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

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

Age 9 plus
Cleopatra’s Amulet
Lindsay Galvin

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

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

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

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

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

Age 9 plus
The Last Bard
Maz Evans

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Age 5 plus
The Chairs
Britta Teckentrup

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

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

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

Age 2 plus
Just Us Two
Emma Dodd

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Treasure House

Amy Matthews

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Life skills, forest wonders and a school for misfits

Feed your children’s insatiable curiosity with a coruscating cornucopia of life skills, tag along with five misfits at a school where games lessons are deadly, enjoy watching the forest and its wonders come alive every day of the year, and discover some of Earth’s miniscule miracles in a collection of super books to kick off September

Age 8 plus
How to Do (Almost) Everything
Becky Baines and Laurie Avon

LIFE in the real world involves hundreds of disparate skills, some of them obvious and some of them more obscure. But each one adds to the richness of just being human so feed your children’s curiosity with this magnificent encyclopedia of expertise, a coruscating cornucopia of 100 skills, ranging from making slime and escaping a maze to writing a secret message on a piece of toast and baking a cake. Jammed full of the skills every child needs to make the most out of every day, How to Do (Almost) Everything is written by self-confessed ‘fact fanatic’ Becky Baines, lavishly illustrated by Laurie Avon and is published by the ever-inventive children’s publisher, What on Earth.

Learn how to do (almost!) everything, whether that’s making paper aeroplanes or solving a Rubik’s cube. With this book by their side, children will gain a dazzling range of skills for real-life adventures, including practical skills like reading a map and tying knots, craft activities such as making paper airplanes and papier-maché, skills for outdoors including star spotting without a telescope and building a den, brainy skills like writing an algorithm and calculating Pi, and not forgetting life skills such as paying a compliment, writing a thankyou letter and packing a suitcase. Every skill comes with the seal of approval from top experts, and their stellar tips (including an eight times world memory champion revealing how to remember (almost) anything!) are threaded throughout the book, too. With step-by-step diagrams, Avon’s exuberant illustrations, and stunning photography, this brilliantly entertaining and imaginatively produced book, with its eye-catching gold foil cover, is the perfect gift for the whole family to enjoy together as they learn (and re-learn!) some useful and life-enhancing skills!
(What on Earth Books, hardback, £25)

Age 12 plus
The Lost Name Society
S.R. Krish

WHAT'S in a name? Winning is everything and losing is eternal in this white-knuckle dystopian teen adventure set in a brilliantly rendered Dark Academia where the supernatural meets the sadistic. The Lost Name Society comes from S.R. Krish, pen name for Savita Kalhan, a London-based, Carnegie-nominated author whose YA thrillers have earned her a reputation for gripping, impulsive storytelling. And stories don’t come any creepier than this tale of five misfits thrust into a cut-throat landscape where they must compete in deadly games, knowing the price of losing is being erased from existence. Welcome to Merrybourne School… and try not to die! In the heart of the Cotswolds, your name isn’t just an identity, it’s a target. Five strangers arrive at boarding school expecting the usual academic grind. Instead, they find a headmistress who is anything but human and a curriculum designed for survival. The rules are simple… compete in a series of twisted games, or be erased. With nothing in common but their unusual names, this misfit group must navigate a perilous landscape. As the body count rises, they realise the only way to survive is to stop playing by the demon’s rules. In a world where fitting in means losing yourself, they must reclaim the power of their names – the ones they were born with and the ones they have chosen – to tear down the school. A sprinkling of folk horror and the supernatural meets a lethal survival competition in this high-stakes thriller as Krish works her own special brand of dark magic on a tale of malevolence, mayhem and misfits… best read in daylight hours!
(Fox and Ink Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 8 plus
A Year in the Forest
Christine Modafferi and Magdalena Konecná

