Rocket is a little girl with her head in the stars. She is fascinated by stars and space but

wonders why everyone else is looking down and missing what is in the sky! She sets off

on a mission to get all the adults in her town to notice a meteor shower. The first job is

to get her brother Jamal off his phone!

A great story that may give us parents a gentle nudge to think about what we’re

missing when we’re looking down at our phones. It is also perfectly timed to coincide

with the fiftieth anniversary of the moon landing.

Emily Gravett is one of my favourite illustrators. The books that she writes and

illustrates herself are spectacular. Cyril and Pat is a story of unlikely friendship.

Cyril the squirrel befriends Pat the rat but is completely unaware that Pat isn’t a

squirrel! Lots of other animals try to warn Cyril that Pat may not be who he thinks.

Upon realising, Cyril learns that it doesn’t matter what they look like, or what

others think about them… A good friend is a good friend! Differences are great.

We all need a hug sometimes! Simona Ciraolo’s Hug me is all about a little

cactus who just wants a cuddle! His family aren’t really into that sort of thing

though… Join Felipe as he searches around for a hug. What could possibly go

wrong when he makes a new inflatable friend?

I loved this story and it makes us realise that sometimes the people who are a

little prickly sometimes need a hug more that anyone else!

I’ve been meaning to read this for ages. Nadia Shireen is a picture book goddess and

I have loved every other book of hers that I have got my hands on. Her stories have

more than a pinch of mischief to them!

Billy is walking through the forest with her trusty Fat Cat, she needs to use her head to

avoid the Beast and his hungry tummy. You’ll fall in love with Billy and run out to buy

her next adventure ‘Billy and the Dragon which has just been released.

Mrs Bonsor recommends Journey by Aaron Becker

A beautifully illustrated wordless book means that every time you ‘read’ this, you

see new details that make another new story. Whilst it can be used as a pre-reader,

children and adults of any age can enjoy this book for the storytelling and art!

Amazingly detailed illustrations have all the clues in from the start that lead you to

the end of the story. It is also part of a trilogy so there are others if you want them.

Picture Books

RAB book recommendations for the summer

Summer Reading

Books for younger readers

Mr Penguin wants to go on adventures like the heroes from his favourite films. Although he

is not quite prepared for the adventure that awaits…

Alex T. Smith has written an exciting and funny book that will appeal to any age group. Mr

Penguin and Colin the Kung Fu spider are sent to the local museum to help find the lost

treasure. Miss Bones and her brother desperately need their help. But something fishy is

going on and it’s not just the fish finger sandwich in Mr Penguin’s satchel…

Laugh along as you follow the adventure and mishaps of Mr Penguin and the crew.

I was always told by my teachers that comic books were not real reading. I ignored them

and stuck to my Beanos and Dandys. Here is a brilliant new comic that I bought for my

daughter but ended up having a sneaky read of myself. Ben Clanton’s simple illustrations

are very endearing and this will become a firm favourite for any reluctant or enthusiastic

reader, no matter how old.

Narwhal and Jelly are brilliant characters and you’ll want to read more straight away. The

good news is that book two is already out and the third and fourth will be released in

September—Hopefully your reader will be able to wait that long!

Planet Omar is a great read for all ages. It is reminiscent of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books

fusing fun illustrations by Nasaya Mafaridik and colloquial text by Zanib Miah. I feel that

Planet Omar is a step up though and is far superior.

Omar is a young boy who just cannot seem to keep out of trouble, he doesn’t mean to though.

When his family move house and he has to move school, it’s not easy.

Omar is Muslim, so as well as being a fantastic read it also educates readers about different

cultures as his family build up to Eid.

Another comic/graphic novel that I have enjoyed recently is The Bad Guys by Aaron Blaby. I

saw it mentioned in a few places and then luckily found it in our school library.

The Bad Guys are the animals with bad reputations, shark, wolf, piranha etc. but they want

to change their reputation. It’s not going to be easy…

You will fly through this hilarious novel, chuckling from start to finish. There are plenty of

episodes to get through if you enjoy it too.

RAB book recommendations for the summer

Summer Reading

Mrs Larkin recommends Stitch Head by Guy Bass

I was drawn to this book by the sad looking character on the cover. Stitch Head was created

and brought to life (then forgotten) by a mad professor. He spends his time stopping the

professor’s other ‘monsters’ from breaking out of the castle to cause mayhem in the village

but his life is changed when someone actually tries to get in to the castle!

I loved how the story is both sad and also very funny. It has great illustrations too!

High Rise Mystery by Sharna Jackson is the exciting new murder mystery that will have you

guessing all the way to the end! Set in a high rise estate in London. Two sisters, Nik and

Norva are determined to solve the latest mystery! Especially as their Dad seems to be a

prime suspect. But it couldn’t be him, could it?

Modern London has been captured perfectly in this novel that you will not be able to put

down from the second you glance at it’s cover. You simply must read this phenomenally

exciting book right now!

Abi Elphinstone is establishing herself as one of the best writers in the British Isles right now!

She manages to create spectacular fantasy worlds that you can’t wait to dive into! Rumble

Star is linked to EverDark which was a free World Book Day book. You don’t need to read

EverDark beforehand but if you picked it up back in March you will love this even more!

Casper is the ultimate anti-hero, he is not a Resilient Risk taker… But one day, when hiding

from the school bullies he hides in a grandfather clock and ends up in RumbleStar. It takes

him a while to believe in the magic that surrounds the new world but he must believe if he

wants to save the world from Morg! A superbly exciting adventure that you will love!

The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum is a dystopian thriller set in an alternative future. It seems

that life is normal in Fennis Wick but we quickly realise that things are a little different…

The eldest child from each family is treated with reverence. In return for their favouritism,

they are sent away on their eleventh birthday to fight in the unseen war. Maggie is the middle

child in her family and she hates the unjust treatment that the Elders receive. This pushes her

to break the rules and disobey the strict instructions that are there to keep her town safe…

Will she regret her decisions? Or does fortune really favour the brave?

Mrs Spaxman recommends Can You See Me by Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott

Can You See Me? is a story of autism, empathy and kindness that I suggest is aimed at Year 5

and 6, but should be read by everyone whether you have anyone in your life with autism or

not. It is endearing, insightful and warmly uplifting.

This brave story is about an eleven-year-old girl Tally, as she starts Year 7 and navigates

her way through those bewildering first few weeks of High School. It will make you laugh and

cry as the you read how Tally tries really hard to be just like her friends.

The book contains diary entries written by eleven-year-old Libby Scott, based on her own

experiences of autism and is written with the author Rebecca Westcott.

Books for Older readers

RAB book recommendations for the summer

Summer Reading

With Wildspark, Vashti Hardy has created an exciting and fascinating fantasy world that

readers will love to delve into!

Prue is a mechanic from a small farm, one day her life changes when she gets the chance to

become an apprentice in the city helping to create animal-like machines that can take on the

spirits of the dead and give them a second chance at living a new life. Is this her chance to

bring back her brother?

Everything is going well for Prue, but she has to choose her allegiances quickly and carefully

as she realise that things might not be as they seem! I loved this and I hope you do too.