Search

*Use language toggle switch for Welsh review* ♥Book of month (children): June 2023♥ (suggested) interest age: 12-15+ (suggested) reading age: 12+ Genre: #fiction #teenage Themes: Domestic violence / mental health /wellbeing / self-image / grooming /self-confidence. **Contains explicit language** When #helynt was released back in November 2020 (wow, it feels like a lifetime ago already!) the initial reaction was fairly quiet. Rebecca was a relatively new writer, and I think this was her first novel for teens. But, gradually, more came to read about Rachel Ross's troubles, and in May 2021, #helynt won the prestigious Tir na n-Og Awards in the secondary category. (and well-deserved too!) When a first book does that well, I'm sure there's a lot of pressure to make sure the sequel is just as good. I'm happy to say that Rachel Ross, or Rachel Calvi as she’s now known, is back to create Mwy o helynt (more trouble) (see what I did there?) IMO the author has managed to maintain some of the elements that made the first book so readable, but has expanded on Rachel’s story in such a way that it doesn’t just feel like the same old thing once again. To think that Rachel is a little older, she's not much wiser, and she's still making - and finding- plenty of trouble (just as well for us readers!) It's hard to write reviews without spoiling the plot, and I wouldn't want to do that. This book picks up a few months after the turbulent events of the first novel. With Jason, her awful stepfather, in prison for what he did to Rachel's mum, the little family have now had to leave Rhyl. Yup, leave their lives behind and disappear somewhere to keep a low profile. I can't imagine what that would be like. Rachel has now started college, has a boyfriend and things seem to be going well, but it’s not long before she gets her first unwise idea… sneaking back to Rhyl on some sort of rescue mission to her old house to get her possessions. There were plenty of times in the novel where I was saying to myself ‘oh no Rachel, that’s not a good idea now is it…’ In addition to some of the old characters like Shane, Gina and Medium Jim, we are introduced to some new characters. And although Rachel is an extremely perceptive, witty and capable girl, she does do some silly things sometimes. For the right reasons no doubt, but silly nonetheless. As she starts an ill-advised and inappropriate relationship with someone that should know better, the alarm bells start ringing right away for us reading… I’ll say no more. You'll have to read for yourselves to see how Rachel comes out the other side. In light of all the media attention that ‘grooming’ has had lately, this novel feels quite timely and relevant. I have faith in Rachel though. She's a strong character- something that was very evident in the first novel. I think ‘badass’ was the term used to describe her! She definitely isn’t going to let her disability define her. I couldn't help but think 'Go on Rachel!' when she puts Jasmine, (a rather unpleasant girl) in her place. It’s a pity we can’t bottle up that sort of confidence and sell it! Rebecca's writing style is very readable, and the plot and language aren’t overly-complicated, making it perfect for early teenage readers. Reading it wasn’t laborious at all. I liked that there was some English in the novel because to me, it reflects the linguistic reality of North East Wales (an area that hasn’t had much attention in Welsh-language books). I happen to know that the #helynt books are popular amongst other groups as well, and Rebecca has a firm fan base of older readers who have also enjoyed reading about Rachel’s adventures. If Rachel's story concluded after Mwy o Helynt, then I’d be quite satisfied with that. That said, I know from the launch event that the author has a few more stories lined up for her. After a bit of an unexpected twist at the end of the novel, I'm sure there's plenty of scope for stories about Rachel Calvi, the goth from Rhyl... "Newydd ei llarpio mewn un eisteddiad. Nid hawdd o beth ydi sgwennu mor rhwydd â hyn. Campwaith arall gan Rebecca Elizabeth Roberts." dywed Elin Llwyd Morgan am nofel diweddaraf @BeckyERoberts Publisher: Carreg Gwalch Released: Ebrill 2023 Price: £8.00 Format: softback Click here to read review of first novel: #helynt Listen to the playlist that goes with the book... https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Y1URBFRAjydaTlfKSxvgn?si=e015329997724d8a&nd=1

