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Travelling Bookshop #1
Mim and the Baffling Bully
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26The right book might just change your life ...
Mim Cohen roams the world in a travelling bookshop, with her dad and brother and a horse called Flossy. Flossy leads them where she will, to the place where they're needed most ... the place where the perfect book will find its way home.
Now Mim has arrived in a pretty Dutch village where she meets Willemina, a kind and gentle child, who is being bullied by a girl named Gerda.
Mim knows they're here to help Willemina. To change her life. To make her strong and brave and happy.
If only Dad would find her the right book. If only he would stop giving everyone else the wrong book!
From the beloved author of The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Rome and We Are Wolves comes an enchanting series for young readers.
Mim Cohen roams the world in a travelling bookshop, with her dad and brother and a horse called Flossy. Flossy leads them where she will, to the place where they're needed most ... the place where the perfect book will find its way home.
Now Mim has arrived in a pretty Dutch village where she meets Willemina, a kind and gentle child, who is being bullied by a girl named Gerda.
Mim knows they're here to help Willemina. To change her life. To make her strong and brave and happy.
If only Dad would find her the right book. If only he would stop giving everyone else the wrong book!
From the beloved author of The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Rome and We Are Wolves comes an enchanting series for young readers.
224 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 4, 2026
31 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Katrina Nannestad
45 books198 followersKatrina Nannestad is an award-winning Australian author. Her books include The Girl Who Brought Mischief, the Girl, the Dog and the Writer series, the Olive of Groves series, the Red Dirt Diaries series, the Lottie Perkins series and Bungaloo Creek.
Katrina grew up in country New South Wales in a neighborhood stuffed full of happy children. Her adult years have been spent teaching, raising boys, perfecting her recipe for chocolate-chip bickies and pursuing her love of stories. She now lives near Bendigo with her family and an exuberant black whippet called Olive.
Katrina grew up in country New South Wales in a neighborhood stuffed full of happy children. Her adult years have been spent teaching, raising boys, perfecting her recipe for chocolate-chip bickies and pursuing her love of stories. She now lives near Bendigo with her family and an exuberant black whippet called Olive.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 19, 2021
Young girls and boys would love this, especially the book and word lovers among them, and even us adults, too.
This was a very cute premise, a lovely and magical traveling bookshop lead by horse and cart. The patrons of this store leave with books they need, as opposed to what they want. Mim's dad is great at this, and helps young an old with their lives.
Heartfelt messages intertwined with youngsters navigating friendships and even those children that are not so nice. But of course, lovely to always get behind the reasons why those children struggle with their bullying (I hate that word, as the premise makes me sad) behaviour.
Three stars from me, little girls and boys I am sure would rate 5!
Fab narration, and funny European accents, as this magical bookstore travels the world <3
This was a very cute premise, a lovely and magical traveling bookshop lead by horse and cart. The patrons of this store leave with books they need, as opposed to what they want. Mim's dad is great at this, and helps young an old with their lives.
Heartfelt messages intertwined with youngsters navigating friendships and even those children that are not so nice. But of course, lovely to always get behind the reasons why those children struggle with their bullying (I hate that word, as the premise makes me sad) behaviour.
Three stars from me, little girls and boys I am sure would rate 5!
Fab narration, and funny European accents, as this magical bookstore travels the world <3
November 23, 2022
As Flossy pulled the caravan - the travelling bookshop - behind her, Mim, her dad and brother Nat, wondered where they would stop. It was Flossy's decision about where they would stop, in a town where someone needed help. And stop she did - this time in a little Dutch village. The travelling bookshop opened its doors to the first customers and Mim's dad began finding the books they needed.
Willemina was a sad little girl with thick glasses who was being bullied at school. Mim and Nat befriended her and discovered her to be kind and gentle. But it was Gerda who was bullying Willemina - so was it Gerda who needed the special book? Or Willemina?
Mim & the Baffling Bully is the 1st in the Travelling Bookshop series by Aussie author Katrina Nannestad and it was delightful. A fun, entertaining read of magic, belief, friendship, happiness and love. For readers around 10 and above - recommended.
Willemina was a sad little girl with thick glasses who was being bullied at school. Mim and Nat befriended her and discovered her to be kind and gentle. But it was Gerda who was bullying Willemina - so was it Gerda who needed the special book? Or Willemina?
Mim & the Baffling Bully is the 1st in the Travelling Bookshop series by Aussie author Katrina Nannestad and it was delightful. A fun, entertaining read of magic, belief, friendship, happiness and love. For readers around 10 and above - recommended.
