CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Antarctic antics, awesome art and a sparky witch

Wrap up warm for an epic debut adventure which stars a father and daughter expedition to the wilds of Antarctica, discover the amazing work of some of the world’s most famous artists, enjoy quirky adventures with a witch born with only one hand, and head for the stars on a dangerous trip to outer space with some super autumn children’s books

Age 9 plus
Maisie vs Antarctica
Jack Jackman

WHEN you’ve travelled round the Antarctic peninsula in an ice-breaker, visited remote penguin colonies and walked in never-before-trodden places, it’s seems an obvious next step to write an adventure story like no other! So meet Jack Jackman – a teacher, father-of-three and now debut author – and embark on an epic, worldwide father-daughter expedition filled with thrills, spills (and a few supernatural chills!) in the first book of a dazzling, globe-trotting series. Maisie thinks her dad is the most boring person in the world. For fun, he likes to do origami (but only basic triangles) or jigsaw puzzles of a cloudless sky (yep, every piece is blue). He writes cool-sounding books like How To Wrestle A Crocodile and How To Defuse A Bomb, but he’s never actually done any of the awesome things he writes about. But Maisie has to admit weird things happen around Dad... unexplainable things. 

When childcare falls through and Dad has to take Maisie to Antarctica to research his next book, How To Survive In Antarctica, Maisie realises that there is definitely something unusual about Dad and she is determined to find out the truth. What she doesn’t realise is that she will discover some things about herself and what it really means to be a hero along the way. One thing is for sure... it’s going to be the adventure of a lifetime! Featuring plane crashes, near misses with leopard seals, and a massive family secret that will change Maisie’s life forever, Jackman throws readers straight into the action with Maisie providing a delightfully authentic first person narration. Blending laugh-out-loud humour, dynamic storytelling and nail-biting action, and starring a plucky girl who discovers that there is a whole lot more to being a hero than she could ever have imagined, this is an electrifying opener to what promises to be a global adventure series of truly epic proportions!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
42 Artists Everyone Should Know
Brad Finger, Alison Baverstock, Florian Heine, Doris Kutschbach, Bettina Schümann and Angela Wenzel

DISCOVER some of the world’s most famous artwork, and get to know the artists whose creations have been both groundbreaking and awesome in a beautifully produced and accessible new book. From Bosch and Picasso to Basquiat and Banksy, this richly illustrated introduction to art through the centuries introduces young readers to a hugely diverse collection of works, genres, and genius. Brimming with colour, information, and inspiration, the imaginatively designed volume spans five centuries, highlighting forty-two of the most influential and important artists of all time. Arranged chronologically – beginning with Renaissance artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Dürer and ending with present day pioneers such as ‘polka dots’ painter Yayoi Kusama and graffiti artist Banksy – this magnificent book features multi-page spreads that include brief biographies, career highlights, and luminous reproductions of major works of each artist. In addition to widely known figures such as Titian, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Vincent van Gogh and Picasso, young readers will learn about women artists such as 16^th century Italian painter Sofonisba Anguissola, American modernist artist Georgia O’Keeffe, and Mexican portrait painter Frida Kahlo, as well as artists of colour such as African-American Jacob Lawrence, and Neo-expressionist Jean- Michel Basquiat. The wide-ranging selection also includes a variety of genres such as photographer Cindy Sherman, Op-artist Bridget Riley, scientific illustrator Maria Sibylla Merian and sculptor Louise Bourgeois. And running across the bottom of each page, a timeline highlights world-shaping events which help contextualise the artists’ achievements on a global scale. With its picture perfect introduction to great art, this fascinating, fact-filled books invites youngsters to explore the rich tapestry of history’s greatest artists, and to find inspiration in their amazing life stories.
(Prestel, hardback, £19.99)

Age 9 plus
Witchspark
Dominique Valente and Eleonora Asparuhova

WHEN the stars of the show are a girl born with only one hand, and a magical house with a character all of its own, you know you’re in for a treat! Dominique Valente – author of the bewitching Starfell series – unleashes her own special brand of magic in the first book of a delightful new fantasy series full of magic and wonder, and two spirited aspiring witches. Using her own experiences of living with one hand, Valente channels some of her own challenges and frustrations into this quirky adventure. Eglantine Bury, who was born with just one hand, can’t find her Witchspark but if her magic doesn’t appear, her family and their magical house will fall into the clutches of the terrifyingly powerful Whistlewitch and her villainous Uncle Lichen who wants Eglantine’s sentient family home, Huswyvern, for himself. Across the land, Princess Victoria faces her own danger as her secret magical powers start to spiral out of control and cause chaos in the Royal Palace. Eglantine and Victoria both turn to the disgraced witch Miss Hegotty for help. Her witch lessons are difficult and powerful, but can this secret magic match up to the dangers these two hopeful witches face? In a spellbinding adventure, illustrated by Eleonora Asparuhova, youngsters are swept away to a world which includes an unusual teacher, a magical house, and a talking dragon-butler, and a story that is filled with rebellious hope, wondrous adventures, offbeat fantasy, and characters to love. Add on themes of ‘embracing one’s unique self’ and believing in your own abilities, and this promises to be a high-flying series with lashings of warmth, humour and witch magic.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
Stellar
Chris Bradford and Charlotte Grange

WHEN disaster strikes on the International Space Station, a daring young girl needs a whole galaxy of luck to return safely to Earth. Star-struck young readers will be over the moon when they get their hands on the second book of a heart-thumping, outer-space trilogy from top-selling children’s author, Chris Bradford, and illustrator Charlotte Grange. Stella is astounded by the stars but her brother Ryan is bored with space already. Less than a week into their family holiday on the Space Hotel orbiting Earth, he’s moaning that there’s nothing to do. Their parents suggest the two of them go on an excursion to the International Space Station Museum but during the space walk, disaster strikes. A massive solar flare sends a deadly wave of electromagnetic radiation hurtling towards the Earth.  In the panic to return to the Space Hotel, Ryan’s jet-pack malfunctions and Stella has to rescue him before he spirals off into deep space. With only minutes before the solar flare hits, they’re forced to shield themselves inside the ISS. The solar flare short-circuits its systems and causes the ISS to drift out of orbit. With all radio communications dead, Stella will need her knowledge of the stars to try to get back to Earth. Gravity may help… but will they burn up on re-entry? Bradford, creator of the hugely popular Young Samurai and Bodyguard series, is a master of authentic and thrilling adventures and Stellar delivers not just his familiar nail-biting action drama but a standalone story threaded through with fascinating facts about space travel. Brought to life by Grange’s atmospheric black-and-white illustrations, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this is a gripping outer-space mission you won’t want to miss!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Magical Unicorn Society:
The Dark Heart Unicorns
Melanie Reynard, Indira Jenkins, Chris Coady,
Jazlyn Alcaide, Mariano Epelbaum
and José R Ibáñez

