CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Amazing animals, a deadly secret and world changers

Take a trip across land, sea and air with a dazzling new guide to the animal kingdom, enjoy a scorching fantasy romance with some extra sizzle, be inspired by scientists who are changing the world, and discover George Orwell’s powerful tale of tyranny and rebellion in a brilliant retelling as an exciting new selection hits the shelves

Age 9 plus
Animals – A Visual Compendium: An Incredible Guide to the Animal Kingdom

EXPLORE the richness of Earth’s countless species across land, sea and air, and marvel at their similarities and differences, when you turn the pages of this dazzling new guide to the amazing animal kingdom. In a glorious visual feast of more than two thousand images, enjoy discovering how taxonomic sets, curious collections, and quirky groupings reveal familiar and surprising connections between animals, their bodies, and their behaviour. Bursting with colour and facts, the guide lets youngsters discover everything they want to know about the animal kingdom… how scientists organise frogs and classify birds of prey, the different ways animals defend themselves, and which animals are active at night. Turn the beautifully designed pages of the compendium to read all about animal taxonomy… the groups animals are organised into. Meet mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates, learn about their similarities and differences, and discover the more unusual ways animals are classified… by their habitat, body parts, or behaviour. Youngsters can also explore everything from the shapes of beaks and the functions of animal tails to types of eyes and the different kinds of animal relationships in nature. With an easy-to-understand, expert-written text and attractive plates of vibrant pictures, this visual compendium is a veritable treasure trove for young (and old!) animal lovers who are curious about the creatures around them. A must-have for any family library!
(DK Children, hardback, £22)

Age 16 plus
Too Hexed to Handle
Charlotte Ingham

FALLING in love shouldn’t be fatal… unless you’re hexed, heartless or hiding a deadly secret! Young adult romance gets an extra sizzle in this scorching fantasy romcom from Welsh author Charlotte Ingham who uses her own spellbinding brand of magic to blend fantasy, romance and comedy into a must-have read for older teens. Daisy has a secret… she’s a Souleater, an outlawed magical being who can feed off of emotions. She is also hexed and her kiss is cursed to kill. So she has built a quiet life running a crumbling inn on the edge of town, matchmaking guests while keeping her own heart firmly off-limits. But when a mysterious contest promises a cure for Souleater magic and a reward big enough to save her inn, Daisy sets off on a perilous quest with Astin, her emotionally unavailable (and infuriatingly attractive) gardener. There’s just one problem… Astin hunts Souleaters. And he doesn’t know Daisy is one of them. As secrets unravel and feelings get far too complicated, Daisy must choose… the cure, the truth, or the one man she might love enough to kiss. Ingham’s hilarious, sexy and emotion-packed twist on the age old theme of star-crossed lovers has everything fantasy romance fans adore… a woman cursed to kill with a kiss, a man who is everything she shouldn’t want, everyone’s favourite friends-to-lovers trope, and a swoonworthy, smouldering forbidden romance.
(Hot Key Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 12 plus
Scientists Making a Difference
Dr Shini Somara, Manuel Šumberac
and Adam Allsuch Boardman

WOULD you like to be a scientist and help to change the world? Meet 47 scientists who already ARE changing our world by answering some of the biggest questions… and learn how you too can join them. Scientists Making a Difference – a stunning book created in partnership with Imperial College London and The Gatsby Charitable Foundation – is written by Dr Shini Somara, a passionate science advocate, mechanical engineer and author. Packed full of fascinating facts and superbly illustrated by Leeds illustrator Adam Allsuch Boardman, and Croatian illustrator Manuel Šumberac, this is the ideal book to fire up young imaginations and encourage children to pursue a career in science. 

Are you always asking ‘why’ and ‘how’, do you enjoy experimenting, do you notice things that other people don’t? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then release your inner investigator and discover what do scientists do and why do they do it. To find the answers to children’s questions, Dr Somara goes straight to the scientists to reveal that science is for everyone and that you don't have to go to university to become a scientist because there are many other exciting pathways into a scientific career. Apprentices, technicians, professors and entrepreneurs reveal in their own words about their work from growing human cells, testing medicines, and building quantum computers of the future to tracking and protecting African wild dogs and searching for life beyond our solar system. And these are just some of the world’s most amazing change-makers who combine their passions with their work to make the world a better place. Published in a stunning gold foil cover, and featuring scientists from a wide range of fields and backgrounds, Scientists Making a Difference is an eye-catching gift book and two free copies, along with a school kit, lesson plans, teacher resources, posters and a science timeline, will be given to every state-funded secondary school in the UK.
(What on Earth Books, hardback, £19.99)

Age 11 plus
Animal Farm: A Retelling
Tanya Landman

GEORGE Orwell’s powerful tale of rebellion and tyranny springs vividly to life in this compelling and accessible retelling from Carnegie Medal winning author Tanya Landman. Animal Farm is one of the most significant and celebrated literary works of the 20^th century and as part of publisher Barrington Stoke’s Classic Retellings series, a new generation of young readers can enjoy the tale of rebellion and tyranny in a concise format of the original. Days before his death, old Major the pig ignites the flames of rebellion among the animals of Manor Farm where Mr Jones rules with cruelty and neglect. Led by pigs Napoleon and Snowball, the farm animals unite to overthrow their human owners and reclaim their freedom. Although they envision a society built on equality and shared labour, as time passes and the pigs consolidate their new-found power, the line between liberators and tyrants becomes increasingly blurred. Landman’s captivating retelling – produced in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly and specialist design format – means that that more readers can understand and appreciate this perennial classic.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 10 plus
What’s in a Name? The Extraordinary Stories Behind Scientific Names
Álex Nogués and Guido Ferro

