Lovely review by Parents in Touch

Monday 14 May 2012 by Inside Pocket | No Comments
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The Youngstars by Ursula Jones

The book is set in 1930s Britain - the time of the Depression - and much of the action is centred on Liverpool. It features a troupe of youngsters performing in variety shows as `young stars'. Their evil manager forces them to work and takes most of their earnings. A remarkable secret is exposed and an intriguing mystery unfolds in the pages of this gripping novel.  It is superbly written, with many elements of comedy. The twists and turns of the plot keep the reader involved. The accurately portrayed historical background of the book is thought provoking and enlightening.

http://www.parentsintouch.co.uk/Book-reviews-fiction-11-over-page-2


World Book Day 2012

Monday 12 Mar 2012 by Inside Pocket | 1 Comment
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Diana Shaw in action on World Book Day at Handforth Library and Waterstones reading from Watchman William, Ghost Detective. Well done Diana for getting into the top 10 for kids chart in Waterstones, Altrincham!

Look out for the next Watchman William, Balloon Trouble, competitions and giveaways, coming soon.

 

 

copyright Martin Hambleton

 


Golden Prince ... top review site gives starred review

Tuesday 6 Mar 2012 by Inside Pocket | No Comments
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This prince’s day as related in simple words and images will prompt requests for still more reads.

The “Brave Knight known as the Golden Prince” is preschool age, and he sports a shield with a duck on it, a play sword, a helmet and a cloak that may have started life as a bath towel. The pictures expand the story elegantly: The prince’s “Big Castle at the top of a Very High Mountain” is depicted as a quite nice house on a hill, for instance. The wild beast he hunts is the family cat, and he rescues his damsel older sister from her computer by the simple expedient of rolling her desk chair away (with her in it). At bedtime, the prince is scrubbed completely and put to bed with a magic kiss from the queen. The images, bright and clear, are punctuated by changes in attitude of the duck on the prince’s shield and the family cat in various modes of play or discomfiture. The charm of this little volume can hardly be overstated. It is what so many picture books for the very young strive to be, escaping both simpering sentimentality and shrill instruction.

Straightforward and sweet—almost darling, but in a very good way. If only it were available in hardcover. (Picture book. 3-6)

Read the full review here.

Congratulations to Felix and Jenny!


Secrets of Mercy Hall... the second book in the mysterious Thorn Gate Trilogy

Tuesday 8 Nov 2011 by Inside Pocket | No Comments
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We are delighted to bring you Secrets of Mercy Hall, the second book in the Thorn Gate Trilogy, a mystery adventure for 7+ readers.

“Where is the lever to the Hedge?” shouted Jethro Barking as he towered over them...

“I’ll feed you to the sharks, I’ll hang you by your feet, I’ll give you to the Muttons one by one ‘till you tell me.”

 

The orphanage is in trouble again, this time financial trouble. George, Milly, Tommy and Singer go back through the thorn hedge in search of the diamond traders of the No Good Lands. But danger lurks in every corner: Snakeheads guard the trade route, and the Robes and their old adversary, Jethro Barking, are hot on their trail.

Help is at hand from their old friends, Drago and Batty, and some new ones, like the walking, talking Polytrees, the brave little Jambucks and Tod Beanpole, the out-of control rocket boy who lives on the mountain.

And thanks to the Rainbow Cave, the children now have strange powers of their own...

Can the children make it to the No Good Lands, find the diamonds and save the orphanage? Or will they be captured by the Robes and be once again at the mercy of mean old Jethro?

Like the author's page on Facebook to keep up to date with future titles and promotions or sign up to our newsletter online.


The Golden Prince by Felix Arthur, illustrated by Jenny Capon

Tuesday 25 Oct 2011 by Inside Pocket | No Comments
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October marks the publication of The Golden Prince, the latest book brought to you by the creators of A Little Book of Alliterations, namely Felix Arthur and Jenny Capon.

The Golden Prince is a picture story of a day in the life of a bold and fearless knight who rescues damsels, fights dragons and saves his castle from destruction...

Or rather, a normal day for a little boy with a big imagination...

What does a brave knight do all day but rescue damsels in distress, capture criminals, hunt wild beasts and save his castle from destruction by bad wizards and fearsome dragons?

And what does a little boy do all day but bother his big sister, entertain his little brother, play with the family pet and exhaust his grandparents who have come to dinner?

A brilliant juxtaposition between the vivid imagination of a little boy and the reality around him, beautifully illustrated by Jenny Capon.

For further information, review copies or competition prizes, please email us at info@insidepocket.co.uk.

