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Harper and the Night Forest – review and giveaway.

23rd March 2017 by Jax Blunt 53 Comments

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 ๐Ÿ™‚ Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Filed Under: 2017, Book club, current, giveaway, review Tagged With: Cerrie Burnell, Faye Rogers, Harper and the Night Forest, Laura Ellen Anderson, MG fiction, Scholastic UK, UKMG

About Jax Blunt

I'm the original user, Jax Blunt I've been blogging for 16 years, give or take, and if you want to know me, read me :)

Oh, and if you'd like to support my artistic endeavours, shop my photographs and art at redbubble

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rebecca Walker says

    23rd March 2017 at 10:58 am

    The magical place I would most like to visit is probably Narnia, mostly for the talking animals!

    Reply
  2. Avril says

    23rd March 2017 at 11:12 am

    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 ?

    Reply
  3. Fiona says

    24th March 2017 at 4:37 pm

    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!

    Reply
  4. Tracy Nixon says

    24th March 2017 at 4:41 pm

    I would love to take my kids to the North Pole to see the real Santa Claus and his elves and reindeer!

    Reply
  5. simon tutthill says

    24th March 2017 at 4:47 pm

    Probably Narnia

    Reply
  6. Pamela Gossage says

    24th March 2017 at 5:10 pm

    I would love to visit Narnia

    Reply
  7. Pamela Gossage says

    24th March 2017 at 5:10 pm

    I would love to visit Narnia

    Reply
  8. stuart hargreaves says

    24th March 2017 at 6:38 pm

    XANADU WITH OLIVA

    Reply
  9. Annabel Greaves says

    24th March 2017 at 6:40 pm

    My daughter would love to visit Rainspell Island, where the Rainbow Magic characters visit

    Reply
  10. Leila Benhamida says

    24th March 2017 at 8:59 pm

    I will choose the Smurfs village. I love the smurfs.

    Reply
  11. kim jackson says

    24th March 2017 at 9:08 pm

    Narnia ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€

    Reply
  12. leanne weir says

    24th March 2017 at 10:01 pm

    Narnia via a wardrobe

    Reply
  13. Julie Henderson says

    25th March 2017 at 7:58 am

    the galapagos islands

    Reply
  14. Leanne Newsome says

    25th March 2017 at 11:16 am

    A magical kingdom where everyone gets along and is nice to each other

    Reply
  15. Caroline H says

    25th March 2017 at 1:22 pm

    I always wanted to go to Wonderland with Alice – I still do!

    Reply
  16. Sam Rhodes says

    25th March 2017 at 2:00 pm

    Toughie but it would have to be Narnia! x

    Reply
  17. Paul Halling says

    25th March 2017 at 4:04 pm

    We would like to go to Mr Wonkas Chocolate factory?

    Reply
  18. Paul Halling says

    25th March 2017 at 4:05 pm

    We would like to go to Mr Wonkas Chocolate factory?

    Reply
  19. Ali Thorpe says

    25th March 2017 at 5:15 pm

    I’d like to see the Northern Lights so perhaps Norway or Iceland for me.

    Reply
  20. Sarah Rees says

    25th March 2017 at 5:37 pm

    I would love to visit Lapland – it looks magical

    Reply
  21. hali kinson says

    25th March 2017 at 5:40 pm

    northon lights would be fantastic!lights look amazing, fingers crossed one day i get to see them

    Reply
  22. hali kinson says

    25th March 2017 at 5:40 pm

    northon lights would be fantastic!lights look amazing, fingers crossed one day i get to see them

    Reply
  23. KARL BOROWY says

    25th March 2017 at 8:55 pm

    carribean

    Reply
  24. Jules Eley says

    25th March 2017 at 10:30 pm

    I would love to visit Norway it looks a magical place.

    Reply
  25. Sarah Ann says

    26th March 2017 at 2:48 pm

    Narnia – it sounds wonderful!

    Reply
  26. Jo Carroll says

    27th March 2017 at 9:29 am

    ‘Cuckoo Land’ from Jamie and the Magic Torch, or maybe ‘Wheelie World’ from Chorlton and The Wheelies? ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  27. Lorraine Kirk says

    27th March 2017 at 4:40 pm

    I always wanted to visit the secret garden hidden when I was a child.

    Reply
  28. Gemma Cook says

    27th March 2017 at 6:14 pm

    I would love to visit Hogwarts ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  29. Emma Louise Elliott says

    28th March 2017 at 9:11 am

    I would absolutely love to go to Mr Wonkas chocolate factory! Heaven!!!!! Xxx

    Reply
  30. Emma Louise Elliott says

    28th March 2017 at 9:11 am

    I would absolutely love to go to Mr Wonkas chocolate factory! Heaven!!!!! Xxx

    Reply
  31. Kate Davies says

    28th March 2017 at 12:28 pm

    I’d love to visit Hogwarts

    Reply
  32. Andrew Hindley says

    28th March 2017 at 12:40 pm

    I would love to visit Narnia

    Reply
  33. Julie Edwards says

    28th March 2017 at 4:44 pm

    Hogwarts for me

    Reply
  34. Kyomi Johnson says

    28th March 2017 at 6:05 pm

    Definitely would have to be Narnia so magical

    Reply
  35. Solange says

    28th March 2017 at 6:54 pm

    I would love to visit the magical world of Narnia.

    Reply
  36. Katie w says

    29th March 2017 at 6:53 am

    For me has to be Hogwarts

    Reply
  37. Dale Dow says

    29th March 2017 at 10:25 am

    I have always wanted to visit Salem, or to see the Northern Lights, there is something magical about them

    Reply
  38. Jade Hewlett says

    29th March 2017 at 10:37 am

    Hogwarts

    Reply
  39. Diana says

    29th March 2017 at 10:58 am

    Iceland! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  40. Katy Malkin says

    29th March 2017 at 8:00 pm

    Hogwarts and Hogsmeade! Truly magical for us ๐Ÿ™‚ thanks

    Reply
  41. Lynsey Buchanan says

    29th March 2017 at 8:30 pm

    i would like to go up the ladder of the Faraway Tree

    Reply
  42. Caroline Bourne says

    29th March 2017 at 8:37 pm

    I’d like to visit Iceland

    Reply
  43. Kat Lucas says

    29th March 2017 at 10:00 pm

    Disneyland

    Reply
  44. ellie spider says

    29th March 2017 at 10:11 pm

    Ooh hard choice but I think Hogwarts would be awesome

    Reply
  45. claire little says

    29th March 2017 at 10:45 pm

    hogwarts

    Reply
  46. paula cheadle says

    29th March 2017 at 11:45 pm

    Hogwarts

    Reply
  47. Joanna Kasznicki says

    29th March 2017 at 11:46 pm

    I would love to visit Lapland with my sons

    Reply
  48. Rebecca Lis says

    30th March 2017 at 11:34 am

    Narnia! Always used to check the back of wardrobes when i was younger!

    Reply
  49. Theresa Alison says

    30th March 2017 at 2:48 pm

    Definitely Narnia to just go to a place where animals talked now that would be something x

    Reply
  50. Sirley Young says

    30th March 2017 at 7:49 pm

    Hogwarts

    Reply
  51. Tammy Neal says

    30th March 2017 at 9:40 pm

    Hogwarts xx

    Reply
  52. Natalie Crossan says

    30th March 2017 at 10:33 pm

    Narnia ๐Ÿ˜€ xx

    Reply
  53. Diana Ross says

    30th March 2017 at 10:47 pm

    Pride Rock ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply

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