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Terry Pratchett is well known for his fun and unique storytelling, and Truckers is a great introduction to his imagination and work.

It’s the first book in the Bromeliad trilogy. While Discworld may be Pratchett’s better known series, Truckers is one of my very favourite reads.

Full of Pratchett’s signature humour and wit, it’s a fantastical story for children!

What’s it about?

Truckers introduces us to Masklin, Grimmer, Granny Morky and Old Torrit – a group of gnomes surviving in a world built for humans.

Fed up of scrounging chips and fleeing foxes, the group hitch a ride on a truck.

They end up in The Store built by Arnold Bros. (est. 1905), where they discover they aren’t the only gnomes in the world. 

The store gnomes don’t believe there is anything beyond the store – so Masklin and his group’s arrival causes quite a stir. 

To make things more complicated, the Thing – a little black cube that has been passed from generation to generation – suddenly wakes up. It has a message: the store is being demolished. 

Can Masklin find a way to get the gnomes to work together and save themselves before the store is destroyed?

What I liked best about Truckers

• There’s a fantastic amount of humour, both for children and for adults. The kids will laugh along at some bits, but there are other bits that perhaps only the adults will understand.
• Terry Pratchett’s characters are never plain and boring – they dance on the pages and bring humour and life to his works. Grimmer discovering she is more than just a girl from a hole and transforming into a leader is a wonderful journey of discovery.  Masklin being forced beyond his comfort zone into taking charge is both touching and funny. But my daughter’s favourite is the cantankerous Granny Morky, who is so wickedly funny I found myself giggling as I read.
• The Thing is also depicted with humour – which is strange, given that it is basically a black cube! 

Who would like it?

Truckers is fabulous and I think anyone can enjoy it, though I think the story would be a little lost on children under 6 or 7. 

There’s a passing mention of gnomes being eaten by foxes, but it’s brief and there’s no gore.

Death is mentioned, as we find out how the store gnomes think about it, but it’s done in such a humorous way (they think good gnomes are turned into garden statues) it isn’t dark.

Younger children may not understand the notion of the store gnomes building a religious system around Arnold Bros. and the store. But that’s OK – it’s part of the story, but isn’t necessary to understand in order to enjoy the book.

In summary

Truckers is a book you can revisit time and time again over the years and understand a whole new part of. 

Young children will enjoy the notion of small people learning to drive (and stealing) a truck. Slightly older kids will still like this but will understand more of the subtle humour, while teens and adults can also explore the more complex aspects of the book, such as the religion of the store gnomes.

Truckers is only book one of the trilogy, followed by Diggers and Wings.  All three are excellent stories and I would recommend the whole trilogy to any parent.

Next steps

• Buy Truckers
• Read our other reviews

Elisabetta Dami, the author of the Geronimo Stilton book series, has travelled the whole world by herself.

Her books are inspired by her many adventures climbing the Kilimanjaro, running the 100k Sahara ultramarathon and living with the Cherokee, an indigenous population of the United States.

She invented the character of Geronimo Stilton while volunteering in a paediatric hospital, and in 1997 published her first book.

What it’s about

The Geronimo Stilton book series is set in a fictional version of Earth populated by walking, talking mice.

Our story begins when the protagonist, Geronimo, faints after a long day at work. When he wakes up, he finds a music box containing a message from the queen of the fairy kingdom asking him for help.

A golden staircase appears outside of his window. Geronimo follows it and arrives in the Kingdom of Fantasy.                                      

What I liked best about The Kingdom of Fantasy

• It’s incredibly interactive. This book contains secret alphabets for readers to decipher, several maps, poems and more. The Kingdom of Fantasy became particularly famous for its unique seven scents. In fact, for every kingdom, you will find a page that, if scratched, will release its wonderful perfume or atrocious smell!
• Every page is filled up with colourful drawings entangling with the text. The writing font is always changing and you may find yourself turning the book upside down to be able to read a sentence.
• The seven kingdoms draw on the author’s adventures. Geronimo explores the kingdoms of the witches, the mermaids, the fire dragons, the pixies, the gnomes, the giants and the fairies. Elisabetta Dami’s imagination clearly draws on her own travels, creating a huge variety of fantastic worlds and funny characters.

