Hot Food Nice! by Michael Rosen & Illustrated by Neal Layton - #bookreview

When I was a boy, I thought my dad knew everything...

***

I am required to make it clear at the beginning of my reviews that I received this book for free from the publisher. I have not been paid for doing this and all opinions are my own. I am Bookshop.org affiliated, which means I earn a very small amount of money if you buy from there using my direct link. Although I include purchase links to Amazon, I am not affiliated with them. I include them to make it easy for you to navigate to them if you so wish.

***

The Blurb

Young Michael thinks his dad knows everything. But then one day, one terrible day, he found that his dad does NOT know everything: this is how it goes. They sit down to eat, and the potato’s a bit hot. Michael knows to blow on it to cool it down before eating it. His brother knows it, and his mum knows it. So why does his dad pop it straight into this mouth? And what happens next? A funny slice of family life, told in irresistible repetitive text, that will delight young and old alike.

My Review

This has come from Michael Rosen's book of Nice poems. 

I have a soft spot for any work by this author as I remember how much my children and I enjoyed sharing his poems when they were young. Happy days. Now, I have the joy of sharing them with my grandchildren too. They will absolutely love this picture book.

As always, the author has written a poem whereby he understands how children think. The overgrown child in me laughed out loud while I read this poem. Michael Rosen captures the spirit of the child in his words.

It has been beautifully illustrated by Neal Layton in a simple design which really add something to the text. The bright colours will appeal to young children and I could almost feel the heat emanating from the illustrations of his pile of hot potato.

This lovely picture book deserves to be in every home and school library. I highly recommend it.

UPDATE: I recently spent a weekend with two of my grandchildren who are 2 and 4 years old. I lost count of how many times they asked me to read this book to them. A wonderful book for sharing.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1529530223

Publisher:  Walker Books

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  32 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Michael Rosen is a multi-award-winning poet, a popular radio broadcaster, distinguished critic and academic, and one of the most popular authors for children. He has written over 200 books in a career spanning over five decades, including the internationally bestselling We're Going on a Bear Hunt, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. 

His poems, about family life, childhood and a good deal of silliness, have reached millions through his exuberant online readings. In 2026 he won the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award for writing (the first UK winner for 16 years), as well as a British Book Award for Best Children's Illustrated & Non-Fiction Book of the Year for his new collaboration with Helen Oxenbury, Oh Dear, Look What I Got! 

Michael was the Children’s Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and is now Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London.

You can also find Michael at:

Author Website

X

Instagram

Bluesky

You Tube

About the Illustrator

Born in Chichester, multi award-winning author and Illustrator Neal Layton works on a plethora of publications for children from his treasure-filled studio in the Isle of Wight.

A former student at Newcastle and Central St Martins, Neal has become an avid collector and compulsive scribbler, deftly combining a multitude of styles and techniques in colour and black and white, from pen and ink to collage and digital methods creating fresh and spontaneous illustrations for fiction, non-fiction and novelty books. With a clutch of awards under his belt including the prestigious Sheffield Children’s Book Prize Neal has been lucky enough to collaborate with some of the country’s best loved authors including Nicola Davies, Cressida Cowell, Andy Stanton and Michael Rosen.

Neal is extremely passionate about conservation and inclusivity and this shines through in many of his recent author-illustrated publications. Well versed in discussing and demonstrating his work, Neal takes part in a variety of events including large scale festivals and conferences.

Amazing Fact – Neal Layton is also an extreme skateboarder.

You can also find Neal at:

Instagram

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Other Blog Posts Featuring Picture Books

L is for Love by Atinuke

The Tour at School (Because You're the New Kid!) by Katie Clapham

Not Pop Pop by Angela De Groot

(book and media courtesy of Walker Books)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Reading Roundup for January 2025

 

The first month of reading in January 2025 is now behind us and I have read some truly fabulous books this month. 

It hasn't been a good month healthwise but I am now on the mend. Today, is a lovely day as I get to celebrate my youngest granddaughter's first birthday. She's growing so fast and now that she is mobile is into everything! She is an absolute little darling and I will get to see her for lots of birthday cuddles this coming weekend.

Is everybody else longing for the spring weather already or is it just me?

I hope that you have all had a wonderful January. Here are the books that I have read this month.

The Axeman's Carnival by Catherine Chidgey

I am starting with this one as it was my absolute favourite read this month. It is narrated by Tama, the magpie and is a dark read with elements of humour. Fantastic. You can find my review by clicking here.

