Author Archives: amloughrey

About amloughrey

I write children's fiction, non-fiction and teacher resources for a wide range of publishers. I had two monthly columns in Writers’ Forum, one on writing for children and the other about authors and their research before the magazine shut down. I do school visits and run creative writing workshops . I also review children's books and do blog tours and have special guest authors on my blog. I am passionate about stationery, growing bonsai trees and walking my bearded collies.

Blog Tour – Little White Hands by Mark Cushen

I am pleased to be a part of the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award to celebrate the 10th place finalist Little White Hands by Mark Cushen.

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Blurb

Almost five hundred years have passed since the Seasons were at war.

Half a millennium since Winter defied Spring, and lost.

Generations have come and gone, not knowing the bitter freeze and howling snows of Winter ever existed.

But now, after centuries of silence, the participants in this ancient struggle have resurfaced and reignited their feud on the doorstep of an unassuming little kitchen boy.

Garlan’s dreams of being just like the knights he idolizes may not be as impossible as he has always been led to believe, when he is chased from his home and thrust headlong into the kind of adventure he had only ever read about in books.

Setting out on a journey that spans the entire kingdom of Faeland, Garlan will traverse impossible mountains and stormy seas and battle terrible monsters, all to keep the world he knows safe from an enemy who will stop at nothing to bring about a never-ending winter.

With a cast of fantastical characters to aid him in his quest, can Garlan overcome his self-doubt and find the courage he needs to rise above his humble station and become the hero he always dreamed of being?

The fate of the world rests in his hands.

My stop on the book tour takes the form of a book review.

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Title: Little White Hands

Author: Mark Cushen

Book Cover by: Jeremy Adams

Little White Hands is a story of bravery, sacrifice and determination. It is set in a the sword-weilding fantasy world of King Arthur where the climate is determined by whuch of the High Seasons walks the Earth.

I liked the concept of Lord Winter fighting for dominance over the other High Seasons to keep the world frozen. His manipulative and fierce ice-warrior henchman, Hoarime, was a strong antagonist for our main character, 11-year-old Garlan.

Garland is a kitchen boy with his own goal of becoming one of King Arthur’s Knight’s despite his small hands. He is a fascinating, well-rounded character who draws you in from the start.

He meets the other seasons: Spring, Lady Summer and Baron Fall who set him on a quest to stop Lord Winter escaping from his firey prison. Together with his animal friends they must save the world by defeating Hoarime.

Little White Hands is a well-pitched middle grade novel ideal for young readers who love fantasy adventure.

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Author Bio

Mark Cushen has loved the fantasy genre since he accidentally stumbled onto Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion masterpiece, “Jason and the Argonauts”, while channel-hopping one Christmas-time Saturday afternoon, somewhere between the ages of 5 and 8.

Ever since then he has been obsessed with sword-wielding heroes battling monsters in fantastical lands, and now, after spending a few years writing his own Goosebumps fan-fiction as a child, he is attempting to create such stories of his own.

When he is not working his day job or sitting at his desk (ok, on the couch) writing, he can usually be found walking through the woods, either listening to a podcast about an obscure subject or the OST of The Last Samurai on repeat.

Links to buy the book

Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/csiLcio (Canada)

https://a.co/d/holmZ6q (USA)

https://amzn.eu/d/8g2WOpE (UK)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55880021-little-white-hands

The StoryGraph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/7d12d164-ec45-4980-8810-58dbeae1fc8a

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I would like to thank Dave from The Write Reads for inviting me to take part in this tour.

Watch out for more BBNYA finalists due to appear on my blog soon.

Blog Tour – Mysteries at Sea: The Royal Jewel Plot

Today is an exciting post as I am on the blog tour for the second book of the Mysteries at Sea series by A. M. Howell, The Royal Jewel Plot. As part of the tour I am involved in a giveaway stop of a fantastic copy of Mysteries at Sea: Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell, which is book one of this series.