DRACO volans. Hedera helix. Tenebrio molitor. These Latin terms may sound like spells but behind each name lies a complex story… sometimes poetic, sometimes absurd, but always memorable. Language, culture and science come together in What’s in a Name? a fascinating book from Spanish geologist and palaeontologist Álex Nogués and Argentinian illustrator Guido Ferro. By connecting taxonomy with biology, myth and imagination, Nogués reveals that giving names to species is actually the ultimate art of storytelling. For example, everyone knows the Tyrannosaurus Rex but do they know the frog named after Freddie Mercury in honour of his extraordinary voice? And who knew that an ichneumon wasp was christened Moby Dick for its pale, harpoon-like form, that there is a jumping spider called Bagheera kiplingi… a double nod to Rudyard Kipling and his Jungle Book panther. Even a dinosaur, Oviraptor philoceratops, once condemned as an egg thief, was later celebrated as a devoted parent. Readers will delight in this information-filled book which shows how the life sciences intertwine with history, literature, and imagination, to create an extraordinary record of the natural world. Bold typography and an uncluttered layout make the information inviting and easy to absorb while Ferro’s vibrant and playful illustrations capture the humour and strangeness behind each insect’s name. Curious, surprising, and beautifully crafted!
(Prestel, hardback, £18.99)

Age 8 plus
Attack of the Sea Dogs
M.G. Leonard and Manuel Šumberac

ALL hands on deck as we join three youngsters sailing the high seas with Sir Francis Drake on a famously dangerous mission to singe the King of Spain’s beard in Cádiz! Attack of the Sea Dogs is the fourth thrilling time-travelling adventure in bestselling author M.G. Leonard’s epic Time Keys series in which music is used to open doors into the past. Loved and admired for her prodigious imagination, which has created stories about fantastical beetles, beautiful birds and thrilling train rides, Leonard was inspired to write this breathtaking series from her own lifelong passion for music and she certainly hits all the right notes with these action-packed mysteries which are based on real history and brought to vibrant life by Manuel Sumberac’s richly detailed and atmospheric illustrations.

So climb aboard and enjoy a spellbinding voyage back in time with Sim, his cousin Jeopardy and friend Nelson, a band of young musicians who discovered they have the ‘keys’ to open time doors and travel through epochs and age in a bid to search for treasure and solve mysteries. In this new adventure, the trio have been whisked back to 1587 but, thanks to Uncle Emmett, they’re in the right time but the wrong place. Instead of being in Tudor London, they are aboard Elizabeth Bonaventure, the ship of infamous privateer and explorer Sir Francis Drake, and setting sail to raid the King of Spain’s ships in the harbour at Cádiz in the hope of stopping a Spanish Armada. Trapped, Sim and his friends must navigate explosive sea battles and a mysterious masked mercenary before they can attempt to return to London and their ongoing mission to save Sim’s father, Abe Lockier. Strap yourself in for scintillating seafaring thrills and a breathtaking race through Elizabethan England in this terrific adventure which harnesses 16^th century political tensions with all the fun of witnessing history in the raw. Ideal as a standalone novel, or enjoyed as part of the Time Keys series, Attack of the Sea Dogs is simply past perfect!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Earth Ever After
Elin Manon

STEP into the atmospheric world of Earth Ever After, a stunning and unique graphic novel which fuses artistry and folktale to bring to life the story of our world. Written and illustrated by Welsh-born artist Elin Manon, this is a tale told through the eyes of Mother Earth… an unforgettable journey from Earth’s creation to the present, celebrating our deep connection with nature, and narrating an extraordinary story of growth, change and the delicate balance between humanity and nature. Through a lyrical text and Manon’s captivating colour illustrations, readers journey from the creation of the Earth and the birth of life to the present day, witnessing the planet’s transformation and deep connection with humanity. But Earth Ever After is more than just a story… it’s a gentle and beautifully rendered reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the world around us. The aim of this enchanting book is to inspire hope and healing, offering a moment of reflection in busy, modern lives. By encouraging readers to think about living more harmoniously with the planet, Earth Ever After is ideal for sparking important conversations about humans’ relationship with nature. A timeless tale, beautifully told…
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £20)

Age 7 plus
J. Algernon Pickle in The Mystery
at Odd-Doings House
Alex T. Smith

IMAGINEif Hercule Poirot was a beaver! Welcome to a hilarious whodunit from award-winning author and illustrator Alex T. Smith who has the gift of making his readers laugh-out-loud from first page to last of his madcap adventures. And this fast-paced crime caper – packed with his trademark stylish illustrations – is going to STEAL the hearts of all young readers. Ten-year-old Jacob Oolong lives with his eccentric great aunt, Lady Petronella Oolong, in the penthouse flat of Odd-Doings House. They arrive home one afternoon to find an enormous heart-shaped box of delicious chocolates has arrived for Lady Oolong and these aren’t any old chocolates. These are from Eclair's (Est. 1844) and are the most wonderful and the most expensive chocolates in the entire world. But the next morning – shock horror – they’ve vanished! Not just gone... STOLEN! With his great aunt prostrate in her nightie with shock, it’s up to Jacob to find out who has taken them, but he’ll need help. He calls in a private detective who, rather surprisingly, is a beaver living on the floor below them. Enter... J. Algernon Pickle. Together, J. Algernon Pickle and Jacob set about investigating this very confusing mystery. Things take an unexpected turn when it becomes clear that the chocolates could only have been stolen by someone who lives in Odd-Doings House. But WHO could it be? Smith has his finger firmly on the pulse of children’s humour and kids will definitely be beavering away to get their hands on this delightfully daffy detective adventure!
(Starboard, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Ghost and Toast
Phil Corbett