The Paris Chapter by Victoria Walters

This was my first read of the year and got me off to a great start. I really enjoyed this book. You can find my review by clicking here.

The Witch of the Forest's Guide to Magick by Lindsay Squire

This is the only non-fiction title I read this month. I was very impressed by the author's knowledge and the book has been organised in such a way to demonstrate this perfectly.  You can find my review by clicking here.

Silent Riders of the Sea by John Gerard Fagan

This was another five star read for me this month. The book is written in verse and is one of the most atmospheric books I have ever read. You can find my review by clicking here.

Ace, Marvel, Spy by Jenni L. Walsh

This is a fascinating novel based on the life of the tennis player, Alice Marble. You can find my review by clicking here.

A Girls' Guide to Winning the War by Annie Lyons

This was a wonderful book. In fact, I now have my Book Group reading it this month for our February discussion. I loved it. You can find my review by clicking here.

The Great Race by Sun Chara and Joe Happy-Light

This is really a story within a story. Papa Joe is reading the story of The Tortoise and the Hare to his three children. You can find my review by clicking here.

Dark Times for the Clarks Factory Girls by May Ellis

This is the third book in the Clark's Factory Girls series. I love this series and have read all three. You can find my review by clicking here.

One Day and Forever by Shari Low

I enjoyed this book very much, and it held my attention from the very first page to the last. It was delightful.  You can find my review by clicking here.

The Hangman's Master by Elyse Hoffman

This is part of the 613 Project series. I have read some of them and they work well as stand alone novels. You can find my review by clicking here.

The Old Girls' Chateau Escape by Kate Galley

A fun read featuring older women. Brilliant. You can find my review by clicking here.

Books I Am Partway Through

Fervour by Toby Lloyd

Aristotle for Novelists by Douglas Vigliotti

Mary I: Queen of Sorrows by Alison Weir

I will be back on Monday with my post of the books which I would like to read in February. In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend.

Annie x

Silent Riders of the Sea by John Gerard Fagan - bookreview

 

the dead of night on an Arctic ship

as close to hell as his imagination could construct

groaning metal and the lip vibrations of exhausted men

pale and unwashed figures...

***

The Blurb

In 1930, Jack the miner is grieving the loss of his young son.

In a desperate attempt to escape his misery, he makes the choice to leave.

With a motley crew of Scots, he embarks on Arctic fishing with the promise of a better life.

John Gerard Fagan, the author of the memoir Fish Town, takes us on a ride to the Arctic Sea through Jack's battle for survival on a crammed and gruesome ship and inescapable submission to the cruelty of nature and humankind alike.

In the background, memories of his life as a miner, while a permanent excruciating pain from mourning his own child lingers.

Be ready for a tale of human suffering, violence, and sadness with this story of the hard side of human life.

My Review

This book is my first five star read of 2025 and is well deserving of each and every one of those shiny stars.

That said, it is not an easy read. Written throughout in verse, it is beautiful but bleak, harsh and harrowing, and powerful and poetic. It is a complete juxtaposition of a novel in that it is perfectly composed against a background of despair and longing.

As this is written in verse it is testament to the author's skill in that he can convey so much in so few words. Reading this was an immersive experience. I could feel the cold of the Arctic upon the deck of the ship. The grief and despair of the main character Jack were tangible. He had been a miner and he thought nothing could be worse that being underground in such hazardous conditions. However, he found life on the ship to be much worse. Not just the freezing conditions and the constant working but the 'gaffer' would frequently beat them and treated the men extremely cruelly and violently.

The author has also included a series of illustrations throughout the book. They have been drawn using a combination of monotone ink, pen and water and they have a haunting quality which suits the text perfectly.

If you are looking for something a little different to read then this book would be perfect.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1068678295

Publisher:  Cybirdy Publishing

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  240 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Cybirdy

The Portobello Bookshop

About the Author

John Gerard Fagan is a writer from Glasgow / Scotland who writes in Scots, Scottish Gaelic, and English.

His debut memoir Fish Town about leaving Scotland to live in Japan was published by Guts Publishing.

His second book Silent Riders of the Sea about a miner in 1930 who leaves for the Arctic after the death of his son was published by Cybirdy Publishing.

You can also find John at:

Twitter/X

Website

(book and media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

Reading Roundup for July 2024

 

Woo hoo! It is finally summer here in the UK. Yay! Don't worry. It will be two minutes before we are all complaining it is too hot!

