IGIST By L.S Larson – Book And App Review

We received IGIST by L.S Larson to review, an innovative new immersive children’s reading experience. The IGIST book and augmented reality app work together to create an entirely believable and compelling new universe.

IGIST front cover

A story aimed at children and teens 10+ that champion science, curiosity and exploration. Encouraging children to find out more about the amazing world of science and technology through a new reading experience.

IGIST

IGIST Back Cover

According to the one teacher on Earth who believed in her, Emi had a chance. The space academy of her dreams was more than a reach. The Intergalactic Institute of Science and Technology (IGIST) hadn’t admitted and earthling in decades. The bygones left on Earth would lead a boring existence if, and only if, they were lucky enough to evade the plague.

IGIST app screenshot

Emi always thought she was different, not because her only friend growing up in Rockland was a drone named Sadee, but because she was very determined to become a revered scientist like her late mother. But even a passion for science and good old-fashioned grit could not prepare Emi for the challenges that await in a wide, strange galaxy under the auspices of the Star League.

Our Thoughts

We really enjoyed IGIST, Emi’s character is so determined to reach her dreams. Whilst my phone doesn’t work with the AR, we can still use the app. As you read the book the app awards points and badges. Eva has really enjoyed reading IGIST and using the app. She thinks there should be more books with apps like this.

A great read for STEM-interested girls and boys. The main character, Emi is driven by her desire to break barriers and get into the most renowned science academy in the universe. IGIST does for science what Hogwarts did for magic.

You can either read the book on its own or with the app.

Lets Find The Tiger – Children’s Book Review

We received Let’s Find The Tiger to review, beautifully illustrated by Alex Wilmore. Published by Little Tiger and aimed at children aged 0-3 years, who will love finding the Tiger.

Let's Find The Tiger

Let’s Find The Tiger

This colourful peek through the pages and lift the touchy-feely felt flap book encourages little ones to look for the tiger. Curious children will love exploring the leafy jungle to find the tiger in this stylish touch and feel book.

Inside spread of Let's find the Tiger

This tactile exploratory wonder of a board book will keep children engaged in their search to find the tiger. With little hints of hiding animals on each spread, little ones with love hunting for the tiger. The final reveal includes a satisfying flocked image on the final spread.

With a repeated refrain that encourages the development of word recognition and an introduction to a whole host of jungle animals, little ones will learn whilst having fun. With plenty of colour filling every page and playful illustrations provided by Alex Willmore, this is a fun book for every tiny future explorer!

Lift the flap book

Alex Willmore

Alex Willmore is an illustrator who just loves drawing fun, cute characters. He lives in rural Northamptonshire with his wife, two sons and two cats. When not drawing, Alex can mostly be found eating outrageous amounts of biscuits and enjoying a nice drive or walk around the countryside.

Coming Soon!

Get ready to go searching again with the second title in this series, Let’s Find The Penguin, due for publication in September 2019!

Do you know a little one who would love this book too?

I Love My Llamacorn – Book Review

We received I Love My Llamacorn to review by Prisca Le Tande. Published by Little Tiger and aimed at children aged 2 to 5 years, this gorgeously glittery book is perfect for fans of llamas, unicorns and everything magical!

I Love My Llamacorn

I Love My Llamacorn

A loveable llamacorn will steal your heart in this beautifully sparkly board book. Full of bright, colourful illustrations, fun peep-holes and die-cut concentric hearts penetrating from the cover right through every page, this little book for children proves just how deep love goes.

I Love my Llamacorn

I Love My Llamacorn is a celebration of unconditional love in board book form. With gentle rhyming on each spread, children will stay engaged on their journey through the book. Tiny book lovers who tend to flick forwards, backwards and skip pages when first engaging with board books will still be able to receive the full message regardless of reading order thanks to the self-contained rhymes on each spread.

Inside - I love my Llamacorn

Prisca Le Tandé

Prisca Le Tandé is a child of the disco era – so dancing queens and grooving cats are right up her street. She sees the world of illustration as a dessert trolley laden with your favourite things. Why no taste everything – you can always go to the dentist afterwards. After studying Applied Art at school, she enrolled in a film studio degree and embarked on an adventure in the into the world of animation. She is still living the adventure, as the author and artistic director of the animated series “Grosha and Mr B”. When she was young, Prisca adored the craft craze scoubidou. It’s that same simple creativity that gives her such joy now that she’s creating books for children.

