Age 9 plus
Letters to a Dog
Piers Torday and Alice McKinley
YOUNGSTERS will be lapping up this moving, funny and utterly
enchanting story – about a lonely little boy who longs for pet dog – from award-winning
author Piers Torday, whose gift for writing magical and meaningful books has
captured the hearts of thousands of adoring fans. In his debut novel for dyslexia-friendly publisher Barrington
Stoke, we meet Jamie Monroe, a troubled boy struggling with unhappiness at home
and his own emotions, and longing for a dog to be his companion. Jamie is in hospital waiting for a life-changing operation.
And to make a difficult time even harder, he’s fallen out with his dad and
refuses to speak to him when he comes to visit. In fact, Jamie and his dad
haven’t talked much since his mum died, and his dad always says no when Jamie
asks if he can have a dog. To keep his spirits up, nurse Shirley suggests he
writes a letter to the dog he desperately wants to adopt from the local dogs
home. But imagine his surprise when Dog writes back!Torday, whose first book for children, The Last Wild, was
shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Award and nominated for the
CILIP Carnegie Medal, focuses on the complexity of family connections with
imagination and sensitivity, blending heart and humour to perfection. Given
extra warmth and visual power by Alice McKinley’s adorable illustrations, this
is a little book with BIG messages.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)
I Dare You
Tamsin Winter
HOW far would you go to get yourself noticed online... and how far would you go for a friend? Award-winning author Tamsin Winter tackles the serious topic of online dares with her trademark bold approach, authenticity and humour in this powerful and heartfelt story which has a message that all young teens need to read. Willow and Alma are best friends, sharing a love of the spotlight. All they want is fame and fortune, and Willow is determined that the best way to get it is to go viral. So they start filming dares. Okay, so getting stuck in a basketball hoop doesn’t get them the sort of attention they were hoping for, but as their challenges get more extreme, their fan base grows. Duct-taping themselves to a wall? No-brainer. Eating super-hot chillis? Of course! Waxing an eyebrow off? Super funny! And if they get in a bit of trouble, it’s worth it. But if they really want to prove themselves, they have to go all-out. So they come up with the perfect idea... an idea that causes more than just a bit of trouble, an idea that might destroy not just their ambitions but their entire friendship for good.
Told through a dual narrative, this is an entertaining,
cautionary and teen-friendly story about a pursuit of online fame that goes
horribly wrong, about a friendship tested to its limits, and the importance of
owning up to our mistakes. Winter reveals she felt compelled to write the book
after reading news stories about the very real dangers of online dares in which
children and teenagers are seriously hurt or killed, and I Dare You is ideal as
a starting point for parents and teachers who want to raise discussions on the
subject.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £8.99)
Dracula: A Retelling
Tanya Landman
DRACULA...it’s one of the masterpieces of English
literature, Bram Stoker’s nightmarish tale of evil deeds, vampires and insanity
that has thrilled and horrified readers since it was first published in 1897.
And now Carnegie Medal-winning author Tanya Landman has added this
extraordinary Gothic classic to her superb series of retellings for publisher
Barrington Stoke, a specialist in super-readable, dyslexia-friendly fiction for
children. In a story told through letters, diary entries and newspaper
articles, we follow a ship steered by a dead man, encounter a huge black dog
springing from its deck, and meet a girl sleepwalking towards disaster. But the
action begins when rising young solicitor Jonathan Harker unwittingly helps the
mysterious and sinister Transylvanian nobleman, Count Dracula purchase property
in London. What he has unleashed is an evil that threatens to destroy the whole
of humanity.It’s no surprise that Stoker’s Gothic horror story
popularised the vampire theme which has permeated literature and films alike,
and now Landman’s stunning retelling – produced in an accessible format – means
that that more readers can understand and enjoy it. The perfect introduction to
the unforgettable world of Dracula!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)
The Unofficial Fan Guide to Oasis
Eddie Robson
THE Kings of Britpop, Oasis, are back... and it’s going to
be the best reunion ever! The return tour of the biggest band of the 90s is the
talk of the music world but for the younger generation, Oasis might not be a
familiar name. So ahead of their Live '25 Tour – scheduled to begin on July 4
at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff – introduce your youngsters to the rock
legends with this unofficial fan guide. Discover the Gallagher brothers’ rise
to fame, how family drama interfered, the disastrous break-up, and everything
there is to know about the reunion tour. With profiles on all the band members
(former and current), their explosive shows, the history of Manchester’s music
scene, and Oasis songs to learn on the guitar, this is a must-have book for
Oasis fans new and (not-so) old.
