Children’s Book Reviews

The Giant at Number Two – book review – Mummy Conquering Anxiety

You may have seen the recent social media post from Sam about taking a social media break. It’s time for a Daddy and little one takeover to review the recent book we were sent. The Giant at Number Two – book review – Mummy Conquering Anxiety.

Daisy-May is known to everyone as having a vivid imagination, so when she tells her family that there is a giant living on their street, as usual nobody believes her. Nobody that is, except her Gran!

Tiny Tree Books
The Giant at Number Two - book review - Mummy Conquering Anxiety

Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.

Some of the previous reviews Sam has published

LIVELY LILA BLOG TOUR – A DANCE OF HAPPY DISCOVERY – MUMMY CONQUERING ANXIETY

THE ANNA’S GARDEN BLOG TOUR – MUMMY CONQUERING ANXIETY

THE LONELY TIGER BY TERENIA EDWARDS, SEVERUS LIAN (ILLUSTRATOR)

The Giant at Number Two - book review - Mummy Conquering Anxiety

A little tribute

We are very thankful for such a supportive Mummy & wife. This blog and her other blogs are very special to her and it’s something she thrives on doing in her spare time.

The Giant at Number Two is a beautifully illustrated book, inspired by classic fairytales and with a wonderfully nostalgic feel.
Daisy-May is known to everyone as having a vivid imagination, so when she tells her family that there is a giant living on their street, as usual nobody believes her. Nobody that is, except her Gran!

Excited that there may be a giant living in the neighbourhood (especially one that wears funny masks) they form a plan to find out all they can about him, in order to lure him into a trap. But is there really a giant living next door… and are giants as scary as the stories tell us?

The Giant at Number Two blends traditional storytelling with a self-referential twist that both children and parents will love, and will surely be a welcome addition to any family bookshelf.

Courtesy of Amazon

Buy the book

Reviewing the book

My little girl loves to read a book. Mummy is better at it, but when asked, I love to read a book with her before bed, and this one was great to read.

Wearing a mask to hide the real us

Sam has written in the recent book reviews how these themes resonate with our family. It is important to post honest content that other people can relate this. After all, this is how the blog Mummy Conquering Anxiety was born.

Here are some of the snippets from the recent book reviews:

Snippet from – LIVELY LILA BLOG TOUR – A DANCE OF HAPPY DISCOVERY – MUMMY CONQUERING ANXIETY

ADHD is something which impacts our family. And therefore, it’s a subject we openly discuss with our child. Explaining to her that sometimes people think differently, due to how their brains operate and that is okay.
We also incorporate gentle parenting into our parenting style. As such, we explain that people in her class can react differently due to their upbringing or emotions. And that people don’t always mean what they say. They cannot control how they behave and apologising is the way forward. We regularly apologise to my little one, if it’s needed. The message is that we are all human and nobody is perfect.
We want her to embrace everyone’s differences and uniqueness.

Lively Lila Book Review – Mummy Conquering Anxiety

Snippet from – THE ANNA’S GARDEN BLOG TOUR – MUMMY CONQUERING ANXIETY

Neurodivergence factors into our family. It’s something we are open and honest about with her – explaining that sometimes another person’s brain may work differently. And that is completely okay. Something to be celebrated.

Anna’s Garden Book Review – Mummy Conquering Anxiety

Snippet from – THE LONELY TIGER BY TERENIA EDWARDS, SEVERUS LIAN (ILLUSTRATOR)

I particularly love the sentiment that different is good. And it’s what makes you unique. Also, seeing the image of you that a friend of family member sees, can change the way you think about yourself.
Such a heartwarming book, with a special, much-needed message. Especially in today’s world.

The Lonely Tiger Book Review – Mummy Conquering Anxiety

The publisher


Tiny Tree is an independent children’s book imprint based in Manchester, UK: specialising in
children’s picture books, chapter books, and YA. Tiny Tree books are written for
children, encouraging them to be themselves and live their own truths. In 2023 Tiny Tree was
acquired by publisher Andrews UK.


For more information please contact Anthony Barlow, Publicity & Marketing Manager.