DISCOVER the magic of the forest every day of the year! Readers, young and old, will enjoy watching the forest and all its wonders come alive on the page with this beautifully crafted year-round treasury which features 365 fascinating nature facts, captivating stories and some accessible, hands-on activities. Written by Christine Modafferi, an Italian-American who now lives and works in London, and stunningly illustrated by Magdalena Konecná, who lives in Prague, A Year in the Forest includes a poem for every month, along with inspiring prompts for drawing and journaling, designed to spark creativity while fostering a deeper connection to nature. Every page uncovers something new… whether it’s learning about woodland creatures, exploring the wonders of birdlife or discovering practical tips for sustainability and conservation. The book also highlights key environmental dates throughout the year, such as Earth Day and World Wildlife Day, making it the perfect guide to celebrate nature’s milestones.  Created for all age groups, this beautiful gift book offers something special to explore every day, providing a meaningful and enriching way to connect with the natural world and to provide all-year-round inspiration. Add on Konecná’s exquisite artwork and ribbon marker, and you have the perfect way to celebrate the magic and beauty of our natural world.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £20)

Age 8 plus
Glam & Beardy: Volume 2
Ruby Clyde and 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 whisk them into the world of 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 this high-octane series written in anarchic diary form and gloriously illustrated by French artist Vincent Batignole. In an adventure, written for us by Beardy, we discover that the five Kindoms of Kin Isle have stood since the dawn of time and each holds its own unique power. As we turn ten, explains Beardy, we meet our Familiar, and our Familiar bears a mark that reveals which Kindom we belong to. And we fit into our Kindom perfectly… or do we?! After my best friend Glam and I were nearly blasted by someone from the (supposedly) destroyed Fire Kindom, we have questions. Is Fire Kindom really still out there? What are they planning? Is it nice? If I have Ice power, are we from the extinct and also evil Ice Kindom? If we are from Ice Kindom, why don’t I have an Ice Mark? And why haven’t I been able to use my power again despite trying really, really hard? Is there something wrong with me? This is the diary (or ‘historical record’) of how Glam and I went on an adventure to the secret and deadly Fire Kindom to stop their evils plans. (And to learn more about an ancient and intriguing civilisation and the true history of our world… Glam’s words, not mine!) Written as a shared diary (or historical record, depends who you ask!), 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 7 plus
An Anthology of Micro Life
Jess French, Angela Rizza and Daniel Long

JOURNEY into the micro life of Earth and discover the minuscule miracles that live all around us… whether they are unseen, unheard or unexplored! This beautifully created and presented Anthology of Micro Life – written by conservationist, TV presenter, author and vet Dr Jess French – is the tenth book of global publisher DK’s Children’s Anthologies series. Packed with the stunningly detailed illustrations of Angela Rizza and Daniel Long, this extraordinary gold-foiled gift book unlocks the secrets of more than 90 microscopic life forms. Meet the tiny sea squirt that builds its house with snot, the weird and wonderful tardigrade, the hardy little creatures which can convert themselves into dried-out little balls when conditions are tricky, or discover the tiny snail that lives in a house of glass, and dust mites who think there’s nothing tastier than dead human skin cells. From tiny, delicate seeds and pollen to stealthy viruses and bacteria that live around, on and inside us, youngsters will love learning how small really IS beautiful in nature. An Anthology of Micro Life is a truly breathtaking and impressive collection of tiny miracles, showcasing a wide selection of micro life forms by pairing photography and colourful illustrations with storybook descriptions that will captivate young readers and introduce them to a whole new world of surprises.
(DK Children, hardback, £20)

Age 7 plus
Grebs & Co: The Secret Lives of Gremlins
D.T. Moorhouse and Ewa Benika-Haremska

