Showing posts with label February 2018. Show all posts
Showing posts with label February 2018. Show all posts

Monday, 19 February 2018

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Favourite Children's Picture Books - Jan/Feb 2018


Jonny Duddle - The Pirates of Scurvy Sands - Published by Templar Publishing (8 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1783704088

 

This summer, Matilda is going on holiday with her friends, the Jolley-Rogers. Their destination is the island of Scurvy Sands - a favourite holiday destination for pirates. 
When Matilda arrives, the swashbuckling residents are not too impressed with her. She has clean teeth, tidy clothes and doesn't smell like she's been at sea for six months without washing - she's definitely no pirate. But when Matilda discovers the secret of the legendary treasure of Scurvy Sands, the pirates decide that maybe some lubbers aren't so bad.
A scurvy sequel to the bestselling The Pirates Next Door.


Jonny Lambert -  Look Out, It’s a Dragon! - Published by Little Tiger Press (8 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1848698215

 

Saffi isn’t like other dragons. She doesn’t enjoy crushing castles and capturing princesses. But when she finds the perfect new home, how can she persuade her new neighbours that she is a helpful sort of dragon?

Written and illustrated by the award-winning Jonny Lambert (Little Why, The Only Lonely Panda and Tiger Tiger), this is a humorous and heart-warming tale about bravery, overcoming prejudices and finding new friends.


Helena Covell - Jumble Wood - Published by Flying Eye Books (1 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1911171362


Far, far away there was a wood. A jumble of twists and turns, ups and downs, and unknowns. The little creatures that lived there each had a thing that made them happy... all of them except Pod, who just can't seem to find hers. Exasperated and sad, Pod sets off to discover where her 'happiness' might be hiding, only to find it in the friends she meets along the way.

Julian Gough & Jim Field - Attack of the Snack: Book 3 (Rabbit and Bear) - Hodder Children's Books (11 Jan. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1444938173

Gorgeously illustrated and with a classic feel, this is a brilliantly funny story of a rabbit and a bear who discover that things are always better when they're shared with a friend. Ideal for readers moving on from picture books. 
'A perfect animal double-act.' (The Times, Book of the Week)
SPLASH! A Mysterious Thing lands in Rabbit and Bear's peaceful summer lake. 
Is it exciting, or terrifying? Is it a tiny fluffy owl, or a huge hungry monster? And has Rabbit finally met a creature with worse habits than himself? 
Rabbit's SURE he can solve this mystery. But when he accidentally turns the Best Day Ever into the Worst Day Ever, he needs Bear's help ... 
From novelist and playwright Julian Gough, and the winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, Jim Field, this is a tale of friendship, acceptance, and what you can do with blueberry poo.

'Rabbit's Bad Habits is a breath of fresh air in children's fiction, a laugh-out-loud story of rabbit and wolf and bear, of avalanches and snowmen. The sort of story that makes you want to send your children to bed early, so you can read it to them.' Neil Gaiman


Sam Hay & Sarah Massini - Star in the Jar - Published by Egmont (11 Jan. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1405284301

An enchanting bedtime story for toddlers, perfect for fans of Oliver Jeffers' How To Catch a Star.
Up high, in the dark, dark sky . . . a message: LOST, ONE SMALL STAR. 
When a little boy stumbles across a special star, he puts it in a jar and takes it on adventures. Together with his big sister, he takes his special treasure with him everywhere – to the cinema, to the swimming pool and even to the toilet! 
But the poor star is sad and misses its home . . .
Can the little boy and his big sister find a way to send the star safely back?
Sarah Massini's artwork glows with warmth and humour and perfectly captures the friendship between the two siblings in this warm-hearted bedtime book.
Told from the perspective of the big sister, this is the perfect picture book for siblings to share and read together. The short text and warm tone is ideal for toddlers aged 2 years and up. 



David Fickling & Richard Collingridge - Tiny Little Rocket - Published by David Fickling Books (1 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1910200902

There's a tiny little rocket that will take you to the stars.
It only flies there once a year but zips you out past Mars.
Its fins are solid silver with a door made out of gold.
There's a cozy pilot seat inside for a person young or old.