(Wren & Rook,
paperback, £9.99)
The Battle of Farrowfell
Ravena Guron and Alessia Trunfio
WELCOME back to a deliciously imagined fantasy world where edible magic is the hottest commodity for thieves... and the adventures are so wild and entertaining that to miss the fun would be a crime! The Battle of Farrowfell is the fabulous finale of an epic series from Ravena Guron, a British Indian biochemist turned lawyer turned middle grade author who brings her own captivating brand of energy and joy to the genre, and was highly commended in the FAB Prize, created by Faber to help discover new writers and illustrators of colour. At the heart of these tasty, action-packed adventures is twelve-year-old Jude Ripon, the youngest member of a family of magic-stealing masterminds in the town of Farrowfell, and a girl who is set on a (not always easy!) quest to become a true Ripon.
Jude is now living happily with Moorley, Uncle Runie and
Spry. But then the Dark Rivers start failing and raw magic is everywhere. The
Consortium jumps into action and assures everyone that the situation is under
control, but the people they are arresting are never seen again. And anyway,
Jude knows better than to trust those in power. Jude and Moorley must find a
way to reverse the effects of the raw magic. All their usual leads are sending
them to dead ends, until Jude meets a strange boy called Darcius who seems to
know far more than he should. Can they resist the temptation of raw magic and
save Farrowfell once and for all? Fizzing with comedy and energy, packed to the gills with
magic and mystery, and given extra vim and vigour by the black-and-white
illustrations of Italian artist Alessia Trunfio, this creative, world-building
series has created a head of steam on each outing and the final defence of
Farrowfell in its darkest hour will not disappoint!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Valley of the Vikings
Liz Kessler
BEING transported into a magical undersea world of mermaids, mythical gods and a scary ocean king is enough to make any child’s imagination take flight, and can only mean one thing... Emily Windsnap, half-girl and half-mermaid, is back and she’s ready for a new adventure! Semi-mer Emily – a girl on land and a mermaid in water – is the creation of Southport-born Liz Kessler who has written over twenty books for children and young adults, including the internationally best-selling Emily Windsnap series. As popular as ever after 20 years, Emily – a brave, fierce, loyal social justice warrior – returns in an exciting new, standalone adventure which carries important messages about looking after our planet.
Neptune and Thor battle for power and their fight upsets the
balance of the world. Lightning strikes, curses fly and towering waves swallow
a Viking longship and its crew into a watery valley, taking with it the secret
of the magical blue crystals. A thousand years later, Emily, a girl who is
half-human, half-mermaid, discovers a bangle with a mysterious and beautiful
blue crystal. With the help of her human and mer friends, she discovers the
truth about the jewel... and the danger the world faces. The team must race
against time to persuade the powerful but notoriously selfish gods of sea and
sky to make peace with each other, before disaster strikes. Kessler creates a wonderful two-dimensional world for Emily...
with a flick and a swish of her mermaid’s tail she moves between a life we can
recognise, and another that belongs in the realms of fantasy. Written with
warmth and sensitivity, and exploring themes of friendship, power and
conservation, this is a treat for Emily Windsnap fans new and old.
