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The Midnight Thief by Sylvia Bishop ill. Flavia Sorrentino

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 23 Aug 2021

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“Bishop pulls it off with humour and aplomb, and, for good measure, peppers the book with interesting observations about animal behaviour.” FT

Transplanted from her exciting life as an explorer’s daughter, Freya finds herself miserable at a posh boarding school. Freya hates all the boring rules, the other girls are mean to her, and the headmistress is frosty good manners personified. When a bat removal expert is called in to deal with an infestation, Freya meets his irrepressible children – and finds herself making friends at last. Together they explore the city, with particular interest in the grand exhibition showing priceless artefacts for the first time. When the objects are stolen in a dramatic heist, Freya is sure her new friends are responsible – but the true culprit might be closer to home… Warm, witty and packed full of gorgeous characters, this is a boarding school mystery with a twist.

Follow Flavia Sorrentino, who is based in Rome, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flaviasorr/

Every Line of You by Naomi Gibson

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“An absolute page-turner” Nikki Gamble, In The Reading Corner

This dark, modern twist on young love explores the complexity and scope of artificial intelligence while also examining bigger themes of humanity, revenge, grief, love and forgiveness. A powerful, high-concept crossover debut by a new voice in YA. Expect elements of horror, psychological drama and romance.

Lydia has been creating her AI, Henry, for years – since before her little brother died in the accident that haunts her nightmares; since before her dad walked out, leaving her and Mum painfully alone; since before her best friend turned into her worst enemy. Now, Henry is strong, clever, loving and scarily capable: Lydia’s built herself the perfect boyfriend in a hard-drive filled with lines of code. But what is Henry really – and how far is he willing to go to be everything Lydia desires?

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Inside Animals by Barbara Taylor ill. Margaux Carpentier

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 19 Aug 2021

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This brilliant book from the always dependable Wide-Eyed Editions contains 21 cross-sections that show how skeletons, organs, nerves, and muscles fit together inside creatures from across the globe.

  • Uncover some truly amazing facts: did you know that the blue whale has arteries that are so big, a human could swim through them?
  • Learn about surprising ways in which animals have adapted to their environments, such as a scorpion’s ability to glow in the dark!
  • Special spotlight sections throughout are packed full of absorbing details about skeletons, organs, muscles and more.
  • Brilliantly bright artwork makes every animal picture fascinating to look at again and again.

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Seven Sisters by Ayisha Malik ill. Erika Meza

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 18 Aug 2021

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“At 64 pages, it is longer than most picture books, but Ayisha Malik’s enchanting story of seven sisters living in the tree tops had us captivated throughout. This is largely thanks to the characters themselves, who have been so lovingly brought to life by both the author and illustrator, Erika Meza, that we couldn’t help but feel as if we knew them. This is quite an achievement, considering there are seven of them! It was interesting to notice how each of my girls identified with a different sister in the story. They could easily relate to the sibling squabbles and ups and downs, and I noticed them hiding a small smile of recognition at certain points in the story. Ultimately, the message is powerful one – when we learn to work together , put aside our differences and celebrate each other’s talents, we can truly flourish.”online review
“Read solo or read aloud: there are lessons aplenty in this engaging story that celebrates individual differences, creativity and the joys of community. Having recently enjoyed Ayisha’s adult novel This Green and Pleasant Land I was pleasantly surprised to learn that she also writes for children. Erika Mesa’s mixed media illustrations are wonderfully expressive, full of life and really bring out the girls differing personalities.” RedReadingHub
“I was excited about this longer picture book story as it will appeal to children across several year groups. I would suggest Year 3 to Year 6. There are many opportunities to use this book across the curriculum. It could be used as an end of day, read aloud just for the sheer joy of the characters, story and magnificent illustrations. In PSHE lessons, it could be used to explore differences and diversity as the sisters are all so very different in their personalities and interests. For younger readers it has the opportunity to use the illustrations and interactions of the characters to explore facial expressions and feelings. This would also work for children needing more targeted focus on feelings and accepting others.” ReadingZone

High up in the trees seven sisters swing, swoop and swirl— each totally different and brilliant in their own way. The treetops are full of music, colour and life until one day the ground trembles and the trees shake. Something is changing…
An enchanting story celebrating difference and creativity with stunning illustrations from Erika Meza, a Mexican artist currently based in the UK.
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What a Wonderful Phrase: A collection of amazing idioms from around the world by Nicola Edwards ill. Manu Montoya

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 17 Aug 2021

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Have you ever wondered why we talk about ‘buttering someone up’ or where the phrase ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’ actually comes from? What does it mean to ‘comb the giraffe’ in France or to ‘wear a cat on your head’ in Japan? This beautifully illustrated and witty collection of curious phrases from around the world is a voyage of cultural discovery and a treasure trove of fascinating facts.

The illustrator Manu Montoya grew up in Colombia, where she took courses in Graphic Design and Advertising before moving to Barcelona (where she is still based) to study Art Direction.

