Recommended Reads for Children

Titles for May 2012

There has been a trend in children’s publishing in recent years to reinvent the classics. Sometimes this takes the form of asking an author to write a sequel to a well-loved book. The other approach is to take something well-known and turn it on it’s head.

Here are some new sequels and alternative versions…but don’t forget the originals!

Laurence Anholt "Seriously Silly Stories"
A series of easy readers that provide hilarious alternatives to the usual fairy tales. Look out for Bleeping Beauty and the Silly Willy Billy Goats!
T S Eliot. "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats"
Not strictly a retelling , but this lovely edition illustrated by Axel Scheffler makes these classic poems available to a younger age range.
Frank Cottrell Boyce "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again"
A wonderful sequel , which captures all the humour and excitement of the flying car.
Hilary McKay "Wishing for tomorrow"
The wistful sequel to Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess
Charlie Higson "Young Bond series"
James Bond is as popular as ever, and Charlie Higson’s prequel series brings the hero to a teenage audience. Start the series with Silverfin.