Illness

Readers follow Mae and her parents as they search for a magical flower to cure her mother’s illness. One night, Mae follows a bright light that leads her to the flower guarded by a giant dragon; he will grant her the flower if Mae saves his son.

How Does My Body Work is a part of the long running series by Usborne Books in relation to early learning and body function. This particular edition is for children 4+ and approaches the subject with questions and answers relevant for curious kids.

Little readers will delight in engaging with this story. This boardbook encourages children to think about their feelings. The illustrated friendly monsters serve as examples for readers to figure out what they are feeling. This is an interactive book that engages children to explore their feelings through touch of different textures that are superimposed on the monsters.

Noel Fitzpatrick’s début picturebook is a tender exploration of the bond between a child and their beloved pet. The story follows Sam and Dog through the joys of companionship, the pain of loss, and the enduring power of memory and love.

This is a story that embraces the reality of having a disability and examines interactions with others who don’t with wonderful suggestions on how to go about educating them.

Lovers of Greek legends will enjoy being whisked into Phoebe’s own odyssey as she gets swept up into a fantasy world, led there by her grief. Phoebe’s beloved grandmother Cass, once a talented artist before she began forgetting all she knew, is slipping away. Everything that was once certain is now foggy, and as we go with Phoebe to places where she must face her fears, both mythological and very real. With every page, it is clear that Gray has expertly weaved grief and escapism, adventure and poignancy into one epic tale that will surely inspire and challenge eager readers.

Set in Dublin in 1986, Gwen is bright, imaginative and has been homeschooled by her mother for as long as she can remember. This changes dramatically when her mother becomes too ill to care for her and Gwen is sent to Loughmoe Abbey, a mysterious boarding school in the countryside.

Big questions and satisfying answers are at the heart of this fun and fascinating medical mystery tour. Dr Chowdhury is an excellent guide to the bizarre and brilliant things that make up the human body, conveying medical facts in a spellbinding and accessible way.