We love Hannah the Spanner Series and featured their Hannah the Spanner and the Polar Bear Book in our Christmas Gift Guide for Kids last year and this year we are featuring two other books from their series titles Hannah and the Spanner and the Trip to the Moon as well as Hannah and the Spanner and the Diamond Robbery from Stuhead. Written by Stuart Simmonds and Illustrated by Bill Greenhead (hence the name Stuhead – a combination of both their names), these books are perfect for children aged 4 to 9 years old. Their books are well written with a good storyline, easy enough to hold and the illustrations are eye-catching and colourful to keep little minds captivated. Keep on reading to find out what my children and I thought of these books.
Hannah the Spanner and the Diamond Robbery
Both my children loved this book the most (out of the three books) as the story was interesting from the start to finish and they felt as if they were on an adventure with Hannah and her classmates who are on a school trip to London. My son loved the book as he is just finished learning about the landmarks in London at school and he could spot so many of these being illustrated and included in the book. The book was also funny and I caught him giggling many a time. In a nutshell, the story is about two diamond robbers (the Harris Brothers) on the run and Hannah somehow discovers the missing diamonds in their umbrella (although they are in a disguise). She then takes matter into her own hands (when her teacher doesn’t believe her) and that’s when the adventure begins.
Hannah and the Spanner and the Trip to the Moon
This is also another interesting story from the series, this time Hannah and her classmates who are on a school trip to see a rocket accidentally get blasted into space, thanks to Aubrey who ends up pressing a big button (in the control centre, even though she is told not to). They are then taken on an amazing adventure into outer space in a rocket and meet three-eyed aliens also know as Moonians. My children totally loved the attractive illustrations which captivated their imagination and at the thought that the children taught the Moonians how to play football. My children especially my daughter really enjoyed this story, they especially liked the alien characters and the school principal. My daughter who is 9-years-old and reads thick Harry Potter books found this book too simple for her and read it quickly (although she enjoyed reading it). I would say the book is more suitable for children who are 4 to 6-years old and once you start getting one book, you would want to get the others in the series as well.
How much is the book, and where can you buy one?
The paperback version of Hannah and the Spanner and the Trip to the Moon and Hannah and the Spanner and the Diamond Robbery retails for £7.99.
Hannah and the Spanner and the Trip to the Moon
ISBN: 978-1999318178
Publisher: StuHead Publishing
Product Dimensions: 25.4 x 25.2 x 0.4 cm
Pages: 40
Hannah and the Spanner and the Diamond Robbery
ISBN: 978-1999318192
Publisher: StuHead Publishing
Product Dimensions: 25.6 x 25.4 x 0.4 cm
Pages: 40
About Stuart Simmonds
Stuart Simmonds was born in Birmingham and has spent most of his life either playing or coaching sport, notably cricket. Good enough to play against some very famous players, Stuart finished his time by writing the critically acclaimed “Watching with my Heroes” about the fact that being good at bowling a red ball at some sticks took him around the world and meant he avoided having to get a proper job. To his amazement, it has currently sold considerably more than the ten copies he originally thought that it might, with all the profits going to the blood cancer charities. Apart from still being involved in sport, Stuart runs a successful property business and is the worst guitarist imaginable. He cannot get his head around that fact that he now writes books for a living based on the bedtime stories he made up many years ago. He currently lives in Sussex with his wife, his two daughters and his two dreadfully behaved dogs.
About Bill Greenhead (illustrator)
Bill Greenhead was born the year England won the football world cup and is the living embodiment of how long England never won the cup again. It’s not pretty. For the record it was 1966. He has been a professional illustrator for over 30 years working for children’s book all around the world. He sees himself as a bit of a maverick citing the fact that he refuses to sieve the flour for his banana cakes. Married happily for 26 years now and having 3 children he can’t wait to illustrate more of Hannah’s amazing adventures.
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* We were sent copies of the books for free in return for a review. All opinions are our own.
30 comments
I am totally loving the illustrations! Everything about the books scream fun and engaging! We are well beyond that age range now but the books look fab! Sim x
The illustrations are a winner hands down and the storytelling is fantastic too for little ones
I haven’t heard of the books but they look fab – the illustrations have caught me – and am always looking for great gifts to buy children and you can’t beat books!
These books are great if you want to teach your kids about their bodies and how to say no
These sound like lovely books to add to any child’s collection.
Space has always been a popular theme in our house x
Good luck to you and hope you win both the books
My son is 9 and this looks like something he would love! He’s currently obsessed with graphic novels, and anything with a great storyline and captivating photos are always a favorite for him. Happy to hear your 9-year-old enjoyed it too, so I will definitely check this out for him!
Yes please do, not too sure if it will be too easy for him, but worth checking it out
I am not sure if my nephew has read the Hannah Spanner series but love the illustrations and its easy to see why your kids absolutely love these books as I know my nephew would too.
Yes he sure would Anosa, stunning illustrations and the story is pretty good as they have different themes to each book
I love hearing about new childrens books, I have always had a huge thing that my kids would have a love of reading and my Daughter was often found with a book in her hand. I am now passing this down to my Granddaughter, these look like great books x
How wonderful to hear that. We are so happy at the end of the day, we are getting books away from the kids to get them to bed and not tablets
These sound like really fun books. They are ideal to help encourage children to read more. I’m sure my girls have mentioned Hannah and the Spanner books before so guess they’ve enjoyed reading some already.
Yes my children love them and more should read their books as well as they are so funny
It’s so nice that your son was starting to learn the london attractions and could point out bits from the book x
Yes it was, he was very interested in the London landmarks
These books seem full of adventure, which children love. I like that they boost a child’s imagination with the fantasy stories and keep them entertained with more than one book.
Each of the book in the series have a different theme to it, so it will appeal to kids especially if you have a few kids in the house
I’ve not come across these books before but they sound like something that my son would enjoy – full of adventure.
Little ones totally love them, as the illustrations are so eye-catching
I’m always after good children’s books. I think my daughter would love them.
Yes she certainly would Leila
These look
Brilliant. Alessia is 9 and I know
For sure she would absolutely love to add these to her collection
Yes she would Kira, its a fab series
These sound like real page turners and I bet my son, in particular, would really enjoy these stories!
Absolutely Jenna, our kids love it too
Great Book for our little champs they will really enjoy to read this book thanks i will get it shortly thanks
Your welcome James, they have more books in their series and these are worth reading as they are totally fun
The illustrations look great! We are currently trying to get our Son into books (mainly pictures for now) but this looks a great next step for him
Lots of attractive illustration in the book, so he could look at that while you read to him