Stikki The Squirrel: Tree Spirits by Jane H Wood

May22

Enchanting

Stikki The Squirrel: Tree Spirits by Jane H Wood is a very charming children’s novel and perfect for the over eights.

The reader joins a family of squirrels just before Christmas. With snow on the ground, the daddy squirrel hunts further afield for food. He meets some vicious foxes. His mate is determined to save him. Together the pair are caught up in an unwanted adventure.

The reader sees the kindness of a young girl and her father to the squirrels. And we hear of the chaos caused by the family cat!

All the woodland animals work together to support the young squirrel family. We see that together we are stronger.

Stikki The Squirrel: Tree Spirits is a very delightful novel to be enjoyed all year round.

I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON

Stikki the Squirrel: Tree Spirits.

Join Stikki and his mate Rella on their second exciting adventure—full of mystery, danger, and the wonders of magic found in the most unexpected places.

Winter has arrived in Hazy Hills Wood, covering everything in a blanket of snow. Food is hard to find, and the animals are getting hungry. To make things worse, there is a scary food thief on the prowl.

Stikki heads out into the cold to find his secret stash, but when he doesn’t come home, Rella goes searching for him. A frightening journey looms ahead as Stikki and Rella are forced to confront their enemies and the dreaded longlegs.

Deep in the heart of the ancient wood stands the animals’ sacred ash tree. When Brodboar the badger spots something strange high on the tree’s branches, he is shocked by the discovery and begins to worry. Is it a warning?

With Stikki and Rella still missing—can the woodland animals work together to find their friends before it’s too late?

Purchase Links

https://bookguild.co.uk/bookshop/young-children/stikki-the-squirrel-bLc1

https://www.waterstones.com/book/stikki-the-squirrel-tree-spirits/jane-h-wood/9781835743515

https:///books.apple.com/gb/book/stikki-the-squirrel-tree-spirits/id6758389931

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=JGO5EQAAQBAJ&pli-1

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/stikki-the-squirrel-tree-spirits

https://amzn.to/4aWo4i3

Author Bio –

Jane H. Wood is a multi-award-winning author who enjoys writing stories for children and young adults. Jane’s wonderful animal adventure books have captivated readers of all ages, earning her acclaim for her vivid storytelling and enchanting illustrations that feature in her Stikki the Squirrel books.

Jane lives in the sunny seaside town of Worthing on the south coast of England, with her husband, Peter. She has two grown-up sons and is a proud grandmother as well. Jane enjoys art, photography, hand crafting activities, and writing children’s stories. Jane is an animal rights advocate and environmentalist, and she supports a few animal welfare charities.

Social Media Links –  https://www.facebook.com/JaneHWood16

https://www.instagram.com/janewood705

website: https://janehwood.com

Dear Life by Rachel Clarke

May18

Of Love & Care & Compassion

Dear Life by Rachel Clarke is a powerful and heartbreaking true account of the author’s life as a palliative care doctor.

The book speaks straight to the heart as we witness the love and care given to those facing their final days. They are given dignity and they are given choices, treated as individuals who still have a life to live, albeit a short one. “Living and dying are not binary opposites. The dying… are still very much alive.” The dying are aware of just how precious and just how fragile life is.

In a world where we hurry about, worrying about this and that; we need to pause and ask “would this matter on your deathbed?” What matters at the end is love and family. Have we lived a life of love? “In the end, when death bears down, there is always this, the love of others.”

In our modern world we are shielded from death. “In Britain, less than a century ago, death in the home was so frequent, so commonplace, that family members regarded the witnessed loss of their loved ones as entirely expected – entirely normal.” Today, we shy away from death. It is the last taboo.

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The Names by Florence Knapp

May16

What’s In A Name?

The Names by Florence Knapp is a powerful contemporary novel that consumed me from the start. It is a very unique read – one life; three names and the imagined life of a baby with each of these names. The characters and scenarios are similar but different.

What’s in a name? Our names have meanings. For some, a name will conjure up a certain type of character which one either admires or dislikes. Names have the power to produce strong responses. Our names may reflect our character.

One of the leading characters is a baby. We follow his life at various key moments. He is the boy with three names that produce a sliding doors moment. He reflects the names he has been given. “A boy called Bear is someone who will be soft and cuddly but also brave and strong.”

There is a bond between the baby and his sister who is nine years older, and also their mother. We witness the cruelty of domestic abuse. It is horrifying to see the effect on the nine-year-old daughter who learns to be invisible and already knows how to placate her father.

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The Piano by Marion Ueckermann & edited by Autumn Macarthur

May16

The Greatest Treasure

The Piano by Marion Ueckermann is a charming contemporary Christian novel that I adored from the start.

The lead character is an archaeologist who is used to having patience to unearth buried treasure. This theme of treasure is a major one, as the characters seek the lost treasure of their ancestors. Along the way, they unearth a greater treasure – it is the treasure of loving hearts and of a God who loves us. When we know love, we are rich beyond compare.

Having faith is important. We can trust God to protect us and to guide us. His plans are the best. His love is big enough for all. His grace will cover all of our sins.

Prayer is vital. When we do not know what to do, we can pray and ask God to guide us.

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