Let’s Chase Stars Together, Poems to lose yourself in by Matt Goodfellow, Published by Bloomsbury
I have watched Matt Goodfellow speak at the FCBG conference in April 2022 alongside Joseph Coelho and Alex Wharton. It was an inspiring session and I buy their books with confidence in their talents. This latest collection spans the themes of friendships, family and finding yourself. A particular favourite in this collection is Twelve Times Round the Sun as my daughter will turn this important age in 2023. The poem and that age celebrate being on the cusp of figuring life out, uncertainty over the future but still filled with hope. I love poems as they can be what you want them to be, not conforming to convention but being as unique as the person who writes them and those who read them.
A Fairytale for Everyone, Edited by Boldizsár M. Nagy, translated by Anna Bentley, illustrated by Lilla Bölecz, Published by FarShore
I had a lovely chat with the FarShore publicity team about this book and ever since I had been waiting excitedly. When it arrived, I set to reading straight away. These tales have a familiarity to them, with a few being retellings of ones we love, like Cinderella and Hansel and Gretal. These have an added new feel to them with a greedy king wanting rid of Autumn Brown and a witch grieving for her own lost child. One of the tales that was new to me has certainly stuck with me. Margaret the Giant Killer begins with a storyteller travelling in search of new tales. He meets Margaret, a girl keen to find a story, one that hasn’t happened to her yet but one she feels certain will be epic. I loved her determination, the challenges she met and the adventure she had. The illustrations throughout are beautifully drawn and fitting with each story. This is a delightful gift book for any young reader and will be a popular choice in a classroom or library.
Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Retold by Elli Woollard, Illustrated by Marta Altés, Published by Macmillan
Grimm’s Fairy Tales need no introduction, we are all familiar with their beloved tales. There have been many editions, variations and versions of each story and they all appeal to me, as a huge fan of fairy tales and traditional tales. In Elli Woollard’s edition, she has chosen 5 well loved tales to retell and they are superb. Told in rhyme, they roll off the tongue so easily and with such style. The illustrations from Marta Altés are fitting with the fun, rollicking rhymes of each story. I loved them all but really felt that Little Red Cap was perfectly retold in keeping with the more gruesome versions of the wolf eating them before the woodcutter deals with him. Children tend to love the versions that maintain those gruesome and gory details. This is a fantastic retelling and an amazing gift for young readers!
And Everything Will be Glad to See You, Poems by women and girls, selected by Ella Risbridger, Illustrated by Anna Shepeta, Published by Nosy Crow
This is a stunning volume of poetry and delightful illustrations fill every inch of this collection. It is hopeful, awe-inspiring wondrous. It is easy to lose yourself in the pages and poems of well known poets as well as new voices. Poets like Nikita Gill, Christina Rossetti and Kate Wakeling alongside the voices of Triska Hamid and Amineh Abou Kerech. I have bookmarked a few favourites that I seem to keep coming back to and that would be lovely to share with groups of students. Sing a Song of People by Lois Lenski is one that feels as though you are looking down on a city of people going about their days. I also love Everyday Things by Jean Ayer, looking at everyday items being used by everyone, even kings and millionaires. Such a brilliant book to share with young readers!
I am a primary school teacher, turned librarian. Now I have the title Reading Advocate for ASSET Education Trust, based in Suffolk.
I read constantly and have more books than bookshelves, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
I celebrate reading every day at work and at home with my two children, aged 11 and 9.
I sit on the National Executive Committee for the Federation of Children’s Book Groups and run an OU/UKLA Teachers as Readers group!
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