GOOD news for unicorn fans! The Magical Unicorn Society is opening its doors once again to reveal an exciting and previously undiscovered family of unicorns called Dark Hearts. For those not yet in the know, The Magical Unicorn Society has existed for centuries and is dedicated to studying and protecting the incredible magical creatures known as unicorns. The society also unites people across the globe who love unicorns, so if you want to find out everything there is to know about unicorns, you’ve come to the right place. The Dark Heart Unicorns is the fifth book in a marvellously magical series which has included The Magical Unicorn Society, The Magical Unicorn Society: The Golden Unicorn – Secrets and Legends, The Magical Unicorn Society: Unicorns, Myths and Monsters, and The Magical Unicorn Society: Baby Unicorns.

And youngsters will love feasting their eyes on the exquisitely colourful new compendium which reveals that long ago, there was a conflict among the unicorn families and a ninth blessing was banished from our world to a dreadful place full of terrifying beasts called the Shadow Realm. Here, they were forced to live in exile alongside the creator of these malevolent creatures... the Demon King. This beautifully illustrated book brings together the untold stories of the Dark Hearts, including rare encounters with them from all over the world, and culminates in an epic battle between the nine unicorn families and the Demon King in an effort to protect all life on Earth. Featuring fact files which examine what the Dark Hearts look like and what their powers are, the book is stunningly designed, written and illustrated, and delivers everything readers want to know about these amazing and elusive creatures. The perfect gift for all those enraptured by the beauty of unicorns!
(Michael O'Mara Books, hardback, £14.99)

Age 7 plus
Bunny vs Monkey: The Great Big Glitch!
Jamie Smart

HOLD on to your hats and watch out for trouble… Bunny and Monkey are back in their exhilarating remastered series which delivers all the comedy and chaos of the daffy duo’s helter-skelter world, and published for the first time in book form! This outrageously funny tenth book in the super-popular series features 240 pages of fast and furry-ous exuberant fun and some draw-it-yourself activities. Bunny and Monkey are part of the Phoenix Presents series, published by David Fickling Books in partnership with The Phoenix comic, which goes from strength to strength, and much of that success is due to the genius of the extraordinarily talented illustrator Jamie Smart whose comic-strip Bunny vs Monkey books cause giant waves of laughter. So welcome back to the Woods where chaos reigns supreme once more! When Bunny, Monkey and friends discover that all of existence is a virtual reality simulation, life gets a little bit crazy. Bunny declares himself The Woods’ Magical Protector, Pig becomes a superspy, Weenie grows some serious muscles... but just what nefarious scheme is Skunky planning and can the team keep their world from breaking apart? Laugh-out-loud comical and ingeniously addictive, these manic, high-energy stories were just made for fidgety readers who like their books to come with plenty of comic-strip pictures and loads of turbocharged snorts and sniggers. Madcap antics for a new generation of action kids!
(David Fickling Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 7 plus
Bunny vs Monkey: The Gigantic Joke Fight!
Jamie Smart

AND if the wicked wizardry of the latest Bunny vs Monkey adventure has given you an appetite for their delicious zany comedy, tuck into ‘the craziest joke book ever published’ and share more laughs with your favourite comic characters. Bursting with hilarious side-splitting gags, Bunny vs Monkey: The Gigantic Joke Fight guarantees giggles on every page. The forest is alive with the most massive of arguments... WHO is the funniest animal in the Woods? Bunny, Monkey and co are battling to decide. Is it Bunny with his dad jokes, Monkey with his bum jokes, Le Fox with his riddles, Ai with her knock-knock jokes, Pig and Weenie with their food jokes, Skunky with his gloriously inventive ‘what do you get if you cross a...’ jokes, or Action Beaver with his Blebble* (*a whole lot of nonsense!) ? It could even be Metal Steve and Metal Eve, who are just learning what jokes are! Also featuring jokes from readers of The Phoenix comic, one thing’s for sure... all the family will be fighting to get their hands on this compendium of crazy comedy!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 7 plus
Lola and Larch Make a Winter Wish
Sinéad O’Hart and Rachel Seago

IF you’re looking for an entertaining starter chapter-book series to keep new readers engaged then these delightful, illustrated adventures from Irish master storyteller Sinéad O’Hart and artist Rachel Seago are guaranteed to hit the mark. With family, friendship and naughty fairies taking centre stage, there’s fun guaranteed on every outing with long-suffering Lola and her feisty fairy Larch who disguises herself as a rabbit. In their third adventure, we find Larch wishing her human best friend Lola could understand what it’s like to be a fairy when something amazing happens. The friends swap bodies! Now Lola has to learn how to fly and Larch has to act ‘normal’ in a school concert. And a very bad fairy called Euphorbia Spurge can’t wait to make the most of this magical mix-up! With magic and mayhem at every turn, a big serving of fun, the cosy warmth of friendship, very naughty rabbits and Seago’s action-packed illustrations, these enchanting stories are certainly casting a spell over young readers!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)

Age 6 plus
Colours of the World
Moira Butterfield and Jonathan Woodward

A WHOLE spectrum of beauty awaits on every page of Colours of the World, a gloriously illustrated introduction to our planet’s wildlife and habitats... some of them only found in the most extreme places on Earth. Written by Moira Butterfield and lavishly illustrated by award-winning wildlife artist Jonathan Woodward, this accessible and child-friendly introduction to the natural world is ideal for youngsters of all ages. Every creature in the world – from the tiny beetle to the enormous blue whale – depends on its environment to survive. From lush forests and teeming oceans to deserts and hot spots, young readers discover which animals call these wild and wonderful places home, and how animals and humans have adapted to live in them in. With Woodward’s stunning illustrations bringing all the amazing creatures and their habitats to colourful life, and Butterfield’s rich array of fascinating and fun facts, there could be no better way to introduce youngsters to the world’s truly wildest places.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £19.99)