Izzy’s Thoughts

Izzy enjoyed this book so much. She is absolutely obsessed with unicorns, llamas and anything magical so she has been reading this tgo her Llama’s! This is definitely a perfect book for little ones who love the That’s Not My Series which Izzy adores too. Izzy loved the sparkly pages and brightly coloured, cute animations. Eva has been asked to read this several times as Izzy loves the way she reads the rhymes throughout.

Do you know a little reader who would love this too?

I’m Not Grumpy! – Children’s Book Review

We received I’m Not Grumpy! written by Steve Smallman and illustrated by Caroline Pedlar. This children’s book, perfect for ages 3 to 6 years is published by Little Tiger and available in hardback.

I'm Not Grumpy! Book Cover

This is a fantastic book for helping little ones recognise and with their own moods and emotions, as well as challenging them to think about how their behaviour might impact those around them.

I’m Not Grumpy!

Living at the edge of the forest is one grumpy mouse. He is the GRUMBLIEST and GROUCHIEST mouse for miles around until he meets a lost badger who desperately needs his help! The girls thought Mouse was funny, keep shouting ‘I’M NOT GRUMPY! repeatedly throughout the story.

I'm Not Grumpy!

I’m Not Grumpy! is a lovely, touching story about the value of kindness and friendship, both given and received. With repeated refrains that encourage reader participation throughout, little ones will absolutely adore this story.

This story opens up discussions about the transformative power of choosing to be helpful, and kind, as well as how our attitudes are reflected by the people around us.

Beautifully Illustrated

By the talented creators of Scaredy Bear and Don’t Wake the Bear, Hare!, I’m Not Grumpy! is simply stunning. This beautiful book is full of softly-drawn woodland animals with beautifully expressive features.

Steve Smallman has now written over 50 books, many are bestselling and award-winning such as Bear’s Big Bottom, Poo In The Zoo, The Monkey With A Bright Blue Bottom and our favourite, Cock-a-doodle-poo!.

Caroline Pedlar illustrated her first children’s book in 1990 and has since lost count of how many she has illustrated! With an MA in Illustration-Authorial Practice under her belt, she always has something creative going on.

Have you heard of this book before or Steve Smallman and Caroline Pedlar?

Choo-Choo Peekaboo Children’s Book

We were sent Choo-Choo Peekaboo to review, illustrated by Gareth Lucas and published by Little Tiger. Perfect for children aged 1 to 4 years this fun board book with flaps is an engaging adventure story.

Choo-Choo Peekaboo

Choo-Choo Peekaboo

Zebra is trying to paint but his hilarious animal friends are causing chaos! Lift the flaps to discover bouncing baboons, roller-skating rabbits, dirt biking salmations and even space-sheep in a spaceship!

Choo-Choo Peekaboo

Choo-Choo Peekaboo is funny and colourful throughout with fantastic illustrations, alliterative action, creative chaos, and a medley of motion with vehicles with added vroom! Poor Zebra just can’t catch a break and paint in peace. Can he find a solution?

Gareth Lucas

Gareth Lucas is an award-winning illustrator and designer living in his hometown of Essex! Having worked on a variety of projects, Lucas enjoys children’s book illustrating the most. In 2016 Lucas was the winner of the Sainsbury’s Childrens Book Awards for Peekaboo A to Z.

Gareth Lucas - Choo-Choo Peekaboo

Izzy’s Thoughts

Izzy thought Choo-Choo Peekaboo was a really funny book, giggling all the way through and trying to lift the flaps too soon! She has asked to re-read this book several times over the last week or two. Izzy has even taken it to bed to look through herself. Overall we think this a fantastic book.

Have you heard of either of Gareth Lucas’ Peekaboo flap books?

Night Of The Living Ted – Book Review

Eva read Night of the Living Ted written by Barry Hutchison and illustrated by Lee Cosgrove this week. Aimed at 7-9 years, Eva was sent a copy to review by Stripes publishing. This funny fright for Halloween night is available in paperback on Amazon for £5.99.