To take part in the prize giveaway to win a copy of Mysteries at Sea: Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell, published by Usborne, all you have to do is follow my blog and post a comment completing this sentence: I would like to win a copy of Mysteries at Sea: Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell because… on this blog post below.

I will choose a winner at random from the entries and I will get in touch with the winner for posting details. The giveaway is being provided by Usborne and they will post the winner their copy of the book directly. Entry to the competition will mean you agree to providing me your address and forwarding it to the publisher.

Closing date for entries is Friday 19th April 2024 @12pm.

Here is a summary of The Royal Jewel Plot:

Summary:

Alice and Sonny investigate a stolen jewel, in this instalment of the bestselling Mysteries at Sea series, from award-winning author A.M. Howell.

Alice and Sonny are excited for their summer trip, sailing on the luxurious yacht the Lady Rose. They’re even more excited when they find out the King of England is going to be onboard too!

There’s also a precious jewel on the boat – a rare opal, kept in a tank protected by a poisonous octopus.

Until one morning, Alice discovers that the opal and octopus are both missing. The search is on to retrieve the priceless gem, before the ship reaches its destination, and everyone on board finds themselves in serious trouble.

As Alice and Sonny’s investigations take them closer to the truth, they realise that everyone on the Lady Rose seems to have a secret, maybe even the king himself…

As well as this exciting giveaway of the first book in the series I am also posting an extract from book two.

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Blog Tour Extract of Mysteries at Sea: The Royal Jewel Plot by A. M. Howell

Chapter One

Alice glanced at her watch in dismay. They were going to be late for the king’s arrival! Tightening her grip on her suitcase as she hurried along the hot, dusty street, her head was full of the summer storms, landslides and train delays that had hindered their journey from England to the small port of Šibenik on the Yugoslavian coast. A journey that should have taken two days had instead taken four.

On any occasion that would have been irritating, but they had been expected on the Lady Rose (the steam yacht she and her brother, Sonny, had recently inherited from their grandfather) two days ago. Now they were late and the king of England, who had paid handsomely to holiday on the yacht, was due to arrive at any minute. She, twelve-year-old Alice Townsend from Suffolk, England, was going on the king’s voyage! Even thinking these words seemed fantastical, like a story in a thrilling paperback novel. Though the king certainly wouldn’t be impressed at having

to wait for them.

Swallowing her excitement, Alice took in the throngs of locals dressed in bright cotton skirts and Sunday-best suits emerging from the town’s narrow side streets, as they too headed towards the port. Many of them stared at their party of four and she wasn’t at all surprised.

There was Father at the front, his beige suit jacket as crumpled as his brow as he strode alongside a station porter pushing their luggage trolley.

He was closely followed by Dorothy, her brother’s governess and former guardian, with her frilled sun parasol and satchel of school books bumping against her side.

Then there was Sonny, her brother, just a few steps ahead as he carefully carried his pet mouse Rocket’s cage. The brim of his sun hat shielded his eyes from the sun’s glare and a canvas bag of mouse bedding slung across his shoulder gusted in the breeze, wood shavings scattering from it like breadcrumbs. A gaggle of local children laughed and scurried after him, picking them up.

Alice giggled at the unfolding scene as she walked behind, and a woman wearing an embroidered shawl smiled at her, her gaze curious and lingering. Perhaps she was wondering at Alice’s brown hair, which had kinked into rebellious waves in the heat, her dusty sandals, her ink-spotted fingers and her straw hat that now resembled a squashed mushroom after Alice had accidently sat on it during one of their long train journeys.

Returning the woman’s smile, Alice hurried after her brother, perspiration trickling down her back. She breathed in the sweet-smelling air and looked up at the clamour of red rooftops climbing a steepish hill. The excitement at finally arriving at the port was making the troubles they’d faced on their journey quickly fade.

Pressing on through the gathering crowds, they finally emerged onto the quayside. “Look. There she is. The Lady Rose,” Alice said to Sonny breathlessly. Her heart skipped as she gazed at the yacht named after their mother, who had died when they were both small.

