100 Hugs by Chris Riddell

100 Hugs is a gorgeous collection of illustrated hugs from Chris Riddell, Children's Laureate 2015-2017. This is the perfect gift for a loved one, or to cheer yourself up on a dark day when all you need is a hug. The one hundred beautiful and intricate illustrations from the three-times winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal includes a hug for every emotion and occasion.

But one thing is for certain: every hug will touch your heart. In a perfect pocket-sized format, 100 Hugs is certain to comfort and raise a smile.

Available in paperback for £5.99.  Click here to order a copy.

Book Reviews: 8th September

Franklin's Flying Bookshop by Jen Campbell is a charming story all about sharing the love of reading and books with friends.

All poor Franklin wants to do is talk about his favourite books with the people in the village, but every time he approaches someone, they run away – all because he’s a dragon!  Luckily for him, a young girl who shares his love of stories helps him hatch a plan to open Franklins very own bookshop – on his back!

We can’t talk about new books this week without mentioning that one of our favourite children’s series has a new book out. The Goth Girl series by Chris Riddell started back in 2013 and was an instant hit, and it’s back with Goth Girl and the Sinister Symphony.

There’s a music festival at Ghastly-Gorm Hall with musicians from all over the country, and Ada can’t wait for it. Unfortunately for Ada, it’s not the only thing going on, and she has to make sure everything goes to plan while dealing with a faun in her wardrobe, Maltravers up to his old tricks and her grandmother trying to find her father a new wife. Chris Riddell once again brings us a brilliant book with his beautiful illustrations (and a free mini book inside; Fable of Faun!)

Over to YA now, and Imogen couldn’t resist recommending Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the End. Having finished one of Silvera’s books (History is all You Left Me) only a week ago, Imogen already knew that he is a wonderful storyteller who understands the nature of being human – from friendship to heartache to everything in between.

In his new book, Death-Cast call people to announce their deaths in the next 24 hours. There’s nothing you can do to stop it, nothing you can do to change it – it’s just a warning to help people live their last day properly.

Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emerterio have never met, but they have one thing in common; on September 5th, they were both called. Using an app called Last Friend, they meet for the first time and try and have one last adventure – living a lifetime in a single day.

False Lights by K.J. Whittaker is a fantastic alternative history, starting with the premise that Napoleon has won the Battle of Waterloo and invaded Britain.  With Josephine presiding in London, and the population of Cornwall in open rebellion against French rule, young heiress Hester Harewood and Wellington’s former intelligence officer Jack Crowlas are drawn into the plot to free the Duke of Wellington from his incarceration on the Isles of Scilly.

K J Whittaker draws the reader into a world full of adventure, romance, treachery, and espionage, with believable characters and wonderfully evocative settings of Scilly, Cornwall and London.

And finally, you’ve probably heard more than one of the team rave about this book in the last few weeks, is Adam Kay and his darkly hilarious This is Going to Hurt.  The book is a no-holds-barred account of Adam's time working as a junior doctor on the NHS front line.

Kay now works as a comedy writer for the BBC now, and you can tell why from reading the book;  even in the saddest of moments inside the book, his way of seeing the funny side will make you laugh out loud.  It shines a light, not only on the way our hospitals are run, but the people that deal with the darkest of moments in everyday life.

Books for Christmas 2016 - Fabulous Flowers, Frost Giants and Five-minute Festive Stories

Books can entertain and inform. They can inspire and give direction. And they can comfort and terrify in equal measure. And if - whilst doing all that - they can be bound up as an object of beauty and tactile wonder, well - what could be better?

Here is our selection of books that have a little bit of the 'wow' factor about them that make them almost irresistible to hold in your hands...

A Miscellany of Magical Beasts - Simon Holland
From Werewolves to Merpeople, Griffins to The Sphinx, this is a captivating book of folklore, myths and spellbinding stories of 16 favourite mythical creatures from around the world.

Discover why griffins collect a gem called agate, how to put out dragon fire, how mischievous elves can cause terrible nightmares, and why giants have been with us every step of recorded human history.

The best part of the book is the illustrations though. There are beautiful (and fold out) illustrations from some of our most talented artists and illustrators including David Wyatt, Helen Ward and Gary Blythe. We reckon this is a beautiful gift for any fantasy lover, young or old.

A Treasury of Songs - Julia Donaldson
The physicist Richard Feynmann once observed that his best work came as a direct result of teaching young people - and Julia Donaldson cut her teeth as a teacher, telling stories and writing songs way before becoming one of our most cherished and bestselling children's authors we have ever produced.

