Badger Books by Paddy Donnelly

✦ BLURB ✦

‘Badger Books’ is a bookshop, run by a badger. You can find books about every animal. From bears to elephants, tigers to dinosaurs and pandas to narwhals. But there’s one book they don’t have ... and it’s one that Rory the Fox really, really wants.

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✶ PRE-READING ✶

I adored Fox and Son Tailers, so I was excited to return to this warm, whimsically illustrated world. Paddy Donnelly’s stories are always thoughtful beneath the charm, so I expected a picture book with heart, humour, and something meaningful tucked inside.

✶ POST-READING ✶

As I thought... this is another delightfully layered tale. Donnelly’s art is full of cosy detail, and the love of books shines through every page. Rory’s determination and the soft encouragement from Badger make this a tender story about curiosity and self-belief.

It surprised me by... gently introducing the idea of representation—Rory can find books about all kinds of animals, but not the book he really wants. It's a really clever way to introduce the oft-repeated writing advice 'write what you want to read', handled in a way that’s age-appropriate without ever being heavy-handed.

✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦

Book Recommendation: Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love — another gentle, beautifully illustrated story about identity and imagination.
TV or Movie Recommendation: Bluey, especially the book-loving “Library” episode—charming, thoughtful, and full of emotional intelligence.

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✧ VIBE CHECK ✧

A colour palette: soft brown, warm orange, and bookish beige
A soundtrack: the quiet rustle of turning pages, mixed with a gentle cello line
A season: autumn, for its golden light and cosy reading nooks
A mood: curious, comforting, quietly joyful
A scent: crisp pages, wood polish, and a fox’s fur in the rain

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★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

Page of Pentacles. Rory is a seeker, and this card captures his earnest search for knowledge and a sense of self. Like the Page, he’s at the start of a journey—grounded, hopeful, and eager to learn.