< Back Aurora Winter Magic, Mystery, and the Multiverse: The Marvelous Multiverse App A thrilling, magical, mystery ride through the multiverse, by author Aurora Winter Siblings, Ana and Zachary, from Los Angeles, California, are visiting their Aunt Wendy and Uncle Shockley in Vancouver. Ana is an aspiring actress, who dreams of making it big in Hollywood. Zachary is in remission from cancer, and immunocompromised. The siblings are in quarantine following their travels and are alone in the house and bored. They explore their aunt and uncle’s house, and find their uncle’s experimental, hydrogen-fueled car, named the Parallel Universe Pod (P.U.P). While they are exploring the car, Ana activates the Marvelous Multiverse app, which takes them on a joyride across the solar system. The P.U.P transports them to a parallel world and they crash land on a planet called Lokey, accidentally killing the evil Emerald Censor. Ana and Zachary meet the magical and mysterious inhabitants of Lokey and become instant heroes. When they learn of a Wizard Snapdragon with magical healing powers, they set off to find her, in the hope that she will cure Zachary’s cancer. But their arrival in Lokey has not gone unnoticed, and the siblings are soon pursued by Queen Crimson, who is determined to avenge the death of the Emerald Censor. As the siblings navigate this new world, the cruel Queen Crimson kidnaps Zachary. Ana must rescue her brother, whilst at the same time must confront the evil forces that are determined to destroy her. Magic, Mystery, and the Multiverse: The Marvelous Multiverse App is a magical, fantasy fiction, adventure novel, and the first book in a planned series, by author Aurora Winter. This is a fun, fantastic, fast-paced, fantasy adventure, well-executed by Winter. With a unique and imaginative plot, a mesmerising magical multiverse, and a host of wonderful and magical creatures, this book will appeal to young adult readers who enjoy adventure and fantasy fiction. Inspired by books, such as Wizard of Oz and Harry Potter, and movies such as Back to the Future, this book can sit proudly alongside those classics. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A fun, fantasy fiction novel, packed full of magic and adventure. A thrilling ride through the multiverse, not to be missed! Purchase here

< Back Hans Ness Rolo the Pet Earthling Will a pet earthling discover the truth about his species? Zira, a Blorxling from the planet Blorx, wants a pet earthling. She begs her mom for many years, until one day she receives her very own human pet. She names the little earthling Rolo, and he soon settles into his new home. Luckily, Rolo is potty trained, but he does like to sneak into Zira’s bed at nighttime. As Rolo grows taller, hairier, and smellier, he becomes unsettled and very bored. While out walking one day with Zira, they meet a group of animal rights activists in the park. The activists are protesting about the rights of earthlings, chanting ‘Earthlings have rights too.’ Rolo becomes curious and wonders, Where do earthlings come from? And how did they live before they were pets? As he hangs out with his earthling friends in the park, he is spotted by the Animal Control Force and captured for not wearing his harness. Scared and confused, Rolo manages to escape from the bots. He is chased into a wormhole and finds himself in the big city, far away from his family and beloved Zira. Can Rolo find his way home before the Animal Control Force catch him? And will he ever discover the truth about the origins of his species? Rolo the Pet Earthling is a chapter book for middle grade readers by author Hans Ness. The book follows the adventures of a young alien from the planet Blorx and her earthling pet, Rolo. Owner and pet are involved in a fast paced and frantic cat and mouse chase, as they try to find one another before the human-catchers do. This is a fun book, set in a captivating alien world where human/animal roles are reversed. Children will enjoy the story and laugh out loud as the pet earthlings are treated in the same way we treat our pet dogs. This is a brilliant concept, with a compelling alien world and a captivating cast of weird and wonderful characters. The book will delight young readers who enjoy fantasy, science fiction, and funny stories. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A creative, imaginative, and funny book for middle grade readers, about a young alien and her beloved human pet. Purchase here