Age 6 plus
Agent Harrier: You Only Spy Twice
Ben Sanders

WATCH out! Agent Harrier needs to catch a double-crossing crook... in double quick time! Youngsters will be doubling over laughing when they get their hands on this fun and freewheeling graphic novel, second in a brilliant comedy series from the award-winning author and illustrator Ben Sanders. Agent Harrier must discover the identity of a top-secret file-stealing traitor in the BARK intelligence agency. But something’s happening to the book itself... whole pages are repeating, and there’s an ink-deleting weapon threatening to wipe everything out! What’s going on, and will Agent Harrier sniff out the rat before he’s totally and permanently erased? With oodles of canine comedy chaos and a pun-filled twist on traditional spy capers, this super-stylish series is the perfect fit for early readers transitioning from picture books.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
What is Drama?
What is Technology?
Sarah Walden and Katie Rewse

IF you want to encourage your little ones to start engaging with big ideas, this perfectly pitched Little Book, Big Idea series has some resonant questions and answers. Helping to build foundations for life-long learning by explaining big ideas to little people, the carefully created, illustrated series uses simple language to explain complicated ideas, with each book taking the core questions that relate to each subject and providing answers that make sense to young children. In What is Drama? author Sarah Walden explores why drama is important, explaining that it helps us understand the world around us. Children discover what drama is, where it started, where it’s performed, what plays, films and TV programmes are, the different genres, the roles of directors and actors, why costumes and sound and lighting effects are important, how special effects and props work, what you can do with drama, and how drama helps people.

And in What is Technology? youngsters learn that we have been using tools since prehistoric times, what problems technology solves, who invents technology, and how technology can save the planet. Discover what engineers do, what powers technology, what technology’s greatest 21st century achievements are, what computers and robots can do, how you can work with technology and what the future of technology holds. Each double-page spread in these creative books explores one question and various answers, and each page is filled with Katie Rewse’s imaginative illustrations which inspire positive thinking and make each exploration fresh, engaging and different. And with a glossary of important words at the back of each book, What is Drama? and What is Technology? are perfect for sharing with any inquisitive child.
(Noodle Juice, hardback, £9.99 each)

Age 5 plus
Dino Dad: Ice Age
Andy Day and Steven Lenton

YOUNG readers will be shivering with excitement when they get their hands on Dino Dad: Ice Age, second book of a magical dino-tastic adventure series from dinosaur expert and children’s TV presenter Andy Day and illustration superstar Steven Lenton! What if your dad could change into a dinosaur? Ruby Thumb and her dad are famous POOPAs – Protectors Of Our Dinosaur Allies – and they have loads of amazing adventures in Dinotropolis, an incredible island, full of dinosaurs who live just like us humans do. And when they go there using their special magic Ammonite shell, they turn into dinosaurs too! And now they’re on an amazing frozen adventure in which they have to rescue a baby woolly mammoth and make sure it gets back safely to its mummy, as well as un-freezing Dinotropolis! Day and Lenton deliver another roarsome adventure in an easy-to-read format, peppered with real dino facts, and brimming with hilarious illustrations. Perfect for all young dinosaur fans!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus
The Verts: A Story of
Introverts and Extroverts
Ann Patchett and Robin Preiss Glasser

SIBLINGS Estie and Ivan couldn’t be more different... Estie is a party girl and Ivan... well, Ivan likes nothing better than quietly reading a book behind the sofa. Can they learn to honour and celebrate their very different characters, and fill the gap between them? Award-winning American novelist Ann Patchett and gifted illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser blend their talents on a beautifully imagined and empathetic picture book exploring introverts and extroverts. The Vert family is celebrating a very special occasion. It’s Ivan’s birthday and despite her brother’s wish that there’s no party, Estie knows that every birthday needs a great party! Soon the Vert family’s apartment is full of neighbours and friends, party hats, platefuls of food, singing and twinkling tin foil stars. That’s what everyone wants on their birthday, right? But did Estie ever ask Ivan if that’s what HE wants? With Patchett’s resonant messages about being yourself, and accepting that everybody is different – some people are outgoing and some just like a quiet life – and Glasser’s rich detailed and expressive artwork, The Verts is the picture (and word) perfect way to say to young children... we are what we are!
(HarperCollins360, hardback, £12.99)

Age 4 plus
Not Now, Goldilocks!
Holly Ryan and Navya Raju

LITTLE ones will be leaping into action when they dive into the fairy-tale fun of a bright and beautiful picture book full of all those characters they know and love. Not Now, Goldilocks! is the creation of imaginative author Holly Ryan and illustrator and designer Navya Raju, and is the perfect match for adventure-loving children. Goldilocks wants to play and wants someone to join her adventure. But Mum, Fairy Godmother, the three bears and a whole family of familiar fairy-tale friends are too busy with their chores to play. Her marvellous plans are met by ‘Not Now, Goldilocks!’ but everyone promises to play with her later. Join little Goldilocks and her big imagination as she discovers that even when loved ones are too busy to play, adventures for one can be just as much fun. And when she really needs them, her family and friends will be there for her to play and help save the day! With its theme of creative play and Raju’s bold, energetic and colourful illustrations, Ryan’s riotous rhyming romp stars a magical cast as Goldilocks sets off on a rollercoaster journey of discovery through fairy-tale land. And with the fun of spotting familiar characters, as well as reassuring messages of love and support even when grown-ups are busy, this is adventure above and beyond...
(Buster Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Bothered by Bugs
Emily Gravett

