Molly and Pim and the millions of stars by Martine Murray

Text Publishing, 2015. ISBN 9781925240085
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Family, Environment, Friendship, Herbs. Molly rarely talks about her mother at school with her best friend Ellen, because she is so different from the other mothers. Their house is like a gypsy caravan, and mama collects wild herbs from the wood soon after dawn, mixing them for teas and infusions, even relying on them for making an acorn grow into a tree in double quick time. But an unexpected and magical outcome has Molly perplexed about what to do. She feels she cannot tell her best friend as she will not understand, but relies instead on Pim, the boy in her class who is different from all the others. He offers help without hesitation and together they work to get mama back home. Time is of the essence however as the ugly couple next door wants to chop the tree down, and when Molly finally goes to see Ellen finds that she has been ill. Another complication arises.
This is a charming story of difference, couched in a quietly fantastical story which will readily garner fans. Gentle home spun philosophy can be found on every page as mama's practical no nonsense attitude to life revolves around the natural things to be found not the clutter that Molly initially craves to ensure that she fits in.
While striving to get mama back she finds a renewed interest in and respect for the things her mother loves, and learns the value of her own unusual life. This is a book to be savoured.
At the end of the book is a section called Molly's notes, in which the plants and animals used as chapter illustrations are outlined. Information is given about each, for example, the page about rosemary tells us that put under your pillow at night, it will prevent nightmares. The sparkly front cover will attract the readers to the book and the story inside will ensure they stay reading.
It would make a stunning class read a loud, full of digressions to be discussed and thought over.
Fran Knight