Not Pop Pop by Angela De Groot & Illustrated by MacKenzie Haley - #bookreview

Yay! It's library day.

The doors SWISH open.

I slide my old books down the chute.

The Blurb

In this sweet and tender picture book, a trip to the library turns into an adventure in kindness and a reminder that people experiencing homelessness deserve compassion and respect--just like every human.

During a visit to the library, Brian is sure he sees his Pop-Pop around the corner--same eyes, same beard, same bushy eyebrows.

Nope, that's not Pop-Pop!

This man brushes his teeth in the restroom and his sneakers are patched with duct tape. Some people make frowny faces and even call him mean words, but Not Pop-Pop loves books, puzzles, and turtles, just like Brian.

He may not be Brian's pop-pop, but could he be someone's?

Not Pop-Pop also includes a kid-friendly resource for adults to begin conversations about homelessness, empathy, and ways that anyone can make a big difference in the life of a person in need.

My Review

Not Pop Pop is a touching story and is perfect for sharing with children. 

The story begins with a young boy, Brian, and his mum entering the library to exchange his books. When he thinks he spots his own Pop Pop he becomes very excited but soon realises that it is not his Pop Pop. Instead, he finds a man who is shabbily dressed, who brushes his teeth in the sink in the library toilets and who seems to be living in his car. 

This realisation leads to his mum explaining to him about homelessness. Whilst, other library users are disapproving and even call Pop Pop unwelcome names, his mum is able to teach him about compassion and understanding of those less fortunate than ourselves.

The colourful illustrations by MacKenzie Healey support the text perfectly and will catch the eye of young readers. 

Additionally, at the back of the book are sections about homelessness intended for both children and their parents/carers.  Headed as Understanding Homelessness, How we can Help and For Parents, Caregivers and Teachers, there is something for everyone in this lovely picture book.

November is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month in the US and an ideal time to share this book with little ones. In the UK we mark World Homeless Day on the 10th October. That said, this would be a marvellous book to share with children at any time and to introduce this important issue.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 0593578926

Publisher:  Waterbrook Press

Formats:  e-book and hardback

No. of Pages: 40 (hardback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Angela De Groot was born in England, grew up in South Africa, and now lives in New Jersey with her family. 

Angela’s debut picture book, NOT POP-POP (PRH/Waterbrook) is a 2025 Moon Beam Gold Medal Winner for Compassion and a 2025 Anna Dewdney Read-Together Award finalist. Angela hopes that her writing inspires curiosity and compassion while creating worlds that readers can find and lose themselves in. 

A lifelong lover of reading and writing, Angela teaches ESL and Basic Literacy at her local library. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her in the garden talking to the birds. 

Author Website

Facebook

Instagram

X

(book and media courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Enchanted Beach by Esther Freud & Illustrated by Emma Chinnery - #bookreview

 

Enchanted beach is where we play, through the seasons, blue or grey.

Sand and pebbled, deep and wide. Miles and miles from side to side...

The Blurb

A lyrical picture book celebrating the changing seasons and living at the seaside with a gentle environmental message by an award-winning author and an exciting new illustration talent.

From summer days spent playing on the beach, to flying kites in autumn, to buffeting winter storms and treasure hunts in spring, this is a magnificent celebration of the seaside throughout the changing year. This joyful story charts family life by the sea and celebrates many milestones such as birthdays and New Years. Esther’s lively poetic and lyrical text combines perfectly with Emma’s classic illustrations to captivate and enchant young readers.

My Review

This is such a lovely book which portrays the beauty of the beach in all seasons and weathers.

We follow a family and their dog as they visit the beach. They go there to play when it's warm. In autumn they go to fly their kite. In winter to skim stones on the water. At New Year they watch the swimmers taking a cold dive into the icy waters, and in the storms they see what treasures the sea has washed onto the beach.

The book has been beautifully illustrated by Emma Chinnery in water colour style paintings. These pictures accompany Esther Freud's text perfectly.