*See language toggle for Welsh review* ♥ Tir na n-Og Award Shortlist 2023♥ (suggested) interest age: 8+ (suggested) reading age: 11+ Genre: #myths #celtic #ficition #international Illustrations: Elin Manon https://www.elin-manon.com/ Gwales description: Looking at Celtic legends, everyone wonders at the strength and bravery of the female characters. This collection of fifteen myths from seven countries demonstrates this. Welsh adaptations by Angharad Tomos, Haf Llewelyn, Mari George, Aneirin Karadog, Myrddin ap Dafydd, Anni Llŷn and Branwen Williams. A review by Francesca Sciarrillo My initial response to this beautiful book was love at first sight, from cover to cover! And that’s before I even opened it to read the wonderful stories! Immediately, I thought about how I would have loved a book like this when I was a kid. But anyway, I'm glad I found such a marvellous book as an adult, and I'm very happy to know that young children and people across the country can go and discover and enjoy the stories that come alive in this volume. Fifteen stories from different Celtic nations are available in this collection – from Nia Ben Aur of Ireland to Queen Lupa of Galicia. Adorning the pages of skilfully crafted words by much-loved writers are Elin Manon’s epic illustrations. One of the best things about this collection – in my opinion anyway – is the fact that you can read one at a time and return back to the same story, or another story. Each one feels fresh and different from the rest – as they are written by different authors – and that adds to the enjoyment of reading. A cast of strong, bold and brave characters will keep you company such as Rhiannon from Wales and Kowrmelyan the giant from Cornwall. My favourite stories – though I love them all – are Queen Lupa of Galicia and Merch y Tonnau from Scotland. I wasn't familiar with most of the stories in this collection, and I'm thrilled to learn more about the myths and legends associated with Celtic nations. I would really recommend this collection to any young reader who loves stories full of adventure, magic and memorable characters. This is a collection to treasure, and one in which very special women are the stars. How wonderful it is to see how the illustrator and authors have imagined and created these important characters. And without a doubt, the collection manages to "keep the stories alive" for readers of all ages. Morgan Dafydd's take on it, Sôn am Lyfra Books to treasure Out of all the books you ever read, some just really stand out don’t they? They are memorable in more ways than one, and make an impression that lasts long after they’ve been read. One such book for me was 'Heno Heno' edited by Glenys Howells – a book I was gifted when I was five years old. Twenty-seven years later, I still go back to it from time to time, and I've used it many times in class and kids still enjoy the short stories. I can still recite one or two of the stand out stories to this day – not word for word, but near enough! Now obviously, such a book was far too difficult for me as a five-year-old reader, but, Mam read them to me first, until I learned to do it for myself. Dros y Môr a’r Mynyddoedd is a similar book, in that it’s a treasure trove of short stories, and something that can be enjoyed and passed down. Timeless in a way. I certainly would have loved such a book when I was a young reader – books were never so colourful when I was growing up. The artwork by Elin Manon is special and beautifully adorns most of the pages. I’d buy this book just to look at it to be honest! Her artwork really captures the wilderness of the seas and mountains and brings the various authors words to life. New yet familiar tales It's great that we get to learn more about tales with an international dimension from other countries. Most were completely new to me, yet had a sense of familiarity about them. For example, 'Ker Is' is very similar to out very own Cantre'r Gwaelod. There are too many stories to mention individually, but Rhos y Pawl and Purt le Moirrey’s Mermaid were among my favourites. There's so much variety here - that's what's great about the volume. Each story is different, yet, they have one thing in common – the strong willed and brave women who lead each story. Mind you, don’t think that this is just a book for girls. There’s something here for everyone. Language As for the language, I may as well be honest, it's rather challenging. Some stories seem to ‘flow’ better than others and are easier to follow. From my experience as a primary teacher, only the most confident readers will be able to successfully tackle the text independently. But don’t forget – children of all ages love being read to. There's often a tendency not to prioritise story time, and think it’s something for young children. With a skilled storyteller reading aloud, anyone from 