However, I am so pleased that I have finally been able to retreat to the garden with my puppy, Roxie. My sweet little puppy has turned into a teenager and is testing all of the boundaries at the moment. She is a gorgeous little thing though and I would not be without her.

Anyhow, here are the books which I have read this month.

Books I Have Read

The Book of Longing by Leonard Cohen - I am not a huge fan of poetry but enjoyed reading these.

Maya Angelou: the complete poetry by Maya Angelou - Another poetry book this month but I love everything she has ever written. A remarkable lady.

Courage for the Clarks Factory Girls by May Ellis - This is the second in a series but worked perfectly well as a stand alone novel. You can find my review by clicking here.

The Idle Stance of the Tippler Pigeon by Safinah Danish Elahi - What a fantastic title to catch a reader's eye with. Great book too. You can find my review by clicking here.

A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson - This was my favourite read this month. Exquisitely written. You can find my review by clicking here.

Creative Crafting: A First Book of Upcycling by Daniela Sosa - A great book for children. You can find my review by clicking here.

My Father's House by Joseph O'Connor - A well written story set in Rome during WWII.

Felicity's War by Jean Fullerton - I love this series. This is the third book in the Stepney Girls series but worked well as a stand alone novel. You can find my review by clicking here.

The Lost Queen by Carol McGraph - Historical fiction featuring the little known queen, Queen Berengaria who was the wife of King Richard I. You can find my review by clicking here.

Where the Water Takes Us by Alan Barillaro - A nice chapter book for children.

Borrowed Memories by Mark Foss -  I really enjoyed this book. It is the story of a middle aged man, and his coming to terms with the ageing of his parents. You can find my review by clicking here.

Prospects by Kate Wilson - This book is set in Los Angeles, and the place is every bit as important as the plot or characters. You can find my review by clicking here.

Smelly Peggy by Helen Stephens - This is an adorable picture book that pet lovers will enjoy. You can find my review by clicking here.

Last Seen Online by Lauren James - If you like a young adult novel with a twisty turny ending you will love this book. You can find my review by clicking here.

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams - This is the perfect book for book lovers, and I enjoyed every word. You can find my review by clicking here.

Books I Did Not Finish

The Attraction of Cuba by Chris Hilton - I really wanted to like this memoir of a man's travels to Cuba. Unfortunately, it did not hit the right note for me.

Between Friends and Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi - No idea why I couldn't get into this. Give it a try!

Faith of Their Fathers by Samuel M. Sargeant - I could not get into this one either. I did read a fair chunk of the book though before I gave up.

Books I Am Partway Through

A Class Act by Julie Houston

The Missing Family by Tim Weaver

Ancestry by Simon Mawer

Reading Roundup for June 2024 - #bookreviews #guestposts #spotlights #blogtours

 

Here we are at the end of June and I could not resist sharing this photo of my lovely Roxie with you. If a dog was to have a bad hair day this would be it! I can hardly believe that she is almost seven months old already. It seems no time at all since we brought her home. I adore this puppy and cannot imagine life without her now. 

The weather has been nice enough that Roxie and I have been able to sit in the garden with a book and a bone respectively. I have read some really good books this month. What have you been reading?

Books I Have Read

Leeza McAuliffe Has Loads More to Say by Nicky Bond - This was a great read which is aimed at a young adult audience. I enjoyed it very much. You can read my review by clicking here.

Bring Me Sunshine by Alex Brown - This is a wonderfully uplifting read which is perfect for summer. If you would like to read my review you can find it here.

The Warrior's Forbidden Maiden by Lissa Morgan - This book made for a fabulous few hours of historical escapism.  If you would like to read my review you can find it here.

Monti and Leo: A Newcomer in Pocketville by Sylvie Kantorovitz - A charming graphic novel for early readers.  If you would like to read my review you can find it here.

The Last Line by Stephen Ronson - This was chosen by my Book Group this month. Enjoyable as it was set in my hometown during WWII.

Northern Boy by Iqbal Hussain - This made for a fabulous read and was easily my favourite book this month.  If you would like to read my review you can find it here.

Serendipity by Maria de Fatima Santos - This is based around the Traveller community in Scotland and is a fantasy story aimed at middle grade readers.  If you would like to read my review you can find it here.

The Mother by Valerie Keogh - Another excellent book from the pen of Valerie Keogh.  If you would like to read my review you can find it here.

The Butterfly Garden by Rachel Burton - Lovely dual timeline book set in 1963 and 2018. If you would like to read my review you can find it here.

