Children's Writer, Book Reviewer, Teacher, Artist
I love this series. It's perfect for fans of Isabella Moon and Amelia Fang while bursting with its own unique charm and magical sparkle. This second book in the series, 'Spooky Sleepover!', is perhaps even more fun now that we're familiar with the world and its wonderfully quirky characters. Every page is a treat: illustrations and text conjuring an imaginative spell to delight younger readers.
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It's Autumn's first day at Sparkledale Dance Academy. She loves dance and gymnastics so being an official member is a dream come true! With lots of magical mishaps at the team bonding sleepover, can working together help Autumn and her friends find out who is behind the strange goings on at Sparkledale?
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Emma Finlayson-Palmer and Heidi Cannon really know how to capture interest, keep the pace and enchant the reader with spooks, humour and warmth. Writing and illustrating short fiction for younger children is a real craft and the Autumn Moonbeam books are already excellent examples of how to do it. In a couple of sentences and with a delightful illustration, a character is perfectly rendered, be it dragon, ghost or mischievous dancer while the action crackles with magic, mischief and fun. In 'Spooky Sleepover!' young readers will love the growing mystery at Sparkledale Dance Academy; the peculiar going-on that seems to happen everytime Autumn and her friends dance. While I love Autumn as the protoganist, I am intrigued by Severina Bloodworth - is she really as naughty as she seems? Perhaps she'll be the Mirabelle (the mischievous character in the Isadora Moon books) of the series.
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Autumn Moonbeam is a perfect enchanting series for younger readers!
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Thank you to the author for my copy to review.
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https://www.waterstones.com/book/spooky-sleepover/emma-finlayson-palmer/heidi-cannon/9781912979929
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