Tag Archive | Austin Macauley Publishers

The Adventures Of Flora Bee: Spies by Rhodri Davies

Jun26

Timeless

The Adventures Of Flora Bee: Spies by Rhodri Davies is an other charming book in the series for young children.

The winning formula begun in book one continues – double pages with six rhyming couplets and illustrations. It appeals to all, with its’ familiarity. We know that the words will bounce along and the illustrations by Rob Anderson will be charming.

I particularly liked the bees dressed as spies and the picture of the villain with the cat on his lap.

There is a moral to be learnt – do not steal or copy others, design your own work.

Continue reading →

The Adventures Of Flora Bee: Bee School by Rhodri Davies

Jun26

Delightful

The Adventures Of Flora Bee: Bee School by Rhodri Davies is a delightful book for young children. It will bring a smile to the faces of those who are listening and to the adults reading it. It is a book you will never grow tired of. More experienced readers will be able to read it themselves.

Each double page has six verses and six illustrations. It is written in rhyming couplets giving a lovely bouncy feel to it, and making it easy for children to join in.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Rob Anderson. The bees all look very friendly, appealing to young children. Both the pictures and the verses can be used as discussion points with our children as they are rich in detail.

Continue reading →

Letters To Doberitz by Derek R Payne

Jun18

No Winners, Only Losers In War

Letters To Doberitz by Derek R Payne is a powerful tale about the experiences of the author’s grandparents and great grandparents during World War I.

The author has captured life at home, on the battlefields and in Doberitz, a prisoner of war camp. He vividly paints the scenes using his words. Horror does not come close to describing it. The trenches and the POW camp were places of sheer horror and terror. Writing letters home, the author’s relatives tried to shield their loved ones from the worst.

I found the description of the train journey to Doberitz particularly harrowing.

Derek R Payne’s grandfather suffered from an unknown neurological condition we would now call PTSD. He was experimented on in the POW camp with the hope of not only curing him, but developing a treatment for German soldiers. It did not work. He returned home with nightmares that would continue to plague him down the years.

War leaves many battle scars, some go deep down. “Will never talked about it [his wartime experiences] for many years.”

Continue reading →

Pets Are A Pleasure by Malcolm D Welshman

Jun14

Hilarious

Pets Are A Pleasure by Malcolm D Welshman is the wonderful fourth book in the Pets In A Pickle series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Once more we follow the exploits of newly qualified vet Paul. We hear of his interactions with the animals within the practice and with their owners and his neighbours and friends.

This is a very light hearted and down to earth tale, easy to picture and to empathise with.

For a vet, he has a surprising amount of animal phobias – I certainly agree with him about spiders!

The whole book is extremely funny. I once more, found myself sniggering and laughing throughout. It was absolutely hilarious at times – especially the scene about the escaped lion!

Continue reading →