SLICE to meet you! Welcome to a brilliantly bonkers and side-splittingly funny new graphic novel series from comic-maker extraordinaire Phil Corbett who (yes, really!) lives above a comic shop in France. One’s dead and one’s bread… when Ghost arrives at a haunted mansion, what he doesn't expect to find is a talking slice of bread called…Toast. But Ghost can’t remember anything from before becoming a ghost so the unlikely duo team up to solve the mystery… although, be warned, they may get distracted along the way. From hordes of evil pastries and ghost trains to giant kittens and gingerbread houses, their adventures are never stale. But the conniving Croissant will stop at nothing to cause complete, confectionary chaos… will Ghost and Toast be able to resist the sugary temptation for mayhem? Like a loaf in the bread oven, Corbett rises to the visual and verbal artistry required for this slice of comedy gold which is served with a spectacularly spooky filling.  Deliciously daft and perfectly baked for your young mischief-makers!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 3 plus
Little Wolf's Big Huff
Harriet Howe and Katie Cottle

MANAGING BIG feelings is always a tough challenge for LITTLE ones so give them the reassurance they need with this enchanting and clever picture book from the talented team of rising star author Harriet Howe and illustrator Katie Cottle. Every year, Little Wolf and Daddy Wolf watch the Wolf Moon rise. Two wolves, alone together, under the big night sky. But this year’s trip is looking to be a little bit bigger and busier than usual. This time all the brothers, sisters and pups are coming, too. Little Wolf is worried it won’t be the same... and sure enough, it isn’t. As things go from bad to worse, strange feelings start to bubble in Little Wolf’s belly and fizz through his fur. Before long, he feels BIG and BAD. He huffs... and he puffs. Can Daddy Wolf help Little Wolf get a handle on his huffs and puffs before it’s too late... teach him about a very special part of being a wolf? Howe’s heartfelt, and imaginative story about recognising and managing feelings is packed with fairy tale-like storytelling, as well as in-depth and authentic character portrayals and world building. Brought to life by Cottle’s bold and colourful illustrations, this is the perfect support book for coping with tantrums and tears.
(Templar Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Poo in the Zoo: Inspector Poo
Steve Smallman and Ada Grey

HOLD your noses as author Steve Smallman and illustrator Ada Grey, the king and queen of splat, patter and plop, return with another shiny new foiled and toot-tastic picture book in a re-run of their much-loved Poo in the Zoo series! Few children can resist getting to the bottom of a poopy kind of mystery, and this gloriously funny rhyming story featuring zookeeper Bob McGrew has it – literally – in spadefuls and bucketfuls. Splat, patter, plop! Zookeeper Bob McGrew always has such a lot to do but his good friend, super-duper pooper scooper Robbie Robot helps by picking up all the poo. Robbie is unstoppable with anything ploppable but he’s disappeared and the poo is piling up. Is this a doo-doo disaster or can Arabella Slater – the number one when it comes to number two detectives – save the day? Smallman’s brilliantly fun-filled and anarchic story really is the bottom line when it comes to putting poo in the picture. Packed with animal poos of every type, and given added comedy power by Grey’s pages of rib-tickling, action-packed illustrations, this is a riotous adventure not to be sniffed at!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 2 plus
Songs of the Seasons
Patricia Hegarty and Elinor Duffy

BRING the natural world to life with this spectacular sound book full of fun and facts. Songs of the Seasons, written by Patricia Hegarty and gloriously illustrated by Elinor Duffy, is ideal for teaching the very youngest children about nature’s rhythm across the four seasons! With 24 tabs to press throughout the book, Songs of the Seasons plays a wonderful assortment of enchanting sounds, from buzzing bees in spring and the call of speedy swifts in summer to the bark of a nightjar in autumn and the hooting of owls on a chilly winter’s night. Charming, scene-setting text, helpful labels and lots of phenomenal facts help introduce children to the sounds and behaviours of creatures in each habitat.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £14.99)

Age 2 plus
The Pumpkin Thief
Alice Hemming and Nicola Slater

MEET a squirrel who’s muddled and a bird with a brain in a delightful, laugh-out-loud autumn adventure from the inspired team of author Alice Hemming and Manchester-based illustrator Nicola Slater. The stars of the show are once again Squirrel and Bird whose antics have entertained youngsters through a whole host of brilliant picture books. In this new escapade, we meet up again with Squirrel who, with just a little help from Bird, has grown some lovely pumpkins and is very pleased with himself!  But soon there’s a problem… every time he turns his back, the pumpkins disappear, one by one. Squirrel can’t understand it. A pumpkin thief must be taking them all and he is determined to catch them before Bird returns. Join Squirrel as he tries to solve the mystery before all the pumpkins disappear for good! Slater’s bold, comical and characterful illustrations create the perfect backdrop for Hemming’s story which is packed full of surprises. And to add to the fun, there is a non-fiction spread at the back of the book with extra facts for curious young readers.
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age from birth
What Do You Hear, Little Owl?
Nicola Edwards and Thomas Elliott

PLAY hide and seek with baby animals from the forest with this soothing sound and light book from author Nicola Edwards and illustrator and designer Thomas Elliott. Babies and toddlers will love meeting the baby animals who love playing hide and seek. Who’s that there? Shall we have a peek? Turn the pages, press the sounds panel buttons, watch the panel light up and enjoy exploring the peek-through pages as the enchanting baby animals play hide and seek. With Elliott’s classic watercolour illustrations and a charming, evocative tune for every animal, Edwards’ rhythmic text completes the experience of those special shared moments!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £12.99)

Claim Your Dead

Lucie Whitehouse

HOW did a farmer’s wife from the wilds of Cornwall end up with her throat cut in the driver’s seat of a car in a shady back street of Birmingham?

If you haven’t already enjoyed the police procedural perfection of Lucie Whitehouse’s top class Robin Lyons series then diving into our fourth murder mystery alongside the smart and sassy detective chief inspector – whose incisive police work has won her creator an army of fans – would be the ideal launch pad.