8+ will probably enjoy these. The short story format makes perfects for dipping in an out as desired. To sum up, this is a very beautiful volume, and although it may sound expensive at £18, you can tell a lot of work has gone into producing it. It’s one that deserves pride of place on the bookshelf to be sure. The tales: Nia Ben Aur (Iwerddon) Rhiannon a'r gosb o fod yn geffyl (Cymru) Ker Is (Llydaw) Morag Glyfar (Yr Alban) Cewri Karrek Loos yn Koos (Cernyw) Môr-forwyn Purt-le-Moirrey (Ynys Manaw) Llygad am Lygad (Iwerddon) Rhos y Pawl (Cymru) Merch y Tonnau (Yr Alban) Antur Keresen o Senar (Cernyw) Stori Gráinne (Iwerddon) Azenor ddoeth, Azenor ddel (Llydaw) Castell Penârd (Cymru) Cailleach – ceidwad y ceirw (Yr Alban) Y Frenhines Lupa (Galisia) Publisher: Carreg Gwalch Released: Medi 2022 Price: £18 (or free from library) Format: hardback

*For Welsh review see language toggle switch* (suggested) reading age: 6-9+ (children learning to read independently or transitioning from picturebooks to chapterbooks) (suggested) interest age: 5+ Genre: #sea #pirates #fiction #adventure A short review by Siân Vaughan, Welsh Advisory Teacher, Conwy County Another of Cadi and Mabon's adventures as they have a mini-holiday at grandma's cottage in Pembrokeshire over Easter. Whilst their Mum and Grandma are busy in the garden Cadi and Mabon go down to the beach to play. While digging for treasure on the beach they come across a treasure chest and are captured by a sea lion. We soon get to meet colourful characters aboard the Pirate ship Byrti Biws. Again, as with other books in the Cadi series, we get a number of important messages within the story, such as how it’s not right to steal from others. Cadi and Mabon have many adventures on board and we learn quite a bit about the everyday life of a pirate through the eyes of the motley crew of the Blodwen. This is another story written in an accessible language for children to read and understand. It includes both south and north Wales dialects and as there are a few different names for things depending on your dialect. Children will love discussing the life of a Pirate - a subject that always appeals to children of this age. Publisher: Y Lolfa Released: 2022 Price: £6.99 Format: Hardback

*Use language toggle switch for Welsh review* (suggested) reading age: 5-8+ (suggested) interest age: 4+ Genre: #aventure #Wales #farming #funny Illustrations: Lleucu Gwenllian https://www.studiolleucu.co.uk/ This is the fourth instalment in the 'Fferm Cwm Cawdel' series, and a very fitting one to review after a week in Eisteddfod yr Urdd in Llandovery. As the title suggests, this time, Ffion, her dog Fflei and of course the cows go on an adventure to the Eisteddfod – or rather, the Eisteddfod comes to them. After being extremely concerned when they saw a bunch of important people walking around the farm, the cows were extremely relieved to find out Ffion's big secret. The Eisteddfod would soon be coming to their doorstep – handy! I assume the cows haven't been to an Eisteddfod before, and they absolutely love taking part in various activities, such as being accepted into the ‘Orsedd’, competing as a quartet and dancing the night away on the maes. These are all Eisteddfod must-do’s! This series has been brightly illustrated by Lleucu Gwenllian and is reminiscent of cartoons, with humour and mischief on every page. The colourful illustrations certainly suit the light-hearted tone of these books. I'm sure the series is popular with rural audiences. A lot of children like to read about things they know and the countryside/agricultural setting will be familiar to many. Of course, they have the added bonus of introducing a bit of farm life to others who may have grown up in the city. This book in particular goes one step further and shows readers a glimpse of what an Eisteddfod’s all about. It may even persuade someone who’s never been to give it a try! The books fill an important gap for children aged 5-11. There are lots of picture books for children around the age of 3, but there seems to be a bit less available the older they get. The Cwm Cawdel books look and feel like ‘proper books’ so will be ideal for those new/emerging readers who are moving away from picturebooks to reading chapter books. I like that the writing is on a simple white background as it’s nice and easy for little eyes to read. The cows of Cwm Cawdel have been spoilt rotten going on so many adventures. They’ve already been to Aberystwyth and Eryri. I wonder where they’ll go next..?! Publisher: Carreg Gwalch Released: March 2023 Series: Fferm Cwm Cawdel Price: £6 Format: softcover Others in the series...