Julia is a gifted songwriter for children, and this Treasury of Songs contains over twenty of her best-loved songs, including fun-filled action rhymes, Aesop's fables, and songs based on Julia Donaldson's best-loved picture books, from Room on the Broom to The Gruffalo. Illustrated throughout with Axel Scheffler's warm and wonderful artwork, with a CD of all the songs performed by Julia herself, which will be familiar to anyone who has heard them on TV or radio or enjoyed one of Julia's live performances.

A Year Full of Stories - Angela McAllister
Celebrate your year from New Year's Day to Christmas Eve with this treasury of 52 best-loved stories from around the world. This rich resource collects together folk tales from home and legends and myths from distant lands to commemorate the changing seasons, cultural events and international festivals throughout the year. Stories include 'Father Frost', 'The Magic Porridge Pot', 'The Frog Prince', 'The Runaway Pancake', 'The Pot of Gold', 'The Hare in the Moon' and 'One Dark and Stormy Night'.

And if you want to mix it up a bit with poetry and stories, take a look at the gorgeous 'A Poem for Every Night of the Year', a wonderful collection edited by Allie Esiri, inventor of the poetry app 'iF Poems'.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Carousel Book - Lewis Carroll
This gorgeous edition of Lewis Carroll's famous children's classic is a fabulous book that opens out into a carousel shape, showing Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in six visually enchanting 3-dimensional scenes.

Using original artwork by Sir John Tenniel and an abridged version of Lewis Carroll's original text, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Carousel Book is a delightful introduction to the story for younger readers. Peep into the story as Alice falls down the rabbit hole, grows and shrinks, meets the Cheshire Cat, joins the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, plays croquet with the Duchess, and attends the trial of the Knave of Hearts.

Botanicum - Katie Scott and Katherine J Willis
Big Picture Press scored a huge hit with Animalium (described by one of our customers - who also happens to be a scientist - as possibly the most inspiring science book she'd ever read). Now the same team has produced 'Botanicum', and is another awe-inspiring addition to their 'Welcome to the Museum' series.

It's a stunningly illustrated guide to plant life, curated by Professor Kathy Willis, with artwork from Katie Scott (who also did the artwork for Animalium). Botanicum gives readers the experience of a fascinating exhibition from the pages of a beautiful book. From perennials to bulbs to tropical exotica, Botanicum is a wonderful feast of botanical knowledge complete with superb cross sections of how plants work.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - JK Rowling
Prepare to be spellbound by Jim Kay's dazzling full-colour illustrations in this stunning new edition of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Breathtaking scenes, dark themes and unforgettable characters - including Dobby and Gilderoy Lockhart - await inside this fully illustrated edition.

With paint, pencil and pixels, award-winning illustrator Jim Kay conjures the wizarding world as we have never seen it before. Fizzing with magic and brimming with humour, this inspired reimagining will captivate fans and new readers alike, as Harry and his friends, now in their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, seek out a legendary chamber and the deadly secret that lies at its heart...

Lie Tree - Frances Hardinge
Next we have three titles, all previously published favourites, now produced with illustrations by Children's Laureate Chris Riddell.

In 'The Lie Tree', Riddell is the perfect illustrator to bring Frances Hardinge's collision of Victorian social injustice, twisted science and dark magic spilling out onto the page and cover in a very special hardback edition. The Lie Tree was one of our favourite books of last year - and winner of the 'Costa Book of the Year' 2015. Find out more when we reviewed the book on BBC Radio Oxford right at the start of this year.

Odd and the Frost Giants - Neil Gaiman
Here, Riddell's illustrations are combined with jacket designs and metallic ink to turn Gaiman's thrilling, wintry Nordic epic into an icy bookish treat.

It's a tale of legend, magic and adventure in which Odd, a young Viking boy, is left fatherless following a raid on his village. And in the pitiliess Viking world there is no mercy for an unlucky soul with a crushed foot and no one to protect him. Fleeing to the woods, Odd stumbles upon and releases a trapped bear ...and then Odd's destiny begins to change.

The Hunting of the Snark - Lewis Carroll
Finally, in our Chris Riddell triple-bill, Riddell's illustrations perfectly complement Lewis Carroll's famous nonsense rhyme.

They sought it with thimbles, they sought it with care;
They pursued it with forks and hope;
They threatened its life with a railway-share;
They charmed it with smiles and soap.

First published in 1876, it features a cast of unlikely characters from The Jabberwocky. And whilst stocks last we have signed copies - even better!

5 Minute Festive Stories
A gorgeous gift collection of eight Christmas stories. Filled with festive fun and magical illustrations from best-loved illustrators including Tina Macnaughton, Tim Warnes and many more!

