8 summer holiday reads for over 5s

I regularly receive review copies of children’s books and this overview includes some books we’ve received to review

The New Adventures of Mr Toad: Toad in Troubled Waters by Tom Moorhouse
Last summer, I took Big Girl and Big Boy on a trip to Wakehurst Gardens to see The Wind in the Willows, and one of the reasons I wanted us to go see the show was the fact that we had loved reading The New Adventures of Mr Toad: Toad Hall in Lockdown (Oxford University Press, £5.99) from the book series that takes inspiration from Kenneth Grahame’s classic The Wind in the Willows. This year it’s all about The New Adventures of Mr Toad: Toad in Troubled Waters (Oxford University Press, £5.99), which sees Mr Toad making a splash with a new boat and going on a new adventure with his young friends Mo, Ratty and Teejay, who help keep him safe. I think young readers will enjoy the charming illustrations, fast-paced story line, short chapters and text that may help expand their vocabulary. A funny holiday read for both boys and girls! Recommended for ages 6 and over

The Land of Do-As-You-Please by Enid Blyton
With children wishing to try everything from eating lots of ice cream to taking an elephant ride, this classic Faraway Tree tale by Enid Blyton can make for a great holiday read. The Land of Do-As-You-Please (Egmont, £5.99) features sweet full-colour illustrations, and ideas that make children smile. An entertaining and magical story!

Claude on Holiday by Alex T Smith
For a funny book with a seaside theme, I think Claude on Holiday by Alex T Smith (Hodder Children’s Books, £5.99) is a great book for young readers transitioning to chapter books. Claude, which became a Disney Jr celebrity from June, is a dog who ventures out into the world with his friend Sir Bobblysock as soon as his owners have gone out for the day. In Claude on Holiday, Claude tries to get an understanding of how to dress for the beach, order ice cream and take part in other essential summer activities. A great beach read!

Safari Pug by Laura James
Follow the cute Pug and his best friend Lady Miranda on their outing to a Safari Park in Safari Pug by Laura James (Bloomsbury, £5.99), which will delight fans of series such as Claude. Lady Miranda, who reminds me of Eloise, wants Pug to meet a lion, but the outing doesn’t go exactly to plan. A funny read for anyone planning a trip to London Zoo or Whipsnade Zoo this summer!

The Twitches Bake a Cake by Hayley Scott
With a cute cover with happy colours and a rabbit family getting ready for a party, The Twitches Bake a Cake (Usborne, £5.99) stood out as a charming holiday read as soon as I spotted it in the book shop. The book tells the story about Stevie who has moved to the country and has a toy rabbit family, the Twitches, which come to life. The Twitches Bake a Cake is the second book in the series and readers can expect cake baking and a moving-in party, as well as full-colour illustrations. A delightful book for young readers with wonderful descriptive language.

The Princess in Black Takes a Holiday by Shannon & Dean Hale
With monsters, masks and capes, The Princess in Black is an unexpected princess book with a superhero feel to it. Princess Magnolia turns into Princess in Black when the monster alarm goes off, and in The Princess in Black Takes a Holiday (Walker Books, £6.99) she helps stop a sea monster from eating people. The chapter book features short sentences and full-colour illustrations.

Marge and the Great Train Rescue by Isla Fisher
I love books that make us laugh, and Isla Fisher’s Marge and the Great Train Rescue (Piccadilly Press, £5.99), which I reviewed last year, had us giggling and smiling all the way through. The book includes three stories about free-spirited babysitter Marge, who looks after Jemima and Jakey and take them on a trip to the zoo.

The Fintastic Diary of Darcy Dolphin by Sam Watkins
When I first reviewed The Fintastic Diary of Darcy Dolphin (Egmont, £5.99) I was on holiday, and with a funny story about life under the sea, this book has continued to strike me as a an ideal holiday read. The Fintastic Diary of Darcy Dolphin, which is written in a diary-style, is easy to follow and brings readers into the world of Darcy, a whimsical, school-aged dolphin, who is kind and impulsive. A charming and funny book with black and white illustrations.

Tags: Bloomsbury, Children's books, Egmont, Hodder Children’s Books, Oxford University Press, Piccadilly Press, Review, Usborne, Walker Books