Review : Jack's Tractor by Thomas Taylor/John Kelly

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hodder Children's Books (1 July 2010)
• ISBN-13: 978-0340957073

The blurb

Jack's got a tractor, big and red, with a trailer fixed behind.

He's going for a ride, he says, to see what he can find.

Brum, Brum, Vrumm!

A great text to read aloud.

Shortlisted for the Sheffield book award.

Lots of colourful full-page illustrations to help tell the noisy story of Jack and his red Tractor. Lots of silly sounds to read aloud with my son until Jack realises it is getting late and he doesn't know the way home.  

A little mouse comes to the rescue and helps Jack and the noisy animals return home quietly ready for bedtime.

Great fun.

5 out of 5!

Review: Jack's Mega Machines - Alison Ritche/Mike Byrne

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books (30 Aug 2012)
• ISBN-13: 978-0857075673

The blurb

Have fun with Jack in his mega machines!

In this exciting adventure, Jack zooms inot outer space.

Can his super speedy racing car beat the aliens in an intergalactic race?

A colourful and fun packed adventure with Jack and his dog Riley as the race through space.  Jack meets several other racers along the way who need help and he selflessly stops to help them on their way.

 This picture book comes complete with a 3d cardboard Rocket Racing Car with which AJ had great fun recreating the race as I read the story.

There is another title in this series - The Dinosaur Digger.

5 out 5!

Review: Sticker Dressing Action Heroes

AJ has been checking out the 'new to us' Usborne Activity books.
When we go to town and he wants a treat I always buy him a book.  I don't feel like I am spoiling him then.  He does love to get new books.

• Paperback: 34 pages
• Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd (1 Feb 2012)
• ISBN-13: 978-1409532835

Stickers galore - over 200

AJ dressing the characters all by himself

There are many more titles in the series including Knights, Sports, Romans, Soldiers and Pirates.  There is also a wide range for girls, too.

These would make great birthday presents or just a treat for car journeys etc.

We would give these sticker books 9 out of 10!

Review - Explore, Dream, Discover...

Written by Charlotte Samiec
Ilustrated by Andrew Pinder
Published by TopThat! Publishing
ISBN 978 184666 7893

From TopThat Publishing website....

Part of the Explore, Dream, Discover... series.

This is a travel-diary, memory-maker, doodle-pad, brain-engager, boredom-stopper, idea-waker, picture-keeper, captain’s log. A thought-provoker book!

What a delightful  and original travel journal!

This hardback travel journal would suit children from the ages of 5 to 15!

Children will never be bored on long journeys, rainy days during a holiday or flights to and from a holiday  with this book to keep them amused.

There 64 pages of activities to get the children thinking, looking and discovering the sights and sounds, past and present,  around them. 


Along the way there are travel related quotes from famous writers and poets.
The detailed activities could be used for more than one holiday as there is so much to do.
Activities include drawing a map of the journey, predictions for the journey, and games to play on the journey.  Learning languages and new cuisine, recording new experiences, and exploring landmarks and museums all have sections in the book.


Other projects including writing stories, a Haiku poem, drawing pictures, posting photos and even a place for tickets.


My children have had many activity books over the years but this one stands alone.  Every page is packed with thought provoking ideas and busy illustrations.  Not a disposable activity book but one to keep and cherish for years to come.




5 out of 5 for us!


Thank you to TopThat! Publishing for sending me a review copy.  This did not influence my review in any way.