Please Sir by Jack Sheffield

A New Year at Ragley-on-the-Forest School...It's 1981, the time of Adam and the Ants, Rubik's Cube, the Sony Walkman and the Falklands War, as head teacher Jack Sheffield returns to Ragley-on-the-Forest School for another rollercoaster year. Vera, the ever-efficient school secretary, has to grapple with a new-fangled computer - and enjoys a royal occasion - while Ruby the caretaker rediscovers romance with a Butlin's Redcoat. And for Jack, wedding bells are in the air. But the unexpected is just round the corner...

The fifth book in the series by Jack Sheffied about the village of Ragley and its primary school. The fourth book ended on a will they, won't they cliffhanger and I don't think I am giving anything away, as it is mentioned in the synopsis , that there is a wedding in the book!

I am enjoying this series of books, a great look back at school in the 1980's, along with village life. All the favorite characters are back; Vera the school secretary; Ruby the school caretaker and the teachers at the primary school. The book is again full of those gems that come out of the mouth of children and will have you laughing out loud while reading it.

Sheffield not only talks about village life and school life, but also of historical events and how they affect daily life in both the village and school.

This book ends on a cliffhanger and I am looking forward to the next installment to see what happens. I think life in Ragley could be about to change forever.

Thank you to the publishers, Bantam Press for sending me this book to review.

My Henry by Judith Kerr

Through charming verse and glowing illustrations, Judith Kerr takes us on a magical and moving journey that proves love really does conquer everything. A truly special picture book destined to be loved and treasured by children and adults alike for years to come. "It's things we've never tried before That are the greatest fun, Like riding on a dinosaur, Which I had never done." Married couples are used to little trips together. Henry's wife can see no reason why they should stop just because one of them is no longer around. In fact she can't help going a little bit over the top, imagining all sorts of wonderful outings, including dinosaur rides and dolphin drawn water ski sessions. In the end however, even the most magical and exotic daydreams can never quite compare to their past everyday life together. Fom the bestselling author of The Tiger Who Came To Tea.


A great book for a child who has lost a family member or maybe for someone who has lost their life partner. Mr Henry has died, but little does everyone know that Henry's wife meets him every day between 4 and 7 that they meet and have little adventures in her imagination.

It is a beautifully illustrated book, with a simple idea that children will understand and help them in times of sadness. It made me laugh and it made me cry but a book that should be included in a child's library or early years setting.

Thank you to Harper Collins Children's Books for sending me this book to review.

Thank you to

Milly the Meerkat by Oakley Graham

Milly the Meerkat gets up to mischief in this modern retelling of Aesop's famous fable. Children will delight in joining the naughty meerkat as she learns the importance of telling the truth.

This is a modern retelling of the story of The Boy who cried wolf using those animals of the moment - Meerkats! Meerkats appear to be everywhere since that insurance advert last year.

The book is beautifully illustrated with backdrops of the African Savannah on each page. The illustrations are well drawn and the meerkats look so adorable. The story, as i previously stated, is a retelling of the 'boy who cried wolf' but with Milly the Meerkat, bored while on lookout for snakes, on guard of the babies burrow. There is one page with a picture of a snake, so be warned if you do not like snakes, but even that looks cute!

It is a beautiful book that would make a lovely gift for a young child. It would be particularly good if discussing the wrongs about telling lies. A great book to share at story time in early years groups.

Thank you to Top That Publishing for sending me this book to review under their Yummy Mummy Book Reviewers program.

When I Dream Of ABC by Mr Henry Fisher

Enter the dreamy world of ABC in this soothing bedtime book. A humorous exploration of the many strange and extraordinary characters that inhabit a fantastical dreamworld, encouraging children to learn their ABC. From shy dragons and opera singing mermaids, to bossy queens and hot chocolate drinking vampires, learning the alphabet has never been so fascinating.

A beautiful book for young children to introduce them to the ABC. Unlike the traditional alphabet books this one is full of animals and characters that will capture a child's imagination. Each letter is accompanied by a full page illustration and a little verse to introduce the item. The illustrations are simple, featuring child like creations but are detailed enough to discuss with the child.

This is a book which I would recommend as a gift for a young child. I am sure this will quickly become a story time favourite and children will enjoy looking through it on their own too where they will become entranced in the pictures and loose themselves in their own little world of make believe.

Thank you to Top That Publishing for sending me the book to review as part of the Yummy Mummy Book Reviewers program.

