Stripes ISBN 9781788952194 £5.99
Elsa is moving house. It is an exciting but scary time. Elsa will get her own room, which is good, but she might find it odd sleeping without Sara every night. At night she is troubled by strange noises at night. Eventually she finds the cause – a little black kitten living in the attic. She calls him Pepper. Initially she conceals him from her sister and father. She is keen to adopt her new friend, but the family have to find out who Pepper belongs to and why he has been left. The story deals with situations that will resonate with children – moving home, leaving and making friends, going to primary school alone when your sister has started at secondary school, concealing and revealing secrets. Pepper’s story comes as a surprise and there are good messages about jumping to the wrong conclusions. Charming illustrations enhance the text. Highly recommended for 5 – 8 year olds.
Brenda Marshall