CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Dragon riding, a ghost town and a land of magic

Find yourself a dragon and join in the fun of a treasure-hunting mission, tag along with family’s trip of a lifetime as it takes a terrifying turn, visit a land of magic and wonder for a thrilling, high-stakes adventure, and meet a spotty schoolboy who discovers he’s actually a mythological monster in a super new selection

Age 8 plus
Dragonflar
Jamie Hammond

TEAM UP with a dragon and find the hidden treasure! Add fire to your youngsters’ spring reading with Dragonflare, a brilliantly conceived adventure story that blends thrills, teamwork, lots of laughs and, best of all, the fun of interactive dragon-riding. Readers will love solving the puzzles to find the gold in this epic standalone book from Jamie Hammond, the bestselling author and illustrator of Grumpfort… an exciting reading quest which comes packed with Hammond’s richly detailed black and white illustrations. So join the excitement and accept an invitation to compete in the Wingrider Trials on Dragonflare Island! Do you have what it takes to become a dragon rider, solve the puzzles and find the treasure? Flynn, known as a bad boy, believes he definitely doesn’t so when a dragon kidnaps him to be her partner in the trials, things get complicated. Now they’re stuck in a labyrinth full of hungry monsters, impossible obstacle courses, and backstabbing competitors. To win, they will need brains, bravery and – worst of all – teamwork. But the trials are hiding a deadly secret, and if Flynn and his dragon don’t win, the whole island could be doomed... Set in the same world as the Grumpfort books, and with the added challenge of treasure-hunting twist at its big, kind, beating heart, Dragonflare brings us a host of lovable characters, an irresistible charm, and themes of friendship, determination and bravery. What more could young readers ask for?
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £8.99)

Age 11 plus
The Night House Files: The House of Horrors
Dan Smith and Luke Brookes

GET ready to have your spine well and truly tingled as award-winning author and master of creepy sci-fi, Dan Smith, returns with the third book of his super-charged, supernatural Night House Files series which has included The Deadsoul Project and The Wintermoor Lights, and is full of thrills, chills and some seriously scary science. At the heart of this gripping and gruesome tale is a secret organisation called The Night House which exposes some horrifying ‘truths’ and this time the focus is on the bloodcurdling mystery of what lurks inside Dr Kilgore’s House of Horrors. Deep in the Texan desert, the Slade family’s trip of a lifetime takes a terrifying turn when their car crashes on the highway. Stranded and alone, they’re picked up by passing trucker Sam who leads them to a long-abandoned ghost town, Coyote Creek. There the family are forced to enter Dr Kilgore’s House of Horrors, a nightmarish maze filled with sinister, all-too lifelike waxworks and bone-chilling secrets. Will they find a way to escape or will they become the latest victims of the horrors that await? Packed with multi-visual elements like diary entries, interview transcripts and newspaper clippings, and Brookes’ wonderfully graphic and atmospheric black and white illustrations, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this fast-paced, bone-chilling adventure will hook in readers from the first page… and is best read in daylight hours!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Legacy: The Shadow Rises
Tom Fickling, Will Fickling
and Zak Simmonds-Hurn

IMAGINE an all-powerful empire, a land of magic and wonder, and a dark god that hungers for its destruction! Legacy: The Shadow Rises is the first thrilling book in an epic three-part graphic novel fantasy series published by David Fickling in partnership with comic powerhouse The Phoenix. Featuring all the characters from The Phoenix comic strip that readers know and love, written by brothers Tom and Will Fickling, and fabulously illustrated by Zak Simmonds-Hurn, this all-action, high-stakes adventure stars the incredible Scarlett Thawn, heir to the great city of Hightown, who learns that her family has been attacked. Forced to give up her dreams of becoming a mage, Scarlett returns home but the battle to prove her legacy will be far from simple as sinister forces have taken hold of the city. Can Scarlett, with the help of mysterious new arrival Rex, defeat these evil powers and claim what is rightfully hers? With stunning and vibrant artwork bringing Scarlett’s perilous world to life, and a story tingling with daring and danger, this is a series destined have fans of thrills and chills longing for more!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus
Minotaur Boy
Shane Hegarty and Ruby Fresson

WHEN 12-year-old Alex wakes up with a spot the size of Mars on his forehead, he thinks it’s the worst day of his life. Little does he know that it’s just the beginning! With great power comes great embarrassment in this hilarious, heartwarming twist on Greek mythology from Irish author Shane Hegarty and illustrator Ruby Fresson whose work is inspired by early 20th century comics and Japanese art. Alex is like any other 12-year-old… he’s trying to survive school, navigate awkward body changes, and avoid his parents’ embarrassing talks. But Alex is hiding a secret... he is actually part-minotaur. You read that right – part-boy, part-bull. Instead of just battling with spots the size of Mars (thanks, puberty) and the looming school musical, he also has to worry about horns, hooves, and seriously hairy toes! And Alex soon learns that he isn’t the only monster in town. Every creature of myth has a legendary destiny and Alex is about to find out his… Expect loads of mythological chaos, heroics on an epic scale, heart, humour and a fantastical (but also relatable) twist on the everyday embarrassments of growing up and struggling to fit in, as Hegarty lets his imagination loose on a spectacular world of myth, magic and monsters.
(DK Children, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Star Kitties: Detective Kitty is on the Case!
Laura Ellen Anderson

STEP into a magical new world where stars are grown and forever friends are made in a cute and cuddly new two-colour, highly-illustrated young fiction series from best-selling author and illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson. Stars of the show are the Star Kitties who live on the secret planet of Whiskery Paw and each has an exciting story to tell. The lovable, magical kitties get up to all sorts of fun adventures and mischief with their best human friend Tabitha Flair. Today it’s Tabitha’s birthday and she can’t wait to spend it with the Star Kitties. But when she gets to Whiskery Paw, Queen Moggaline has gone missing and any plans for a birthday party soon change into a search party. Can Tabitha solve the missing moggy mystery and still have a super special birthday? With each book illustrated in two colours – this first one in eye-catching turquoise and black – the Star Kitties series is just purrfect for cat lovers and readers looking for a first chapter book filled with adventure, friendship and furry fun. Get ready to join in!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 6 plus
SuperQuesters: Mission: Desert Danger
Paul Ian Cross and Katarina Gasko

DIG in deep for an exciting adventure in a unique interactive story that will need your brainpower to help solve a mystery... and stop a rogue archaeologist’s plan to destroy the desert. SuperQuesters: Mission: Desert Danger is the third magical adventure in the brilliantly brainy SuperQuesters first chapter book series which aims to fire up imaginations and inspire the scientists, engineers, mathematicians and technology experts of the future. Best friends Lilli, Leo and Bea are having an exciting day at the beach. They have everything they need for fun, including their Questland game and their special amulets. During their sandcastle competition, they spot a message in a bottle. It shows strange hieroglyphs and the word Help! At that moment, their amulets glow and, in a flash, they are back in Questland. Transformed into the SuperQuesters – Lillicorn, Leo Zoom and Bea Bumble – they arrive on the banks of a dried-up river in the desert. As they gaze at a towering pyramid, they meet Arid the Sand Sprite, who is very upset. Skitter the scarab beetle tells them that Arid’s brother, Rainveil the River Sprite, has been captured by the sneaky archaeologist Professor Vortec along with his beetle friends. The professor plans to destroy the desert in pursuit of ancient treasure. The SuperQuesters leap into action. Working with Arid and Skitter, they discover the professor intends to steal the cursed treasure using an ancient spell. Can the friends use their STEM skills and courage to crack secret codes, dive for treasure, navigate the dunes and defeat giant mummybots in a race against time to stop the professor?

