Young Writers | Young Writers - Young Writer's Recommended Books and Book Reviews

Welcome to Young Writers - Young Writer's Recommended Reads

Each month we’ll bring you our recommendations of books that we hope will be of interest to you. If you would like to provide a review, as a reader, for any of these titles please email us at info@youngwriters.co.uk with 'Online Book Review' in the subject line.


June 2010

Touch and Feel Animals and Toys by Alison Jay Published by Templar Publishing Available from May 2010 RRP £6.99 each ISBN 9781848770027 (for Toys) and 9781848770034 (for Animals) Alison Jay’s crackle-glaze style of illustration is immediately recognisable and these two new books combine her trademark warm colours, and delightful characters with an added touch and feel finish that little hands will adore. ‘Toys’ and ‘Animals’ are a lovely addition to a popular series to the Alison Jay Nursery Collection, which already includes the delightful ‘Welcome to the Zoo’ (board book and hardback) and the ‘Story Time Jigsaw Book’. In ‘Toys’ bouncy balls, soaring kites and shiny trains are brought to life as the toybox is explored. ‘Animals’ features all the favourites - cats, dogs, owls and fish. The rhyming texts in both books make them a pleasure to read and re-read and children and parents will have fun in seeing who else is having fun on each page. Recommended for pre-school readers

A Trip to the Zoo by Karen Wallace Published by Dorling Kindersley Available now RRP £2.99 ISBN 9780751346206 Stunning photographs combine with lively illustrations and engaging, age-appropriate stories in DK READERS, a multi-level reading programme guaranteed to capture children's interest while developing their reading skills and general knowledge. Recommended for readers aged 5+

The Wrong End of the Dog: Grubtown Tales by Philip Ardagh Published by Faber and Faber Available from 4th March 2010 RRP £4.99 ISBN 978- 0571247929 As eye-witness Beardy Ardagh reports, when famous film star Tawdry Hipbone visits Grubtown for the world premiere of her latest movie, For the Love of Ducks II, Mayor Flabby Gomez couldn't be more excited but, as usual, nothing goes to plan. Miss Hipbone's dog, Snooks, is snatched by a low-flying pelican, and it's a race against time to find him, in a rescue attempt involving Grubtown's usual ragbag of bungling buffoons. Recommended for readers aged 7+

Wild Kat McCrumble by Margaret Ryan Published by Hodder Children’s Books Available now RRP £4.99 ISBN 978-0340884027 Kat’s wild about animals. She and her dad run the Crumbling Arms inn and animal sanctuary, deep in the Scottish Highlands. It’s chaotic, but fun. Then one day a strange McCrumble called Vladimir arrives and claims that the inn is rightfully his. Kat and her dad could lose their home. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, someone has been trying to poison the local wildlife too. This makes Kat really wild, but, as always, she has a plan ... Recommended for readers 9+

A Reluctant Cinderella by Alison Bond Published by Penguin Available from 27th May 2010 RRP £6.99 ISBN 978-0141026817 Samantha Sharp turned seventeen, left her old life behind and moved to London, determined to make her fortune. Ten years later and she’s a super-agent to the stars, with her name in the papers, millions in the bank and one success after another. Love has taken a back seat because her past has put her off relationships for good. Everyone's got a history but Samantha’s is particularly murky. What’s more, she hasn’t got to the top of her game without collecting a few enemies along the way. So when she meets a man who might be a little bit dangerous, someone she’s finally close to loving, is there anyone to tell her what a terrible mistake she’s making? Will Samantha find her happy ever after? And if her carefully hidden past comes into the light, will her fairytale coach turn back into a pumpkin? Samantha Sharp needs to find a way to cling onto her sparkle … Recommended for readers 12+

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han Published by Razorbill Available from the 3rd June 2010 RRP £6.99 ISBN 978-0141330532 One girl. Two boys. And the summer that changed everything ... Everything that happened this past summer, and every summer before it, has all led up to this. To now. Every year Isabel spends a perfect summer at her family friends’ house. There’s the swimming pool at night, the private stretch of sandy beach . . . and the two boys. Unavailable, aloof Conrad – who she’s been in love with forever – and friendly, relaxed Jeremiah, the only one who’s ever really paid her any attention. But this year something is different. They seem to have noticed her for the first time. It’s going to be an amazing summer – and one she’ll never forget... Wordsmith has interviewed new author Jenny Han. To read the interview and enter our writing competition to win a signed copy of ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ please visit our Wordsmith Guest Author page. Recommended for readers 12+

Now by Morris Gleitzman Published by Puffin Available from 6th May 2010 RRP £6.99 ISBN 978-0141329987 Morris Gleitzman's acclaimed story of friends Felix and Zelda in Nazi-occupied Poland has captured the hearts and minds of readers worldwide. In Now he delivers the final chapter, bringing this most moving of stories into the present day. The prequels, Once and Then, are also available from all good bookshops online and in the high street. For further information on Morris and his books please visit www.morrisgleitzman.com. (Please note this link will navigate you away from the Young Writers website to a third party website.) Recommended for readers 12+

Children’s Classic

The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley, first published in 1863. This title is widely available through various publishers on the high street and online. Tom, a poor orphan, is employed by the villainous chimney sweep, Grimes, to climb up inside flues to clear away the soot. While engaged in this dreadful task, he loses his way and emerges in the bedroom of Ellie, the young daughter of the house who mistakes him for a thief. He runs away, and, hot and bothered, he slips into a cooling stream, falls asleep, and becomes a Water Baby. In his new life, he meets all sorts of aquatic creatures, including an engaging old lobster, other water babies, and at last reaches St Branden's Isle where he encounters the fierce Mrs Bedonebyeasyoudid and the motherly Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby. After a long and arduous quest to the Other-end-of-Nowhere young Tom achieves his heart's desire. The Water Babies was also made into an animated film in 1978.

If you would like to provide a review, as a reader, for any of these titles please email us at youngwriters@forwardpress.co.uk with 'Online Book Review' in the subject line. Check out our previous Recommended Reads!

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