Read 4 U

Perry has a unique way of looking at the world. When she realises that her grandmother’s memory for language is failing, she works on a dictionary of life at the Santa Lucia retirement home. Kate De Goldi handles difficult material with a lightness which makes it accessible but never trivial. This remarkable book is moving, […]

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Albie knows he will need to travel to parallel universes to find his mum, so he creates a vehicle to take to other realities where his mother might still be alive. If you’ve ever wished you almost understood quantum physics this is the book for you. If you haven’t, don’t worry; this splendid book is […]

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Set in the late 1980’s perhaps children will see this as a historical novel. The breaking down of the Berlin Wall and Poll Tax demonstrations form a background to Ira and Zac’s lives in an inner city children’s home. A holiday in the country changes everything though not in the ways which you expect. This […]

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Laura lives a silent life in a Venetian orphanage until she meets the composer, Vivaldi. As the world of music is unfolded to her, her life is changed for ever. This is a short, beautifully written book which is enhanced by rich illustration. 18th Venice comes alive in both words and pictures as Laura moves […]

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Aubrey isn’t the sort of boy to sit around doing nothing, so when his father falls under the spell of the terrible Yoot, he is determined to make everything right again. It takes Aubrey and the wisdom of his animal friends to save his father. Funny, exciting and very wise, Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot […]

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It is impossible to summarize the plot of Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth; it is enough to say that Sputnik is an alien. Prez sees him as a boy in a kilt but everyone else sees him as a dog. And they have to save the earth. The story is a treat through all […]

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Liam doesn’t want to visit his old neighbour, Harry Miller. He wants to train for the junior Great North Run. His mum insists and Liam is told the story of a summer day long ago when Harry and his friends ran thirteen miles for a dip in the sea and an ice cream. Almond’s ability […]

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This is a biography of Earnest Thompson Seton who became a renowned wolf hunter in 19th century New Mexico. The death of Lobo, a magnificent wolf, changed Seton for ever and he devoted the rest of his life to the conservation of wildlife. This superbly written and illustrated biography covers themes which children will find […]

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The care and flair that have gone into the creation of Under Earth, Under Water are very impressive. A non-fiction book that takes readers to the centre of the world both the wet way and the dry way. Images and writing are both used in innovatively to make this a fascinating and very informative book […]

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Suzy hasn’t spoken since her best friend drowned. Trying to find out why such a strong swimmer died in the water, she begins to research jellyfish. It could be that she’ll only find answers on the other side of the world. This remarkable depiction of grieving reaches out to older readers in the honesty of […]

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