Whitehouse (pictured below), who grew up in Warwickshire and studied Classics at Oxford, now writes full time from America at her home in Brooklyn, delivers crime fiction with a superior edge… dynamic, superbly plotted stories packed with tension, mind-boggling twists, and large helpings of genuine humanity.

The backdrop to these all-encompassing thrillers is Birmingham, a diverse city where solving crime rests in the hands of a homicide team led by DCI Robin Lyons, a woman who juggles her high-profile job with the domestic ups and downs of being single parent to a sixteen-year-old daughter Lennie, and a relationship with a fellow police officer she is duty bound to keep secret.

In Claim Your Dead, we find Robin and her homicide team struggling to understand how 31-year-old farmer’s wife Heather Pethick, from a remote corner of Cornwall, was found dead in a vast pool of blood at the wheel of a car in a Birmingham side street after husband Greg had dropped her off at the train station in Truro the day before to visit a sick friend in London.

The circumstances of Heather’s death are a puzzle but the single knife slash to her throat leaves the police little room for doubt that she was murdered. And Robin initially suspects that the cold-blooded killing has all the hallmarks of organised crime, especially when she learns that Heather’s farm has close access to secluded coves on the Cornish coastline… ideal for trafficking.

But when another woman goes missing – a woman who was captured on CCTV having a heated row with Heather just hours before she died – Robin realises that there is far more to this story than she had first imagined. As the team delves into Heather’s past, can Robin find the killer before they strike again… and how much will she have to sacrifice to get to the truth?

In true crime mystery form, Robin is backed up by a formidable bunch of detectives and support staff in a case that is as baffling as it is shocking. The ruthless killing of Heather Pethick seems unfathomable to the experienced city police officers until a trickle of new evidence opens up unexpected lines of enquiry and a hidden history. 

But Whitehouse is never content to simply deliver a flawlessly plotted, edge-of-the-seat thriller… each story comes laced with brilliant character studies, the intricate workings of a well-drilled team, and the personal and professional conflicts which must inevitably arise for a police chief who combines motherhood with murder detection.

Prepare for powerful emotions, a gripping journey through a compulsively complex investigation, and a gut-punch finale that will leave you gasping, as Claim Your Dead joins Whitehouse’s growing pantheon of classy crime novels!
(Orion, hardback, £22)

The Soup Kitchen Girl

Libby Ashworth 

WHEN civil war broke out across the southern states of America at the tail end of 1861, the repercussions stretched far across the Atlantic Ocean to the mill towns of Lancashire.

Cotton was the lifeblood of these northern industrial strongholds and their communities but the mills were totally dependent on imported raw cotton from American plantations and when the Cotton Famine, as it became known, saw supplies dry up, mills closed and workers were laid off.

It was a tough time to be alive in Lancashire and nobody knows that better than Blackburn-born author Libby Ashworth who has written historical novels, sagas and non-fiction books featuring fascinating corners of the county’s rich and fascinating heritage.

Ashworth (pictured below) can trace her family back to the village of Whalley in the Middle Ages but it was the experiences of her great-great-grandfather, William Eastwood, who worked as a both a spinner and later a shopkeeper in Blackburn, which inspired this new saga series set during the cotton mill crisis.

In 1861, about 25,000 of Blackburn’s 61,126 population were directly employed in the cotton trade and as the looms fell silent, the mills were forced to shut down leaving entire families facing abject poverty, hardship and despair, and engineers, machine-makers and shopkeepers desperately trying to keep their businesses afloat.

The American Civil War dragged on until the spring of 1865 and Ashworth’s new hard-hitting series explores this period of intense deprivation through the lens of three young women in Blackburn, each one from a different background but brought together by the mill crisis and discovering that there are no boundaries to a friendship born from community struggle.

Sally Grimes is the eldest of a family of six children and, in one capacity or another, they are almost all employed in mill work and when the news comes through that a civil war is starting in America, her dad Jimmy is convinced it’s ‘nowt to do with us’. But when no raw cotton arrives, the looms power down and the mills stop work completely, the family have nothing left to live on. The war on the other side of the ocean has stolen their livelihood, there isn’t a thing they can do about it and the last thing proud Jimmy wants to do is ask for charity.

In another part of the town, Ruth Hodgson’s widower father has a confectionery shop but the sweets he made months ago have not been sold and like other shopkeepers and publicans, workers are not buying luxuries and his business lies in ruins. His only hope of surviving is to allow the council to run his shop as a soup kitchen. He will be the kitchen’s supervisor and his confectionery vats will be used to make the soup. But when he falls ill, it is up to Ruth to persuade the relief committee that she is capable of taking on the work in his place.

Caroline Haworth, meanwhile, is the daughter of a Blackburn mill owner who employs all of the Grimes family except for the two youngest children. Her father is a good man who regards his workers as almost family and is eager to do all he can to help them, and Caroline, despite her demanding and volatile mother’s disapproval, is more than willing to volunteer at the newly opened soup kitchen.

Soon all the three women are volunteering at the kitchen which is playing an increasingly important social role in helping a community fighting to survive without work and money. But with all sections of the town now in need, the kitchen is running out of money and the only solution is accepting a loan from the wealthy Dutton family… a loan that comes with unwanted strings attached.

Authentic, gritty and filled with the harsh realities of life in Lancashire during the notorious Cotton Famine, The Soup Kitchen Girl is a moving tribute to not just the determination of those who found themselves caught up in the economic disaster, but also to the resilience of women like Sally, Ruth and Caroline who broke through the class barrier to come together and help families in distress. As always, the portrait of a close-knit Lancashire community is beautifully drawn with each character – whether good or bad – playing an integral part in an enthralling story which brings to vivid life some of the severe challenges facing the townsfolk, and the ties of love that bind them together.