This exciting new adventure story – written by Paul Ian Cross and illustrated by Katarina Gasko – is embedded with real-life fun facts, puzzles, STEM activities and experiments to try at home or school, with the added bonus of a map and glossary. Expertly designed to support the National Curriculum for Key Stage 1 and 2 and develop children’s STEM skills in fun and creative new ways, this is the perfect book for youngsters eager to discover their multi-tasking, inner superhero!
(QuestFriendz, paperback, £6.99)

Age 6 plus
Goal Squad: Win the Cup
Scott Allen and Lidia Fernandez

MEET star football striker Leo who has one big dream… to win trophies! But how will he cope when an ankle injury leaves him sitting on the bench? Sports writer, editor and digital-content specialist Scott Allen kicks off an exciting and relatable new football series, packed with action and drama, just in time for this summer’s FIFA World Cup. So pull on your boots and join eight-year-old Leo who dreams of playing Premier League football. As TIGERS' star striker, he’s got the skills… but not the luck. When their season opener against the EAGLES goes wrong, everything falls apart. A devastating ankle injury sidelines Leo just when his team needs him most. His rival Max steps up as substitute, levelling the score, but leaving TIGERS dangling in the relegation zone. With only three matches left to save their season and a knockout cup within reach, time is running out. Can Leo recover before it’s too late and will TIGERS avoid the drop? And is that a talent scout watching from the stands? Lidia Fernandez adds to the fun with her high octane illustrations, and with important messages about teamwork and ten questions on football knowledge at the end of the book to test young footie brains, this new series is perfectly on goal for early and reluctant readers.
(Scholastic, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
The Little Cook’s Handbook
Lizzie Mabbott and Charlotte Dumortier

THE whole family can get cooking (and eating!) with this vibrant, hands-on cookbook that inspires young children to explore global flavours, learn kitchen skills and share joyful meals. The Little Cook’s Handbook is the work of Lizzie Mabbott, a self-taught cook and award-winning food writer, and Charlotte Dumortier, a Belgium-based artist, and together they celebrate food and explore new and unusual flavours. From global recipes to tips on sourcing fresh ingredients and how different foods can be prepared and enjoyed, this beautifully illustrated cookbook is a visual feast and a delight to the senses. Learn how to make dumplings, apple turnovers, spiced fish fingers and other delicious dishes with a fun and encouraging text from Mabbott and Dumortier’s lively artwork bringing each recipe to life. With handy tips and techniques, easy-to-follow recipes, including some suitable for children as young as two, step-by-step instructions and the engaging text, the book is perfect for little cooks, and will excite and inspire young children to get involved in the whole cooking process and bring their families together at mealtimes. Bon appetit!
(Big Picture Press, paperback, £11.99)

Age 5 plus
Kitty and the Moonflower Mystery
Paula Harrison and Jenny Løvlie

WHEN you’re a girl by day and a cat by night, adventures are never far away! Author Paula Harrison and illustrator Jenny Løvlie work their special magic on this fun-filled first chapter book series which features enchanting adventures with feisty feline star Kitty and her cat crew on daring missions. Beautifully presented and strikingly illustrated in tones of grey and orange on almost every page, superhero Kitty’s magical stories are simply purrfect for cat lovers, young adventurers and all newly confident readers. Fearless Kitty is a superhero-in-training with feline superpowers. She dreams of being just like her superhero mum one day, but she’s still got a lot to learn. In this exciting new adventure, we join Kitty for a series of enchanting adventures by the light of the moon. It’s night-time at the Botanical Gardens. Kitty and her cat crew are there to catch a glimpse of the new rare flowers exhibition. But someone has stolen the prize exhibit… the exotic moonflower, with its beautiful glowing petals that shine like the moon! If it isn’t found soon it might not survive, so Kitty must use her cat-like powers to find the thief and save the moonflower just in the nick of time. Enjoy cheeky cats, night-time naughtiness and giggles galore as the merry band of moggies set out on a daring moonlight mission!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
Jolly Monster Town: The Party Pickle
Rong Rong

WHO can resist a jolly monster? There’s a whole town full of jolly monsters waiting to fire up your young readers’ imaginations in the first book of an enchanting new, full-colour chapter series from author and illustrator Rong Rong. It’s the start of another busy day in Jolly Monster Town and Twiggy the Log Monster is so excited about her sleepover party. She wants everything to be perfect. And she definitely doesn’t need anyone else’s help… or does she? After a disastrous snack mishap and a few monster muddles, things start to go wrong and Twiggy worries that her party won’t be perfect after all. Maybe if she lets her friends lend a hand, she will realise that her party can be jolly instead! Children will love spotting Twiggy's friends, Ralph the Pufferfish Monster and Uno the Cyclops Cat, and helping to discover what happened at the turnip farm. With delightful details to explore and lots of wacky characters, this joyful book is perfect for reading for pleasure and encouraging imaginative play. Once in Jolly Monster Town, readers will never want to leave!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Croaky: Danger at Crater Canyon
Matty Long

HE'S froggy, fearless and ready for adventure! Leap into an alien world full of paranormal fun and frights in the fifth book of a crazily chaotic and action-packed full-colour chapter book series from the talented Super Happy Magic Forest creator Matty Long. Croaky Hopper isn’t like other little frogs. He dreams of hopping across crocodile-infested waters, not sitting on a lilypad in a pond! So when his Aunt Lilly signs him up for the Woggle Scouts, he expects to spend his time crafting and selling cookies. But he soon discovers there’s much more in store at Crater Canyon when Croaky and his friends set off to investigate a UFO in a hot-air balloon. When faced with baking desert heat, hissing snakes, rickety rope bridges, and mysterious UFOs flying about, will they get to the bottom of the mystery… and are there really such things as aliens? Packed with Long’s classic humour, lovable characters and eye-catching illustrations, this high-octane series is ideal for emerging readers and youngsters who like their laughs to come with lots of pictures.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
Isadora Moon: At Home with the Moons
Series edited by Hayley Down

GET ready for a houseful of puzzles, colouring, drawing, and stickers with everyone’s half-vampire, half-fairy Isadora Moon! Harriet Muncaster’s enchanting world of Isadora Moon is now an animated television series – as seen on Sky Kids and Now TV – and it springs to vibrant life in this magical story and activity book which is perfect for reading together or for young fans taking their very first steps into independent reading. Explore every nook and cranny of Isadora’s house… from the vampire bat tower to the fairy garden, there's a host of fun activities and stickers to be found. Which will your favourite room be? Celebrating ten years of Isadora’s magical mischief, this new TV Tie-In range brings the stunning artwork, well-loved characters and familiar stories from the TV series straight into children’s hands. 

