We sent out packages to some of our subscribers, filled with picture books and tales for older readers. Here are their reviews, plus our book of the month.
Book of the Month
Pathfinding: One Mother’s Journey From Wilderness to Freedom
Kerri Andrews
Elliot & Thompson
When author and academic Kerri Andrews becomes pregnant, chronic pelvic girdle pain, depression and a loss of identity destabilise and debilitate, while a matrescence dark with PND feels inescapable. Kerri had been a walker, happiest in the hills, and the thought that those trails may no longer be for her is a heavy burden to carry.
Pathfinding is the story of how Kerri slowly feels her way back into the wild, joined on that expedition by women past and present. Her academic work had focussed on women authors writing about walking, but motherhood gives her a different lens through which to read their words, finding new meaning in Mary Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, Dorothy Wordsworth and Kate Chopin.
As well as their ghosts, Kerri finds kindred souls; women who have tussled with the shift into motherhood alongside those who have helped her navigate her own journey. She walks companionably with Jemma, a mother of twins, meets her mental health support worker Julie and doula Natalie, and hikes with Astra, who, like Kerri, has felt enormous anger. Motherhood for her is a steep, rocky mountain, but one that, with other women at her side, she begins to conquer. When, rashly unprepared, she summits the Buachaille Etive Beag, we are walking alongside her, cheering every painful step. Pack it in your rucksack.
Our Reviewers’ Book of the Month
The World’s Last Mammoth and Other Missing Marvels
Mike Barfield, Franziska Höllbacher
£10.99 Templar Books
As soon as they saw the amusing, vibrant illustrations on the cover of this large paperback, Willow and Mo knew this was going to be a fun book! With a comic book style format, this will appeal to both reluctant readers and more confident book lovers. The colourful illustrations bring the stories to life, and it is written in an engaging, amusing yet informative way.
The book aims to take us on a hunt through history, finding or rediscovering places, people and things which have mostly been lost in time, although it does include some iconic things we can still see today but which have intriguing histories. Willow and Mo enjoyed learning about people, animals and places they knew a little about, but particularly liked some of the more unusual items no longer with us, and how their demise came about. There are also little snippets of random facts which they have loved sharing with their friends. This is a history book that doesn't feel like a history book. Wonderfully written and illustrated, recommended for ages 7–11. Elaine
Picture books
The Tiny Baker
Hayley Barrett, Alison Jay
£13.99 Barefoot Books
Beautifully illustrated pages, our little nature lovers really enjoyed looking at all the insects and their outfits. Stanley and Douglas both enjoyed this read: Douglas for the wonderful illustrations and Stanley liked the story. The one criticism I have is that some of the words are very complicated for a children's book. The book comes with an audio scan so we have enjoyed listening and reading this book. The boys have mentioned part of the story since reading so we could call it memorable. Aimee
My Best Friend Tilly
Iris Samartzi
£12.99 Post Wave
We enjoyed the interactive pages which have a wonderful aesthetic of collages, made from paper, drawings and textured cardboard. Stanley and Douglas got quite bored half way through (very rare when a book is in front of them!). Stanley said this was because the pictures were quite small on the blank white page. Therefore I do not think the pages of the book grab the small readers' attention. A little bit of a confusing narrative, when reading I often was trying to guess the 'story' or message the book was giving us. Aimee
Whose Poo?
Alexandra Milton
£8.99 Boxer Books
Beautiful both inside and out. The whole family really loved this book! All children seem to enjoy talking about poo and this book was spot on. It was wonderfully informative, both for small and grown people, we all learnt something. Every page is a real feast for the eyes, the amazing collages on each page almost make them look 3D and so lifelike. Stanley enjoyed this book so much that he has taken it into his school for show and tell. On forest school days the children are now looking for animal poo. To say this book was inspiring is an understatement. Aimee
Big Book of Feelings (Animals with Attitude)
James O’Brien
£8.99 Boxer Books
We are in complete awe and admire how the book is potato printed, each page is simple but bright and beautiful. Every page has a different emotion attached with an animal that maybe has those feelings. This book has created so many conversations, for example "the geese honk when they are angry, when did you feel angry?". Perfect book for a rainy afternoon on a squishy sofa when everybody is in the correct headspace to talk and express their feelings. Aimee
Follow the Swallow
Julia Donaldson, Thomas Docherty
£7.99 Farshore
Julia Donaldson and Thomas Docherty’s Follow the Swallow is a lovely story about friendship, trust, and the changing seasons. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and were the standout feature for us; the girls really loved looking through the pictures and talking about what was happening in them. I’d say the book is suitable for children under 6, especially for reading together and sparking conversations afterwards. It naturally led us into a discussion about truth and what it means to trust someone, which added an extra layer to the reading experience. Overall, the girls really enjoyed it. While it’s probably not a story we’d return to again and again, it was still a warm, thoughtful read with gorgeous artwork. Shenel
Luna and the Night
Maylis Daufresne, Ian de Haes
£12.99 Floris Books
We really enjoyed Luna and the Night. It’s a beautifully written story with a thoughtful message about facing the things that scare us and learning to say hello to them instead of running away. The book gently encourages children to explore fear, sit with uncomfortable feelings, and find comfort through courage and curiosity. What stood out most to us were the illustrations and descriptions. The artwork was absolutely stunning and added so much depth to the story. The drawings completely drew us in and made the experience feel immersive, emotional, and magical.