*See language toggle switch for Welsh review* (suggested) reading age: 6-9 (children learning to read independently and moving from picturebooks to chapterbooks) (suggested) interest age: 5+ Genre: #Halloween #fiction #WelshOriginal #adventure Illustrations: Janet Samuel https://thebrightagency.com/uk/childrens-illustration/artists/janet-samuel Review by Siân Vaughan, Welsh Advisory Teacher, Conwy County This is a modern magical adventure at its finest. At the beginning of the story Cadi and her little brother Mabon are squabbling with each other while making pumpkins and taffy apples in the kitchen. The squabbling and name-calling leads to an accident with a mobile phone and Mabon somehow becomes a toad! Oh dear. They have to think of a way to get Mabon back to being a boy. We get to meet some funny and unique characters such as Doti and Moira the two witches and Carlo Cadwaladr the wizard. Through the story we get important messages of how to overcome any obstacles in life and how important it is to use our skills and talents to help others. Doti wants to learn to sing and Carlo wants to run fast and with help from a blackbird and a hare they learn that to succeed, you have to have confidence and a lot of practice. Moira wants to learn how to be a witch and she learns from a wise owl that one must listen, read, exercise and get a lot of sleep in order to learn. Important messages for anyone who’s thinking about learning! Children will love hearing that Mabon (the toad) makes a sound as if he’s breaking wind and the witches make us laugh too. A perfect book for those transitioning from picturebooks to chapter books, learning to read independently. The story is written naturally and the language is full of comparisons and ‘sayings’ to enrich children's language. Phrases like ‘traed chwarter i dri’ (quarter to three feet). By the end of the book you will have been able to discuss a few important messages and you’ll have had plenty of laughs whilst being taken from the everyday world of the kitchen to the magical world of wizards and witches. It’d be great to see this story animated into a cartoon for children's television. Publisher: Y Lolfa Released: 2021 Price: £5.99 Format: Hardback A review from Barn (welsh only) Llyfr i'w ddarllen ar fwy nag un eisteddiad ydi hwn. Mae'n annog darllenwyr ifanc i fwrw ati ac ymgolli mewn stori dda dros gyfnod estynedig a derbyn bod hyn yn rhan bwysig o ddatblygiad darllenydd hyderus. Gall y plant iau, wrth gwrs, fwynhau gwrando ar oedolyn yn darllen y stori a dehongli lluniau doniol Janet Samuel o anturiaethau Cadi ar noson Calan Gaeaf o ddiogelwch cesail gynnes rhiant! - Delyth Roberts, Cylchgrawn Barn

*For Welsh review, see language toggle switch* (suggested) reading age: 12+ (suggested) interest age: 14+ / YA/ Adults Genre: #humour #graphicnovel #OriginalWelsh 1Illustrations1: Efa Blosse-Mason http://www.efabmanimation.com/ I've taken ages to write this review. Mainly because I wasn't really sure how to put my response down on paper! When I saw this book for the first time I saw it, the cover looked deceptively childish, but believe me, there’s much more to this book… To be honest, after finishing it for the first time, I just sat there thinking 'what on earth have I just read?' Graphic novels are so rare in Welsh anyway, maybe this was part of the reason why I wasn't really sure what to make of it. But having read it several times, I've completely changed my mind. I discover some new meaning upon every read. I’m not trying to sound cliché, but it really was a well needed breath of fresh air. Like the old Irn Bru adverts used to say: "I like it. It's different." Ari is a donkey who has been raised amongst people, and consequently she lives a comfortable life in a house, with Mam-Gu. She much prefers to spend her time in the company of humans, and although she has the body of a donkey, she has the mind of a person. Unfortunately for her, one day and very unexpectedly, Ari's life of luxury is turned upside down... Indeed, she gets quite the shock to see her new home is a field, a far cry from the warm, cosy house she’s used to. And if that wasn’t enough of a shock, Prost, her new owner is a dangerous man – and not to be crossed. When she is introduced to Cal, a captive donkey who dreams big dreams of freedom, Ari learns more about wild flocks of donkeys roaming without walls or fences. Will his wild, extreme ideas will be enough to spark the spirit of rebellion in this tame donkey, or is all that talk of escaping and being free a load of baloney from a crazy fool? In addition to the humour, there are a number of deeper themes in the story, including man's relationship with animals, specifically our abuse of animals and our desire to exploit everything for profit. Cal's dreams of freedom draw parallels with Wales as a Nation. Like Ari and her love for mankind, we still insist on sticking tightly to the United Kingdom, even though it is not exactly a healthy relationship for us. Do we have a bit of 'Stockholm syndrome' ourselves? Is it a matter of better the Devil you know for us? Ari's story certainly makes me think more about this. Are we ready to be brave and to demand our ‘freedom’ ? Having spoken to several people who have read the book, I'm still not quite sure who the primary audience is. But perhaps that’s my problem- my need to try to put everything into neat little boxes. It's a book that can be enjoyed on a more superficial, simple level but also has different layers and deeper, philosophical ideas lurking inside it. It will appeal to teens, (I want to say 