STEP into the magical village of Little Wobbleton! It’s a curious place with a slightly wobbly sense of direction and more than a deep fondness for the peculiar. Roads are curved and slanted where they don’t need to be, some streets seem to lead nowhere while others lead on to themselves… and it’s now home to a girl called Alice. Grebs & Co: The Secret Lives of Gremlins is the delightfully quirky and adorably warm-hearted debut novel from D.T. Moorhouse, a secondary school teacher from Ireland. The star of the story is Alice Fairchild who has just arrived in Little Wobbleton and is fast discovering that the village is full of magic. And no one knows more about magic than Grebson the Gremlin in charge of the postbox on Muddleworth Lane. The world of Gremlins is complicated… like humans, they are proud and get their feelings hurt. Some are shy, some are clever, some are grumpy, some are terribly clumsy but all are loyal to their special world of magic, contained within a postbox, small on the outside, humongous on the inside. And when she is invited inside, Alice discovers a furious world of magic controlled by Grebson… but it’s a world that is also in danger. Can she save it? Ewa Benika-Haremska provides the rich and beautifully detailed illustrations for Moorhouse’s gloriously offbeat story which sees the courageous and creative Alice launching a campaign to save the gremlins’ way of life and discovering the power of community, memory and the written word along the way. Storytelling at its marvellously magical best!
(Everything with Words, paperback, £8.99)

Age 5 plus
Isadora Moon & Friends Story Collection
Harriet Muncaster

CELEBRATE ten years of the unforgettable Isadora Moon with three brand-new magical adventures featuring Isadora, Mirabelle, and Emerald! This special gift edition, with a shiny silver foil cover and star-sprayed edges, stars everyone's favourite half-fairy, half-vampire, Isadora Moon, but also brings together new stories from her half-witch, half-fairy cousin Mirabelle, and Emerald, Isadora’s mermaid friend. Each of the cute stories is illustrated in Muncaster’s iconic two-colour style. Join Isadora in Isadora Moon and the Vampire Festival which sees Pink Rabbit go missing at the annual vampire celebration and Isadora using her special fairy magic to find him. In Mirabelle and the Bitten Catastrophe, Mirabelle turns her whole class into bat-kittens with a disastrous potion! And in Emerald the Rock Princess, Emerald plans a show-stopping performance for King Auster’s jubilee party. Ideal for early readers who love chapter books, the collection also includes a bonus activity section, packed with things for readers to make. And with humour, friendship, fun and adventure on every page, look no further for that perfect birthday gift, holiday treat, or a special keepsake for Isadora fans!
(Oxford University Press, hardback, £14.99)

Age 5 plus
Isadora Moon: How To Draw & Dragon Migration

CHILDREN all around the world adore the colourful adventures of Isadora Moon, the half-fairy, half-vampire… and now youngsters can learn how to draw Isadora and the friends who appear alongside her in the top rated animated TV series based on the world created by Harriet Muncaster. This magical activity book features step-by-step guides for drawing Isadora and all her friends and family, plus simple drawing activities to practise your skills, and drawing tips and tricks to make sketches extra magical! 

Whether you’re at home, or on the go, this fun and accessible book is the perfect way to keep little readers entertained. Also in the Isadora Moon TV series tie-in collection is Dragon Migration, an enchanting picture book which features the glitter dragons’ yearly migration. Isadora and Mirabelle meet Blazing Bright, a young dragon who falls into the forest and hurts his wing. Can they help Blazing Bright get better and return him to his friends in time to join the migration? Packed with gorgeous colour illustrations and with a heart-melting story to enjoy, this is an adventure guaranteed to ‘fire up’ young imaginations!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99 each)

Age 5 plus
The Gumdrops: Main Character Energy
Elissa Elwick

YOUNG imaginations are propelled into overdrive in this fun and interactive graphic novel series from Elissa Elwick, an award-winning children’s books illustrator and author who loves helping children to find their voice, get creative, and discover the power of their unique and special imagination. So meet Hope, Bubbles, Sparky and Rainbow, they’re the Gumdrops… guardians of a magical land, full of magical beings! You might meet Imaginary Friends, your favourite characters from a story, or creations from your dreams. The Gumdrops are always up for a challenge… and when they get a letter from a child in need of an imaginary friend, they have their work cut out. When the Gumdrops meet Bowie, he’s fading because his book is being forgotten... can YOU help the Gumdrops bring his story back to life by making it as exciting as possible? You’ll have to travel inside Bowie’s book, and remember to watch out for the mischievous, but adorable, Evilee! Brought to vibrant life by Elwick’s gallery of gorgeous, colourful illustrations, and with an enchanting cast of quirky characters, this is the perfect package for youngsters setting out on the road to independent reading.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus
Cosmic Cruise: A Solar System Adventure
Owen Davey