The Golden Prince is aged 3+ and is available to purchase via our website, online or in any good bookstore near you.

 

 

 


Thyme Running Out - the second book in the Tartan of Thyme series

Wednesday 12 Oct 2011 by Inside Pocket | No Comments
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Our latest book to be published is the second book in the Tartan of Thyme series, following the adventures of teenage, self-made billionaire Justin Thyme, as he struggles against mysterious forces to keep his family together and stop the Curse of Thyme from striking again.

‘I don’t have to build a time machine.. I could still change my mind...'

Justin shook his head, grasping at once the futility of his dilemma. The first domino had already been pushed; the fuse had been lit; the countdown had started. He’d passed the point of no return, and was trapped in the adventure of a lifetime with absolutely no way out.

Justin Thyme is a self-made billionaire living in a castle overlooking Loch Ness. The day he turns thirteen, he receives an anonymous gift: a fabulous watch with a puzzling message hidden on it. When he tells his father of his plans to build a time machine, the Laird of Thyme reveals tantalizing fragments of past espionage and warns his son of a ruthless enemy keeping him under constant surveillance.

Justin’s TV celebrity mother departs on a Congo expedition with her eccentric film crew and Eliza, a computer-literate gorilla. Whilst returning, Lady Henny is abducted, and clues prove that the kidnapper has inside information; someone in Thyme Castle must be a spy – or possibly Sir Willoughby’s old enemy in disguise. Everyone is under suspicion: Justin’s nervy tutor; their snooping housekeeper; the theatrical gardener; an ex-royal butler; and Mrs. Kof, their freakishly strong cook.

Suddenly, the race against time is on. Can Justin convert his vintage motorbike into a time machine, rescue his mum and discover the identity of their resident spy in less than a week...

Or will the dreaded Thyme Curse claim another life?

Be sure to visit the amazing Justin Thyme official website.


Thyme Running Out book launch

Wednesday 21 Sep 2011 by Inside Pocket | No Comments
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We recently held the Thyme Running Out book launch at the Cotswold Bookstore at Moreton-in-Marsh, which was a huge success.

Here is a pic of the infamous author, Panama Oxridge, together with the winner of the Thyme Running Out Doodled Book competition at this exciting event.  Read a full report of the day's events on the author's blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about the Tartan of Thyme series, visit the official Justin Thyme website.

 


Justin Thyme - Competition Time

Thursday 1 Sep 2011 by Inside Pocket | 1 Comment
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To celebrate the paperback release of JUSTIN THYME, the Tartan of Thyme Blog is running a competition with signed/doodled copies of both JUSTIN THYME and its forthcoming sequel THYME RUNNING OUT as the prize.

All readers have to do is visit the participating blogs, note down the letters and numbers on the Justin Thyme bookmarks (see photos), then rearrange the letters in numerical order. This spells a secret message (Justin’s description of himself). Visit the Tartan Of Thyme blog to find links to all participating blogs, and to email your answer.

The competition will close on September 7th, when a winner (picked at random from the correct entries) will be announced.

 


Watchman William - bookstore events

Tuesday 30 Aug 2011 by Inside Pocket | No Comments
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Here's some pics of the lovely Diana Shaw, during her recent book tour at Waterstones around the country to promote her latest book, Watchman William.

 

 


Watchman William, Ghost Detective by Diana Shaw

Tuesday 5 Jul 2011 by Inside Pocket | No Comments
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Our latest book, Watchman William, Ghost Detective features new stories for younger readers (5+) following the adventures of a crime-cracking and mystery solving Tudor ghost, William, and his modern-day sidekick, Thomas.

WW jacket“I’m William and I’m wearing these clothes because I was a night watchman at the time of Good Queen Bess. I’m a ghost you see!”

With his young friend Thomas, and the great detective, Sherlock Holmes for inspiration, William sets out to investigate mysterious happenings in and around Hardleigh Manor, all with a little help from his readers...

Can William stop the bicycle thief? Who is causing the sabotage at Hardleigh Hotel?

Floods, false trails, enormous exploding marrows and suspects upended in pig swill -all in a day’s work for William!

Loaded with clue summaries, suspect lists and lots of action, readers can help William and Thomas in their efforts to become great detectives.

About the author:

Diana spent her career teaching in primary schools. Now she divides her time between writing for children and reading to them in schools and bookshops up and down the country. Her first book, ‘Septimus Smythe and the Spectre Detectors”, was published in 2008. She lives in Cheshire with her husband, Brian.

Watchman William is now available to purchase online via our website or in any good bookstore near you.  You can visit our website for a list of stockists.


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