Who would like The Kingdom of Fantasy?

The Kingdom of Fantasy is a book where hundreds of things happen in a very short period of time to keep children entertained.

Children between 7 and 10 years of age should enjoy this series.

Geronimo is an intellectual who would rather spend his days sitting in the quietness of his own living room rather than going for adventures.

He shares many similarities with Bilbo Baggins – just like Bilbo, Geronimo’s actions are always ethical and honourable despite his great fear of everything that surrounds him. If you liked the adventures of Bilbo in The Hobbit, you will most likely enjoy Geronimo’s ones too.

In summary

The Kingdom of Fantasy is a wonderful children’s book that will keep children entertained from beginning to end with its wonderful drawings, scented pages and secret alphabets.

Drawing from her own intrepid life, Elisabetta Dami has created a fantastic world full of incredible characters and inspiring settings.

Next steps

• Buy Geronimo Stilton: The Kingdom of Fantasy
• Read our other reviews

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Everybody knows Pinocchio thanks to the Disney movie released in 1940. Fewer have read the original book by Collodi.

The Adventures of Pinocchio was first published as a series in one of the first children’s magazines in Italy.

In the original story, Pinocchio meets a grisly end. However, the children complained so much that the editors had to beg Collodi to write a different ending.

That’s how the story of Pinocchio as we know it nowadays was created.

What it’s about

The story of Pinocchio begins with Mastro Geppetto deciding to build a wooden puppet, which surprises him by coming to life.

Pinocchio is not an easy child and soon leaves home, getting into all sorts of dangers. He will have to learn the true meaning of loyalty, righteousness and virtue to become a real child.

What I liked best about The Adventures of Pinocchio

• Collodi teaches us to beware of scams. The fox and the cat trick Pinocchio into ‘planting’ his five golden coins in the ground, hoping to grow a money tree. As well as learning how to become a good person, Pinocchio also has to learn to beware of scams and use his own critical thinking.
• It criticises the society of its time. When Pinocchio goes to the police to report the robbery, he ends up in jail himself for crimes of foolishness. This is Collodi’s way of criticising his own government, which imprisoned common people for small things while many politicians and businessmen got away with far bigger crimes.
• Geppetto is a strong single-father character. Mastro Geppetto is probably one of the first single fathers to appear in a children’s book. He’s an extremely positive character who tries his best to teach Pinocchio how to live a virtuous and ethical life.

Who would like The Adventures of Pinocchio?

Children all ages will enjoy this Italian masterpiece, as will every parent interested in reading one of the most famous classics of Italian literature.

While adults will be able to enjoy the subtle political critique, children will love its many characters and plot twists.

In many ways, Pinocchio is similar to Dickens novels such as Oliver Twist and David Copperfield – the main character is born (or created) into a poor family and has to deal with many scammers and fraudsters. So if you like those stories, you may like this one too.

In summary

Whether you have already seen the Disney movie or not, The Adventures of Pinocchio is definitely worth reading to learn the original story of the most famous puppet in literature.

Next steps

• Buy The Adventures of Pinocchio
• Read our other reviews

Most people my age are probably more familiar with the Don Bluth film The Secret of NIMH than with this wonderful book. But the film is only based on Robert C. O’Brien’s work.

O’Brien (whose real name was Conly) only published four novels, of which Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is probably his best known. But he was also the editor of National Geographic Magazine for 22 years, and that love of the natural world filters into NIMH, as does his more adult writing style.

What it’s about

The book tells the story of Mrs Frisby, a small mouse who lives in a breeze block in one of Famer Fitzgibbon’s fields. When her young son falls ill, she is forced to seek help from the rats that live in the rose bush by the farm. But these aren’t any old rats – these are the rats of NIMH. Throughout the book, we learn how the rats were captured and altered thanks to tests run in a lab (NIMH), how they came to be at the farm, and why they would be willing to help Mrs Frisby.

What I liked best about The Secret of NIMH

• The writing is beautifully descriptive in a simple way. It isn’t dumbed down for a young audience and doesn’t shy away from tackling darker subjects, which is refreshing in a children’s book.
• You feel for all of the characters, even though they’re essentially vermin! Even as an adult reading it to my children, I find myself worrying about Mrs Frisby, her family and the rats.
• Themes of independence, learning, and right and wrong pervade the whole book. They’re woven into the story so well that the lessons are explored without being expressly stated.

