booksartanddragons

[booksartanddragons]

REVIEW: Cloud Forest

"A story will help," said Umpa. "Stories make everything grow."

Together, the child in this story and their Umpa go on fantastical adventures together through the power of books and storytelling, sailing away on the rain and dining with hosts of magical imagined friends. One day, however, Umpa is no longer there, and it is up to the child to discover that their Umpa can still be found in the stories they shared together and the books they loved.

Turnbull's beautiful picture book not only addresses the incredible power of stories and the ways they can transport us, but also the harsh unfamiliarity and helplessness of grief, especially for children who often struggle to process these feelings. In tones that echo the eloquence of Oliver Jeffers' The Heart and the Bottle, and Benji Davies' Grandad's Island, Turnbull has addressed the loss of a grandparent with a delicacy and kindness that children will find comfort in. Even as an adult, it reminded me that the people I have lost will always be there in the things we shared together.

It would be remiss in talking about Cloud Forest to not address the illustrations that beautifully cover the pages. Turnbull has shown her ability to create beautiful and whimsical images in her previous picture books and this one is no different. Her use of colour is muted but warm, effective with gentle pops of brightness that keep this story feeling dreamy and cosy to read. The continued visual theme of colours and smoke to indicate the dreamy quality of the scenes is unifying imagery that maintains the feel of the story.

Ultimately this is a beautiful book that would be an asset to your bookshelf, both as a lovely story and a learning tool in difficult times.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[booksartanddragons]

REVIEW: Oh No, Bobo!

In this gorgeous, colourful picturebook, Bobo the baby orangutan needs to get to sleep, but first, he needs just the right pillow. So begins an intrepid search to find one! Unfortunately, he finds all sorts of pillows that are not right at all, mostly, of course, because the animals he’s trying to use get very cross indeed! Only when someone upsets Bobo in turn does he realise that perhaps what he did wasn’t very fair at all!

This lovely story is full of bright, warm illustrations, full of character and fun, images framed beautifully in fronds, leaves and plant life. I think kids will love all the unusual jungle animals roaming across the pages, and fluffy little Bobo himself!

The story teaches important lessons about boundaries and personal space and being respectful of others and is a lovely addition for any bookshelf!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

[booksartanddragons]

REVIEW: The Strangeworlds Travel Agency

Little Wyverns seems a wholly unremarkable and dull place to have moved to until Flick discovers The Strangeworlds Travel Agency and its young apparent proprietor Jonathan Mercator. The revelation that this travel agency, with its stacks of strange bartered suitcases, is full of doorways to marvellous other worlds turns Flick’s quiet world upside down. She is soon a part of marvellous adventures with Jonathan, to worlds full of  strange and wonderful things and magic. 

But Jonathan’s father is missing and there is something very wrong beneath the surface of these worlds and perhaps Flick might just be the person to help figure out these mysteries.

This book is a whirlwind of charming imagination and delightfully strange characters in whose pages I was delighted to get lost. The pages teem with Neverland-esque forests of strange children, snowy mountains with Yetis and zany places where the very ground makes you bounce! The story is a Far Away Tree for older readers, imaginative, spellbindingly exciting and leaving me sat at the end desperately excited for another world to explore. I would highly recommend for kids and kids at heart, Lapinski has written a real gem!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.

[booksartanddragons]

REVIEW: Wicked As You Wish

Having previously read Rin Chupeco’s The Bone Witch - a book whose story grabbed me by the throat and held me captive, whose magic was new, engaging and rich with nuance and clever ideas - I expected to love Wicked As You Wish. The book offers a vibrant combination of ideas that in principle excite me and make me keen to delve into the world and the story. Our main character is of Filipino and Scottish descent and the former is a culture she is surrounded by with family and friends. The world is urban fantasy with an enthusiastic layer of fairytale and myth, familiar places with an accepted and cemented magical spin. I started to read, and the more I did, the more my heart sank. I found the world building was confusing and the politics and history presented unclearly. The main character, Tala, felt flat and uninteresting. I persisted. Surely this was going to get better? Going to grab me if I gave it half a chance? I gave it half a chance, more than once, and I am so disappointed that it did not work out for me. I kept trying and I kept finding my attention lost, my brow furrowed in confusion, my interest in flipping to the next page dwindling. I want to love this book, but I’m not sure I even like it. I’ve seen responses vastly vary in review and I feel perhaps this title is a little marmite, love it or hate it, your opinion is likely to be a strong one. Sadly I lean towards the latter and I therefore Did Not Finish. Despite this, I look forward to reading other titles of Chupeco’s and I urge you to form your own opinions on this title! I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.

[booksartanddragons]

It’s been a while...

Hi guys!

It’s been a long while since I’ve been consistently reviewing and talking about books, but I miss it, so I’m hopping back on that.

- Jess ✨

(A stack of books I read a while ago and a cuppa that may have gone cold.)