More 'Little Gems' from Barrington Stoke

The 'Little Gems’ series are perfect for emerging and newly independent readers and are guaranteed to be a hit with children of five plus. Created by some of the most talented children’s authors and illustrators around, these fabulous reads feature vibrant illustrations, short chapters, bonus content (mazes, spot the differences, jokes) can often be found inside the front and back covers and are perfectly sized for small hands. Crucially, Barrington Stoke’s titles are accessible to all as they are published using dyslexic friendly font and colours.

SuperNan's Day Out; Phil Earle, illustrated by Steve May

We were first introduced to heroic and fearless youngster Super Stan in SuperDad, and now Phil Earle introduces a golden oldie with a very big secret…meet SuperNan…

It’s not easy being a superhero and Super Stan is exhausted from all of his superhero antics. Mum has prescribed a day of non-superhero-ing with his Nan to help him recharge his weary batteries. A day trip to the seaside with a bunch of old people who come with the smell of cabbage is not his idea of a fun day out. But bingo, donkey rides and whiffs of cabbage are the least of Stanley’s problems as planes are falling from the sky, clowns are carrying out heists and hotels are catching fire. While he is unable to do anything to save the day, someone else seems to be doing his job for him. Who could this new superhero possibly be…

Just by looking at the colourful front cover you know this is going to be a whole lot of fun and it doesn’t disappoint. Bursting with humour and wit, Earle’s punchy story and Steve May’s vibrant illustrations serve up a brilliant superhero story with a surprising hero at its heart.

SuperNan, an oldie with a well-kept secret, will have readers laughing all the way to the seaside as she and Stanley - or is it Sam, Simon, perhaps Sharon - have a highly eventful day out. Whilst Stanley is at first a bit miffed to be carted off to Nan and the old people’s home, by the end he is in his element. Time with grandparents is always time well spent and whether children enjoy the time with theirs saving the day, preventing catastrophes or something a little less adventurous, this delightful little package is a reminder that older relatives are pretty damn awesome.

Will surely have young readers wondering whether their own granny might be a secret superhero who, when she’s not knitting, getting names wrong or eating cabbage, is off saving the world. Entertaining, a huge amount of fun and perfect for fans of superhero stories.

Dimple and the Boo; Pip Jones, illustrated by Paula Bowles

Life isn’t fair for gnome Dimple. His PopPop has had to go far away for work, his mum is making him eat cabbage pie for dinner and mean neighbour Mrs Miskin won’t return his balls. All of this is making him feel a bit funny in his tummy and he cannot find the right words to say how he feels. Luckily, the Boo knows exactly how to let everyone know what is going on. Except Boo is very rude and his actions keep making things worse. Can Dimple learn how to share how he really feels…

Exploring feelings, misunderstandings, the importance of talking about worries and not keeping things bottled up inside, Dimple and the Boo is a superb book that should be a staple in all key stage one classrooms. It is a title that I would be regularly sharing with young children and slipping it into little hands when the need arises.

Dimple is a brilliant little character and readers will quickly empathise with him, his situation and his feelings. Like many young people, events in his life bother him and his emotions and feelings quickly overwhelm him. The Boo - the strange furry creature that has taken residence in Dimple’s pocket and who visits us all at some point, preying on our anxieties and worries - is the little critter whose actions allow children to see what Dimple is really feeling. A lovely ending not only has Dimple in a better place but offers a practical way for children to let an adult know that they need to talk but are not sure how to start.

Featuring illustrations that explicitly depict feelings, this smart and emotionally intelligent story is perfect for encouraging young children to talk about how they feel.

Carnival of the Clocks; Nick Sharratt

It’s dark outside and lessons finished hours ago but the playground is a buzz with activity. Clocks of all shapes and sizes are being held high in the air by the children in Class One. What is going on? It’s the twenty-first of December, the shortest day of the year. Which can only mean one thing… a procession through town, a bonfire, fireworks and celebrations. It’s time for the Carnival of the Clocks…

Who doesn’t love a good festival or celebration? Inspired by the annual Burning the Clocks event that takes place in Brighton on the twenty-first of December, Nick Sharratt encourages children to get excited about the Winter solstice - the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere - in a tick-tocking, fun-filled read that fizzes like a firework, explodes with colour, and is full of energy and excitement.