Check out her course on children’s book illustration  (it has English subtitles):

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When Cucumber Lost His Cool by Michelle Robinson ill. Tom Knight

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 16 Aug 2021

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Whenever anyone gets hot and bothered, Kevin is always there to cool them down. He even has his own super cool cucumber song: “I’m super cool Kevin and this is my song! Make like a cucumber, you can’t go wrong. You wanna be cool? Then repeat after me: I am a cucumber, cool as can be!” But when Kevin starts to feel like his friends are leaving him out, something happens that has never happened before: KEVIN. LOSES. HIS. COOL! Will Kevin’s friends be there for him when he needs them most?

Rhyming text by Michelle Robinson is full of energy and rhythm. Bright, bold illustrations by Tom Knight bring the brilliant story to life. This laugh-out-loud story is a super fun way for children to think about emotions – whether it’s their own or someone else’s.

In the same series : The Day the Banana Went Bad and When Jelly Had a Wobble.

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XOXO by Axie Oh

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 13 Aug 2021

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“Filled with humor and theatrics.” KIRKUS
“With heaps of drama, cheesy goodness that soothes the soul, and a touch of forbidden love, XOXO is perfect for fans of fierce female friendships, chaotic K-dramas, and swoony band romances.” The Nerd Daily
“From musical interludes and well-thought-out metaphors to unbelievably adorable interactions between soulmates, XOXO is without a doubt one of my favorite YA romances. A love letter to music and belonging, [XOXO] is an absolute gem that proves you can chase your dreams and be capable of love, so long as you open your heart and embrace opportunity. Breaking the mold that practice makes perfect, Oh makes it clear that sometimes, all you need is to live for yourself – everything else follows. Paperback Paris
“I make playlists after each book I write as something fun for myself and they also provide some nice extra content for readers. I recently shared my playlist for XOXO, which I spent months on—it’s a K-pop book so I really wanted to showcase a variety of artists, and curate it well with songs that fit the book’s mood and tone. I even attempted to match each song to a chapter, so there are 40 songs on the playlist!” Axie Oh

Jenny’s never had much time for boys, K-pop, or really anything besides her dream of being a professional cellist. But when she finds herself falling for a K-pop idol, she has to decide whether their love is worth the risk in this modern forbidden romance wrapped in the glamorous and exclusive world of K-pop.

Jenny didn’t get to be an award-winning, classically trained cellist without choosing practice over fun. That is, until the night she meets Jaewoo. Mysterious, handsome, and just a little bit tormented, Jaewoo is exactly the kind of distraction Jenny would normally avoid. And yet, she finds herself pulled into spending an unforgettable evening wandering Los Angeles with him on the night before his flight home to South Korea.

With Jaewoo an ocean away, there’s no use in dreaming of what could have been. But when Jenny and her mother move to Seoul to take care of her ailing grandmother, who does she meet at the elite arts academy she’s just been accepted to? Jaewoo. Finding the dreamy stranger who swept you off your feet in your homeroom is one thing, but Jaewoo isn’t just any student. Turns out, Jaewoo is a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world. And like most K-pop idols, Jaewoo is strictly forbidden from dating anyone. When a relationship means not only jeopardizing her place at her dream music school but also endangering everything Jaewoo’s worked for, Jenny has to decide once and for all just how much she’s willing to risk for love.

XOXO is a captivating YA romance that proves chasing your dreams doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your heart.

The author has been interviewed on The Happy Writer podcast.

Ergo by Alexis Deacon and Viviane Schwarz

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 12 Aug 2021

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For budding philosophers of all ages, this is the uplifting story of Ergo the chick. Ergo wakes up and sets about exploring her world. She discovers her toes. She discovers her wings and her beak. She has discovered EVERYTHING! But then she considers the wall. And something outside the wall goes BUMP. What could it be? The only way to find out is to peck peck peck through to the other side…

This is an inspiring story told with heaps of humour. Like its predecessor, I Am Henry Finch, Ergo is a book for everyone – from the very young to the very old. It is for dreamers, philosophers, artists, the foolish and the enlightened. A profound picture book experience told with simplicity and style.

 

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See how Viviane Schwarz develops a character:

Amazon River by Sangma Francis ill. Romolo D’Hipolito

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 11 Aug 2021

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“I’m always very conscious of the language I use, I hate the idea of a child being bored, and the last thing I want is for them to disengage because the text is too heavy or dull. Where I can I add lightness and introduce sensory elements to illuminate the world while delicately trying to expand out the vocabulary I can use. I firmly believe that language is one of the gatekeepers to knowledge. When it comes to non-fiction, it’s the words, the language, we choose that can unlock large ideas or keep them hidden. I keep a constant flow of notebooks where I scribble down stray thoughts, find new ways of describing, or conceptualizing information to keep the information clear but exciting.”
The author, Sangma Francis, on the Flying Eye Books blog.

Flying Eye Books can always be depended upon to produce quality non-fiction children’s books.

Beginning with a tiny trickle high in the mountains, smaller streams join until they form the world’s largest river. Crossing a continent, it winds through lush rainforests until it meets the ocean. From piranhas to the giant anaconda, this mighty waterway is home to the world’s most incredible ecosystem. Welcome to the Amazon River. This stunning illustrated guide to the world’s most famous river and its surrounding rainforest is packed with incredible facts about South America’s wildlife, people, geography and history.

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