The boat’s long white hull sat low in the sparkling emerald water, her clipper bow curving elegantly upwards. Two raked masts reached high into the sky and a squat funnel sat above the wooden deckhouse, puffing lazy breaths of smoke into the air. It was quite the most beautiful vessel Alice had ever seen. To think that her mother had travelled on it as a girl!

Alice thought of her most precious possessions nestling in her suitcase, the two silk gloves made by their mother, which had helped reunite her and Sonny little more than a month ago. They had been told that a few items belonging to their mother were still on board the Lady Rose and she felt a burst of anticipation at what they might find. Jewellery perhaps? Or, even better, a diary about a voyage her mother had taken on the yacht, like the adventures book Alice kept? Whatever these things were, she was excited to be among them.

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A.M. Howell has always been inspired by the stories around her, and how imagination can unlock the secrets of the past. Her thrilling historical mysteries have garnered great critical acclaim, winning both the Mal Peet Children’s Book Award, and the East Anglian Book of the Year Award, as well as being shortlisted for lots of other prizes. A.M. Howell lives in Suffolk with her husband and two sons.

You can follow Ann-Marie Howell on Twitter: @amhowellwrites and Instagram: @amhowellwrites and find out more about her books on her website www.amhowell.co.uk.

To read my review of Peril on the Atlantic by A. M. Howell see: Book Review: Peril on the Atlantic.

I have also previously showcased an extract from Peril on the Atlantic on my blog here: Blog Tour – Peril on the Atlantic by A. M. Howell

Remember to take part in the prize giveaway to win a copy of Mysteries at Sea: Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell all you have to do is follow and post a comment completing this sentence: I would like to win a copy of Mysteries at Sea: Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell because… on this blog post below.

Closing date for entries is Friday 19th April 2024 @12pm.

I would like to thank Bee from Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to take part in this tour. Thank you.

To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule below:

Spotlight: The Pirates of Darksea Book Launch

Last month I was lucky enough to be invited to the book launch of The Pirates of Darksea by Catherine Doyle. I had previously been to the amazing proof launch in January and you can see my write up of this here: Spotlight – Pirates of Darksea by Catherine Doyle.

At the ‘proof launch’ we were presented with a bottle of stardust and a proof copy of The Pirates of Darksea. The official launch of the completed book with its brilliant cover, much needed map and additional chapter illustrations took place two months later on the 20^th March 2024 below deck at Mr Fogg’s City Tavern, which was decorated with a nautical theme ideally suited to a pirate adventure. Having already read the book made this launch seem all the more special to me.

Again I dressed up as a pirate and although my chosen outfit was not as elaborate as previously I was pleased I had dressed appropriately for the heat as it was a very warm evening. Here I am with my complimentary rum punch cocktail, which by the way was delicious.

There was also canopy nibbles being handed round whilst networking with other authors and publishing professionals. This is a photo of me with the author Catherine Doyle after getting my new copy of The Pirates of Darksea signed.

It was a fantastic event and I would like to thank Grace and the crew (Arrghhh!) from Bloomsbury for inviting me to take part. Thank you.

Book Review: Billy’s Bravery

Title: Billy’s Bravery

Written and Illustrated by: Tom Percival

Published by: Bloomsbury

Tom Percival’s Big Bright Feelings series published by Bloomsbury has always been one of my favourites. They are all fun picture books that contain big messages to help young children process their feelings.

This free World Book Day book for 2023 is no different. Billy wants to dress up as his favourite superhero, Nature Girl for World Book Day but is worried everyone will laugh at him. After a pep talk from Nature Girl, Billy bravely steps out of his comfort zone and dresses up as her. He discovers he had nothing to fear as everyone loves his Nature Girl costume.

The illustrations were a perfect blend of green and yellow giving the book a caring for the environment feel. I particularly like the way Billy’s Bravery challenges society imposed stereo types. For me it was a Bill’s New Frock for younger readers.

This is the perfect book for initiating a discussion on bravery and confidence.

I have previously reviewed The Invisible by Tom Percival. See: Book Review: The Invisible.