Also in the TV series tie-in is Isadora Moon: Broken Wand, an exciting picture book retelling of one of Isadora’s on-screen adventures. We find Isadora eager to make a special present for Mum’s birthday. But when she accidentally breaks her fairy wand, turns Dad green, and covers the whole house in daisies, will Isadora be able to put everything right before it’s time to cut the cake and celebrate? Designed especially for young readers, the books build reading confidence and support early vocabulary. Accessible and joyful for emerging readers, the books are ideal for bringing screen-time magic into story time.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99 each)

Age 3 plus
The Ice Cream Crocodile
Mariesa Dulak and Rebecca Cobb

MEET a crocodile who refuses to be sidelined in a dazzling new picture book from the award-winning team of rhyme queen author Mariesa Dulak and star illustrator Rebecca Cobb.  The Ice Cream Crocodile is a sparkling blend of word perfect rhyming with outstandingly expressive artwork and delivers a gentle, cautionary tale about prejudice in all its forms. Elvis loves the circus life… the thrills, the skills, the treats, the wide-eyed crowds that cheer out loud, the rows of polished seats. But Sidney, the ringmaster, only lets fluffy and feathery animals perform on stage. Can Elvis the crocodile show his STAR potential? This heartwarming tale of a glorious menagerie of circus creatures is filled with fun, colour, rhyme, oodles of charm, and illustrations with rich, imaginative detail. A visual and verbal treat!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Mission: Bedtime
Tracey Corderoy and Alex Patrick

IT'S bedtime in the bear house, but is Kit sleepy? No she is not… not one tiny bit! Here’s a chaotic caper perfectly created for bedtime reading, and on a secret mission to transport your little ones into the land of nod! Mission: Bedtime, which has a spectacular glow-in-the-dark cover to add an extra sparkle to bedtime, comes from best-selling author Tracey Corderoy and illustrator Alex Patrick who loves creating original characters. It’s bedtime in the bear house and Mum, Dad and Grandpa are all super-sleepy, but little Kit is wide awake! Inspired by Kit’s favourite cartoon, Agent Penguin, Mum, Dad and Grandpa transform into Agent Exhauster, Agent Bubble-Boss, and Agent Gadget. Their objective… get Kit to bed! Will she EVER go to sleep? Action-packed, brimming with humour and Corderoy’s fast paced, fun storytelling, and brought to life by Patrick’s vibrant illustrations full of spy-tastic details and colourful gadgets, Mission: Bedtime is the ideal story to help little ones settle down for sleep after a busy day.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

The Enemy’s Wife

Deborah Swift

AFTER a year spent fleeing from country to country to escape the ruthless grip of the Nazis, young Polish Jew Zofia Kowalski thought she had finally found safety, ‘stillness’ and a place to call home with her beloved Japanese husband Haru in the city of Kobe.

But when Haru is unwillingly conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army, Zofia is evacuated as a foreign national to China where, along with the other Jewish refugees and some remaining Westerners, she finds herself far from home in Shanghai, trapped under the increasingly brutal Japanese occupation, and fearful that she will never see her husband again.

Bestselling Lancashire-based author Deborah Swift, whose Secret Agents wartime trilogy thrilled fans and new readers alike, returns with The Enemy’s Wife, second heart-pounding book in her new trilogy, Survivors of War, which opened last year with Last Train to Freedom and captured hearts and minds on every second of the unforgettable journey with refugee Zofia. 

Swift (pictured below), who lives in Warton, near Carnforth, used to work backstage as a scenographer in many north-west theatres, including Liverpool Playhouse and The Duke’s theatre, Lancaster, and it is her imaginative flair, painstaking research, and keen eye for drama and authenticity, that has made her historical novels so viscerally real and exciting.

And she once more turns to a less familiar corner of the Second World War’s real history in this emotion-packed page-turner which explores the true story of wartime Shanghai where Jewish refugees, defenceless British and American citizens, and the native Chinese people found themselves stranded and at the mercy of the Japanese invaders.

It’s a story filled with privation, desperation, menace, resilience and resourcefulness as we follow a small but determined band of disparate people facing fear, loss and anguish but also the comforts of hope, friendship and love in their battle to survive in a hostile world.

In December of 1941, Zofia has been torn from her happy home and what she hoped was, at long last, a new life in Japan with her businessman husband Haru Kimura whom she married after a whirlwind romance. But with Haru now in the Japanese army, Zofia is regarded as an alien Jewish refugee and no longer welcome in the country, and has been transported to the Restricted Sector for Stateless Refugees in Japanese-occupied Shanghai where she is far from home, surrounded by a country at war, living in virtual poverty, and only just surviving.

Zofia has found unexpected comfort in a bond with Hilly Hoffman, a ‘half-child, half-adult’ 13-year-old refugee girl who escaped Nazi-occupied Austria after her parents were arrested and latched on to Zofia on the boat to China with the two of them now becoming inseparable. To make ends meet for them both, Hilly is earning coppers at a street news kiosk and Zofia is working as a home tutor to the two children of wealthy American shipping magnate Theo Carter who lives in the exclusive International Settlement enclave of Shanghai occupied by rich Westerners.

Meanwhile, in Japan, Haru is in training and learning the harsh lessons of what it’s like to be in ‘the cold brutal family of the Japanese army,’ a place of horrors where the message is that disobedience means not only ignominy, but also torture and death. And when Japanese troops take over the whole of China, violence tightens its grip on all parts of Shanghai and Theo arranges for his wife and children to leave the city while he stays behind to secure his lucrative business. Increasingly in mortal danger, Zofia and Hilly, whose blonde good looks seem to bring trouble in their wake, move in with Theo but with every passing day, the terrors of war and Haru’s absence begin to reshape Zofia’s world… and her heart. Can she still love someone who has become the enemy?

Shanghai proves to be a fascinating and breathtaking stage set for Swift’s new wartime thriller, providing a raw and revealing portrait of people whose lives were cruelly displaced and too often destroyed, and for whom the conflict brought daily challenges and deadly dangers that we can only imagine today. The sights and sounds of a city under siege become chillingly real as we witness the precarious existence of the brave and selfless Zofia, the naïve and wilful teenager Hilly, and wealthy, principled businessman Theo who is severely tested when he finds himself on the wrong side of Japanese law and in doing so, discovers the true meaning of endurance and of friendship.

For Haru Kimura, an intellectual steeped in Western culture, the war wreaks change of a very different kind when he is conscripted into the Japanese army. Embracing the Samurai warrior code means a soldier must never surrender and to comply with this, recruits are beaten into submission. As Haru transforms into one of Japan’s elite soldiers, he faces the risk of losing all his humanity.

Swift’s success as a historical novelist lies in the incredible depth and rich detail of her research, an aspect of her writing which she finds the most enjoyable and rewarding. And once again it is her immaculate rendering of time, place and people with such authenticity, intensity and emotional heft that marks out The Enemy’s Wife as one of this year’s most powerful and affecting reads.
(HQ, paperback, £9.99)

The Seven O’Clock Club

Amelia Ireland

THE journey through the loneliness and darkness of grief – and its many emotional stages – is one of life’s toughest trials but it’s also one for which many human beings appear to be singularly unprepared.

It’s a concept that has been seized on and explored with insight, sensitivity and some storytelling magic by lawyer and debut novelist Amelia Ireland (pictured below) who wrote this moving, intriguing, surprising and utterly unique tale about trauma, healing and recovery in memory of her mother who died shortly after being diagnosed with early onset dementia.

Harnessing all those intense and harrowing feelings that litter the path to understanding and acceptance – anger, denial, depression, despair and guilt – The Seven O'Clock Club takes us into the troubled lives of four lost and broken strangers brought together in a London tower block to take part in an experimental treatment designed to heal broken hearts. The result is an immersive, powerful and slow-reveal story... one with an extraordinary twist at its heart which will have readers gasping, crying, smiling and hurriedly turning the pages as the therapy sessions with an unconventional woman called Genevieve take us above, behind and far beyond the normal healing process.

‘There comes a time in every person’s life when you have to take a gamble.’ Genevieve Dempsey, a determined woman with an unusual theory to test, is about to launch a series of therapy sessions for four very different people who all suffered a traumatic experience six months ago, have shown a dogged inability to put it behind them, but have all accepted an invitation to attend tonight's counselling session.

Their scepticism about this new kind of grief therapy – and their unnervingly perceptive counsellor Genevieve – means they are all wary, but as the weeks go by, they find themselves returning again and again, pulled back to work their way toward healing, even if it means first facing the pain head-on. Fifty-two-year-old Victoria is a sharp-tongued lawyer at a cut-throat City law firm and has no intention of letting down her defensive wall and admitting that she’s grieving. Her privileged upbringing is one she would rather forget but it might be the one thing she needs to acknowledge in order to move on.

