Helen Cooper - The Taming of the Cat - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

"The Taming of the Cat" by Helen Cooper is a delightful and enchanting tale that captivates both young and old readers alike. Cooper, a twice-Kate Greenaway WINNER, weaves a mesmerizing story within a story, showcasing her exceptional talent as both an author and illustrator.

The narrative follows Brie the mouse, who finds himself at the mercy of Gorgonzola the cat. To save his own life, Brie must spin an extraordinary tale, captivating Gorgonzola's attention until the very end. Cooper's rich storytelling takes us on a journey filled with a runaway princess, a cat with magical abilities, and a quest for a mystical herb, all while the threat of Gorgonzola's hunger looms in the background.

Through her evocative illustrations and compelling prose, Cooper brings this imaginative world to life, creating an immersive experience for readers. "The Taming of the Cat" is a testament to Cooper's storytelling prowess, offering a charming and spellbinding read that will leave a lasting and impression.

Published in a special stunning Hardback by Faber & Faber, this book is a must-have for anyone who appreciates the magic of storytelling and the power of imagination. Helen Cooper's "The Taming of the Cat" is a true gem that will undoubtedly be a classic and cherished by readers of all ages.

The Best Children's Book Picks JAN 2024 US Post - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

Author: Ben Guterson 

Illustrator: Kristina Kister

Book Title: The World-Famous Nine

Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books (January 30, 2024)

Age: 9-12 Years

Zander Olinga’s grandmother is the owner of the fabled Number Nine Plaza, the spectacular nineteen-story skyscraper. The Nine, as it’s called, has everything imaginable, including a massive Ferris wheel on its rooftop, monorail tracks suspended from its ceiling, and twenty-five glass elevators. But there’s something evil looming in the shadows, and strange accidents start befalling the guests. When Zander and his friend Natasha come across a series of inscriptions hidden throughout the walls of The Nine, they discover that the clues will lead them to a magical object that protects the store’s very existence. With the future of The Nine on the line, the pair are determined to recover the mysterious object before the luxury plaza and its many guests are destroyed. 

 
Featuring an unforgettable setting and a larger-than-life cast of characters, here’s a spellbinding mystery involving puzzles, art, and high-stakes adventure.

Author: Marcykate Connolly 

Author: Kathryn Holmes

Book Title: The Thirteenth Circle 

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (January 30, 2024)

Age: 9-12 Years

The X-Files meets Scooby-Doo in THE THIRTEENTH CIRCLE, a middle-grade mystery from MarcyKate Connolly and Kathryn Holmes, featuring two unexpected friends, crop circles, science fairs, and Men in Black, perfect for both the highly scientific and cryptid enthusiasts alike.

Cat knows aliens are real, and she’s determined to prove it. By studying the Weston Farm Circles, her town’s legendary crop circle phenomenon, she’ll not only demonstrate the existence of extraterrestrial life, but also win the grand prize in the McMurray Youth Science Competition―a feat she’s sure will impress her distant NASA scientist father.

Author: Cole Poindexter

Book Title: The Griffin's Egg

Publisher: Wild Rose Press (January 15, 2024)

Age: 10-12 Years 

Lost in a wild West Virginia forest, Phoebe Gray's world is upended when she finds an irritable goblin named Gnish-Gnash. She's stumbled into Lerch Hollow, a place of magic and mystery where trolls lurk in shadows and mermaids sway with the tide. The young adventurer soon finds herself caught up in a race against time; the Dark Mistress Lucinda is on the hunt for the last Griffin's egg, for its power will make her unstoppable. It is up to Phoebe to protect the egg while discovering the secrets of her own magical connection to the mysterious wizard Thatcher. With Gnish at her side and her grandfather's old cloak on her back, Phoebe must protect this enchanted world from destruction.

Author: Zack Loran Clark 

Author: Nick Eliopulos

Book Title: The Doomsday Archives: The Wandering Hour: BK 1 

Publisher: Zando Young Readers (January 30, 2024)

Age: 8-12 Years 

What if your favorite scary story was real?

With eerie illustrations and chilling creepypasta interstitials, The Doomsday Archives: The Wandering Hour by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos is the first in a deliciously creepy series, perfect for readers of Jonathan Stroud, Christian McKay Heidicker, and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

New Rotterdam is no place for a kid―and that’s what Emrys Houtman likes about it. Emrys obsessively documents his town’s urban legends and cryptid sightings in a Wiki, along with his neighbors and fellow horror fans Hazel and Serena. It’s all in good fun until one day, the trio stumbles upon the Doomsday Archives, a collection of relics with dazzling powers and dangerous consequences.