WE have lift-off! If you have ever dreamed of heading to the skies on a solar system adventure, Cosmic Cruise is your ticket! Strap yourself in and hold on tight for a spectacular whirlwind tour of the planets, moons and wonders of our solar system. Award-winning illustrator Owen Davey takes young readers on an unforgettable visual voyage through our cosmic neighbourhood in this immersive and fabulously illustrated book. Explore fiery planets like Mercury, discover the toxic acid that rains from Venus, see the frozen moons of space, take a day trip to the Moon Dock with the International Space Station and bounce across the Moon’s surface. Then climb aboard again to explore Jupiter and Saturn and voyage beyond Pluto into the edges of icy space. With Davey’s bright and bold artwork on every page, and lots of fascinating facts, youngsters will be over the moon when they hop on board and blast off on this ultimate space adventure!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
Pebble and Po
Emma Simpson

‘I always know where I'm going... except for when I don't.’ 

IF your little ones love the cosy idiosyncrasies of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh, introduce them to Pebble and Po, the enchanting bear and bunny duo dreamed up by Munich-based author and illustrator Emma Simpson. One morning, Pebble wakes up on a soft, warm tummy… Po’s tummy! And so begins an unexpected friendship. Together, they brave rainstorms, explore dark caves, and welcome a curious companion or two along the way. They may not always know where they are going, but they always have each other to lean on. Brimming with Simpson’s tender storytelling and gentle, soft-focus artwork, Pebble and Po feels as much a warm hug on a rainy day as an adorable adventure. The many charming moments invite conversations about helping others, finding the courage to ask for help, and navigating the wobbly feelings of getting muddled up or losing your way. The perfect book to celebrate the enduring power of friendship…
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
The Forest Is a Part of Me
Elizabeth Wathuti and Michelle Pereira

LET the beauty of nature move you… and the activism amaze you! This empowering and enchanting picture book tells the powerful story of award-winning Kenyan climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti’s lifelong work to protect her homeland from the devastating effects of deforestation… and the story takes us back in time to see a little seven-year-old girl plant her first tree. Since then, she has planted millions more trees with schoolchildren and communities across critical water catchment areas. Featuring peek-through pages, printed on wood-free paper, and given life and colour by the vibrant artwork of Michelle Pereira, The Forest Is a Part of Me is a gentle and moving introduction to the importance of protecting the environment.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
A Light in the Autumn Night
Frances Tosdevin and Sophia O’Connor

AS autumn fast approaches, cuddle up on cosy evenings with this beautifully emotive and atmospheric picture book from the dream team of Frances Tosdevin and Sophia O’Connor whose wonderfully descriptive books, The Library Mouse and The Bear and Her Book series, won the hearts of thousands of readers. Star of the show is Mole who loves autumn but when night falls, he prefers to stay safely inside. The dark is far too scary. One night, Mole kindly shares his glowing pumpkin light with friends who pass by in the wind and shadows. But when Mole steps into the darkness himself and his light goes out, fear takes over. Lost and alone, he soon discovers that the kindness he gave has followed him into the night. Author Tosdevin’s gentle, reassuring and lyrical rhyming story helps youngsters to overcome their fears, find comfort in friendship, and understand how even the smallest light can shine brightest when it’s shared. Add on O’Connor’s gallery of stunning illustrations, colourfully painted in loose, tonal brush strokes, and you have the perfect bedtime read for autumn and winter nights.
(Fox and Ink Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Clive Penguin Learns to Fly, Sort of
Huw Lewis Jones and Ben Sanders