Callum, aged 29, is a rock star who found success too young. Struggling to stay on the straight and narrow, and forced to keep out of the public eye by his record label, he is one drink away from losing it all and rages against the world so he can forget a day that haunts him.

Mischa, aged just 20, is a fragile and impressionable young woman from an east London council estate who left school to be a full-time carer to her ailing mother. Plagued by loneliness and blackouts she can’t control, all she wants is something or someone to live for, and a place to belong.

And then there’s 32-year-old Freya, an interior designer and a kind, sensitive wife who had a picture-perfect home, marriage and career but can now barely bring herself to leave the house because of panic attacks, or admit that the life she had isn’t necessarily the one she wants back.

But there is another reason these four people have been brought together. And when that perfectly ordinary tower block near Westminster turns out to be not quite so ordinary, all those involved in the group are forced to make some unexpected – and, for some, impossible – decisions.

Grief is one of the most powerful human emotions and the grieving process can both aid and hamper mental recovery. Grieve for too long and it can become a stumbling block, but embrace it, understand it and accept it, and it can be the source of new-found strength and provide light at the end of a long, dark and seemingly endless tunnel. In this way, Ireland cannot help but capture the hearts and minds of readers as she digs deep into the human psyche to explore grief and its many facets. Packed with wisdom and empathy, The Seven O’Clock Club meticulously follows the rollercoaster journeys of Victoria, Callum, Freya and Mischa... each trapped in one or more of the various painful stages of grief, and each witnessing their lives and secrets unfolding through a series of sometimes shocking revelations.

Through Genevieve and her previously untested techniques, each of these flawed but very human characters is forced to step into the arena, face unpalatable truths, discover lost confidence and strength, and finally deal with the raw emotions and hidden fears that are holding back their recovery. Unsurprisingly, their reawakening engenders a whole range of reactions and behaviours from anger, sarcasm and outright hostility to unexpected affection, mutual understanding, flashes of dark humour and a warm connection.

Superbly plotted, written straight from the heart, packed with drama, suspense and mystery, and featuring a soupçon of magic, messages of hope, friendship and love, and that unforgettable, jaw-dropping twist, The Seven O’Clock Club proves to be the cleverest, most thought-provoking, and ultimately most uplifting read you’ll encounter this spring.
(Zaffre, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Ghoulish giggles, genie games and missing marvels

Prepare for ghoulishly good giggles with an unlikely vampire in an exciting debut novel, enjoy a thrilling adventure in a world of mystery, magic and genies, and meet the last mammoth and other infamous missing marvels in a fang-tactic new selection 

Age 8 plus
Alex Abbott is Undead
Louise Austin and Katie Kear

IF you’re in search of a brilliant book hook for your far from eager readers, look no further than this fang-tastically funny debut from former lawyer, mother-of-three and now debut author Louise Austin whose diary of a reluctant vampire aged 11½ is guaranteed to leave them ghoulishly giggly! Alex Abbott is Undead is the first of this monstrously madcap adventure series which is illustrated throughout by joyful illustrator Katie Kear and delivers a hilarious twist on the traditional vampire tales. Star of the show is Alex Abbott whose diary reveals:  ‘I was a completely ordinary kid until I accidentally got turned into a vampire. I have cool powers but they’re seriously not worth it because I have to: 1. Keep the powers secret, even from my best friends Archie and Mia (nightmare) 2. Still go to school every day (thanks, Mum and Dad) 3. Never eat chocolate, chips or ice-cream ever again (the WORST) Actually, that’s not the worst. Trying to find a cure, I blundered into the supernatural world, broke an ancient pact and extinguished 32 tiny fire sprites (oops!). Now I’m on an epic quest to right those wrongs and make a deal with an ancient Sicilian fire demon to get my life back. What could possibly go wrong?’ Austin’s inventive, laugh-out-loud and high-octane story is not just a feast of fiendish supernatural fun but also a clever cover for heartwarming messages about the importance of family, friendship and teamwork, and the perfect bait for reluctant readers!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Genie Game
Jordan Ifueko

ONE wish could change everything, but what if the game is rigged? Bestselling US author Jordan Ifueko brings young readers a dazzling debut middle-grade adventure set in a glitzy, dystopian Los Angeles where a young girl on a mission to save her sister finds herself thrust into a world of genies, magic and mystery! Thirteen-year-old Valentine Adesanya is desperate to find her missing big sister, Mango, so when a mysterious text from her leads Valentine to a boba shop, she follows. But when she arrives, instead of finding her sister, Valentine is pulled into the Genie Realm, a magical world where kids become ‘genies’ and grant wishes to power the Trio Trust, the mega-corporations secretly running Gloss Angeles. To escape and rescue Mango, Valentine must compete in the Genie Game… a wish-granting contest where only cleverness, grit and a little chaos will get her to the top. But as she climbs the leaderboard, Valentine uncovers a monstrous secret buried beneath the glittering surface. Has the game been rigged against her since the start? How did the Trio Trust get so powerful, and why do they seem so afraid of Valentine Adesanya? Youngsters will love meeting Valentine who, armed only with her brain and her boldness, takes on the bad guys in a thrilling, genre-bending world. With themes of identity, political activism and resistance, The Genie Game is both thought-provoking and exciting.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
The World’s Last Mammoth
and Other Missing Marvels
Mike Barfield and Franziska Höllbacher

GET ready for a mammoth mystery tour through the world’s most infamous missing marvels! From the missing pages of the Library of Alexandria to the whereabouts of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, The World’s Last Mammoth and other Missing Marvels – written by writer, performer and cartoonist Mike Barfield and illustrated by Franziska Höllbacher – is a treasure trove of mysterious and long-gone things… absent animals, bygone buildings, missing monarchs, past palaces and more. But all is NOT lost because along the way, readers will also find the survivors and modern marvels of things gone by. Explore the lost splendour of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, ponder the fate of historical figures like Cleopatra or Genghis Khan and unravel the mystery behind famous American pilot Amelia Earhart who disappeared without trace on a groundbreaking flight around the world in 1937. And while we may no longer have dinosaurs, we have fascinating fossils to study instead. Discover how we can call the Nicobar Pigeon the extinct Dodo’s closet-living relative, and that even though the dancing plague of 1518 is long gone, dance trends like Gangnam style still spread like wildfire today. Packed with fascinating facts and Barfield’s trademark sense of fun, and Höllbacher’s comical and colourful illustrations, this is a thrilling exploration of things long gone but be warned… you may find yourself getting lost in laughter along the way!
(Templar Books, paperback, £10.99)

Age 5 plus
Mabel and Merryglow: The Spark
Anne Montel, Loïc Clément and Julien Arnal

HELP your littles ones to banish their fears of the dark with this warm and comforting graphic novel-inspired picture book, the first of a series of featuring the adventures of Mabel the tortoise and Merryglow, a firefly. Written by Anne Montel and Loïc Clément, illustrated by Julien Arnal, and translated from the French by Charis Ainslie, this cleverly imagined story stars a turtle facing her fears and discovering the value of true friendship when the darkness feels overwhelming. When night falls, Mabel the tortoise’s fears come alive. She could hide in her shell like her family but she’s too afraid of the dark! With nowhere to hide, she spends her days fearing the night ahead. When she finally does fall asleep, she has terrible dreams of being locked in the darkness. But when kind-hearted firefly Merryglow joins her for tea, he brings with him a spark of hope. He teaches Mabel to be brave in the night, to embrace the darkness and safety of her shell, and no longer be ashamed of her fears. With empowering and inspirational messages about hope when all feels lost, beautiful, atmospheric and panelled illustrations, the new Mabel and Merryglow adventures look set to be a firm family favourite.
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 5 plus
Storm
Claire Saxby and Jess Racklyeft

‘A storm is rising. It begins with a puff. Then another.
A flutter, a ripple, a shiver shows where the breeze blows.’ 

