Children’s
The Puzzle RingKate Forsyth, paperback, €11.20
Hannah Rose Brown is twelve years old when she finds out that her family is cursed. Desperate to find the truth about her father's disappearance, she travels to her ancestral home in Scotland, and discovers a chain of dark secrets that plunge her into different worlds, timeframes and dangers...This is another magical historical novel from the author of "The Gypsy Crown".
The Island Everyone Wanted, An Illustrated History of Cyprus (also available in Greek)
Marina Christofides, € 25.00
There are so many excellent children’s books available these days that it’s sometimes difficult choosing ones that really stand out from the crowd. In The Island Everyone Wanted, we have a book that is truly exceptional, the storyline and the illustrations blending perfecting together. The text is thorough without being heavy or getting bogged down on any particular historical point. The narrative is fluid and propels the reader along through the centuries bringing the reader right up to date with Cyprus’s rich history. So many writers shy away from recent modern history but even this is sensitively dealt with and narrated. The book is in three chapters and they fall into three timescales - Ancient Times, The Middle Ages and Modern Times. The history starts at the very beginning and the birth of Cyprus and continues until the arrival of Christianity. The second chapter covers the Medieval Ages, starting with the Byzantine era and ending with the Venetians and their impact on Cypriot history. The final chapter covers Modern Times, detailing the Ottoman rule and concluding with the coup, invasion and plan for peace.
A mention too for the illustrator, Eleni Lambrou, her illustrations are wonderful. These are the type of drawings that invite the observer to really study them, to gauge the feelings and mood in the people’s faces, to peer at the costumes, examine the buildings and furniture and all the extras. Look close enough on each double page spread and there you’ll find a hidden Cypriot treasure. Here then is a rare book of exceptional quality and one that all children regardless of their nationality will enjoy reading and cherish. A children’s history book could never be as rewarding to read as this one. This book is simply, charming.
The Odd Egg
Emily Gravett, paperback, € 9.60
Duck is delighted to find an egg of his own to look after. It's the most beautiful egg in the whole world! But all the other birds think it's very odd indeed - and everyone's in for a BIG surprise when it finally hatches. A beautifully presented book with segmented fold out pages which reveal the story step by step in playful watercolour and pencil illustrations. Ideal for children aged 2-5 years old. Emily Gravett's is twice winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Nestle Children's Book Prize Bronze Award for her debut picture book ‘Wolves’ and ‘Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears.
George’s Secret Key to the Universe
Lucy and Stephen Hawking, pb, € 11.20
Take a roller coaster ride through the vastness of space and, in the midst of an exciting adventure, discover the mysteries of physics, science and the universe with George, his new friends next door - the scientist Eric and his daughter, Annie - and a super-intelligent computer called Cosmos, which can take them to the edge of a black hole and back again. Or can it? And who else would like to get their hands on Cosmos? This book offers a funny and hugely informative romp through space, time and the universe. At last a Hawking book we can all understand.
Big Book of Knowledge The No 1 First Encyclopaedia
Dorling Kindersley Team, paperback, €16.00
Young school children everywere will throughly enjoy this first encyclopaedia packed full with fascinating facts and information. Looking for one particular subject will automatically take the reader off to any number of others as all the pages look so interesting and are crammed with the type of things youngsters soak up. Plenty of detailed illustrations and enchanting colour photographs fill the pages and being such a handy little size will fit into the school bag neatly, ready at all times, making learning both fun and easy!
Cinderella: An Art Deco Love Story
Lynn Roberts and fashion illustrator David Roberts, €11.20
Meet a fashion-conscious fairy godmother with a difference in this very stylish edition of the classic fairy tale by a brother and sister combination. Cinderella moves into the era of flapper girls and the Charleston in a new rendition of this famous tale of rags to riches. Too blind to see what he is doing, Cinderella's father marries unwisely and brings home a heartless wife, her argumentative daughters and nasty little dog, who make life miserable for Cinderella until she triumphs in the marriage stakes. Wonderful illustrations make this updated version a joy to read.
First Book of Art: With lots of projects to do
Usborne, hardback, €16.00
This title is designed to introduce young children to great works of art and famous artists in a fun and friendly way. The examples of art are organized around simple themes such as animals, flowers or faces and ranges from Ancient Egyptian statues to contemporary British paintings. It also includes simple practical projects based around the works shown in the book. Reproductions of original artworks are combined with lively cartoon-style illustrations to explain key artistic concepts to children.