Climb aboard for a bedtime picture book sure to appeal to every kid's sense of wonder. Young readers will love stepping into the cockpit of a wonderful rocket ship that takes them zipping through the planets, stars, and space, all the way back home to Earth and their cozy beds!

Monday, 12 February 2018

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Middle-Grade Book Picks February 2018 - US Post Two

Russell Ginns - Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans - Published by Delacorte Press (27 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1524720001

For fans of Mr. Lemoncello's Library and the Secret series, and classics like Holes and The Westing Game, the first book in a hilarious new series about a girl, her brother, and some super-big globe-trotting adventures.


Samantha Spinner's Uncle Paul disappeared, and here's what he left:
* Samantha's sister got a check for $2,400,000,000.
* Samantha's brother got the New York Yankees.
* And Samantha got a rusty red umbrella with a tag hanging off its worn handle. The tag says "Watch out for the RAIN." 
Thanks a lot, Uncle Paul.
After all the strawberry waffles, stories, and puzzles they've shared, how could he just leave without saying goodbye? And what is the meaning of that mysterious message? 
The answer is simple. Sam knows in her heart that Uncle Paul is in danger. And if he taught her anything, it's that not everything is exactly what it seems. Which is why we should pay close attention to that rusty red umbrella. 
The RAIN is coming and Samantha Spinner is about to find herself mixed up in some super-important, super-dangerous, super-secret plans. 
And don't miss what happens next to Samantha, Nipper, and Dennis in Samantha Spinner and the Spectacular Specs!

Eliot Schrefer - The Lost Rainforest: Mez's Magic - Published by Katherine Tegen Books (8 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-0062491077


An action-packed and hilarious animal fantasy adventure from New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Eliot Schrefer, “this new series stunner” (Kirkus starred review) will thrill fans of Warriors and Spirit Animals.

Caldera has forever been divided into the animals who walk by night and those who walk by day. Nightwalker panthers, like young Mez and her sister, have always feared daywalkers as creatures of myth and legend. 
Then Mez discovers that she can enter the daylight world, and she rushes to discover what it means to cross the Veil—and the extent of her newly uncovered magical powers—before a reawakened evil threatens everything she’s ever known.
Now, with an unlikely group of animal friends—including a courageous bat, a scholarly tree frog, and an anxious monkey—Mez must unravel an ancient mystery and face her greatest fears, if they are to have any hope of saving their endangered rainforest home.


E. Latimer - The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray - Published by Tundra Books (NY) (13 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1101919286

Lemony Snicket meets Oscar Wilde meets Edgar Allan Poe in this exciting and scary middle-grade novel inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray -- a family curse is unleashed!
Bryony Gray is becoming famous as a painter in London art circles. But life isn't so grand. Her uncle keeps her locked in the attic, forcing her to paint for his rich clients . . . and now her paintings are taking on a life of their own, and customers are going missing under mysterious circumstances. 
When her newest painting escapes the canvas and rampages through the streets of London, Bryony digs into her family history, discovering some rather scandalous secrets her uncle has been keeping, including a deadly curse she's inherited from her missing father. Bryony has accidentally unleashed the Gray family curse, and it's spreading fast. 
With a little help from the strange-but-beautiful girl next door and her paranoid brother, Bryony sets out to break the curse, dodging bloodthirsty paintings, angry mobs and her wicked uncle along the way.


Abie Longstaff (Author) James Brown (Illustrator) - The Trapdoor Mysteries: A Sticky Situation: Book 1 - Published by  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (8 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1510201774

 

The first book in The Trapdoor Mysteries, a series about Tally, a code-breaking, animal-loving servant girl and her best friend, a squirrel named Squill, who solve mysteries with the help of a secret library...
Ten-year-old Tally is a servant girl at Mollett Manor. She sleeps in the scullery sink, and spends her days scrubbing, polishing and ironing (when she's not secretly reading books). Then Tally and her squirrel friend, Squill, find a secret library hidden under the manor - a magical library where the books come to life! When Mollett Manor is burgled, can Tally use the knowledge she finds in the books to catch the criminals? Can they even help her solve the mystery of her missing mother?