Who would like it?

I read it as a child and have read it to my very young children, who enjoyed it but on whom some of the plot was probably wasted. I think children over 10 will appreciate it for what it is, but that shouldn’t put people off reading it to younger ones. I’d say it could be difficult for very sensitive children – some characters may not necessarily make it to the end of the novel and there are some darker moments when the rats are trying to leave the lab.

In summary

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a wonderful read, but be careful giving it to overly sensitive younger readers. The story is full of emotion alongside lessons in hard work, freedom, selflessness and helping others. I often wish there were more stories like this – it’s almost an adult novel hidden in a children’s book!

Next steps

• Buy Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
• Read our other reviews

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are our own.

Eric Kahn Gale quickly became one of my favourite children’s authors thanks to Nosewise and The Zoo at the Edge of the World.

His sense of humour pervades his work and shines through, especially in the character of Nosewise. 

Nosewise may have been based on a joke between the author and his fiancée about their own dog, Bowser, but it turned into a wonderful tale.

What’s it about?

The Wizard’s Dog is basically a retelling of the Arthurian legend (or at least part of it) from the perspective of Nosewise – Merlin’s dog and friend (though he considers himself the packmate of Merlin and Morganna).

Nosewise spends his days practising his magic – sit, stay, rollover, and hating the stupid door. But when he tries on Morgana’s magic amulet, not only does he find he can speak to humans, but he may be able to do a little magic of his own!

When Merlin is kidnapped, there is no way Nosewise is just going to sit back – he’s got to save his pack! Thus begins a magical adventure into the world of Arthur, Fae worlds and fantasy.

What I liked best about The Wizards Dog.

• It’s humorous and clearly written by someone very familiar with dogs. For anyone who has a pooch or is canine-mad it’s perfect. Kahn Gale actually states in his bio that the book began as a joke he told his fiancée about his own dog, Bowser. This shines through in the book – clearly, he can put himself in a dog’s shoes, or paws!
• It’s magical, full of fantasy and fun. There’s lots of magical elements, as you’d expect with Merlin, but we are also introduced to the Fae realm (the realm of the fairies) and the magic they wield.
• The illustrations are wonderfully expressive and match the text brilliantly. The images are black and white and dotted throughout the book. Those depicting Nosewise are especially good, with just the right amount of goofy cuteness to straddle that fine line between reality and cartoon – a perfect mix to reflect his character in the story.
• It’s the Arthurian legend in a totally different light. The tales of King Arthur are numerous and can verge on the dark side for kids. This retelling is a wonderfully imaginative introduction for a younger audience. There is just enough suspense and peril to keep the reader interested and concerned for the characters, without delving into some of the potentially inappropriate areas you may find in, say, Mary Stewart’s Merlin Trilogy.

Who would like it?

I think children aged six and over will enjoy the story. Anything younger than that and I doubt they would appreciate the humour. 

Certainly, any dog lover will find it a firm favourite. Nosewise is so well written you can practically feel what it’s like to be in his doggy world!

The story never gets too dark or menacing so I suspect once into teenage years it may be a little tame, though younger sensitive teens may find it an interesting read. 

In summary

The Wizard’s Dog is a witty and unique take on the tale of Arthur and Merlin, perfect for younger readers even if they have no knowledge of the legend (or have only seen Disney’s Sword in the Stone).

It’s a humorous read with a wonderful canine character at its centre. Full of magic and fantasy, but never too dark or scary.

Kahn Gale weaves his tale with enough energy to keep the reader entertained while not skimping on the story. A perfect read for those over six.

Next steps

• Buy The Wizard’s Dog
• Read our other reviews

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are our own.

Our guest reviewer for A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth is CheeryBaconHead, a nine-year-old writer who loves A Series of Unfortunate Events and Harry Potter.

The Shadow Moth is author Francesca Gibbons’ first book and the first book in the A Clock of Stars series. It is filled to the brim with complex characters and unexpected twists. It’s a dark, imaginative book with lots of rich descriptions accompanied by Chris Riddell’s astonishing illustrations.