The Star Bearer: A Creation Myth from Ancient Egypt
Dianne Hofmeyr & Illustrations by Jude Daly, paperback € 11.20
Dianne Hofmeyr’s retelling of a 5,000 year old Ancient Egyptian creation myth, so finely illustrated by Jude Daly, gives an enchanting explanation of how our starry universe came to be. When the godchild Atum emerges from inky silence to begin his work of creation, at first all goes well: from his breath and hands come the playful gods of air and rain, followed by Geb (pronounced Get), god of the earth, and Nut (pronounced Noot) goddess of the sky. But then things start to go wrong – for Geb and Nut are inseparable. Read on to enjoy this thoroughly engaging story! It is based on the Heliopolis creation myth, accounts of the myth can be found in the Pyramid texts, the oldest literature in the world, dating from 3000 BC which were preserved in the royal pyramids of the 5th and 6th Dynasties. The myth is also to be found in the later Coffin Texts and the Book of the Dead, dating from the 12th and 13th Dynasties. Suitable and recommended reading for National Curriculum English – Reading and History KS2.
The Mousehole Cat
Antonia Barber, and illustrated Nicola Bayley, paperback, €9.60
"The Mousehole Cat" was a past winner of the British Book Award for the Illustrated Children's Book of the Year and the British Design Production Award (Children's Books). It was also shortlisted for the Smarties Prize, the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Children's Book Award. This is a heartwarming story about a brave cat Mowzer and her pet human Tom. Mowzer and Tom live a very cosy life until a great storm brews up. This stops the fishing boats going out to sea and after several days everyone is very hungry. Mowzer and Tom set off to sea. Their tiny boat is tossed about like a toy that a giant storm cat is teasing and playing with. Will they make it safely home....? Beautiful story and illustrations.
Prince of the Birds
Amanda Hall, paperback, € 9.60
This work features a moorish prince and a beautiful princess, a magic horse and a dusty rug, a dove, an owl and a parrot. Inspired by the wise, witty language of birds, a poetic young man journeys over the high mountains and triumphs in a tournament using ancient magic but can he find happiness in his quest for love? Amanda Hall's sparkling Moorish fantasy has been adapted from a story written by Washington Irving.
Usborne Farmyard Tales Wind-Up Train Book with model train and 3 tracks
Stephen Cartwright, hardback, € 24.00
This fabulous interactive book has stories to read and a train to play with. There are three stories in the book all connected with the famous Apple Tree Farm series. Mrs Boot and her children Poppy and Sam and of course Rusty the dog are living very near Apple Tree Station and sometimes Mrs Boot helps out as the guard! Their adventures continue with Dolly and the Train, At the Seaside and Rusty’s Train Ride, and at the end of each story is an elaborate train track covering two pages. After winding up the perfect little train with the book laid flat watch it whizz around the village shops, Apple Tree School, the Funfair, and the Old Mill to name but a very few of the sights along the different journeys. One of the routes even has a choice of tracks to take. Hours of endless fun guaranteed with this book, hugely entertaining.
My Sister Jodie
Jacqueline Wilson, paperback, € 9.60
Pearl and Jodie are sisters. Pearl is the quiet, cautious, studious one. Jodie is bold and brash and bad - but Pearl adores her anyway. When their parents get new jobs as the cook and caretaker at a posh old boarding school, the girls have to move there and spend their summer holidays in the school with just a few children and staff for company. When they arrive, things start to change. Jodie has always been the leader - but now it's Pearl who's making new friends, like the amazingly tall, badger-watching Harley and Mrs Wilberforce, the wife of the Head who's confined to a wheelchair but introduces Pearl to wonderful new books. Jodie just seems to be getting into more and more trouble - arguing with Mum, scaring the little children, flirting with the gardener...When term begins, their strange summer is over. But things keep on changing. Jodie really doesn't fit in with the posh teenagers at the school. But Pearl is doing well in lessons and has even more friends. Maybe she doesn't need Jodie as much as she used to. But Jodie needs her. And when the school celebrations of Firework Night come around and a tragic event occurs, Pearl realises quite how much she does need her big sister.
I Think, I am!
Louise L Hay, hardback, € 11.20
Your thoughts create your life! This is the message that Louise Hay has been teaching people all over the world for more than 25 years. In this simple text children can now learn and understand the powerful idea that they have control over their thoughts and words and in turn what happens in their lives. Children will begin to understand the difference between negative and positive affirmations. Lively and fun illustrations and simple words demonstrate how to make the change from negative thoughts and words to those that are positive. The result of learning this will be a great benefit to them all their lives.