Little Stars - A Hetty Feather Adventure from Jacqueline Wilson

Hetty Feather has started a new chapter in her life as she embarks on the road to stardom as a glamorous music hall artiste along with her dearest friend Diamond. They dramatically escape from Tanglefield's Travelling Circus and eventually seek the bright lights of London's theatre world, dreaming of a glittering future. They become the Little Stars of Miss Ruby's show, performing alongside many colourful acts including a face from the past. But life at the Cavalcade Theatre proves dangerous for the girls when Miss Ruby's nephew starts paying unwanted attention to Hetty. She has to fight to protect little Diamond and find a good future for them both.

The book introduces new characters alongside old friends. The return of Bertie, the butcher's boy, brings some drama into Hetty's life as she struggles to understand her feelings for him. Flirty Bertie has become quite the star on the stage since they last saw one another. Hetty wonders what her future will be, thinking about husbands and settling down. Attending her first love Jem's wedding further adds to her confusion. Has she lost her one chance at true happiness?

Will the girls find a place they can call home? Will Hetty's dream of being a successful actress come true? Will Bertie ever figure in her future? These questions are explored in this thrilling tale of stardom, heartbreak, love, loss and self-discovery.

Jacqueline Wilson's style brings to life a time long ago, when Mrs Beeton, workhouses, penny farthings, music halls and frilly frocks were the norm. It gives a gentle insight into Victorian England and gives today's readers a chance to see what life was like for girls like Hetty Feather. Nick Sharratt's illustrates the front cover and adds a silhouette sketch to start each new chapter.

This is the fifth Hetty Feather story from Jacqueline Wilson, so fans of the wonderful and irrepressible Victorian girl will delight in catching up on her latest quest for adventure. The book contains some slightly mature themes and is aimed at girls aged 9 - 12 years old.

Little Stars will be published by Doubleday on October 8th in hardback for £12.99. It will also be available as an e-book.

Katy by Jacqueline Wilson #bookreview

Katy Carr is the eldest of six children in her family and fills the role perfectly with her daring, bossy, funny, imaginative and sometimes outrageous personality. Katy loves nothing more than playing in the great outdoors: climbing trees, skateboarding, cycling or swinging. However, her life changes unexpectedly and dramatically in an instant, following a serious accident that leaves her with a spinal injury.

As Katy tries to come to terms with her new life, we share her anger and frustration, but also see her resilience, grit and determination. She courageously battles on and manages to reinvent what it means to be Katy Carr and discovers that you can still fly, even when you can no longer walk.

The subject matter is mature, but handled in Wilson's usual sympathetic and understanding way, allowing readers to feel uplifted, even through the darkest moments. Although sad, the story is also empowering, showing readers that with courage and determination anything could be possible.

The story is a modern and contemporary reworking on the nineteenth century classic What Katy Did, a favourite of the author when she was a child. This new book has a message that is appropriate to today's audience, underpinning the importance of finding the strength and determination to overcome even the hardest of obstacles. A message that can be applied to a whole range of situations, and not just the situation that Katy found herself in.

We are big Jacqueline Wilson fans and this new title gives us yet another engaging young heroine that young girls can relate to, delivered to us through sensitive storytelling. Jacqueline Wilson has a style of writing that is a little old fashioned compared to some of the other YA authors that my children read, but it's comforting, reassuring and familiar, just like a favourite blanket. We always have a place for the latest Jacqueline Wilson book on our shelf.

Katy is out on 30th July 2015, published by Puffin, £12.99 in hardback. Also available as an e-book.

Books on Review - The Butterfly Club and Fingerprint Fun

Fingerprint Fun

However young (or old) your children are, they will love the new Fingerprint Fun book.  Using painty fingerprints, children can complete the pictures adding spots on animals, creating fireworks or putting the petals on flowers.  

Each page is colourful and the designs are lovely and quirky, ready to be completed using multi-coloured fingerprints.  Once all the pages have been finished, the book will serve as a lovely memento of your child's little fingerprints.

Fingerprint Fun is good for reluctant artists, encouraging them to get arty with great results from little effort.  It's also lovely for very little ones who can be supported to finish the paintings using their little painty fingers.

Fingerprint Fun is from Buster Books and is published on April 2nd RRP £5.00.