This collection has a tactile cover with holographic foil, and is the perfect present for little ones who are excited about Christmas!

Winnie the Pooh: The Best Bear in all the World
Celebrate 90 years of Winnie-the-Pooh with The Best Bear in all the World, the official sequel to the original stories by A.A. Milne. With brand-new stories from some of the most beloved children's authors writing today: Paul Bright, Brian Sibley, Kate Saunders and Jeanne Willis - each will transport you back into the Hundred Acre Wood for more adventures with Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and the rest of the gang.

With decorations by Mark Burgess, in the style of the cherished illustrations by E.H. Shepard. This book will delight fans old and new. Perfect bedtime reading for ages now-we-are-six and up.

The Storm Whale - Benji Davies
We've already included 'The Storm Whale in Winter' as one of our favourite picture books, but this is a beautiful slipcase edition of the original 'The Storm Whale' as well as 'The Storm Whale in Winter' from award-winning author and illustrator Benji Davies.

It's a poignant and moving tale about making new friends and learning that sometimes we have to let the things we love go.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

‘We’re going on a bear hunt 

We’re going to catch a...

Oh!

Small cuddly fluffy one

In Mostly Books!

We all have our favourite classic childrens picture book, and many people will fondly say that theirs is 'We’re going on a Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen with the gorgeous and timeless illustrations by Helen Oxenbury. This Christmas, along with the Channel 4 adaptation of the book, you can get your hands on the bear himself, in the form of an adorable plush toy. Perfect for children to curl up with on the cold winter nights, or even for the adults to stage their own bear hunt with!

Also: We have a special limited signed edition in hardback of the original story - email us if you'd like to reserve a copy!

A First Book of Animals - Nicola Davies and Petr Horacek
When Nicola Davies produced ‘A First Book Of Nature’ in 2012, it was one of most popular books to recommend (you can read about it here). Now she has written ‘A First Book Of Animals’, a glorious collection of factual information presented in a poetry format covering everything from Barn Owls to Beavers and beautifully illustrated by Petr Horacek to capture a child's imagination. Split into five sections, Big and Small, Colours and Shapes, Animal Homes, Animal Babies and Animals in Action this is a perfect first poetry book for your little animal lovers.

As a bonus we have a limited number of copies signed by both Nicola and Petr in stock. Email us to reserve yours!

Learning loss, reading sabbaticals and no shoes - it's the 'Back to School' special

Around this time in August, every year for the last ten years, we prepare a big 'back to school' display in the shop. Usually it's a mix of 'first day back at school' titles along with a variety of dictionaries and books to help with handwriting, maths and spelling.

This year, we want to do something a bit different.

OK, OK, so my writing skills are a little rusty...
See below for more about FowlLanguage

If you are a parent - possibly a grandparent, and indeed anyone who's been looking after children for the summer - I'm sure the start of the holiday began with ambitious plans. Plenty of activities interspersed with regular writing, reading and maths exercises to keep that schoolwork fresh in the mind and ticking over.

So how did that go? That good, huh?

Teachers refer to the hiatus in schoolwork over the Summer as 'Summer Learning Loss'. Yep, it's a thing (it even has its own Wikipedia page). But before moral panic sets in about what you might or might not have done better over the holidays, here are the Mostly Books top tips to make sure the start of school is a positive experience for everyone (including you).

1. Don't panic

There is still at least a whole week left - and possibly longer - before school starts, and to be honest schools are well aware of the situation and tend to ease children back into the whole learning thing. Don't beat yourself up about it.

"Atomic weights?
Isn't this graduate stuff???"

At the same time, don't pass the buck completely to the school. There are definitely things you can do now that will have a huge impact on the start of school. Remember, this isn't just about the start of school, this is about getting into the swing of good study habits for the first few weeks of the year.

Here are a few (small) ideas from the shop that we reckon can make a (big) difference over the coming weeks. And of course, you can always come in and ask for our advice as well!

2. Starting school - get excited

You may have had a blast when you were at school - or hated every minute of it. But there's often little you can do to control your own children's reaction to starting school, but the best thing is get excited with a child ahead of school starting.

And a book can help.

Along with a few of our favourites such Usborne's 'First Experiences' series, or 'Topsy and Tim Start School', we love Sam Lloyd's 'First Day at Bug School', Sam was the creative force behind 'Calm Down Boris' and this a funny' delightful books about a bug's first day at school down the bottom of the garden is both a fun story, but creates a space to discuss any anxieties your child might be having ahead of the big day.