LITTLE ones love a story that is ripe for reading aloud and this glorious picture book – full of bugs, berries and badger antics – is the stuff of storytelling dreams! Bothered by Bugs is the work of illustrator extraordinaire Emily Gravett who has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal and has a true talent for creating exceptional books for children. In this delightful celebration of diversity in the insect world, we meet up again with Pete the Badger, star of Gravett’s picture books Tidy and Too Much Stuff!, and share the fun as he learns valuable lessons about the importance of all creatures, big and small, in maintaining the harmony of nature. Pete is choosing a delicious recipe from his new fruit cookbook when his peace is interrupted by a teeny tiny fly. The fly becomes a swarm and soon all the animals are being bothered by bugs and insects of all kinds... so they help Pete rid the forest of bugs by capturing every single one of them in jam jars. But... disaster! Now nobody is around to clean up the poo and come autumn, there’s not a berry or a cherry to be found. Will Pete and the other animals learn their lesson and restore order to the forest? Buzzing with Gravett’s richly detailed, witty and wonderful illustrations, a delightfully addictive rhyming story, and some (surprise!) yummy fruit recipes to cook up with adults, Bothered by Bugs is a colourful celebration of nature’s equilibrium... and a flight of imagination that will leave all the family smiling!
(Two Hoots, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Bunny's Most Fabulous Holiday Ever!
Brian Fitzgerald

A BUNNY'S plans for a holiday of peace and solitude get a rude awakening when a noisy purple monster parks up next to her camper van... can the two unlikely neighbours ever be friends?  Irish illustrator Brian Fitzgerald works his brand of riotous, but heartwarming, magic on his first outing as both illustrator and author. Every year, Bunny looks forward to parking her camper van in a peaceful spot, and enjoying her usual routine of relaxing amongst nature... on her own. To her horror, she wakes up to find a noisy purple monster camped right next door! At first she is delighted when a storm blows away his tent, but then she sees how sad and miserable he is and can’t help but take pity on his plight. And when she gradually realises that being nice to him makes him happier and that doing things together can be more fun than solitude, Bunny – and monster – make plans to do it all again next year! Little ones will love watching as the purple monster changes Bunny’s life in the most colourful ways whilst reminding us that first impressions can often be wrong, and that we all have mean feelings sometimes... but being kind makes us happier. Fitzgerald’s words and illustrations bring humour and wisdom to a very human dilemma and underline – in a most entertaining way! –the importance of tolerance, harmony and understanding.
(Scallywag Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Family
Patricia Hegarty and Britta Teckentrup

‘On the savannah, whatever the weather, The animals must stick together. A herd of elephants cross the trail, Steadily walking, trunk to tail.’ 

WATCH in wonder as the sun slowly goes down – and learn the different ways in which animals protect and support each other – in a gorgeous new picture book by children’s books editor Patricia Hegarty and award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup. Family – the latest addition to Teckentrup’s bestselling series of nature-themed books – invites youngsters to discover the incredible habits of animals and their families, from diving dolphins to marvellous manatees, and explore what family and parenthood means to all kinds of creatures. Teckentrup’s stunning artwork – complete with peek-through pages revealing an ever-sinking sun and different horizons all across the world – brings to life nature’s incredible stories about the ways in which animals protect and support each other while caring for and raising their young. Add on Hegarty’s lyrical rhyming text, which creates a wonderfully calming tone, and you have the perfect book to share at bedtime.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Whatever Comes Tomorrow
Rebecca Gardyn Levington
and Mariona Cabassa

WORRYING is an unavoidable part of being human and as children grow so too does the potential for feelings of anxiety and insecurity. For over 30 years, Barefoot Books – a women-founded, independent publisher which started as a small home-based business in England in 1992 – have been creating visually captivating books which aim to celebrate diversity, spark curiosity, capture children’s imaginations, and meet early developmental needs. And now their bestselling stories and singalongs are available as large format board books, with Whatever Comes Tomorrow first to hit the shelves. 

We might not know what the future holds, but the lyrical rhyming text in this beautiful, chunky book reassures readers that they have the resilience and strength to face whatever comes their way. Mariona Cabassa’s whimsical illustrations make for a captivating read-aloud or bedtime story and inspired by the author Rebecca Gardyn Levington’s own experience with anxiety, Whatever Comes Tomorrow offers gentle wisdom to both children and adults, and includes a discussion guide and activity ideas for managing worries. And in Whole Whale, written by Karen Yin and illustrated by Nelleke Verhoeff, we explore why no one likes to be left out! Little ones will laugh along with a playful story that teaches both kindness and early mathematics. Young readers are set to giggle with delight as one hundred unusual animals try to squeeze into the pages of this raucous rhyming tale, and eyes will light up at the ‘explosive’ ending which features an expansive double page fold-out. And as an added extra, youngsters will love going back through the pages to spot the 100 animals listed at the end!
(Barefoot Books, board books, £10.99 each)

The Drowned

John Banville

THE mysterious disappearance of a woman on a wild stretch of coast in the deepest reaches of rural 1950s Ireland is the catalyst for a murder enquiry that brings police detectives hot-footing it down from Dublin.

But this is a far from straightforward case, with some dangerously unpredictable characters at its heart, and the two men in charge face a complex investigation with repercussions that ripple back to events from the recent past.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that one of Ireland’s most gifted novelists would be tempted to rest on his many laurels (not least the Man Booker Prize in 2005) now that he is into his seventy-ninth year... what you might not expect is that this extraordinary author – with a gift for words that raises crime writing to dizzy heights of literary excellence – is producing some of his best work yet. The evidence is there to see in Wexford-born John Banville’s (pictured below) brilliant, award-winning Strafford and Quirke Mystery series which is based in Dublin in the Fifties and features an uneasy double act between two flawed, fallible and fascinating men... pathologist Dr Quirke and Detective Inspector St John Strafford.

This is a series mired in dirty politics, religious tensions between Protestants and Catholics, and crimes that perfectly reflect the debates and concerns of this post-war period in Ireland... all brought to vivid and visceral life by an assortment of exquisitely imagined characters, perfectly nuanced stories, and intriguing mysteries with a delightfully dark edge.

In The Drowning – the fourth in the series – Quirke and Strafford return for a complex case at a time when their already strained relationship threatens constantly to become untenable.

