Anita Loughrey's blog. This is my journal about my experiences and thoughts on writing. As well as news about me and my books, it includes writing tips, book reviews, author interviews and blog tours.
For more information about me and my books see my website: www.anitaloughrey.com. Follow me on Twitter @amloughrey, Facebook @anitaloughrey.author and on Instagram @anitaloughrey
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 20th 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.
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.
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:
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.
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
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.
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:
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 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 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.
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.
Sue Klauber’s debut middle-grade historical novel is children’s historical fiction at its best. Based on the heroic actions and experiences of Sue’s father, uncle and aunt we follow three siblings, George, John and Eva through some of WWII’s most significant events that helped to turn the tide of the war. It is full of excellently executed dramatic scenes that will keep young readers turning the pages.
Written from the points of view of the two brothers George and John, Sue skilfully portrays the effects the Nazi invasion of Hungary had on the Jewish population during the 1940’s and how they were called to arms. We learn how George was selected to parachute into Slovakia for Operation Zinc and how John became a code breaker at Bletchley park. I was drawn in by the logistics of their missions and the consequent contributions both brothers made to the war effort.
Throughout the book there are a series of flashbacks to their childhood. These flashbacks are quite poignant in displaying how the brothers’ relationship has grown and changed. They highlight how the brothers are very different but family is important to them both. There are no chapters from Eva’s point of view. Everything we learn about her, we discover from her brothers’ flashbacks and information they have gleaned.
Zinc would be ideal as a class text to support a KS2 project on WWII. It provides an insightful reflection of what life was like for the Jews during WWII, which could be used to trigger discussions on the events and inspire empathy.
I look forward to discovering more about George, John and Eva in the sequel, Cobalt, which is due for release later this year.
Sue is available for author events in a variety of contexts, such as schools, libraries and community groups. Find out more, including contact details to discuss an event, in this flyer: Zinc by Sue Klauber: author events.
You can buy copies of Zincby Sue Klauber from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.
Today it is my turn on the blog tour for J. A. Browne’s Earth Chronicles. I will be posting two book reviews for this tour. The first is for Hannah and the Hollow Tree and if you scroll down further you will discover my review of the sequel, Gaia’s Revenge.
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Title: Hannah and the Hollow Tree
Written by: J. A. Browne
Published by: Inkberry Press
Begin the epic coming of age fantasy and discover the nature of magic. One for every eco-warrior out there.
What if you were given a choice… to save the Mother of All Nature… or Become Her?
Awoken in the middle of the night by an alarming phone call, Hannah and her mum, Caroline rush to the bedside of Eleanor, Hannah’s estranged Grandmother. One of them has been lying to Hannah and one has been keeping a magical, but dangerous secret.
With deadly forces aligning to destroy the Mother of All Nature’s bloodline, Hannah is rushed to the safety of the Hollow Tree. But will she make it in time. And can a mysterious silverback fox keep her alive long enough to save not just the world we know… but the one we don’t…
Blurb for Hannah and the Hollow Tree by J. A. Browne
This is a heart-felt book full of emotional turmoil and complex mother-daughter relationships. I enjoyed reading about this strong matriarchal family that spans over three generations and beyond.
Hannah and the Hollow Tree opens with a prologue from Caroline’s, Hannah’s mother, point of view. Hannah is only a baby in the pram when Caroline is called to see her own mother Eleanor by Eleanor’s friend Joyce. We gain an insight into Caroline’s and Eleanor’s fraught relationship and a hint of the magical world it is their job to protect.
Chapter One then jumps to when Hannah is thirteen and is from Hannah’s point of view. We see real world through her eyes, her lack of knowledge about the mystical world and a very different mother-daughter relationship based on trust and loyalty. The rest of the book then continues to be interspersed with chapters from Hannah’s, Caroline’s, Eleanor’s and Joyce’s points of view. I occasionally found it confusing whose mother they were talking about, especially when I’d not noticed the chapter heading of whose point of view we were in.
