This is the fourth title in the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series and it is my favourite title to date.

It’s all well and good being told that you can be anything that you want to be but there’s nothing better than seeing people like you, reading about what they have achieved and knowing that through hard-work, dedication and determination you can do it too. Children need relatable, real and inspiring role-models and this is exactly what Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic delivers.

When we hear the name Michelle Obama it would not be unreasonable to immediately think of her as being the wife of former President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. However, to think of her like this would be to do her a great injustice as Michelle is quite the lady and her story is one that is definitely worth reading.

Michelle was born into a humble, close-knit family home on the south side of Chicago. As a child she lived by the words, “Study hard and be great.” She knew the importance of education and was determined to become the best person she could be and what a person she is. The high achieving graduate, trailblazing lawyer, former First Lady and activist who advocates for women, girls, healthy eating, fitness, education and the better lives of others is an icon, an inspiration and is the ultimate in cool…

I’m a huge sports fan and was very fortunate to attend several different events at the London 2012 Olympic Games so I was thrilled to get my hands on this non-fiction sports book to see if it was worthy of being awarded a gold medal.

Since 1896, athletes from around the world have been competing in the modern summer Olympics to see who is the very best in a range of sporting disciplines. On this epic sporting journey, explore the world’s greatest sporting spectacle taking in the host cities, meeting the athletes, savouring the souvenirs and memorabilia, and learning the incredible sporting stories that every four years cause millions around the world to get caught up in Olympic fever…

Acts of kindness, no matter how small, are always important and can make a real difference to individuals, to communities, to countries and to the wider world.

Meet twelve real-life children who have come up with ways to make a difference to the lives of others. Discover their stories and how they have stepped up to make positive change. From supporting children on the streets to making clean drinking water, developing technology to aid the blind to raising awareness about mental health. Kids around the world are changing the world for the better…

I love Polly Ho-Yen’s books so was thrilled to hear of her latest title and even more excited to be given the opportunity to read it ahead of its publication.

Billy’s mum, Sylvia Weywood, is a bit different to other people’s mums which is why he finds himself pulled out of school on the last day of term before the Christmas holiday’s and standing in a wood learning survival skills as opposed to enjoying party games with his classmates. Sylvia has become increasingly obsessed with teaching Billy a strict set of rules, not just any rules…rules for survival; Be prepared; Pay attention; Trust no one; Master your fears; Never stop trying. But when one of Sylvia’s survival lessons goes wrong, Billy finds himself sent away to live with a dad who he barely knows while his mum is sent to a psychiatric hospital to ‘get better’.

I love historical fiction and was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an early read of A. M. Howell’s latest book. In Mystery of the Night Watchers, Howell brings her home town of Bury St Edmunds to life in an evocative tale of a search for family truths.

May 1910 and the days prior to the passing of Halley’s Comet are providing much discussion, some are in fear of it, others are excited by it. Nancy’s mother has become fascinated with the comet but has also began acting increasingly strangely and Nancy is exceptionally taken aback when she finds herself and her sister, Violet, whisked away from their home in Leeds and taken to stay with a grandfather in Suffolk whom they have never met.

From Jess Butterworth comes a lovely new series that is perfect reading for all little adventurers, budding conservationists and animal lovers.

Eight-year-old Tilly really isn’t looking forward to the spring holidays. She longs for an adventure but while the other children in her class will be surfing in Cornwall, holidaying on narrowboats and going camping, she will be stuck at home with the babysitter.

That is until she wins a school competition and finds herself heading to Nepal on the adventure of a lifetime to observe red pandas. Along with two other children, Leo and Anita, Tilly will be helping conservationists and will get to do all sorts of exciting things. But when one red panda can not be found will Tilly’s dream adventure turn into a nightmare…

Whales are such magnificent animals and this picture book from Beryl Young is a wonderful read that will spark awe and wonder about these most beautiful of ocean dwellers.

In the warm waters of a southern bay, a young whale calf stays close to her mother. On the cliffs overlooking the ocean, a young girl and her mother pay close attention to the whales. Both calf and child are just starting their own journey’s in life and despite their noticeable differences they have much in common. And so begins a poetic story that explores how the whale calf and the girl are indeed very much connected…

So many brilliant debut authors appearing in 2021 and Daisy May Johnson is another to add to the list.

Having to be brave is nothing new to mother and daughter, Elizabeth and Calla. Together, they have faced more than their fair share of difficulties and lows in life and have always put on a brave face to see them through. So when Elizabeth is invited to take part in a six-month research project involving ducks in the Amazon Rainforest she jumps at the chance.