Loner Denton Wymes – who lives with his dog in a caravan near the coast in County Wicklow – doesn’t like getting ‘caught up among people,’ regarding them as ‘the bane of his life’ but, returning from an afternoon fishing trip, he comes across a mysteriously empty Mercedes sports car with its engine running and seemingly abandoned in a field. Knowing deep down that he shouldn’t approach but, unable to hold back, Wymes turns off the car engine but is accosted by the car’s owner, a man called Ronnie Armitage, who seems more excited than distressed, and asks for help because he and his wife Deirdre had been arguing and he fears she may have thrown herself into the sea and drowned.

The two men head off to find help at a nearby house, which is being rented by odd couple, Charles and Charlotte Ruddock, but their arrival seems to Wymes as if ‘the whole thing had been rehearsed, and that everyone was acting, even himself.’

Much against his instincts to avoid contact with people, never mind strangers, Wymes finds himself embroiled in a troubling missing person’s case which now involves two investigators from Dublin, pathologist Dr Quirke and Detective Inspector St John Strafford. It’s an awkward police pairing with the two men barely on speaking terms after Quirke’s wife Evelyn was shot during an investigation and was made worse by the pathologist’s belief that Strafford – whose own wife has walked out on him ­– could have saved her.

And there’s a further complication because Strafford is now seeing Quirke’s daughter Phoebe, a fact which has enraged her father. But there’s a case to solve... are they investigating a runaway, a suicide, or a murder, are the Ruddocks connected to Deirdre’s disappearance... and could there be a link to the recent murder of Rosa Jacobs, a young Jewish history scholar, in Dublin?

The Drowning can easily be read as a standalone but it would enhance the reading pleasure to have already made acquaintance with these two lonely, introspective investigators from opposite sides of the religious divide... Strafford, who relishes his solitude and struggles with relationships, and Quirke, an introverted, driven man who is restless and bitter since the death of his wife.

As always, Banville’s classy crime mystery plays out slowly and tantalisingly against a multi-layered and authentic backdrop in which plot lines – some threading back to a previous murder – become entwined and the reader’s carefully considered whodunit guesswork is rent asunder by some shocking revelations. But this is also very much a tale of people in a certain time and place; Banville has the gift of creating characters that spring from the page... what makes them tick, the causes that drive them, their complexities and nuances, their dark secrets and insecurities, all eloquently laid bare for readers to revel in.

Filled with the author’s rich and descriptive power, his masterful storytelling and his insights into the politics, social history and dubious justice system of Ireland in this post-war period, this is a compelling and exquisitely written murder mystery which no discerning crime fan should miss.
(Faber & Faber, hardback, £18.99)

Icons of Style: in 100 Garments

Josh Sims

‘There is an element of fashion which,
in fact, doesn’t change. It’s the bedrock on
which everything else is built, the fundamental component through which experimentation occurs.’

A FREELANCE style writer and author of several fashion books, including Rock/Fashion, A Dictionary of Fashion Designers and Mary, Queen of Shops, Josh Sims has his finger firmly on the pulse of fashion, both past and present, so who better to explore not just some of the most iconic garments ever worn, but the stylish figures who helped make them eternally popular classics.

Focusing on the origins of one hundred definitive pieces – from the T-shirt to the trench coat, and the leather jacket to the little black dress – Sims (pictured below) brings us this captivating book, full of fabulous fashions and phenomenal photography, and shows  how these garments captured the spirit of their time and evolved over the years into timeless fashion staples.

Fashion moves in cycles of revolution and consolidation but its primary remit is still constant change because that is what drives consumption in what is, after all, an industry. But there is also an element of fashion which doesn’t, in fact, change... the ‘classics’ or ‘wardrobe staples.’

Behind nearly every item in the modern wardrobe is a first of its kind, the definitive item, often designed by a single company or brand for specialist use, and on which all subsequent versions have been based (and originals of which are now collector items in the booming vintage market). The T-shirt, for example, may now be an innocuous, everyday item, but it was created by American company Hanes for US Navy personnel at the turn of the 20th century and was subsequently adopted by sportsmen and bikers. Other items have been designed for sport, farm work or protection, and made their way into everyday usage.

That these classics have survived largely unchanged for as long as they have – often a century or more, and most are at least many decades old – is remarkable in a business that is generally perceived to thrive on newness.

Icons of Style examines, garment by garment, the most important and famous of these products... their provenance and history, the stories of their design, the brand or company that started it all, and how the item shaped the way we all dress today. As traditional definitions of men’s and women’s clothes are fast changing, Icons of Style combines all the key garments for everyone. Inspiring images of the best examples of the garment – from the 1930s to contemporary times, and from Marlene Dietrich to Mick Jagger – show the timeless beauty of these classics that are the basics of the stylish.

Featuring over one hundred of the most iconic fashion items, Sims’ fascinating book brings us everything from brogues to Breton tops, twinsets to mini-skirts, jeans to blazers, and denim jackets to the classic white shirt through stunning photography of style icons like Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Audrey Hepburn, Zendaya, Grace Kelly, Harry Styles, Ryan Gosling and Marilyn Monroe. With categories covering outerwear, dresses, and swimwear, and sub-chapters featuring the pea coat, empire-line dress, and swimming trunks, Icons of Style is a dazzling exploration of style down the years... and a tailor-made gift for your own fashionistas!
(‎Laurence King Publishing, paperback, £30)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Horrors, hauntings and hilarious romps for Halloween reading

Monsters, ghosts, vampires, werewolves and witches... the spooky season is looming like a dark and delicious shadow so prepare to indulge your children’s Halloween dreams – and nightmares! – with this chilling, thrilling selection of
super-scary and frighteningly funny books

Age 9 plus
Midnight Treasure
Piers Torday 

IF there is one thing vampirs crave as much as blood,
it’s ... treasure! As Halloween approaches, soak up the ghostly atmospherics and immerse yourself in a thrilling world of werwolves and vampirs with award-winning author Piers Torday. 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, stuns his fans once again with Midnight Treasure, this talented storyteller’s first foray into the ever-popular fantasy genre. And what an adventure it is as we are swept away to a breathtakingly imagined world full of marvels, myths and magic where readers will be mesmerised by a maze of clues, spells, imprisonments and escapes, fights and betrayals... and, perhaps most importantly, the inspirational courage and hope of two youngsters on a terrifying quest.

