Boy is one of many books written by Roald Dahl, and the author describes his childhood in this story. However, Dahl states that Boy is not an autobiography because he left out the boring details! In Boy, the author describes events in his life between 1922, when he was 6, and 1936, when he was … Read more
Written by Arthur Ransome, Pigeon Post is the sixth book in the Swallows and Amazons series. The Swallows, Amazons and Ds arrive at Beckfoot for the summer holidays and plan to mine gold for Captain Flint. After meeting three requirements (the ability to get milk and water, and for pigeons to deliver messages), the group … Read more
‘Rats with brains. Rats who can think. Rats who don’t turn and run. Rats who aren’t afraid of dark or fire or noises or traps or poison.’ A Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents takes the idea of the Pied Piper of Hamelin and flips it on its head. … Read more
The only children’s book by Robert Browning, The Pied Piper of Hamelin is illustrated by Kate Greenaway. Compared to the tale’s original recording, Browning’s narrative poem was written fairly recently: the legend first appeared in a church window around 1300 AD and this version of the story was written in 1842. The Pied Piper of … Read more
‘The next moment the big motor cruiser was round the bend, bearing down on them, towering above them…’ The fifth in the Swallows and Amazons series, Coot Club is by Arthur Ransome. This book includes sailing terms but provides definitions. Coot Club also includes two maps: one for the Northern rivers of the Norfolk Broads … Read more
‘One of th’ gardens is locked up. No one has been in it for ten years.’ Written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden is a children’s classic. The cholera seizes Mary’s mother, Ayah and servants. Now all alone, the spoiled, unhealthy child is sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle. After discovering … Read more
‘THUD! The scales shifted instantly as the Naughty List hit the desk and sent the much lighter Nice List rocketing up towards the ceiling.’ The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List is the third book in the Christmasaurus series by Tom Fletcher. Like The Christmasaurus and The Winter Witch, this book is a fantasy adventure. (Click … Read more
I have written a book review for ‘Swallows and Amazons’ before, but I have learned a lot more since then and started doing themes. Plus, my favourite character has changed! Click here to see the original. The first of a twelve-book series, Swallows and Amazons is an illustrated, classic adventure by Arthur Ransome. In the … Read more
Illustrated by Shane Dervies, The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch is an adventure fantasy by Tom Fletcher and the second book in the Christmasaurus series. The Christmas holidays have now begun and the Trundles, and Brenda and Pamela Payne are invited to a magical place of ice and snow. However, when the group returns home, … Read more
Winter Holiday, the fourth book in the Swallows and Amazons series, is by Arthur Ransome. While it differs from the summer and sailing scene that is common in the previous books, this tale takes the reader on an epic Arctic expedition. The Callum children—Dick and Dorothea—meet the Amazons—Nancy and Peggy—and Swallows—John, Susan, Titty and Roger—during … Read more