With her vast local knowledge and research, and her gift for transforming real history into page-turning drama, Ashworth weaves fascinating nuggets of social history into her story, using her own family’s experiences to lay the foundations of what promises to be another gripping and emotionally-powered saga series.
(Canelo, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Egyptian magic, a seafaring classic and a dragon guide

Enjoy the magic and mysteries of Ancient Egypt in an epic adventure starring the famous Cleopatra, marvel at a stunning, interactive edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless swashbuckling tale Treasure Island, discover the amazing and blazing world of dragons in a superbly illustrated new guide, and giggle your way through a forest where anything riotous can happen as a selection of new children’s books hits the shelves

Age 9 plus
Cleopatra’s Amulet
Lindsay Galvin

THE magic and mysteries of Ancient Egypt have long held a fascination for readers young and old, and Lindsay Galvin, an author who revels in harnessing British history for her thrilling novels, departs these shores to sweep us back in time to meet the girl who would become the famous Queen Cleopatra. And what an epic adventure it proves to be as we follow the daring twelve-year-old Cleo on a perilous journey across Ancient Egypt to track down her kidnapped father, the pharaoh Ptolemy.

Cleopatra has led a charmed life as a Princess of Egypt, the greatest kingdom in the world and a land blessed by the gods. She is known as the Princess of Cats and indeed, she loves her own cat, Bastet, who is named after Egypt’s cat-headed goddess of the home, children, music and dance. But when her father is kidnapped and she is forced into exile, Cleo must investigate who wants the throne enough to kill for it. Armed with a precious amulet and an enchanted board game called Senet, Cleo joins up with her bossy sister Berenike, a Roman trainee scribe called Fabius and loyal cat Bastet to race through a world of gods, monsters and pyramids to discover the truth. But a cruel betrayal lies ahead… and Cleo will need both her magic and her determination to stay alive. 

This is Ancient Egypt as you’ve never before seen it! Packed full of adventure, magic and danger, Cleopatra’s Amulet is an all-action romp allowing young readers to experience the crocodile-infested River Nile, tag along with a race up the pyramids, uncover the hidden secrets beneath the mummies, and learn about the monstrous animal gods. As always, Galvin’s novel is as much as lesson in some real history as well as a dazzling and daring adventure… storytelling wizardry!
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Treasure Island
Written by Robert Louis Stevenson
and illustrated by MinaLima

IF you’re hunting for a truly spectacular gift book, look no further than this stunning deluxe, full-colour illustrated edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless swashbuckling tale! Originally published in 1883 and considered to be one of the best adventure books of all time, Treasure Island is the dazzling new instalment in the bestselling MinaLima Classics series from the renowned design studio behind the graphics for the Harry Potter film franchise, and features richly illustrated original artwork and extraordinary interactive elements. The story follows young Jim Hawkins as he sets sail in search of buried treasure. An adventure involving ‘buccaneers and buried gold,’ it introduced some of the most memorable characters in literary history, including Billy Bones, who reveals the treasure map to Jim, loyal Alexander Smollett, captain of the sailing vessel Hispaniola, and Long John Silver, the treacherous villain intent on claiming the treasure for himself. An action-packed expedition of a lifetime filled with riches, greed, excitement, thrills, and bravery, this vibrant story has enthralled readers for generations. And now youngsters can experience this much-loved classic through lush artwork and eight paper-engineered 3D elements, including the black flag of piracy ready to be hoisted up a ship’s flag pole, a map of Skeleton Island unfurling to reveal the island’s secrets, and the skeleton of a bone-chilling buccaneer pointing to treasure ahead. Beautifully designed, this keepsake edition will captivate readers of all ages and is sure to be cherished as a treasure in its own right!
(Harper360, hardback, £35)

Age 9 plus
The Last Bard
Maz Evans

ALL'S well that ends well as superstar children’s writer Maz Evans – bestselling author of the Who Let the Gods Out and Oh Maya Gods! series – is back to stage one of her most entertaining stories yet with Shakespeare’s last living relative taking the lead role. The Last Bard is a brilliant standalone novel inspired by the works of England’s greatest ever playwright and poet, and introducing children to some of his most famous heroes in a veritable feast of adventure, comedy, memorable Shakespearean quotes, and Evans’ signature heartfelt storytelling. Meet Will Davenant, a boy who has known more tragedy than laughter. But in an unexpected twist, he inherits his grandfather’s copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare – and makes a surprising discovery. As the last living relative of William Shakespeare himself, Will can summon the Bard’s heroes from the pages… and that includes the murderous Lady Macbeth, Juliet (without her Romeo), Yorick the mournful skull, and a mischievous Puck. And now, with his late grandfather’s home under threat, Will, the new friends who have turned his life around, and Ani from next door must fight for their future in a comedy of errors. Can love’s labours win, or will it all be much ado about nothing? Youngsters will love spending time and sharing adventures, comedy and drama with the Bard’s immortal characters and a plucky boy fighting for his family’s future as Evans works her own special storytelling genius on a brilliantly imagined and heartwarming celebration of Shakespeare’s iconic plays. An unmissable gift book that puts the Bard where he belongs… at centre stage! 
(Chicken House, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
The Wildcat and the Gathering Storm
Lui Sit and David Dean

EMBARK on the adventure of a lifetime and meet up again with a magical but threatened wildcat called the kuri in the exciting sequel to prize-winning debut author Lui Sit and artist David Dean’s thrill-filled book Land of the Last Wildcat. After successfully taking an endangered wildcat back home to Linger Island, Puffin Lau discovers that she is now guardian of a new baby kuri wildcat. Kuri kitten Noma is wilful, excitable and starting to discover her mythical powers. And just as Puffin gets a handle on her new responsibilities, her scientist mother gets into trouble during a research trip to the Blusterwind Sea… and Puffin, her best friend Lance, and Noma must rush to rescue her. But all is not as it seems… Puffin will have to keep her wits about her to protect the ones she loves, and avoid environmental disaster! Adventure, mythology, magic and the natural world collide in a burst of brilliant storytelling and impressive illustration from the inspired pairing of Lui Sit and David Dean. And with family, friendship and the vital role of conservation taking leading roles in a wild, wonderful and heart-pounding story, this is the perfect read for both young eco-warriors and animal fans.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Blazing Book of Dragons
Melanie Reynard, Chris Coady, Lukas Thelin
and Thomas Girard