WHO'S ever heard of a flying penguin? Yes, hat-loving Clive Penguin is back and he’s on a sky-high mission to take flight! You’ve got to hand it to Huw Lewis Jones and Ben Sanders... they certainly know how to create an adorable penguin. Lewis Jones, a real life polar-exploring adventurer, and award-winning illustrator Sanders combine their talents on their second ice-coated and quirky picture book adventure starring a penguin who wants to rise above the crowd. Affronted by the narrator’s praise for ‘majestic’ swooping seagulls, Clive is determined to take to the sky himself. He’s going to fly and who says penguins can’t do it? Youngsters cannot help but fall in love with the hilariously deadpan Clive Penguin as he sets out to prove that reaching for your dreams and ignoring naysayers can sometimes help you to achieve the impossible (sort of!) With Lewis Jones providing Clive’s unique voice and Sanders delivering a perfectly matched gallery of illustrations using flashes of orange neon ink, this is the coolest picture book you will read this autumn!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)

Flashpoint

Wilbur Smith
(with David Churchill)

BY the spring of 1943, war has taught SOE agent Saffron Courtney that there is no escape from feelings of fear, exhaustion, extreme stress and heart-rending grief… life goes on and so does her job, wherever it may take her.

But, after a blistering mission in Washington DC saw a man shot dead and Saffron forced to flee the city without even her luggage, she knows that her swift exit to New York has come at a price that will one day cost her dearly.

From the dawn of the 17th century right through to the 20th century, we have witnessed the fortunes and misfortunes of the sprawling and ambitious Courtney family as they negotiate war, social upheaval and the dark side of history.

Their creator is the phenomenally successful South African author Wilbur Smith (below, left), a legendary figure in historical adventure fiction who died in 2021 and left behind a vast literary legacy of over 40 novels, including the Courtney, Ballantyne, and Egyptian series. Since 2015, critically acclaimed writer David Churchill (below, right) has co-authored several of the later Courtney books, helping to successfully usher Smith’s treasure trove of family sagas into a thrilling new era which fuses real history, action, wartime drama and espionage.

Flashpoint is the staggering 26th book in the Courtney series and, after following her daring deeds in Courtney’s War, Legacy of War and Crossfire, we meet up once again the feisty, fearless Saffron who grew up on a sprawling Kenyan estate under the watchful eye of her distinguished war veteran father Leon Courtney but was lured to England by her thirst for knowledge and adventure.

Recruited by the Special Operations Executive in London, Saffron has become one of their toughest, most reliable agents and in 1943, we find her in New York and trying to recover, albeit briefly, from her perilous mission in Washington. But events on the other side of the Atlantic are making her return to England inevitable. The War Office need someone to extract an ‘asset’ – Jewish scientist Caleb Ezra, a university academic with knowledge that is vital to the war effort – from his hideaway on the besieged Greek island of Leros.

Ezra was sprung from his home in Thessaloniki by a Greek Communist resistance group after they received inside information that both the man and his work were due to be seized by the occupying Nazis. He is now in hiding until he can be rescued by agents but hanging over Saffron is that unsettled debt in New York, and when deals have been done with the Mob, they won’t wait…

Fast forward three years to Kenya in 1946 where Saffron is settled back in her beloved homeland, and reunited with her German lover-now-husband Gerhard von Meerbach, a former Luftwaffe pilot who fought undercover to defeat the Nazis.

With the war now over, Saffron thinks that she might finally have found the peace she craves but when she is visited by an English operative who blackmails her with accusations that Gerhard was involved in Nazi atrocities, Saffron has no choice but to return to the USA at his bidding. With not only her own life, but also that of her family, at stake, Saffron must track down Ezra once more… before it’s too late.

Flashpoint, a suspense-packed, fast-moving tale of cat-and-mouse espionage, menace, conspiracy, and a race-against-time mission for the truth, is a thrilling journey as we travel alongside the latest, unforgettable member of the star-studded Courtneys, a family which has witnessed the unfolding of tumultuous history through many centuries.