Belly Woman by Benjamin Black - This is the memoirs of Dr. Benjamin Black, an obstetrician who travelled to Sierra Leone during the Ebola outbreak in 2014. If you would like to read my review you can find it here.

All Among the Barley by Melissa Harrison - This was worth every moment spent reading it. If you would like to read my review you can find it here.

The Clarks Factory Girls at War by May Ellis - This book is set in Somerset during World War One, and features the lives of three seventeen year old young women. If you would like to read my review you can find it here.

Upstairs at the Beresford by Will Carver - This was not my usual reading fare. It was an interesting read but quite dark at times.

Books I am Partway Through

The Warden by Anthony Trollope

The Attraction of Cuba by Chris Hilton

Book of Longing by Leonard Cohen

Maya Angelou: The Complete Poetry by Maya Angelou

Reading Roundup for April 2024

 

Another month has passed us by. April has gone and what a wet and rainy month it has been. 

I am still working hard at training my puppy, Roxie. She is almost five months old now and her training classes are going well. It is very much still a work in progress though, although she is learning to let me get on with my work a little better!  It has been unfortunate that I sprained my ankle badly and so haven't been able to take her out for walks during the day. She is still getting out though as my husband takes her before and after work but I was enjoying my springtime walks with her. Never mind, my ankle is healing now.

I have read some great books this month. Have you read anything that you would recommend?

Books I Have Read

From Crime to Crime by Richard Henriques - This was a really interesting non-fiction book which I borrowed from the libraray. The author was both QC and later Judge in some of the biggest court trials in Britain. 

Murder on the Dancefloor by Katie Marsh - This is the second book in the Bad Girls Detective Agency series and was very enjoyable. You can read my review by clicking here.

Wise Up! Wise Down! by John Agard and JonArno Lawson - A delightful collection of poems for middle grade children. You can read my review by clicking here.

Red Runs the Witch's Thread by Victoria Williamson - I read this for the blog tour. Set in Scotland during the late 17th/early18th century. You can read my review by clicking here.

Before the Swallows Came Back by Fiona Curnow - This is a gorgeous novel teeming with nature, wild life and a great plot. You can read my review by clicking here.

Whitechapel Autumn of Error by Ian Porter - Set in London's East End during the late 1880's when Jack the Ripper roamed the streets. This is a good addition to the genre. You can read my review by clicking here.

Looking for Lucie by Amanda Addison - This title for young adults is about using DNA testing to find out about ourselves. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and a Horse by Charlie Mackesy - I'm a bit late to the part on this one but enjoyed it once I finally got around to reading it.

Hard Times for the East End Library Girls by Jean Fullerton - This is the second book in the series and I enjoyed it very much. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher - I loved this one. You can read my review by clicking here.

Takeout Sushi by Christopher Green - A collection of short stories which are mostly set in modern Japan. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods - This was a delightful book with a dual timeline, a mystery and magical realism. It's probably my favourite book this month. You can read my review by clicking here.

Dangerous Times on Dressmakers' Alley by Rosie Clarke - This was a great book in the saga genre. You can read my review by clicking here.

Books I Did Not Finish

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon - This has been on my TBR for so long and when I finally got to it I couldn't get into it at all.

Books I am Partway Through

The Book-Lovers' Retreat by Heidi Swain

Does My Dog Love Me? by Graeme Hall

Sleepers and Ties by Gail Kirkpatrick

Widows on the Wine Path by Julia Jarman

(header photo courtesy of Florencia Veadana)

(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)

Reading Roundup for June 2023

 

This month, I am a few days early with my reading roundup as things are going to be pretty busy for the remainder of the month.

I had a lovely trip away this month and visited the Hungerford Bookshop which was lovely. If you are ever in Berkshire I recommend a visit there.  

My time away enabled me to sit and read lots of super books this month. Without further ado, here they are.

Books I Have Read

When I Fell From the Sky by Juliane Koepcke - This was my book group choice this month and it had a mixed reception. It is a remarkable story but the overall feeling was that it was inconsistent in the quality of the writing. However, I enjoyed reading about this extraordinary woman. Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

Unorthodox Love by Heidi Shertok - I enjoyed this rom com enormously. You can read my review by clicking here. 