What it’s about

Marie and Imogen are sisters who run away while on an outing with their mother. They follow a moth to a door in a tree which leads them to the mysterious world of Yaroslav, a fantastical land.

There, they meet the mysterious Prince Miro and his father and retrieve Lofkinye Lolo from the dungeons to help them on their difficult quest to get back home.

What I liked best about The Shadow Moth

• The descriptions of the different settings. I enjoyed reading about the various locations in the story. The author uses such rich language that you have to read the pages very slowly to get the full enjoyment.
• The twists and turns. The book is very dark and villainous and you can never know for sure who is about to betray who. There is lots of uncertainty about who is a villain and who is a hero.
• The development of the characters. The book contains complex characters who change over time. For example, Imogen is a headstrong girl who gets very annoyed at her little sister, Marie (which does happen in sister relationships) and Marie is a shy and quiet girl. I was particularly interested in her change and development throughout the book. Certain other characters are very sure of themselves in a slightly dangerous way, and I enjoyed reading about the consequences of this.

Who would like The Shadow Moth?

If you like Harry Potter then you would probably like The Shadow Moth. They have a lot of similarities, for example they both have lots of magical creatures and interesting characters.

Some parts of the book are quite dark, dealing with themes such as murder and betrayal, so I think this is most appropriate for children aged 9–12.

In summary

A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth is a great book and is good for people who like villains. It’s great for being able to imagine a world unlike Earth. The Shadow Moth is the first book in the series and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Next steps

• Buy The Shadow Moth
• Read our other reviews

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are our own.

Our guest reviewer for The Hobbit is 12-year-old Red Theorist, who loves reading a wide range of fantasy for young people. His favourite authors include Gama Ray Martinez and Mark Walden.

J. R. R. Tolkien is probably most famous for his trilogy The Lord of The Rings, which often overshadows his first book, The Hobbit.

However, The Hobbit is a wonderfully written book featuring incredible descriptions, unexpected plot developments and much more.

What it’s about

The story starts out simply enough. The overall hero, Bilbo Baggins, is enjoying a quiet life at home.

Tolkien writes about his everyday life, and a bit about his family. But one of Bilbo’s traits is emphasised many times: Bilbo is not a fan of adventures. He prefers sitting at home, doing housework and eating.

However, when Gandalf, an eccentric wizard, turns up at the door to Bilbo’s hobbit-hole with thirteen adventurous dwarves, Bilbo is soon caught up in a plot to raid the hoard of Smaug, a magnificent (and very dangerous) dragon.

What I liked best about The Hobbit

• The detail. The Hobbit was obviously meticulously planned, with vivid descriptions of every character, setting and creature. Tolkien really manages to make it feel like the reader is travelling across Middle Earth along with Bilbo and the dwarves.
• The characters. All of Tolkien’s characters are unique and instantly likeable. Characters like Gandalf and Golum, who also feature in The Lord of The Rings, are known and loved worldwide.
• The writing style. The Hobbit is a perfect mix of classic quest/adventure story elements and completely new ideas, put together with Tolkien’s unique and incredible writing style. The book has many unexpected twists and turns, making it the perfect adventure.

Who would like The Hobbit?

Tolkien fans who have already read The Lord of The Rings would definitely enjoy The Hobbit.

Pretty much everyone else into fantasy and adventure stories should like it too.

Although some of the more complex language would make this a challenging read for younger children, parents could always read along and explain the more difficult words.

In terms of independent reading, I would recommend this book for adults and children over twelve years of age.

In summary

The Hobbit is a beautiful fantasy adventure for older children and adults. The length and complexity make it an enjoyably challenging read, but those who make it to the end will definitely feel like it was worth it.

It has been said that the English-speaking world is divided into two groups: people who have read The Hobbit, and people who are going to read it. After entering this sensational world created by Tolkien, I very soon found myself agreeing, and I hope that others who read it feel the same.

Next steps

• Buy The Hobbit
• Read our other reviews

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are our own.

Gianni Rodari is considered one of the most important 20th-century children’s writers in the whole of Italy.

Telephone Tales is a collection of short stories, most of which are only one or two pages long.

Even though the book was written for a young audience, these short stories frequently discuss important issues such as social equality, state violence and the futility of war.

What it’s about

As the representative of a big company, Sir Bianchi has to travel all over Italy six days a week.

