The Old Man, His Dog & Their Longest Journey by by Iain Maitland - #blogtour #info

 

Before I review this book, as part of the blog tour, I wanted to tell you a little bit about it.

The Blurb

I am Ian Wilkerson. 54 years old. Married forever. Three children. I

have been made redundant. I believe I have cancer. And... I am losing my

mind.'

The announcement of a baby – his first grandchild – tips Ian’s world

upside down. As he struggles with his thoughts and feelings, a short

walk with Bernard, his Jack Russell, turns into their longest journey.

A story of love, loss and family ties, Ian and Bernard’s funny,

thought-provoking and emotional adventure will stay with you long after

it comes to its dramatic ending.

Ten Exciting New Releases in July 2023

 

We are already halfway through June and I am looking forward to some of the exciting new books which are being published in July.

Is there anything here that catches your eye?

Inside the Tudor Home by Bethan Watts

Power. Politics. Prosperity. Plague. Tudor England; a country replete with sprawling landscapes, dense forests and twisting urban labyrinths. This is a place of stagnation and of progress; of glorious cultural revolution, where the wheel of fortune is forever turning. From the plush royal palaces to the draughtiest of wattle-and-daub cottages, sixteenth-century England revolved around the people who formed the beating heart of Tudor society. These people celebrated scientific progress and lamented religious persecution; championed the rights of women and the underrepresented; fell in love with sweethearts, cared for pets and mourned the deaths of their loved ones. In her first book, Bethan Catherine Watts sheds light on the Tudor home and the everyday lives of those who lived there.

Preorder Link *

The Beasts of Paris by Stef Penney

In Paris 1870, three wandering souls find themselves in a city set to descend into war.

Anne is a former patient from a women's asylum trying to carve out a new life for herself in a world that doesn't understand her. Newcomer Lawrence is desperate to develop his talent as a photographer and escape the restrictions of his puritanical upbringing. Ellis, an army surgeon, has lived through the trauma of one civil war and will do anything to avoid another bloodbath.

Each keeps company with the restless beasts of Paris' Menagerie, where they meet, fight their demons, lose their hearts, and rebel in a city under siege.

A dazzling historical epic of love and survival, Stef Penney carries the reader captivated through war-torn Paris.

Preorder Link *

Minor Disturbances at Grand Life Apartments by Hema Sukumar

Grand Life Apartments is a middle-class apartment block surrounded by lush gardens in the coastal city of Chennai, India. It is the home of Kamala, a pious, soon-to-be retired dentist who spends her days counting down to the annual visits from her daughter who is studying in the UK. Her neighbour, Revathi, is a thirty-two-year-old engineer who is frequently reminded by her mother that she has reached her expiry date in the arranged marriage market. Jason, a British chef, has impulsively moved to India to escape his recent heartbreak in London.

The residents have their own complicated lives to navigate, but what they all have in common is their love of where they live, so when a developer threatens to demolish the apartments and build over the gardens, the community of Grand Life Apartments is brought even closer together to fight for their beautiful home...

A warm-hearted debut novel set in the beautiful coastal city of Chennai, for fans of Alexander McCall Smith, Joanna Nell and Graeme Simsion.

Preorder Link *

The House Keepers by Alex Hay

UPSTAIRS, MADAM IS PLANNING THE PARTY OF THE SEASON.

DOWNSTAIRS, THE SERVANTS ARE PLOTTING THE HEIST OF THE CENTURY.

When Mrs King, housekeeper to the most illustrious home in Mayfair, is suddenly dismissed after years of loyal service, she knows just who to recruit to help her take revenge.

A black-market queen out to settle her scores. An actress desperate for a magnificent part. A seamstress dreaming of a better life. And Mrs King's predecessor, who has been keeping the dark secrets of Park Lane far too long.

Mrs King has an audacious plan in mind, one that will reunite her women in the depths of the house on the night of a magnificent ball - and play out right under the noses of her former employers...

THEY COME FROM NOTHING. BUT THEY'LL LEAVE WITH EVERYTHING.

