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5 fantastic farmyard books 14/03/25
The Book of Legends
Publisher: Macmillan
Twelve-year-old twins Fran and Bran and their mum live in a small town in the Midlands, Dad having mysteriously disappeared one stormy night on a family camping trip. At least the stories Mum tells them, the tales of the Nine Dominions, provide some much-needed consolation.
But four years on, history repeats itself when Mum disappears in similar circumstances, apparently taken by a fork of lightning. The children find themselves left with eccentric local bookseller Madge as a guardian and their mother’s book of fantastical tales for comfort, unsure what to do next. However, stories are magical things – and it is not long before the pair discover that the Nine Dominions are of course real. Their mother’s book will provide a portal to transport them there on a quest to solve the mystery of their parents’ double-disappearance and reunite the family.
In his drive for greater inclusivity, the author was inspired to learn sign language himself and to feature a deaf character in the form of Bran. We see the twins communicate through BSL as they journey through a world of wizards, storytelling Vikings, a villainous prince and a larger-than-life Zebracorn.
This is a pacy fantasy adventure, jam-packed with groan-making jokes, and touchingly dedicated to Lenny Henry’s own childhood local library in Dudley.
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Books we love in December 2022
Enjoy a few of our favourite books from December
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Twins
Twins are double the trouble but double the fun! Here is a selection of thrilling stories where twins are the main characters.
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Siblings – for over 8 years old
Siblings can be annoying, a responsibility, and the best person to team up with – or all of those things at once! These thrilling books are all about brothers and sisters.