Arthur Slade (Author) Christopher Steininger (Illustrator) Modo: Ember's End - Published by Orca Book Publishers (20 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1459817210 BUY HERE


Modo, who first made his appearance in The Hunchback Assignments, is a young, disfigured spy trained to be the ultimate secret agent. Not only is Modo brilliant and strong, but he also has a special ability: he can temporarily take on the appearance of other people. 
While on holiday, Modo and fellow spy Octavia Milkweed find themselves in Ember's End. Created by the slightly mad scientific genius Dr. Ebenezer Ember, this is no ordinary wild-west town. It is surrounded by an energy field that prevents gunpowder from firing, and messages are sent via pneumatic tubes. There are also rumors that before Dr. Ember died, he built a weapon so powerful it could end all wars. With the local sheriff recently deceased, the two travelers are suddenly put in charge of Ember's End law enforcement.

Friday, 9 February 2018

Steven Butler (Author) Steve Lenton (Illustrator) - The Nothing to See Here Hotel - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books Book Review


Welcome to The Nothing to See Here Hotel! A hotel for magical creatures, where weird is normal for Frankie Banister and his parents who run the hotel.

When a goblin messenger arrives at The Nothing to See Here Hotel, announcing the imminent arrival of the goblin prince Grogbah, Frankie and his family rush into action to get ready for their important guest. But it soon becomes obvious that the Banister family are going to have their work cut out with the demanding prince and his never-ending entourage, especially when it turns out the rude little prince is hiding a secret...


The Nothing to See Here Hotel is a crazy and wildly imagined story written by Steven Butler and his sidekick illustrator, Steven Lenton. This is a fantastic new series for the younger reader (Age 6+) or the big kid like me. It is due to be published by the mighty Simon & Schuster Children's in the UK on the 22nd February 2018. It's fantastically illustrated all the way through and will help any reluctant reader to capture the story. It certainly brings the characters to life visually. 

No sooner do you turn the first page, when your life shatters and explodes in a green mist of flesh and uncontrollable smells. You'll open the door of The Nothing to See Here Hotel and be expertly guided through the narrative by Frankie Banister. It is an unbelievable story that might take you and your smelly socks by surprise. You'll wobble down the path of humour before your toes go green and your brain turns into jelly. This is a funny, action-packed crazy ride that is faster than an Orkney Brittle-back, which I have on good authority by Steve. 

This is a disgusting book that you really don't want to read. Nevertheless, you'll feel compelled to read it. It's absolutely crazy - packed full of ghastly humour and outlandish behaviour that will captivate the reading audience. You will be introduced to a bucket-load of magical characters, especially The Royal Regalia of wobbliness, Prince Grogbah, and his troll entourage. 

This is a great book to get kids to read. It is full of imaginative 'shouting' text and rollercoaster action which is more suited to Brighton Pier. It will make you laugh, especially when the story explodes into a fantasy world of swashbuckling mayhem and gnashing teeth. This is Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books young readers pick of the month, so get it ordered now. 

If I was rating this on Trolliday Review it would read. BOG OFF you little pimple. THERE IS NOTHING to see here. Expect ghastly food, dirty bed linen and no service you LOATHSOME LITTLE Toads! Thank you for not staying in the non-star rated hotel in Brighton. Our pleasure is in your dissatisfaction. 
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Wednesday, 7 February 2018

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Middle-Grade Book Picks February 2018 - US Post One

John August - Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire - Published by Roaring Brook Press (February 6, 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1626728141

 

As Arlo looked around, the walls of his room began to vanish, revealing a moonlit forest. Only his bed remained, and the frame of his window, through which he saw the girl. The world on her side of the glass was sparkling with silver and gold, like a palace made of autumn leaves. 
She looked off to her right. Someone was coming. Her words came in an urgent whisper: "If I can see you, they can see you . . . Be careful, Arlo Finch.” 
Arlo Finch thought becoming a Ranger meant learning wilderness skills, like camping and knots. But upon arriving in the tiny town of Pine Mountain, Colorado, Arlo soon learns there's so much more. His new friends Indra and Wu teach him how to harness the wild magic seeping in from the mysterious Long Woods―a parallel realm of wonder and danger.
First he must master the basics, including snaplights, thunderclaps and identifying supernatural creatures. But Arlo Finch is no ordinary Ranger, and this is no ordinary time. A dark and ancient force is sending threats into the real world . . . our world.
Through perilous adventures and close calls, Arlo is awakened to his unique destiny―but the obstacles he faces will test the foundations of the Ranger's Vow: loyalty, bravery, kindness, and truth.