< Back Stephanie Brick The Secret Doors of Cannondale A young girl finds a secret door and is whisked away to an alternate, magical realm. Twelve-year-old Adeline Perle has moved from her mother’s military base in Illinois to Connecticut. She hopes that the family will settle down and she will finally be able to make new, long-lasting friendships. The family move into Uncle Bennie and Aunt Constance’s home on the Cannondale estate, while they find their footing in the area. Uncle Bennie asks Adeline to avoid certain areas of the estate, while Aunt Constance is recuperating from an illness. As Adeline explores the expansive estate, she finds a secret door. Despite Uncle Bennie’s warning, Adeline opens the door and discovers a secret passageway, leading to an unusual octagonal room. She explores the room and finds a book with a secret cutout. Inside the book, she finds a hidden crystal. Adeline places the crystal inside her pocket and continues to explore the house. Outside, she meets a group of teenagers having a garden party and develops an instant connection. When she returns to the house, Adeline’s world is literally turned upside down as she falls through the sky and is transported to another realm. Unbeknownst to Adeline, she has landed in the realm of Nouvaal, a dangerous world on the brink of destruction from dark magic. As Adeline attempts to make sense of the new world she learns that the crystal in her pocket has special powers, that could destroy Nouvaal if united with other lost crystals. Adeline is pursued by Heli’aa, the ‘Protector of the Realm,’ who will stop at nothing to secure the crystal for her own evil gains. The Secret Doors of Cannondale is a thrilling fantasy adventure for middle grade readers, by Stephanie Brick. The book follows the journey of Adeline, a young girl who finally finds a sense of belonging in a new home, before being suddenly uprooted again and transported to another world. The book takes readers on an exhilarating journey through time, space, and an alternate universe, full of mystery and magic. This is a delightful and enchanting tale that will appeal to readers of both fantasy and science fiction. The book ends on a nail-biting cliff-hanger, so readers will have to wait for the next instalment to find out what happens next! Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A must read for anyone looking to escape into a magical universe filled with wonder, excitement and danger. Purchase here

< Back Olunosen Louisa Ibhaze Crowning Glory: A history of African hair tradition Queenie ties her hair in knots, trying to find an interesting topic for her school history project, by author Olunosen Louisa Ibhaze Crowning Glory: A history of African hair tradition, is the first book in the Africa is Not a Country Series. Twins, Queenie and King, are preparing for a school history project about different continents and cultures of the world. King has an idea for a project, but Queenie doesn’t know what to do. Queenie visits Mrs Ojo’s hair salon with her mummy, where she admires the photographs on the salon wall of indigenous African hairstyles. Mrs Ojo explains the rich history, traditions, and culture of African hairstyles, from early African communities to the present day, from African Kings and Queens to enslaved Africans, and from Bantu knots and cornrows, to locs, braids, and afros. When it’s Queenie’s turn to have her hair styled, she opts for Bantu knots and gold accessories, just like the photograph on the wall. When she gets home, Queenie tells King about her visit to the hair salon, and the great idea she has for her history project, the ‘Crowning Glory Project,’ in appreciation of Africa’s Indigenous hair tradition. This is an educational and entertaining picture book, providing a rich insight into African history, culture, and hair. Olunosen Louisa Ibhaze presents historical facts and information in a fun and engaging way for younger readers, which will inspire readers to learn more about this fascinating topic. The characters, twins Queenie and King, are sweet and adorable and relatable to this age group, and I look forward to hearing more about their adventures and their great ancestors in future books in this series. With additional resources and fun activities at the end of the book, this book would be a valuable resource in any home, public or school library to celebrate the history and culture of Africa. The beautiful illustrations by Alaba Onajin, represent the rich culture, colours and diversity of Africa and complement the book perfectly. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An educational and entertaining picture book, providing a rich insight into African history, culture, and hair, superbly told by Olunosen Louisa Ibhaze. Purchase here

Will Fox Canidae save his beloved factory and city from the villainous Doctor Monkeyshine and his criminal gang? < Back Ryan Poirier The Herd Foxy Fruits merges with Bodaceous Herbaceous and develops a new product - a genetically modified juice, crossed between a fruit and a vegetable. But just before the big launch of the new juice sensation, a disgruntled employee Professor Doctor Monkeyshine and his criminal gang (The Pack), alter the genetic code of the juice, and threaten to destroy the company and the city. The CEO of the company, Fox Canidae, must act fast to beat The Pack and to save his family, his company, and the whole of Maple City. The Herd: Volume 1 Omnibus is a unique and creative graphic novel, full of wit and humour. Poirier has created an extraordinary fantasy world like no other. The characters, the plot, the book design, and every minutia of detail has been well thought through and excellently presented. The work and effort gone into the production of this book is remarkable. The digital illustrations are magnificent. The author has a real talent for digital, cartoon illustrations. The book captures every expression, every moment, and every scene beautifully. This book is on the lengthier side for a graphic novel, but I was completely enthralled and found it hard to put down. I can’t wait to read part 2! Star Rating: 5 Stars Summary ‘An imaginative story, with magnificent digital artwork’. A FINALIST and highly recommended. Purchase here