FROM the first puff of wind to a howling gale, lightning cracks and thunder, this spectacular picture book blends rigorous scientific research, lyrical language and stunning illustrations for an evocative exploration of the birth of a thunderstorm. Created by multi-award-winning duo, author Claire Saxby and illustrator Jess Racklyeft, Storm take youngsters on a magical and mesmerising journey in which they experience the effects of wind and weather on the natural environment. Dive into the ocean and see how fish retreat as the storm takes hold, observe sand flurries and clouds clustering, take a look inside the clouds as tiny water drops join and grow, and see the full power of a storm in a dramatic, centre fold-out. Words and pictures in perfect harmony!
(Allen & Unwin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus
The Littlest Elephant: A One and Only Ruby Story
Katherine Applegate and Lita Judge

RUBY may be the littlest elephant in the herd but she’s also the luckiest! Growing up and seeing the world in a different way can be scary for little ones so introduce them to adorable baby elephant Ruby, the star of a new picture book in the modern classic One and Only series from Newbery Award-winning author Katherine Applegate and nature-loving illustrator Lita Judge. Ruby is the littlest elephant in the herd at the animal sanctuary where she lives near her best friends Ivan the silverback gorilla and Bob the lovable dog. Ruby loves all the things that make being an elephant fun, like splashing in muddy puddles and spraying water through her trunk. But there are parts of being an elephant that she doesn’t love so much, like her new tusks. The herd is preparing for Ruby’s Tuskday, a day to celebrate the fact that Ruby is growing up, and for remembering. Ruby has lots of happy memories but she also has lots of sad ones, ones that are hard to think about. Surrounded by the love of her herd and her friends, the littlest elephant will see that growing up doesn’t have to be frightening and that remembering the darkness can help us appreciate the light. Full of Applegate’s tender, empathetic words and messages, and Judge’s exquisite artwork, this poignant story emphasises the importance of honouring the past, cherishing the present, and facing the future without fear.
(Storytide, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Home is a Hug
Cindy Wume

PUT up your hands if you want a book hug! Taiwanese author and illustrator Cindy Wume works her special magic on this heartfelt picture book which explores the real meaning of home. Featuring peek-through pages and lift-the-flap surprises, Home is a Hug is a playful ode to all the places we find comfort. What does it take to build a home? Bricks and concrete, windows and walls, glass and steel? Sometimes, home is something much more… With a spare and gentle text, and Wume’s vibrant illustrations, this interactive picture book imagines the many different shapes a home can take, from an apple to an umbrella, a cardboard box, a cosy reading nook and finally a reassuring hug. The clever peek-through pages invite young readers to uncover hidden surprises, creating a deceptively simple story full of unexpected delights. Perfect for any child navigating change, this beautiful story reminds little ones that there’s always a home waiting for us at the end of the day.
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Boots and Cats
Hazel Gardner and Fred Blunt

HERE'S something new… all the joys of a toe-tapping, read-aloud picture book with the added fun of an interactive audio in a riotous introduction to beatboxing! Written by talented Preston author Hazel Gardner and illustrated by Fred Blunt (loved for his humorous and prolific artwork!), Boots and Cats comes with a free audio track from professional beatboxer Conrad Murray… simply scan the QR code and join in the beatboxing (often described as ‘music with your mouth’). Using the well-known beatboxing starting point pattern of Boots and Cats, the exhilarating book takes readers on a fantastical, magical ride, down to a deep-sea nightclub full of bobbing bunnies, dancing ducks, guinea pig wigs and a high-wire act from an elephant. Bold, wacky and brilliantly funny, this innovative, imaginative and entertaining book is bursting with wild, unexpected sounds inspired by the rhythms of beatboxing. Hilariously satisfying, Boots and Cats reminds us all to find the fun in reading aloud… and to enjoy it together!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
The Storm Cloud
Frances Stickley and Emily Hamilton

WHEN the going gets tough, it’s good to know that the brightest rainbows always appear after a storm. Frances Stickley, a former primary school teacher and trained literacy specialist, and artist and illustrator Emily Hamilton team up for this beautiful, life-affirming and hopeful picture book exploring feelings of sadness and the power of friendship to comfort and heal. It’s a wonderfully sunny spring day but Bear has woken up to find a storm cloud hanging above his head and he just can’t get rid of it. Can his caring friends, Squirrel, Rabbit and Fox, help Bear to shake off his sadness, leave his home and find his way through the lingering storm cloud above his head? Brimming with love, the joys of friendship and cute illustrations, this stunningly created picture book is ideal for conversations with little ones about big feelings and sharing their troubles.
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 2 plus
Skipping to Sammy’s Beat
Coral Voss and Blithe Fielden

LEARNING to believe in yourself is all part of growing up so introduce your youngsters to Sammy who discovers fun can fade when you don’t follow your own beat. Created by award-winning Australian author Coral Voss and Brisbane-based illustrator Blithe Fielden, Skipping to Sammy’s Beat is the perfect picture book to open discussions about following your own path in life. Sammy loves to splash in puddles, dangle from trees, look for ladybirds and skip and dance down the path to her very own beat. Tap, da-dum, tap, tap, da-dum! But when Sammy turns five, she feels silly wearing her tutu and wellingtons and so she stops dancing altogether. But after missing out on all the fun, Sammy can’t hear her beat any more… the very beat that makes her special. How will Sammy find her beat again? With its cute and cautionary tale, and Fielden’s adorable and colourable artwork, this delightful picture book will put a skip in every reader’s step! 
(New Frontier Publishing, paperback, £8.99)

Age 2 plus
Dragons and Other Creatures of the Sky
Celeste Cortright and Giulia Orecchia

CAN you guess the fantastical creature of the sky? See who’s hiding as you turn the pages of this spectacular book and meet everything from dragons to fairies as you learn about the amazing mythical creatures that fly in the sky. This ingenious, interactive board book features mystical riddles about each creature and as readers guess and turn the page, tiered layers cleverly slide to reveal answers! Written in rhyming verse by Celeste Cortright and illustrated by Giulia Orecchia, Dragons and Other Creatures of the Sky is part of Barefoot Books’ super-inventive Slide-and-See Fantastical Creatures series which boasts an interactive format which keeps kids engaged while learning and includes fact-packed endnotes about each of the creatures featured in the book. Also in the series is Mermaids and Other Creatures of the Sea which features fantastical creatures that live beneath the waves, including mermaids, krakens, monsters, sirens and sea witches. A magical, hands-on journey into the realms of fantasy!
(Barefoot Books, board books, £14.99 each)

Age one plus
The Dad Book
Forest Xiao

‘You made me brave. You made me forgiving. You made me creative. You made me your DAD.’ 

BECOMING a dad is a journey like no other so celebrate fatherhood with this warm and funny celebration of dads and fatherhood… perfect for Father’s Day, as a gift from a child, or for an expectant parent. The Dad Book comes from Forest Xiao, an author and illustrator who aspires to create books that are life-giving, convey a sense of wonder, and spark humour. From leaky nappies and early wake-ups to newborn cuddles that are too joyful to share, this hilariously relatable and brilliantly observed book reminds us of the everyday magic and sheer TIREDNESS of fatherhood. Packed with love and humour, The Dad Book is a tribute to dads everywhere… and captures all the weird and wonderful moments of being a new parent!
(Orchard Books, hardback, £9.99)

Quantum of Menace

Vaseem Khan

THE world of 007 has never lost its glamourous allure since Ian Fleming’s first book, Casino Royale, was published in 1953 and soon became the launch pad for one of the most sensational and lucrative success stories of the film industry.