Their collaborative skills have made for a wonderful combination and have succeeded in producing this beautiful and charming book for young children. Both pre-schoolers and early independent readers will enjoy what this book has to offer.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1529522822

Publisher:  Walker Books

Formats:  E-book and hardback

No. of Pages:  32 (hardback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Blackwell's

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Esther Freud trained as an actress before writing her first novel, Hideous Kinky, which was shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys prize and made into a film starring Kate Winslet. After publishing her second novel, Peerless Flats, she was chosen as one of Granta’s Best Young British novelists. Her other books include The Sea House, Lucky Break, and Mr Mac and Me, which won Best Novel in the East Anglian Book Awards.

You can also find Esther at:

Author Website

Instagram

About the Illustrator

Emma is a British illustrator and writer living in Suffolk.

Her debut author-illustrated children’s picture book My Friend Andy was published in March 2024 with Little Tiger.

After working as a graphic artist in London for several years, she followed her passion for children’s books and studied on the MA Children’s Book Illustration course at the Cambridge School of Art, graduating with a Distinction in 2021.

She loves to work with children and run workshops and live drawing sessions in schools and libraries.

She enjoys sketching people out and about and looking for those little stories going on everywhere around us! 

When she's not drawing or writing, you’ll find her on a bike, cycling the country lanes of Suffolk.

You can also find Emma at:

Author Website

Instagram

X

(author photo/bio courtesy of Good Reads)

(illustrator photo/bio courtesy of her website)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

The Great Race by Sun Chara and Joe Happy-Light - Illustrated by Daniela Frongia - #booktour #bookreview #giveaway

 

"Listen now, Chelsea, Alexander and Jasmine; after you wash up, brush your teeth and get ready for bed I'll tell you a story...

***

The Blurb

Get Ready, Set, Go!

Who will win the race? Slow and steady or fast and reckless?  

The Great Race is the first bedtime story in the delightful Return to Fable Land series – modern day fables with magical animal adventures, humorous fantasy action, and whimsical ‘talking’ characters with attitude and smarts, engage the imagination and stimulate the intellect, empowering children to go for a personal best. Ages 5 + 

My Review

This is really a story within a story. Papa Joe is reading the story of The Tortoise and the Hare to his three children, Chelsea, Alexander and Jasmine. Therefore, we do not just get to hear the story but the responses of the children also.

It is a nice little book which has been colourfully illustrated by Daniela Frongia. The narrative is clear and I particularly liked the way in which some of the words were highlighted in colour with a definition in the following sentence. This was so much better than having a glossary at the end as many books do as it did not interfere with the flow of the story.

It is an adaptation of the original Aesop's Tortoise and Hare story and was well conveyed. As with all fairy tales it comes with a moral attached. In this case, it is the value of determination, persistence and how it never pays to be overly confident in ourselves.

It is the first book in the Return to Fable Land series.

If you would like to win an e-copy of this book and a $20 Amazon voucher, please scroll down to the giveaway below. Good Luck!

Book Details

ISBN:  979 8991120906

Publisher:  Gazelle Books

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  47 (paperback)

Giveaway

To win a copy of this book please visit the link below. Open internationally.

Giveaway

*See terms and conditions below.

About the Author

Sun Chara has collaborated with her brilliant brother, writing as Joe Happy-Light, on several children’s books for Return to Fable Land series. With the authors’ collective backgrounds in education, entertainment, medicine, and martial arts, combined with their entrepreneurial spirit, The Great Race, the first modern day fable in the series is sure to delight.

You can also find Sun Chara at:

Twitter / X

Instagram

Linked In

(book and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

*Giveaway to Win a $20 Amazon Gift Card and e-copy of The Great Race (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

My Top Ten 10 Books for Children 2024

 

I read some wonderful children's book in 2024 and here is my list of favourite ones.

When the Stammer Came to Stay by Maggie O’Farrell

I am a big fan of Maggie O'Farrell and so I was delighted when this book appeared on my doormat.

You can find my review by clicking here.

Hanukkah by Leslea Newman

I liked this book so much I gave my grandchildren a copy each as a Hanukkah gift.

You can find my review by clicking here.