How the themes in the book relate to us

The little one is learning about growth, life cycles and everything in nature at school this term. They hatched their butterflies and recently let them go in the school playground. We are reading Monkey Puzzle, by Julia Donaldson and also Jack & The Beanstalk.

My fave parts of the book

My absolute favourite part of the book is the Gran who totally believes everything Daisy-May says and even has at midnight steakout to seek out the giant. She also makes sure he isn’t a bad giant.

Summary

Having read through Sam’s previous boon reviews, these books have a way of resonating with us as a family. For that reason, I would encourage you to check out Tiny Tree Books and the amazing children’s books they publish.

These stories help us to broach difficult topics with our little one in a child-friendly way.

Lively Lila Blog Tour – A Dance Of Happy Discovery – Mummy Conquering Anxiety

I am thrilled to take part in the Lively Lila blog tour. And to introduce you to such a special book. Today, I will be talking about this amazing children’s book.

Embrace Lila’s unique sparkle as she twirls through life’s ups and downs with ADHD, showing us all how to love who we truly are. And my blog and social media accounts align completely with this message.

Because this issue impacts our family, I feel a huge burden to ensure my little one can always be her true self. What worries me is that as she moves through school and into adult life, there will be messages given to her which contradict our message as parents – to always be yourself.

My plan is to do everything in my power to ensure she can always be her true self.

Sam – Mummy Conquering Anxiety

Backstory – why we love books in our house

It was only right to create a book review page on my blog. Since I was a young girl, I’ve loved books, and writing. I even did an English & Media degree at University. My little one has firmly followed in my footsteps and we read a range of books with her. I talk about this more on my TikTok account. Check out the videos below and give me a follow.

@sammummyconqueringanxiet

The Anna’s Garden Blog Tour Buy the book because it’s a magical account of a little girl who struggles – but decides to make friends in her own way ❤️ click the link in bio to the taken to the #blogpost BLOG – https://rb.gy/0693j2 LINK TO PURCHASE – https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10106/9781837914845 #bookreviews #mummyblogger #mummyconqueringanxiety

♬ Alright – Avi Snow & Sync & Marky Style
@sammummyconqueringanxiet

Such a wonderful #book by @iamsimplyysophie ❤️❤️ We love it so much – I will always talk about how great it is! #mummycontentcreator #schoolrunmum #mums #mumlife #mummybloggeruk #mummyconqueringanxiety #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt

♬ original sound – Sam | Mummy Conquering Anxiety

If you want your book to be reviewed, I would love to hear from you – contact me here.

Lively Lila Blog Tour

Ultimately, we could all do with a little dose of seeing everyone’s wonderful and unique differences through the eyes of a child. If we did this, we would embrace everyone’s uniqueness and experience more joy in life. Kindness and a world without judgment would prevail.

Sam – Mummy Conquering Anxiety

Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.

Let’s dive into the review

First reading

I first read this book with my little girl – when we were tucked up in bed. She loves reading a book to settle her down at night.

ADHD is something which impacts our family. And therefore, it’s a subject we openly discuss with our child. Explaining to her that sometimes people think differently, due to how their brains operate and that is okay.

We also incorporate gentle parenting into our parenting style. As such, we explain that people in her class can react differently due to their upbringing or emotions. And that people don’t always mean what they say. They cannot control how they behave and apologising is the way forward. We regularly apologise to my little one, if it’s needed. The message is that we are all human and nobody is perfect.

We want her to embrace everyone’s differences and uniqueness.

How to discuss the topic of ADHD with children

Because this is a topic close to our hearts, I follow the discussion on social media and in the news. I’m aware that a lot of adults don’t want ADHD or autism to be referred to as superpowers, but I think we need to consider the intended audience. And how we broach this subject with younger people.

What I love, is that the book talks about Lila’s wonderful personality traits. But also the things in life she struggles with. Because of what I’ve read on social media, I will admit that the reference to a superpower in the book caused me to question whether we should be saying this or not.

But you know what, although it felt difficult for me to read those words, it opened up a positive conversation with my little one, about the topic of ADHD. She asked if she had it and commented on some of the things she does, like remembering everything – even things from a really long time ago. it’s true. She almost has a photographic memory; we’ve noticed it since she was little. Amongst other personality traits which have led me to have these open discussions with her.

