Our Children's Book Blog | Parrot Street Book Club

Jo Simmons on The Day My Family Disappeared and the best funny books for kids

November 14, 2022

Our Parakeet book of the month for November is The Day My Family Disappeared, a madcap illustrated adventure packed with imagination and Jo Simmons's trademark humour. We asked Jo to tell us more about what inspired the book and her favourite funny books for younger readers.

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14 of the best new books for kids by some of our favourite authors

October 26, 2022

2022 has been another bumper year for new kids’ books and some of Parrot Street’s favourite authors have been especially busy. If you’re a subscriber looking to boost your library this Christmas or simply a children’s book fan looking for the best new books by the finest children’s authors, here’s our guide to some of the books you won’t want to miss.

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8 brilliant chapter book combinations for kids aged 5 to 14 this Christmas

October 21, 2022

A well-chosen book is an excellent gift for any occasion. But knowing which children's book to choose can be tricky. Every year we read hundreds of children’s books in order to select the very best of the bunch for our subscription boxes. Here we suggest books for a range of ages and interests based on our back catalogue.

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Alex Milway on Big Sky Mountain and his favourite illustrated chapter books

September 16, 2022

This month our Parakeet subscribers are heading off on a wild adventure to Big Sky Mountain, home to some wonderful animal friends. Author/illustrator Alex Milway tells us how his Grandma helped inspire the story and which illustrated chapter books he recommends you read next.

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Alex Falase-Koya on Marv and the Mega Robot and illustrated chapter books for kids

August 15, 2022

We are sharing Marv and the Mega Robot, a rip-roaring sci-fi adventure, with our Parakeet subscribers this month. Here author Alex Falase-Koya tells us about what inspired the series, writing in bed, and which illustrated chapter books for kids he recommends you read next.

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Karen McCombie on Granny's Little Monsters and grandparents in children's literature

August 16, 2021

The book our Parakeet subscribers are reading this month is a fun, family adventure starring two cheeky cousins and their lovable Granny Mo. We asked author Karen McCombie to tell us all about who inspired the book’s brilliant characters and which are her favourite grandparents in children’s literature.

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An interview with Sarah Horne on Panda at the Door and her favourite animal books for kids

July 15, 2021

Sarah Horne is one of our favourite illustrators and when we heard that Sarah had written and illustrated her own book, we just knew it would be a great fit for our boxes. Here we quiz Sarah on what inspired the book and which animal books for kids she recommends our subscribers read next.

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An interview with Fiona Sandiford about The Great Dodo Comeback and her favourites adventure books for kids

June 15, 2021

For this month’s reading adventure our Parakeet subscribers are heading off to Mauritius with The Great Dodo Comeback, a fun and exciting adventure story for newly independent readers, starring Leni, a kind, confident and hugely likeable heroine. Here we quiz author Fiona Sandiford on what inspired the book and her favourite adventure reads for kids.

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An interview with Pablo, star of Noodle the Doodle by Jonathan Meres, on life as a Labradoodle

February 16, 2021

This month we sent our Parakeet subscribers the brilliant Noodle the Doodle by Jonathan Meres, a charming and super fun story inspired by his very own Labradoodle pup, Pablo! So for this month's exclusive interview, who else would want to meet than Pablo himself? Here he tells us all about life as a literary Labradoodle.

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Sports lovers’ fiction: 10 great sports books for kids

June 20, 2020

We are asked all the time for book recommendations for kids who love sport. If your youngsters, like mine, are missing their usual sports clubs, teams and activities during lockdown, why not try quenching their sporty thirst with some of these fiction books for sport-loving kids?

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Africa books edit for younger readers

April 2, 2020

One of the things we love about reading with kids is the wider world it opens up for them and the book we sent our Parakeet subscribers last month is the perfect example. Too Small Tola is set in bustling Lagos, Nigeria, and stars Tola, a young girl who lives with her brother, sister and grandmother. Here we share 6 more books set in Africa which you might like to look out for.

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