Hannah and the Hollow Tree is packed with family angst and twists. Hannah is being pulled both ways by her mother and grandmother and the turmoil of choosing between them. In the end the choice was taken out of her hands when the survival of the whole planet becomes her responsibility.
The world building was magnificent and the story really picked up for me when we meet Alpha, the magical silver fox who becomes her guardian.
On the whole an exciting YA fantasy with an important environmental message.
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Title: Gaia’s Revenge
Written by: J. A. Browne
Published by: Inkberry Press
The epic coming of age fantasy continues. Unearth the magic of nature and fall in love with Hannah, Alpha and the Ffens as they battle to save the Mother of Nature.
“Have we weakened Gaia so much that she has become a target for annihilation? My heart suddenly feels twice its weight…For the first time ever, I hate the fact that I am human.”
Gaia, the Mother of All Nature has been poisoned. Her fevers are wreaking havoc and mass destruction across the worlds. Hannah has discovered a destiny she knew nothing about. A sacred bloodline under threat. Now, she’ll discover a world and a heritage she could never have imagined. As the heiress to Gaia and with growing power it falls to her and the Elementals, Constance, Jack and Harriet to save Gaia and all of life itself. But Hannah has a terrifying realisation: Gaia will stop at nothing to get her revenge…
Blurb for Gaia’s Revenge by J. A. Browne
This sequel to Hannah and the Hollow Tree is even more fast paced and exciting than the first instalment. So much so, it is easy to miss things. Again there is a strong cast of dynamic female characters as well as a brilliant set of mystical creatures. We learn more about Hannah’s ancestry and mission through her visions and as with Hannah and the Hollow Tree, Gaia’s Revenge is interspersed with chapters from other some of the other characters so you need to pay attention to the chapter headings.
Hannah has embraced the fact she is the bloodline of Gaia, Mother Earth, who is seriously ill and continues with her quest to save her. She has joined forces with new friends Constance, Jack and Harriet and I enjoyed the dynamics between them and the unique gifts of the Elementals.
As the title would suggest there is a strong theme of revenge as well as betrayal running throughout. There is a lot going on and the book ends with a shocking twist that turns everything on its head. In fact, the whole book is an emotional rollercoaster. One minute I was laughing out loud, the next I was angry and then I was heart-wrenchingly sad.
This is fantasy at its best with duplicitous characters and ingenious magical rules. I particularly enjoyed the links to Celtic legends and mythology and how J. A Browne has weaved her interpretations of them seamlessly into the plot.
I was lucky enough to receive a hard back copy of the book which contains bonus material at the back of The Unearthing of Eleanor A Novella. I do not know if this is in the paperback edition. I must say though the ending left me bewildered and I am not sure if Alpha my favourite character is alive or dead. I guess I will have to read Hollow’s End Part I to find out.
The prefect book for all young adults who love fantasy.
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J.A. Browne is an Amazon Bestselling children’s author born in Yorkshire in the U.K. Her environmental fantasy series, Earth Chronicles introduces you to Hannah Walsingham, a thirteen-year-old with a destiny she knows nothing about…until now.
Passionate about environmental issues, Jane began writing the climate fiction series about the death of Mother Nature and the potential that lies within children whilst studying to become a primary teacher in her home city of Leeds. Now, having graduated with an MA in Creative Writing, she followed her dreams to become a full-time author. Her love of literature began when she was little, sharing books with her grandmothers, filling her head with fairy tales and whimsical adventures.
Whilst holidaying in Norfolk, Jane was captivated by a tree struck by lightning in grounds of the home of Anne Boleyn and began scribbling down the idea of a girl whose destiny was hidden within the depths of a hollow tree…a destiny that would save worlds…
She now lives with her husband in the Calder Valley aka ‘Bronte Country’ and still teaches occasionally and enjoys reading and long walks in the countryside to get the creative juices flowing.
Sales of the Earth Chronicles funds the planting of trees.
Check out Jane’s website at www.jabrowne.com and join her “keep in touch” list to get the Secret Chapter for Hannah and the Hollow Tree. There, you can keep up to date with all the news, events or snap up an exclusive signed paperback and free bookmark.
Much To Do About Writing 