November 21, 2022
Ten-year-old Mim lives in a lovely caravan pulled by their horse. The horse decides where they go, and the family find themselves in a small village in Holland.
The caravan is not an ordinary caravan. It is a bookshop with magical books. Mim’s father knows exactly which book each person who comes to the shop needs. Mim and her younger brother Nat walk through the village, and at the park, they see Willemina being bullied by Gerda. Unsure what to do, they tell their father.
Both Willemina and Gerda visit the bookshop, and Mim’s father gives them the book they need. Mim isn’t at all sure that her father has got it right.
I enjoyed the question why should the victim change?
Recommended for readers 8-10 years
The caravan is not an ordinary caravan. It is a bookshop with magical books. Mim’s father knows exactly which book each person who comes to the shop needs. Mim and her younger brother Nat walk through the village, and at the park, they see Willemina being bullied by Gerda. Unsure what to do, they tell their father.
Both Willemina and Gerda visit the bookshop, and Mim’s father gives them the book they need. Mim isn’t at all sure that her father has got it right.
I enjoyed the question why should the victim change?
Recommended for readers 8-10 years
December 22, 2021
This book is a joyful delight! There’s not just real magic in the bookshop but also in the charming story of how the books transform lives and relationships, with often surprising results. Charming characters (both human and not) and fabulous words like stoopwaffles and appelfappen! Great for independent readers, and adults who like to read to their kids will love this one as well. This book felt like a warm hug!
August 28, 2021
What a treat to read! Heartwarming and funny with a strong underlying message about kindness. The idea of a travelling bookshop that offers up the books you need (as opposed to want) is a real delight.
September 17, 2021
So begins my quest to become a better bookseller. A lovely little whimsical and magical tale, cute illustrations and great messages on friendship, bullying, family. Challenging vocab, great for a voracious reader!
June 20, 2021
Can the right book change a life?
This is the first book in a new series from Katrina Nannestad (with fabulous illustrations by Cheryl Orsini).
Mim Cohen and her younger brother Nat live with their father, Zedekiah in a gypsy-style horse-drawn caravan that unfolds Tardis-style into a bookshop each time their horse Flossy ‘arrives’ at their new destination.
Happily letters are written and received from the children’s globetrotting engineer mother through out the book.
With a love of language and literature the single-parent Cohen family befriend the locals, find them the right book and delight in expressing their own creativity - be it pirating, boating, cycling or sock puppetry.
The EQ (emotional intelligence) main character Mim displays through out the book would make this a perfect read aloud in any year 1-2 classroom.
This is a gift of a story and a real delight. My favourite line: The line between books and real life is not as clear as most people suppose.
This is the first book in a new series from Katrina Nannestad (with fabulous illustrations by Cheryl Orsini).
Mim Cohen and her younger brother Nat live with their father, Zedekiah in a gypsy-style horse-drawn caravan that unfolds Tardis-style into a bookshop each time their horse Flossy ‘arrives’ at their new destination.
Happily letters are written and received from the children’s globetrotting engineer mother through out the book.
With a love of language and literature the single-parent Cohen family befriend the locals, find them the right book and delight in expressing their own creativity - be it pirating, boating, cycling or sock puppetry.
The EQ (emotional intelligence) main character Mim displays through out the book would make this a perfect read aloud in any year 1-2 classroom.
This is a gift of a story and a real delight. My favourite line: The line between books and real life is not as clear as most people suppose.
August 25, 2021
This was a sweet read for those between 8-11. I gifted this book to my niece, but I read it first to make sure it was appropriate and not full of modern questionable content. Thankfully, it was lovely. The book is the first in a series and it's about a father and his two children who live in a travelling bookshop, which has magical properties. The father has a talent for finding the perfect books for his customers - not the books they ask for but the books they need. In this particular book, the children meet a bully and her victim and, of course, the father has just the right book and the whole family has quite an impact on the town. A delightful read for younger audiences. Looking forward to collecting the rest of the series for my niece.
December 7, 2024
This was a gorgeous book to read with my 8 year old. The perfect difficulty for us to share reading together.
March 13, 2023
Mim's and her family's bookshop looks like a caravan, but with magical properties, so that it is bigger on the inside. Flossy , a flying horse, takes the family to where their books are needed the most and Dad helps different customers, not by providing what they ask for, but by offering the books that they need. The logic if some rather strange selections unfolds and adds a nice touch and purpose to the story.
