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The Iron Man by Ted Hughes: Book Review

March 30, 2011 By Uk Book Prices Editor Leave a Comment
The Iron Man: A Children’s Story in Five Nights
Ted Hughes

 

One of children’s literature’s most poetic novels, The Iron Man is a simply and beautifully-written classic.

With its extraordinarily vivid imagery and unforgettable narrative, The Iron Man tells the story of an enormous metal giant, from his mysterious origins, through his reign of terror, to his eventual redemption, as he puts his own life on the line to save the world from a far greater threat.

An inspiring and enthralling fable for junior children.

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Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli: Book Review

March 30, 2011 By Uk Book Prices Editor Leave a Comment
Stargirl (Black Apple)
Jerry Spinelli

 

Stargirl is a hugely original and perfectly-crafted parable about daring to be different.

The arrival of a very unusual character at a typical American High School sends shockwaves rippling through its corridors, divides opinion, and completely transforms the life of Leo Borlock. For Stargirl truly stands out from the crowd, and refuses to be influenced by anybody. Living a charming, quirky, magical, mysterious existence that baffles and challenges her fellow pupils, Stargirl is one literature’s most vivid and unforgettable characters.

A delightful and beautifully-written story that celebrates non-conformity and the power of personality, Stargirl will appeal to adults and teenagers, boys and girls alike.

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The Red House Children’s Book Award shortlist

March 4, 2011 By Uk Book Prices Editor Leave a Comment

Red House

 

The ten books shortlisted for the prestigious Red House Children’s Book Award 2011 have been revealed. From pets to monsters, time travel to knitting, lots of different subjects are addressed in these books that will appeal to all ages and tastes!

The winner will be announced on 11 June, and in the meantime, whilst the voting is open online, Red House have put together some fantastic bundles with incredible savings for all ages…

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The J.K.Rowling effect: Magic or Madness?

March 2, 2011 By Uk Book Prices Editor Leave a Comment

 

J.K.Rowling

 

No other author in the history of literature has succeeded in casting a spell as strong as J.K.Rowling’s. From the humble beginnings of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone , which was rejected by 12 publishing houses and finally published in 1997 by Bloomsbury with an initial print-run of just 1000 copies, J.K.Rowling and Harry Potter have travelled a long way together.

 

 

J.K.Rowling’s star began to rise when Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was awarded the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize. When Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban were also awarded the prize (making J.K.Rowling the first person to win the award three times in a row), she actually removed her fourth novel from contention to allow other authors a chance. With the publication of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2000, every subsequent book smashed its previous publishing record as the fastest-selling book of all time, culminating in the much-anticipated release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on 21st July 2007, which sold a phenomenal 11 million copies on the first day alone.

 

 

 

With the assistance of the extraordinarily successful films, Harry Potter is now a global brand worth approximately £7 billion, and J.K.Rowling herself has became the first person to become a US dollar billionaire by writing books. The Harry Potter books have been translated into 65 different languages. Credited with igniting the interest of a whole generation of young readers, with inventing the crossover novel (a book published simultaneously with different covers for adults and for children), and with being the most influential woman in Britain in 2010, J.K.Rowling is probably the best known living author in the world today. Not bad for somebody who started their literary career as a single mother living on benefits.

 

So what’s all the fuss about? If you’re the sort of person who is immediately put off by hype or blockbusting success, are you missing out? Is the runaway success of Harry Potter down to magic or madness?

 

 

Well, it’s refreshing to say it, but J.K.Rowling is a woman who has well and truly earned her money and her fame. Whether you’re returning to the books as old favourites, whether you’re an adult curious to see what all the fuss is about, or whether you’re introducing them to your children for the first time, there’s a very special kind of magic trapped between every single page of the Harry Potter series. And its a magic built up through two very fundamental building bricks: plot and character.

 

The Harry Potter books work so well because J.K.Rowling has invested so much of herself in them. Each individual novel is meticulously planned and structured around a mystery that develops throughout the story, culminating in a final showdown in which everything becomes clear. They are in effect magical whodunits, packed to the brim with incident and adventure. But what becomes apparent as you work your way through the Harry Potter books is that each individual novel plays a key role in an overall plot, spanning the entire series. Early incidents, objects and characters take on a new significance as the story progresses. The very last chapter of the very last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was actually one of the first things that J.K.Rowling wrote. She knew more or less exactly what was going to happen to each of her characters right from the beginning of book one. This exceptional narrative foresight results in a watertight structure; each book is bound together through a seamless and utterly convincing plotline.

