Category: Reviews

chapterbooks, New releases, Reviews

Lovely first review for Four All At Sea

christmaspresspicturebooks

The first review for Four All At Sea has just been published, on Kids Book Review, and it’s great! Here’s a short extract:

In Four All at Sea, the personification of the characters and the objects that surround them, steer the story through dialogue and point of view with humour.

Flash, Fergie, Lady and Maxie have tasted success after living on the farm in unintended neglect. Now, with shiny new paintwork that matches their stardom, they are travelling for the first time overseas on a ship with their owner Mrs Brown, to film their first movie with Peachey Productions.

You can read the whole review here. It’s by Anastasia Gonis, who also reviewed Four On The Run last year.

authors, Books, Eagle Books, middle-grade fiction, New releases, Reviews

First review for Charlie Chaplin: The Usual Suspect

christmaspresspicturebooks

Charlie Chaplin: The Usual Suspect, by Phoebe McArthur, has just received its first review, in Read Plus, with the reviewer, Carolyn Hull, recommending the novel. Here’s a short extract:

This book has been written in the style of a Trixie Belden mystery – a young girl who can solve problems and crimes with only the help of other kids. It will appeal to young readers who love a mystery story...

You can read the whole review here.

authors, Books, Junior fiction, Reviews

Fil and Harry reviewed on Buzz Words

christmaspresspicturebooks

Another lovely review for Fil and Harry: this time by Dannielle Viera, on the Buzz Words site. Here’s a short extract:

Award-winning author Jenny Blackford has delivered a delightful junior fiction novel suitable for kids aged seven to ten. The friendship headaches that Fil suffers from are common in this age group, so youngsters will immediately feel empathy for the troubled protagonist. And who doesn’t love the idea of owning a talking cat? …..Kristin Devine’s images are exceptionally detailed, which encourages young readers to pause and ponder what is happening in the story.

You can read the whole review here.

illustration by Kristin Devine.
authors, Books, Illustrators, Junior fiction, New releases, Reviews

Great new review of Fil and Harry

christmaspresspicturebooks

Very pleasing to read a great new review of Fil and Harry on the ReadPlus site! Here’s a short extract:

The third person narration is light and breezy. Humour laces the storyline.  We feel for Fil; we worry about her problems. We think we know where she is going wrong with her friendship choices. We love the way her family rally around her. There is a tangle in the story which any young child would recognise. Harry the magical cat has a solution and the ending is very satisfying. The pencil sketches scattered throughout the story are soft and comforting. Stars and cat paw prints accompany the text.  This is a delightful little book. 

You can read the full review here.

illustration by Kristin Devine
Announcements, authors, Illustrators, Junior fiction, Reviews

Lovely advance review for Fil and Harry

christmaspresspicturebooks

We are delighted to announce that there was a lovely advance review, by Lian Hingee of Readings, of Fil and Harry in this week’s edition of the Weekly Book Newsletter (Books+Publishing). Here’s an extract from the review:

Written by Jenny Blackford, whose debut book The Girl in the Mirror won the 2020 Davitt Award for Best Children’s Crime Novel, Fil & Harry also includes whimsical illustrations by Kristin Devine…..It is a gentle novel with short, accessible chapters and some excellent vocabulary-building words for emerging readers to discover. It’s perfect for readers aged seven and up.

Congratulations to Jenny and Kristin! It’s a great start for the novel’s reception.

Fil and Harry will be released on May 3.

authors, chapterbooks, Illustrators, Reviews

Another lovely review of Four on the Run

christmaspresspicturebooks

There’s another lovely review of Four on the Run, this time on Kids’ Book Review. Here is a short extract:

Cheryl Orsini’s delicate pen illustrations depict the cars in their prime and through their challenges. The dialogue between the cars is humorous and entertaining. This is a perfect chapter book for younger readers.  

You can read the whole review here.

Illustration by Cheryl Orsini from Four on the Run

authors, chapterbooks, Illustrators, Reviews

Lovely review for Four on the Run at ReadPlus

christmaspresspicturebooks

There’s a lovely review of Four on the Run on ReadPlus, review is by Kathyrn Beilby. Here’s a short extract:

This is a perfect read aloud for Junior Primary students as it is short and will appeal to children who could easily imagine that vehicles may be able to talk. Those younger readers who are progressing to independently reading novels will find the larger text and repetition of key words an asset to reading fluently. The clever illustrations by Cheryl Orsini provide extra interest and support to the reader.

You can read the whole review here.