I do love a Scots translation and Peppa’s Bonnie Unicorn is a braw wee example that has just been released. Every child across the country is probably familiar with Peppa and her family from TV and from books. Here, Thomas Clark works his brilliant translation skills on Peppa’s Magical Unicorn and the result is a absolutely fantastic picture book full of terrific Scots vocabulary and phrases following the familiar family of little pigs.

The story follows Peppa and her friend Suzy who, during a sleepover, decide they want to play with a magical unicorn instead of her toy, Cuddy McTwinkle-Taes. It falls to Daddy Pig to make their dreams come true!

Peppa’s Bonnie Unicorn is an absolutely brilliant Scots translation that Peppa fans across the country will love and it is a must add to any list of Scots books for children.

The Boy Who Made the World Disappear by Ben Miller is an inspiring tale of a young boy who struggles to deal with his emotions.  It is a wonderful book that challenges our experiences and assumptions about behaviour and teaches us to be a little kinder and more understanding to others.  It is a tale of adventure, bravery, black holes and time travel and is one of the most enjoyable books I have read this year.

Harrison is a young boy who tries to behave and wants to do his best but when he becomes upset and angry he kicks off in spectacular style.  Quite often this is because he is upset or scared and doesn’t know how to deal with these feelings and the only way he can is to lash out in a display of temper.

When he is under pressure and feeling scared at the local bully’s space-themed birthday party his anger is displayed for all to see. As he leaves, the children’s entertainer, Shelley, hands him a balloon, which he soon discovers is not a balloon at all but a black hole!  We are then taken on a journey of discovery and adventure with Harrison as he discovers what is truly important to him.

On one level The Boy Who Made the World Disappear is a brilliant wee tale about a boy learning to manage his emotions and how to respond to his feelings appropriately.  Harrison’s character ‘flaws’ will resonate with many children and adults alike.  It is a lesson about not judging people and how we should demonstrate empathy towards others as we don’t always know what people are going through.  It is a reminder that we can all look out for each other and there are always people to share our worries with.

On another level The Boy Who Made the World Disappear is a great wee taster of astrophysics, astronomy and time travel, which provides plenty of questions that the reader will be desperate to explore further.  Since reading this I have been avidly reading up on Einstein-Rosen bridges with great interest and I am sure any child reading it would be doing the same! It is a fascinating area which this book creates a path into.

I could not review this book without mentioning the utterly stunning artwork by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini.  Her illustrations are absolutely exquisite and they add immensely to the feel and ambiance of the story.  They remind me of books from my childhood and are reminiscent of illustrations from children’s novels from 30/40 years ago. Simple, charming and utterly perfect.

I absolutely loved The Boy Who Made the World Disappear. It is a brilliantly enjoyable adventure which encourages us to be more empathetic and compassionate, while taking responsibility for our own emotions and actions.   It is a story about what is possible when we take chances, believe in ourselves and delve into the depths of the universe.

An absolutely terrific and enjoyable must-read story.

Black Water is a majestic wee novella from Barbara Henderson set against a backdrop of smuggling and mystery in late 18th century Dumfries. It swirls with energy and intrigue and is a really engaging read right from the start.

Henry is a young boy who is set to follow in his father’s footsteps in the Excise, combatting smuggling and has started his training in earnest. The adventure really begins for Henry when a large smuggling schooner is stranded nearby. From then on story is filled with excitement, cannons, quicksand and much more as the excisemen try to do their job.

Black Water is based on real historical events which adds immensely to the drama and intrigue. It also features a cameo role from Robert Burns who we know was at the scene as part of his day job as an exciseman. It is a real insight into his everyday life. The historical accuracy is key to the story and makes it a really eye opening tale as well as a great wee adventure.

Black Water would make an excellent short read for upper primary classes who are studying Robert Burns and Scots and the history of the time period. It is full of mystery, intrigue and history and is a wonderfully enjoyable book.

Thanks to Cranachan for the review copy.

I was delighted to received this astonishingly beautiful book in the post recently.  An adaptation of the Robert Burns’ classic poem, it is wonderfully presented and the fabulous artwork by manga artist Inko really brings the tale to life.

