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The Magic Faraway Tree: The Story Of The Film inspired by Enid Blyton

May9

Enchanting

The Magic Faraway Tree: The Story Of The Film inspired by Enid Blyton is a perfectly delightful tale that will enchant anyone aged eight years and over. Whatever your age, if you grew up reading the original tales, this book will transport you back down the years.

The Magic Faraway Tree has been brought bang up to date to the twenty first century as the family escape London for a rural retreat.

At first the children dislike the lack of wi-fi and the quiet – but then they discover the faraway tree and the adventures begin.

The seasoned reader meets up with the familiar faces of Moonface, Silky, Dame Washalot etc, as we reminisce about the enchanted lands and the slippery slip.

All the characters are charming and treat the reader to a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

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The Blitz Sisters by Judith Eagle

Apr27

Captivating

The Blitz Sisters by Judith Eagle is a powerful historical children’s novel that absolutely captivated me. It is suitable for ten years and over.

As the title suggests, the book is set during World War II as we follow three sisters from 1939-1947. The tale is divided into three sections as we follow the action from each sister’s point of view. Lydia’s view point covers the start of the war; Peggy is the middle years; and Teddy is the war’s end and peacetime. The sisters are similar but different and what shines through is their love for each other.

There are various scrapes throughout the years as each sister is reckless in a different way. Each sister is motivated by love, as modelled by their mother. “Warm, forgiving arms. Mum.”

Each sister has a personal battle to fight. I felt very sorry for Peggy whose dyslexia wasn’t understood. “Couldn’t endure another lesson with endless numbers and letters and words jumping up and down… in a horrid unintelligible jumble. She couldn’t bear the fear she felt… She had to make herself invisible in case she was asked to read out loud.” Her frustration is easy to empathise with. “School didn’t understand her. Home didn’t understand her.” But Peggy has a gift – she is very artistic.

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The Shadow Pony by Olivia Wakeford (Illustrated by David Litchfield)

Apr24

Love – The Glue That Binds

The Shadow Pony by Olivia Wakeford (illustrated by David Litchfield) is the most charming contemporary children’s novel that I adored. It is suitable for the over tens. It is beautifully illustrated too.

The story is set in Wales and has Aberuraun Colliery as its’ focus. Following a school trip, lead character eleven-year-old Evan desires to find out more about the pit ponies that worked the mines.

Evan’s Grandad used to work in the mine and is haunted by a past event.

There is power in a story. It is in sharing stories that memories can be passed down the generations. We all want to know our personal histories.

We see the difficulties that arise when living with someone with a mental illness. Twelve-year-old Melly’s Mum has bi-polar. This is hard for Melly as sometimes her Mum has to be hospitalised.

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Birdie by J.P. Rose

Apr11

Love Is… Never Giving Up

Birdie by J P Rose is an inspiring historical children’s novel that I absolutely adored. It is suitable for ten years and over.

The novel is set in 1952 in a small Yorkshire mining village. The setting comes to life under the author’s descriptive pen. We can ‘see’ the hills and dales, the dry-stone walls and cottages, and we can ‘feel’ the heat and oppression of the mine.

The leading character is a young orphan called Birdie who has been in a children’s home all her life until aged eleven, Birdie’s great aunt decides to offer her a home. Birdie is a plucky young girl who doesn’t let life get her down. She does not realise she is viewed as ‘different’ until she goes to live with her aunt.

Birdie’s father was an American G.I. and her foster home was with other children with American G.I. fathers. On arriving in the mining village, Birdie receives discrimination because of her looks, even from her aunt, who did not know Birdie’s father. “She’d [Birdie} thought that having a family of her own would make her feel like she’d swallowed a ball of sunshine… she had a great big lead ball sitting in the base of her tummy.”

Birdie’s beautiful personality shines through. She makes her Great Uncle smile again [after he had lost his son in World War I]. This prompts her Great Aunt to say: “You’re a tonic, Birdie… like a breath of fresh air.” Birdie is “A medicine for sad hearts and souls.”

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