Blog Tour: Captain Vlad and the Mary Rose

It is my turn on the blog tour for Blog Tour: Captain Vlad and the Mary Rose by Kate and Sam Cunningham, published by Reading Riddle.

Kate Cunningham was a primary school teacher for nine years, before writing and publishing the first Vlad flea book in 2016. Reading Riddle grew out of her passion for books and a belief that children learn best when they are enjoying themselves. She is married to historian, Sean Cunningham, and Sam is the eldest of her three sons. In between writing books Kate does school and library visits.

Sam Cunningham graduated from Gloucestershire University. He produced the murals for the Family Corner in the Florence Nightingale Museum and images for The Carpenter’s Tale and The Scaffolder’s Tale in the National Archives graphic arts project e-book.

My spot on this tour takes the form of a book review.

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Title: Captain Vlad and the Mary Rose

Written by: Kate Cunningham

Illustrated by: Sam Cunningham

Published by: Reading Riddle

Captain Vlad and the Mary Rose is a glorious picture book outlining the exploits of Vlad the Flea onboard the Mary Rose in 1544, during the third French War, a year before this iconic ship sunk. This book is written and illustrated by a mother and son team and is part of a series that follows Vlad the Flea throughout history. Other books in the series include Vlad and the Great Fire of London, Vlad and Tutankhamun’s Tomb and Vlad and the Roman Triumph, which all have accompanying activity books.

The detail in the illustrations are just stunning. The bright bold colours will appeal to young children and the readers will love to explore the inner workings of the Mary Rose and its crew, whilst hunting for dangers onboard, such as the addition of a dog and the threat of a hawk hovering above. The plot is fast paced, which will grip the reader’s attention. The ship’s rats all have humorous names to help identify them.

At the back of the book there is a brief history of the Mary Rose outlining when it sank, which helps to place the story on the timeline. It was evident that a lot of historical research had gone into writing this book.

Captain Vlad and the Mary Rose would be ideal for the classroom to support a topic on the Tudors and will provide the class with a great overview of what life was like on board a Tudor war ship.

A fun book that will spark young children’s imaginations and foster a love of history.

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You can find out more about Kate Cunningham and her books on her website:

www.readingriddle.co.uk, on Twitter @reading_riddle, on Instagram @reading_riddle, on Facebook: www.facebook.com/readingriddle and on TikTok: @readingriddle.

Find more of Sam’s work and how to contact him on his website www.samcunninghamart.com

To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule:

I would like to thank Anne Cater from Random Things Through My Letterbox for inviting me to take part in this blog tour.

I have also had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Mary : Adrift in the Sea of Sorrow by Kate Cunningham, also published by Reading Riddle. To read this review of her multi-viewpoint, plot driven, YA novel set in a dystopian post-pandemic world, take a look at: Book Review: Mary: Adrift in the Sea of Sorrow.

To read my interview with Kate Cunningham about her writing process for Mary : Adrift in the Sea of Sorrow take a look at: Blog Tour – Mary : Adrift in the Sea of Sorrow by Kate Cunningham.

Spotlight: Dinosaur Pie by Jen Wallace and Alan O’Rourke

For Autism Acceptance Week on the 2nd – 8th April I am spotlighting this brilliant early reader book for children ages 6+, which is due for publication on the 18th April 2024 by Little Island Books.

Blurb

A hilarious and heart warming chapter book for readers aged 6+ about a boy with ADHD who is transformed into a dinosaur, with dynamic black-and-white illustrations throughout.

I’m Rory, sometimes Roary Rory, and this is the story of the weirdest week of my life. Well, the weirdest week so far. Probably. I mean the week I was born was probably quite weird for me. But, I don’t remember that. Thankfully. Anyway, SPOILER ALERT, this week’s weirdness starts on Monday, when I am accidentally turned into a dinosaur… Rory is having a weird week. A really weird week.

He has been turned into a ridiculous, small, feathered dinosaur. Pretty awkward.