One of Robert Burns’ most famous poems, it tells the tale of Tam who whiles away the nights drinking in the pub, much to the annoyance of his wife Kate, who becomes angrier and angrier at Tam’s disrespectful ways.

It is at the end of one such night of drinking that Tam stops on his way home when he sees the Alloway Kirk lit up. On further investigation he discovers a mesmerising sight of dancing witches, warlocks and the devil himself.  The scene is full of horror, temptation and decadence.  Tam’s night goes for bad to worse as he is discovered and is lucky to make it home in one piece.

This is a genuinely stunning adaptation which captures the essence of Robert Burns’ cautionary tale perfectly.  The artwork is absolutely exquisite and brings an added energy to the classic tale.  It is full of horror, some fairly gruesome imagery, humour and some wise words. An absolute classic presented beautifully.

Thanks to Cranachan for the review copy.

The Star Outside My Window is a beautiful, often heartbreaking, but ultimately inspiring story of hope in the bleakest of circumstances. Dealing with the very difficult topic of domestic abuse and the devastating social, physical and psychological effects it can have on children is no easy task but Onjali  totally succeeds in writing a truly stunning and powerful story. Although there are sad and quite devastating moments, The Star Outside My Window remains a story of positivity, hope and friendship.

Noah and his elder sister, Aniyah, are settling into their new foster home with their new foster family. Their foster mum is ever so kind and the rest of the foster children are mainly friendly, but it’s not home and it’s not mum and dad. Aniyah is a Star Hunter and we discover that their mum has left them to become a star in the sky where she can watch over them. Aniyah hopes that their dad will come and find them soon to take them home.

When a new star is discovered and is reported on the news, Noah and Aniyah just know it is their mum and they set off on a mission with their new friends to make sure the star is named after their mum. It is an adventure that tests the power of trust and friendship and ultimately leads them to the devastating truth.

I cannot stress what an absolutely stunning and powerful  book this is, which reminds us of the struggles that many families are going through every day. It had me in tears but also had me in fits of laughter. It is an utterly pure story about hope and belief.

I quite simp!y loved this book and I urge everyone to read it.

Charlie’s Promise is a wonderful tale of friendship and empathy, set against a backdrop of impending war.  It is a beautifully and skilfully written story that makes you feel like you are a part of it.  The characters are so real and likeable and the settings are exquisitely described and feel utterly familiar.

Set not far from Edinburgh prior to the outbreak of WW2, it focuses on Charlie and his friend Jean who are happily oblivious to the events that we know are building up to the outbreak of war.  Their lives are about to change, however, when they stumble upon a lost, starving, dirty boy who speaks no English in the local woods.  They manage to work out that is name is Jozef and that he is terrified, alone and scared of adults, particularly those in uniform. We are not sure why and how he is there, but Charlie decides that he will promise to help Jozef on a journey to get him to Edinburgh where he hopes to find someone he knows.

Charlie’s Promise is a magnificent story about friendship, trust and empathy.  The relationship between the children transcends language and nationality and the innocence of childhood is expertly explored as the children take on a world that they don’t yet quite understand.  Overall, Charlie’s Promise is an outstanding, enjoyable adventure which I absolutely adored.  It would be a fantastic book to use to explore events surrounding the outbreak of World War 2, both at home and with a class.

Charlie’s Promise by Annemarie Allan is published by Cranachan Publishing. (https://www.cranachanpublishing.co.uk/)

White Fox is the magical tale of an orphaned white fox cub, Dilah, who wants more than anything to be human. The story is beautifully translated by Jennifer Feeley from the original Chinese novel by author Chen Jiatong.

Dilah the fox cub wants to be human. He watches humans with interest and has a deep desire to become part of their world. Tragedy strikes and Dilah returns home to find his mother dying as she shares a secret with him that will change his life forever. She tells him about a treasure with the power to turn animals into humans and the key to its location is contained in a magical moonstone that just happens to be buried beneath their den.

