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songsaboutghosts's review
2.0
This is a lovely book set in the heart of South Wales countryside about the adventure of a little girl and her two friends, in search of magic. A great book to read to your children – but watch out for the ending!
This book has some great illustrations to accompany the story, without dominating the book, great for encouraging young readers. Some of the vocabulary might be a little advanced for the audience so it’d be a great book for parents to read to children, so they can explain any unfamiliar words along the way and help grow the child’s vocabulary. It would also be particularly good for Welsh children or children with Welsh family, as there are a couple of Welsh references and Welsh words that would be more suitable for a Welsh-oriented audience.
The story was charming and nostalgic as it followed the children along their journey, discussing the settings and how they had changed. The story also includes cute little aspects such as local nicknames for local personalities, which makes the book feel more authentic. I enjoyed the characters in general, as I felt they had enough detail to bring them to life without going into unnecessary descriptions that would bore children.
The beginning of the book was a little slow, but as the book is not too long overall, I don’t think it’s too much of an issue. The only part I didn’t like was the end of the story – I didn’t think it was very pleasant, especially for children, and I didn’t think it was necessary. It wasn’t explained at all so I don’t think it made a very satisfying ending or added anything to the story. It made it not a story I would tell before bedtime.
This book has some great illustrations to accompany the story, without dominating the book, great for encouraging young readers. Some of the vocabulary might be a little advanced for the audience so it’d be a great book for parents to read to children, so they can explain any unfamiliar words along the way and help grow the child’s vocabulary. It would also be particularly good for Welsh children or children with Welsh family, as there are a couple of Welsh references and Welsh words that would be more suitable for a Welsh-oriented audience.
The story was charming and nostalgic as it followed the children along their journey, discussing the settings and how they had changed. The story also includes cute little aspects such as local nicknames for local personalities, which makes the book feel more authentic. I enjoyed the characters in general, as I felt they had enough detail to bring them to life without going into unnecessary descriptions that would bore children.
The beginning of the book was a little slow, but as the book is not too long overall, I don’t think it’s too much of an issue. The only part I didn’t like was the end of the story – I didn’t think it was very pleasant, especially for children, and I didn’t think it was necessary. It wasn’t explained at all so I don’t think it made a very satisfying ending or added anything to the story. It made it not a story I would tell before bedtime.
ftlobooks's review
4.0
A Pocketful of Pegs is a fantastic, nostalgic read, that takes the reader right into the heart of the post war Welsh Mining Valleys. It's loosely based on the poem Meg Merrilies by John Keats, a fantastic and well loved poet. Roberts intertwines this character into the story in an interesting and intriguing way. Being firmly set in the Welsh Valleys, the book makes many nods towards Welsh names, events and places. It's clear that Roberts has a strong connection to the Rhondda Valleys and this makes the story lovely to read, especially for children and adults familiar with the area.
Although this book is quite traditional in its writing and is set in the mid 20th Century, this is what makes it a unique and interesting read. It would certainly appeal to many children, especially those with an interest in History. A Pocketful of Pegs would also appeal to parents reading this book to their child as they may remember similar adventures from their childhood. The character, Bronwen, is a typical Welsh mother, and a lot of people will be able to liken her to their own mother or grandmother.
There is a great moral behind the story and teaches children to be kind to everyone, even those who may be different. In addition to this, A Pocketful of Pegs is a traditional children's adventure. Similar to the likes of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Famous Five and The Magic Faraway Tree; although they are set in the past and are written in a more traditional manner, they're timeless and children still thoroughly enjoy them. It's great to read a book set in a time where technology isn’t the main focus and where children are able to make their own adventures. The illustrations that accompany the book are fantastic and reflect the events of the story well. Overall, this is a fantastic, nostalgic read that children and adults alike will thoroughly enjoy.
Although this book is quite traditional in its writing and is set in the mid 20th Century, this is what makes it a unique and interesting read. It would certainly appeal to many children, especially those with an interest in History. A Pocketful of Pegs would also appeal to parents reading this book to their child as they may remember similar adventures from their childhood. The character, Bronwen, is a typical Welsh mother, and a lot of people will be able to liken her to their own mother or grandmother.
There is a great moral behind the story and teaches children to be kind to everyone, even those who may be different. In addition to this, A Pocketful of Pegs is a traditional children's adventure. Similar to the likes of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Famous Five and The Magic Faraway Tree; although they are set in the past and are written in a more traditional manner, they're timeless and children still thoroughly enjoy them. It's great to read a book set in a time where technology isn’t the main focus and where children are able to make their own adventures. The illustrations that accompany the book are fantastic and reflect the events of the story well. Overall, this is a fantastic, nostalgic read that children and adults alike will thoroughly enjoy.
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