The Queen on our Corner
Book Monster Ally Blog
by BookMonsterAlly
2y ago
Working for the brilliant library service, a place which doesn’t discriminate, a welcome community hub and home for all, I often think about those who come through our doors and their lives. We just see the person in front of us initially, but everyone has a story to tell, everyone has a past, a present, a future. I consider myself very privileged in my upbringing and how life so far has treated me. Every day in my library, we see at least one person who has little to nothing in terms of material possessions, no roof over their heads, no job maybe. But they still have stories to tell, experien ..read more
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The Histronauts – A Greek Adventure
Book Monster Ally Blog
by BookMonsterAlly
2y ago
When I was approached to join the blog tour for the latest Histronoauts book, I honestly didn’t hesitate. I’ve been recommending this series in our children’s library for years since the first release to great success, and the most recent release takes this well known format and brings History to life in the most brilliant way once more! This is The Histronauts – A Greek Adventure, written by Frances Durkin, illustrated by Grace Cooke, designed by Vicky Barker and published by B Small Publishing. B Small’s unique selling point and something they and their team do exceptionally well, is engagi ..read more
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Nen and the Lonely Fisherman
Book Monster Ally Blog
by BookMonsterAlly
2y ago
Ever since I started working for the library service and looking in depth at LGBTQ+ children’s literature, (thanks to colleague, Dr Liz Chapman), I have been searching, and wanting, more children’s picture books with incidental LGBTQ+ representation. Characters in same sex relationships, who’s genders and relationships are represented but not necessarily at the forefront of the story as an “issue”. And finally, after 17 years, I’ve discovered two in as many months! This is exciting, and important. This is Nen and the Lonely Fisherman, written by Ian Eagleton, illustrated by James Mayhew and pu ..read more
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Bumble & Snug and the Angry Pirates
Book Monster Ally Blog
by BookMonsterAlly
2y ago
Can you believe that this is a blog post I’ve been waiting around 6 years to write! Probably my most anticipated children’s book release ever, the one that I didn’t even know would ever happen but hoped and wished and willed. So I am really, very, extremely, crazy happy to be sat here now, writing a blog post for Bumble & Snug and the Angry Pirates, written and illustrated by Mark Bradley, and published by Hachette Children’s. But … is this book everything I hoped it would be? Where do I honestly start writing this? Bumble & Snug feel like old friends. Mark has been drawing this duo f ..read more
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Amara and the Bats
Book Monster Ally Blog
by BookMonsterAlly
2y ago
Isn’t there something just wonderful about passions, a favourite animal, a craft activity, a place or maybe a sport? Those passions and interests are part of what make us us, gives us things to talk about, and ways of engaging not only with other people, but also the world around us. Amara and the Bats written and illustrated by Emma Reynolds and published by Simon and Schuster is a book that exemplifies what can be achieved with this kind of love. Welcome to my stop on the batty blog tour, where I’ll be sharing my review of Amara, along with some brilliant bat saving tips from Emma herself ..read more
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Bad Panda (& Activity Sheets)
Book Monster Ally Blog
by BookMonsterAlly
2y ago
How can a panda possibly be bad? They’re floof from back end to front end! They’re adorable, hapless, roly poly balls of fuzzy bamboo sucking gorgeousness! And that is essentially the problem our protagonist in this genius little book faces, the adorable panda, Lin!! And this book is Bad Panda written by Swapna Haddow, illustrated by Sheena Dempsey and published by Faber. Check out the other stops on the Bad Panda Blog Tour! Now, Swapna Haddow and Sheena Dempsey, are of course the incredible duo behind the Dave Pigeon series of books (keep your eye open for a little pigeon cameo and DP referen ..read more
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We Want Our Books
Book Monster Ally Blog
by BookMonsterAlly
2y ago
How many times do you see, hear, read authors, illustrators, inspirational people say how much their local libraries meant to them? I have many many times. And the author of today’s title not only aimed to show the value of libraries, but how the closure of such spaces impacts on communities of colour. This is We Want Our Books, written and illustrated by Jake Alexander and published by Two Hoots press. Rosa, like many children, is curious about the world around her, and when she asks her Dad a whole bunch of questions at the end of a long day, he suggests she go to the library for her answer ..read more
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The Pirate Mums
Book Monster Ally Blog
by BookMonsterAlly
2y ago
I recently attended a fabulous webinar by Empathy Lab UK, and there was much discussion around how we teach empathy through picture books, not just to children, but also their parents and carers. People can have prejudices they don’t even realise are there until presented with alternatives That is exactly what new book The Pirate Mums does, written by Jodie Lancet-Grant, illustrated by Lydia Corry, published by Oxford University Press. Welcome to my stop on the blog tour! I recently had the absolute pleasure of chatting to Jodie with my Sheffield Libraries colleague Liz Chapman, and we had a ..read more
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NOAH’S GOLD
Book Monster Ally Blog
by BookMonsterAlly
2y ago
During 2020 lockdown number 1, I read a book called Humankind, and in this book (a non-fiction look at the kindness in humans) there was a chapter on Lord of the Flies, the real story. Because, although the general belief has been that if a group of children were left to fend for themselves on a deserted island the result would be feral kids, fighting, bullying and potentially even death, the true story, was actually really quite different (you can read The Real Lord of the Flies Story here: ). Noah’s Gold, the brand new story from author Frank Cottrell-Boyce, illustrated by Steven Lenton and ..read more
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Anita and the Dragons
Book Monster Ally Blog
by BookMonsterAlly
3y ago
I cannot imagine living in a place of war, or poverty or danger, I also cannot imagine being forced to leave that place, my home, and start a new life somewhere completely alien. I think myself very lucky to have everything I need, to be safe, to be stable, and I my appreciation comes from knowing that people do not have the life I lead. This is what books give us, and this is what books teach children. This is Anita and the Dragons written by Hannah Carmona, illustrated by Anna Cunha and published by Lantana Publishing and welcome to MY stop on the blog tour! For years Anita has watched the ..read more
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