In more recent times, a steady run of inventive James Bond spin-off books have thrilled both contemporary readers and die-hard fans. 

Some have focused on other characters within the Bond universe, such as Miss Moneypenny and the Double-0 section, and now Vaseem Khan (pictured below), author of two award-winning crime series set in India, has set his sights on the ingenious gadget wizard himself, Major Boothroyd (aka Q).

And hot off the presses is Quantum of Menace, first book of a quirky, clever and thoroughly entertaining new series published in partnership with the Fleming Estate and starring techno titan Q as you have never before seen him. Khan tells us that writing this fresh and fascinating Bond-fuelled series is ‘the greatest honour’ of his life but it came with challenges, not least the task of employing just the right tone for a character who has become as deeply embedded in the 007 stories as James Bond himself.

So it is pleasing to report that Khan has risen superbly to the challenge, bringing us a much more up-close-and-personal Q, a man who has lost his job at MI6 and is now operating in an increasingly fraught modern world… a place which reflects some of 21^st century life’s darkest corners but is leavened, in trademark form, by the Bond brand’s much-loved wit and satire.

We find Q at what, for him, is an extremely low ebb after being unexpectedly ousted from British Intelligence where his job as the Quartermaster involved developing technologies for MI6’s Double-O agents. His enforced redundancy from a highly specialised role at the ridiculously young age of 50 came from the new M, a woman with whom he had never got on and who turned out to be a ‘political animal for the brick-faced PM.’ It has left Q adrift and unsure of his place in a world where his time with MI6 is just a memory and where the stakes aren’t always life or death.

But the torpor of an unwanted early retirement ends abruptly when when he learns that his childhood friend, the renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances and Q is drawn back to the sleepy home village of Wickstone-on-Water where both men grew up.

Frustrated by the coroner’s ruling that Napier’s death by drowning in a local river was misadventure and the police decision to close the case, Q feels compelled to investigate, and even more so when he receives a message – containing the words ‘If you’re reading this, I’m dead’ accompanied by a complex cipher – sent to him by Napier on the day of his death.

And Q soon discovers that Napier’s secretive and ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces. Unable to prevent meeting up again with his estranged father Mort and his ex-girlfriend Kathy Burnham, who is now the local tough-as-nails DCI, Q will need help from old pal James Bond and a humanoid robot called Honeypenny (secreted out of MI6 before he left) if he is going to decode the truth and keep danger at bay.

Bond fans will relish this first outing with Q, a delicious feast of skulduggery, espionage and technological wizardry served up with a side helping of genuine emotional intensity, spine-tingling suspense, some likeable new faces, and welcome cameo appearances from forever favourites like Bond and Moneypenny. Khan puts ingenuity, dry humour and powerful psychological intensity into this gripping new addition to the Bond canon as the ever-inventive Q employs his top-secret field technology skills to investigate his friend’s suspicious death and follow a perilous twisting, turning path to justice.

Motored by the decidedly modern concept of next-generation quantum computing, but still wrapped up in the irresistible nostalgia, quirkiness and stylish authenticity of the Bond world, Quantum of Menace is buzzing with big personalities, compelling detective work, and an addictive get-up-and-go vibe. Perhaps more thoughtful, politically aware and emotionally wise than the original, this terrific new series with the inimitable Q at its heart will please both Bond and detective fiction fans. As Khan reminds us in his Author’s Note, ‘Bond is more than just a spy/unstoppable killing machine… he is a symbol of values that stand for a Britain many of us believe in.’

So fasten your seatbelts and prepare for action… Q might be out of MI6 but he’s definitely not out of the game!
(Zaffre, paperback, £9.99)

Naming Nature

A Cabinet of Natural Curiosities for Word Lovers
T.A. Barron

THE names we give to animals and plants have their own tale to tell. In French, a butterfly is papillon from a root word meaning ‘tremble.’ In Spanish, it is mariposa, in homage to the Virgin Mary, while the Russian babochka recalls tales of witches. 

Celebrated American author and passionate conservationist T.A. Barron (pictured below) explores words from across the world, and the fascinating stories that underlie our names for nature, in this beautiful, informative book illustrated with exquisite archival artwork from classic works of natural history. 

From butterflies and hummingbirds to narwhal and leopards, Naming Nature draws on etymology, folklore and linguistic nuance to uncover the meanings behind the names of plants and animals. Take elephants, for instance. 

African languages often focus on the power of the elephant… Tswana and Tsonga refer to ‘the unstoppable one’ and Zulu to ‘one crashing through.’ In ancient European languages, however, elephants were seen as commodities. 

When Homer and Hesiod wrote about ‘elephas’ in the 7^th century BC, they simply used the word for ivory. The Croatian name for a dragonfly is ‘vilin konjic’ which means ‘fairy horse’ while swallows are known to the Mapuche people of South America as ‘pilmaiquen’ or ‘spirits that fly.’ 

Whether rooted in mythology, survival or awe, the words reveal the deep interconnection between language and the natural world. A joyful and fascinating celebration of both cultural and ecological diversity, Naming Nature is a stunning gift book for nature lovers, language enthusiasts, and anyone who is simply curious about the ways we describe and speak of the natural world.
(Riverside Press, hardback, £18.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Nature buddies, classic horror and Japanese fantasy

Discover some of nature’s remarkable friendships, revel in a Gothic masterpiece that can’t fail to thrill and chill, escape into a stunning fantasy world where Japanese folklore comes to life, and treat yourself to the final book of an electrifying debut trilogy set in a cosmic realm with a spectacular selection of new children’s books

Age 9 plus
Made for Each Other
Joanna McInerney
and Georgina Taylor

IT always pays to have a friend… particularly if you live in the natural world! Marvel at the wonders of nature’s symbiotic relationships in this big, colourful book packed with amazing facts which have been researched by writer and editor Joanna McInerney, and brought to colourful life by the stunning artwork of South Africa-based illustrator Georgina Taylor. Youngsters will love discovering how teamwork, or an unexpected partner, could make all the difference to survival in the wild, whether it’s warding off predators, removing parasites or aiding reproduction. Meet oxpecker birds and giraffes, clownfish and sea anemones, woolly bats and pitcher plants, and travel through forests, deserts, oceans and tropical jungles to discover the astonishing ways that animals, plants and organisms have learned to adapt and co-exist in the wild. From the monarch butterfly that only exists on one type of plant, to the majestic bobtail squid that acquires its illuminating glow from bacteria that live on its skin, the book takes a close-up look at some of nature’s most fascinating symbiotic relationships. Taylor captures these astonishing moments in the wild through richly detailed, watercolour botanical images which are incredibly lifelike and both entertain and educate. An ideal gift for nature lovers, and an invaluable tool for teaching youngsters about the advantages of co-operation, compromise and working together.
(Big Picture Press, paperback, £10.99)

Age 11 plus
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Tanya Landman

THE Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson’s literary masterpiece novel of murder and monstrosity, continues to fascinate readers 140 years after its first publication. 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. Evil Mr Edward Hyde stalks London’s streets, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Respected scientist, good Dr Henry Jekyll, keeps protecting him… but why? Is Hyde blackmailing Jekyll for some shameful past sin? Or is something stranger and more sinister going on? Jekyll is fascinated by the human capacity for evil but his experimentation into the darker side of his own character has horrific and dangerous results. It’s no surprise that Stevenson’s atmospheric horror story – with its sinister portrayal of our capacity for evil and the questions it raises about morality, duality and human nature – still thrills and chills readers. And now Landman’s eerily captivating retelling – produced in an accessible format – means that that more readers can understand and revel in this perennial classic. The perfect introduction to the unforgettable world of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Kamizen: Fortress of Lost Memories
William Yamaguchi Dobson