< Back K. I. Knight and Jane R. Wood Finding Family Treasure A group of fifth graders research their family histories, by authors K. I. Knight and Jane R. Wood Ms. Johansson is teaching her class of fifth graders about the history of America, and has a special family history project planned to engage the students. She has invited a genealogist, Ms Tucker, into the school to show the students how to research their family histories and produce a family tree. While most students are looking forward to the project, there are a couple of students who are a little worried about the task. One boy, who was adopted as a baby, knows little about his birth family and is anxious about sharing his story after he was teased by a classmate. Another boy refuses to participate in the project, as his father does not like to talk about his past. With a little help from Ms. Johansson and Ms Tucker, the students research their own family histories and learn about the early immigrants to America, and major historical events that happened across the world, including the holocaust, the slave trade, and the trail of tears. One student learns he was descended from one of the earliest documented Africans to arrive in Virginia in 1610, after the ship he was travelling on from Africa to New Spain was hijacked by English pirates. Another student discovers that a distant relative helped the colonists and provided supplies to the troops when the war broke out against England in 1775. While the students learn about their own family histories, they also learn about their commonalities and shared history. Finding Family Treasure is an entertaining and fun book for middle grade readers about the history and culture of America, expertly researched and written by authors K. I. Knight and Jane R. Wood. Told through the perspective of a diverse group of young students, the book brings American history to life for young readers. With additional resources and information about researching family history, this book may encourage readers to conduct their own research and produce a family tree. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A wonderful book, providing a fascinating insight into American history for young readers. Purchase here

< Back Karen B. Shea Clark the Mountain Beaver and His Big Adventure! Clark the Mountain Beaver and His Big Adventure! is a delightful children’s picture book by Karen B. Shea that combines an engaging story with educational elements about nature and wildlife. The vibrant illustrations by Kelly Halpin bring the characters and their surroundings to life. The story follows Clark, a shy and secretive mountain beaver who lives in burrows near Lake Washington. Often mistaken for the more popular American Beaver, Clark feels invisible and misunderstood. Determined to change his life, he embarks on a big adventure to explore the world above ground and make new friends. Along the way, he meets a variety of critters, including the Squirrely family, Bella the Black-Tailed Deer, Hep the Bald Eagle, and Lewis the American Beaver. Each encounter teaches Clark valuable lessons about friendship, self-acceptance, and the importance of embracing one’s unique qualities. The book is a heart-warming tale that encourages children to appreciate their individuality and understand that differences can be celebrated rather than feared. Clark’s journey is relatable for young readers who may struggle with self-confidence or feeling out of place. His interactions with other animals highlight the importance of kindness, empathy, and the beauty of diversity. Shea’s writing is accessible and engaging, making it easy for children to follow along while also introducing them to the natural world. The story is interwoven with educational facts about the habits and characteristics of various animals. The book also includes a historical section about the real Lewis and Clark expedition, providing a brief yet informative overview of their journey and the discovery of the mountain beaver. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A charming and educational children’s book that will captivate children and adults alike. Purchase here

< Back Victoria E Pannell and Thorir Sigfusson The Big Dream Will Brandon’s dream of winning a remote-controlled car race come true? Twelve-year-old Brandon is looking forward to a fun filled summer break with his friends in Riverside. It is the final week of term, but before school ends, Brandon has to complete an English essay about his plans for the summer. As Brandon ponders his essay, the bell rings and school closes for the summer. Brandon retreats to his rooftop pigeon coop with his friends, Josh and Skip. Brandon has twenty pigeons in his coop, and is visited frequently by a friendly crow, he named Ralph. When the boys hear of a new remote-controlled car race being held in the town, they cannot wait to enter. The race is being organised by video game developer, Game2Teck, and the winner will feature in a new video game. But the car kit and race fees are expensive and could cost up to $2,000. Brandon summons Josh and Skip to an emergency meeting, to discuss ways to raise the money. Each boy gets a summer job, and they plan various other fund-raising events, including a car wash and a bake sale. When they notice crow Ralph collecting shiny objects from the floor, they spot a novel opportunity to make even more money for their racing scheme. But, when money and valuable trinkets start disappearing across the town, Brandon and his feathered friend find themselves in a spot of bother. Will the boys make enough money to enter the race? Will Brandon’s goal of winning the race come true? Or is it all just a pipe dream? The Big Dream by Victoria E. Pannell and Thorir Sigfusson is a fun book for middle grade readers about a young boy named Brandon and his school friends. The boys desperately try to raise money over the summer break to enter a remote-controlled car race. They will stop at nothing to achieve their dream even if it means bending the rules, just a little bit. This is an entertaining story and young readers will laugh out loud at the boys fund-raising adventures and the (mis)adventures of Ralph the crow, who is drafted in to help. The book beautifully captures the essence of summer, childhood friendships and the innocence of youth. A delightful read, with a surprising, unexpected twist at the end. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A delightful, fun-filled summer adventure of pigeon hunting and remote- controlled car racing, featuring a very special crow. Purchase here

