There’s a book for everyone that they remember from when they start to read, I think. For Smallest it looks like it’s going to be Harper.
We’ve had the first Harper book on our shelves for a couple of years, and she’s been completely uninterested, despite the shiny silver cover and the lovely pictures. It wasn’t a picture book you see – illustrated yes, but not in colour, and that didn’t make the grade. But when we were invited to take part in the blog tour for book 3, I decided it was worth another go, and got Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella down and took it into the bedroom.
I was sneaky that night. I started off by reading just one chapter, and they are a little bit cliff hangery and when I stopped, Smallest couldn’t resist and kept reading for herself.
Which led to this wonderful moment, when she read him to sleep. (Apologies for the quality of the photo.)
You don’t get a whole lot better than that to be honest.
Since then, we’ve finished book 1 and we’re on to book two Harper and the Circus of Dreams. The books seem to be the perfect balance of excitement and thrill without any real scariness (Smallest can be a nervous child at times!) and the pacing is perfect for a couple, or three, chapters an evening. They are beautifully illustrated – I would love to see a full colour edition though, I think that would be just gorgeous.
And today I’m actually taking part in the Harper and the Night Forest blog tour, and as part of it I’ve three copies of that book, book 3 in the series to give away.
see at Amazon (affiliate link).
Smallest hasn’t got up to this book, so she can’t review it for you I’m afraid, but I snuck a peek ahead, and I can confirm that it’s just as beautifully written and illustrated, and full of magical, musical, adventure as the previous books. I do have to say that of all the books that Smallest could have fallen in love with, I can quite see what it is about Harper that’s done it. It’s got everything – friendship, a wonderful world, lyrically described and a lovely heroine with her sidekick, Midnight the cat. Excellent books for a 7(ish) year old to enjoy.
The books are written by Cerrie Burnell (twitter), she until recently of CBeebies fame, and illustrated by Laura Ellen Anderson (Website / Twitter)
Book info
Title: Harper and the Night Circus
Author: Cerrie Burnell
Illustrator: Laura Ellen Anderson
Release Date: 2 nd March 2017
Genre: MG Adventure
Publisher: Scholastic UK
Format: Paperback
Harper and her friends get to visit the City of Singing Clocks right by the mysterious Night Forest. It is rumoured that a magical Ice Raven whose song can melt hardened hearts lives amongst the ebony trees. With the children’s help The Wild Conductor plans to capture the mythical bird and create the greatest orchestra ever known. But Harper soon needs to decide who actually needs their help the most…
If you’d like to win your own copy of Harper and the Night Forest, enter via the rafflecopter widget below – don’t forget to comment on the blog as the mandatory entry. (Please don’t panic if you’re a first time commenter and your comment is moderated, it’s an anti spam measure, and I’ll be along to fish it out of moderation in a bit 🙂 Good luck!
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