As the resourceful and resilient Saffron once more risks life and limb in a role that requires her to get as close as possible ‘to men any sane woman would go out of her way to avoid,’ the tension ratchets up to breaking point and events dating back to Saffron’s wartime assignment in America threaten to overturn her new-found calm.

Setting the latest Courtney saga amidst of one of the most brutal wars in history was always going to be an electrifying chapter… and this new white-knuckle ride for long-suffering Saffron certainly delivers all the daring, danger and dazzle we have come to expect from this top class series!
(Zaffre, hardback, £22)

Illicit Still

William McIntyre

WHEN a bestselling novelist is charged with the murder of her wealthy whisky entrepreneur husband, the Procurator Fiscal in Linlithgow is confident that they have a watertight case against her.

But, not for the first time, the Crown prosecutors have underestimated the dogged determination of sharp-witted defence lawyer Robbie Munro who is convinced that there is more to this case than meets the eye. And just as murky secrets start swilling to the surface, Robbie faces a danger too close to home for comfort.

If you haven’t already encountered William McIntyre’s long-running Robbie Munro Legal Thriller series, then rest assured that these brilliantly authentic Scottish courtroom dramas have stayed the course over sixteen books and, along the way, won an army of adoring fans.

The undoubted key to the success of these thrillers is McIntyre’s (pictured below) decades-long career as a lawyer specialising in criminal defence and his wealth of courtroom experience. Now retired, McIntyre’s involvement in many high-profile cases has enabled him to skilfully transform fact into fiction, offering readers a fascinating glimpse into the quirks and complexities of the Scottish criminal justice system.

Packed with tension, twists, and the cynical humour that has marked this series, Robbie Munro’s intriguing new murder case steeps us in Scotland’s famous whisky-brewing industry and the mystery of a deadly secret hidden in a rare, single-malt whisky.  

When bestselling novelist Jilly Jean Lyon – real name Gillian Halkett – is accused of poisoning her whisky entrepreneur husband with fentanyl, Robbie is pulled into a case that looks, on the surface, to be open-and-shut. The only part of Tom Halkett’s body that has been found is his arm but forensics have detected the use of fentanyl in his death and as the evidence stacks up, his landed gentry family wealth would seem to make the motive clear.

The Procurator Fiscal, Hugh Ogilvie, a man generally viewed by Robbie as ‘the burst egg in life’s frying pan,’ declares that the Crown is ready to close in on the murder charge but Robbie doesn’t believe the story is that simple.

Joined by his father Alex Munro – a former cop not happy that while his career was spent putting people in prison, his son is trying to keep them out – Robbie digs into Tom Halkett’s boutique distillery and learns that the family had set in motion ‘a neat piece of tax avoidance’ that involved a great deal of ‘trust’ among each other.

Soon missing casks, hidden debts, and a 40-year-old single-malt whisky, point to something far darker than a straightforward murder. Someone went to great lengths to make this look like an open-and-shut case and they’re not finished yet. But when Robbie discovers that Pat Sweeney – a dangerous former client jailed for drug dealing and grooming kids at school gates – is out of jail, has a grudge against Robbie and is asking questions about the lawyer’s 11-year-old daughter, the case starts to fracture…

Renowned for their accuracy in law and procedure, McIntyre’s character-driven Robbie Munro thrillers have been praised by legal professionals on both sides of the Bar for their realism, and this new case blends crime, whisky and social politics into reading perfection.

Whether enjoyed as a stand-alone story or read as part of the series, these legal dramas cannot fail to entertain, with each book capturing Robbie’s candid, often sardonic perspective on life and the law, and adding a welcome vein of dark humour to the rich capillary of crime trails and trials.

With Robbie joined in his enquiries by his ex-cop dad Alex, some (always) welcome input from his graceless, grunting, long-suffering secretary, Grace Mary, and guest appearances by Robbie’s psychopathic landlord, Jake Turpie, this is the ideal opportunity to settle down with a wee dram because justice has never been so intoxicating!
(Vinci Books, paperback, £9.99)