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bigbeardedbookseller's reviews
579 reviews
A Wizard of Earthsea by Fred Fordham
5.0
I’ve loved the Earthsea saga for almost as long as I’ve been reading and still have my editions from the early 70s as some of the first books I ever bought.
So it was with some trepidation that I asked for a copy of this adaptation into graphic novel form.
As the tale of A Wizard of Earthsea is so well known I won’t really talk about the story apart from to say that the adaptation of the tale has really kept the most important parts of the book and relied on it’s form as a graphic novel for the atmosphere and to make what few words there were give weight to the story properly.
Fred Fordham takes the concept of light and dark and the balance between them and illustrates this so well (fair warning some of the panels are very dark and need good lighting to read properly)
As we journey through Sparrowhawk’s travels and coming of age we explore all the main locations of his various developments and adventures, the meeting with the dragon Yevaud is especially exciting, but there is nothing lacking in this adaptation and I was forever waiting for the next location or episode with pure excitement.
I absolutely loved this adaptation and am so up for Fred Fordham to adapt the rest of the series. This really is a must buy for all fans of Earthsea.
I received this from Walker Books in exchange for an honest review.
Heavy Metal Badger by Duncan Beedie
4.0
Another story time favourite in the shop.
Full of noise and energy that you can get your audience joining in with, plus lots of little details and asides for young and old alike, I especially like the little song quotes that come up every now and then.
Also keep your eyes out for the band posters…
Badger has a need to make music, loud loud music, and this is his story of the search for the right kind of music for him.
There are disasters along the way but eventually all is right in the end and he finds like minded animals that play the right kind of music for him and they end up entertaining all the others that he inconvenienced in his journey.
Another great fun picture book from Duncan Beedie!
The Girl Who Sold Time by V.S. Nelson
4.0
I was humming and hawing when I saw this on NetGalley, my TBR from them has got a little big right now.
I’m so glad that I did.
This is about the Earth in the future where humanity has basically destroyed the world through it’s machinations and waste, the scientists had developed a space elevator and a space ring to work at saving the rest of humanity and the planet.
Meanwhile within the ever dwindling forest that is constantly mutation lives Violet and her companion Jackdaw, a robot programmed with the personality of a young boy as her protector, this is because her dad went up the space elevator to work on a solution there. Violet is adamant that she is going to save the forest and keeps inventing things hoping that the next one will be the one.
Violet is the only person who can handle the time marbles safely without too much confusion. Yes, time marbles, small marble-like objects that when placed in the mouth and swallowed freezes time for the person who consumed the marble.
DO NOT EAT MARBLES!
A brilliant science fiction adventure with lots of twists and turns, also takes an interesting exploration of time and how it interacts with other fields in physics, but at its core its about friendship and family in the face of difference and adversity.
The reveal is absolutely heartbreaking and the banter between Violet and Jackdaw so funny, stormed through this.
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes I just won’t by Timothy Knapman
4.0
I think this is going to be another story time favourite, two added to the regular repertoire in one day is always nice.
Full of energy in the writing and the illustrations this begs to be read whilst moving and gesticulating a lot and getting your audience to join in if you can.
There is so much in the pictures that you can bring into the session over and above the words, but the words are wonderfully lyrical and an easy book to read upside down.
All about a young boy who has varying days like the rest and best of us, one day they will want to do things as they are meant to do them and then others, really not.
This is a great book about agency and being unsure, taking control and becoming confident but not just not doing something for the sake of orneriness, though sometimes there is value in being ornery.
and I agree about coats 100%
Hank goes honk by Duncan Beedie, Maudie Powell-Tuck
4.0
As soon as I saw Hank’s glorious side eye on the cover I’d thought I’d found a soulmate.
Hank is a goose, Hank is grumpy, Hank seems to revel in disruption and destruction, bursting balloons for the fun of it, and making as much noise as he can wherever he goes, what more could you want out of life? I mean really?
But no, Hank wants more than that, he wants to have friends and be part of the group… and he tries really hard.
but balloons…
Hilarious little book about friendship, grumpiness, joining in, change, being alone, the fun of popping balloons, and that you don’t have to be perfect.
The illustrations are so funny as well and can be used without the words they are that strong, loved this!
and I can tell you from first hand experience that this make a great story time book, all the noises went down a treat.
The Café at the Edge of the Woods by Mikey Please
4.0
It was really nice to see an illustrated picture book win the prize this year, especially seeing the huge growth in comics and illustrated stories for children happening right now.
Written in a nice rhyming scheme that takes full advantage of some of the funner words used throughout playing on the fact that we all like a bit of gross and a bit of silly.
We accompany Rene in following her dream of opening a cafe that serves fine cuisine and she works hard for it, and eventually sets up a cafe at the edge of the woods.
Eventually with the help of Glumfoot the waiter and some unexpected twists and turns her dreams come true, though to get there the story becomes so silly.
Full of rich illustrations that bring to mind Fungus the Bogeyman, with a lot of energy this is a perfect read for all ages and would be a great class read or something to make you laugh at night.
A lovely book about going for your dreams, team work, and friendship.