Category: The Review Crew Early Readers

Genie and Teeny Make a Wish by Steven Lenton, reviewed by Evie

Title : Genie and Teeny Make a Wish 5/5

If I could wish for the best book in the world it would be this one! The amazing main characters are Grant the Genie and Teeny the dog. The story is about a dog and a genie trying to find a home, well Grant is but Teeny is a missing dog and Lavinia Lavender pretends she’s his owner!

Grant falls out of Genie world all the way to the human world. And when Lavinia Lavender captures them they get taken back home with her and have to find a way to escape! I loved this book because its really exciting and all really interesting. The illustrations in it are mind-blowing – you all will go koo-koo. My favourite part was on (page 51) it told you stuff you had to do to the book like turning the book or shaking it or turning it upside down, its hilarious.

You can also list three wishes and learn how to draw Grant. I give this book 5/5 – you must get it!

Hey I am Evie! I love playing with my friends, dancing, singing and having adventures through the stories that I read. My favourite stories so far are the Magic Ballerina books where some magic ballet shoes take dancers on magical adventures 🩰 . I also love crazy Roald Dahl books – they are so funny 😆 people get stretched, blown up and even disappear and I love snowy stories like Snow Day and also the enchanting Snow Dragon.  Reading is so amazing as every time you turn a page you go into another world and I love that 🥰. 

About the book

Meet Grant the genie, and his best friend – the puppy Teeny… The first in a series of magical adventures from the renowned illustrator, Steven Lenton, winner of Waterstones Picture Book of the Month and the Times Children’s Book of the Week. When Grant the Genie is cast out of Genie World, he lands on Earth with a big, fat bump! Without a lamp to call home, he has to settle for an old cracked teapot instead.

Grant is very lonely until he meets the puppy, Teeny. Then Genie and Teeny are kidnapped by the evil purple-loving Lavinia Lavender, and find themselves on-course for a rollercoaster of an adventure – when all they really want is a place to call home…

Amelia Fang and The Barbaric Ball by Laura Ellen Anderson, reviewed by Mia and mum Kate

Mia says:
Amelia is a vampire with a cute pet pumpkin, Squashy. Her friends include a Yeti and a Grim Reaper.Amelia, Florence and Grimaldi have been brought up with terrifying tales of Angel Kittens, glitter, and Unicorns!In this first book, Amelia’s parents host their boring annual Barbaric Ball. The King finally makes an appearance, but brings along the spoilt Prince Tangine.Will he be a friend or foe?
There are seven books in the series plus a WBD book. I enjoyed them so much that I’ve read them all six times! I love the illustrations, adventures and characters. It’s funny and quite gross!
I’ve just got my copy of Laura Ellen Anderson’s new book, Rainbow Grey, which I’ve already started and cannot wait to review!


Mum Kate says:I love the twist on the stories they are told, instilling in them a fear of kittens, glitter and unicorns. We discussed how silly this seemed and how easy it can be to believe things we are told, but which aren’t necessarily true. Amongst all the fun and gross stuff, there’s a lovely theme of friendship and acceptance.

Hello! My name is Mia, I am 8 and live in Harrogate. I like writing stories and drawing pictures. I am a Brownie and also help with Rainbows. I enjoy performing, and have dance, piano and mandarin lessons. Obviously I absolutely love reading!
Mum Kate reviews books with Mia as the_inkdrinkers_library on Instagram.

About the book

A GORGEOUSLY GOTHIC, WICKEDLY FUNNY NEW SERIES FROM WITCH WARS ILLUSTRATOR LAURA ELLEN ANDERSON

Welcome to the world of Nocturnia, where darkness reigns supreme, glitter is terrifying, and unicorns are the stuff of nightmares! Amelia Fang would much rather hang out with her pet pumpkin Squashy and her friends Florence the yeti (DON’T CALL HER BEAST!) and Grimaldi the reaper than dance at her parents’ annual Barbaric Ball. And when the King’s spoiled son Tangine captures Squashy, Amelia and her friends must escape the party to plan a daring rescue! In their race against time, they begin to realise things in Nocturnia may not be quite what they seem … Join Amelia on her very first adventure. She won’t bite!

This gloriously ghostly new series from the creator of EVIL EMPEROR PENGUIN is perfect for 7-9 year olds and fans of THE WORST WITCH and WITCH WARS. Amelia Fang is a modern Wednesday Addams – but much more loveable!

Genie and Teeny by Steven Lenton, reviewed by Niamh

Hello! My name is Niamh and I’m aged 8. I’m an avid reader and some of my favourite authors and illustrators are Laura Ellen Anderson, Steven Butler, Steven Lenton, Sophy Henn and Sophie Anderson. I want to be an author and illustrator when I’m older and I love to write and draw in my spare time. I like to recommend books to my friends at school and believe you can never have too many books, even though I’m running out of space on my bookshelves! 

About the book

Meet Grant the genie, and his best friend – the puppy Teeny… The first in a series of magical adventures from the renowned illustrator, Steven Lenton, winner of Waterstones Picture Book of the Month and the Times Children’s Book of the Week. When Grant the Genie is cast out of Genie World, he lands on Earth with a big, fat bump! Without a lamp to call home, he has to settle for an old cracked teapot instead.

Grant is very lonely until he meets the puppy, Teeny. Then Genie and Teeny are kidnapped by the evil purple-loving Lavinia Lavender, and find themselves on-course for a rollercoaster of an adventure – when all they really want is a place to call home…

Pizazz Vs The New Kid by Sophy Henn, reviewed by Niamh

Hello! My name is Niamh and I’m aged 8. I’m an avid reader and some of my favourite authors and illustrators are Laura Ellen Anderson, Steven Butler, Steven Lenton, Sophy Henn and Sophie Anderson. I want to be an author and illustrator when I’m older and I love to write and draw in my spare time. I like to recommend books to my friends at school and believe you can never have too many books, even though I’m running out of space on my bookshelves! 

About the book

The super (like, actually, with powers and stuff) series from the amazingly talented Sophy Henn, award-winning author and illustrator of Bad Nana! The perfect read for children aged 7, 8, 9 and upwards, and for fans of Dork Diaries, Tom Gates, Amelia Fang, Wimpy Kid and Dog Man.

“A SPECTACULAR superhero story that fizzes with fun on every page!” – Liz Pichon, bestselling author of the TOM GATES series.

BEING A SUPERHERO IS THE BEST THING EVER, RIGHT? WRONG! HELLO! My name is PIZAZZ and I’m a superhero … You probably think that’s really AWESOME, and while it can be, it’s also REEEEEEEAAALLLLY annoying.

I guess it was sort of going OK (I say, “sort of” – I still have to wear a silly cape and save the world all the time) until this NEW KID showed up, and started WOWING everyone with their super powers. Yep, SUPER POWERS – just what this town needs, another super . . . Who just happens to have the coolest name ever: Jett. And now, because of Serena and her gang of Populars, I have to compete against Jett in an almighty and ultimate SUPER-OFF.

But it’s fine. I mean, even if I lose, there’s space for two SUPERS in this school, isn’t there?!

Hilariously narrated by reluctant superhero Pizazz, and brimming with Sophy’s distinctive illustrations and comic-book strips.