 

Harry Potter

 

The intelligence and rationalisation of J.K.Rowling’s storytelling is perfectly balanced by her characters, who provide the heart and soul of the Harry Potter novels. What’s amazing about J.K.Rowling’s novels is the sheer quantity of characters that inhabit their pages. It’s a cast of epic proportions. There are obvious lead characters who play pivotal roles in the plot and become old friends over the course of the series, and secondary characters who fill the books with humour, warmth and controversy. But there’s also a whole host of characters who maybe only have a tiny role in one of the books; continual reminders of their existence throughout the series makes them every bit as real as Harry, Ron and Hermione. Each book introduces new characters, so that by the time we reach the ultimate showdown in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the reader is in the company of an entire army of friends built up by Harry over his seven years at Hogwarts.

 

Reading J.K.Rowling’s novels plunges you so completely into the world of Harry Potter and takes you on such a momentous journey, that, once you finally reach the end, the temptation is to reach straight out for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and relive the adventure all over again. There’s no denying that there’s a certain amount of madness to be found here amongst the hype, the obsession, the fortune and the record-breaking – but the magic that lies at the heart of Harry Potter is irresistible.

 

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10 Great Picture Books to Read Aloud

February 16, 2011 By Uk Book Prices Editor 3 Comments
Charlie and Lola
 
 
Children’s early encounters with reading are incredibly important; positive first experiences with books can make them readers for life. Fortunately there’s an astonishing wealth of picture books available for the lucky children of the twenty-first century to choose from. With their beautiful brightly-coloured illustrations, unforgettable characters and stories that can entertain, teach and inspire, picture books can become an integral part of a young child’s daily routine, to be shared with and enjoyed by every member of the family. We’ve compiled a list of our 10 favourite classic picture books that no family home should be without…
 
 
Elmer: The Story of a Patchwork Elephant
David McKee
 
Elmer tells the story of a multicoloured elephant who attempts to blend in with the crowd only to discover that it is his personality, not his appearance, that makes him the elephant he is. A humorous and unforgettable picture book that teaches children a valuable lesson about the importance of simply being yourself.
 
 
 
An unfortunate little mole wakes up one morning to discover that something rather unpleasant has been deposited on his head. This outrageously funny picture book takes its readers on a unique journey as the mole sets out on a mission to uncover the culprit. A picture book gem that will have adults as well as children laughing out loud.
 
 
 
This first outing of Charlie and Lola’s hilarious brother and sister act tackles a situation that parents can identify with only too easily. The ingenious Charlie resorts to extremely creative subterfuge in order to persuade his little sister Lola to eat her vegetables. Lauren Child perfectly captures the voices of her characters, and her quirky illustrations bring the story brilliantly to life.
 
 
How to Catch a Star
Oliver Jeffers
 
Writer and artist Oliver Jeffers’ first picture book is an enchanting and poignant story about dreams coming true. Its simple, humorous storyline works perfectly with the stunning illustrations, making it a beautiful gift for 3-5 year olds.
 
 
Mog the Forgetful Cat
Judith Kerr
 
The first of Judith Kerr’s Mog stories is a true classic that has stood the test of time. Mog’s forgetfulness is always getting her into trouble until she accidentally saves the day by helping to catch a burglar. An engaging story about a very big personality, full of warmth and humour.
 
 
Where the wild things are Where The Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak
 
When Max gets set to bed without any supper, his imagination takes him on a fantastical journey into a mysterious and wonderful land in which he is King of all the wild things. An adventure story in which a young boy discovers that life isn’t all about having things your own way, and that home isn’t such a terrible place after all.
 
 
 
When Hairy Maclary goes for a walk with some of his friends, they are met by a nasty surprise… Lynley Dodd’s rhythmic and rhyming prose makes Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy a fantastic story to read along with, complete as it is with comical sound effects. A lively and charming bedtime read.
 
 
 
This colourful and much-loved classic takes very young children on a culinary adventure as the caterpillar eats its way through the pages towards a delightful surprise. With counting and tactile pages, this is a book that satisfies on many levels.
 
 
The Gruffalo
Julia Donaldson
 
Julia Donaldson’s most popular rhyming picture book tells the story of a quick-witted mouse whose imaginative invention turns out to be rather less of an invention than he’d expected. The Gruffalo won the gold award (in the 0–5 years category) of the 1999 Nestle Smarties Book Prize and the Blue Peter Best Book To Read Aloud award, and it isn’t difficult to see why.
 