Preorder Link *

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

Hidden in Jimbocho, Tokyo is a booklover's paradise. On a quiet corner in an old wooden building lies a shop filled with hundreds of second-hand books.

Twenty-five-year-old Takako has never liked reading, although the Morisaki bookshop has been in her family for three generations. It is the pride and joy of her uncle Satoru, who has devoted his life to the bookshop since his wife Momoko left him five years earlier.

When Takako's boyfriend reveals he's marrying someone else, she reluctantly accepts her eccentric uncle's offer to live rent-free in the tiny room above the shop. Hoping to nurse her broken heart in peace, Takako is surprised to encounter new worlds within the stacks of books lining the Morisaki bookshop.

As summer fades to autumn, Satoru and Takako discover they have more in common than they first thought. The Morisaki bookshop has something to teach them both about life, love, and the healing power of books.

Preorder Link *

Bram Stoker - Author of Dracula by Neil R. Storey

Bram Stoker: Author of Dracula is an affectionate and revealing biography of the man who created the vampire novel that would define the genre and lead to a new age in Gothic horror literature.

Based on decades of painstaking research in libraries, museums, and university archives and privileged access to private collections on both sides of the Atlantic, the private letters of Bram and the reminiscences of those who knew him not only shed new light on Stoker's ancestry, his life, loves and friendships they also reveal more about the places and people who inspired him and how he researched and wrote his books. Bram wrote numerous articles, short stories and poetry for newspapers and magazines, he had a total of eleven novels and two collections of short stories published in his lifetime, but he would only become known for one of them - Dracula. Tragically, he did not live long enough to see it as a huge success.

In his heyday as Acting Manager for Sir Henry Irving at the Lyceum Theatre in the West End of London, Bram was a well-known figure in a golden age of British theatre. He was a big-framed, ebullient, genial, gentleman, with red hair and beard, who never lost his soft Irish brogue, was blessed with wit, and a host of entertaining stories fit for every occasion. Described as having the paw of Hercules and the smile of Machiavelli, above all he knew what it meant to be a loyal friend.

Preorder Link *

The Forgotten Singer: the Exiled Sister of I.J. and Isaac Bashevis Singer by Maurice Carr

The Forgotten Singer: The Exiled Sister of I. J. and Isaac Bashevis Singer is made up of 46 evocative snapshots that portray what life was like for Esther Singer Kreitman, an important writer living in the shadow of her famous brothers. It's also a meditation on the mother-son relationship, a failed marriage, and life as a Jew in the interwar period. Carr's writing is urgent, irreverent, timely, and unaffected, proving it's never too late to celebrate an unsung hero of the written word.

The Girls of Heatherly Hall by Julie Houston

Three devoted sisters... One complicated family.

After the untimely death of their biological father, triplets Eva, Rosa and Hannah find themselves the unlikely owners of Heatherly Hall, the vast manor house overlooking their home village of Westenbury. But the beautiful house comes with almost as much baggage as it does land, not least high running costs and expectations. It's up to the sisters to find a way to keep Heatherly Hall going and, most importantly, in the family.

But with drama in their private lives and secrets about to emerge, can the sisters stick together to focus on the task at hand?

Fans of Katie Fforde, Phillipa Ashley and The Vicar of Dibley will love this heartwarming and witty new novel from Julie Houston.

Preorder Link *

Someone You Know by Erin Kinsley

SOMEONE KILLED YOUR DAUGHTER. SOMEONE YOU KNOW...

Your daughter isn't answering your calls.

She's not replying to your messages.

You rush to her house.

She's slumped in the basement, dying and alone.

You desperately call for help.

She whispers a single word: 'pushed'.

Someone is keeping secrets.

And it must be someone you know...

Preorder Link *

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.

It seems like just another morning.

Around the world, people wake up, check the news, open the front door.

On every doorstop is a box. Inside that box is the exact number of years that person has left to live.

Whether they open it or hide it under their bed, each person must learn to live in this new world: a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush their life together, a doctor who cannot save himself from his own fate, best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything…

Enchanting and deeply uplifting, The Measure is a sweeping, ambitious and invigorating story about family, friendship, hope and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest.