When a mysterious blood-red hourglass begins appearing around town and children begin to go missing, the trio must band together to stop the horrors plaguing New Rotterdam, or risk losing their home . . . and possibly their lives. Because after all this time hunting monsters, the kids have realized the monsters are now hunting them back.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books GRAND FINAL Children's Book Cover Illustration Winner 2023/24

The latest installment of our captivating children's book cover competition has concluded, marking another outstanding year for children's book cover illustration.  We extend our deepest gratitude to all the voters, supporters, talented illustrators, dedicated authors, and forward-thinking publishers who rallied behind our annual competition. Despite the challenges in garnering attention on social media, we've navigated through five brilliant rounds, buoyed by your adventurous and discerning votes. 

This journey has allowed us to highlight and showcase 36 exceptional book covers, although the sheer abundance of talent and remarkable illustrators meant that many more could have been featured. Regrettably, not all receive the recognition they truly deserve, but we aspire on our website to illuminate their creative brilliance and efforts. 

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who championed and voted for these covers throughout the rounds - your support has truly done them justice.  It brings me immense joy to reveal that the winning book cover was illustrated by Hannah McCaffery for Bex Hogan's "Bronte Tempestra and the Lightning Steeds," set to be published by Piccadilly Press on February 1, 2024. Another worthy winner to go into the Hall of FAME. 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Children's Book Cover GRAND FINAL Competition 2023/24

Welcome everybody to the 14th GRAND FINAL of Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books' Children's Favourite Book Cover. We have already run five fantastic heats and now have all five winners and the two highest runners-up. We are ready for your VOTES once again. This is your chance to choose your favourite book cover illustration to be crowned the ultimate winner. So get your fingers ready as it all starts NOW. Who will win this YEAR and go down in the Hall of Fame? See previous WINNERS. 

This week's final prize for voting is a £10 book voucher, two books and a delicious bar of chocolate. Good luck everybody! 

If you are interested all you need to do is:

• Vote for your favourite book cover using the poll HERE (or at the bottom of the post)
• Leave a comment through this post/poll or see pinned Tweet/X for more details on @Enchantedbooks
• This poll will end on the 19th of Jan 2024 at Midnight (UK). 

Have fun and share with the world through Twitter, Facebook, Threads, and Instagram. Watch the voting develop, and wait to hear whether you've won (once the poll has closed).

Here are the SEVEN brilliant book covers to vote for this week: 

BOOK ONE: Bex Hogan - Bronte Tempestra and the Lightning Steeds - Published by Piccadilly Press (1 Feb. 2024) - Book Cover Illustration by Hannah McCaffery and art directed by Dominica Clements - VOTE HERE

BOOK TWO: Hannah Durkan - Zeina Starborn and the Emerald King - Published by Orion Children's Books (6 July 2023) - Book Cover Illustrated by George Ermos - VOTE HERE

BOOK THREE: Nicola Davies - Skrimsli - Book Published by Firefly Press (14 Sept. 2023) -  Book Cover Illustrated by Jackie Morris - VOTE HERE 

BOOK FOUR: Rhian Tracey Hide and Seek: A Bletchley Park Mystery - Published by Piccadilly Press (29 Feb. 2024) - Book Cover Illustrated by David Dean - VOTE HERE 

BOOK FIVE: Eibhlis Carcione - Welcome to Dead Town Raven McKay - Book Published by Everything with Words (1 Jun. 2023) - Book Cover Illustrated by Ewa Beniak-Haremska - VOTE HERE 

BOOK SIX: Rachel Chivers Khoo - The Magician Next Door - Published by Walker Books (7 Mar. 2024) - Book Cover Illustration by Alice McKinley and cover designer Maia Fjord - VOTE HERE 

BOOK SEVEN: Penny Chrimes - Moon Shifter - Published by Orion Children's Books (29 Feb. 2024) - Book Cover Illustrated by Manuel Šumberac - VOTE HERE

HAPPY VOTING! 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book - Tamsin Mori - Guardians of the Source: Gargoyles Book 1 - Book Review

Hello everybody. I'm delighted to be able to introduce the first book review of the year: "Tamsin Mori and the Guardians of the Source: Gargoyles". This is the first installment of a promising trilogy that delivers an enthralling adventure. It is scheduled to be released in April 2024 by UCLan Publishing with a brilliantly vibrant cover illustration by the talented David Dean. 

From the very first page, this captivating fantasy world springs to life by whisking readers away on a dream-like journey filled with magic, mystery, and excitement. The story kicks off with an irresistible narrative that is set in a decaying old mansion hiding a secret past. As Callen's family moves into his father's enigmatic childhood home, they are greeted by a sprawling, boarded-up mansion adorned with gargoyles, overgrown gardens, and the resurgence of long-forgotten magic. Magic, folklore, mythical creatures, and the wonder of animated gargoyles soon unfold.

