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!
About Jax Blunt
The magical place I would most like to visit is probably Narnia, mostly for the talking animals!
I’d love to go somewhere like Iceland and see the aurora borealis, or northern lights, and watch the colourful dancing light show ? Plenty more other fabulous sights to see there too ?
I really want to see the Northern Lights, so somewhere like Finland! I did actually see them once as a kid in Scotland, and it was breathtaking. Desperately want to see them again!
I would love to take my kids to the North Pole to see the real Santa Claus and his elves and reindeer!
Probably Narnia
I would love to visit Narnia
I would love to visit Narnia
XANADU WITH OLIVA
My daughter would love to visit Rainspell Island, where the Rainbow Magic characters visit
I will choose the Smurfs village. I love the smurfs.
Narnia 😀 😀
Narnia via a wardrobe
the galapagos islands
A magical kingdom where everyone gets along and is nice to each other
I always wanted to go to Wonderland with Alice – I still do!
Toughie but it would have to be Narnia! x
We would like to go to Mr Wonkas Chocolate factory?
We would like to go to Mr Wonkas Chocolate factory?
I’d like to see the Northern Lights so perhaps Norway or Iceland for me.
I would love to visit Lapland – it looks magical
northon lights would be fantastic!lights look amazing, fingers crossed one day i get to see them
northon lights would be fantastic!lights look amazing, fingers crossed one day i get to see them
carribean
I would love to visit Norway it looks a magical place.
Narnia – it sounds wonderful!
‘Cuckoo Land’ from Jamie and the Magic Torch, or maybe ‘Wheelie World’ from Chorlton and The Wheelies? 😉
I always wanted to visit the secret garden hidden when I was a child.
I would love to visit Hogwarts 🙂
I would absolutely love to go to Mr Wonkas chocolate factory! Heaven!!!!! Xxx
I would absolutely love to go to Mr Wonkas chocolate factory! Heaven!!!!! Xxx
I’d love to visit Hogwarts
I would love to visit Narnia
Hogwarts for me
Definitely would have to be Narnia so magical
I would love to visit the magical world of Narnia.
For me has to be Hogwarts
I have always wanted to visit Salem, or to see the Northern Lights, there is something magical about them
Hogwarts
Iceland! 🙂
Hogwarts and Hogsmeade! Truly magical for us 🙂 thanks
i would like to go up the ladder of the Faraway Tree
I’d like to visit Iceland
Disneyland
Ooh hard choice but I think Hogwarts would be awesome
hogwarts
Hogwarts
I would love to visit Lapland with my sons
Narnia! Always used to check the back of wardrobes when i was younger!
Definitely Narnia to just go to a place where animals talked now that would be something x
Hogwarts
Hogwarts xx
Narnia 😀 xx
Pride Rock 🙂