CALLING all dragon fans… don’t miss out on this exquisitely illustrated guide to the marvellous and magical world of these awesome fire-breathing beasts! Created by Melanie Reynard, Chris Coady, Lukas Thelin and Thomas Girard, and packed with everything there is to know about mythology’s most extraordinary creatures, The Blazing Book of Dragons explores their world and uncovers their secrets. From their ancient origins and mysterious behaviours to their fearsome fire-breathing abilities, there is so much for young dragon enthusiasts to discover. Inspired by dragonology and mythology for children, the guide features amazing dragon fact files which reveal their unique powers and characteristics, along with tips on how to spot them on Earth. Eight short fantasy stories bring to life thrilling encounters with dragons from around the world. These action-packed adventures also take readers into the realm of Dracka, the wondrous home of these formidable beasts. Accessed only by magical portals, their hidden land is filled with powerful dragons, ancient treasures and other exciting magical creatures. With an illustrated map of Dracka, the wondrous home of all dragons, a quiz where the reader can find out which dragon clan they belong to, and dragon fact files revealing their unique powers and characteristics, this enchanting guide and its epic dragon tales is the perfect gift for all of those who truly believe in dragons!
(Buster Books, hardback, £16.99)

Age 8 plus
Dracula & Daughters: School for Slayers
Emma Carroll

SHARPEN your fangs and let them sink into the second book of a blood-curdling, inventive and world-building series from master storyteller Emma Carroll whose historical fiction has proved a big hit with young readers. In this gloriously gothic new adventure, Carroll ramps up the spooks for another highly original – and high stakes – tale which delivers a unique and fiendishly feminist spin on all those familiar vampire stories. Packed full of atmosphere and gothic detail, these deliciously dark adventures star three cousins, Mina, Buffy and Bella, who discovered they are descendants of Dracula and have combined their covert female powers to form an infamous vampire healing company called… Dracula & Daughters! And at last, Dracula & Daughters are open for business. Their mission is to heal vampires and keep the streets of Temstown safe. Trouble is… the new Guildmaster is insisting the city is now vampire-free and wants Dracula & Daughters to close. But the undead are still lurking. After a string of strange events at the prestigious Poisonwood School for Boys, frightened pupils start holding vampire slaying lessons in secret. It’s up to the three cousins to convince them that slaying isn’t the answer. But when vampires are appearing by the classful, is it already too late? The granddaughters of Dracula are about to have their healing skills firmly put to the test… along with a reminder to never underestimate the undead! With magic abounding, villainous vampires, three coruscating star players, and a brilliantly inventive world that includes a talking raven, this thrilling and spooktacular series is proving to be a ghouls’ paradise!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Grimwood: The Fast and the Furriest
Nadia Shireen

YOU can never be too young, or too old, to enjoy a bit of anarchy! Youngsters (and their parents!) will be grinning, guffawing, snorting and sniggering when they get their hands on the sixth woodland caper in one of the funniest children’s series currently on the market. Grimwood – a sort-of Watership Down with foxes which evokes tears of laughter rather than of sorrow – is the work of award-winning author and illustrator Nadia Shireen. Fully illustrated throughout, these much-loved books star two fox cub siblings, Ted and Nancy, who love their life in Grimwood… the forest where anything (riotous!) can happen. They have made a lot of new friends there and now it’s time for the Treebonk World Cup! Teams from all over the world are competing for the trophy and fox cub Nancy is determined that her scrappy squirrels will be victorious! But the Grimwood team are a bit rubbish, Twinklenuts’ stadium has been destroyed and one of the teams has disappeared. It’s up to Nancy, Ted and the rest of the crew to save the tournament and bring the trophy home to Grimwood… may the best team win! Shireen serves up an irresistible blend of glorious gags, hilarious comedy routines, boundless madcap escapades, and a memorable cast of quirky characters who young readers will love following from first page to last, and from book to book. With a side helping of zany, high-energy black and white illustrations, which bring both the animals and the action to life, the Grimwood series has the legs – and the laughs – to run and run.
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Donut Squad: Destiny of the Donuts!
Neill Cameron

THE Donut Squad are back from the future, and guess what? In the future, no donuts are allowed! Whaaaaaaat! Comics genius Neill Cameron makes a welcome return with the crazy new caper in his delicious graphic novels series... and there’s a ‘hole’ lot of fun to enjoy! Any youngsters who like silliness and donuts are gobbling up these perfectly baked and addictively moreish stories starring the totally bonkers Donut Squad, which includes Sprinkles, the leader, Jammyboi who spreads stickiness everywhere, Dadnut and Lil’ Timmy who explain obscure facts, and Spronky who is bizarrely unconventional! But don’t mention the arch-nemeses of the donuts... the bagels who are constantly plotting the squad’s doom! In this new madcap adventure, The Donut Squad are on a mission… they must STOP this ‘no donuts’ futuristic nightmare coming to pass. Will Anxiety Donut keep his cool? Will Caramel Jack be any less salty? Will Godonut ever turn up? Are we destined for a future with no donuts… or can the Donut Squad save us all from this unthinkable horror? The answers to these questions can only be found in this book!