In an empire of vampirs and werwolves, Tibor is a werwolf, adopted from an orphanage by his guardian, Baron Ambrus, a powerful vampir. Tibor and his best friend Roza, once a vampire but now transformed into a black Alsatian dog, are living in the Age of Darkness, a time when immortals are supreme beings, and they are on the deadliest of quests, a race against time that will test their own immortality. But they’re not the only ones hunting for the Midnight Treasure. They face battling with bears, wrestling with vampirs and a host of other amazing characters with supernatural powers. Tibor and Roza must decide who to trust... and whether they will dare reveal the secrets of the Midnight Treasure. Midnight Treasure is the perfect balance between spooks and scares and fun and laughter as our two plucky friends summon up the blood for a fantastical treasure hunt that delights with its blend of vampirs and werwolves, high stakes drama, stunning world-building, and bold, unforgettable characters. Don’t miss the ride!
(Quercus Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)

Age 12 plus
Escape Castle Dracula: A Gothic Puzzle Adventure
Sam Fern and Adam Allori

THE bloodthirsty Count Dracula has trapped you inside his castle! Can you escape his clutches? Youngsters will be locking themselves away to solve the fiendishly wicked challenges in this stunningly illustrated gothic puzzle adventure... perfectly created for the Halloween season! With devilishly good fun guaranteed on every page, readers are transported into the pages of fourteen classic horror stories in the quest to escape from Count Dracula’s castle. Help Victor Frankenstein create his monster, deduce the correct chemical formula to rescue Dr Jekyll from the murderous Mr Hyde, join forces with Sherlock Holmes to reveal the mastermind behind the murder of Sir Charles Baskerville and lay to rest forever the vicious ghost of the headless horseman. To vanquish the final villain and escape Count Dracula, readers must race their way through labyrinthine mazes and solve intricate puzzles, learning about some of the most terrifying tales in literature as they go. Illustrated in astonishing detail by concept artist and designer Adam Allori, and inspired by the works of Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Mary Shelley, Arthur Conan Doyle and Gaston Leroux, this stylish and entertaining book is the perfect introduction to the ever-popular genre of horror stories.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £14.99)

Age 9 plus
Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull
Martin Howard and Pete Williamson

THERE will be gruesome giggles, spooky sniggers and creepy cackles when youngsters get their hands on this hilarious ‘horror’ story from the top team of comedy king and author Martin Howard, and creative illustrator Pete Williamson. With deliciously dark humour, hellish hags, a gloriously ghoulish girl, a wig-loving skull and a spine-chilling, fast-paced adventure to devour, this spectacular spooky season romp (rightly!) comes with a warning that readers might just die of laughter! Mallory Vayle would list her interests as being normal... books about ponies and very definitely NOT talking to dead people. But when her parents’ carriage takes a leap off Gibbett Bridge – an accident for which there appears to be no explanation – she is taken in by a strange aunt that the family disowned years ago and brought to her new, and very spooky, home. The ghosts of her parents also take up residence in the house but are cruelly snatched away by the shadow of Hellysh Spatzl, the grimmest, wickedest necromancer in all of history. To get them back, Mallory will have to learn how to use the talents she hates and raise the old hag from the dead. And her teacher will be a talking skull called Maggoty who wants some favours in return for his help... not just a gorgeous blond wig and some sparkly earrings, but also for Mallory to break the curse that has left his spirit locked inside his own skull for 500 years. Mallory will have to plug into who she is and what she can do, make a pact with the evil Hellysh Spatzl... and put on a sensational Halloween spectacular at Nightmare Castle! Budding horror fans will love Howard’s gleefully spooky and very, very funny adventure which stars the chattiest, wig-wearing skull in the whole of Halloween history, and is brought to hilarious pictorial life through the creative power of master illustrator Pete Williamson’s prodigious imagination. Dangerously good!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
A Girl Called Corpse
The Lonely Lighthouse
of Elston-Fright
Reece Carter and Eleonora Asparuhova

WELCOME to Elston-Fright, a forgotten town where witches lurk, sea monsters roam and a girl is on the hunt for answers! A high-profile Australian nutritionist, Reece Carter has always had an appetite to write children’s fiction so – abracadabra – he cooked up the magical Elston-Fright books and their gloriously spooky tales of ghost-girls and ghouls. The first of the series – which is illustrated by Eleonora Asparuhova – is A Girl Called Corpse and stars a ‘kid ghost’ who has no memory of who she was before she was taken by the Witches. 

Corpse is bound to haunt the rock-that-doesn’t-exist forever... until she learns of a treasure, one that can reunite her with her family and her name. She sets off for answers, on a journey across the stormy sea, battling magic, zombie-skeletons and monsters but the Witches want the treasure too, and they will do anything to get to it first. And in the second book in the series, The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright, we meet Flip Little whose family have always been Lightkeepers, guardians sworn to protect the town of Elston-Fright from magical, monstrous threats. And Flip is no stranger to magic... only he knows about the two ghost-girls haunting a rock out at sea. When their spider friend, Simon, is spider-napped by ancient Poltergusts, weather ghouls out to cause mayhem, Flip, Girl and Corpse set out to rescue him. But first they must find and return the missing Light to the lighthouse, restoring its magic. Only nothing in Elston-Fright is quite as it seems. Questions bubble up from the deep, dark secrets emerge and soon, Flip and his friends learn that in order to beat the Poltergusts they need to understand what happened in the past. With spooks, spectres, mystery and ghostly goings-on, these deliciously dark adventures are filled with thrills, chills, fun, a big helping of heart and larger-than-life characters as the mysteries of Elston-Fright are slowly but surely revealed. The most bewitching stories you’ll read this Halloween! 
A Girl Called Corpse was previously published in
the UK as The Girl, the Ghost and the Lost Name.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman
Alex Atkinson

