Children and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
Put Your Shoes On by Polly Dunbar, Walker, £12.99 Late for a party, Mummy really wants Josh to position his shoes on – but he’s too disoriented in his imagination to hear until she shouts. Featuring a child’s inner world vividly evoked by Dunbar’s own sons’ drawings, this tender, relatable picture book encourages patience and communication.
The Tour at Academy (Because You’re the Unused Kid!) by Katie Clapham, illustrated byNadia Shireen, Walker, £12.99 This irrepressibly bouncy tour of all the college essentials (including toilets, emergency meeting tree and library with possibly more than a million books) humorously distils the scariness of starting school and the thrill of making a new friend.
The Summer Puppy by Jackie Morris, illustrated by Cathy Fisher, Otter-Barry, £14.99 A beautiful, dreamy picture-book account of a collie puppy’s first summer, exploring garden, fields and beach and bonding ever more closely with the kid she loves.
Farah’s Nose by Humera Malik, illustrated byChaayaPrabhat, Hachette, £7.99 Farah hates her “strong” nose, until she visits a photogra
Teen Book Reviews
Book Reviews by Teens, for Teens!
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Book Reviewed by Charlotte
"This book is about a twelve year old lady named Miranda and it takes place in the late 1970s New York. One year she starts finding mysterious notes that seem to predict future events. The book is a perfect depiction of school life and friendship and I could relate to even the smallest details. The characters are super diverse and are described really well! I've read this book 7 or 8 times and I genuinely still detect little clues that link to the main plot, and I think "oh, so THAT'S why...". The clues will also circle back to the inception of the book. You can read this countless times and, in my experience, never get bored of it."
What made you interested in reading this book? "It was chosen for Battle Of The Books in 2020. My brother had to read it, so my mom bought the book and I found it on a bookshelf in our dwelling a while later. I thought it l
The Adventures of Kid Danger
Animation suits the utterly ridiculous character of these characters and their antics slightly better than did the live-action format, but it's still a low-tier pick for kids' viewing. If superheroes are to be judged on their eagerness to leap into action for others' sake, then Captain Man and Kid Danger are hardly worthy of sharing the title with the likes of Spiderman and Wonder Woman. When danger calls, these two are more likely to be found analyzing pieces of popcorn on a whim of looking for twins than they are hot on the trail of a baddie.
Kids who already know the characters' history from the parent series are at an lead coming into The Adventures of Kid Danger since it picks up with little backstory about how the team got together in the first place. With the entire original cast transitioning to voice actors for Kid Danger, there's as much continuity as one could hope for in this compassionate of format transform. Even so, it's slim pickings on content that will make a positive impact on grade-schoolers who have a bevy of more substantial options for their screen time.
Representation in TV shows and movies has come a distant way in recent years. Growing up, I rarely saw characters who reflected the full spectrum of identities and experiences in the real world. Today, my kids are experiencing a media landscape that’s more inclusive, more diverse, and a lot more hopeful. While there’s still perform to be done, it’s encouraging to see stories that celebrate authenticity, empathy and love in all its forms.
In honor of Lgbtq+ fest Month, we’ve rounded up some fantastic family-friendly shows and movies that main attraction LGBTQ characters. These picks offer everything from laughs and adventure to earnest moments that can spark great conversations. So pop some popcorn, grab a cozy seat on the couch, and enjoy stories that reflect the lovely diversity of the world we stay in.
Family-friendly movies with LGBTQ characters
“Nimona”
When a knight (Ballister) in a futuristic medieval world is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, only the mischievous teenager Nimona can serve him clear his name. Only one problem — she just happens to be a shape-shifting creature that Ballister has sworn to destroy.
Great Films for Older Kids and Teenagers
Welcome to KidRated’s guide to Great Films for Older Kids and Teenagers. We got the idea for this list during Lockdown when we realised parents sitting up late with their older kids, wanted to view films they could relish together..
So we asked Jack – a 17year elderly film buff – to give us a list of his favourite movies that he thought older kids and teens would like and Mum and Dad could appreciate too.
Now we know every parent is different. Some manage the BBFC’s age ratings as law and some treat them as guidelines. We’re not advocating you let children watch films that are too mature for them because that would be silly. We’re just saying older kids and teens are a tough crowd to entertain and this list might help.
Jack has since gone on to become a very busy young gentleman, so we’ve updated his guide in his absence, and with 50 plus recommendations on it we’re confident you’ll find something you’ll enjoy. Oh, and if you or your kids have any recommendations, tell us below and we’ll add them!!