(Zephyr, paperback, £7.99)
Nora and the Compass of Chaos
Joseph Elliott and Nici Gregory
IF you think great-grandmothers are ‘cutesy-wutesy,
scarf-knitting old biddies,’ you need to meet super-cool, disco queen Nora who
is the shining star of Nora and the Compass of Chaos, the outrageously funny sequel
to award-winning author Joseph Elliott and German illustrator Nici Gregory’s
hilarious novel Nora and the Map of Mayhem. Featuring anarchy run wild, and a
gran who would rather be slapping on some lippy and skinny-dipping in a lake
than caring for kids, this explosion of hilarity and hair-raising comedy is another
sure-fire winner from start to finish. When Nora is invited to a fancy dress
party, she thinks that’s the worst of her problems... until she discovers her
friend Grizzler is missing. After finding his boat wrecked, Nora sets off on a
wild adventure to try to find him. What she didn’t expect was to find that her
great-grandchildren, Atticus and Autumn, have stowed away for the ride! Between
dodging fingernail-eating skuttlecrags and wrangling ice-breathing jujugars,
there are also whispers of a rogue Monster Hunter on the loose with monstrous
plans in motion. With only some wool, a corkscrew and half a pack of sweets in
their possession, can the trio stop the true villain before it’s too late? Elliott
lets loose a rollicking, raucous riot of mayhem as naughty Nora’s memorable
mishaps are brought to joyful life by Gregory’s gallery of rip-roaring,
fun-filled illustrations. Don’t miss the ride!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)
How to Train Your Dragon School: Doom of the Darkwing
Cressida Cowell
TWENTY years ago, author, illustrator and Waterstones
Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell, penned her first How to Train Your Dragon
novel and created a magical world that became a global bestselling phenomenon.
And now she’s back to delight her fans – and a new generation of young readers
– with a dazzling spin-off delivering the same winning ingredients of adventure,
heroes and dragons, and starring Hiccup, Toothless, Fishlegs and other
favourite characters from the original books. So step into the How to Train Your Dragon School where
Viking and Dragon Heroes are made! Join Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third and
his dragons, Toothless and Windwalker, in their hilarious, hair-raising
adventures at the Isle of Berk's Training School and find out why they are
BOTTOM in pretty much everything. Disastrous Lesson Number One was The Art of
Battle. It was supposed to be a quiet, sensible lesson. Hiccup never meant to
get into trouble but things take an unexpected turn along the way and Hiccup
and his friends soon find themselves adrift on stormy seas, in a sinking ship,
facing imminent doom, in one of their biggest adventures ever. Cowell’s gift for mesmerising world-building and her
creation of quirky characters you can see and almost hear is central to this
fun-filled, action-packed story which comes with her trademark wit, humour, and
richly detailed imaginative powers. Perfectly created for even the most
reluctant of readers!
(Hodder Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Age 7 plus
Marnie Midnight and the Minibeast Mission
Laura Ellen Anderson
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)
Little Lim and the Golden Treasure
Frann Preston-Gannon
DIVE into a beautiful watery world and discover the magic
and wonders of nature! Young readers will love immersing themselves in this heartwarming
adventure story about friendship, exploration and nature from award-winning illustrator
and designer Frann Preston-Gannon. Nestled between the pink morning sky and the
sparkling sea lies a small green island where the story begins... Limpet Pebble
is a true explorer so when Tidepool, her little town nestled within a rockpool,
organises a Young Explorers competition, Little Lim knows she must win! With
the help of her best friend Kai, she sets out to find the most unique shell to
submit and prove her worth as an explorer. But with only hours until sunset,
Little Lim struggles to find the perfect one. That is until she reads the
legend of a long-lost golden shell. Can Little Lim discover the truth behind
the story in time to be crowned the best Young Explorer? Brimming with
colourful and vibrant illustrations, a stunning gold-foiled cover, and
including fascinating facts about the sea world and rockpools, Little Lim and
the Golden Treasure is beautiful, inspiring and wonderfully uplifting.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £8.99)
Disney Travel Puzzles
Roland Hall
JOIN your favourite Disney characters for an exciting and
entertaining puzzle-packed adventure! Challenge yourself to solve 100 word,
logic, number, memory and picture puzzles, all with a delightful holiday twist.