WHEN you’ve grown up loving scary books filled with oddball characters, enjoyed playing murder-in-the-dark and listening to your dad’s blood-curdling bedtime stories, it seems a natural progression to make your debut novel a spooky (but funny) spine-chiller! The Cinderman is the first book of Spooksmiths Investigate, a brilliantly spooky new horror-mystery series from Alex Atkinson who says she still dreams of ghost and zombies. Indigo and Rusty might live in a funeral parlour in the seaside town of Greyscar but they don’t believe in ghosts. That is, until Indigo knocks over an old urn, accidentally releasing the Cinderman, a terrifying ash monster who will smother their town in ashes and turn everyone into zombies unless they can stop him by sunset. Using their newly awakened Spooksmith skills, Indigo and Rusty set out to enlist the help of other ghosts. But can the Blasted Banshee and Chuckles the Phantom Toddler really help them find the Cinderman’s true name and put him in his grave for good before Ashmageddon strikes? Inspired by visits to Saltburn on the North East coast and the gothic vibes of nearby Whitby, Atkinson lets loose her dynamic imagination on this super-spooky and fun-filled adventure which reminds us about the importance of family and friends, finding your true self and not giving up even when you’re scared. A treat for your Halloween tricksters!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
We Do Not Welcome Our
Ten-Year-Old Overlord
Garth Nix

WHEN a strange and powerful object falls into the wrong hands, a deadly danger is released in a chilling new adventure from master storyteller Garth Nix who lives in Sydney and whose books include the award-winning Old Kingdom fantasy novels. It’s not fair. Twelve-year-old Kim Basalt has always lived in the shadow of his younger sister, Eila... which is not how it’s supposed to be. Ten-year-old Eila is a prodigy and everyone talks about how smart she is but, in Kim’s eyes, she has no common sense and still makes mistakes. One day Kim and Eila are walking in the woods, and Eila finds an enigmatic, otherworldly glowing globe floating in the lake. Kim thinks it’s bad news but Eila is irresistibly drawn to it, especially when the spirit, which calls itself Aster, starts communicating with her and she decides to take it home. Soon Eila is calling the strange object her friend and is able to control the minds of everyone around her... in ways she says is the best for everyone. Kim has every reason to be worried now and needs to put his problem-solving mind to the ultimate test. Can Kim and his friends save Eila from herself before it’s too late, and also save the world from the forces she has unleashed? The stakes are high in this intriguing and spine-tingling sci-fi mystery which is set in what Nix calls ‘an alternate version of Canberra, Australia’ and centres on an object so perilous that it has the potential to destroy the world. With lots of addictive scary vibes throughout, and an exploration of the age-old theme of sibling conflict, this is fantasy with a seductive and suspense-filled edge.
(Hot Key Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
Dread Wood: Terror Tower
Jennifer Killick

IMAGINE a book that serves up all those super-spooky vibes that kids love... horrors galore, a delicious dollop of black comedy and a bunch of spiky classmates with a killer moths mystery to solve. If that menu tickles your taste buds, then you’ll be dining out on queen of chills-and-thrills Jennifer Killick’s sixth and final brilliant adventure in a series which delivers horror and humour in perfect harmony. Perfectly pitched for middle grade readers, Dread Wood: Terror Tower stars the Club Loser team – Hallie, Angelo, Gus, Colette and Naira – and, as fans know, the friends have faced some truly fearsome foes, from mind-controlling parasites and deadly monsters of the deep to giant spiders and vampire birds. And their adventures aren’t quite over yet! Dread Wood High is suffering from an infestation of caterpillars, but these are no ordinary caterpillars. These creepy creatures will grow into giant, mutant, killer moths with a taste for flesh and blood! And on the night the school is ready to unveil its new tower, they start to hatch and will stop at nothing until everything – and everyone – is destroyed. It’s Club Loser’s toughest battle to date. It’s all to play for… and everything is at stake! Killick is a slick and sassy storyteller… she knows just how far to take her heart-stopping tales of cool comedy and scary horror as she pumps up the action and lets loose her rich imagination. The perfect spine-tingling finale for this gorgeously gigglesome chiller-thriller series!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Shiver Point: Under a Howling Moon
Gabriel Dylan

ENTER (if you dare!) Shiver Point... the home of spooks, screams and small-town horror! Under a Howling Moon is the third book of a thrilling, chilling and perfectly pitched series from Gabriel Dylan, a teacher and children’s author who is a self-confessed horror fan. So for all those who love having their spines tingled and their goosebumps raised, meet the plucky Shiver Squad and join them for a marvellously menacing new mystery. Oli can’t wait for his birthday camping trip to Howlmoor Forest with his friends. They’re going to toast marshmallows and tell scary stories under the full moon and it’ll be great... that is until the first night when Oli is woken by a terrifying beast slashing at the tent. And then his dad goes missing... All alone in the woods, it’s now up to the Shiver Squad to find him. But with a sense that something sinister is stalking them through the woods, will they succeed? And as the moon rises once again, will they even manage to get out alive? Expect red-eyed werewolves, and humans transformed into monsters... and don’t say you weren’t warned!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Haunting of Fortune Farm
Sophie Kirtley

INSPIRED by the wild Irish landscape she knows and loves, and the unexpected discovery of her late grandmother’s mysterious dented locket, Sophie Kirtley’s new novel is a hauntingly beautiful tale is guaranteed to send shivers down readers’ spines. Exploring themes of memory, secrets, family love and the restless spirits that whisper on the wind, The Haunting of Fortune Farm stars a young girl on a thrilling, chilling journey to find a long-lost Viking hoard. Twelve-year-old Edie and her younger brother Pip are spending half-term at Fortune Farm, high in the Irish mountains, with their grandmother Lolly. They haven’t visited Fortune Farm for years and Edie has been dreading it for months. They spent all their holidays there when Dad was alive and Edie doesn’t like thinking about Dad... even the happy memories haunt her too much. When Edie uncovers a clue that could lead her to long-lost Viking treasure, it’s just the adventure she needs to take her mind off Dad. But the adventure soon takes an unnerving and dangerous turn, and Edie discovers that Fortune Farm has more secrets, mysteries and ghosts than she had ever dared to dream of. Kirtley’s choice of a remote farmhouse in the Irish wilderness delivers all the spooky vibes for a ghostly adventure full of powerful, heartfelt emotions and spine-tingling drama that will have youngsters racing to the final page. And with buried secrets waiting to be uncovered, and an ancient mystery to solve, this is a Halloween adventure with a big, big heart!
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Black Gables
Eibhlís Carcione