Rory can’t use a human toilet. He can’t hold a video game controller in his little dino claws. His breath smells really bad. And his new carnivore body can’t stop craving sausages.

Rory finally gets his friends to take his embarrassing situation seriously, and together they embark on Operation Make Rory Human Again. But it’s not easy. Will Rory be stuck as a dinosaur forever?
Blurb for Dinosaur Pie by Jen Wallace and Alan O’Rourke

Heart-warming and funny, debut author Jen Wallace explores ADHD and celebrating difference in Dinosaur Pie. With illustrations by Alan O’Rourke, this is the perfect story for children moving on from picture books, ready to take the next step on their reading journey.

Extract

Jen says:

“This book started out as a cunning ploy to get my kids to eat their dinner (Is it really dinosaur pie, Mum?) Then it became a poem for a few years. It enjoyed that but then it began to dream of being a book. So it pestered me and pestered me and eventually I helped it become this book.”
Jen Wallace

My Thoughts:

Written from the point of view of Rory who has ADHD and a very limited attention span. I found I could relate to this book and Rory’s stream of thought. I enjoyed his interesting insights of his school, home life, friends and You Tube videos. I also liked the way Jen Wallace built in coping strategies into the narrative.

An ideal book for every child who has ever felt different from everyone else.

Jen Wallace writes stories and poetry, for both children and grown-ups. After being diagnosed with both ADHD and autism late in life, she loves to write neurodivergent characters so people like her can see themselves in books. She lives by the sea with her family and their cats, goats, chickens and rabbit. Jen has wanted to be a writer since she was very small, although she also wanted to be a superhero, a firefighter and the President of Ireland.

Alan O’Rourke Alan is tall. Very tall. He writes and illustrates children’s books. But that is a work in progress. The tallness is permanent. Hopefully. Alan lives with his family beside the sea in the northeast of Ireland. Find out more and subscribe at www.spoiltchild.com

Book Review: Tangled Tales: Undercover Overlord and Meddling Underlings

Title: Tangled Tales: Undercover Overlord and Meddling Underlings

Written by: Lou Treleaven

Illustrated by: Mario Gushiken

Published by: Maverick Publishing

I love this concept of the Tangled Tales series, which has two book in one from Maverick Publishing. They are perfect for the emergent reader who has just started to read more independently but is unable to sustain a full novel. Each has a spooky theme to capture children’s imaginations split into eight easy to digest chapters. The stories are: Undercover Overlord and Meddling Underling. Both are creatively written by Lou Treleaven and beautifully illustrated by Mario Gushiken.

Tangled Tales is a new range of fiction aimed for 7-9 year olds. As mentioned each book is composed of two stories but one follows the ‘hero’ and the other follows the ‘monster’ or ‘villain’. The reader can flip the book to choose which story to start with, but they can be read in either order.

In Undercover Overlord, Otis Vile is set to take over his dastardly grandmother’s even more dastardly galactic corporation, E.V.I.L. (Extremely Vile Industries Limited). Only first he must go undercover in their factories to root out anyone ‘nice’ once and for all. Along the way Otis discovers the mysterious Number 2 has dastardly plans of their own.

In Meddling Underling, Plib and her family have spent years battling E.V.I.L. (Extremely Vile Industries Limited) but now their home is threatened. To save them, Plib will have to work for the enemy. I enjoyed following Plib’s hilarious escapades as she tries to change E.V.I.L. from the inside.

These stories are a great addition to the Tangled Tales series. Perfect for reading at Halloween and if you want to laugh out loud.

You can buy copies of Undercover Overlord and Meddling Underlings by Lou Treleaven and Mario Gushiken from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.

You can read my interview with Lou Treleaven about the nitty gritty of being a children’s book writer here: An Interview with… Lou Treleaven.

Blog Tour: The Brainiac’s Book of the Body and Brain

Today I am taking part in the book tour for The Brainiac’s Book of the Body and Brain by Rosie Cooper and Harriet Russell published by Thames & Hudson.