This jam-packed series is the brainchild of comic powerhouse, The Phoenix, and features all the characters from the comic strip that fans know and love. Full of crazy humour and mouthwatering full-colour illustrations that will keep readers going back for seconds, the book also helps budding artists to create awesome characters just like the Donut Squad with a section of how-to-draw tutorials from Cameron. Add on links to The Phoenix comic club website where you can find draw-along videos, free printable material and top tips from tons of creators, and you have the perfect oven-baked series for all donut-loving mischief-makers!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 7 plus
Boss of the Underworld:
Shirley vs Seven Deadly Dangers
Tor Freeman

HOW did a kid end up being the boss of the Underworld? It’s a kind of weird story and comes from the eclectic, electric imagination of award-winning author and illustrator Tor Freeman who goes above, beyond and a long way below in the third hilarious book in a fast-paced, funny, full-colour and accessible graphic novel series. Discover the fun and laughter for yourself when we meet up again with Shirley as she falls down a hole and ventures into the Under-Under-Underworld. And this time, Shirley and her cockroach companion George must track down George’s missing cockroach sisters. Their quest takes them through seven deadly dangers, deeper and deeper into the Underworld. But will they ever come out the other side? Fizzing with charm, energy and the silliest comedy this side of the Under-Underworld, this is one Boss that youngsters will be happy to obey!
(Starboard, paperback, £8.99)

Age 6 plus
The Far-Out Five: Portal Loo Panic
Olaf Falafel

WHAT do you get if you pair a group of madcap kids, lost and far from home, and a grumpy amateur magician… the answer is The Far-Out Five! Welcome to the second book of a funny, fast and furious graphic novel series from author, illustrator and stand-up comedian Olaf Falafel… and another brilliantly bonkers adventure. Starring a zany group of friends who found themselves magically transformed into strange creatures, and whisked far away from home when a funfair magic trick went wrong, laughter is guaranteed to ring out from first page to last. If you haven’t already met the team of lost kids, here they are… Spewnicorn, a punk unicorn who vomits rainbows, Wally, a pompous and cowardly koala, Tubbs, a walking bathtub, Bloof, a blue-footed booby, and Glossy Jeff, a really chilled-out seal. Together they must sail the oceans and face bizarre creatures, weird islands and mysterious tasks on their quest to find Wally’s missing wand which can make them normal again and get back home. Now they face an island with a lot of Portal Loos – mobile toilets that are gateways to different interconnected dimensions – obviously! With a rampaging evil impala on the loose, they must hop from world to world with only the navigational whelks to help them find the way out of this multi-dimensional whirlwind. Will they ever escape? Will Wally ever manage to have a wee? Giggles galore every step of the way!
(Puffin, paperback, £9.99)

Age 5 plus
The Chairs
Britta Teckentrup

THE mysterious appearance of a yellow chair in a sunlit forest clearing sets in motion a story about the power of community from renowned German author and illustrator Britta Teckentrup. Filled with visual and verbal beauty, and timely meditations on the rewards of belonging, inclusion and standing together, The Chairs is packed full of Teckentrup’s signature warmth, wisdom and sensitivity. When the yellow chair appears in the forest clearing, nobody knows how it got there. Then another arrives, and another. As the clearing fills with creatures of every kind, a tender and joyful home takes shape, built on the simple pleasure of sharing a space with others. But when signs begin to appear overnight excluding different sorts of forest creatures, that spirit is put to the test… and the animals must find the strength to reclaim what they have built together. With her characteristic layered textures, the glowing light of the forest, and richly detailed scenes that are perfect for close observation, Teckentrup transforms a deceptively simple setting into a fully realised world where each creature has a face, a feeling, and a place to call its own. Funny, moving, and with one stand-out scene involving a very large bear and a pair of woolly socks, The Chairs speaks directly to experiences that children recognise from their own lives… the sting of being left out, the determination and courage it takes to stand up for others, and the joy of a community that welcomes everyone.
(Prestel, hardback, £18.99)

Age 2 plus
Our New Baby
Rachel Greener and Sandra de la Prada

A NEW baby is coming home! Welcoming a new baby might sound exciting and wonderful, but going from being the baby of the family to becoming an older brother or sister can sometimes be a little overwhelming. So reassure your youngsters with author Rachel Greener and illustrator Sandra de la Prada’s warm and friendly picture book which introduces bewildered young children to the joys and challenges of having a new sibling. Life with a new baby might feel a little bit different – dinner might be late because baby needs feeding and baby’s crying might wake you at night – but, just like a baby, love only grows! Our New Baby is the perfect, accessible picture book to help young children prepare for the arrival of a new sibling with its gentle exploration of the full spectrum of emotions ranging from suddenly having to share your family to the joy that loving someone new can brings. And don’t forget the free Nosy Crow Stories Aloud® audiobook! Simply scan the code and hear the story.
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Just Us Two
Emma Dodd

‘When we're together, just us two,
the world around us feels brand new.’  

READERS young and old will fall in love with another beautiful story in a heartfelt picture book series which celebrates the love between a parent and child from award-winning author and illustrator Emma Dodd. Two adorable, fluffy parent and child squirrels go on endless adventures amidst the splendours of autumn… collecting acorns, sheltering from a storm, watching the sun go down, and discovering the simple joys of spending quality time together. Dodd spreads an autumnal copper-coloured glow over this charming book which works its magic through the stunning foiled cover and pages, an inspirational rhyming story, and a gallery of emotive illustrations which impart uplifting messages about the importance of making treasured memories together. Exquisitely created and brimming with love, Just Us Two is written with a large helping of warmth and wisdom, and makes the perfect gift for any young child.
(Templar Publishing, hardback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Please Stay! & No Hugs!
Sumana Seeboruth and Maribel Castells

WE'VE all heard that familiar refrain at school and nursery time... ‘No! Please stay! Won’t let you go!’ If you need a little help with your troublesome toddlers, calm and reassure them with this clever (and amusing!) Feelings & Firsts board books series which comes armed with language that little ones can use to express their big feelings. In Please Stay! it’s time to go school and an anxious tot doesn’t want to leave his grandmother. It can be hard to be apart from the people you love. Tag along with them on their way to school as they find a way to navigate this tough transition with both gentleness and humour. 