So begins an epic quest and an enthralling adventure, involving sinister blue foxes who are also on the trail of the treasure and some wonderful characters who accompany Dilah on the different legs of his journey. Alongside Dilah’s adventure, the reader is engulfed by his fascination with humans and his desire to become human. The narrative is cleverly written to give the perspective of an animal while powerfully exploring our differences and similarities.

Overall, White Fox is a beautifully enchanting story about following your dreams and valuing the people (or animals, in this case) that you meet along the way who shape your journey. It is a tale of friendship; of the highs and lows of life and of the difference that we can all make to one another. On top of this, it is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I cannot wait to read the next chapter in Dilah’s journey.

Many thanks to Books for Topics for the review copy.

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There is something very exquisite about how this book is presented. I have run my hands over its cover countless times. It really is a beautiful, enchanting and enticing book, that pulls you in from the off. Utterly magical and gorgeous.

It tells the story of Celeste, a lowly theatre worker at the Royal Opera House. One day she wakes up to find that everyone thinks she is somebody else – a talented young dancer. From then on we encounter a mysterious man in an emerald green suit, a shipwreck, a crashing chandelier and a dangerous game called the Reckoning, that Celeste is a participant in. The story winds and twists against the backdrop of a dark and haunting atmosphere.

The story is one of magic and mysticism and it is a wonderfully crafted work of storytelling. It has a very surreal feel to it, always blurring the lines of reality. The central character of Celeste is a brave and engaging girl who I absolutely loved.

Invisible in a Bright Light is total masterpiece of imagination. It is beautifully written, utterly engaging and full of mystery and excitement. A brilliant novel that lingers long after reading. An absolute must read.

Thank to Zephyr Books for the review copy.

I am so excited to be hosting today’s leg of The Stone of Destiny blog tour.  Thank you to Cranachan Publishers for sending me a copy to read and review.

The Stone of Destiny is author Caroline Logan’s debut novel and it is the first in a series of fantasy books aimed at a young adult audience.  This is a book that ticked all my boxes. It is epic fantasy tale brimming with adventure and is full of fantastic, wonderful mythical creatures.  It is a story dripping in folklore and legend and it has a real Scottish heart to it.  Everything that I love!

Ailsa lives an isolated existence.  Shunned by locals who consider her some kind of monster due to the strange mark on her face, she has grown accustomed to fending for herself and being alone. But this suddenly changes when she rescues two selkies who are being hunted by raiders.  From then on Ailsa’s life changes forever as she sets out on an epic adventure with her new companions and the Prince of Eilanmor on a journey to find The Stone of Destiny.  However, something has been stalking her.  Along the way Ailsa discovers that she is not just on a journey to find the object that protects them, she is also on a journey to find herself and to discover who she really is.

The Stone of Destiny is an absolutely magnificent epic adventure that I could not put down.  It  is full of excitement, mystery and romance and I was always rooting for Ailsa on her quest.  In Ailsa, the author has created a strong young woman who I absolutely loved.  I really can’t wait for the next book to come out!  You absolutely must go and read this!  Absolutely brilliant stuff.

I had heard so many brilliant things about The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club and when I got some book vouchers for my birthday it was one of my immediate choices. However, that was back in May and somehow my poor copy managed to sit in my TBR pile for the next 3 months, never quite getting to the top, until finally I decided to delve in.  And wow, how glad I am that I did. It is a book that I wished that I could have read as a child. It is an adventure about following your dreams, being brave, friendship and having confidence in yourself.

Stella Starflake Pearl lives with her adoptive father, Felix, who is a member of the renowned Polar Bear Explorers’ Club and spends much of his time on expeditions  to discover new and exotic places.  Stella is desperate to accompany Felix on one of his trips but is frustrated that girls are not allowed.  Until one day everything changes and Felix allows Stella to accompany him on the expedition to the Icelands.

When Stella meets up with the other children on the trip we join them on an adventure of a lifetime, where we meet giant yetis, carnivorous cabbages and much more as we follow them on a journey of friendship and understanding.

The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club is a thrilling tale of adventure with a real heart.  It is a book that I genuinely couldn’t put down. I would absolutely 100 per cent recommend it to everybody, young and old, and I can’t wait to read more Alex Bell’s brilliant tales.