The book we’ve sent our Cockatoo subscribers this month is The Map of Leaves by Yarrow Townsend, a mysterious and hugely atmospheric adventure story with a striking message. Here Yarrow tells us what inspired the book and which adventure books with environmental themes she recommends you read next.
It’s shocking to watch events unfolding in Ukraine and, understandably, many children have a lot of questions and concerns about what is happening. We’re huge advocates of books for helping children to explore their feelings, practise empathy and develop their understanding of the world around them. With that in mind, we’ve put together this list of 13 books that you might find a useful starting point for talking with children about the war in Ukraine and its impact:
Our Cockatoo book for this month is How I Saved the World in a Week by Polly Ho-Yen and it’s just as exciting and dramatic as it sounds. Survival skills, zombies, a mysterious virus, an epic road trip and kids saving the world - this book has it all! We are huge fans of Polly’s books and were delighted to have the chance to ask her more about what inspired Billy’s story.
It can be fun to feel a little scared, when snug and safe in the comfort of your own home. You can let your imagination run wild and get lost in a terrifically terrifying story. This is our top pick of spooky and creepy, yet age-appropriate, reads for 8-year-olds and up.
We are particularly excited about this month’s Cockatoo book. The Lightning Catcher is a brilliant debut that had us on the edge of our seats. It’s modern and relevant, exciting, magical and beautifully told. We caught up with author Clare Weze to find out more about what inspired the book, it’s unique setting and excellent cast of characters.
My eldest just turned 11 and I know from experience how tricky it can be to find books for story-loving tweens who might be coming to the end of their middle-grade years, but aren’t quite ready for so-called young adult books. With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of recently published titles that I think work particularly well for this age group.
A good book is so much more than words and pictures printed on a page – it’s a whole experience, one that the reader can relive again and again. Books really are the gift that keeps on giving. Here’s our guide to some of the best new chapter books for kids aged 8 to 12 that we think should be on everyone’s Christmas shopping list this year.
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?
Not only do illustrated books make beautiful gifts, they can also be a great gateway to more challenging content for struggling or reluctant readers. They are inclusive and great for sharing – books for the whole family to enjoy, young and old. So we're sharing just a few of the highly illustrated chapter books worth looking out for.
Kids just love a series. Children of all ages like the familiarity of a series, of a character they’ve got to know over a number of books and having the confidence that they are picking up a book they know they’re going to enjoy. But what do you do when they’re stuck in a bit of a Harry Potter rut? We share our recommendations for series that are perfect for older readers.