The Butterfly Club

This is Jacqueline Wilson's 101st book!  Over the years, all of my girls have been fans of Jacqueline Wilson at one time or another.  They love her strong female characters and can relate to many of the situations in her books.  The Butterfly Club tells the story of triplet Tina, the smallest and most cosseted of the three sisters, as she enters junior school.  Used to being looked after and protected by her two sisters Phil and Maddie, it comes as a shock when their new teacher, the very strict Mrs Lovejoy, seats Tina at a table next to the school bully Selma.

Things look very upsetting for Tina until she is asked to help create a butterfly garden in the school grounds along with Selma.  Tina soon discovers that there is more to Selma than meets the eye, and also that she doesn't need her sisters as much as she thinks.  Tina learns to stand on her own two feet and finds friendship in the unlikeliest of places.

This book is a lovely read, written from Tina's perspective.  The themes of friendship and developing self-confidence bring some important messages to young readers aged 6 to 10 years old. Watching tiny Tina go from a nervous little girl who is almost unable to function without her sisters' support to a confident and successful young lady is quite heartwarming!  The butterfly garden plot line helps readers to learn all about butterflies along with Tina and at the end of the book are some informative pages for anyone wanting to make their own garden, filled with facts and advice.

For fans of Jacqueline Wilson books, there is a nice surprise as the characters from Double Act make a guest appearance.  It was really nice to meet Ruby and Garnet again now they are all grown up!

With Nick Sharratt's illustrations gracing the pages, The Butterfly Club promises to be a new favourite among younger fans.  It will also be a great introduction to Jacqueline Wilson for girls aged six and over, who are yet to discover the author.  It is a contemporary, fun story that is easy to read, with some great characters,

The Butterfly Club is out now in hardbook, published by Doubleday RRP £12.99.  Also available as an e-book.

We received both titles for the purpose of this review.

Book Review Round-Up with The Beano, Jacqueline Wilson and a Sleepy Sloth

The Beano Annual 2015

"If you like nice stories about nice girls and boys doing nice things, then this isn't the book you're looking for."

This year the UK's best selling annual is back and The Beano characters are celebrating in style. Dennis the Menace and Gnasher are catching the Beanotown Express from London's St. Pancras International  and will be bringing their own brand of mischief and mayhem to the station in a thirteen week takeover.  Millions of travellers will get the chance to experience the madcap world of The Beano at this exiting event!

The 112 page annual features all the favourites from Dennis and Gnasher to Minnie the Minx and The Bash Street Kids.  It's colourful, fun and filled with classic funnies. (I love the fact that the Beanotown discount supermarket is called Widl!!)  It's perfect for those of us who hold a nostalgic love of The Beano as well as for the new generation of younger fans.

Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without a Beano Annual under the Christmas tree!

You can follow The Beano fun following the hashtag #BackTheBeano.  RRP £7.99


Opal Plumstead by Jacqueline Wilson

Jacqueline Wilson has played a huge role in the lives of my three daughters who have each enjoyed reading her books over the years.  Opal Plumstead is the 100th book from the author and is out now ready to be read and enjoyed by fans old and new.  It features the unmistakable illustrations of the brilliant Nick Sharratt.

Opal Plumstead is the outspoken, fiery heroine in this novel.  Set in the run up to World War 1, 14 year old Opal finds herself having to give up her dreams to work in a sweet factory, when her father is imprisoned. The factory owner Mrs Roberts introduces Opal to Emmeline Pankhurst and her fellow Suffragettes at the time when they were campaigning for Votes for Women. Opal also meets Mrs Roberts' son: her love interest and soulmate Morgan.  But with war imminent, Opal's life is set to change forever.

This is a coming of age book, giving readers an insight into the lives of young woman at the time.  As with many of Jacqueline Wilson's previous books, it doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life. But even though it can be hard hitting, the overall theme is of empowerment and taking your destiny into your own hands,.Wilson's female characters are always strong in the face of adversity, a great message for their young readers.

Opal Plumstead is available to buy now from Doubleday in hardback with an RRP of £12.99.


Sloth Slept On by Frann Preston-Gannon

I absolutely love the picture book How To Lose a Lemur, so was looking forward to this latest title from the very talented author and illustrator Frann Preston-Gannon.  I was not disppointed!