Preorder Link *

*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 Rose of Florence by Angela M. Sims - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Summer in the Tuscan mountains. The haze of dry, dusty soil and the smell of thyme and rosemary hung heavily in the air. The sky above was approaching that magical mix between the gold of the setting sun and the first blue of the approaching night, giving the rooftops of the surrounding farms a fiery glow. A lone buzzard circled in search of an evening kill. Beneath its beady eye, a dormouse scuttled into the undergrowth and survived another day.

Fiesole, the small town on the hillside overlooking the bustling city of Florence, breathed a soft sigh as it began to rest in the early evening. The farmers and shepherds had returned home from the fields. Wealthy businessmen and noble families rested in their summer villas, enjoying the cool breeze from the mountains, so different from the hot, dry, foul air of the city...

***

1478: Gianetta and Matteo have a happy life, working in service to the wealthy Rosini family. They are used to entertaining rich and powerful members of Florentine society in Palazzo Rosini, where Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici and Botticelli are regular visitors. Even when the Medici brothers narrowly escape the Palazzo with their lives (an accident, surely?), Gianetta and Matteocan’t imagine that the growing unrest in the streets of Florence would everspoil their happiness.

When a bloody conspiracy erupts in the heart of Florence, in the city’s beloved Duomo, nobody is left unaffected by the aftermath. When the family hear that Matteo is among the conspirators, Gianetta knows that her life will never be the same.

***

The author's descriptions of Florence, where the book is set, are divine. She vividly depicts them and enables the reader to feel as though they were there.

It was interesting that this book is based on historical fact and Ms. Sims the events and period in a way that makes it feel very authentic. She has clearly conducted extensive research and it was no surprise to read that she has a particular interest in Italy during the Renaissance period.

She has created a wonderful cast of characters, and Gianetta made a wonderful leading lady in this story. However, the secondary characters are equally believable and easy to engage with.

The book has been divided into and compared with the courses of an Italian meal, and littered with recipes which all sound wonderful. I liked this unique method of presenting her prose and it was very successful, making this book a must not just for historical fiction fans but for food lovers too.  I cannot wait to try baking, Torta della Nonna, which translates as Grandma's Cake, which is presented as one of the final courses/sections of the book.

It crosses over many genres and is so much more than a historical romance. There is murder and bloodshed, poisoning and intrigue and all based around a delightful love story.

I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it.

ISBN: 9781739117306

Publisher: Romaunce Books

Formats:  e-book and hardback

No. of Pages:  276 (hardback)

Support Independent Bookshops - Buy from Bookshop.org *

About the Author:

Angela’s background is in healthcare, and she has been a university lecturer since 2010. Her writing experience was limited to a master’s dissertation, purely academic, but the research skills she learned during that process were soon used in researching her favourite topic, the Italian Renaissance. It didn’t take long before the seeds of a story began to germinate, and The Rose of Florence, her debut novel blossomed.

Support Independent Bookshops - Buy from Bookshop.org *

(book, photo and author info courtesy of Random Things Tours)

*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.

Tails of Two Spaniels by Heather Peck - Illustrated by Helen Morrish - #BookReview #blogtour

 

Farmer Fred had lost his dog. Scratchy Patch had one white patch over one eye and one brown patch over the other eye. She also had long soft ears and the waggiest tail you ever saw. If you talked to her, she wagged her tails a lot. But if she didn't understand what you said, she sat down and scratched while she thought very hard. Patch normally spend most of her time with Fred, checking round the hens, being polite to the geese, and chasing the rats. But today she had gone missing...

***

Springer Spaniel Patch has four puppies on the farm where she lives with Marigold the House Cow, Gertie Goose, Sally-for-short the Sow, and lots of worried woollies. But the puppies can't stay forever and they have a lot to learn.

A story of the antics of puppies, told from the puppies' perspective and brought to life by charming illustrations.

***

This utterly charming book was a delight to read. It has been nicely illustrated by Helen Morrish and will appeal to any reader who likes stories about animals.