The playful approach to separation anxiety provides relatable words that young children can learn to use. And in No Hugs! it’s time for a fun playground playdate and a friendly tot sets a boundary with her playmate… no hugs, please! Join these two friends as they set up a teddy bear tea party and learn about physical boundaries and consent. Through the words and actions of relatable toddlers, little ones get to grips with the concept of consent and words they can use to express and maintain physical boundaries. With words by Sumana Seeboruth, and Maribel Castells’ enchanting and characterful illustrations, these delightful books provide help and humour for harassed parents.
(Barefoot Books, board books, £7.99 each)

Age one plus
First Friends:
Feelings & Bodies
Mk Smith Despres and Xuan Le

STARTING nursery and day care is a big step for little ones so help them through those sometimes difficult early days with colourful board books in Barefoot Books’ First Friends series. Children are introduced to a repeating cast of characters in a nursery with each rhyming book focusing on a different early learning concept. In Feelings, we join a childcare classroom at lunchtime as they experience different emotions. It’s time to eat! Some friends are feeling cranky, frustrated, or downright hangry. 

But caring friends and teachers help everyone deal with their big feelings. Little ones are introduced to different feelings words in a relatable, humorous situation and meet a diverse cast of toddlers going through their daily routines at childcare. Notes at the end of the book review feelings words and invite children to practise guessing the emotion on each face! And in Bodies, we join a childcare classroom as they move their bodies and transition into sitting in a circle time! It’s time to move our bodies… can you raise your shoulders up and down? How about scrunching your face and spinning around? Let’s dance and shake our wiggles out before settling down on the rug for circle time. This colourful story introduces different body parts and the ways they can move, showing toddlers going through their daily routines at childcare. The page shows a labelled illustration of various body parts and asks little readers how they like to move their bodies. From making friends to getting active, these delightful books – written by Mk Smith Despres and illustrated by Xuan Le – are perfect for both learning and entertaining.
(Barefoot Books, board books, £7.99 each)

Age from birth
Hello There, Little Bear!
Nicola Edwards and Lindsey Sagar

SHAKE this delightfully interactive book and share the joy of making faces move and change! This fun and fresh sliding-eye board book series – written by Nicola Edwards and illustrated by Lindsey Sagar from Oswaldtwistle – features an innovative rolling-eye novelty on every spread to engage and amuse little ones. Babies and toddlers, who are always fascinated by new faces, will enjoy the comforting rhythmic repetition as we greet the day with a cast of fun-loving and friendly forest animals who are bursting with personality. An ideal gift for little movers and shakers!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)

The Treasure House

Amy Matthews

SINGLE mum Zoe Copeland wants a fresh start and somewhere to call home far away from her ‘monochrome’ existence in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania… what she didn’t expect was to fall in love with a ramshackle ‘treasure house’ in a rundown town on America's Maine coast.

Lured by its position on the edge of a cliff, this dilapidated wood-shingled cottage comes with ‘a glimpse of the ocean’ and the many remnants of the previous owner’s life… a life that may well be the key to Zoe’s heartfelt desire to come to terms with her past.

Inspired by the viral ‘treasure’ houses on TikTik – hoarder homes that are sold full of unclaimed junk and unwanted belongings – Amy Matthews (pictured below), award-winning American author of Someone Else's Bucket List, brings readers a deeply emotional and beautifully romantic tale of broken lives, new beginnings and the search for love, happiness and a sense of permanence. After years in foster care, moving from place to place, and coping with the mood swings and frequent jail terms of her drug addict mother, Zoe and her eleven-year-old daughter Florence face eviction from their cramped, one-bedroom, and increasingly expensive, apartment in Pittsburgh.

Zoe is determined not to let Florence grow up in the same deprived and chaotic way as herself so when she stumbles across a listing for what appears to be a charming cottage, in their price range, in the seaside town of Oxeye in Maine, she seizes the opportunity. 

The catch is that it’s a treasure house, filled to the brim with junk and being sold just as it is.

On arrival, Florence, who has always longed for a room of her own, loves the old house full of cat figurines and other people’s memories, but Zoe is daunted by the mess and the cost of repairs and her grumpy new neighbour, Jake Abernethy, thinks she’s crazy for taking it on. But that doesn’t stop him from lending a hand, and it’s not long before Zoe starts daydreaming about the handsome owner of the hardware store.

By the time autumn sets in, Zoe is becoming increasingly intrigued by the woman who lived there before them. Who was Marly and how did her beloved home end up in such disrepair? As she digs for more information, Zoe can’t help but draw parallels between herself and Marly. As Zoe uncovers Marly’s secrets, and her own past comes crashing into the present, her life quickly becomes even messier than the coastal house she’s renovating. With her heart, and now her home, on the line, can Zoe put all of the broken pieces of her life back together and finally find the love that she longs for?

Smiles and tears won’t be far away as Matthews tugs at our heartstrings with a tender, engaging and often hard-hitting story that moves between the 1950s and 1960s and the present day, and puts family, and all its many trials, tests and tribulations, at centre stage.

Each character comes perfectly fleshed out… a disparate group of interwoven players from two timelines, caught up in the storm of life’s fortunes and misfortunes, whether that’s the cruel hardships and uncertainties of child neglect, poverty, addiction and debilitating illness, or the joys and comforts to be found in kindness, genuine caring, and the security of family love.

For Zoe, her journey’s end is discovering that the new beginnings and the happiness she so needed are not to be found in material goods and ownership, but in finally opening up herself to love and accepting that the power of warm relationships, community and belonging are what home really means. The perfect ‘book hug’ for world-weary readers!
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £9.99)