 
 
The simple but beautifully-written repetitive phrases in this firm family favourite make it the perfect story for young children to learn and join in with. A family expedition turns into more of an adventure than anybody was expecting!
Filed Under: 10 Great..., Children's Books, Picture Books Tagged With: , , , , , ,

10 Great Books for Boys

February 11, 2011 By Uk Book Prices Editor Leave a Comment
Boy reading
 
Boys can be notoriously tricky customers when it comes to choosing a novel to read. Most girls will read pretty much anything, but for many parents with boys, finding a book that appeals to their child can be a daunting task. Anything pink on the cover rules the book out immediately, and often a lead female character or even a female author can be enough to put boys off. Boys like books that look as if they have been produced specifically with boys in mind. They enjoy action adventure stories, quirky humour and silly characters that make them laugh. So if you’re struggling to find something that your boy will consider reading, here are a few suggestions to get you started…
 
(5-7 years)
 
Cinderboy (Seriously Silly Stories)
Laurence Anholt
 
Laurence Anholt’s series of Seriously Silly Stories are fantastic for early reluctant readers. They take traditional fairy stories and turn them upsidedown, with hilarious results. In this story, Cinderella becomes Cinderboy, whose dream is to play football for Crystal Palace United. It’s funny, unthreatening and illustrated with some seriously silly cartoons.
 
(6-8 years)
 
Ferno the Fire Dragon (Beast Quest)
Adam Blade
 
Adam Blade’s Beast Quest series is to boys what the Rainbow Magic series is to girls. The books have become something of a publishing phenomenon, with boys counting down the days until the release of the next books in the series. The enchanting blend of adventure, action, magical beasts and heroism has proved irresistible to boys of a certain age.
 
(6-8 years)
 
Horrid Henry
Francesca Simon
 
The first in the hilarious series about every teacher’s nightmare pupil, together with his brother Perfect Peter and his arch-enemy Moody Margaret. The boy whose fiendish plots are forever landing him in trouble is brilliantly brought to life through Tony Ross’s illustrations. Francesca Simon has created a firm family favourite who’s stood the test of time – and she’s still busy writing new Horrid Henry stories!
 
(7-9 years)
 
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
Dav Pilkey
 
This is a book unlikely to appeal to adults, but there can be no denying its popularity with young boys – and anything that encourages them to read can be no bad thing! When serial pranksters George and Harold try to elude punishment by hypnotising their headteacher, they accidentally create a very unusual superhero. Laugh-out-loud humour of the potty-theme variety.
 
(7-10 years)
 
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning
Lemony Snicket
 
Lemony Snicket’s very original take on children’s literature appeals to boys largely because it is the very opposite to what you might expect from a children’s story. The enormously successful series tells the tale of the Baudelaire siblings, Violet, Klaus and Sunny, who suffer a series of macabre misfortunes and horrible adventures. The books are fast-moving, darkly comic and thoroughly addictive.
 
(7-10 years)
 
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Jeff Kinney
 
Written in diary format complete with a handwritten type face and cartoons, Diary of a Wimpy Kid tells the story of the goofy Greg Heffley as he attempts to elevate his status from class loser to class clown at his new school. Greg and his even uncooler sidekick Rowley find themselves in a series of hilarious situations as they embark upon their quest.
 
(8-12 years)
 
Artemis Fowl
Eoin Colfer
 
Described by Eoin Colfer himself as ‘Die Hard with fairies’, Artemis Fowl poses a unique and modern twist on the world of magic that defies stereotypes and lets the imagination run riot. 12-year-old criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl hatches a dastardly plot to relieve the fairyfolk of their pot of gold by kidnapping a leprechaun and holding her to ransom. A rip-roaring and humorous slice of modern escapism.
 
(9-13 years)
 
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan
 
When troubled schoolboy Percy Jackson discovers that he is in fact the son of the Greek God Poseidon, a whole new world of possibilities are opened up to him. Enrolled into Camp Half-Blood and accused by the God Zeus of stealing his thunderbolt, Percy and his friends embark on a quest fraught with danger. A hugely entertaining, pacey and funny adventure story that will appeal to fans of Harry Potter.
 
(12-15 years)
 
Stormbreaker (Alex Rider)
Anthony Horowitz
 
Anthony Horowitz has concocted a delicious blend of James Bond and Mission Impossible in Stormbreaker, the first in his series about the teenage spy Alex Rider. When 14-year-old Alex’s uncle dies in suspicious circumstances, Alex makes a shocking discovery that will turn his world upside down. Recruited into MI6, Alex is sent on his first mission to investigate the truth behind billionaire Herod Sayle’s Stormbreaker computers. Slick, action-packed and mature, teenage boys will find this difficult to put down.
 