Mori's storytelling prowess shines brightly in this enchanting tale as she skillfully weaves a world that is both familiar and extraordinary. The characters are endearing, effortlessly drawing readers into their world. The dilapidated mansion serves as a richly atmospheric backdrop, evoking a blend of nostalgia and mystery. When a disgruntled gargoyle awakens in Callen's presence, he must befriend Zariel and earn her trust before a looming dark threat takes hold. Only a Gargoyle Guardian and true friendship can fend off this encroaching peril.

The concept of living gargoyles adds an extra layer of excitement and mystique to the narrative, making it a real page-turner for young readers. The narrative is as enchanting as the magical elements woven throughout the story, ensuring a delightful and sometimes spooky read for both children and adults. 

"Guardians of the Source: Gargoyles" is a must-read for anyone who adores tales of magic, friendship, and adventure. Tamsin Mori has crafted a world that will capture the hearts and ignite the imaginations of all who delve into its pages. This book is a true gem that deserves a spot on every bookshelf, and I eagerly anticipate more from this talented author with the next chapter in this trilogy. BUY HERE! 

Mr Ripley's Children's Book Picks Jan 2024 UK - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

Mary Averling - The Curse of Eelgrass Bog

Published by Razorbill (2 Jan. 2024)

Hardback - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593624906

Age: 8+

Dark secrets and unnatural magic abound when a twelve-year-old girl ventures into a bog full of monsters to break a mysterious curse.

Nothing about Kess Pedrock's life is normal. Not her home (she lives in her family's Unnatural History Museum), not her interests (hunting for megafauna fossils and skeletons), and not her best friend (a talking demon's head in a jar named Shrunken Jim). 

But things get even stranger than usual when Kess meets Lilou Starling, the new girl in town. Lilou comes to Kess for help breaking a mysterious curse--and the only clue she has leads straight into the center of Eelgrass Bog. 

Everyone knows the bog is full of witches, demons, and possibly worse, but Kess and Lilou are determined not to let that stop them. As they investigate the mystery and uncover long-buried secrets, Kess begins to realize that the curse might hit closer to home than she'd ever expected, and she'll have to summon all her courage to find a way to break it before it's too late.

Jess French - Beastlands: Race to FrostFall Mountain 

Published by Piccadilly Press (18 Jan. 2024)

Paperback - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1800784062

Age: 9+ 

• BEFORE THERE WERE PEOPLE, THERE WERE BEASTS . . .
  
  The island of Ramoa was once luscious and populated with mighty beasts. Now though, it is home to barren and tamed cities, where nature is locked out and trouble is brewing.
  
  When Kayla's beloved animal companion, a rare winged pangron, is stolen, she's determined to get him back. But to do so, she'll have to leave her city and journey into the wild and forbidden Beastlands. 
  
  There, she meets Rustus, an exiled young warrior, and Alethea, a healer desperately seeking a cure for a mysterious disease. As their quests unite them, they'll adventure across the lands they know so little about, leading them to discoveries both great and terrifying. Not least that the beasts they've always been taught to fear might not be so terrifying after all...

Iszi Lawrence - City of Spies

Published by Bloomsbury Education (4 Jan. 2024)

Paperback - ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1801991014

Age: 8+

It's 1780 and the struggle for American independence is raging. In New York, twelve-year-old Aiden
Blaise is sure that the British will win soon. How can a few rebel colonies hold out against the might of the British crown? And anyway he's more concerned with somehow managing to rise above his lot in life and make his fortune. 

But New York is a powder keg of soldiers and spies, and soon Aiden will be drawn into the fight for freedom in a way he could never have predicted...

Packed with historical detail and tales of the Culper Spy Ring, Benedict Arnold, James Rivington and George Washington, this page-turning thriller about the American War of Independence will have young readers gripped.

Anna Rainbow - Diamond Jack: Your Magic or Your Life

Published by Chicken House (4 Jan. 2024)

Paperback - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913322724

Age: 8+

An action-packed swashbuckling tale for readers aged 8 and up! 

While helping in Grandpa's shop, Bramble discovers a strange scarlet mask. A tingling in her fingers tells her to try it on, but when she does she can't take it off . . .

And when she looks in the mirror, the face of a famous highwayman Diamond Jack stares back. 

It seems Bramble has been chosen for a mission. Time to stand and deliver – your magic or your life! READ EXTRACT HERE!