A few weeks ago, we had a special visit from Hugless Douglas, and you can bet he has a whole load of ideas of how to survive little school. As well as a brand new Hugless Douglas 'Numbers' book, we recommend taking a look at 'Hugless Douglas Goes to Little School'.

3. Maths and Writing Skills

There are some imaginative and fun activity books to help children with their reading and writing. We've got a big range of early reading and writing books for little ones, including the Letts animal-themed series 'Wild About' which includes books on counting, writing, reading for ages 3 up to 8.

But we have been particularly impressed with Scholastic, who took characters from the Star Wars universe and created a whole series of workbooks for KS1 and KS2. Whether its lightsaber poems, Yoda's wisdom on verbs or learning along with the young Ewoks, this might just be a great way of channeling your child's obsession with Star Wars ahead of school!

All of these titles tend to be around the £5 mark, so our suggestion on how to boost excitement? Give your little one a budget to come in and choose a book for starting school from our table...

4. Book v Gadget - getting that reading back on track

Whether you have a bookwork or a reluctant reader, there is easily enough time between now and the start of school to read a whole book. Don't think so? We can help.

"The best minds of my generation are
thinking about how to make [children]
click ads" - Jeff Hammerbacher

Years ago, reading was often something that children did when they got bored. That doesn't really happen nowadays. There is always something they can turn to - often a phone, gadget or game - and reading does require a lot more effort.

You need to create some space and give a story the chance to put hooks into the imagination.

Over the past few years, we've banged the drum for starting a reading group with whoever lives in your house.

Here's our cut out and keep 5 step plan to starting a family reading group.

We think you should do this anyway throughout the year, but for this coming week, how to pull your kids off the gadgets and get them giving a book a try?

Firstly, try 'no electronics' periods. Get everyone to stack their devices in one place for at least one hour whilst reading takes place (this works great for mealtime too - we tried it recently at a restaurant, and the effect was nothing short of revolutionary, as it's often adults who are the worst offenders with checking their mobile phones!).

We also recommend Noel Janis-Norton's advice for getting co-operation with your children on any new task - and we really recommend you read 'Calmer Easier Happier Screen-Time' for a great plan to turn electronic devices from a battleground into a positive experience for everyone.

5. Keep it short

Next, find a book that is going to have the best possible chance of getting finished. It's no use giving them a 'classic' of 400 pages if they are out of the habit of reading. Again, give them a budget and bring them in to choose their own book - but allow them a lot of leeway in terms of the book they choose - we often recommend Barrington Stoke titles which are fabulous, page-turning stories by some of our best writers, but are short and help build momentum in getting reading back on track.

Some of our favourite new titles: 'The OMG Blog by Karen McCombie' and 'Monster Slayer' by Brian Patten and illustrated by Chris Riddell. But come in and have a look at the range.

6. Tap into their interests

Is your child into something like cars or cooking? Find a story that appeals! We love 'The Secret Cooking Club' by Laurel Remington.

Scarlett has no life - she fears that her Mum will ridicule anything she says or does on her blog, but when the old lady next door has a fall she discovers that sometimes being a friend is more important. As her secret cooking club grows so does her circle of friends. It's a lovely story about friends and family and what holds them together.

Would your child rather be shooting zombies than reading about baking? Don't worry - there's a book for that. Curtis Jobling's 'Monster Hunter' features Max Helsing, descended from a long line of monster hunters, who does a pretty good job of keeping up a schoolwork by day, whilst keeping his town safe from demons, ghouls and the occasional mummy by night.

That is, until he turns thirteen and discovers he's been cursed by an ancient vampire who wants him dead - at any cost. To save the world - and his life - Max must rely on his wise-cracking best friend, cantankerous mentor, computer genius neighbour, and brand-new puppy...

Here's a few ideas - we have many, many more. Whether it's revision guides, dictionaries, reading lists for school or universiity - we're here to help. Come on in to the shop and let's get to work!

(And that cartoon at the start? It's from the brilliant Fowl Language comic strip, possibly the funniest comic about the realities of 21st century parenting we know from Brian Gordon. There's a collection of his comics now available in the shop, and trust us - you'll laugh out loud :-)

Books for Christmas Part 4 - Guinea Pigs, Pugs and Polar Bears - Favourite Fiction for Younger Readers

Giving books as gifts for young children is possibly the best part of Christmas - we've already told you about some of our favourite activity books for children - but here are some of favourite new fiction books throughout the year for ages 7+.