Whether you’re travelling by train, flying on an aeroplane, relaxing by the
pool or enjoying a cosy getaway, this puzzle book featuring characters such as
Lilo and Stitch, Anna and Elsa, Aladdin, Mike and Sulley, will help children to
exercise their brains the Disney way. Written by Roland Hall, an author, editor
and puzzle setter, and bursting with Disney magic, the compact-sized book is an
ideal companion for travel and school holidays and will keep children
entertained for hours. The ultimate boredom buster for Disney fans on the go!
(Studio Press, paperback, £6.99)
Woodland Explorers Club:
Ajay and the Red-Winged Prince
Ewa Jozefkowicz and Gillian Flint
AS the nation’s woodlands burst into the blooming life of
the spring and summer seasons, discover the wonders of nature and some of the
ways we can protect the natural world in the new Forest School adventure from Waterstones
Prize shortlisted author Ewa Jozefkowicz. Brimming with friendship, adventure
and learning through nature, this inspirational series – packed with Gillian
Flint’s fun illustrations – features the Woodland Explorers who solve mysteries
and protect the animals of Willow Wish Woods. At Forest School, Woodland
Explorer and history-lover Ajay has discovered an amazing old book in the
library. It contains a beautiful map of Willow Wish Woods in the 14th
century and he knows it’s something special. The book also tells the story of
the Red-Winged Prince, who cared for the forest many moons ago and looked after
the animals, including wild boar and red squirrels. But when Ajay and the other
Woodland Explorers – Benji, Shyla, Trix, Fujiko and Eric – see that the woods
are being damaged by a gang of older children who are leaving their rubbish
behind, Ajay decides to be brave like the Red-Winged Prince and stand up for
what is right. With magic, mystery, forest school fun, a whole natural world to
explore, and the added bonus of bird facts and woodland activities to enjoy,
youngsters will be pulling on their wellies and heading for the great outdoors!
(Zephyr, paperback, £7.99)
Squid Squad
Aoife Dooley
DIVE down and deep to meet the wackiest and weirdest
creatures of the ocean in a hilarious, zany and action-packed full-colour
graphic novel from award-winning illustrator, writer and comedian Aoife Dooley
from Ireland. Stars of the show are naughty best friends Ollie the vampire
squid and Zing the toxin-squirting sea bunny and youngsters will need to come
up for air when they join them for chaos in deep waters with the rest of their
undersea crew! Ollie and Zing live in a town called Nowhere deep under the
sea, a place that’s home to the strangest creatures of the ocean... creatures like
the stinky Blob, crafty Hypno-snail, and the mysterious Snakey Unicorn Thing.
Ollie and Zing's antics with their colourful neighbours always keep things
lively, especially when they get the better of dastardly old Thornelius, the
thorn-shooting sea slug! Squid Squad contains four hilarious mini episodes, featuring
a missing pet sea anemone (who makes a dashing wig), a very mysterious noise,
and a magical portal toilet. All brought to life by Dooley’s striking, bold and
friendly artwork, the stories are packed with anarchic visual humour and
feature a lovable cast of vibrant characters based on real deep-sea animals. A gloriously
madcap celebration of imagination, friendship and being unique, and ideal for less
confident readers.
(Scholastic, paperback, £9.99)
Sea: Activity Book
Selina Wood and Britta Teckentrup
DIVE into the deep blue sea and discover a world beneath the
waves with this beautiful ocean-themed sticker activity book based on
award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup’s acclaimed picture book, Sea. From
tiny, graceful seahorses to darting tropical fish, and from electric eels to
humpback whales, this utterly absorbing Sea Activity Book features over 200
colourful stickers and hours of entertainment for creative young minds. This
latest instalment in the Teckentrup-inspired sticker activity series is packed
with mazes, mosaics, wordsearches, puzzles, colouring scenes and lots more. A
magical and interactive introduction to the wonders of the ocean!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £9.99)
Pick a Story: A Wizard Astronaut Pyramid Adventure
Sarah Coyle and Adam Walker-Parker
DECISIONS, decisions, decisions! Being given a choice can be
scary and for some youngsters, it can be terrifying. But making choices and
decisions is an inevitable part of life so make it fun – and not too easy! –
with this sparkling interactive children’s illustrated picture book series
where YOU choose the story. Author Sarah Coyle and illustrator Adam
Walker-Parker have fun and challenge little ones to start making decisions and
enjoy the bigger picture with these super ‘pick your own’ whirlwind adventures.