Smelly Peggy by Helen Stephens

There is much to make both children and adults smile in this book.

You can find my review by clicking here.

The Bravest Word by Kate Foster

The book is aimed at middle grade/lower secondary aged readers and is a wonderful book.

You can find my review by clicking here.

Counting Sheep: a farmyard counting book by Michelle Robinson and Nikki Dyson

My grandson adored this book. Such a nice book to share.

You can read my review by clicking here.

Snack, Please! by Georgie Birkitt

I so enjoyed reading this lovely picture book.

You can find my review by clicking here.

Our Gorgeous Baby by Smriti Halls and Eve Coy

I read this book just after my granddaughter was born and so was perfect for sharing with her older brother.

You can read my review by clicking here.

Stitch by Kenny Padraig

This was a delightful book and a joy to read.

You can find my review by clicking here.

Maisy’s Big Book of Kindness by Lucy Cousins

A lovely book for pre-schoolers.

You can find my review by clicking here.

Happy Days: 365 Facts to Brighten Every Day of the Year by Emily Coxhead

This provides 365 reasons to be happy; a whole year of ideas to make you smile.

You can read my review by clicking here.

Chicken Boy: My Life With Hens by Arthur Parkinson - #bookreview

 

You notice other small beings far more when you're little. I am a toddler the first time I meet a chicken, and we are equal in size and height. The hen has tiny eyelashes, a strawberry-jam face and a voice of purring clucks. I sense a happy spirit of inquisitiveness and smile in fascination. From that moment on, I will always love the company of chickens. I have found my tribe...

***

The Blurb

Most of us want a dog, or a cat, or a pony when we are young – but for Arthur Parkinson, it was always hens. Growing up in an ex-mining town in Nottinghamshire, the other kids in the playground called him 'Chicken Boy'. The quiet fulfilment of keeping hens became his sanctuary, a tonic for mental and physical health, a connection with his family and the natural world. Illustrated with Arthur's own characterful watercolours and photographs of his ‘girls’, Chicken Boy is a one-of-a-kind memoir of a life in nature.

My Review

This was a fabulous non-fiction title to read, and I enjoyed it very much.

Arthur Parkinson has been fascinated by hens almost his entire life, and has been a chicken keeper for much of it too. His passion and enthusiasm are infectious. It flows from the pages, and it made this book a delight to read.

There is a mixture of his personal story and his relationship with chickens presented alongside instructions on how to care for them. He paints a vivid and pleasurable experience whilst not avoiding the realities involved. For most of us keeping chickens is unfeasible but I almost feel as though I have lived some of his experience through this book.

 

The text is mesmerising and it is accompanied by beautiful photography and illustrations, all of which have been done by the author.

This will appeal to chicken keepers but also to those of us for whom this could only be a dream. It is a beautifully written narrative and I highly recommend this book.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 0241573662

Publisher:  Penguin

Formats:  e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  240 (paperback)

Buy Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Waterstones

About the Author

Arthur Parkinson is the author of The Pottery Gardener and The Flower Yard, and the co-host, with Sarah Raven, of the popular Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange podcast. His writing and photography are regularly featured in the Daily Telegraph, and have appeared in The Times, Country Life and Country Living, among other magazines and newspapers; he has also featured in BBC Two's Gardeners' World.

You can also find Arthur at

Instagram

Twitter / X

Substack

(book and media courtesy of https://www.penguin.co.uk/)

(author photo courtesy of https://gardenmuseum.org.uk/)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2025 by Lia Leendertz - Illustrated by Sarah Abrehart - #bookreview #blogtour

 

The year lies ahead of us, its full moons, equinoxes and soltices, meteor showers, flowers, cakes and festivities all to come, from the first scent of spring on the cold air [through] to the cosy candlelit cave of winter...

***

The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2025 gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark, and appreciate each month of the year in your own way.

The 2025 edition has the theme ‘ancient astronomy’ and includes constellation stories from around the world and a ‘megalith of the month’ - exploring the myths and astronomical alignments of stone circles and cairns from across the UK and Ireland. It also includes a brand new Cake of the Month feature.