12+) adults and Welsh learners too. I understand that this book evolved from a play that was written as part of a creative PhD, and was later staged successfully as a play by the National Theatre. I must admit, I knew nothing of this until after I’d read it! In my opinion, it fully deserved its place on the Tir na n-Og Awards shortlist, because it represents a somewhat left of field choice that adds to the choice we have in Welsh. Depending on the sales, I think there's room to see similar graphic novels, but I’m aware this type of fiction won’t be for everyone. Some may think "what the heck was that I just read?" but I've personally done a full 180 and think it's genius! It's worth buying it just to see Efa Blosse-Mason's simple yet impressive artistry. It was certainly a new and different reading experience for me in Welsh. For a far more eloquent review than mine, have a read of Jon Gower's response to 'Gwlad yr Asyn' on Nation.Cymru https://nation.cymru/culture/review-gwlad-yr-asyn-by-wyn-mason-and-efa-blosse-mason/ "Graphic novels in Welsh aren’t exactly two a penny – so Gwlad yr Asyn is an uncommon item. It’s even more so when you find out that it’s novel based on a play, placing its playful yet thoughtful account of the adventures of a donkey in a field of its own." Publisher: Carreg Gwalch Released: 2022 Price: £12 Format: softcover Why not listen to the radio drama instead? (Welsh language only) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g23r

*For Welsh review, see language toggle switch* (suggested) reading age: 9+ (suggested) interest age: 10-15 Genre: #nonfic #cookery #food #nom On the weekend, with a glass of wine in hand, some chill out music playing and Monday morning feeling far, far away, there’s nowhere I’d rather be than cooking up some weird and wonderful recipes and admiring my spice cupboard! (oh god, I’ve definitely hit middle age!) But on a school night, after coming in late, and having forgotten to defrost the chicken breasts, there’s nowhere I’d rather avoid! When you’re stuck trying to think ‘what shall I make for tea?’ and you’ve got a house full of hangry people, it’s not a great place to be! (if you don’t know the meaning of hangry, it’s angry + hungry put together. Not a good combination!) But I won't need to worry about that now, because now I’ve got a copy of this simple, down-to-earth cookbook by Mr Henry. It’s brimming with easy (yet delicious) recipes that are ideal for aspiring chefs of all abilities. The author, Lloyd Henry, is a food tech teacher in Ysgol Gyfyn Gŵyr and knows all too well which foods appeal to the target audience. Good, wholesome food with foolproof and clear instructions! According to the publisher, it's a book for teens, but I think those who are slightly younger (under supervision) and older can make good use of it. One annoying thing about celebrity cookbooks is they often try to make some elaborate and fancy recipes with some weird ingredients. You know, things you never keep in stock and would need to buy especially. Stuff you’d buy, use a tiny bit, then they’d disappear into the cupboard never to be seen again. This book isn’t that. The recipes are familiar, ‘normal’ and cheap – using things you’d probably have at home anyway. Winner winner chicken dinner. I think, and I'm sure Lloyd would agree, that it's important for young people to learn cookery skills. They’re life skills, and will be especially useful in university when they’ll have to sort their own food (it turns out we can't live on Pot Noodles and Dominos alone). And guess what, the fact that you know your way around a kitchen can also be a pretty good way of impressing future girlfriends or boyfriends! (Although in my case, I think I did too good a job because I’ve landed the job of permanent head chef in our house!) Before college, I remember getting a copy of Sam Stern's cookbook as a gift from Mam. Before that, I think cheese on toast was my limit. Now, I feel perfectly at home in front of a stove and very recently, I made a Sunday roast for the whole family without setting the house on fire! Happy days! So if you know someone who can barely boil an egg, or you want to encourage someone to pick up the apron and give it a go, then this book makes a perfect gift, and is sure to raise their confidence in the kitchen. Which recipe shall I cook first? I've done my usual and gone through it with post-its. The sweet potato curry and pizza buns look fabulous. There aren't many Welsh cookbooks specifically for young people, (I can’t actually think of a single one right now) so I'm delighted to see this appear. You also get QR codes for extra support which are handy. I like seeing video clips because I learn by seeing how it’s done. Best of both worlds IMO. Cegin Mr Henry has claimed its place on the window shelf, amid other old favourites such as Pinch of Nom and Miguel Barclay's £1 Meals. I also heard a rumour that there's a website on its way, so I'm sure we’ll get even more recipes tips and ideas soon. Hopefully there’ll be more books in the pipeline. If I might make a suggestion – I think a £1 meals type book would be good considering we’re in a cost of living crisis. Right. That’s enough from me, I best get back to the kitchen and get the tea on! Publisher: Atebol Released: Dec 2022 Price: £12.99 Format: hardback (e-book) Watch Mr Henry discussing his new book on S4C's Prynhawn Da. This was my attempt at the pizza buns. Pretty good huh? (I found mould on the green pesto so I only did the cheese and tomato this time). Put it this way, they'll definitely be on the menu again.