My Heart was a Tree by Michael Morpurgo and Yuval Zommer -  This was a delightful collection of poems and short stories for children, written in celebration of trees. You can read my review by clicking here.  Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

House of Sticks by Marc Scott - This was a little out of my reading comfort zone but I enjoyed it nonetheless. You can read my review by clicking here.  Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

Tails of Two Spaniels - by Heather Peck - An utterly charming book for children about two puppies who leave their litter to go to their forever homes. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Rose of Florence by Angela M. Sims - A well written and enjoyable historical fiction novel. You can read my review by clicking here.  Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

Morgan is My Name by Sophie Keetch - This was definitely one of my favourites this month. A feminist retelling of a traditional story. You can read my review by clicking here.  Purchase Link Bookshop.org *

The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams by Victoria Williamson - This is a lovely fantasy book for children which I really enjoyed. You can read my review by clicking here.  Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

Blood on the Tide by Chris O'Donoghue - This is the first part in the DI Sonny Russell crime book series. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths - This is the final book in the Ruth Galloway series. I have enjoyed them all. You can read my review by clicking here.   Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

Meet the Bears by Kate Peridot and Becca Hall - This is a delightful book for children about different species of bears. Beautifully illustrated. You can read my review by clicking here.   

Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Gamus - This was a wonderful book which I really enjoyed. I did not get around to reviewing it but it really was excellent.   Purchase link - Bookshop.org *

The Writer's Guide to Obscurity by John Steinberg. This was a very short and humourous book.  You can read my review by clicking here.  

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Suzy K. Quinn - This book is adorable and I really enjoyed every moment of reading it. You can read my review by clicking here.

Books I Did Not Finish

A Court at Constantinople by Anthony Earth - This was not for me.

The Killings at Kingfisher Hall by Sophie Hannah - I did not get very far through this before it had to be returned to the library.

Books I am Partway Through

See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt

The Village Vicar by Julie Houston

Good Girls Die Last by Natali Simmonds

*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.

My Heart was a Tree: Poems and Stories to Celebrate Trees by Michael Morpurgo and Yuval Zommer - #BookReview #poetry #poems #stories

 

The poems and stories in this book have been written because, every day that I can, I go for a walk in the bluebell woods behind our house. I know every one of the trees I pass. They hear me coming, they listen to me. I listen to them, to the whisper of them, the roaring of them, the creaking of them. 

One story above all the others, imspired me to write about trees. It is The Man who planted Trees, by Jean Giono, about an old shepherd in the hills of Provence who makes it his life's work to create a forest high on the arid rocky slopes where very little grew.

***

Discover the beauty and wonder of trees in this stunningly illustrated collection of poetry and stories celebrating trees and what they mean to the world around us . . .

Inspired by the woods around his home, the mighty forests that support our life on Earth, and the Ted Hughes poem which gives this book its title, My Heart Was a Tree is a celebration, and Sir Michael Morpurgo's love letter to trees.

There are stories from an ancient olive remembering Odysseus and Penelope, and from a eucalyptus that gave shelter to a koala; from a piece of driftwood that was made into a chair, and from a tiny sapling carried by a refugee as a reminder of home – these are poems and stories that will amuse, move and energise families and readers of all ages to appreciate the beauty and wonder of trees.

Yuval Zommer's beautiful, detailed illustrations bring the natural world to life, and make My Heart Was a Tree a book to pore over for hours and hours, discovering something new each time.

***

This book is perfect in every way. Not only does it contain a gorgeous selection of poems and stories by Michael Morpurgo, but it also has the most delightful illustrations by Yuval Zommer. The collaboration between a best selling author and an award winning artist guaranteed that this book would be something rather special.

Written in celebration of trees in all their forms - it is a book very relevant to today's environment. It looks at the impact that trees have on our lives, in our communities as well as in the wider world.

I shared a couple of these poems with my six-year-old grandson and he enjoyed listening to them very much. The illustrations support the text perfectly and it made for a wonderful opportunity to create memories for us both.

If I had to choose a favourite from this superb collection it would have to be the poem, Driftwood. It tells of the nine lives lived by this tree and begins:

This chair was born where I was born,

In the forests of Nova Scotia,

About a thousand years ago.

Maybe more, who's counting?

It is a delightful poem which goes on to tell of its journey.

I highly recommend this collection of poems and stories. Regardless of whether you have a child in your life to share this with, it makes for lovely reading and I can envisage dipping back into it periodically.

ISBN: 978 1529094794

Publisher:  Two Hoots

Formats:  e-book and hardcover

No. of Pages:  96 (hardcover)

Support Independent Bookshops - Buy from Bookshop.org *

About the Author:

Sir Michael Andrew Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. 

Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumberland during the last years of the Second World War, then returned to London, moving later to Essex. After a brief and unsuccessful spell in the army, he took up teaching and started to write. 

He left teaching after ten years in order to set up 'Farms for City Children' with his wife. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the animals. In 1999 this work was publicly recognised when he and his wife were invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth. In 2003, he was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2004. He was knighted in the 2018 for his services to literature and charity. 

He is also a father and grandfather, so children have always played a large part in his life. Every year he and his family spend time in the Scilly Isles, the setting for three of his books.

About the Illustrator:

Yuval Zommer graduated from the Royal College of Art with an MA in Illustration. He worked for many years as a creative director at leading advertising agencies before becoming the author and illustrator of highly acclaimed non-fiction. Yuval has sold over 2 million books worldwide and been translated into 30 languages.

Yuval's stunning Big Book Of... series (Thames & Hudson) has won and been shortlisted for numerous awards including the UKLA Book Awards, The English Association's Nonfiction Award, and the Made For Mums Award. The latest title, The Big Book of Belonging, published in September 2021.

My Heart was a Tree (Macmillan), written by Michael Morpurgo, is Yuval's newest title which beautifully explores the life of trees, what they mean to humanity, to animals and the world around us. This highly anticipated book will publish in June 2023.

Yuval also writes and illustrates a seasonal picture book series for Oxford University Press - The Tree That's Meant To Be, A Thing Called Snow and The Lights That Dance in the Night. The Tree That's Meant To Be was named a Sunday Times Book of the Year.

(ARC courtesy of NetGalley, author photo and info from GoodReads and illustrator photo and info from Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency)

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*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.

The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them) by Nadine Aisha Jassat - #bookreview #NetGalley

 

Today in English,

the teacher asked us to write about who we are.

I could see my friend Jess

scribbling next to me,

her pen moving fast across the page.

I looked up at the prompt on the board, the words 'I Am' standing out like a challenge,

like they're asking for something more than I really understand...

***

Twelve-year-old Nyla's dad died when she was four, or that's what she's been told. So when Grandma Farida insists she saw him in the supermarket, Nyla wonders if she is 'time-travelling' again - the phrase she uses when Grandma forgets.

But when Grandma asks Nyla to find her dad and bring him home, Nyla promises that she will.

As Nyla sets out on her journey, she hopes that uncovering the past will help her to understand the mystery at the heart of her family ... and to work out who she is.

A page-turning verse novel about memory and identity, and a bond that soars above all else.

***

This book for children has been beautifully written in verse and was a joy to read.

The main character, Nyla, is portrayed extremely well. She assists in caring for her grandmother who has Altzheimers and is a loving and dependable girl.

When asked to write a school project about her favourite family member, Nyla sees this as the perfect opportunity to write about her father who passed away a few years before, and find out more about him. However, when Nyla's grandmother, claims to have recently seen her son, Nyla questions whether he really has died or whether he just left them.

The book was very moving and there were several times when I wanted to give Nyla a hug and tell her it was all going to be okay. Thankfully, the author provides some strong role models in whom Nyla can ultimately find emotional safety.

Written with compassion and sensitivity, the author deals with themes of racism, bullying and how we can understand our place in the world.

It is a perfect addition to children's book shelves, and I highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978 1510111578

Publisher:  Orion Children's Books

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  240 (paperback)

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Age: Middle Grade (8 - 12)

About the Author:

Nadine Aisha Jassat is the author of acclaimed poetry collection Let Me Tell You This, and her work has been published widely in popular anthologies such as Picador’s It’s Not About the Burqa (Shortlisted for Foyles Non-Fiction Book of the Year), and Bloodaxe's Staying Human. Her work has drawn significant acclaim, including being shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award, a Herald Scottish Culture Award for Outstanding Literature, and winning a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award.  

​Nadine has taught and performed internationally and across media, from taking part in Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Outriders Africa to appearing in BBC’s The Big Scottish Book Club, and has completed writers’ residencies taking her from the bright stage of Lagos International Poetry Festival to the quiet corners of Scottish school libraries. She regularly delivers engaging and powerful creative practice, and is a seasoned events chair. 

​Nadine's debut verse novel The Stories Grandma Forgot (And How I Found Them) is a gripping middle-grade mystery that shines a light on Alzheimer’s and identity, released in May 2023 with Hachette Children’s Group.

(ARC courtesy of NetGalley)

(photo and author bio courtesy of the author's webiste) - https://www.nadineaishaj.com/about

 

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*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.