The North Recommends: Through the Wardrobe Bookshop
Through the Wardrobe Books is a specialist children’s bookshop in the small West Yorkshire town of Mirfield. Set in a tiny old building and oozing with character, our magical little space is (probably) one of the smallest bookshops in the country, but – in my modest and not at all biased opinion – perfectly formed. My name’s Leanne and I’m a first time business owner, mum to a crazy 4 going-on-14 year old, coffee lover and book addict on a mission to get kids in my community reading!
We invite our readers to come explore our shelves freely, curl up in our reading nook, lose themselves in the pages of a new world, discover an interesting fact, learn to empathise with someone else’s story or be empowered by a voice like their own! With seasonal and specially curated books filling our reclaimed shelves, we put inspiration and passion at the heart of our book-selling. We believe that there is book out there for everyone.
Here’s a few of our favourites this season…
After the War by Tom Palmer; published by Barrington Stoke Ltd – out now.
Based on the true story of the Windermere Boys, this incredibly important, beautifully written and meticulously researched book is perfect for readers aged 9+. Harrowing but inspiring, raw but compassionate, the story of Yossi and his friends thrown together by the Holocaust is not just an engaging read, but makes a great WW2 teaching tool. We’re lucky to be hosting Tom for a book signing on the 12th September, so do contact us if you’d like a signed copy or extra resources for your school.
Gracie Fairshaw and the Mysterious Guest by Susan Brownrigg; published by UCLan Publishing – out now.
A delightful page tuner of a mystery for readers aged 8+. With the glitz and glamour of 1930’s Blackpool Illuminations providing the backdrop, this book makes the perfect seasonal read for those who love suspense, a touch of nostalgia and a sprinkling of Northern grit!
Boy, Everywhere by A.M. Dassu; published by Old Barn Books – out 22nd October
A timely, powerful and hugely emotive read, Boy, Everywhere is the book everyone should read this autumn. This is the story of Sami and his family, a content and happy Syrian family enjoying the comfort and ‘normality’ of Damascus…until the war that was tearing the country apart reaches them. Feeling forced to embark on a dangerous journey to find safety in the UK, this lovingly researched book shows us just how easy it is for a typical teenage life to be turned upside down.
Oi Aardvark! by Kes Gray and Jim Field; published by Hachette Children’s Group – out now.
Just because we all need to experience the impossible task of getting our mouths around Kes Gray’s hilarious rhyming tongue twisters when reading aloud to a (very judgemental) posse of preschoolers! Bright, colourful and laugh out loud funny, the newest in our most popular picture book selling series promises to be just as loved as it’s predecessors!