*For Welsh review, see language toggle switch* ♥Children's Book of the Month April 2023 ♥ (suggested) reading age: 15+ (suggested) interest age: 15+ Gwales Description: This is Casia Wiliam's first novel for Young Adults 16+. It is the raw love story of Leia and Sam, which is also a story about community, learning, venturing and forgiveness. The story begins at the community centre, where Leia and Sam meet again after being kept apart for some time. Megan Angharad Hunter’s quote on the cover of Casia Wiliam’s first YA novel couldn’t be more perfect – this really is a 'cwtsh' of a novel with warm and real characters. The novel’s protagonist, Leia, works in a community centre (due to Community Service), a location naturally rich in diverse characters, each one making their own mark on Leia’s life – Sarah Lloyd the art tutor is a particular favourite of mine. “Why is she doing Community Service?” I hear you ask. That is gradually revealed, as well as more information about Leia and her friends from their primary school years to their present through a series of flash-back chapters. It would have been nice for a couple of the characters from Leia’s past to reappear in her present, but this not happening didn’t leave any gaps in the story. Casia Wiliam’s writing seems effortlessly vivid; within a few pages I felt like I knew Leia and I wanted nothing but the best for her. That said, I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster with Leia, feeling everything from pride to frustration, hope to relief, heartbreak to love, fear to excitement. In the last few chapters you’ll find yourself wanting to scream at Leia asking, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” before realising that really you want to give her an enormous hug and lots of encouragement. During the first few chapters I was reminded a bit of the BBC’s recent series Outlaws – I wonder if Casia was a fan of the series? But never mind that, I think that Leia’s story would make a fantastic TV series or film, something warm to watch during the dark winter, perhaps. Sêr y Nos yn Gwenu is a brilliant novel, you won't regret reading it. More like this please, Casia! Publisher: Y Lolfa Released: March 2023 Price: £8.99 Format: Softcover (and e-book) When I was taking pictures in the rockery, look who came to say hello!

*For Welsh review, see language toggle switch* (suggested) reading age: 5+ (suggested) interest age: 2-5 Genre: #picturebook #bilingual #funny #emotions https://www.joeybananashandmade.co.uk/ After the success of Sawl Bwci Bo? I’m pleased to say the mischievous minion-like creatures are back to create some havoc! Woop! I’m sure many children and parents across Wales have come across the first book, because it was included as part of BookTrust Cymru’s Dechrau Da/Bookstart program. This is the one where every child in Wales was given a free pack of books before turning three. Well, now the little creatures are back and just as vibrant, colourful, and full of beans as ever. This time, we’re not talking about numbers though, but feelings – and those can be very tricky to navigate, can’t they? The style of the books is very modern, and illustrator Steven Goldstone clearly has talent when it comes to digital design. The pictures are very impressive, and the cute little monsters and their silly tricks are sure to appeal to young children. I like that the direction and shape of the font is varied from page to page which keeps things interesting. There's certainly plenty of excitement on every page. As young children develop, they have to try to make sense of all the different feelings. They could be laughing heartily one minute and bawling their eyes out the next. Learning to manage emotions is something that takes time, and a book like this is sure to be useful as it discusses the ups and downs of everyday life and all the different feelings. One of the key messages being- it’s okay to feel the way you feel. As for the humour, well, any mention of bogeys, farts and things like that is bound to appeal little ones, even if it makes boring old people like me roll their eyes! There's also an interactive element to the book, because they've included a few activities to do at the end of the book. Handy. Llio and I (team Sôn am Lyfra) are expecting our first child in July, and whilst I was tackling my list of jobs – (putting up the bookshelf in the baby room) I thought to myself ‘this book’s gonna look good on the new shelf! I’m really looking forward to being able to share it with the little one when he’s a bit older. I think the cover just screams ‘pick me up!’ For more bwci-bo related merch, check out https://www.joeybananashandmade.co.uk/ Publisher: Atebol Released: 2022 Price: £7.99 Format: softcover WHY NOT DOWNLOAD THE ACTIVITY SHEETS FROM BOOKTRUST? https://cdn.booktrust.org.uk/globalassets/resources/welsh-resources/bwrt/bwrt-22-23-bwci-bo-rhyme-and-activity-english-updated.pdf?_gl=1*1y81vj1*_ga*NDgwODc0NjIxLjE2Nzk1ODYwMjE.*_ga_42ZTZWFX8W*MTY3OTU4NjAyMy4xLjEuMTY3OTU4OTU3Ny41NS4wLjA. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: (from BookTrust website) About Joey Bananas Steven Goldstone Steven is a Designer and Illustrator. He’s designed several websites and apps for children including the ‘Muppets Movie’ site for Disney and children’s sites for S4C. He also illustrates the ‘Bwci Bo’ picture book series for young children. ‘How Many Bwci Bos?’ published by Atebol, was selected as BookTrust Cymru’s BookStart book for young children in 2022. The next Bwci Bo book, ‘How are you, Bwci Bo?’ was published in late 2022. He is married to Joanna and lives in Llantwit Major. Joanna Davies Joanna is a Writer and Creative Producer. She’s worked as a Senior Producer for ITV Cymru, S4C and the BBC. She’s produced television progammes and websites for adults and children including Cbeebies and Bitesize. Joanna has written several bilingual novels and is the author of ‘How Many Bwci Bos?’, BookTrust Cymru’s 2022 Bookstart book for young children. The next Bwci Bo book in the series, ‘How are you, Bwci Bo?’ was published in late 2022 . She is married to Steven and lives in Llantwit Major.

*For English review, see language toggle switch* (suggested) interest age: 12+ (suggested) reading age: 12+ Genre/themes: #Welshhistory #slavery #empathy #fiction I wonder if Manon Steffan Ros feels the pressure when it comes to publishing day? Especially when you've set the bar as high as Llyfr Glas Nebo. Anyone would have a job beating the success of that novel! However, with 5 Tir na n-Og awards under her belt already, she has proven herself time and again as one of our most popular and skilled authors. Whilst many believe Llyfr Glas Nebo to be her magnum opus, personally I prefer Llechi and Powell (controversial, right?). Sometimes it takes me weeks to plod my way through a novel, but in this case, with Powell it was only a matter of a days. Elis Powell, a fifteen-year-old boy, has always been very proud of his ancestor and his legacy, and seems more than happy to carry his namesake. He is reminded daily of the enormous contribution of his great great (great?) grandfather to the town – he founded the local hospital and the school. Heck, there’s even a pub named after him! Although the story begins in Trefair, Wales, much of the book takes place in the States. In fact, I rather enjoyed reading a book that wasn’t set in Wales for a change. The main thread of the story is Elis and his grandfather’s journey to the USA to find out more about the life of the great man who has been a constant presence in their lives in some shape or form. Although their once-in-a-lifetime journey gets off to a promising start, we soon get the impression that things are going to turn sour… I'm pretty sure I'd be able to recognize Manon Steffan's work with my eyes shut. It’s very unique and identifiable. The relationships between her characters are always her main focus, and she often pays attention to the little things people do or say, whether it's a couple squabbling in public at the airport or those people who give you back-handed compliments. (You know the ones who pretend to be genuine, but you know that they aren’t.) While the two are on their big adventure learning about the life of the original Elis Powell, new facts emerge, that puts everything they’ve ever believed in doubt. I won't say anything more than that, but one thing’s for sure, they won't be able to think of Elis Powell in the same way again. Their reputation and good name means everything to them, and now, it’s as though the rug’s been pulled from under their feet. This is not the first time MSR has covered the subject of slavery. In 2018, she was involved in a project at Penrhyn Castle, North Wales, where she produced '12 stories' discussing the history of the castle and it’s links to the plantations in Jamaica. That may have prompted her to write more on the subject, which I don’t think has received enough attention until relatively recently in Wales. It's only in recent years, in the wake of the #BlackLivesMatter movement that we’ve started to recognise and accept Wales' part in