Primary Plus Book Reviews

Look Up at the Stars by Katie Cotton Illustrated by Asian Lora Frances

Lincoln ISBN 9781786037725 £12.99 It’s night-time and a parent and young child hug while looking through the window at the starry night. The child longs for a star to hold and his parent promises to catch one for him. There follows a quest through woods, across seas and through snow to the highest point they…

The Pigeon Has To Go To School! written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Walker ISBN 9781406389012 £6.99 Fans of Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus and other titles will be delighted that this beguiling, drama queen of a pigeon is having another outing. Created by a former writer and animator on Sesame Street, this bird carries all the hallmarks of wit, humour and original voice we might…

One World Many Colours by Ben Lerwill Illustrated by Alette Straathof

Quarto Publishing ISBN 9780711249820  £12.99 This book is a lyrical celebration of the vibrant colours to be found in the world we all live in. It is an amazing introduction to geography told through the colour spectrum.  Travelling around the world visiting different places and environments, the reader is taken on a celebration of both…

The Tale of a Toothbrush A story of plastic in our oceans by M. G Leonard Illustrated by Daniel Riley

Walker Books  ISBN 9781406391817  £6.99 At a time when plastic is causing so many problems in our oceans and especially to the wildlife who live in our oceans, this children’s book is both timely and important.  80% of plastic in oceans is from land sources and with eight million tonnes of plastic ending up in…

The Happy Book Understanding Your Feelings Welbeck Children’s Publishing

ISBN 9781783125463 £7.99 This book has plenty of ideas and suggestions that encourage children to notice their moods and express their thoughts and feelings rather than hide them. A good range of feelings are covered, such as happy, sad, angry, scared and worried. Scientific sections explain what happens in our brains and bodies, and there…

Mark Anchovy, Pizza Detective written and illustrated by William Goldsmith

Piccadilly  ISBN 781848128613  £6.99 Colin Kingsley is just an ordinary boy, living above his parents’ pizza parlour and delivering pizzas after school.  He has ambitions to be a private detective, something that brings him to the notice of the Golden Spatula league; they are a secret network of young people who work in food establishments…

Little Turtle and the Sea by Becky Davies, Illustrated by Jennie Poh

Little Tiger Press Ltd ISBN 9781788 815802   £11.99 This book helps younger children learn about the life cycle of the turtle and discover the problems faced by the turtle as plastic invades our oceans and seas. The story shows how the life of one turtle is a struggle. The story of the journeys of the…

Like The Ocean We Rise by Nicola Edwards Illustrated by Sarah Wilkins

Caterpillar Books   ISBN: 97818389102977   £12.99 At the top of the back cover we read the following ‘ Our planet is vast and it’s beautiful too, but it needs our help- it needs me, it needs you.’ To any child of today that is a message that needs making over and over again. This peek-through book…

A Bear Named Bjorn by Delphine Perret Translated from the French by Antony Shugaar

Gecko Press ISBN 9781776572694 £9.99 Bjorn lives in a cave in the forest. The walls are smooth, the ground is comfortable. Just in front there is a rough tree, perfect for back-scratching. His friends are fox, badger, rabbit, weasel, owl and chickadee. There are six short chapters in the book which tell of their adventures.…