Apparently I totally forgot to a summary post at the end of March so I’m doubling it up with April because, honestly, I haven’t read all that much in the crazy Corona Virus Lockdown haze that has become my brain.

March very much involved books like Unipiggle: Unicorn Muddle by Hannah Shaw because that’s just where my head was at.

Arthur and I really enjoyed Unicorn Muddle because the main character was our idea of the perfect princess – she liked getting muddy and having fun and hated all the ‘perfection’ her parents expected of her. We also loved Unipiggle, because who doesn’t love a magical unicorn pig?? A great read for kids just starting to confidently read alone and after something one step up from picture books, and great for sharing. Every page is fully illustrated in bright colours with lots of things to talk about.

For about a week, Arthur and I seemed to be on a pig theme, because we also shared two Pigsticks and Harold books: The Tuptown Thief and The Incredible Journey by Alex Milway.

Also fully illustrated, although not in colour, these silly adventures of a pig and a hamster were laugh out loud funny – they are perfect first chapter books for reading aloud or alone. We willl be looking out for further installments.

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I finished my February book swap book, Our Child Of The Stars by Stephen Cox – It was really good, I shall review it fully another day though!

Next up was The Paper & Hearts Society by Lucy Powrie, which is a delightful YA novel about friendship, falling in love (with yourself, with friends AND in a romatic way), and being a book nerd! It is inclusive, funny, and easy to read – and left me feeling all lighthearted and happy.

My last read of March was The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks which I may have read when I was younger although I don’t remember doing so – but she was one of my favourite authors so I might have. All about a sassy fairy and her elf friend who go out of their way to help a human couple despite it being against the rules of the bitter fairy queen.

A tiny bit dated (it was published in 1987) but actually not too bad, Tori read it after me and really enjoyed it, too.

Then came April and my OWLs. I am pleased to say that I finished my required subjects for my chosen career, plus two other subjects (and one random book) – so I can sit my NEWTs later in the year and graduate from being a Magical Librarian to being a Tader of Magical Tomes!

Gus & Waldo Crazy In Love is an omnibus of two books that followed my old favourite Gus & Waldo adult picture book. These books are silly but sweet and follow a pair of penguins as they navigate the ups and downs of being in love and lust together. Very much for grown ups though!

A Field Guide To Fantastical Beasts is a gorgeous clothbound hardback that is beautifully illustrated and covers everything from well known beasts of legend to more obscure ones you might not have heard of. I particularly liked that it included references to modern literature and film that feature the creatures.

The Furthest Station was the next instalment in the Rivers Of London series but it was a novella rather than the usual full length novel. I really enjoyed this story, I love Abigail’s character and hope she features more in future books.

Finally, One Of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus took me a little by surprise. I couldn’t see how a follow up to One Of Us Is Lying would work but she really pulled it off – tense and twisty yet again, with a few of the original characters but also some new ones, mostly siblings of the original cast which was a neat tie-in. I love McManus’s writing, I enjoyed her other story Two Can Keep A Secret earlier in the year, too. Great if you want an easy-reading mystery/thriller.

My two extra subjects were Care of Magical Creatures and Potions (Book with a beak on the cover and Book less than 150 pages long) and I read Little Owl Rescue and The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse for them.

I will review Little Owl Rescue in its own post as I got it for review, but it was a lovely chapter book for kids aged 7+.

This is a beautiful hardback book of thoughtful, calm, positive thoughts, all illustrated in a whimsical way. I read it in one sitting and promptly read it a second time straight after. Just what I needed on a down day!

I also finally finished The Literary Pocket Companion that I have been reading since Christmas (it’s a Pick-Up-Put-Down interesting facts book) about a page every other day! Great little stocking filler if you love books!

That little lot took me up to 25 out of my target of 75 for the year which is actually on track – hooray for fun books about pigs!

I have vaguely got my reading mojo back now so hopefully May will have a few meatier books on the list.

Take care folks xxx