The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Woeful Wedding; Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini

There’s trouble in paradise in Mim’s second adventure that takes her and the amazing Travelling Bookshop to a picturesque village on a Greek island.

The Travelling Bookshop could turn up anywhere with Flossy the horse expertly sniffing out where the bookshop is needed most so that Mim, her brother Nat, and their dad Zeddy can hand out the perfect books to the locals. The Greek island upon which the bookshop has just landed is a buzz of excitement as preparations for a wedding are well underway. Everyone is looking forward to the big day except Anjelica, the bride.

Mim is sure that if Anjelica would just read the right book then everything would be ok but with Zeddy handing out the books that the bookshop chooses rather than the books the locals would like it appears that Anjelica and Stavros are heading for a woeful wedding. Can Mim help them follow their hearts and their dreams…

In a charming tale that celebrates a love of books, words and letters, Katrina Nannestad takes readers to Greece and the most picture-perfect of little islands with its wonderful ocean views, pretty fishing harbour, quaint restaurants, little laneways, donkeys for getting up the steep hills and delicious food (mmm baklava). It is the dream setting for a wedding, if only the bride had her heart set on it. Books though have the power to change lives and despite Zeddy’s seemingly random distribution of books there is method to his madness, as he says, ‘the bookshop is never wrong’.

Nim, a collector of words, and her brother Nat, a collector of letters, are as quirky as the deceptively spacious caravan to which they call home. Step through the doors of the Travelling Bookshop and you’ll find books piled high on impossibly tall shelves, comfy chairs to relax in, fancy rugs and even a fountain. You might even find the book that you never knew you needed, just trust Zeddy when he gives you a book on cupcakes when you really wanted one about boats.

With gentle messages about following your dreams and being true to yourself, The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Woeful Wedding is a lovely read that is as sparkly as the ocean that surrounds the tiny Greek island. Black and white illustrations by Cheryl Orsini help bring the adventure and the fabulous island setting to life.

The Travelling Bookshop chooses its destinations carefully, there’s always a reason for it to appear where it does. I wonder where it will be popping up next and who will be in need of its help?

With huge thanks to Harper Collins and ABC Books for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for 7+.