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Oliver and the Seawigs
by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
Oliver's explorer parents vanish, so he sets off after them with a short-sighted mermaid, a grumpy albatross and an island that can walk.
A story about children and magical creatures, funny and adventurous in tone. We would put it with children of 6–9, and at a reading age of about 7 for reading alone.
Worth knowing before you buy
- Mild peril
None of this makes it a bad book — often the opposite. It is here so you can decide whether it is right for your child now or in a year or two.
Our take on this book
When Oliver's explorer parents vanish, he sets off to find them and discovers that some of the islands dotting the sea are actually Rambling Isles — living, walking islands who compete in a grand contest to wear the finest 'seawig' — and he teams up with a short-sighted mermaid and a grumpy island to get his parents back. Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre's collaboration is pure invention and joy: a wildly imaginative adventure stuffed with McIntyre's exuberant illustrations, silly songs and gloriously daft ideas. It is short, richly pictured and endlessly inventive, with comic peril and a warm heart. For a seven- to ten-year-old it is a delight — the kind of book where you never know what marvellous nonsense the next page will bring — and the abundant pictures make a proper story feel wonderfully accessible. A brilliant choice for a child ready to leave picture books but still wanting plenty to look at.
If they like this, try these
Chosen by matching age, reading age, tone and subject — not by what is selling.
The Boy Who Grew DragonsAndy Shepherd
The Boy Who Lived with DragonsAndy Shepherd
The MinpinsRoald Dahl
Or let them write their own.
Nothing gets a child reading like a story they invented themselves. Your child plans the characters and the plot, and we write, illustrate and print it as a real book with their name on the cover as the author.
Find another book
Tell us the age, the reading age and what they like, and we will suggest a handful.