There is some useful information contained within the story about how to care for a pet dog and the committment it needs. I loved the way the majority of the book was told from the perspective of the two puppies, Bramble and Bracken, who leave the farm to go to their 'forever home', and it was interesting to envisage the world through their eyes.

This book has been categorised as being suitable for nine to eleven year olds. However, I think more able readers would equally enjoy this too. It is also ideal for sharing with younger children. Indeed, my childhood is a long time behind me but I very much enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading it to the younger members of my family. 

ISBN: 978 1915769091

Publisher: Ormesby Publishing

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  68 (paperback)

About the Author:

Heather's love of animals set her to achieve a degree in Zoology and Comparative Physiology and later a wide ranging career in the Ministry of Agriculture and Defra. She has been both a farmer and agricultural policy adviser. She bred sheep and alpacas, reared calves, broke ploughs, represented the UK in international negotiations, specialised in emergency response from Chernobyl to bird flu, managed controls over pesticides and GM crops, saw legislation through Parliament and got paid to eat Kit Kats while on secondment to Rowntree.

 She also chaired an NHS Trust, worked on animal welfare, sailed a boat on the Broads, volunteered in Citizens Advice and the Witness Service and vaccinated humans against Covid. But she never lost the love of books and writing, and in the end with her Gran’s wise advice “You can do anything if you try hard enough” ringing in her head, she took a course at the UEA/National Centre for Writing and wrote her first book.

Now, there are 4 books and a novella in the Greg Geldard Norfolk Mystery series and book 5 Dig Two Graves will be published in July 2023. A second novella, Death on the Norwich Express, is currently being serialised in her free Newsletter. 

​In May 2023 she also published her first children's book, Tails of Two Spaniels illustrated by the talented Helen Morrish.

About the Illustrator:

After the sudden death of her husband at 46, and realising with a jolt that life really was too short, Helen left her job as an art director to pursue a long-held dream of becoming an artist. To help her through her grief, she spent five minutes every day drawing their beloved dog, Rupert, and these are the illustrations that have evolved into her debut book.

In the late 1980s Helen moved to London from Hampshire to go to Art College, eventually settling in South London. 

She’s an active member of her community, and helped bring an Everyman Cinema to the area, well in fact to the back of her garden! 

She spends a lot of time in there.

In 2020 during the pandemic, Helen was asked to present her local Art and Music Festival, interviewing authors, artists and performers on it’s very own YouTube channel. Her favourite guests were comedian Marcus Brigstocke and musician Jim Bob from the band Carter USM. 

She used to dance to them at the indie disco many years ago!

Helen also takes part in a monthly open mike comedy show. She and her fellow comics write material about the week’s news in the afternoon, and perform it to an audience in the evening. 

When she’s not working on her next book or writing comedy, Helen runs her creative company Lady Crimplene, illustrating everything from local maps to designing a TV pitch for Netflix. She also sells her retro clothes and collectibles from her shop, well her front bedroom, and in the Summer, turns her garden into a department store! 

(book provided courtesy of Random Things Tours)

(author photo and bio. courtesy of the authors website heatherpeckauthor.com)

(illustrator photo and bio. courtesy of her website https://www.helenmorrish.co.uk)

The Daughter of Paradisio by Francesca Scanacapra - #blogtour # excerpt

 

Today, I am so pleased to be bringing you an extract from The Daughter of Paradisio by Francesca Scanacapra. It is the third book in the Paradisio Novels series and I cannot wait to get stuck in.

The Blurb

Italy, 1963. Graziella Bianchi returns to Paradiso, barely able to believe she has been gifted her childhood home by an old friend.

The beautiful house has fallen into a state of disrepair, but Graziella is determined to restore it to its former glory.   

Although one dream has come true, life is far from perfect. She and her daughter, Lucia, are nearly penniless and the pair are on the run from Graziella’s violent husband.

With divorce not yet legal and the law still giving husbands ultimate control over their wives, Graziella must fight not only to gain her independence, but also to keep her daughter.

The villagers of Pieve Santa Clara, with their long and loyal memories, step in, and gradually a good life becomes a possibility for Graziella and Lucia.