(13-17 years)
 
Cirque Du Freak (The Saga of Darren Shan Book 1)
Darren Shan
 
Dark, witty, gory and compulsive, Cirque Du Freak is the first in a series of horror stories for teenage boys. It tells the story of Darren Shan and his friend Steve, who acquire tickets for a banned freak show. Mesmerised by what they see, Darren and Steve find themselves plunged into a terrifying world of vampires and giant poisonous spiders – a world from which there is no escape. Not for the faint-hearted.
Filed Under: 10 Great..., Books for Boys, Children's Books Tagged With: , , , ,

From baby to adult in 18 classic children’s books…

January 28, 2011 By Uk Book Prices Editor Leave a Comment

Elmer

 

Children have never had it so lucky as far as reading is concerned. There is a vast array of books for children of all ages available, with new authors and series appearing on bookshelves every month. There are entirely new genres of children’s books, like crossover novels (also suitable for adults) and Dark Romance (teenage vampire stories inspired by the Twilight saga). There are activity books complete with the relevant gadgets and books that tie in with the latest blockbuster films. There are books that are also toys and books that you can take into the bath. Walking into the children’s section of a bookshop can be somewhat overwhelming these days.

Mr HappyTo make things a little simpler for you, we’ve compiled a list of 18 classic children’s books – one for every year from 1 to 18. Children’s reading abilities vary enormously, but as a rough guide these books should suit an average reader of the relevant age. If you want to make sure that at least one of the books your child reads each year is a classic, then look no further…

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

This colourful and much-loved classic takes babies on a culinary adventure as the caterpillar eats its way through the pages towards a delightful surprise.

 

 

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

The simple but beautifully-written repetitive phrases in this firm family favourite make it the perfect story for young children to learn and join in with.

 

Gruffalo

Julia Donaldson’s most popular rhyming picture book tells the story of a quick-witted mouse whose imaginative invention turns out to be rather less of an invention than he’d expected…

 

 

 

Elmer

A humorous and unforgettable story about everybody’s favourite multicoloured elephant, teaching children the valuable lesson that there’s nothing wrong with being different.

 

 
 

Roger Hargreaves’ Mr Men and Little Miss series are ideal for early readers, combining the perfect blend of incident, character and humour. You can buy the entire Mr Men series for just £30…

 

 

 

The hilarious adventures of Winnie the Pooh and his friends have lost none of their charm over the years – they’re as refreshing and entertaining as ever. You can buy the entire Winnie the Pooh collection for just £30.

 

 

When Stanley Lambchop wakes up one morning to discover that a noticeboard has squashed him flat, he discovers that he can do all sorts of new things… Perfect for readers who are beginning to establish their independence.

 

 

 

The first in a series that will enthrall and captivate young readers. Enid Blyton’s books may be old-fashioned, but the characters and plot are as vibrant as ever. They’ve stood the test of time for a reason, and are still some of the most popular children’s books today.

 

 

 

Writers don’t get much more imaginative than Roald Dahl. This enchanting tale transports readers to a hilarious world of giants, dream-catching and snozzcumbers in which anything is possible.
 

 

 

 

The battle between good and evil lies at the heart of this classic fantasy adventure in which four children discover the magical land of Narnia through a wardrobe.

 

 

 

 

Seldom has the hype been as well-deserved as with J.K.Rowling’s series of seven books about the adventures of the legendary boy wizard and his friends. Packed with detail, characters and plot, the Harry Potter books have revolutionised the children’s book industry.

 

 

 

The first in the series of four novels set in a post-apocalyptic future in which mobile cities fight for survival. A thrilling and haunting adventure from an award-winning author.

 

 

 

 

This energetic rollercoaster ride of a novel introduces the adventures of teenage spy Alex Rider, and will have its readers on the edge of their seats right through to its spectacular conclusion.

 

 

 

 

An extraordinary and powerful masterpiece about innocence and evil. John Boyne’s language is deceptively simple; his message is devastating.

 

 

 

 

     An entertaining, quirky and highly original novel narrated entirely from the point of view of an autistic teenager. Mark Haddon provides a fascinating insight into a life in which the world is seen from a very unusual perspective.

 

 

 

Racial prejudice has been turned on its head in this thought-provoking, award-winning novel. Set in an alternative reality, the noughts – the white people – are the inferior race, and the crosses – the black people – dominate. As enthralling as it is ingenious.

 

 

 

In this, the first novel in his trilogy, Philip Pullman explores themes as profound as the soul, the afterlife, original sin and organised religion at the same time as presenting the reader with one of the most exciting and entertaining fantasy adventure stories of all time.

 

 

 

A startlingly original piece of literature that will take your breath away with its blatant disregard for the conventions of storytelling. A beautiful, exhilarating and unforgattable exploration of life, death and the holocaust.

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