Rosie Cooper is a London-based researcher, originally from New Zealand, with an MA in Geography. She is a podcast maven with a love of the great outdoors, extreme weather and true-crime stories.

Harriet Russell is a London-based illustrator with an MA in Illustration. She has written and illustrated five books for children and is the illustrator of the activity series This Book Thinks You’re a…, also published by Thames & Hudson.

Blurb

What makes your body work? Is it all in your mind? Sort of! Take a tour of the human body from head to toes and everything in between.

Aimed at curious children who want to know how their body works and how their brain keeps it running, The Brainiac’s Book of the Body and Brain answers need-to-know and quirky questions about the bodies we live in.

This fun-filled introduction to the often complex, sometimes gross, and completely fascinating functions of the human body explores what happens to the food we eat, how medicines can fool us into making us feel better, as well as how and why we dream. Showcasing and celebrating the differences that make every person unique, this inclusive book features easy and fun practical activities and experiments, including keeping a poo diary and optical illusions.

Written with a zany sense of humour and packed with facts and hands-on activities, this latest instalment in the Brainiac’s series is the perfect creative and accessible introduction to biology.
The Brainiac’s Book of the Body and Brain by Rosie Cooper and Harriet Russell

For my slot on the tour I am going to do a book review.

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Title: The Brainiac’s Book of the Body and Brain

Written by: Rosie Cooper

Illustrated by: Harriet Russell

Published by: Thames & Hudson

In this fun and informative non-fiction book, Skully Bonapart, takes the reader on a wild and wacky tour of the inside of our bodies. The Brainiac’s Book of the Body and Brain is split into seven chapters full of entertaining facts organised into easy to digest double page spreads to help young readers gain a vast general knowledge of how our brain and body work together to ensure we can get on with our busy lives.

The illustrations are bright and colourful and I particularly liked the bold text and the handwriting style font. My only criticism is I felt that more could be made of Skully as a narrator as he fades into the background a little too much.

The Brainiac’s Book of the Body and Brain certainly covers a wide range of subjects including memory, fear, dreams, senses, excretions, our senses, our diversity, emotions, medicines, evolution, placebos and perception.

Each area includes easy activities and experiments to try so children can consolidate their knowledge in exciting practical ways that will encourage their curiosity. There is also a useful glossary and list of websites for further research at the back of the book.

This book is bound to be a class favourite and a useful key Stage Two resource for the classroom to support a topic on Ourselves and Our Bodies.

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I would like to thank Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part in this blog tour. Thank you.

To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule below:

Other Thames & Hudson Books I have reviewed on my blog include:

Blog Tour: A Swift Return by Fiona Barker

Today it is my turn on the A Swift Return book tour. My stop on the tour takes the form of a book review.

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Title: A Swift Return

Written by: Fiona Barker

Illustrated by: Howard Gray

Published by: Tiny Tree

Blurb

Aria has her head in the clouds. Yusuf keeps his feet on the ground. But when they work together to save a bird who has lost her way, something magical happens. When Swift loses her way on her epic migration. Aria and Yusuf come to her rescue and are inspired to think big about looking after the sky above their city. Inspired by Fiona and Howard’s love for wildlife of all kinds, A Swift Return is the follow-up to Setsuko and the Song of the Sea. Howard’s beautiful illustrations evoke a strong sense of place, strengthened by the beautiful Arabic text distilled by Maysoon AbuBlan.
Blurb for A Swift Return

My Review

A Swift Return is a sweet and educational picture book written from the points of view of two children – Aria and Yusuf. They are both very different from each other. Yesuf is practical and good at making things. Aria is a dreamer with some great ideas. Together they help a swift who fell out of the sky due to the pollution it encounters on its migration route over the city back from the South.

Aria and Yusef become good friends. They care for the swift until it is strong enough to fly and set up cleaning their city together in small ways. For example by making flower boxes and walking to school every day. The book demonstrates how everyone can help to prevent pollution as even small changes can make a difference.