the cruel and immoral industry. Of course, it's important that we don't ignore the past, but in the same breath, we can't change it either. We have to face up to it and learn from our mistakes if we’re ever to move forward. As for the historical account of slaves in the story, we only get background information - enough to satisfy the needs of the story, but little else. Some may have liked to see more here. Perhaps a few pages at the back of the book (similar to Gwasg Carreg Gwalch's history books) could have been useful to give more context. Having said that, I think it was a deliberate choice by the author not to say too much about the life and experiences of the slaves, and I can understand that. Manon has already spoken about the topic of cultural appropriation in the ‘Colli’r Plot’ podcast – a discussion well worth listening to. I'm still not sure if I know what the answer is, though. The novel raises important questions, and makes you think but it never gets preachy. It may make you feel a bit uncomfortable at times, and this is a good thing. It is a very complex topic of discussion, but it needs to be discussed, and so I'm grateful for a novel like this to facilitate a conversation. Similar to the imaginary Elis Powell, statues of controversial individuals such as Henry Morton Stanley, Thomas Picton, Cecil Rhodes and the like are still visible in our communities. Should they be? That’s a debate in itself! Since we can't change history, the only thing we can do is make sure everyone knows all the facts, and accept that some of these individuals have made valuable contributions to our communities, but much of their wealth came from the exploitation of other human beings. Instead of telling us how and what to think, MSR turns it back on us as readers and asks a very valid and fair question: once you do finally learn all the facts, what are you going to do with that information afterwards? Stay silent and ignore it, or talk about it openly? I think that’s the main point she’s making. Publisher: Y Lolfa Released: Oct 2022 Price: £8.99 Format: softcover FURTHER READING WELSH GOVERNMENT REPORT https://www.gov.wales/over-200-welsh-statues-streets-and-buildings-connected-slave-trade-listed-nationwide-audit

* For English review, see language toggle switch* (suggested) reading age: 4+ (suggested) interest age: 0-4 Genre: #earlyyears #numbers #counting #bilingual Illustrations: Hanna Harris This is a simple and colourful book that teaches young children how to count. As you can see, the illustrations are modern and clear. So far, I’m very impressed with the output from Gwasg y Broga. They haven’t been around for long, but everything is done to a high standard. An opportunity to learn to count, as the passengers embark one by one. They bring with them all their items until the bus is full to the brim. What do you get then? One cranky driver! There’s a bit of humour in this book too as all the passengers have to make a hasty exit! I’ve given this book as a gift to my young cousin for her 2nd birthday. She lives in England so I’m hoping this will be an useful book to introduce a bit of Welsh nice and early. The book’s bilingual too so that even parents who are learning Welsh can join in. Publisher: Broga Released: 2022 Price: £7.99 Format: softcover

*For Welsh review, use language toggle switch* (suggested) reading age: 8+ (suggested) interest age: 7-13 Genre: #factual #nonfiction #sports #football Illustrations: Matt Cherry https://fireflypress.co.uk/authors/matt-cherry/ Info from Gwales: The second title in the Campau Campus series. Perhaps the best description of these titles is a kind of 'Horrible Histories' about various sports. This title deals with football and is a Welsh adaptation by Elinor Wyn Reynolds of Stupendous Sports: Fantastic Football. Do you know someone who's mad about football? This would make the perfect gift for them. As someone who not only has two left feet, but doesn't know a thing about football, I felt this was the perfect book to get me up to speed. I learned a lot and it was nice and simple for me! It's full of a variety of different things, but here's an idea for you: 📕 History of the game ⚽️ legendary players 📕 Tips, rules and tactics ⚽️ Incredible facts 📕 Interesting tales … and a whole lot more. ➡️Basically- everything you could ever need to know about footy! Here's a little sneak peak inside: Publisher: Firefly Released: Oct 2022 Series: Campau Campus Format: soft cover Price: £6.99 Remember, if you prefer the egg-shaped ball - there's another book that's all abut rugby!