Delightfully written and with fabulous illustrations - colourful clocks pop out against the night sky - children will be in their element as they join the parade and then party with the children and adults on the beachfront as the bonfire is lit and fireworks illuminate the dark. There’s plenty of learning on offer too with shapes to identify, times to read and a plethora of literary features including alliteration, rhyme, repetition and onomatopoeia.

If you love Carnival of the Clocks then be sure to check out what else the children of Class One get up to in Splash Day and Tea Party Parade, both written and illustrated by Nick.

Sidney Makes a Wish; Lisa Thompson, illustrated by Jess Rose

​Lisa Thompson is a brilliant writer of children’s books, consistently delivering engaging and empathy-filled stories that deal with issues that are relevant and important to children. I am thrilled that she has written a book for the ‘Little Gems’ series and I know it is going to not only be enjoyed by young readers but will be a valuable tool for navigating those oh-so-tricky friendship situations.

Billy and Sidney used to be friends but now Billy only seems to ever have time for Austin and barely notices Sidney at all. When Sidney spots a wishing well hidden in the long grass on the way to school, he might have discovered the solution to his friendship problems. If he makes the perfect wish then surely Billy will want to be best friends again. But when wish after wish fails, what Sidney doesn’t see is that the thing that he craves the most is standing right in-front of him…

A fabulously told and delightfully illustrated story about feeling left out and discovering friendship when you least expect it. This is one of those reads that will be loved by children and will be valued by teachers and parents. It doesn’t patronise by suggesting that friendship is easy, there is no quick fix for Sidney’s problems and Billy never recognises the consequences of his behaviours.

This topic is bang on for young readers who will easily relate to Billy and the various situations he experiences - the loss of his best friend to another child, standing alone on the sidelines and watching others play and have fun together, the feelings of rejection as his offers of playdates and friendship are not accepted. Whilst Billy may not be the perfect friend, Carrie is an awesome little character and the clued up reader will spot that she would make the perfect friend for Sidney, long before he realises it. Being new to the school, Carrie is after a friend too and you just know that she and Sidney are going to have fun together.

With lots to discuss - Billy’s actions, the importance of being king, changing friendships dynamics, what makes a good friend - this is the perfect read for key stage one classrooms. Ultimately Sidney learns that material possessions - huge trampolines, extravagant ice-cream makers and über cool robot dogs - don’t help you get friends, just being you is more than enough and this is a hugely important message.

Elisabeth and the Box of Colours; Katherine Woodfine, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb

​Colour brings healing and comfort to one little girl and those who are fortunate enough to know her.

Elisabeth grew up in a house in Paris that was always full of love, laughter and colour. Just like her father, Elisabeth loved to paint. She would paint anything and everything using every possible colour. But when she is packed off to school, the colour drains from her world and she exists in a world of grey: grey buildings, grey uniforms, grey rooms, and a very gloomy teacher. It wasn’t long before the greyness was forcing its way into her and she too began to feel very grey. And when a family tragedy occurs, it seems like the greyness would never leave. Will the colour ever return to Elisabeth’s world or will her gift as an artist be lost forever…

This delightful little read is inspired by the world-famous artist Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, one of France’s most important painters who made a name for herself painting portraits, including several of Queen Marie Antoinette. It is a touching tale of a young girl who, through friendship, is empowered to use her creative talents to help her navigate the gloomiest of times and find moments of colour in every day.

As well as being a fabulous fictionalised biography, this is a valuable lesson in pursuing the things that you love. Elisabeth is repeatedly told that her art is not necessary, that her world of colour is unacceptable and that she should not waste her time sketching and instead focus on her studies (sums and spellings) but she shows the value of having courage in your convictions and uses her talents to brighten the lives of many. The creative arts are an essential part of the primary curriculum and this story emphasises the importance of affording children the opportunity to explore with paints and crayons. A fascinating afterword provides more information about the interesting life of a young artist-in-the-making and what she went onto achieve throughout her life.

In a read that celebrates art, colours and paintings you would expect the illustrations to be somewhat special, and Rebecca Cobb’s picture perfect strokes expertly capture the mood and period. Vibrant and happy colour-filled pictures are a stark contrast to the greys of life at school - personal favourites are the glimmers of colour that Elisabeth manages to snatch during her grey days (colour is everywhere if you know where to look).

A beautiful and inspiring read that will bring a splash of colour to any grey day.

​With huge thanks to Barrington Stoke for the copies I received in exchange for honest reviews.