Readers find themselves referring to The Almanac all year long, revisiting it again and again, and looking forward to the next edition as the year draws to a close.

From tide tables to moon phases, wildlife to folklore and mouthwatering seasonal recipes this is the comprehensive guide to 2025.

***

As I sat reading this book, I could see the season changing before my eyes. Although The Almanac covers next year, it nonetheless seemed to speak to me as I observed the sudden drop in temperature and the yellowing of the leaves outside my window.

It is a small volume which contains a wealth of knowledge. As expected, it is broken down into monthly chapters with each of them being folkishly illustrated by Sarah Abrehart.

Each month has a title chapter page listing it's contents which include the religious festivals of a range of religions. These vary from the Chinese New Year through to Litha, the Pagan Midsummer Festival, international celebration days, UK Bank Holidays and so much more.

Within each of the monthly chapters there is a marvellous array of information. There are tide tables, lunar gardening, music, crafts, recipes, all with the theme of ancient astronomy running throughout. There is something to appeal to everyone in this whether your interest is the giant megaliths or the moon cycles.

This is one book I shall be keeping beside me next year as I fully expect to want to reread it each month of 2025.  It would make a fantastic Christmas gift, and I can think of several people who I know that would enjoy referring to this. 

I highly recommend this lovely Almanac and I am sure that you enjoy it too.

ISBN: 978 1856754682

Publisher:  Gaia

Formats:  e-book and hardcover

No. of Pages:  288 (hardcover)

About the Author:

Lia Leendertz is an award-winning garden and food writer based in Bristol. She presents a monthly podcast, 'As the Season Turns', about what to look out for in the month ahead and writes a free weekly newsletter, 'Lia's Living Almanac'.

Her reinvention of the traditional rural almanac has become an annual must-have for readers eager to connect with the seasons, appreciate the outdoors and discover ways to mark and celebrate each month.

(book and all media courtesy of Random Things Tours)

(all opinions are my own)

Serendipity by Maria de Fatima Santos - #bookreview

 

"I miss school!" exclaimed Gaia, standing by the window.

Julia, her grandmother, rose slowly from her armchair and took a few steps towards Gaia.

It was a cloudy morning. There was no sun. The sky was covered by a mantle of fog...

***

Not so long ago, nomadic communities in Scotland told stories around camp fires and slept in bow tents made of hazel and canvas. In this book, their culture is introduced through Cant’s vocabulary, a dialect spoken by Scottish travellers. Following them, Serendipity takes you to Helge’s Hole in Forres, Hermitage Forest in Dunkeld, and Glen Lyon in Perth, meandering through the valleys and cragged peaks of the Scottish Highlands, in a quest for Truth, Beauty and Goodness. Dive into Scottish culture as the old grandmother, Julia, recounts to her granddaughter Gaia the tale of a little girl of pure heart. With love for nature, the story takes us to Titania’s court, the Queen of the People of Peace, to defeat the Giants of the Underworld and restore balance to the Land of the Young.

***

I recently read a book called Before the Swallows Come Back by Fiona Curnow. The reason I am mentioning this book here is that it is set in Scotland and one of the characters is a traveller. This book inspired me to find our more about the traveller community. If you would like to read the review you can find it here. 

So when the author, Maria de Fatima Santos, asked me if I would consider reading her book, I was delighted to do so as it is about the traditional traveller stories which are passed on from the older generation to the next.

It is a fantasy story aimed at middle grade readers. It is clearly a story from the oral tradition, when the travellers sat cosily around a camp fire relating stories to one another. It transports the reader to that setting and the way of life of the Scottish travellers.

The text is littered with 'traveller' language which is highlighted in green with their meaning alongside. Additionally, there is a glossary at the back which translates these words too.

The illustrations are very evocative and they have been well executed and selected for inclusion in the book. 

Children who enjoy fantasy stories will like reading this short book. It is due for release on the 22nd of July.

ISBN:  978 1912092277

Publisher:  Palavro

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  60 (paperback)

About the Author:

Maria was born in Angola and brought up in Portugal. 