Night of the Living Ted - Book Review

Night Of The Living Ted

Night of the Living Ted is the first of a hilarious new series from award-winning author Barry Hutchinson. Lisa-Marie & her step-brother Vernon pop into town in search of a birthday present for their dad. They discover a Create-a-Ted shop offering free Halloween Bears! 

That night the shopkeeper brings the bears to life for nefarious purposes but Vernon’s bear, Grizz doesn’t want to be a slave to humans. Grizz wants to rule the world! Having converted the shopkeeper’s Stuff-U-Lator into a machine for turning living matter into stuffed bears, he begins to prowl the streets. Can the children and Bearvis save themselves and the world from being stuffed?

Eva’s Thoughts

Teddies come to life and Invade the town! When Vernon makes a bear, it ends up coming to life in this funny but spooky story. Suddenly an army of evil teddy bears is on the loose. Perfect for readers who enjoy a good scare, and just in time for Halloween, one of my favourite times of the year.

My favourite part is when Vernon & Lisa-Maries mum & dad are turned into a frog and a slug. Vernon & Lisa-Marie need to learn to stop arguing long enough to help battle the beastly teddy bears and save everyone. It’s a really great book that I really enjoyed reading.

Does this sound like the perfect Halloween read for your child?

Shimmer And Shine Book- The Genies Meet Isobella

Izzy received a Shimmer and Shine personalised book – The Genies Meet Isobella. We also received a 10% discount for our readers!

Shimmer and Shine Personalised Book

Penwizard makes your child the star of every story, Izzy loves Shimmer and Shine and was really excited to receive her book. Penwizard creates personalised books featuring well-loved children’s characters. A perfect gift idea for birthdays, Christmas & more!

Shimmer and Shine Personalised Book

The Shimmer and Shine personalised books are created using details provided by you about your child. These details include first & surname, birthday, town/city, gender, skin colour, eye colour, hair style & colour, clothing colour & glasses.

This personalisation ensures your child recognises themselves in the book. Books like this can really encourage children to read and enjoy books by being the main character. Izzy has several personalised books and really enjoys reading them and seeing herself featured!

The Genies Meet Isobella

The Genies Meet Isobella

Izzy instantly recognised the curly blonde girl in between her favourite genies when she received her book. As her birthday wasn’t too long ago she was really excited to read Shimmer and Shine were planning for her birthday!

Shimmer and shine personalised book review

Izzy listened in awe as I read the book to her, she loves a personalised book as all children do. There’s something special about being in a story with your favourite characters! She really enjoyed the funny, magical storyline.

Personalised Book From Penwizard

Isobella gets the best birthday gift ever when Shimmer and Shine surprise her with three wishes of her very own! But when the wishes don’t go quite as planned Isobella has to help the genies fix their mistakes and save the day. 

The genies meet Isobella

Discount For Our Readers

Fancy ordering a Shimmer and Shine personalised – The Genies Meets your child book? Enter Shimmer10 for 10% off your order! Softback books cost £14.99 and hardback books are £19.99. Postage is just £2.50 or free on orders over £40. Any child will love being the star of the story with their genie friends. 

The Secrets Tree – The Hounds Of Penhallow Hall

The Secrets Tree is the fourth book from The Hounds of Penhallow Hall series. Written by Holly Webb, illustrated by Jason Cockcroft & published by Stripes/ Little Tiger, this mysterious series is aimed at 8-10-year-olds. Eva was kindly sent a copy to review. You can buy paperback copies from Amazon for £5.99.

The Secrets Tree

The Secrets Tree

The Secrets Tree series is perfect for dog-lovers and anyone who desires some mystery and magic! Set in the atmospheric Cornish coastal setting, rich in history an legend…

Polly & rex are in search of a new ghost dog whilst celebrations are in full swing at the stately home. They come across a dog’s head carved in a door down the old stable block. They also wake a terrier called patch, only for him to run away. Polly & rex find him hiding in a hollow tree and find themselves on the trail of an even greater mystery. Inside the tree is a coded message! Can Polly & Rex unravel the mystery of the dog’s young master and his brother?