< Back Diane LaDouceur Maggie Alison is excited to go to school. She is looking forward to seeing the school therapy dog, a yellow Labrador retriever named Maggie. Maggie is a retired service dog, and now lives with Alison’s teacher, Miss Thomson. Alison’s friends are sad they won’t get to spend time with Maggie, but Alison persuades Miss Thomson to let them visit her until the bell rings. Miss Thomson tells the girls that Maggie was trained to help a blind person, to guide them from one place to another, and to keep them safe from obstacles and other dangers. Miss Thomson also explains that service dogs are trained to help people with autism, seizures, anxiety, hearing, and many other medical challenges. Soon, Alison will get to spend more time with Maggie, as her family plan to take care of her when Miss Thomson goes on vacation. Maggie is a delightful, illustrated picture book, by author Diane LaDouceur. The book is based on the authors real-life experience of parenting a child with learning challenges, and her work with therapy dogs. Beautifully written by LaDouceur, with charming illustrations by Helle Urban, this book highlights the important role that animals play in supporting children’s health and wellbeing. Teachers and parents can use this story as a gentle introduction to the role of therapy dogs, and as a conversation starter about emotional well-being. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A beautifully written and illustrated book, which shows the special bond between children and dogs, and how dogs can support people and improve health and well-being. Purchase here

< Back Jo-Ann Scranton Kathi Q Builds a Time Machine? Can Kathi Q fulfil her dream and build the worlds first time travelling machine? Kathi loves to build machines. She can practically build anything and everything from everyday household items. One day, Kathi has an idea. She decides to make the world’s first time-machine. Inside her garage, she connects old buttons, gears, switches, toggles, batteries, and zippers together. Eureka, her time machine is born! But when Kathi switches on her time machine, something very strange happens. Everything and everyone are upside down. She hasn’t built a time machine; she has built an upside-down machine! But Kathi doesn’t worry, she decides being upside down is much more fun anyway. As Kathi uses a pair of suction cups to stick to the floor, she quickly adapts to the upside-down world. But, as everything starts to fall to the ceiling, she soon discovers life upside down is not as fun as it seems. How long will Kathi be stuck upside-down? And can Kathi’s machine make the world the right side up again? Kathi Q. Builds a Time Machine is an illustrated picture book by author Jo-Ann Scranton about a very creative, inventive, and talented young woman who loves to build magnificent machines. But when things don’t go quite to plan, Kathi doesn’t worry and makes the most of the situation. This is a fun book for readers, who will enjoy reading about Kathi’s adventures and the silly situations in which she finds herself. It will encourage young readers to be creative, and might even encourage them to start their own science or technology project! This is a unique and imaginative picture book, with an interesting and memorable protagonist. I would love to read more about Kathi and follow her amazing STEM inspired adventures. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A fun, unique and imaginative picture book about a creative and inventive young woman who loves to build magnificent machines. Purchase here

A lost little girl finds her inner magic, by author Sally Kingman < Back Sally Kingman Everything Is Everything: Finding Your Magic Sally and her faithful little pup were out for walk one day, enjoying the sunshine, the flowers, the woodland creatures, and the aromas of the meadow. Deep in thought, and in admiration of the beautiful surroundings, Sally’s inner voice interrupts her serenity. Her inner voice was telling her to stop. To stop the daydreaming and the meaningless meandering through the meadow. Her inner voice reminded her of the much more important and productive things she could be doing with her time instead. Normally, Sally would listen to the inner voice and head back home, but today was different. Today, Sally chose to ignore the inner voice, and continued to enjoy her time, simply appreciating the beauty of nature. As Sally chooses to do what makes her feel happy, she feels a sense of peace and discovers a whole new magical world, full of adventure. This is a sweet story about a cute little girl, who, disturbed by negative, controlling thoughts, decides to follow her heart and finds true happiness and self-love. It will encourage readers to think positively and to pursue interests that make them happy, rather than what makes others happy. A note for the author: we did spot some typos and grammatical errors, and therefore recommend a thorough editorial review. Star Rating: 5 Stars Summary ‘A sweet story about a cute little girl, who finds true happiness and self-love. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ Purchase here

< Back Deborah Erdmann and Kate Jungwirth Haunted Hemlock Book blurb... Dominic and his friends are invited back to Point Beach for the holidays to await the ghostly apparition of the Christmas Tree Ship. It soon becomes clear there are more mysteries that need solving, when the owner of a nearby cabin sees dead people and the hauntings have spread to the small town of Two Rivers. When a ghost hunter is called to the scene, the young detectives become entangled in a spirited effort to solve this spooky case. Will they be able to scare the ghosts away in time for a Christmas miracle? Purchase here