About

The blog

Sezzy Penguin's Book Reviews started as a way to give publishers feedback about the books they've been kind enough to send me as well as an opportunity to share the brilliant books I've read with those I know via Facebook and Twitter. Since it began in June 2012 it has been used by several publishers including Usborne and Hodder and as of August 2013 it has had over 5,000 page views. The name Sezzy Penguin comes from an old nickname and my favourite animal - there are so many book blogs online that it was a bit of a struggle to find an original name!

Lost and Found Penguin - So cute! Oliver Jeffers is brilliant.

A bit about me

What I do

I'm a children's, academic and non-fiction bookseller in the UK. This involves recommending and selling books, creating displays and, of course, reading books! 

My background

I graduated with a first class degree in BSc Psychology from the University of Hull and began to train as a primary teacher before switching to the wonderful world of books in August 2010. I've trained as a children's books expert and currently run the non-fiction floor of my store although my passion still remains with children's books (as reflected by my blog!).

My favourite books

There are so many good books out there that I find this question really difficult! To cope with it I cheat and give several, depending on my mood, and so here are a selection (limited to books I've read more than once)  and why I like them: 

• The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - A great love story with an original twist on time travel that always makes me cry.
• My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult - The first adult novel I read that stayed with me long after I finished it (and again makes me cry).
• The Lord of the Rings by J. R. Tolkien - I love escaping to the world of Middle Earth and this has to be one of the best fantasy novels I've read.
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - The first book I got excited about after university. It was so different to anything else I'd ever read.
• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss - Whenever I had a nightmare as a child I would tell this story to myself (I once knew it by heart!).
• Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers - I absolutely love this picture book and the animation adaptation! It has an awesome penguin in it. Need I say more?
• Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling - Okay, I love Potter. In my defence I'm part of that generation. The Harry Potter books are my comfort books. I know them so well that they were perfect to read when I was studying as I could pick them up and put them down during study breaks instead of getting carried away with the desire to know what happens next.

Hermione Costume for World Book Day

What I do when I'm not selling books

It goes without saying that I love to read in my spare time. If I'm not reading I often like to watch a good DVD, go for a walk or, if my friends are lucky, do a bit of baking. I've recently discovered the exciting challenge of indoor climbing which I've used to fill the gap left by dancesport (competitive ballroom and Latin dancing) after I finished university.

 Proof that I do climb...

...and that I did dance!