The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook by Jason Heller

In the tradition of our popular "Batman Handbook" and "Indiana Jones Handbook" comes the world's only guide to emulating the most popular pirate in motion picture history: "Captain Jack Sparrow". How popular is Captain Jack? Consider that the first three "Pirates of the Caribbean films" - "The Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003), "Dead Man's Chest" (2006) and "At World's End" (2007) - grossed a combined $1 billion dollars in the United States alone. Now Johnny Depp and his mates are returning for "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides", due in theaters May 20, 2011. Illustrated with film stills, line drawings, and helpful diagrams, "The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook" will cover everything a swaggering swashbuckler needs to know, including: How to sail a ship; How to climb rigging; How to decipher a treasure map; How to break a curse; How to survive being marooned; How to battle a sea monster; and much, much more. With skills derived from all three films-and up-to-the-minute data regarding the forthcoming "On Stranger Tides" - this handbook will be a surefire hit with Pirates fans of all ages

The perfect accompaniment for pirates young and old! A great looking handbook which would look right in place in a ship's cabin.

The handbook is split into six chapters: Piracy; Maritime Skills; People Skills; Acquiring Booty; Cheating Death; and Mysteries of the Deep. Each chapter is filled with useful info, including how to become a pirate; types of pirate; pirate garb and gear; how to climb rigging; how to fire a cannon; how to disguise your gender; how to gamble; how to make a treasure map;how to escape from being tied up; how to survive being marooned and how to vanquish Davy Jones. All useful information when you are a pirate.

The book includes photographs from the popular Pirates of the Caribbean film series along with many hand drawn illustrations to accompany the text perfectly. The text is full of interesting facts, those little facts which will amaze friends and family everywhere. There is loads of information crammed into each section which will keep readers occupied for hours on end. However, I would of loved a bit more on the history of pirates on the high seas, an area which seems to have been missed.

I would recommend this to fans of the film series of all ages but also to older children interested in Pirates in general. A great addition to a book case for swash buckling fans of all ages.

Thank you to Mathew Archer from PGUK for sending me this book to review.

Olivia's First Term by Lyn Gardner

Olivia is sad and lonely and angry - angry that she's been dumped with her sister eel at her grandmother's school, and angrier still that that school turns out to be a stage school where there's no encouragement for her to do what she loves best: practice her circus skills. But in the course of a turbulent first term, Olivia finds out much more than she bargained for about the theatre, about friendship, about enemies, about her family and about herself.

This is the first book in a new series, written by Lyn Gardner, who is a theatre critic for The Guardian newspaper.

Olivia and her sister Eel Marvell travel with their father to London and to The Swan Academy of Theatre and Dance, which is owned by their grandmother, Alicia Swan, who they have not seen since their mother died many years previous. As daughters of a circus high wire artist, they both have some performance flair but are not the usual students who enrol at the Academy.

The story is a modern day tale of a stage school but one with traditional values, where children must excel in both song, acting or dance alongside the traditional subjects of maths, English etc. There are many characters within the book, which children will be able to relate to; the popular girl, who has everything she wants, but finds money or blackmail can't buy friendship; the quiet and studious children who work to the best of their ability who the popular children prey upon; along with other individuals who all add to the school in their own way.

Girls will love this book, it is a great story, with many messages within the story about friendship. It is a great read, one which children will love to read themselves or share with someone at story time. There are further books in the series planned and I am sure this series could become as popular as Enid Blytons Malory towers and st Clare's series! I for one am looking forward to the next in the series to be released.

The cover is stunning - it will stand out on any shop/library shelf and I am sure girls everywhere will be reaching for it soon.

Thank you to Michael at The School Run Forum for sending me this book to review.

Village Teacher by Jack Sheffield

It's 1980: recession and unemployment have hit Britain, a royal wedding is on the way, and the whole country is wondering Who Shot JR? As Jack returns for his fourth year at Ragley-on-the Forest School, there's a definite chill in the air. Village schools are being closed down all over the place - will his be one of them? As school life continues - Vera, the school secretary, has to grapple with a new-fangled electric typewriter, Ruby celebrates ten years as the school cleaner, and the village panto throws up some unusual problems - Jack wonders what the future holds...'Wry observation and heartwarming humour in equal measure' - Alan Titchmarsh.

This is a lovely series about a headteacher, Jack Sheffield, of a village primary school and the daily life of the school. I have read the previous three books in this series and each time a new book is released I look forward to seeing what is in store for the school this year.

The book is based around the headteacher, however within each chapter are some delightful snippets from the children - some of those funny things that come out of a child's mouth, which immediately start me giggling! There is a warmth about the book, village life where everyone knows each other and gossip is round every corner.

Sheffield has definitely done his research, with many true historical events included in the book - this book includes the engagement of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer, along with many other events which had an effect on the characters - the metric systems being introduced and the school secretary, Vera, having to adapt to using an electric typewriter.

The book does end on a cliff hanger - the fate of the primary school, will it be closed? and also Jack and Beth's relationship, will it survive?

I loved this book and have already started on book 5, which carries on from the end of this book and I look forward to seeing how it progresses.

I would recommend that these books are read in order as the reader gets to know the characters but if you like books by Gervase Phinn I recommend these books to you.