Lively Lila Blog Tour

Tools for opening up conversations with children

I think we need to ask why as adults, we have these beliefs ingrained in us. Surely the issue is as simple as seeing someone for who they are and respecting everyone’s differences. It’s society and the constructs we have in place, which make it difficult to do that.

Ultimately, we could all do with a little dose of seeing everyone’s wonderful and unique differences through the eyes of a child. If we did this, we would embrace everyone’s uniqueness and experience more joy in life. Kindness and a world without judgment would prevail.

Worries about my family

Because this issue impacts our family, I feel a huge burden to ensure my little one can always be her true self. What worries me is that as she moves through school and into adult life, there will be messages given to her which contradict our message as parents – to always be yourself.

I plan to do everything in my power to ensure she can always be her true self.

Books like this give me hope that things could change. And I hope they do!

Tiny Tree Books

I’ve now reviewed several amazing books published by Tiny Tree Books and I want to say a massive thank you to them – for publishing books that deal with such difficult topics. In a great way that allows kids to engage with the subject.

Synopsis

Step into Lila’s whirlwind world in A Dance of Happy Discovery

Embrace Lila’s unique sparkle as she twirls through life’s ups and downs with ADHD, showing us all how to love who we truly are.

Young readers, prepare to be dazzled by this exciting adventure that’s bursting with boldness, bravery, and the fun of being different.

Dive into Lila’s story and uncover a tale that’s all about standing strong, letting your creativity fly, and celebrating the superhero within!

Tinytreebooks.com

These are my previous book reviews for Tiny Tree books:

THE ANNA’S GARDEN BLOG TOUR – MUMMY CONQUERING ANXIETY

THE LONELY TIGER BY TERENIA EDWARDS, SEVERUS LIAN (ILLUSTRATOR)

Buy the book

All the details you need if you want to purchase the book:

Summary

Lively Lila Blog Tour

Two Amazing Books Bringing Awareness To A Gap In History

Dream to Change the world is the first in a series of black history books aimed at five to eight-year-olds. Creatively depicting the early years of John La Rose’s life in Trinidad. This is followed by Jump Up! A Story Of Carnival – highlighting the origins of carnival.

Please note: I was gifted these books by the George Padmore Institute – the review is based on my own thoughts following reading the stories with my child. There was no obligation to post a review

Gap In History

Black British History

In all areas, we teach my little one about different cultures. But it is difficult as a parent when there is a lack of narrative on the actual history. I will admit there is also a gap in my knowledge. We know what we were taught at school and it’s clear, that history is sometimes rewritten or reshaped to suit the needs of the people writing it. This doesn’t help me provide my child with the facts. With an overview of what actually took place. It’s the reason I am so happy these books exist. And I was motivated to read them with my little girl and publish this review.

There is something missing from our learning experience. Our younger generation needs to understand and be educated, to allow for all children to have an inclusive education. The more we understand something, the better we can appreciate its significance.

The George Padmore Institute

The George Padmore Institute (GPI) explores the lives and struggles of Britain’s black communities of Caribbean, African and Asian descent.

Dream To Change The World

Gap In History

The George Padmore Institute (GPI) has published a children’s book! Dream to Change the World is part of an Arts Council England project grant to demonstrate the importance of Black British history and inspire new generations with stories of diversity and inclusion. It also showcases how archives can play a key role for authors.

Our Writer in Residence, award-winning Ken Wilson-Max, has written and illustrated the book for children aged 5 to 8 years old. Dream to Change the World is the story of the childhood of John La Rose. Born in Trinidad, John’s influence on black communities in London and internationally is unparalleled in Black British history. He was an activist, publisher, trade unionist and writer. His tireless commitment to racial equality and social justice in Britain and beyond is inspirational. John’s archives are held at the GPI, the archive he co-founded, and from which Ken Wilson-Max has created a magical and engrossing book. Young readers will also learn about John’s achievements throughout his life from a fascinating timeline at the end of the book.