Knight In Training: A Very Bothersome Bear -
Vivian French and David Melling (£4.99)
David Melling has become renowned as the creator of bestseller (and everyone's favourite dispenser of hugs) Hugless Douglas, but before the cuddly bear he was already critically-acclaimed as the illustrative genius behind 'The Tale of Jack Frost' and 'The Kiss That Missed'. 'Knight In Training' is a new young fiction series inspired by the hapless Knight from that book, and has been written with author Vivian French.

Following the tale of Sam J. Butterbiggins (whose only ambition is to be a Very Noble Knight) it manages to harness the energy and quirkiness of the original, as Sam discovers a magical scroll listing the six quests to be completed to become a knight. Along the way he helps a grumpy dwarf, a dunderheaded bear and an island of tiny elves. Huge fun and bags of young reader appeal!


Atticus Claw on the Misty Moor - Jennifer Gray (£5.99)
The world's greatest cat-burglar turned cat detective is back! With the Cheddar family celebrating New Year's Eve in a Scottish castle, it isn't long before Atticus is up to his whiskers in hidden treasure, an ancient family curse, and sightings of a mysterious giant cat on the moor. Police Cat Sergeant Claw's detective skills will be needed once again, and with danger lurking everywhere, can Atticus solve the mystery? Imaginative, very funny, this series of books keeps getting better.

Olga da Polga - Michael Bond (£20)
Be prepared for a lot of very cute animals in this wonderful new edition of the classic guinea pig tales illustrated by the wonderful Catherine Rayner. Olda da Polga loves telling tales of her adventures to Graham the tortoise, even though he's not sure they all actually happened! A feast of adventure and fun - and utterly charming illustrations.

(We have a very few copies signed by Catherine in the shop - email to reserve one!) 

Gabriel-Ernest and Other Tales - Saki (£6.99)
In 'Gabriel-Earnest', local landowner Van Cheele is stunned when his aunt decides to take in a wild-looking boy found on the estate, buying him a suit of clothes and naming him Gabriel-Ernest. Van Cheele is suspicious, especially when it is revealed that there is something supernatural about their new ward...

Saki was the pen-name of Hector Hugh Munro. and his short stories were strange and satirical, poking fun at the mores of the Edwardian age. This republished book (with new illustrations by Quentin Blake) is a mischievous collection of stories which find an echo of Roald Dahl a generation before.

The Adventures of Miss Petitfour - Anne Michaels (£10.99)
Meet the utterly irresistible Miss Petitfour (a name of unknown origin but possibly descended from bakers of tiny delicious cakes). She loves baking and making and dancing with her cats, but most of all she loves to fly. All she has to do is pick up a favourite tablecloth (preferably the one with the paisley print), catch the breeze and she swooshes off on an adventure - with her many cats dangling paw-to-tail behind her.

In five utterly captivating stories of gentle adventure, delicious edibles (with cheese for the cats), occasional peril and heart-zinging warmth, poet and novelist Anne Michaels (author of award-winning 'Fugitive Pieces') makes a charming, purrfect debut as a children's author.

Meet at the Ark at Eight! - Ulrich Hub (£6.99)
Snow and ice and ice and snow all around, and nothing for three penguins to do but fight with each other and smell slightly of fish. But are they good penguins or bad penguins? And if they're a bit bad then what's the worst that...What? Building an ark? The whole world is going to be flooded? Well! They should probably get on that ark.

Meet at the Ark at Eight is a delight: a funny, odd and strangely moral story of three penguins, a plump, over-worked dove, a beautiful butterfly that may or may not get done in, and a quite apologetic God.
 

Goth Girl and the Wuthering Fright - Chris Riddell (£10.99)
What a year for Chris Riddell. With Goth Girl winning prizes galore, delighting huge numbers of children - and being appointed Children's Laureate, it's difficult to appreciate that Chris started his illustration journey almost 30 years ago.

In 'Goth Girl and the Wuthering Fright' - the third in the Goth Girl series - sinister happenings are surrounding Ghastly-Gorm Hall during Lord Goth's Literary Dog Show. The esteemed judges are in place and the contestants are all ready to win. But there are mysterious footprints, howls in the night and some suspiciously chewed shoes. Can Ada, the Attic Club and their new friends the Vicarage sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne) work out what's going on before the next full moon?

The Storm Leopards - Holly Webb (£8.99)
From best-selling author Holly Webb comes this charming wintery story: the countdown to Christmas has begun, and Isabelle is enjoying a family day out at the zoo. As her sister watches the penguins, Isabelle is the only one to catch a glimpse of a snow leopard, with its beautiful spotted silver-grey coat and long fluffy tail. Fascinated by these rare and endangered creatures, Isabelle tries to find out what she can do to help protect them. Little does she know she's about to be whisked into her very own magical snow leopard adventure, where a mother and her cubs are in danger...