But when her estranged husband turns up, drunk and angry, everything Graziella has worked so hard for is under threat.

The Daughter of Paradiso is a compelling and emotionally-charged historical novel perfect for fans of Dinah Jeffries, Lucinda Riley, Angela Petch and Rhys Bowen.

The Extract

This extract comes from Chapter 1. Graziella and her daughter have just returned to Paradiso and

Graziella is wondering how, when or even if she will ever again see Gianfrancesco, the love of her

youth...

I had forewarned the Pozzettis of our return and they had insisted that Lucia and I should stay with them until we had found a permanent place to live. When I told them about my ownership of Paradiso, the news was received with wide-eyed astonishment. They hadn’t known thatGianfrancesco had bought the house. They thought he had just purchased the building land behind it – and even that had been a surprise.

The notary in Cremona had been trying to contact Gianfrancesco, I explained, but he didn’t have an up-to-date telephone number, or a current address, and nor did I. The only number we both had was for a government office in Milan where Gianfrancesco had previously been employed. Avvocato Furboni had tried calling it again just after I had signed, but the former colleague who answered told him the same thing we had both heard before. Gianfrancesco Marchesini no longer worked there. He had no idea where he might be now.

I asked whether the Pozzettis knew anything and Luigi Pozzetti looked uncomfortable.

‘Gianfrancesco was around for a while, getting things up and running with those new houses on your aunt’s old land. But I haven’t seen him for months, almost a year.’

‘The builders must have a telephone number for him. He must be keeping in touch with what’s going on down on the sites,’ I said.

Pozzetti shook his head. ‘You won’t find anybody down there, Graziella. There hasn’t been any work on those villas for quite some time.’ Pozzetti shrugged his shoulders awkwardly. I could sense that he was trying to be diplomatic. ‘The work started and it was a frenzy to begin with. But then everybody was laid off suddenly and as far as I know, no reason was given. Most assumed thatit was down to money. But to be honest, Graziella, I don’t know what’s true and what’s gossip. You’d be better off talking to Pietro Castello. He’s one of the builders who was working there. I’ve seen hisvan parked by a house that’s being restored just around the corner from the bakery. You should ask him.’

Ada Pozzetti was looking at me with a searching expression. ‘I expect Gianfrancesco has other commitments – now that he has a wife,’ she said. Her emphasis the word ‘wife’ was not lost on me.

I nodded, pretending that I was fully aware of the situation; although in truth, I didn’t know whether Gianfrancesco had married, despite his misgivings. Ada confirmed that he had by saying, ‘They put an announcement in the local paper, although why they bothered with that, I don’t know. Nobody from the village was invited to the wedding, not even any of the staff who used to work for the family. Anyway, the marriage didn’t take place here. The newspaper said it was happening in Milan.’

I could see that both Ada and Luigi Pozzetti were asking themselves the same question, and it was not an unreasonable thing to be curious about. Why had Gianfrancesco bought Paradiso for me? Was there something going on? Was he the reason I had left my husband? I wondered whether they suspected that when I had returned to Pieve Santa Clara after Zia Mina’s death, Gianfrancesco and I had spent the night together; but that secret was Gianfrancesco’s and mine and nobody else must know about it. I didn’t want to give the slightest hint in my expression which might confirm their suspicions, so I made light of it, smiled and said, ‘Well, he’s bound to turn up eventually.

***

About the Author:

Francesca Scanacapra was born in Italy to an English mother and Italian father, and her childhood was spent living between England and Italy. Her adult life has been somewhat nomadic with periods spent living in Italy, England, France, Senegal and Spain. She describes herself as 'unconventional' and has pursued an eclectic mixture of career paths – from working in translation, the fitness industry, education and even several years as a builder. In 2021 she returned to her native country and back to her earliest roots to pursue her writing career full time. Francesca now resides permanently in rural Lombardy in the house built by her great-grandfather which was the inspiration for the Paradiso Novels. The Daughter of Paradiso is the third of the Paradiso Novels, following Paradiso and Return to Paradiso. The Lost Boy of Bologna, was also published by Silvertail Books.

