Review – Dougal Daley: It’s Not My Fault by Jackie Marchant

Title: Dougal Daley: It’s Not My Fault

Author: Jackie Marchant

Illustrator: Loretta Shauer

Release Date: 4^th April 2017

Publisher: Wacky Bee Books

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35003254-dougal-daley

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dougal-Daley-its-Not-Fault/dp/0995697221

I, Dougal Daley, am dead! Ok I’m not actually dead. But if I’m not careful I soon will be.

In this first book, football-loving Dougal Daley finds himself at risk from the mysterious creature living in the garden shed. Nobody believes him but as a precaution, he sets upon writing his will – rewarding those who help him and disinheriting those who get on his bad side. Meanwhile, as limbs and windows alike are broken by rogue footballs and unhinged canines, Dougal finds himself in all sorts of trouble. . .and NONE of it is his fault!

Dougal Daley was inspired by a messy bedroom and a random question from my son about writing a will. Dougal Daley has been huge fun to write about – you wouldn’t believe the disasters that happen around him (none of which are his fault of course)! When I’m not writing I love doing school visits and creative writing workshops. I also take time away from the writing world looking after guide dogs while their owners are away.

Website: https://www.jackiemarchant.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JMarchantAuthor

I originally studied performing arts and have a degreein Dance Performance – well you never know whenyou need a quick pirouette! I also worked in practicalconservation for a long time, and spent many yearsbattling balsam, identifying lichen, and searching forcreepy crawlies before I picked up my pencils andpaints and began exploring illustrating and writingfor children. In 2011 I won the Waterstone’s ‘PictureThis’ competition and I now illlustrate full time.However I am still happiest noodling around forfossils and shells on the beach!

Website: http://lorettaschauer.tumblr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Loretta_Schauer

This book, even though its not my usual kind of read had me in fits of laughter and really, how many kids write a will?! But i guess when a creature is after you you want to make sure your toys are going to the right people lol

In a typical boy style where nothing is ever his fault, Dougal is so over the top dramatic (like the boys in my class) i couldn’t help but laugh along with him. This book was fun to read and action packed from beginning to end

I loved the illustrations but then who doesn’t? It was like the doodles you see on comic books, there to add to the story as well as telling there own little one at the same time…… a picture can say a thousand words….. and these did 🙂

Massive thanks to Wacky Bee Books for our copy of the book and to Faye Rogers for allowing us to partake in the tour…… once all our gremlins had been caught…. better late than never!!

Be sure to stop by Heather Reviews tomorrow!

Review – The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat by Carol Rumble

Title: The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat

Author: Coral Rumble

Illustrator: Charlotte Cooke

Publisher: Wacky Bee Books – http://www.wackybeebooks.com

“The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea

In a box on the living room floor.

They sailed away for a year and a day

And these are the things that they saw…”

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35051621-the-adventures-of-the-owl-and-the-pussycat

Oh to be a child again!

With their wild imaginations and sense of adventure anything is possible and this story really brings those days to life.

A fun read about two children and their homemade ship out on the wild seas of imagination, and what an imagination they both have!!

We loved this story, anything to do with animals is a BIG hit in our house and there are tons of them in this book. Lily-May enjoyed pointing out all the different ones she spotted, some even new to her, we had to make the noise to go along with which animal we spotted.

The illustrations are out of this world! No detail is left out, i especially like the Puffin page with his stamped passport…….he definitely gets around.

The wanted sign for naughty seagull made me giggle.

This has to be one of the most stunning children’s books i have seen in a long time, both Carol and Charlotte should be proud of the end results and i hope to see many more books along the way……. definitely ones to watch!!

I have worked as a poet and performer for many

years and I’m proud to have my work featured in

Favourite Poets (Hodder). I have three published

poetry collections of my own and have

contributed to more than 150 anthologies. I am

also one of the writers of the popular Cbeebies

programmes ‘Poetry Pie’ and ‘The Rhyme

Rocket’. I have given workshops in some fairly

unusual venues as well…the grandest of which

being Buckingham Palace!

Website: http://www.coralrumble.co.uk/

I was thrilled and proud when my picture book The Adventures of the

Owl & the Pussycat was highly commended for the Macmillan Children’s

Prize in 2010. Since then I have gone on to illustrate many other picture

books and I enjoy making the occasional card too. When I’m not in my

studio I’m usually outside running or playing referee to my two kids.

http://charlottecookeillustration.blogspot.co.uk/

Make sure you check out all the blog stops on this adventurous tour!!

Review – The Everywhere Bear by Julia Donaldson.

A sweet story about a classroom bear that gets his very own adventure! From drains to seas to fishing boats to libraries, this bear sees it all!

My little one loved the fact that one of the school children had the same name as her (Lily) and she enjoyed pointing out the bear on every page. The illustrator, Rebecca Cobb, has done a wonderful job on the pictures, my personal favourite being the teacher putting bear in the washer after his big adventure.

***This book was sent by Tesco as part of their #PassTheStoryOn campaign ***

Review – The Hightway Rat by Julia Donaldson.

In true Julia style this book seems to rhyme, or to me it does, so i sat as “sang” this book, much to my youngest s amusement! Naughty Rat wants what everyone else has and intends on taking it all for himself…….and as we teach our children not to take Lily shouted ‘naughty rat!’ every time he took something. But does rat get away with it? You’ll have to buy the book to see 😀

Lily loved this book and i too am a HUGE Julia Donaldson fan, her books keep my little one entertained for ages and the pictures *WOW* Axel Scheffler is amazing! Lovely vivid colours and the detail is spot on.

***This book was sent by Tesco as part of their #PassTheStoryOn campaign ***

Henry the Hula Hooping Hippo by Kelly Robinson-Key.

Come and meet Henry the Hula Hooping Hippo by Kelly Robinson-Key.

 Blurb-

Henry was a hippo, a hippo that loved to dance,

He would dance around the desert whenever he had the chance.

Henry the Hula Hooping Hippo was written and illustrated by Kelly Robinson-Key. It is the first in a series of books about a Hippo called Henry and his animal friends. It is a wonderful story about a hippo that has to find courage to do something that he loves.

You can also listen to the author, Kelly, narrate the book over on her YouTube channel –

Henry is available to buy over at Amazon – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Henry-Hula-Hooping-Hippo-Friends-ebook/dp/B01G4EPXM0

~Minis~