About writing the book, Ken Wilson-Max said:

‘Having grown up in a large, culturally blended family meant it was not difficult to create empathy-based stories, where those reading could imagine for a moment what it feels like to be those they read about. When I was approached to become the Writer in Residence at the George Padmore Institute it felt like a significant career milestone would finally be crossed. Working with the GPI team has been a very rich and rewarding experience. My hope for the books is to show people that we are more similar than different and equally entitled to history, culture, pride and dignity. These stories are accessible to all children and encourage them to step into another experience of the world.’

Jump Up! A Story Of Carnival

Gap In History

The George Padmore Institute (GPI) is delighted to announce the publication of Jump Up! A Story of Carnival for five-to-eight-year-olds, written and illustrated by award-winning author Ken Wilson-Max. It is the second book in the GPI’s new series of black history books, Reaching New Generations, which is helping to fill the void in reading material for younger children that the 2020 Black Lives Matter campaigns highlighted.

Jump Up! tells the story of Cecille, a young black girl living in the Caribbean, and how her community develops their very own Carnival, based on their long-remembered African traditions. For those who may wonder where our UK Carnivals – from Notting Hill to Luton and Leeds – came from, here’s an early origin story. Ken was inspired to write the book when he came across the GPI’s unique Carnival archive collection during his tenure as the Institute’s writer-in-residence. The story draws on the history of the festival and highlights one of the many contributions that Britain’s Caribbean population have made to our everyday cultural life.

Ken Wilson-Max said:

‘When the GPI asked if I was interested in doing a second book, I immediately thought of a story about the origins of Carnival that is also about the humanity of enslaved people, and their hope for building new lives, personified by a little girl, while celebrating what made them… them. This book, in a small way, connects the past with the present and hopefully helps readers consider a more inclusive future.’

Award-winning British–Trinidadian poet and musician Roger Robinson said:

‘Having an eight-year-old son myself, I can attest that it’s important for every child to recognise themselves in what they consume. That is why Jump Up and other books by GPI are so crucial – so that black children can enjoy stories whilst recognising themselves as joyfully intelligent and also being a part of a strong, vibrant culture.’

George Padmore Institute Trustee, teacher and editor Nisha Obano said:

‘With its luscious and vibrant illustrations, Jump Up! is certain to inspire young people of all ages, and serves as a reminder that, with the power of love and determination, anything is possible.’

Final thoughts

I hope you enjoyed reading about these books and will consider purchasing them. For more information, you can visit http://www.georgepadmoreinstitute.org. You can also find more blog posts about books, by visiting the Book Corner of my blog.

Gap In History

The Lonely Tiger by Terenia Edwards, Severus Lian (Illustrator)

Today, it’s my turn to introduce you to this amazing children’s book.

The Lonely Tiger

A copy of the book was kindly gifted, for the purposes of this blog post and my little one loved it!

What is the book about?

A story about loneliness, friendship, and self-discovery, beautifully illustrated by Severus Lian

Publishing July 20th 2023 in the UK and worldwide.

The Lonely Tiger’ is a sweet and uplifting tale for young readers; artfully illustrated
by award-winning illustrator Severus Lian.


‘The Lonely Tiger’ follows Tiger — the life and soul of the party. However, Tiger really doesn’t enjoy
being alone. Thankfully, Tiger has wonderful friends! Monkey, Bird, Gazelle and Frog want to help
their friend see just how much he lights up the room.


Perfect for a theatrical bedtime read, performed by grown-ups, or as an introduction to reading alone,
‘The Lonely Tiger’ is a story about discovering who we really are through the eyes of people who love
us the most.



It can get lonely… being one-of-a-kind!
Tiger loves to party, but he hates being alone.
It’s up to his friends to show Tiger that being on your own isn’t so bad.

Want to check out more bookish blog posts:

Look No Further Than Elfland UK for Your Christmas Eve Box

12 Books & Courses For Managing Anxiety

Why Attending A Literature Festival Is An Amazing Experience

My Current TBR List and Why Reading Is Helping Me Mentally

The author

The Lonely Tiger

‘The Lonely Tiger’ is the debut picture book from actress-turned-author, Terenia Edwards. Having
performed on the stage and the silver screen since 2015, Terenia really connected with young
audiences during the touring production of ‘I, Piano’ by Adrian Hornsby, a musical theatre show which
debuted at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and returned for a second run in 2022.