Eva’s Thoughts

Eva enjoyed reading The Secrets Tree but found it a rather quick read as she has become quite a bookworm! She really loved the story being based around dogs. As Eva has moved on to books such as the Harry Potter series recently, she likes a little more mystery. She thinks children who love mysteries will really enjoy the  Secrets Tree and it will encourage them to love reading mystery series like The Hounds of Penhallow Hall. Having read several books by Holly Webb now, Eva thinks she is a fantastic author and loves discovering some of the 100+ books HollWebb has written.

If you have a mystery-loving reader who also loves dogs then this book is definitely perfect. They will be sure to love the Hounds of Penahllow Hall series. 

Have you heard of the Hounds of Penhallow Hall series before?

Night Shade – Star Friends Series – Book Review

Star Friends: Night Shade is the latest book in the Star Friends Series which Eva was sent to review. Written by Linda Chapman & published by Stripes, this book is aimed at children aged 7-9 years. You can buy a paperback copy for £5.99. 

Night Shade - Star Friends Series

Star Friends Series

In this magical series, Maia and her friends meet the Star Animals! When they do, a whole world of magical adventure unfolds right before their very eyes! This fantastic series features four best friends for readers to identify with. Join Maia and her friends as they fae realistic friendship issues with their adorable animal familiars. An engrossing world of magic and fantasy for young, inspired, animal-loving readers!

The Star friends series is ideal for fans of My Secret Unicorn, The Rescue Princesses and Rainbow Magic readers looking for a more challenging adventure! 

Night Shade

Star Friends: Night Shade is the fifth book in the Star Friends series by the best-selling author Linda Chapman. Beautifully Illustrated by Lucy Flemming, this magical story is a fantastic read. 

Ever since Maia and her friends stopped Auntie Mabel from using dark magic to cause trouble in their small seaside village of Westcombe, life has been peaceful for the girls and their Star Animals. The latest threat shows the peace was only temporary though! All the adults have started behaving rather oddly. The girls will have to use all their Star Magic skills against these forces of dark magic! Can they defeat the dark magic?

Eva’s Thoughts

I love the Star Friends series! It is so cool and they have really cute animal friends. My favourite part was reading whether or not Maia and her friends could defeat the shades! It’s an action-packed, thrilling read and I can’t wait until the sixth book! Magical stories like this are really fun to read.

Love books like this? Check out our other Book Reviews to discover more fab titles!

Invasion Of The Giant Nits – Pet Defenders Series

Eva read the Pet Defenders Series new book – Invasion of the giant nits this week. Written by Gareth P. Jones and illustrated by Steve May this book is available in paperback for £5.99. Published by Stripes, this series is great for children aged 6-8.

Pet Defenders Series

Pet Defenders Series

The Invasion of The Giant Nits is part of Pet Defenders, a hilarious and fast-paced series. Pet Defenders reveals what our pets get up to when we aren’t there: Saving the world! We might think our pets are sleeping soundly when we are out but instead they are defending the planet from aliens. Centre on the unusual, yet highly successful partnership between a cat and dog. Two unlikely allies who must work together for the god of man and pet-kind alike!

Invasion Of The Giant Nits

Invasion Of The Giant Nits

Biskit and Mitzy are confronted by a large alien spider in their latest adventure! The alien spider plans to destroy the planet and she has an army of nits which she can enlarge with a blast from her own invention, the Relativisor! She can also shrink things using her Relativisor, such as Mitzy! Mitzy ends up the size of a louse, clinging to Biskit’s head! Can the Pet Defenders stop the nits ripping Earth apart? 

Eva’s Thoughts

This series follows Mitzy & Bizkit’s adventure to stop Anna scratch, a large alien spider from destroying the planet! Anna Scratch used to work for the SUPA Agents but she turned bad. My favourite part of this book is when Mitzy is shrunk by Anna Scratch and is in Bizkit’s ear! I really enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to discover more of the Pet Defenders series, it’s really fun!

Looking for more book recommendations? Head over to our Book Reviews page and check out other books we’ve enjoyed!