Reviews
When a new series comes out, usually only the first book is reviewed by the national press. I've been lucky in that not only did Boobela and Worm get great reviews, but many of the other books in the series have also received good reviews.
I include some of the best here.
My first review (and in many ways my favourite) was from Amanda Craig in The Times. Here it isl:
"In Boobela and Worm, the shy lonely giantess has no friends until a worm tells her that her feet stink. This is an excellent beginning and the tone of affectionate honesty is kept up, as a series of small adventures unfold. Joe Friedman's Worm is so gentle, funny and wise that it comes as no surprise to find that he unlocks Boobela's ability to heal others. Sam Child's lively drawings accompany these tales about the transformative power of putting yourself into somebody else's shoes.
The pictures and interesting typography make the book an ideal stepping stone between picture books and novels. There are not enough good books for this age range, and Friedman's sympathetic approach will make this one to reread. My favourite bit is when Worm has to be rescued from his sandcastle by a flatworm when the tide comes in." (I've had to shorten the review. To read the full text, click here.
Later, Amanda Craig chose Boobela as one of her Best Books of the Year. She said it was "wise, warm and wonderful."
Junior Educator chose the book as one of the Top Ten of the Year. You can see the review here.
Other positive reviews were in The Sunday Times: "It combines quirky originality with gentle simplicity in the text and in Sam Childs’s images." and in Publishing News "Young children everywhere will delight in the adventures of Boobela and Worm."
A review for teachers from Write Away is here
Links
Clare Holland designed this website. If you like it, you might want her to design yours! I can thoroughly recommend her. She's at www.clareholland.net.
Sarah Hodder designed the first editions of the Boobela books. She also does hand-painted ceramics and will paint cups, plates and bowls to order. Her website is at: www.sarahdesign.co.uk.
Elisabeth Brooke. a qualified herbalist and author of several books on herbalism, has been a source of information on both herbalism and the development of Boobela's special magic. You can find out more about her at: www.elisabethbrooke.co.uk.
Colin Beatty, is a qualified teacher of the Alexander technique and the Shaw Method of Swimming. He advised me on the swimming story in Boobela, Worm and Potion Power. You can find out more about him at: http://helpyourself.me.uk/asp/Personalities.asp.
The SAS (Scattered Authors Society) is a wonderful and supportive group for published writers of children's books. Check out their site to discover lots of new authors to read. http://scatteredauthors.org/index.htm. You can also look at their wonderful blog: http://awfullybigblogadventure.blogspot.com/