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Hope Jones Saves The World by Josh Lacey ill. Beatriz Castro

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ACHUKA Book of the Day Mon 25 May 2020

My name is Hope Jones. I am ten years old. I am going to save the world. Hope Jones’ New Year’s resolution is to give up plastic, and she’s inspiring others to do the same with her website hopejonessavestheworld.com. When she realises her local supermarket seems to stock more unnecessary plastic than food, she makes it her mission to do something about it. She may be just one ten-year-old with a homemade banner, but with enough determination, maybe Hope Jones really can save the world.

Waterstones

Mrs Noah’s Garden by Jackie Morris ill. James Mayhew

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ACHUKA Book of the Day for Fri 22 May 2020

A fine example of the use of collage to create picture book illustrations.

The flood is over – but while Mr Noah builds a house out of the ark, Mrs Noah creates a garden. Luckily her famous pockets contain seeds and she has some help from the children – and the creatures. Midsummer morning brings some very special surprises!

This new title from the creators of Mrs Noah’s Pockets explores new beginnings, care for nature and, above all, home.

Waterstones
Amazon

Diary Of A Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty

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ACHUKA Book of the Day Thu 21 May 2020

Diary of a Young Naturalist chronicles the turning of a year in 15-year-old Dara McAnulty’s world.

These vivid, evocative and moving diary entries about his connection to wildlife and the way he sees the world are raw in their telling.

“I was diagnosed with Asperger’s/autism aged five … By age seven I knew I was very different, I had got used to the isolation, my inability to break through into the world of talking about football or Minecraft was not tolerated. Then came the bullying. Nature became so much more than an escape; it became a life-support system.”

Diary of a Young Naturalist portrays Dara’s intense connection to the natural world, and his perspective as a teenager juggling exams and friendships alongside a life of campaigning.

Waterstones
Amazon

 

 

The List Of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

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ACHUKA Book of the Day Wed 20 May 2020
Times Children’s Book of the Week 9 May 2020

Making a new family brings questions, surprises, and joy in this brilliant new novel by Newbery Medalist Rebecca Stead.

Sonia and I have a lot in common. Our parents are divorced. Our dads are gay. We both love barbecue potato chips. But she is different from me in at least one way: you can’t tell how she’s feeling just by looking at her. At all. When Bea’s dad and his wonderful partner, Jess, decide to marry, it looks as if Bea’s biggest wish is coming true: she’s finally (finally!) going to have a sister. They’re both ten. They’re both in fifth grade. Though they’ve never met, Bea knows that she and Sonia will be perfect sisters. Just like sisters anywhere, Bea thinks. But as the wedding day approaches, Bea makes discoveries that lead her to a possibly disastrous choice. 

“No author writing today observes young lives with more clarity, tenderness, and grace than the one and only Rebecca Stead.” Katherine Applegate

Waterstones

Gargantis by Thomas Taylor

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ACHUKA Book of the Day Tue 19 May 2020

Sequel to Malamander Waterstones Book of the Month, May 2019; Times Children’s Book of the Week, 18 May 2019; and Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week, 26 May 2019. The second adventure returns readers to Eerie-on-Sea for another battle against a monstrous foe. 

There’s a storm raging in Eerie-on-Sea. Has the mighty Gargantis come back from the deep…? When an ancient bottle is found washed up on the beach after a ferocious electrical storm, all the residents of Eerie-on-Sea seem to want it … but should they in fact fear it? Legend has it that the bottle contains an extraordinary secret that spells doom for the whole of Eerie-on-Sea. Could it be true that the vast sea creature Gargantis has awoken from her slumbers, and is causing the large cracks that are appearing all across the town? Finding themselves entrusted with the bottle, Herbie and Violet discover they will need to ride the terrible storm and pacify the creature if they want to save Eerie-on-Sea from sliding into the ocean and being lost for ever.

Waterstones
Amazon

The Star In The Forest by Helen Kellock

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ACHUKA Book of the Day Mon 18 May 2020
Shortlisted for 2020 Klaus Flugge Prize

The story of two sisters, Maisie and Pip, who venture into a nearby forest one night to find the source of a mysterious light that has fallen from the sky

The main inspiration for The Star in the Forest was Pollok Park, a  country park in Glasgow that is near to Helen Kellock’s studio.

This Scottish-set debut picture book is highly atmospheric and magical.

Read an interview here
https://thamesandhudson.com/news/interview-illustrator-of-the-year-helen-kellock-on-her-new-book/

Helen Kellock is based in Glasgow, Scotland.  After studying Fine Art and English Literature as an undergraduate, Helen returned to the Glasgow School of Art to study a Masters in Illustration where she graduated in 2018 with a Distinction and the Chairman’s Medal for Design. In 2019 she took part in the Picture Hook programme and went on to win the Picture Hook Illustrator of the Year Award. 

Website: http://www.helenkellock.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelenKellock
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenkellock/

Waterstones

Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech

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ACHUKA Book of the Day Fri 15 May 2020

“Another outstanding and unforgettable story that will work well both as a read-aloud for younger listeners and as a rich offering for those recently transitioned to chapter books.” KIRKUS

Louie doesn’t have the best luck when it comes to nurturing small animals – not even lightning bugs, worms or goldfish. So when his father brings home a sickly newborn little donkey, he’s determined to save him. Taking care of him helps Louie feel closer to brother Gus, who has just left home. Everyone worries that Winslow won’t survive, especially Louie’s quirky new friend, Nora. But as his bond with Winslow grows, surprising events prove that this fragile donkey – and Louie – are stronger than anyone could have imagined.

Waterstones

I Don’t Want To Be Quiet! by Laura Ellen Anderson

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ACHUKA Book of the Day Wed 14 May 2020

From the excellent Laura Ellen Anderson, this is a very funny picture book about taking notice of the quieter things in life.

Stairs are for STOMPING, spoons are for DRUMMING, and when my mum’s working, I help her by HUMMING.

Making noise is a LOT of fun … but what happens when you take the time to really listen to your world around you? Perfect for little people who love banging and popping, and whizzing and fizzing.

Laura Ellen Anderson is the author/illustrator of the bestselling Amelia Fang series [see this previous #BookofTheDay].

Waterstones

I’m Sticking With You by Smriti Halls ill. Steve Small

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 13 May 2020

“The delightful, expressive illustrations are by turns comical and poignant, and lots of white space and minimal text on each page focuses attention on the protagonists.” KIRKUS

A warm, funny book about everything a friendship can be.

Wherever you’re going, I’m going too.
Whatever you’re doing, I’m sticking with you.

It’s wonderful to have good friends to see you through the good times and the bad. But sometimes, friends can also be a bit . . . well . . . overbearing.

This completely irresistible rhyming text by Smriti Halls is perfectly complemented by artwork from fantastic new picture book illustrator, Steve Small.

Waterstones

Darwin’s Rival, Alfred Russell Wallace And The Search For Evolution by Christine Dorion ill. Harry Tennant

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 12 May 2020

In 1858, Alfred Russel Wallace’s travels in the Amazon Basin and Malay Archipelago led him to discover natural selection independently of Charles Darwin. Darwin’s Rival traces Wallace’s life from his childhood in the Welsh countryside to his rise to prominence among the scientific community, via dense tropical jungles and perilous journeys – and shines a light on one of the most important contributors to the theory of evolution. With evocative illustrations by Harry Tennant, this would make a stunning gift and is the perfect introduction to the man so often eclipsed by his contemporary and friend Charles Darwin.

Waterstones