My Father is a Polar Bear - Michael Morpurgo (£11.99)
Drawing on Michael Morpurgo's own childhood experience of first seeing his real father on television, 'My Father Is a Polar Bear' tells the story of two young brothers rediscovering their birth father in the most unlikely of places - and in an entirely unexpected guise! A warm and delightful tale of family bonds and love told by a master storyteller and beautifully illustrated by Rome-based artist Felicita Sala.

How to Fight a Dragon's Fury - Cressida Cowell (£12.99)
It's taken twelve years, spawned two films (a third is in production), cracking audio book voiced by David Tennant, and now the final book has arrived!

It is the Doomsday of Yule. At the end of this day, either the humans or the dragons will face extinction. Alvin the Treacherous is about to be crowned the King of the Wilderwest on the island of Tomorrow. His reign of terror will begin with the destruction of dragons everywhere. The fate of the dragon world lies in the hands of one young boy as he stands on the nearby isle of Hero's End with nothing to show, but everything to fight for. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third's Quest is clear. As Doomsday draws to an end can Hiccup be the Hero of the hour? A mixture of sadness and celebration with a splendid end to a modern classic series.

(Revisit Cressida's visit to Kennington back in 2012 when we interviewed her!)

Refuge - Anne Booth & Sam Usher (£7.99)
This is a poignant and wonderfully told take on the Christmas story and what follows: the fleeing of Jesus, Mary and Joseph from Herod's soldiers to Egypt. In a beautiful hardback format, it’s a book that takes the Christmas story and makes the reader consider it from the point of view of today’s refugee crisis.

Nosy Crow and the wider book trade are ensuring that £5 from the sale of each book will go directly to the charity War Child, which is caring for Syrian refugee children in camps and host communities in Jordan and Northern Iraq.

(Mark reviewed this book, and the next one, on BBC Radio Oxford during Children and Need - you can listen to his review on iPlayer here at approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes)

A Boy Called Christmas - Matt Haig (£12.99)
This is a completely different take on Christmas, the childhood story of a figure we all know well. It tells of the upbringing of a young Father Christmas, before the responsibilities of getting toys to children, before he came to live at the North Pole. It’s brilliantly imaginative, as a young Nickolas escapes from a Dahl-esque wicked Aunt, and travels North to discover what happened to his father – lost on a polar expedition. Along the way he befriends a reindeer named Blitzen...but not everything runs as smoothly as you might imagine.

This is an instant classic, and we think children will love the flawed but determined Nickolas, and the obstacles he overcomes to fulfil his destiny. It’s witty, a few aspects of modern consumerism are neatly skewered – and the illustrations from Chris Mould, one of our favourite (and, in our opinion, underrated) illustrators just turns this into a seasonal delight.

Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella - Cerrie Burnell (£8.99)
A beautifully written, lyrical tale featuring a cast of funny and loveable characters, created by CBeebies' presenter Cerrie Burnell and stunningly illustrated by Laura Ellen Anderson. Harper lives in the City of Clouds with her Great Aunt Sassy and her beloved cat Midnight. When Midnight goes missing - together with all the cats of the neighbourhood - Harper realises that only her magical scarlet umbrella can help her find him...When Harper steps out with the umbrella in her hand, she is carried up into the sky on a series of amazing adventures. And Midnight isn't all she finds when she stumbles upon the Midnight Orchestra and its wild conductor... 

Pugs of the Frozen North - Philip Reeve (£8.99)
The Race to the Top of the World! It comes around once in a lifetime, and the prize? Your heart's desire. Shen and Sika can't resist the chance to win, but competition is fierce. The path to victory is littered with snow trolls, sea monsters, and a gang of particularly hungry yetis. But Shen and Sika have something the other contestants don't have. Actually, they have 66 other things; pugs to be exact. That's a 264 paw-powered sled. Let the race begin! This beautifully illustrated story by the award-winning team of Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre will enchant fans of their previous books, 'Oliver and the Seawigs' and 'Cakes in Space'.

Happy Birthday Alice - origins, inspiration and timelessness

One of John Tenniel's
original illustrations

‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ is 150 years old in 2015 and to celebrate there will be lots of Alice-themed events happening at Mostly Books over the Summer.

But how did such a timeless classic begin?

It’s a fascinating story and one we thought you might be interested in...

The river outing of maths lecturer, Charles Dodgson, with the Liddell family on 4 July 1862, from Folly Bridge to Godstow, is now famous for the fact that the Alice story was told and Alice Liddell asked for the story to be written down.