I also loved how the story sparked meaningful conversations about fear: what we’re scared of, how we can breathe through those feelings, and how we can learn to feel more comfortable in uncomfortable situations. It’s a powerful message delivered in such a gentle and beautiful way. I would highly recommend this book for children aged 6–10. For children under six, some of the themes and imagery may feel a little too intense or introduce fears they may not yet fully understand. But for slightly older children, it’s a wonderful and thoughtful read that opens the door to important emotional conversations. Shenel
The Little House that Needed a Witch
Sophie Pluim
£12.99 Floris Books
My children, aged eight and six, both genuinely loved this book, and the illustrations were the standout feature for all of us. Every page felt carefully composed and beautiful in a way that invited lingering rather than rushing ahead. The story follows a lonely little house whose owner is no longer there. Rather than staying abandoned, the house sets off in search of someone who belongs with it, eventually finding a wandering witch who is also searching for a place to belong. A visually stunning and emotionally unusual picture book. Shenel
The Spark (Mabel and Merryglow)
Anne Montel, Loïc Clément, Julien Arnal
£12.99 Post Wave
A beautifully illustrated graphic novel about a tortoise who is afraid of the dark. The artwork is genuinely stunning, atmospheric, detailed, and creatively laid out. However, this book really wasn't for us. Some of the imagery at the beginning felt surprisingly frightening for a children's book, and it actually introduced fears about the dark that my children hadn't really expressed before. Although I can appreciate the incredible artwork and imagination behind the book, it's not one I'd choose to read again. Shenel
For older readers
Jane Goodall: 5-Minute Genius Stories
Heather Alexander, Sally Walker
£12.99 Union Square Kids
Jane Goodall is an absolutely stunning book that I’ve completely fallen in love with and could read over and over again. It tells the story of Jane Goodall through small, beautifully written snippets that make her life feel so real, inspiring, and full of wonder. I especially loved the way the book speaks to children with such warmth and honesty, while still capturing the awe of everything she has achieved. Each little moment from her life builds such a deep sense of admiration, love, and genuine appreciation for who she is and what she has done. I also think this book is perfect for a huge age range, from the youngest children right through to teenagers and even adults. I would happily read it myself again and again because it’s just so lovely, heartfelt, and inspiring. Shenel
Junko’s Climb
Elyssa Gavin, Hifumiyo
£16.99 Union Square Kids
Junko’s Climb is a beautifully written and inspiring true story about Junko Tabei. What makes this story so powerful is the way it shows children that strength does not always look the way people expect it to. Junko was often seen by others as weak or small, yet she refused to let those assumptions define her. The story of how she formed a women-only climbing group before eventually climbing Mount Everest is both empowering and accessible for children. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and bring the adventure vividly to life. An inspiring, motivating, and beautifully told story about courage, resilience, and following your dreams. Shenel
Actual Factual Files: Outer Space
Ali Adams
£5.99 Workman Publishing
This glossy paperback with smooth matte pages features a stylised illustration of a spaceman and moon, clearly aimed at developing readers. Our young reviewers were excited to learn what it would teach them about space. The chapter book format has slightly larger text and generous line spacing, making it less intimidating for reticent readers. Key words appear in bold, with a glossary at the back for further explanation, plus an index: a great way to teach children how to navigate non-fiction books and find additional information. Packed with information on planets, galaxies and stars, it explains topics clearly and engagingly. Recommended for ages 7–11. Elaine
Big Brilliant World
Matt Ralphs, Aysha Tengiz
£12.99 Big Picture Press
We love cultural books that tell us about different countries around the world. Although we love the colourful full pages the font is very small and busy with lots of information on each page. We are going to keep this book for when the boys are older, maybe 12+, when we can make little mini projects from the very full pages. Aimee
Greek Myths (Puzzle Hero series)
Catherine Ard, Maria Surducan
£14.99 Thames & Hudson
With its large size and weighty feel, we immediately got the impression of a good quality book. It has a sturdy hardback cover with a textured finish and the cover illustration depicts some of the Greek mythological characters we will meet inside as well as a maze, alluding to the puzzles within. Once you open the book, the reader is invited to step into the world of Greek mythology, discovering the characters and tales while solving puzzles along the way.