A Swift Return was published in February 2024. The Arabic text is unique and I remember back in the 1990’s desperately looking for duel text books like this for the bilingual children and refugees in my class and there were not enough of them. Hopefully, this book will be the start of a new trend. However, in some places I felt the Arabic text blended too much into the background which may make it difficult for early readers to read and they will be dependant on an adult reading it to them.

The text worked well in unison with the beautiful illustrations. They were full of movement and emotion. I enjoyed the way the illustrations provided subtext and became important to telling the story themselves.

Great book for young children who are starting to read independently, with an important environmental message we can all relate to.

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About the Author

Fiona is a middle-aged, married mum of one. She is positively potty about picturebooks; reading them and writing them. When writing, she longs for alliterative loveliness but is reluctant to rhyme. When reading, she looks for a marriage of words and artwork and loves anything that is fun to read aloud.

Fiona loves doing school author visits and speaking to adults about picture books and children’s publishing.

I would like to thank The Write Reads for inviting me to take part in this book tour. Thank you.

To read my interview with Fiona Barker about her road to publication take a look at: An interview with… Fiona Barker

To find out more about Fiona Barker and her books you can follow her @Fi_BGB on twitter, @FionaWritesBooks on Facebook and Instagram and her author website is: www.fionabarker.co.uk where you can find details of forthcoming events.

You can read more reviews of A Swift Return by Fiona Barker and Howard Gray on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205033932-a-swift-return and Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Swift-Return-Fiona-Barker-ebook/dp/B0CTKQJ1WQ/

You can buy copies of A Swift Return by Fiona Barker and Howard Gray from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.

Book Review: Live Like A Goddess

Title: Live Like A Goddess: Life Lessons from Legends and Lore

Written by: Jean Menzies

Illustrated by: Taylor Dolan

Published by: Hachette Children’s Books

Live Like A Goddess: Life Lessons from Legends and Lore is a compilation of inspiring stories of twenty-one deities from around the world. This book is a joy to behold. I particularly liked the bright pink end pages that catch your eye from the moment you open the book.

The book is split into three parts:

Looking Around You
Looking Inwards
Looking to Others.

At the beginning of each story Jean Menzies provides a bit of background information on the goddess, the story itself is told respectfully without judgement and at the end of the story she gives her perspective of the story and the message it brings. In this way each story highlights sonder – how everybody has their own lives with their own problems. For some the realisation that each random passer-by is living a life as vivid and complex as your own may come as a revelation, which is great for encouraging empathy and discussing diversity.

Live Like A Goddess: Life Lessons from Legends and Lore provides a truly multi-cultural perspective of females throughout the myths and legends. Even the black and white illustrations by Taylor Dolan to accompany each story are drawn in a way that matches each cultures heritage, from the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire to the Bantu goddess creator of the world. This book highlights how every culture celebrates tales of myths of daring and brave goddesses. These legendary ladies were tenacious, smart and strong. For example:

Osun, the Yoruba goddess of love who refuses to be dismissed because of her gender and stands up to those who believe women are less important than men.
Rhiannon, the Welsh Queen of fairies who wont let anyone makes decisions for her and follows her own heart.
Freyja, the Norse goddess of love and death who doesn’t give into pressure, sets boundaries and is comfortable being a single independent woman.

I predominantly liked the way Jean Menzies invites the readers to look deeper for their own interpretations of the stories to give meaning to their own lives. This requires readers to read for comprehension and interrogate the text meeting the requirements of both key stage two and key stage three programmes of study. Consequently, each story can be understood in the readers own unique way and each carries a message of wisdom that will inspire event the most reluctant reader to look at their life with hope and empowerment.

From demanding respect and standing your ground to helping others, these mythological tales of bold and daring women will teach young adults how to live confidently, courageously and fearlessly.

I have previously reviewed another of Jean Menzies books, Goddesses and Heroines – Meet More than 80 Legendary Women from Around the World. This book was illustrated by Katie Ponder and published by DK Books. to read the review go to: Book Review: Goddesses and Heroines – Meet More than 80 Legendary Women from Around the World