It took him more than two years to finish, but it was a success from the moment it was published, with Queen Victoria and Oscar Wilde among early fans.

Political cartoonist John Tenniel, was asked to do illustrations (and has been cited by new children’s laureate, Chris Riddell as a huge influence) and not only brought the story to life, but created pictures which have become part of the public consciousness.

You can read the full story on Macmillan's rather wonderful Alice150 website.

Particularly intriguing is the influence of the restrictions of colour printing on the colour of Alice’s dress. For example, did you know that originally Alice’s dress was red – and in one edition, yellow.

The book has never been out of print, but changed in its early years.

Not long after Carroll’s death in 1898, a new edition was planned and as Tenniel’s eyesight was fading. Harry G. Theaker was commissioned to colour sixteen plates of the Tenniel illustrations for a one volume edition of Alice and Through the Looking Glass published in 1911.

The blue that he used for colouring Alice’s dress, together with the white apron and blue striped stockings, established the iconic dress colour that has remained in the Macmillan editions ever since. It was later adopted by Walt Disney for their 1951 film.

After a couple of alternative titles for Carroll’s story were rejected - Alice Among the Fairies and Alice’s Golden Hour - the book was published by Macmillan in 1865 as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.


There are editions now for all ages, from gift versions to picture book retellings, but our current favourite is the Little Folks Edition. It is a charming miniature edition of Lewis Carroll's classic tale which is specially abridged for younger readers. A sixth of the length of the original 1865 edition, it features 32 brightly coloured illustrations by Sir John Tenniel, uniquely featuring Alice in a red dress and faithfully reproduced from a rare archive copy, this unique little book retains all the charm of the historic original.

Celebrate 150 years of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with a pocket-sized piece of history!

Of course, Alice in Wonderland has inspired all kinds of other books and creative works, from Damon Albarn's wonder.land musical to The Matrix.

Some of the themes familiar from ‘Alice in Wonderland’ take on a nightmarish tone in Cathy Cassidy’s ‘The Looking-Glass Girl,’ written in celebration of 150 years of Lewis Carroll’s timeless book and brings many of the themes to a modern audience.

Cathy Cassidy is one of our best-loved authors, cherished for her family stories of friendship and early teen romantic fiction (and we were very pleased to be involved with her at a recent event at Didcot Girls School). So it’s a departure and a move into new territory that ‘The Looking-Glass Girl’ takes on a thriller tone right from the start.

Alice has been increasingly isolated since her best-friends from primary have moved into a much ‘cooler’ set at secondary school. So when she gets invited to a sleepover with them she is not sure whether to be pleased or concerned – a feeling many girls of this age will easily relate to. 
What does the night have in store? Is there some other motivation for inviting her along? What will they being doing and will she be ‘cool’ and grown-up enough?

From when she arrives at the Wonderland-themed party, everything from costumes and the painted faces of the other guests is unsettling. The drink is served in a teapot that Alice suspects is spiked with alcohol, Alice knows she is out of her depth, but desperate to be included.

She has to tread as carefully as her namesake to work out friend from foe, but it all goes horribly wrong.

We know from the opening of the story Alice will end up in a coma, with everyone lying and covering up exactly what went on.

The tension is cranked up from unexpected arrivals at the party and a few games where Alice feels she is less of a guest, more of bait. 

The arrival of a boy Alice likes ratchets up the tension as she can see clearly that one of the other girls likes him too . . .

Taut plotting means the story of what actually happened that night and what is really going on among Alice’s ‘friends’ is revealed only slowly, partly through confessions at her hospital bedside and her nightmarish dreams as she tries to find her way back from unconsciousness to the real world.

Tweens and early teens will love this fresh tale with more than a hint of threat and danger in amongst this tale of friendship and early romance. A total triumph and really true to the original tale, while being really fresh and different.

Books for Christmas Part 3: Swish-capes, Mistakes, Misfits - Favourite Fiction for Younger Readers

We've had plenty of gift ideas for grown ups over the past few weeks (history and biography and some special editions) so this week is given over almost exclusively for children (although we have a sneaky suspicion that several of these books will end up in bigger people's stockings).

Some might argue we're living in a golden age of children's books at the moment, and this selection of our favourite books for younger readers aged 7-9 can only strengthen that argument. Here we go...

The Sleeper and The Spindle - Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell - £10.99

A thrillingly re-imagined fairy tale from the truly magical combination of two of our absolute favourites, author Neil Gaiman and illustrator Chris Riddell - weaving together a sort-of Snow White and an almost Sleeping Beauty with a thread of dark magic, which will hold readers spellbound from start to finish. Lavishly produced, packed with glorious Chris Riddell illustrations enhanced with metallic ink, this is a spectacular and magical gift. This is one of those books you have to come in and pick up to truly appreciate - so please do!