Amazon UK

House of Sticks by Marc Scott - #BookReview #Blogtour

 

Some say she was pushed, but most thought she had jumped. Whichever was the sad reality, the wiry-framed girl with the soft voice and the ever-teary eyes was gone. She was, in the words of Karen Walpole from B Wing, 'As dead as a doornail.' Only two people would ever know the truth behind her demise.

Just one cell door was unlocked, slightly ajar, that bright August morning. An enforced, but welcomed, lay-in for the rest of the inmates. Poppy peered through the small gap in the doorframe, across the landing to where her former cell mate had fallen without grace to her bleak fate the previous week.

***

They are united now, two sisters who were kept apart by the cruel twists in their lives. And, despite the fact these siblings grew up at the opposite end of the social ladder, they have discovered that they share an unbreakable bond. It is like a modern-day fairy tale coming to life.

However, the pathway to their shared happiness is littered with misgivings and depraved memories from which they can never escape. Brianna is still haunted by the tragic death of her twin brother while Poppy finds it hard to let go of the ghosts of her abusive childhood. 

It seems that the forces around them will never leave them alone. Neddy, a ruthless drug dealer is hell-bent on revenge. A worried mother who is desperate to unlock the darkest of secrets. A stranger with tattooed fingers who must face retribution for his evil sins. These women must be strong to survive.

But remember, not all girls are made of sugar and spice.

Be prepared! This is not a fairy tale...

***

In all honesty, it took me a little while to get into this book. Not because there is anything wrong with the book; it was more that it was not what I had expected. However, once I did, it made for compelling reading and I am so glad that I hung in there.

Poppy was an interesting character. She had experienced a traumatic childhood, and being an adult had brought extreme challenges too. Even though she addressed her problems through violence, she was likeable and the author did a great job of presenting her as a fully formed character. I could not help but feel empathetic towards her. I enjoyed observing the relationship between her and her very different half-sister, Bree, and it was the connection between the two that kept me really hooked.

I did not read the book's predecessor, House of Straw, but that did not impede my reading experience of this novel.

There were a good number of twists and turns that I had not anticipated which inevitably makes for exciting reading. It was fast paced and something significant occurs in every chapter.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. However, it is a dark story and there were points when I felt a little uncomfortable. It was rather violent at times and deals with the issue of child abuse, brutality and other adult themes. However, if you like your fiction to be fast and gritty then you will enjoy this novel.

ISBN:  978 1803131016

Publisher:  Matador

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  384 (paperback)

Support Independent Bookshops - Buy from Bookshop.org *

About the Author:

Marc Scott was born and raised in the heart of the East End of London. He spent more than 25 years working in the video and film industry, including a 12-month spell on a project in Los Angeles. More recently he has been involved with assisting at the rehabilitation section of theUK court service, working predominantly with young offenders.  It was here where he met the people that would inspire him to write his first novel House of Straw.

He is unapologetic for the dark backdrop and raw brutality in his books. ‘You can’t sugar-coat some of these damaged individuals that live in a broken society and make excuses for them.’ he says. ‘Not everyone wants the chance to redeem themselves.’

His gritty writing style has earned him much praise from reviewers and bloggers. The second book in his trilogy, House of Sticks, will be available later this year. A story that Marc describes as, ‘An even darker and more twisted journey into the depths of depravity.’

Marc lives in Halstead in England. He has a son and two daughters, who, he says, have given him the proudest moments in his life. He lists his favourite author as Kazuo Ishiguro, and his favourite book as ‘Birdy’ by William Wharton. He sums up his reading choices with a method which he applies to his own works.  ‘When I read a book, I want to feel like a bystander, watching on, as an ‘extra’ as everything unfolds. If any of the characters in the book are bland and don’t affect you in some way, the author has wasted an opportunity.’

(book, author photo and bio provided courtesy of R & R Book Tours)

Support Independent Bookshops - Buy from Bookshop.org *

*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)

Support Independent Bookshops - Buy from Bookshop.org *

*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.