Every Sunday, he returns home and every Monday morning he leaves again. But before his departure, his daughter always tells him, ‘Please, Dad, remember! One story each night!’

And so, each night Sir Bianchi picks up the phone and calls his daughter to tell her a story. From the street that led nowhere to the mouse who ate cats and the man who stole the Colosseum, Sir Bianchi’s imagination is endless!

What I liked best about Telephone Tales

• Most of the short stories narrate absurd events. For instance, in ‘The Famous Rain of Piombino’ Rodari tells us the story of a city in which, all of a sudden, sweets start falling from the sky. Rodari constantly creates absurd plots that make you question your own reality.

• Rodari constantly criticises our own society. His stories discuss topics ranging from state violence to equal justice. In ‘The Unlucky Hunter’, Rodari narrates the story of a hunter looking for a hare for his sister’s wedding. However, every time the protagonist pulls the trigger the gun refuses to shoot. In the end, the hunter sees a hare passing by wearing a wedding dress. He realises that just like his sister she’s getting married, and therefore cannot be shot.

• It shows the negative side of adults. In Rodari’s world, adults are in no way superior to children. Rodari gives a realistic representation of adults and portrays them with all their negative aspects. In Telephone Tales he writes stories of women fighting over completely futile things such as who’s sneezing more frequently, and of ungrateful men who only care about their earnings.

Who would like Telephone Tales?

Telephone Tales is perfect for every parent who’s looking for a book of short stories to read to their children before going to sleep.

If you liked the subtle satire and complete absurdity of Gulliver’s Travels, you will surely enjoy Telephone Tales. Anyone interested in passing on to their children values such as the importance of equality and social justice, and the futility of war, will certainly find Telephone Tales valuable.

In summary

Rodari’s absurd settings and plots will constantly make you question the world in which you live, despite using the simplest narrative.

Telephone Tales is the perfect book to start approaching ethical themes with young readers, whilst always keeping them entertained.

Next steps

• Buy Telephone Tales
• Read our other reviews

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are our own.

Terry Pratchett hardly needs any introduction, with works like the Discworld series and the Bromeliad trilogy famous the world over.  I first encountered this anthology, appropriately, in a castle gift shop.  I took that as a sign, and I’m glad I did. 

Dragons at Crumbling Castle is a wonderfully funny collection of short stories, full of Pratchett’s usual wit, and perfect for younger listeners or readers.

What it’s about

The book is a compilation of 14 short stories, with the dragon from the title featuring in the first one. 

The stories include monsters in the fictional town of Blackberry, Father Christmas trying his hand at zookeeping, and the unfortunate 59A Bus which inadvertently ends up encountering dinosaurs and King Arthur. 

There’s a semi-theme of dragons and knights running throughout, though some stories focus more on adventure and bravery featuring regular folk – and tortoises!

What I liked best about Dragons at Crumbling Castle

• It features characters from Terry Pratchett’s other books. For instance, one of the stories in the anthology is about the Carpet People, who also star in their own book of the same title.  So if the kids love Snibril in this adventure, it’s worth getting the other book too.
• It’s funny on many levels, which is an art. I enjoyed reading it to my kids as much as they loved listening to it. There was some humour that I picked up on and they didn’t, but that’s OK.
• The black and white illustrations throughout complement the text perfectly. While older children and teens may not appreciate them, young children will love the addition.

Who would like Dragons at Crumbling Castle?

Who wouldn’t?  It’s great for all ages. 

You can (and I did) read it to small children, who will enjoy the variety of tales on offer.  As a bonus, the grown-ups reading it to them will also undoubtedly appreciate the humour. 

Teens, I am sure, will enjoy the down-to-earth ease with which the characters deal with the outrageous and hilarious situations they find themselves in. 

If you like well-written, witty stories that delve into the bizarre and fantastic, you should give it a read.

In summary

Dragons at Crumbling Castle is a perfect read as an introduction to Terry Pratchett, as well as a fantastic anthology for anyone who enjoys quirky tales full of hilarity.  While older readers may prefer a deeper, long-running story such as the Bromeliad trilogy, there’s lots to enjoy here too.

Next steps

• Buy Dragons at Crumbling Castle
• Read our other reviews