Sayantani DasGupta - The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1) - Published by Scholastic Press (February 27, 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1338185706



MEET KIRANMALA:

INTERDIMENSIONAL DEMON SLAYER

(Only she doesn't know it yet.)

On the morning of her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala is just a regular sixth grader living in Parsippany, New Jersey . . . until her parents mysteriously vanish and a drooling rakkhosh demon slams through her kitchen, determined to eat her alive. Turns out there might be some truth to her parents' fantastical stories-like how Kiranmala is a real Indian princess and how she comes from a secret place not of this world.

To complicate matters, two crush-worthy princes ring her doorbell, insisting they've come to rescue her. Suddenly, Kiran is swept into another dimension full of magic, winged horses, moving maps, and annoying, talking birds. There she must solve riddles and battle demons all while avoiding the Serpent King of the underworld and the Rakkhoshi Queen in order to find her parents and basically save New Jersey, her entire world, and everything beyond it . . .

Aimée Carter - Simon Thorn and the Shark's Cave - Published by Bloomsbury USA Children's (February 6, 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1619637184

Simon Thorn has only recently discovered that he's an Animalgam, a member of a secret race of people who can shift into animals, and found a home where he truly belongs. But not everything is as good as it seems. Simon's evil grandfather, Orion, is bent on taking over the entire animal kingdom, and to do so, he'll need to gather the pieces of a terrible weapon--one that could shred the very foundations of the Animalgams' world. . . unless Simon can gather the pieces first. 
So when Simon's dolphin Animalgam friend Jam is summoned home to the underwater kingdom's headquarters, Avalon, Simon sees it as an opportunity to secure another piece. But as soon as he and his friends arrive in Avalon, their search is complicated by Jam's strict family--and a potential traitor. Can they locate the piece before it falls into Orion's hands and puts the entire underwater kingdom at risk?

Kristine Asselin & Jen Malone - The Art of the Swap - Published by Aladdin (February 13, 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1481478717

Freaky Friday meets Downton Abbey in this middle-grade mystery that features a modern-day twelve-year-old switching bodies with a Gilded Age heiress in order to solve a famous art heist.

Hannah Jordan lives in a museum…well, sort of. She is the daughter of the caretaker for mansion-turned-museum The Elms in Newport, Rhode Island. Hannah’s captivated by stories of The Elms’s original occupants, especially Maggie Dunlap, the tween heiress subject of a painting that went missing during a legendary art heist in 1905.

But when a mysterious mirror allows Hannah and Maggie to switch places in time, suddenly Hannah is racing to stop the heist from happening, while Maggie gets an introduction to iPhones, soccer (which girls can play!), and freedoms like exploring without supervision. Not to mention the best invention of all: sweatpants (so long, corsets!).

As the hours tick off to the art heist, something’s not adding up. Can the girls work together against time—and across it—to set things right? Or will their temporary swap become a permanent trade?

Thursday, 1 February 2018

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Middle-Grade Book Picks - February 2018 - UK Post Two

M. G. Leonard - Battle of the Beetles - Published by Chicken House Ltd (1 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1910002780

Darkus and his friends continue their unforgettable adventure in this final instalment of the Beetle trilogy. Arch-villainess Lucretia Cutter has a secret Biome hidden in the Amazon rainforest: can Darkus and his friends, human and beetle alike, find it before it's too late? If they can't stop Lucretia, she will release her hoard of giant Frankenstein beetles, and the planet will never be the same again ...

