Reviews of The Magical Midwinter Star

Hard to improve on the previous two, but my granddaughter (8) thinks this is the best so far and I agree. The books don't fall into the trap of stories about cute little animals, but instead combine nature, mythology, adventure and fun with a smattering of Gaelic thrown in. Can't wait for book 4

Wow!! these books just keep getting better, favourite book so far, can't wait for the next one. Just love the new characters. A Magical ending enjoyed together by a 9years old and her Mum. You can't be too young or too old to enjoy the Algy series.

I like ‘The Magical Midwinter Star’ because it’s about animals cheering themselves up during one of the bleakest parts of the year, when everyone is tired of snow and just wants Spring to hurry up and come. Algy goes off to search for a magical tree that he can decorate with some silvery things that he finds in rockpool. He hope it will help the animals to feel that winter isn’t all that boring.

I’m giving this book four stars because I think it’s better than the second, but not as good as the first (the first book in every series is always the best). I prefer this book to the second because it’s less ‘magical and mysterious’ and more about how animals might live (though it does have the Magical Midwinter Star).

If I had to be a character in the book I would want to be the Stag. He looks and and is described as very honourable. As I am not a boy I would want to be the mate of the Stag because I would feel proud have such an honourable mate. Jenny Chapmen was very wise to add the Stag in. In her next book, it would be nice for the Stag to play an important, honourable part (with his mate, of course).

I can’t really choose a best bit of the story, because it is a genuinely nice story and is written really well. I liked the bit though when the Stag appears, because, as mentioned above, he is so very composed and calm.

I definitely recommend this book to children, and adults young at heart. It’s lovely how Jenny Chapmen writes about how animals might live.

I’m looking forward to Jenny’s next book. I hope she will write one about Spring, or something cheery (not that the other books were un-cheery).

Centred around an exciting midwinter celebration, the third of Algy's adventures takes us on another fun journey. We get to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, each with their own brilliantly written personalities. Although you don't have to read the first two books in the series to follow this one, they're such wonderful stories that you should read them anyway. I've had the pleasure of sharing these books with my own child and a classroom of children, and they've opened up the door to discuss friendship and the importance of doing things for others. These subtle messages are interwoven with the adventure, and taught through characters that are brought to life by vivid descriptions and well-written dialogue. As my 9 year old said: "All of the characters are my favourite because they wouldn't be who they are if they didn't know each other. I wonder who we'll meet in the next book."