The characters and myths are explained in a way that is understandable without being overly simplified and the illustrations are colourful with historical styling so they don't look cartoonish. This book is a great introduction for those with no former knowledge thanks to the mix of bite-sized information, short stories and character explanation. Willow and Mo loved the variety of puzzles throughout, including mazes, hidden images and codes to crack, offering a fun challenge whether solving alone or together. Recommended for 7–10 year olds. Elaine
Fire (Nature’s Superpowers)
Anna Skowronska
£12.99 Boxer Books
We love the bold, dynamic illustration on the cover of this book which made our young readers eager to open it up and get reading. It is absolutely packed full with interesting facts, some of which young readers may know but I guarantee there will be lots they will learn from this. Yes, this book is obviously about fire, what it is, how it begins, its uses, and it dives deep into the science of fire, flame and heat but it also covers all manner of topics where fire has played or does play a part. Our readers enjoyed that it takes us on a really interesting journey through fire in history, space, nature and ritual. Recommended for readers aged 8–11 who are interested in science, nature or anthropology. Elaine
We Made a Song
Doro Globus, Rose Blake
£12.99 Bloomsbury
As a family which loves music, singing and playing instruments, the idea of this book really appealed to us. The book is written from the perspective of a songwriter and musician and explains the process from the very first snippet of inspiration through the evolution of the melody and harmonies, recording and post-production. We liked that so many people who are involved in bringing a song to life but maybe don't get wider recognition are given the importance for the integral jobs they do. I would buy it for children aged 8–10 who want to learn more about the songwriting process. Elaine
How to Build a Chocolate Bridge: Extraordinary Builds Using Everyday Things
Roma Agrawal, Robert Sae-Heng
£14.99 Laurence King
Just the title alone of this book intrigued Willow and Mo and they couldn't wait to discover more. The good quality hardback cover has a retro-contemporary graphic style with gloss highlights, depicting a variety of everyday products. The book covers different types of materials, structures and products, relating to the built environment, space, music and other everyday items, explaining how materials work and their properties in an interesting and fun way.
They particularly enjoyed conducting the experiments, which require items you will already have at home or can easily pick up. They are cleverly designed to make science interesting and fun, and fairly straightforward to conduct. While generally recommended for 7–10 year olds, this book will appeal to anyone curious about science. Elaine
Zombie Spiders and Asteroid Blasters: 16 Incredible Ways that Scientists Are Changing the World
Maynard Okereke
£15.99 Storey
The title of this book alone really appealed to Willow and Mo who couldn't wait to find out more so dived right in to the glossy pages within. They liked the question and answer style of the book. The information is concise but well explained so they can absorb it easily and retain it well. The book helps explain that science is all around us and introduces us to some real scientists. It covers topics from the fields of nature, space and technology in an interesting and engaging way. The author has done a good job of creating a book that is fun and informative. Recommended for 7–11 year olds. Elaine
Three books about animals
Jungle Jumble
Magda Azab
£12.99 Post Wave
A very interactive and interesting book that was suitable for both boys (ages 5 and 3). It was a very 'high energy' book that would be perfect for waiting rooms! The book has a question on each page so we learnt a lot, it was very informative with the added lifting flaps. I have put this in our everyday bag and it will be very well used when we are next waiting for a train or in a doctor's waiting room! Aimee
The Littlest Elephant
Katherine Applegate, Lita Judge
£12.99 HarperCollins
A beautifully illustrated book, a real treat for the eyes and perfectly fitting for my elephant enthusiast, Douglas. I would not recommend this book as a bedtime read, as it has a serious and sad message: the ivory trade and hunting of elephants. Therefore it prompts a lot of life questions from small people, which would be easier to fully explain in the daytime. Aimee
Capy Capy Capybara
Charise Mericle Harper
£14.99 Union Square Kids
Although there are wonderfully bright colours within the pages, we found this book rather boring! Douglas, aged 3, walked away half way through and the only reason Stanley (aged 5) continued is that he enjoyed reading the larger font words on the page. Not the most interesting story and a book we have read once and not gone back to. Aimee
Thank you to our reviewers, big and small
Aimee Howlett-Mitchell with Stanley (5) and Douglas (3)
Elaine Cowie with Willow (7) and Mo (9)
Shenel Shefik with Louisa (8) and Leonie (6)
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