In this first book of the series, Flossy lands Mim, her Dad, little brother Nat, and their many various and eccentric pets in the Netherlands where Mim befriends shy Willemina who is being bullied by Gerda so that she has not friends. Mim wat her Dad to give Willemina the right book to deal with Greta, but Dad gives her something and as the story unfolds, Mim comes to realise that it is Gerda who needs the help of the right book but once again, Dad's choice of an old and dusty title bewilders her.
This is a gentle, sweet, and amusing story targeting 8 to 10 year olds. The print version includes line drawings by Cheryl Orsinii and these compliment and enhance the story. The audio performance was sound - a young girlish voice for the Mim with Nat, and his constant chanting "I love....!" capturing the intent of the text. As an adult listener, I found this a little grating, but a typical portrayal of many younger sibling and thier constant intervention.
There are a number of themes touched on in this story (divorce, friendship and bullying, finding the 'right book', different families and of course, fantasy elements) that is sure to appeal to many young readers, but the plot and story line were gently, rather than compellingly, conveyed.
In this first book of the series, Flossy lands Mim, her Dad, little brother Nat, and their many various and eccentric pets in the Netherlands where Mim befriends shy Willemina who is being bullied by Gerda so that she has not friends. Mim wat her Dad to give Willemina the right book to deal with Greta, but Dad gives her something and as the story unfolds, Mim comes to realise that it is Gerda who needs the help of the right book but once again, Dad's choice of an old and dusty title bewilders her.
This is a gentle, sweet, and amusing story targeting 8 to 10 year olds. The print version includes line drawings by Cheryl Orsinii and these compliment and enhance the story. The audio performance was sound - a young girlish voice for the Mim with Nat, and his constant chanting "I love....!" capturing the intent of the text. As an adult listener, I found this a little grating, but a typical portrayal of many younger sibling and thier constant intervention.
There are a number of themes touched on in this story (divorce, friendship and bullying, finding the 'right book', different families and of course, fantasy elements) that is sure to appeal to many young readers, but the plot and story line were gently, rather than compellingly, conveyed.
November 23, 2024
A cute, sweet and easy book for younger readers with the beautiful setting of a magical bookshop that finds you the books that you need - even if it isn't always obvious what you need.
Mim is the protagonist and Nat can sometimes be a little annoying with all the shouting, but others may love it.
They meet Willemina who's being bullied.
Bullying is a problem that I'm sure many children can relate to, whether they've seen it or had it happen to them or whether they've even reflected and realised they've bullied others.
It's a good topic and it's treated in this book in a way that is easy for children to absorb. It shows that people's characters are not black and white and bullies have their side of the story. The way this is shown is a bit simplistic (adults and older children would possibly expect more complexity in the character-wrangling) but that is suitable to the age group and the mood of the book which is overall charming and positive.
An easy and likable read for the younger ones, definitely will put a smile on the face for younger people who love books.
Cheryl's gorgeous pics convey the happiness and cuteness of the story.
Mim is the protagonist and Nat can sometimes be a little annoying with all the shouting, but others may love it.
They meet Willemina who's being bullied.
Bullying is a problem that I'm sure many children can relate to, whether they've seen it or had it happen to them or whether they've even reflected and realised they've bullied others.
It's a good topic and it's treated in this book in a way that is easy for children to absorb. It shows that people's characters are not black and white and bullies have their side of the story. The way this is shown is a bit simplistic (adults and older children would possibly expect more complexity in the character-wrangling) but that is suitable to the age group and the mood of the book which is overall charming and positive.
An easy and likable read for the younger ones, definitely will put a smile on the face for younger people who love books.
Cheryl's gorgeous pics convey the happiness and cuteness of the story.
Read
August 23, 2021When their horse Flossy takes the small wooden bookshop on wheels to a small village with houses and shops full of cheese, people start to arrive buying books. Mim’s dad Zedekiah picks great books he knows they will like, some about termites and others about knitted tea cozies. Mim becomes friends with a kind girl called Willemina but a bully named Gurda comes along and tries to make Willemina sad and angry. Then Zedekiah choses the perfect book for Gurda and her family, and finally she starts to be nice to Willemina and Mim, but will that fix the damage that’s done?
This story has lovely pictures and awesome characters with funny personalities. I really liked the way Zedekiah knows what books people need and like. Katrina Nannestad truly has a talent for story writing.
I’m really glad we bought this book.
This story has lovely pictures and awesome characters with funny personalities. I really liked the way Zedekiah knows what books people need and like. Katrina Nannestad truly has a talent for story writing.