This sweet story focuses on a group of children who discover a sloth in their garden.  They don't know what it is so they try to find out.  Some of the suggestions are quite outrageous as they wonder if he is a pirate or a knight or a spaceman, but with some research they discover what he is and where he's from.  The sloth sleeps through all the excitement so the children try to find a way to get him home before he wakes up!

This story is about children's curiosity and imagination and their desire to help others.  It is beautifully illustrated and teaches little ones about a very curious creature.

It is published by Pavillion Children's Books on October 16th in hardback format priced at £10.99.

All these titles would make excellent gifts for children this Christmas!

Things We're Loving - Kids' Edition

Another month has passed us by and I am looking at the things that I have loved from the last few weeks.  This month I am concentrating on the best kids' stuff, sharing my picks of the clothes, books, films, music and games that I think are worthy of a mention!

First up, if you haven't seen it yet, take the kids to see Wreck It Ralph.  It is one of my favourite Disney offerings for years.  The story of video game characters living and working together in the arcade is absolute genius.  The message of acceptance and being the best that you can be, whoever you are, is heartwarming.  Freddy aged 3 loved it and continues to quote from the film, re-enacting his favourite scenes!  10 year old Kizzy and 16 year old Ella were equally enthralled by the story of Ralph as he tries to become more than just the bad guy.

My girls love to read and enjoy discovering books to escape into.  My two eldest girls were fans of Jacqueline Wilson, so it was inevitable that Kizzy would follow suit.  She is currently reading The Dustbin Baby which is the story of 14 year old April who was abandoned in a bin by her mother following her birth. It is a powerful and emotional story which engages readers as they follow April's quest to discover the mysteries of her past. I love how Jacqueline Wilson portrays her feisty  female characters, as being strong enough to survive against a backdrop of sadness. Empowering stuff.  This book makes excellent reading for ages 9+.

With Comic Relief coming up, we have visited Sainsbury's to stock up on our Di-NOSE-Saurs and also to buy the new One Direction single One Way Or Another.  It was just £1.99 and proceeds go to Comic Relief.  I love the video which they filmed themselves, donating the money they saved to the charity.  What lovely lads! (Especially that cute little Harry Styles!!)

After Kizzy visited the fashion cupboard at Girl Talk magazine's offices in London she has been exercising her mini-fashionista muscles to come up with trendy ensembles.  One of her favourite items at the moment is the 2 in 1 Shirt Jumper from New Look's 915 range which is £14.99.  With its attached collar it looks fashionably smart and perfect for the Spring season.  Kizzy assures me that collars are 'in' at the moment but the real beauty of this top is you don't have to iron a whole denim shirt!

When it comes to boys clothing, graphic T-shirts never go out of fashion and I love these two from Lands’ End.  I love the glow in the dark angler fish tee (as does my little Octonaut fan) and the simple 'Hey' design which really stands out in its simplicity. They are £9.95 each which is a good price for a quality t-shirt that will withstand the testing of an active boy like my son. Freddy has a big collection of t-shirts with slogans on.  They are just so easy and practical to wear with jeans and a zip-up hoodie or a jumper.

Land's End have gifted me with a voucher to try out these T-Shirts.

Our latest favourite game is the horrifically addictive Candy Crush Saga which I have on my phone.  You have to link up rows of three or more of the same sweet to remove them from the grid in an attempt to remove all the jelly or to release ingredients.  It's an old formula, but because it is all about sweeties, it seems so much more exciting!  I am not very good at it, but I am a trier, albeit a trier with no strategy, no vision and no foresight.  When I get through a level I'm pretty certain it's more luck than judgment, but the feeling of achievement is not diminished. As always, the kids are better than me!  They instinctively see the patterns and use strategies to clear the sweets. Kids and technology just work so well together. Candy Crush Saga is free on Android, iOS and Facebook.  So at least I'm not wasting cash on my new addiction.

Freddy has been playing Reading Eggs which I think is a brilliant program for introducing little ones to early reading skills.  I am so impressed with how well he can progress independently through the levels and how his letter and sound recognition is improving.  I'm hoping that through playing on the games he will soon be on the way to being a confident reader. Especially as Infant School beckons.

So that's the things we have enjoyed over the past few weeks here Inside the Wendy House.  I look forward to seeing what things we will be discovering next month!