“The characters in this book have lived in my head for 2 years now,” says Terenia. “I’m so excited to
finally share them with the world. I think we all have days when we doubt our own worth, so I think this
story will resonate with kids and grown-ups alike.”


Award-winning illustrator Severus Lian joined the project early on; her soft and playful art
style really brought the book to life and helped to showcase the joy and charm of the story. In 2023,
‘The Lonely Tiger’ was featured as part of the illustrator’s latest solo exhibition in Taiwan.
“I came across Severus’ work online and instantly knew she’d be the perfect collaborator to join the
project,” adds Terenia. “Her drawings are so playful and warm – she’s brought Tiger and his friends to
life.”

The publisher


Tiny Tree is an independent children’s book imprint based in Manchester, UK: specialising in
children’s picture books, chapter books, and YA. Tiny Tree is a small publisher with big goals,
publishing exciting, engaging and diverse titles for children of all ages. Tiny Tree books are written for
children, encouraging them to be themselves and live their own truths. In 2023 Tiny Tree was
acquired by publisher Andrews UK.


For more information please contact Anthony Barlow, Publicity & Marketing Manager:

What we liked about the book

As a family that practices gentle parenting, we are constantly talking about our emotions. Books such as The Lonely Tiger act as an aid, for parents who want to discuss difficult feelings with their toddler.

I particularly love the sentiment that different is good. And it’s what makes you unique. Also, seeing the image of you that a friend of family member sees, can change the way you think about yourself.

Such a heartwarming book, with a special, much-needed message. Especially in today’s world.

The Lonely Tiger

Round-up

I hope you enjoyed reading this review.

Will you be buying the book for your little one?

Quirky Gift Ideas

The Anna’s Garden Blog Tour – Mummy Conquering Anxiety

My little one has always loved reading books. She now asks to read a paragraph of my adult books and you can see the joy on her face when she soaks up the new words.

We’ve always made a point of reading a range of stories with my little girl. However, since she is currently experiencing strong emotions. We’ve intentionally bought books to help her understand these emotions. We also choose books which talk about different cultures and differences in the people she will encounter in life. This is very important to us, as parents.

Neurodivergence factors into our family. It’s something we are open and honest about with her – explaining that sometimes another person’s brain may work differently. And that is completely okay. Something to be celebrated.

The Anna's Garden Blog Tour

Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.

The Anna’s Garden Blog Tour – Mummy Conquering Anxiety

I am thrilled to take part in the Anna’s Garden blog tour. And to introduce you to such a special book.

Anna’s Garden is a book about kindness and finding happiness. And my blog and social media accounts align completely with this message.

The Anna's Garden Blog Tour

The Synopsis – the short version

“Anna knows what she likes and what she is good at. Even though catching a ball is not her favourite game, and loud noises make her ears hurt, there are lots of other things she can do. Anna likes to spend time on her own, but she is also very kind and likes to share the things she enjoys with others.”

The first reading

Upon reading this book for the first time with my little one, the magic of friendship came across to me and by the end of the story, I felt emotional. The illustrations also bring the book to life.

I hope Anna’s Garden is a story that will support children who sometimes find the world a difficult place. It is also a message to all children to be kind, because we are all different and have so much to learn from each other.

Booksbysarah.co.uk

Why you should buy the book

You should buy the book because it’s a magical account of a little girl who struggles – but decides to make friends in her own way. We might sometimes follow a different path to get to our end goal. And that is okay.

How to order the book

Anna’s Garden was published by Tiny Tree Children’s Books on the March 14th.  order your copy today!

The full synopsis

‘Anna’s Garden’ is a charming story of happiness and self-discovery, told from the perspective of a neurodivergent young girl — Anna!

Anna knows what she likes and what she is good at.

Even though catching a ball is not her favourite game and loud noises make her ears hurt, there are lots of other things that Anna can do. Although she likes to spend time on her own, she is also very kind and loves sharing with others.

Anna’s Garden is a classic rhyming picture book with a charming art style, written and illustrated by Sarah Hewitt. With a memorable cast and unique handling of its themes, this story will help young readers embrace their true selves.

Final Thoughts

This will remain one of my favourite stories to read to my little one and we will keep the book to look over, as she gets older.

You can read more about Sarah’s motivation for writing the book here.