Robin Stevens - A Spoonful of Murder: A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery - Published by Puffin (8 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-0141373782

When Hazel Wong's beloved grandfather passes away, Daisy Wells is all too happy to accompany her friend (and Detective Society Vice President) to Hazel's family estate in beautiful, bustling Hong Kong. 
But when they arrive they discover something they didn't expect: there's a new member of the Wong family. Daisy and Hazel think baby Teddy is enough to deal with, but as always the girls are never far from a mystery. Tragedy strikes very close to home, and this time Hazel isn't just the detective. She's been framed for murder! 
The girls must work together like never before, confronting dangerous gangs, mysterious suspects and sinister private detectives to solve the murder and clear Hazel's name - before it's too late . . .

Celine Kiernan -  Begone the Raggedy Witches - Published by Walker Books (1 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1406366020

A middle-grade fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Frances Hardinge, Katherine Rundell and Sally Gardner. On the night that Aunty dies the Raggedy Witches come for Mup’s mam. Pale, cold, relentless, they will do anything to coax Mam back to Witches Borough. When they kidnap Mup’s dad, Mup and her mam must leave the mundane world to rescue him. But Mam is strange on this side of the border – striding, powerful, and distant. Even if they can save Dad, Mup is not sure anything will ever be the same again…

Mark Powers (Author), Tim Wesson (Illustrator) - Spy Toys: Undercover Published by Bloomsbury Children's Books (8 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1408870907

Toy Story meets James Bond in the third book in this incredible action-packed series! Can Dan the teddy bear who is too strong, Arabella the rag doll with the bad temper and Flax the tech genuis robot rabbit save the day once more?
When the world's most famous chocolate factory disappears, it is up to the Spy Toys to find out the truth - and fast! If the chocolate runs out, there could be riots from children everywhere! The Spy Toys are sent undercover into a school where they need to disguise themselves as regular pupils. Could this be their toughest challenge yet? They'll need all their wits about them to defeat this baddie. And one thing is for sure: these kids don't play nice!
Featuring hilarious illustrations from Tim Wesson throughout, this series is perfect for fans of Pamela Butchart and David Solomons' My Brother is a Superhero.

Andy Briggs - Inventory: Winter Storm (The Inventory) - Published by Scholastic Fiction (1 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1407162058
Biobot alert! The fight for power has a new target – your body! The dark forces who want to control the planet know no limits to their greed. And since they busted into the Inventory, they’ve gotten even deadlier! The Collector is back, on his evil quest to menace the world. Now he’s stolen Winter Storm – a swarm of powerful biobots! These tiny robots can infect and take over everyone you know and love. Oh – and you too, of course! No one will stand a chance. Our only hope is Dev. But after his freaky trip into the Black Zone, he daren’t even rely on himself. And in this new world of covert control, nobody else can be trusted…
  • The storming finale to this bestselling all-action series
  • Addictive sci-fi by the author of Hero.com and Tarzan
  • For fans of Alex RiderCHERUB or The Unicorne Files
  • Gadgets, secrets, villains, danger and breakneck thrills!

Monday, 29 January 2018

Fiona Shaw - Outwalkers - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books Book Review (David Fickling)


The border's closed, Jake said. No one can get into Scotland, just like no one can cross the Channel . . .This is England and it's no longer a free country. The Government can track anyone, anywhere, from a chip implanted at birth. But Jake has escaped from his Academy orphanage, and he's got to get to Scotland with his dog, Jet. When the Outwalkers gang grabs him, they go off-grid while the Government hunts for them. The closer they get to Scotland, the more dangerous it is. Because now, it's not only their own lives that are at stake . . .

Outwalkers, by my local author Fiona Shaw, will walk out into the literary wilderness on the 1st February 2018. This is another fantastic book published by David Fickling and the team featuring a brilliant book jacket illustrated by Levi Pinfold. The story expertly explores a fantasy dystopian world that could become a scary reality in years to come. It is a book which is certainly very topical and on trend at the moment.  