I’m really glad we bought this book.
October 4, 2021
This is a delightful wee tale for younger readers which tells a gentle tale of kindness and finding out who you are.
Mim and Nat live with their quirky dad in a magical travelling bookshop, pulled along by Flossy the horse, who takes the shop 'where it needs to go.'
In this first tale, the book shop ends up in Holland where the people flock to it to find what the need... often very different to what they want.
When Mim meets Willemina, and her bully Gerda, she realises why they have ended up here and she tries to work out how she can help.
Mim, Nat and dad are all wonderful characters, who are open-minded and open to anyone. I particularly love Nat, who loves to dress in a tutu and clogs, and who LOVES everything!
It would make a great readaloud.
Mim and Nat live with their quirky dad in a magical travelling bookshop, pulled along by Flossy the horse, who takes the shop 'where it needs to go.'
In this first tale, the book shop ends up in Holland where the people flock to it to find what the need... often very different to what they want.
When Mim meets Willemina, and her bully Gerda, she realises why they have ended up here and she tries to work out how she can help.
Mim, Nat and dad are all wonderful characters, who are open-minded and open to anyone. I particularly love Nat, who loves to dress in a tutu and clogs, and who LOVES everything!
It would make a great readaloud.
January 10, 2022
‘The right book might just change your life …
Mim Cohen roams the world in a travelling bookshop, with her dad and brother and a horse called Flossy. Flossy leads them where she will, to the place where they’re needed most … the place where the perfect book will find its way home.
Now Mim has arrived in a pretty Dutch village where she meets Willemina, a kind, and gentle child, who is being bullied by a girl named Gerda.
Mim knows they’re here to help Willemina. To change her life. To make her strong and brave and happy.
If only Dad would find her the right book. If only he would stop giving everyone else the wrong book!’
This book was awesome
As soon as I read the synopsis of this book I knew I had to have it. What kind of bookworm doesn’t want to read a story about a traveling bookshop? After reading this book I am so glad that I picked it up, and I am even more excited that this is just the first book in a new Middle-Grade series; The Travelling Bookshop series.
The plot of this book is fantastic. I loved the idea of people finding the book that they needed not the book that they wanted; this allowed for some really funny and insightful scenes. I also loved that as the story unfolded we got to see why the individual characters needed the books that came into their lives.
The only way a story like this would work is if there were strong and interesting characters the journey with, and I am happy to say that this book was full of amazing characters. I loved that there was a mix of both adult and child characters in this story. Having varied ages made for some great conversations as well as learning opportunities for the young characters.
Katrina Nannestad has done a fabulous job with this book. Joining the wonderful story and fantastic characters is beautiful writing that captivated me from the very first page. Perfectly complimenting Katrina Nannestad’s story are awesome illustrations by Cheryl Orsini. The collaboration of Katrina Nannestad and Cheryl Orsini made for a truly entertaining reading experience.
Mim And The Baffling Bully by Katrina Nannestad is a must-have for all Middle-Grade readers.
Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
Mim Cohen roams the world in a travelling bookshop, with her dad and brother and a horse called Flossy. Flossy leads them where she will, to the place where they’re needed most … the place where the perfect book will find its way home.
Now Mim has arrived in a pretty Dutch village where she meets Willemina, a kind, and gentle child, who is being bullied by a girl named Gerda.
Mim knows they’re here to help Willemina. To change her life. To make her strong and brave and happy.
If only Dad would find her the right book. If only he would stop giving everyone else the wrong book!’
This book was awesome
As soon as I read the synopsis of this book I knew I had to have it. What kind of bookworm doesn’t want to read a story about a traveling bookshop? After reading this book I am so glad that I picked it up, and I am even more excited that this is just the first book in a new Middle-Grade series; The Travelling Bookshop series.
The plot of this book is fantastic. I loved the idea of people finding the book that they needed not the book that they wanted; this allowed for some really funny and insightful scenes. I also loved that as the story unfolded we got to see why the individual characters needed the books that came into their lives.
The only way a story like this would work is if there were strong and interesting characters the journey with, and I am happy to say that this book was full of amazing characters. I loved that there was a mix of both adult and child characters in this story. Having varied ages made for some great conversations as well as learning opportunities for the young characters.
Katrina Nannestad has done a fabulous job with this book. Joining the wonderful story and fantastic characters is beautiful writing that captivated me from the very first page. Perfectly complimenting Katrina Nannestad’s story are awesome illustrations by Cheryl Orsini. The collaboration of Katrina Nannestad and Cheryl Orsini made for a truly entertaining reading experience.