WELCOME to the world’s creepiest school! If gothic vibes are the thrills and chills you seek this Halloween, enter – if you dare! – the ghostly entrance of a dark and forbidding village school where the air is fetid, the trees are like witches’ fingers, and nothing seems right. Soak up the atmospherics in another spooky adventure from Eibhlís Carcione, a children's writer and poet from Cork city in Ireland, whose gothic debut, Welcome to Dead Town Raven McKay, was a Times Summer read and a bestseller. Rosella’s mother has lost her memory after an accident and her family have returned to Black Gables, where she grew up, in the hope something will stir her memory. But all is not right at Black Gables... in fact everything is wrong. The headteacher, Mr Edge is beyond sinister and he seems to be communicating with the lake ghouls. The school lies at the edge of a dark lake in the village of Black Gables where the hills are haunted by the curlew’s call. The school and village take their name from two looming black gables, all that’s left of an old workhouse where many died. The walls between the gables are all gone and the gables form a ghostly entrance to the school, standing there like the backs of two stone beasts, all overgrown with brambles and with the wind whistling through dead windows. Beyond is the Stygian lake with its strange waters that change colours... and Rosella doesn’t like it one bit! Black Gables is a fantastical feast of gothic, a lush and descriptive mystery adventure perfect for tingling spines and raising goosebumps. At its dark heart is Rosella, thrown into a school full of menacing teachers, a positively ghoulish headteacher, and a host of strange creatures and apparitions. Truly a class act!
This book is published on October 24.
(Everything with Words, paperback, £8.99)

Age 8 plus
Ministry of Mischief
Alex Foulkes and Nikolas Ilic

MAGIC, friendship and some VERY naughty monsters! Alex Foulkes, whose debut series, Rules for Vampires, delighted a host of mischievous young readers, is back with more entertaining mayhem and misbehaviour as she invites youngsters to step into a land where being bad is one BIG adventure. This hilarious new adventure – the first of a new series – is filled with naughty magical creatures and unexpected friendships and comes with the anarchic illustrations of Nikolas Ilic. Joey and Harry do NOT like each other. Stuck together on a school trip to a museum, things couldn’t get any worse... until they meet some incorrigible monsters. The imps are on a field trip of their own, bringing bad luck to the human world. They quickly decide to take the children back to Impland, where they’ve come from, and feed them to their king. But what exactly lies ahead for Joey and Harry at the Ministry of Mischief? Will they make it back home in time for tea, or will they be stuck with these misbehaving imps forever?  Devilishly funny and simply brimming with naughtiness, this is the perfect read for your own young mischief-makers!
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Kevin the Vampire:
A Fanged and Fearsome Fiend
Matt Brown and Flavia Sorrentino

IT'S Halloween so what better time to catch up with Kevin Aurelius, a vampire of the very nicest kind! Award-winning author Matt Brown and Italian illustrator Flavia Sorrentino fly in for the third book in their frightfully funny series starring the lovable Kevin who’s just like any other (almost) eleven-year-old... well, apart from his fangs and the fact that he’s immortal. And in his new adventure, the time has come for Kevin’s Gloaming. This is a test that every nearly eleven-year-old must pass to show they have all the necessary skills to be a vampire, including facing Bernard the Destroyer, the most fearsome vampire there ever was. Along the way, Kevin will have to show he can transform into a bat, mind-speak and melt into the darkness... which would be fine except he hasn’t quite mastered the melt yet. If Kevin doesn’t pass, he’ll be banished forever. Is there anyone who can help him? Youngsters love getting their teeth into a feast of fiendish fun with Kevin, a reassuring hero who brings with him important messages about empathy, understanding and celebrating our differences. Packed to the fangs with fabulous fantasy and monstrous fun, and brought to life by Sorrentino’s horribly hilarious illustrations, Kevin’s adventures ensure youngsters have the last – and longest – laugh.
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Witch’s New Trick
Caroline Crowe and Jess Pauwels

YOU'RE never too young to join in the fun of Halloween so dish up a delicious concoction of fun, fangs and friendships with this bewitching picture book from author Caroline Crowe and illustrator Jess Pauwels. The moon cast long shadows that crept through the park, Pumpkins grinned gruesomely lighting the dark, Inside her cottage, a witch cast a spell, And let out a gigantic hiccup as well! Hazel Broomstick is a witch in a fix because magic and hiccups are not a good mix...  and on the eve of Halloween that could be a disaster! Her hiccups are making her spells do some very funny things. Nobody wants a pink, fluffy witch’s cat, or a cute pumpkin. Luckily her friends are here to help... now what do witches find REALLY scary? Knock, knock... it’s a FAIRY! Crowe’s rhyming romp is a delight to read to little ones and Pauwels casts a spell with her richly detailed and colourful illustrations. Magical mayhem for readers of every age!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Old MacPumpkin Had a Farm
Katrina Charman and Georgie Birkett

A FAVOURITE old rhyme gets an adorably spooky Halloween twist in a terrific ‘trick or treat’ picture book from two award winners, writer Katrina Charman and illustrator Georgie Birkett. Old MacPumpkin had a farm. Eek! Ahh! Eek! Ahh! Ohhh! And on that farm she had... lots of spooky friends! A cat, a bat, a spider, a skeleton, a witch, a ghost and even a monster! Old MacPumpkin is too busy taking care of the farm animals to notice, until... Knock! Knock! Who’s that at the door? With Charman’s playful text, Birkett’s quirky illustrations and a fantastic fold-out trick-or-treat party ending, this is an ideal introduction to the fun season of Halloween.
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £12.99)

Age One plus
Guess Who? Boo to You!
Katie Woolley and Grasya Oliyko

WHAT youngster can resist a game of knock, knock... particularly when there’s Halloween fun behind every door! Meet Ghost and his spooky friends in this split-page picture book with intriguing ‘door’ flaps to lift, surprises at every turn, and a mirror ending that ensures little ones have the last laugh. Knock, knock! Guess who? Join in the Halloween adventure as the friendly characters deliver Halloween treats to one another. Just knock on the door and open it to reveal who has been booed! This not-so-spooky picture book – filled with friendly characters, Katie Woolley’s delightful rhyme and Ukrainian Grasya Oliyko’s bold and colourful illustrations – is the perfect introduction to Halloween for little children. Simply spooktacular!
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £12.99)