ENTER a stunning fantasy world where Japanese folklore comes to life as author William Yamaguchi Dobson digs into cherished memories of his childhood in Japan and his much-loved grandfather. Stars of this wild and wonderful story are a bored schoolboy and a bonobo, an endangered great ape, closely related to humans and chimpanzees, and known for its peaceful, matriarchal society. Twelve-year-old Jonty desperately wants an adventure but he knows it’s unlikely when he’s stuck at home for the entire summer. But then he meets a talking bonobo called Koku in the forest at the back of his house who invites him to enter a magical world behind a Japanese Memory gate. There, he will get to collect wild memories from the time his gramps was a famous primatologist... and soon his adventure begins. Behind the gate lies a world far more enchanting than back home. In a world filled with mischievous Japanese beings called yōkai, Jonty must battle to collect the memories in a series of hair-raising trials. But there is an evil sky pirate crew on board a ship who are hell-bent on destroying the memories for good... and they have bows and arrows. Can Jonty battle the pirate crew before time runs out and the wadokei watch-clock strikes? Featuring epic samurai battles, a host of supernatural yōkai, and lots of comic moments, this thrilling adventure focuses on Japanese folklore and comes with a future classic feel. With Dobson’s exciting and beguiling new voice for children’s fiction, and a beautiful cover and inside illustrations by acclaimed Japanese artist Sawa, this is the perfect escape to a magical world!
(Scholastic, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
Peregrine Quinn and the Battle for Olympus
Ash Bond

IF gods, monsters, oracles and a thrilling quest tickle your reading taste buds, then treat yourself to the final book of an electrifying debut trilogy which imagines a cosmic realm tingling with mythology, mind-blowing fantasy and mesmerising magic. Peregrine Quinn is the brainchild of former bookseller Ash Bond who sprinkles her classics-based stories with a special brand of fairy dust, and sweeps away readers to edge-of-the-seat adventures and worlds full of mayhem and malevolence. Using a bold and inventive new spin on classical myths, Bond brings us the traditional Greek heroes but with their fantastical lives cleverly melded into a contemporary and inventive technology known as CosTech. The result is a spectacular collision between ancient and modern, and rip-roaring escapades starring old heroes and a feisty and fearless young girl who must race between worlds. In this enthralling denouement , chaos is close, and the Mountain is trembling. With the annual NoxTurning celebrations approaching, Olympus Inc. is desperate to show that the Realms can go on as normal, even after everything that happened at the Cosmic Games. But things are far from normal. For a start, there is a monster on the loose in the New York subway system, and Olympus Inc. have a pretty good idea who is to blame. Hekate, goddess of witchcraft and mist has escaped to the Terran Realm and there is a race to catch her. With Hekate’s new powers, surely it’s only a matter of time before she succeeds in bringing the chaos goddess Discord back from the Fourth Realm? 

Meanwhile, Peregrine has problems of her own. Her explosive outburst has caught the eye of Hades who has whisked her away, and now she’s being drawn into the centre of a battle that the Cosmics are determined to win, no matter what the cost. With secrets being hidden even by those closest to her, Peregrine and her friends face their most dangerous challenge yet… a heist that will take them into the heart of Olympus itself. Bond says plucky Peregrine was forged from ‘a lifetime of curiosity for the ancient world’ and our daring adventurer certainly delivers a coruscating, cosmic package of breathless action, witty dialogue, other-worldly fun, and a marvellous makeover of some familiar myths and characters. With maps and brilliant character illustrations putting Peregrine and her people into focus, this thrilling fantasy series is one to read, enjoy… and treasure!
(Piccadilly Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus
Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow
Jessica Townsend

WHEN an author’s debut children’s series wins the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the film rights are sold to Fox, you know that here is a writer with that special magic touch… and magic is certainly what you get in the joyful and wildly imaginative Nevermoor adventures. Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow is the fourth book in the series and once again showcases the talents of its creator, Jessica Townsend, who lives on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, and admits to a fascination with – among others – ancient cities, Halloween, opera singers and secret societies. Our leading lady is Morrigan Crow who was cursed and destined to die on her eleventh birthday until, when the clock struck midnight, she was whisked away to the secret city of Nevermoor and invited to join the Wundrous Society. 

Mystery, magic and protection could now be hers… if only she can pass four impossible trials, using an exceptional talent. In her new adventure in Nevermoor, long-buried secrets are coming to light, and Morrigan’s life is about to turn upside down. Invited into Nevermoor’s wealthy Silver District, she discovers a world of extravagance and a family mystery she’s eager to unravel. But she could never imagine where it will lead… a white wedding, a golden dragon and a red pool of blood. Embroiled in suspicion and danger, Morrigan leaps head first into a murder investigation, while also grappling with her ever-growing Wundersmith powers. And although her friends are there to help, she fears that could change if they learn she is keeping a terrible secret of her own. As shadowy forces awaken in Nevermoor, can Morrigan find a killer and solve the mystery in her own past... before the clock strikes midnight? Youngsters will be turning the pages at top speed when they meet up again with the delectable Morrigan as she faces a perilous choice in the dazzling but dangerous world of Nevermoor. Sprinkled liberally with humour, drama, warm-hearted fun and Townsend’s incredible world-building, the thrilling adventures of Morrigan Crow continue to fly high in a spectacular series.
(Orion Children’s Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 8 plus
Hercules vs the Minotaur
Tom Vaughan and David O’Connell

IF tales set in the ancient world tickle your fancy, dive into the fourth epic adventure of a series which dishes up mythical magic, real-world mayhem and laughter unlimited! Starring a boy called Hercules, and inspired by Greek myths, these hilarious stories are written by the ever-inventive author, journalist and TV producer Tom Vaughan and brilliantly illustrated throughout by David O’Connell. Hercules Braver, modern-day son of Zeus, is about to face his BIGGEST challenge yet... a legendary Greek monster has escaped from the underworld! Hercules is ready to start a new school year as the best demigod when, to his surprise, his cousin Theseus suddenly comes to stay from Greece. Theseus, son of Poseidon, is a young demigod just like Hercules. But right as Herc was to be (finally) preparing to be a heroically good role model, infuriating Theseus causes trouble at every turn! But soon the boys are forced to work together because Zeus has been so focused on writing a book that he’s lost control of the cosmos... and now the universe is in jeopardy. One of the most terrifying monsters in Greek myth has hatched an escape from the underworld! With their dads preoccupied, it’s up to Herc and Theo to track down and stop the Minotaur. No doubt about it, this is Herc’s most high-stakes adventure yet. Will the boys become monster-slaying heroes like their namesakes, or will they learn that myths might not have the full story?