Mim And The Baffling Bully by Katrina Nannestad is a must-have for all Middle-Grade readers.
Geramie Kate Barker
gemsbooknook.wordpress.com
December 8, 2022
4.5 stars
"When the books have worked their magic, it's time to move on."
What an adorable, heart warming and fun read this was! Mim and Nat live in the travelling bookshop with their dad, who always knows the right book for each visitor to the bookshop, a book that will send some joy their way and lead to all sorts of magic, friendship and happiness.
This so reminded me of my love of the Enid Blyton books in which the children went on holidays in horse-drawn gypsy caravans - I always wanted to do that! And the travelling bookshop is a magical caravan, drawn by a beautiful Clydesdale called Flossy.
First stop was the Netherlands and I very much look forward to following the bookshop on its travels.
"When the books have worked their magic, it's time to move on."
What an adorable, heart warming and fun read this was! Mim and Nat live in the travelling bookshop with their dad, who always knows the right book for each visitor to the bookshop, a book that will send some joy their way and lead to all sorts of magic, friendship and happiness.
This so reminded me of my love of the Enid Blyton books in which the children went on holidays in horse-drawn gypsy caravans - I always wanted to do that! And the travelling bookshop is a magical caravan, drawn by a beautiful Clydesdale called Flossy.
First stop was the Netherlands and I very much look forward to following the bookshop on its travels.
January 6, 2023
The author captured my love for books a d stories, the magic within, and put it down in a wonderful book. I borrowed it at the library, but I'll buy it as it is now very special to me and I want to share it with my daughter, whom I am sure will love it and relate just as much as I do.
A book for children and adults alike - those who haven't lost their child spark in them, and those who want to find it back!
A book for children and adults alike - those who haven't lost their child spark in them, and those who want to find it back!
July 14, 2021
Knowing that we don’t change for others is an important message. Helping a bully face the underlying reason for their miserable behahavior … beautiful. And a magic travelling bookshop that demonstrates it is not always obvious what the ‘right book’ is until it has been read and done its magic with a person …. Amazing! Loved it 🥰
February 14, 2022
I love Katrina Nannestad, but this book lacked the depth of some of her others.
About a girl and her family who live in a travelling caravan that is also a bookshop. I'm also upset about the pink on the cover - no boys will read it!
Love the idea of there being a book for everyone, but this book didn't quite sell it!
About a girl and her family who live in a travelling caravan that is also a bookshop. I'm also upset about the pink on the cover - no boys will read it!
Love the idea of there being a book for everyone, but this book didn't quite sell it!
August 20, 2021
A sweet book about a father and his 2 kids who live in a magical travelling bookshop. Mum’s dad finds the right book for everyone who visits.. something which they don’t always expect. This story handles the topic of bullying in a really original way.
December 29, 2021
The sweetest book for a young booklover; with really lovely messages of acceptance and friendship as well as a good healthy dose of book magic, word appreciation and the dream that is a bookshop x such sweet illustrations and I can’t wait to try stroopwafels!!!!
February 2, 2023
Starting off a bit magical and far fetched I found it hard to believe but the world created a magical story of book love and beautiful bugs... A beautiful story that made me smile with delight and warmed my soul.
August 22, 2023
Lovely short story about the joys of a travelling bookshop. I imagine that this will be the start of a popular series to read with grades 1-3. I felt the whole bookshop theme was lovely and the generally earnest nature of Mim made for a wonderfully optimistic protagonist.
March 24, 2024
This book was clever, magical and touching. A magic book caravan that matches you to the perfect book, separated parents sharing child raising and what to do with a bully.
2024 pop sugar reading challenge: a book about pirates
2024 pop sugar reading challenge: a book about pirates
October 31, 2021
Just finished reading this to my daughter. When we came to the last few chapters, she said, ‘Read them slowly Mum, this is such a good story, I don’t want it to end.’ You can’t beat that!
May 27, 2022
Loved it was very creative
December 11, 2022
Katrina Nannestad just gets kids humour. Her wacky imagination and characters are just adorable. Can recommend for girls and boys aged 6 to 9 years old.
January 2, 2023
Great characters and a great story. A really nice, fun story with a great lesson for kids without talking down to them.
March 13, 2024
Delightfully imaginative, with the neat idea of people getting the wrong books in order for them to sort out their lives.
July 6, 2024
An absolute delight.
July 9, 2024
Really good . The wrong book always ends up being the right book in the end .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews