Mariella, Queen of the Skies; Eoin Colfer, illustrated by Katy Halford

Super smart Mariella was always full of ideas and she liked nothing more than turning her ideas into actual things. Her recent inventions of the Robot Surprise Ball for her baby brother and the Jump Rope Twizzler had been very successful. Others had not gone so well but that was all part of inventing and experimenting. Unfortunately, there are not enough hours in the day for Mariella to do all the thinking and inventing that she would like to do and after another bedtime call from her mum she has an idea…to find a solution to avoid having to go to bed. But creative little minds need sleep and what will happen to Mariella and her ideas when T - 72 = EH…

I love this book. A young female embracing STEM is just what we need. Everything about Mariella is awesome. She surrounds herself with science; posters on the bedroom walls, science books on the bookcase, periodic table duvet cover, she even has her own lab! Rather than letting problems get in her way, Mariella is always on the look-out for solutions. She is bursting with creativity and when she’s not in her lab she is scribbling ideas and plans on her bedroom wall. The story also hints at conservation and the importance of repurposing old things. Mariella deciding against making a giant catapult as it would involve cutting down trees and that would not be good for the planet. Instead she chooses to make use of an old TV, lawnmower and shower curtain which are in her dad’s shed.

It is an easy read and the enjoyable story told over several short chapters is delightfully illustrated. I really like all the little elements that are included in the illustrations, there are nods to science dotted all over the place. The floating cupcake in some kind of machine in the background of the lab is a personal favourite. Characters of different ethnicities are represented which is always great to see. Extras can be found on the inside front and back covers and come in the form of some super women scientists and the brilliant ideas that they came up with and a spot-the-difference.

This is one of my favourite reads in the brilliant ‘Little Gems’ series by the fabulous Barrington Stoke.

Recommended for 5+.