Maria moved to Scotland in 2007 and now divides her time between Portugal and Scotland. Maria has a profound love of the natural world and is deeply interested in regenerative projects in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. She loves photographing nature and landscape - particularly in Scotland. Her writing stems from her passions for nature, Celtic culture and storytelling - all of which she explores in her debut novel, "Serendipity". Maria wrote "Serendipity" as a tribute to her own grandmother.

(media courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

Wise Up! Wise Down! Poems by John Agard and JonArno Lawson - Illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura - #bookreview

 

Two sharp-fanged fawn-coloured 

messengers stand ready

at the bars of my back gate.

What news have you brought me, wily duo?

***

Funny, thought-provoking and bursting with curiosity, Wise Up! Wise Down! is a lively conversation between two internationally renowned poets, illustrated by treasured artist Satoshi Kitamura.

How can laughter be more powerful than a sword? Why do days have names but not weeks? And do pigeons ever get a craving for cake? Two friends, internationally acclaimed poets John Agard and JonArno Lawson, take us on an inspiring, hilarious and wonderous journey through poetry, asking questions and attempting answers as they discover that life really is a forever and ever adventure.

***

This is a fun collection of poetry aimed at a middle grade audience.

Each of the poems have been illustrated in black and white, free hand style drawings and are every bit as fun and quirky as the poems.

Many of the poems are thought provoking causing the reader to ask questions such as:

"Do do-gooders do what's truly good?"

"How very bad is it to slouch at the dining room table?"

"What would a bald man want with a comb?"

Additionally, there are poems which encourage the reader to think about themselves, such as in the poem titled Don't Forget Yourself.

This is a lovely collection of poetry that children around the ages of seven to twelve years will enjoy.

***

ISBN: 978 1529501520

Publisher: Walker Books

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  144 (paperback)

About the Authors:

John Agard was brought up in Guyana, moving to Britain in 1977. He writes with his partner Grace Nichols, and both are well known as writers and performers of poetry for children and adults. They live in Sussex.

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, and raised in neighboring Dundas, children’s poet JonArno Lawson earned a BA from McGill University. He is the author of more than ten books of poetry for children and adults, including Think Again (2010), Down in the Bottom of the Bottom of the Box (2012), Enjoy It While It Hurts (2013), and Sidewalk Flowers (2015), a wordless picture book. As a nonsense poet, Lawson’s poems feature clever rhymes, whimsical images, and wordplay.

Lawson is a four-time winner of the Lion and Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Children’s Poetry. His books have received an Alcuin Award, a Prix Libbylit Award, and a Governor General’s Literary Award for Illustrated Children’s Books, among other distinctions. He has taught children’s poetry in the Children’s Literature Program at Simmons College and regularly facilitates workshops for children and adults. Lawson lives in Toronto with his family.

About the Illustrator:

Satoshi Kitamura is both an author and illustrator. He was born in 1956 in Tokyo. He says that when he was young he read comics and admits that these have had a great influence on his style. He says he was also influenced by anything visual from a tin of sardines to the fine art of the East and the West. He was not trained as an artist, but at the age of 19 began to do commercial work. He moved to London in 1979 and worked mainly designing greeting cards. He started illustrating for Andersen Press in 1981. At this time he had an exhibition of his work at the Neal Street Gallery in Covent Garden, which Klaus Flugge visited and showed him the text of Angry Arthur.

Angry Arthur, written by Hiawyn Oram, was published in 1982 to great acclaim, winning the Mother Goose Award in 1983 and the Japanese Picture Book Award. In 1989, UFO diary was shortlisted for the Smarties Prize, an award he later went on to win for Me and My Cat, which was also shortlisted for the Kurt Mashler Award. In 2006, Satoshi’s collaboration with Colin McNaughton, Once Upon an Ordinary School Day, won The Japan Picture Book Award for best translated book. Satoshi’s book, Millie’s Marvellous Hat, was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award in 2010.

(book and author media courtesy of Walker Books)

(author media courtesy The Poetry Foundation)

(illustrator media courtesy of Book Trust)

(all opinions are my own)