April Book Reviews April 15, 2023 – Posted in: Book News, Great Picture books, Ideas for 2-5 year olds, Ideas for 9-12 year olds, Ideas for teen readers – Tags: fiction, funny picture books, middle grade fiction, new books, Picture Books, YA

Bags of Books, Book Reviews - April

Need some inspiration for what to read next? Check out our latest book reviews or pop in and ask us for more recommendations. Here are the books we’ve loved lately.

The King’s Pants by Nicholas Allan

Out Now, Paperback £7.99

Can you believe it’s been 23 years since The Queen’s Knickers was published? A new hilarious picture book all about the King’s pants. So many pants for all different occasions but when his pants get mixed up with a Royal Mail sack, pants start getting delivered all over.

A funny read to celebrate the King’s Coronation that will have everyone chuckling and discussing what pants you wear for special occasions.

Buy The King's Pants

Fish and Crab by Marianna Coppo

Out Now, Hardback £12.99

Hilarious picture book about sharing feelings. Fish and Crab are settling down for the night , but Fish has worries. Crab suggests Fish shares them all so they can both get a good night’s sleep. Cue a list of funny ‘what ifs’, including one that made me laugh out loud!

A funny and reassuring read about sharing your full range of emotions. Beautiful simple illustrations with a lovely colour palette, a different cover illustration under the dust jacket, and textured lettering on the cover, love the attention to detail.

Buy Fish and Crab

Crookhaven: The School for Thieves by J.J. Arcanjo

Out Now, Paperback £7.99

Gabriel is a talented pickpocket and quite a misfit. When he is recruited into Crookhaven, a school for thieves, Gabriel finally has somewhere he belongs. The thieves in this school (and book) are of a different kind – they’re a modern day version of Robin Hood, and despite being crooks, they will one day go out into the world to do good.

The idea of this school is brilliant, and it has all the components of a great boarding school story, with all the interesting classes and troubles of friendship. We get to read all about different talents a good crook has to have, and see how they hone their trade. And there is also something special about Gabriel and his Grandma, but I’m not giving that away.

A very interesting read, with a mystery at it’s centre which will make you wait for the sequel (coming in autumn this year!)

Buy Crookhaven

Skandar and the Phantom Rider by A.F. Steadman

Out April 27th, Hardback £12.99

You will NOT be disappointed with this sequel (and you will count down the days until the next book is out)!

Skandar’s secret is out – everyone knows he is a Spirit Wielder, and it doesn’t make his life any easier. But this isn’t the biggest problem Skandar is dealing with – wild unicorns, the immortal ones, have been turning up killed, and the Island is having its revenge for that. He is also trying to find a way to bring Kenna to the Island and bond her with her unicorn, but it seems others might have the same idea …

This book is the definition of unputdownable, so don’t start reading it before school, as you will have to skip lessons for the day or two. And be prepared to be left shocked and a bit heartbroken, and waiting for more!

Pre-Order a signed copy of Skandar and the Phantom Rider

My Name Is Sunshine Simpson by G.M. Linton

Out May 11th, Paperback £7.99

Meet Sunshine Simpson. She is ten years old. She was born in England and her heritage is Jamaican.

Sunny is a feisty, loveable heroine, who is facing big changes in her life and it all gets a bit too much. Friends turned enemies, home-made haircuts and an upcoming school show are only part of her problems, but with good friends and a suportive family at her side, Sunshine is able to deal with even bigger issues.

I dare you not to love this story! All about the importance of family and believing in yourself, it will make you laugh and definitely cry as well. It is also full of interesting facts about the Windrush generation and generally an empowering read, full of diverse characters. Most suitable for 9+.

Buy My Name Is Sunshine Simpson

Happy Head by Josh Silver

Out Now, Paperback £8.99

This is one of the most addictive YA books I have read in ages.

Luca is in the first group of teenagers that have been selected to go to a happiness retreat. The retreat promises to show teenagers how to be happy through a series of different tasks. To make his parents proud Luca answers with what he thinks people want to hear, but as the weeks pass it soon appears that the retreat is not what they lead people to believe and things start to get sinister.

A gripping, fast paced, absolutely awesome novel

Buy Happy Head