And in this fifth empowering and laugh-out-loud interactive story, youngsters discover
not one, but three completely different, fun-filled worlds featuring three
childhood favourite themes which were specially selected in a competition
involving 250 UK primary schools... space, wizards and the mysterious pyramids
of ancient Egypt. Bo’s sister, Kai, has lost her special stick... and he needs
YOUR help to find it before she starts to cry! Is the stick lost in space, has
a wizard cast a spell on it, or is it buried in an ancient Egyptian pyramid?
It’s up to YOU to decide! Each page includes an activity, such as
search-and-find, odd-one-out, mazes and more, all woven seamlessly into the stories.
And with a different story guaranteed every time the book is read, plus lots of
twists and turns, hilarious characters and decisions to make on every page,
this is the ideal book to inspire a lifelong love of reading. So what are you
waiting for? Come on in and join the fun!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)
I Could be Eaten by a Shark
Marcela Ferreira and Mark Chambers
SPARE a thought for Louie. He’s scared that he could be
eaten by a shark... even though there aren’t any around! Top team, author Marcela
Ferreira and illustrator Mark Chambers – who brought us delightful picture book
Bear vs Dragon – get their jaws around this funny and cautionary sharp-toothed
tale about learning to face your fears.
Meet Louie who one day sees a teeny, tiny baby shark at the beach, and
that’s where it all starts. Now everywhere he goes he sees sharks... in the
bath, in the park, even down the toilet. With some help from his grandpa (who
is very wise), Louie begins to face his fears. After all, he has fireflies to
count, new friends to make, and a whole new world to discover. With a
laugh-out-loud twist in its tail, this uplifting and inventive story will have
little ones grinning at the action, and gawping at the fascinating bonus facts
about sharks!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)
Mini Pops:
Happy Baby & Growly Tiger
Ruth Symons and Isa Pirracas
LET'S face it... little ones love a pop-up book so introduce them to Happy Baby and Growly Tiger! With six chunky pop-up faces – both human and animal – bursting out from every vibrant double page spread, this adorable new Mini Pops board book series is guaranteed to delight the very youngest readers who have an endless fascination with different faces.
Accompanied by Ruth Symons’ catchy, rhyming,
read-aloud text, and Isa Pirracas’ eye-catching illustrations featuring a
variety of human emotions, this playful range of books will have babies and
toddlers asking for them time and time again!
(Templar Publishing, board books, £6.99 each)
Hippo’s Garden Day
Nicola Kent
LION has a lovely, tidy garden but poor Hippo’s is very
overgrown... can YOU help Hippo do the gardening? Full of flaps, wheels and
sliders, this interactive board book is a hands-on introduction to the grown-up
tasks that fascinate toddlers. Follow Hippo around the garden as he mows the
lawn, prunes his bushes, waters the plants, and picks fruit from the trees.
Full of flaps, wheels and a slider, this line-up of busy chores for little paws
is the work of award-winning author and illustrator Nicola Kent. So roll up
your sleeves, turn on the fun and get your little ones using their ‘green
fingers’ with this picture perfect exploration of grown-up tasks!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)
Who Said Beep?
Becky Davies and Yi-Hsuan Wu
BEEP beep! Was that the hot air balloon? No, it was the truck! Lift the peep-through flaps to find out which vehicle makes each noise with this funny pairings book which has tactile pages and a surprise mirror ending.
Written by Becky Davies and colourfully illustrated by Yi-Hsuan Wu,
this touch-and-feel board book will make children laugh as they learn which
noise matches which vehicle. With sturdy flaps to lift and a surprise mirror
ending, this is a fun-filled journey through the world of transport!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)