My imagination was captured from the very first page. Jake (main character) finds himself living in an Academy orphanage after his parents die in a tragic car accident. Unfortunately, the orphanage is a home of loss, loneliness and regimental regime. There is no love present and it is certainly not a place for any child. However, Jack dares to break out in the dark of night, in a daring escape to reach Scotland and find his grandparents. The only problem is that the government officials will be able to track his every move and chase him down. It definitely makes a very emotive and thrilling start to the book. 

The more that you read, the more you are sucked into a thrilling futuristic world featuring a manipulative government. In fact, a big wall has been built to segregate England from Scotland. The actions and reactions of the characters really resonated with me. They appear to be written with such delicate ease as you follow the group of children in a fight for survival and freedom. I particularly loved two scenes in the book involving the London underground, which I have a fascination with anyway, and John Lewis, the retailer. I don't want to say any more about these, but I think you'll understand what I mean when you read the book. 

I did have one minor issue with the book and that was the ending. I felt that it went a little too far in content and that it could have ended sooner. I wonder if part of the ending could have been incorporated into another book as too many unanswered questions remained unsolved by the end.

Nevertheless, this happens to be one of the best Young Adult (YA) contemporary books that I've read for some time. There were large elements of the story that took me back to my childhood. The story certainly takes no prisoners instilling a dark and bleak pursuit across a country in crisis, whilst also delivering an explosive amount of high octane action as the characters try to evade capture. 

This is a thrilling, yet chilling, creative ride that will stay with me for some time. It is a heart-stomping story that I felt, loved and survived on so many levels. Thanks again David Fickling and the team for nurturing and publishing this little fantasy gold nugget. Please let there be another book sometime soon.

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Friday, 26 January 2018

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Middle Grade Book Picks - February 2018 - UK Post One


Padraig Kenny - Tin - Published by Chicken House Ltd (1 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1911077657
Christopher is 'Proper': a real boy with a real soul, orphaned in a fire. He works for an engineer, a maker of the eccentric, loyal and totally individual mechanicals who are Christopher's best friends. But after a devastating accident, a secret is revealed and Christopher's world is changed forever ... What follows is a remarkable adventure, as Christopher discovers who he really is, and what it means to be human.
Juliette Forrest - Twister - Published by Scholastic (1 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1407185118
Twister's father has gone missing and as she's searching for him she stumbles across a witch living in the woods. She is given a magical necklace that holds the souls of living things and can turn the wearer into a wolf, or a rushing river, or a rainstorm. But there's a dark foe on the hunt for this necklace, a baddie who wears a coat crawling with creatures and who might have something to do with her father's sudden disappearance...

Sinéad O’Hart - The Eye of the North - Published by Stripes Publishing (8 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1847159410 (Book Review Here)

Emmeline Widget has never left Widget Manor – and that’s the way she likes it. But when her scientist parents mysteriously disappear, she finds herself being packed off on a ship to France, heading for a safe house in Paris. Onboard she is befriended by an urchin stowaway called Thing. But before she can reach her destination she is kidnapped by the sinister Dr Siegfried Bauer.

Dr Bauer is bound for the ice fields of Greenland to summon a legendary monster from the deep. And he isn’t the only one determined to unleash the creature. The Northwitch has laid claim to the beast, too. 


Can Emmeline and Thing stop their fiendish plans and save the world?

Steven Butler (Author), Steven Lenton (Illustrator) - The Nothing to See Here Hotel - Published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK (22 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1471163838

 

Welcome to The Nothing to See Here Hotel! A hotel for magical creatures, where weird is normal for Frankie Banister and his parents who run the hotel.

When a goblin messenger arrives at The Nothing to See Here Hotel, announcing the imminent arrival of the goblin prince Grogbah, Frankie and his family rush into action to get ready for their important guest. But it soon becomes obvious that the Banister family are going to have their work cut out with the demanding prince and his never-ending entourage, especially when it turns out the rude little prince is hiding a secret...

The first book in a fabulously funny series by bestselling author Steven Butler, with a host of whacky characters brought to life with illustrations from the wonderful Steven Lenton
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Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Favourite Children's Book Picks - FEB 2026 UK

  Philip Reeve -  Bridge of Storms (A New Mortal Engines Novel) - Published by  Scholastic Press ( 3 Feb. 2026) -  ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎  978-154613...