Dragons at Crumbling Castle: And Other Stories -Terry Pratchett - £12.99     

This collection of quirky, funny, delightful stories were started when Pratchett was just 17 years old, and give us an insight into the mind which went on to create the Discworld universe. With more than a hint of Roald Dahl about them, we learn the philosophy of the Joke Monks of Ben Drumlin, what happened when a very lazy Father Christmas goes to the job centre (on his days off), and the selfie-obsession of the Abominable Snowman. Great little stories for children, and a special treat for gown-up fans!

Goth Girl and The Fete Worse Than Death - Chris Riddell - £10.99

It's a Chris Riddell Christmas, with his second entry on our list. Preparations for the Ghastly-Gorm Garden Party and bake-off are under way. Celebrity cooks are arriving at the hall for the big event and, true to form, Maltravers, the indoor gamekeeper, is acting suspiciously. Elsewhere at Ghastly-Gorm Ada's wardrobe-dwelling lady's maid Marylebone has received a marriage proposal. Ada vows to aid the course of true love and find out what Maltravers is up to, but amidst all this activity, everyone, including her father, appears to have forgotten her birthday! The sequel to Goth Girl, and if anything even more witty, feisty and intelligent than the first book... 

Archie Greene and the Magician's Instruction - DD Everest - £9.99       

When Archie travels to Oxford to return a book to the Museum of Magical Miscellany, he meets family that he never knew he had - and discovers the world of the Flame Keepers, a community devoted to finding and preserving magical books. But the magical book under Archie's protection is extremely dangerous, and dark spirits hunt it out. With the help of his cousins, Archie must do everything he can to uncover the book's hidden powers and save the Flame Keepers from evil.

This is the first book in a thrilling fantasy adventure - and one of the most exciting debuts of the year. Find out much more about the author and book here when we took DD Everest to schools in Abingdon a few weeks ago...

Jet the Rescue Dog - David Long - £9.99       

Dogs, horses, cats (even birds, camels and elephants) have saved thousands of lives through instinct, intelligence, courage and devotion. Engaging, uplifting and deeply moving, these stories tell of these brave, silent heroes with sensitivity and gentle humour for readers age 8+. With black and white illustrations throughout.

Mysteries of Ravenstorm Island: The Lost Children - Gillian Philip - £5.99       

Molly and her brother Jack visit rich relatives on Ravenstorm Island, where eerie statues of children are dotted around the island. She's expected to be friends with her moody cousin, Arthur. But things become much worse when Jack disappears - and no one else on the island remembers he ever existed! Molly and Arthur must work together to save Jack.

Stinky & Jinks: My Hamster Is A Detective - Dave Lowe and Mark Chambers - £5.99

This is the sixth (and final) installment of the adventures of Ben and his hamster Jasper Stinkybottom (a creation of comic genius, trust us). This time Bruiser, Ben's neighbour's cat, goes missing, and at first Stinky the genius hamster is all ready to celebrate. But when Ben's sister's kitten, Delilah, disappears too, things start to look suspicious. It's time for tenacious twosome Stinky and Jinks to spring into action once more.

With sly literary references, nail-biting adventures and the world's most intelligent hamster, will appeal to even the most reluctant young reader (and you can learn more about author Dave Lowe when he flew halfway round the world to visit school children in Abingdon earlier this year!)

The Secrets of Flamant Castle: The Complete Adventures of Sword Girl and Friends - Frances Watts - £8.99

Fun and fantasy combine in this collection of six amusing stories about Tommy, a kitchen girl at Flamant Castle, who dreams of becoming a knight. When she is made the Keeper of the Blades, caring for all the swords in the castle armoury, it seems like her dream might come true. But trouble is never far away from Flamant Castle and the Keeper of the Blades is often in the thick of it. Luckily Tommy is both daring and curious, and has a cast of friends ready to help, including Lil the talking cat, the friendly Crocodiddle who lives in the castle moat and her best friend Jasper, the ghost of a young squire who inhabits one of the old swords.

Charlie Merrick's Misfits In Fouls Friends and Football - Dave Cousins - £5.99
Dave Cousins is a seriously funny author ('15 Days Without a Head' is a comic masterpiece for older readers) but this book for younger readers is the first in a new - and very funny - series about a football team (the inappropriately-named 'North Star Galaxy'). Charlie Merrick is the hapless team captain, and his long-suffering efforts to turn things around makes for a funny, gripping and surprisingly poignant story that appeals not just to football fans.