With a mega monster and a new demigod, this brilliant new adventure is bigger and bolder than ever as youngsters meet the Minotaur, one of the most familiar Greek characters (thanks to the curriculum!), and wraps up the modern twists on the Twelve Labours of Hercules. Add on an encounter with another legendary character, Cerberus, and Vaughan’s exploration of bravery, notions of goodness, unlikely friendships and blended families, and you have an ‘ancient’ that is thoroughly modern!
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Glam & Beardy: Volume I
Ruby Clyde & Rachel WD and Vincent Batignole

IF your reluctant readers need some hilarious laughing matter to draw them into an adventure full of fun and comic chaos, then introduce them to Glam & Beardy for a comedy double act invented by none other than a comedy double act! Rachel WD and Ruby Clyde, also known as Shelf, write and perform for adults and children, and now they have turned their talents to a high-octane series written in anarchic diary form and gloriously illustrated by French artist Vincent Batignole. The five Kindoms of Kin Isle have stood since the dawn of time. Each holds its own unique power, its own importance in the balance of our world. We all belong to one of these ancient Kindoms. When we turn ten, we meet our Familiar, and our Familiar bears a mark that reveals which Kindom we belong to. And we fit into our Kindom perfectly and feel wonderful and happy and good forever and ever and always. Unless you’re me, that is. This is the historical record of how I, Glam, finally met my Familiar, Beardy, and how we learned that nothing about our world is as it seems... (and that parkour and dandelions are always the answer… Beardy said it was very important that I add that!) Written as a shared diary (well, it’s very much Glam's diary, but she can't stop Beardy writing in it!), Glam and Beardy is fun with a capital F, and the perfect bait for readers who like their adventures to come with lashings of laughs and a proliferation of pictures!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Strong Girls
Jodie Ounsley with Becky Grey

LEARN how to be strong, think strong and be strong for others… with words of wisdom and experience from everyone’s favourite TV Gladiator, Fury, as your guide! Co-written by Jodie Ounsley and sports journalist Becky Grey, Strong Girls is one big celebration of strong girls, teaching youngsters to be powerful, positive and a team player. Ounsley, who was born profoundly deaf, is an England rugby union player and an inspirational role model for deaf people. Following on from her debut book, Keep Smashing It, Ounsley now wants to show girls how to be strong in lots of different ways through stories from her own life, key profiles on her role models, as well as advice on how to find your own strength and celebrate it. Assuring girls that they are already strong, even if they might not know it yet, Jodie shows how to start your own strong girl journey, develop a strong mindset, use your strength to support others and smash any obstacles that come your way. Let’s do this!
(Rocket Fox, paperback, £9.99)

Age 5 plus
Once Upon a Planet
Pierrick Graviou, Érik Orsenna,
Gallimard Jeunesse and Stéphane Kiehl

STRAP yourself in and hold on tight for a stunningly illustrated journey through 4.5 billion years of Earth’s history! Once Upon a Planet is the mind-boggling story of Earth from stardust to our first steps and is the work of French team Pierrick Graviou, a geologist and science communicator, Érik Orsenna, a celebrated French novelist and economist, Gallimard Jeunesse, and Paris-based illustrator Stéphane Kiehl. Youngsters will enjoy embarking on this breathtaking trip through time to discover the fascinating history of our planet. From the birth of the first deep blue ocean to the tiny sparks of life, from fiery volcanic eruptions to icy glacial ages and creatures of all shapes and sizes, this dramatically illustrated picture book brings Earth’s 4.5-billion-year story to life in a way that is vivid, accessible and awe-inspiring. Readers meet microscopic creatures, towering dinosaurs and witness the dramatic transformations that shaped the world we know today. A dazzling celebration of science, nature and imagination, and combining scientific accuracy with storytelling magic, the book invites children to explore the wonders of Earth’s past and understand the challenges it overcame to become our home. Spectacular and imaginative illustrations vividly recreate prehistoric landscapes and creatures, transporting readers back in time with remarkable detail. The perfect way to set young imaginations on fire!
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £14.99)

Age 5 plus
Squid Squad: Shrimply the Best
Aoife Dooley

DIVE down and deep to meet the wackiest and weirdest creatures of the ocean in the second 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 the rest of the undersea Squid Squad… and be warned, youngsters will need to come up for air when they join them for chaos in deep waters! The deep-sea town of Nowhere is home to the wackiest and weirdest creatures of the ocean, with abilities like shooting thorns, tripling in size and releasing stink-bombs! Tag along with Ollie and Zing in four new mini episodes as they try out grown-up jobs, adopt an unusual new pet, track down a prized painting, and rescue a shell-ebrity when a movie set turns up and jealous Thornelius stirs up trouble!  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)

Age 4 plus
Wild Footprints
Judy Wise and Kristen
and Kevin Howdeshell

THE next time you explore in the great outdoors, make sure you look closely at the ground! This fascinating, and lavishly illustrated non-fiction picture book from author Judy Wise was created to show children that nature is constantly moving all around us, even when it’s out of sight, and that tracks, trails and footprints are the perfect example of this hidden magic. Each unique creature leaves a special trail, and each and every one tells an extraordinary tale. Follow in the footprints of some of Earth’s most majestic creatures and magnificent minibeasts and along the way, you’ll learn that some footprints are more harmful than others. Though humans have damaged many ecosystems, we too have the power to change our ways. The spectacular artwork of The Brave Union, aka husband-and-wife illustration team, Kevin and Kristen Howdeshell, gives life and vibrancy to Wise’s rhyming text which is intertwined with snippets of factual content and culminates in an uplifting and empowering finale with a powerful and prevailing message of hope. Add on the bonus of a search-and-find activity, and a top tips section for children interested in learning how to help the planet and its inhabitants, and you have a beautiful book that is sure to be loved, cherished and read time and time again.
(Scholastic, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Mei Mei the Bunny
Laufey and Lauren O’Hara

MEET Mei Mei, a little bunny with a big dream to spread joy through her music! This beautifully created picture book was written by Laufey, an award-winning and world-renowned musician with over 10 million followers on TikTok, and exquisitely illustrated by multi-award-winning Dublin-based illustrator Lauren O’Hara. Written to encourage confidence in children, this story will inspire them to believe in their own unique talents and abilities. As her debut recital at the H’Opera House draws near, Mei Mei diligently practises playing her violin, yet struggles with her unsettled nerves. What will happen if she hits a wrong note? Laufey’s comforting tale references child-friendly definitions of musical terminology while O’Hara’s cuddly artwork provides a world which children will want to explore again and again. The perfect book to show the rewards of pursuing your dreams!
(DK Children, hardback, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
Seahorse is Furious (and there is nothing you can do about it)
Morag Hood

WE all get bad moods but little ones can find it difficult to understand their complex feelings. So introduce them to Seahorse who is having a bad day in a terrible week and discovers that, actually, he’s not the only one who gets those bad day blues. Seahorse is Furious comes from talented children’s author and illustrator whose words and artwork opens up a delightful underwater world for her warm and comforting story. Seahorse isn’t happy. He woke up wrong and stubbed his tail and everything is wet! So don’t tell him funny stories or give him a hug, and DEFINITELY don’t give him his favourite snacks on his special plate… because Seahorse is furious and there is NOTHING you can do about it. Or is there...? Brought to life by Hood’s trademark eye-catching artwork, which zings with colour and character, this funny, affectionate and reassuring take on bad mood days is perfect for parent and carers to open encouraging conversations about feelings.
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Jungle Jumble
Magda Azab

CAN you match the jungle babies to their mothers? Magda Azab, an Italian-Egyptian trained graphic designer and illustrator, whisks young explorers away on a thrilling lift-the-flap jungle adventure. Jungle Jumble is part of an innovative search-and-find activity book series from Post Wave Children’s Books which journeys through various habitats and aims to keep children entertained while developing their observation and matching skills. Can you spot the teeny caterpillar amongst the butterflies? Head deep into the jungle and spot hidden animals, match babies to their mothers and uncover clues like footprints and food trails. With Azab’s bright, intricate artwork and lift-the-flap surprises, jungle hunting has never been so joyful!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, board book, £12.99)

Age one plus
Peggy Goes Gardening
Tonka Uzu

AS spring and nature finally burst into life, why not join little Peggy and her mother on a delightful and educational day in the garden! Peggy Goes Gardening is the creation of Bulgarian-born author and illustrator Tonka Uzu who fills her board book with heartwarming illustrations and endearing messages about new experiences, persistence and determination. Eager to help with every task, Peggy tells her mum, ‘I’ll do it, I’ll do it!’ as she plants beans, waters seedlings, removes weeds and tastes raspberries. And although the results aren’t always perfect, Peggy’s cheerful spirit never waivers. With its simple, charming story and watercolour illustrations, this is the perfect book to celebrate the small joys of everyday life!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, board book, £7.99)