Hello and welcome to damppebbles on this wintery Tuesday. I’m delighted to see you once again! Sadly, we’re approaching the end of #R3COMM3ND3D2019 and have a mere 10 posts left after today. But fear not, if you are a book blogger or an author and would like to take part there is still one space up for grabs. But you better be quick!

Today I am delighted to welcome Catherine Friess to the blog to share her three #R3COMM3ND3D2019 picks with us. Catherine blogs over the at the brilliant Story Snug where she specialises in reviewing only picture books and chapter books, so her blog is a thing of beauty. It’s a must read for all parents, carers of young children and teachers.

So, what is #R3COMM3ND3D2019? It’s about sharing the book love. It’s a chance for authors and book bloggers to shout about three (yes, *only* three) books they love. They can be written by any author, in any genre and published in any way (traditionally, indie press or self-published). But there is a catch. All three books must have been published in 2019. To make things interesting I have added a couple of teeny, tiny rules this year which are; 1) the book must have first been published in 2019 and 2) special editions and reissues do not count. I like to keep you lovely people on your toes. 😉

Here are the three books Catherine chose…

No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton
No Ballet Shoes in Syria is a real page turner, we couldn’t put it down. Eleven year old Aya has fled war torn Syria with her mother and baby brother. She is welcomed into a ballet class and through dancing she makes friends who support her as she adapts to her new situation.

Alongside Aya’s story of life in the UK we learn about her life in Syria before and during the war. As well as being an entertaining and moving story it gives a fascinating insight into the experiences, challenges and difficulties faced by families who have been forced to flee from their home countries and resettle in new and unfamiliar lands.
Catherine’s Review of No Ballet Shoes in Syria

The Spacesuit by Alison Donald & Ariel Landy
The Spacesuit takes an original look at an important world event in a way that children can easily understand. It’s the story of Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Foraker and her team of seamstresses who designed and created the spacesuits that astronauts wore for the moon walk in 1969.

There have been many books written about the moon landing but we had never thought about how spacesuits are made or who designed them until we read this fascinating non fiction picture book which adds a new dimension to a child’s knowledge of the event.
Catherine’s Review of The Spacesuit

The SEA SAW by Tom Percival
The SEA SAW is a beautifully illustrated, incredibly emotive story about the loss of a well loved teddy bear on a day out to the beach. Sofia’s bear is particularly special as it belonged to her mother, when we first read the book we couldn’t stop turning the pages in the hope that it would find its way back to Sofia.

This is a fabulous book to initiate discussions about favourite toys and possessions. It also takes a sensitive look at loss and grief and can help children talk about how they feel when they are sad. The story has a wonderfully happy ending with a really heartwarming twist, we didn’t expect it to end as it did.
Catherine’s Review of The SEA SAW

Thank you so much, Catherine. Three beautiful books which I’m sure my own children would love.

If Catherine has managed to tempt you, or if you would like to find out more about the books she recommends, please see the following links:

No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton
The Spacesuit by Alison Donald & Ariel Landy
The SEA SAW by Tom Percival

About Story Snug:
Story Snug is devoted to recommending children’s picture books and chapter books. It was originally set up to help friends and family, near and far, become aware of books that may appeal to them. We only blog about books that we like so if a book is on Story Snug you know that we have enjoyed reading it.

Catherine’s Blog and Social Media Links:
| Story Snug | Twitter @cjfriess | Facebook |

If you’re a book blogger or an author and you have three books published this year which you want to shout about then please complete the following form (or click this link: https://forms.gle/PE483qCyrKEgV5Uq6)