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)

A Novel Murder

E.C. Nevin

HER books aren’t yet even close to the bestseller list but struggling murder mystery author Jane Hepburn hopes that her weekend at a tip-top crime fiction festival in Cumbria will turn the page on her much longed-for literary career.

What shrinking violet Jane didn’t expect was to be caught up in a dastardly real-life murder in the book tent… a high stakes killing that that could well offer her a stab at the crime-writing big time.

Book lovers on the hunt for a perfectly honed murder mystery to galvanise their spring reading need look no further than the witty and wonderful A Novel Murder from E. C. Nevin (pictured below), pen name for fiction editor and writer Eve Hall whose insider knowledge of the book world brings vibrant life to a mystery sparkling with refreshing originality and darkly satirical authenticity. Peopled by characters from all strata of the publishing industry – from authors and agents to editors, publicists and interns – Nevin’s delightful debut brings us cosy crime with an enthralling and entertaining literary twist, and a gloriously memorable celebration all those who flock to the perennially favourite crime festivals.

Leading the charge is downtrodden but still determined author Jane, a shy, awkward and aspirational 42-year-old writer who is finally spreading her wings and seeking more self-confidence after living very much in the shadow of her recently deceased mother, only to suddenly find herself sleuthing at the centre of a baffling and increasingly menacing murder mystery.

So welcome to the Killer Lines Crime Fiction Festival in the quaint Cumbrian village of Hoslewit… it’s the place where the biggest names in crime writing gather to celebrate all things bookish and meet their adoring fans.

Jane has arrived with the uplifting feeling that year’s festival is going to be ‘the making’ of her and is determined to make her time there worthwhile, even if she hasn’t quite reached the heady heights of the bestseller lists yet and her editor isn’t returning her calls. After a lonely life, and the death of her mother, Jane is here to ‘network her socks off,’ start connecting, and make her fictional detective,

Walking on Sunshine

Heidi Swain

WHEN not just one, but several, doors close, Tilly hopes she is opening up a bright new future for herself in the small Suffolk village which was a warm and welcoming ray of sunshine in a childhood marred by tragedy.

But her business plans for a much-loved patch of local woodland threaten to derail her course of true love with the man who has walked into her life, stolen her heart, and finally made her believe that this idyllic corner of the world might just be the home she is longing for.

Grab a glass of your favourite tipple and escape into the wonder of summer with the queen of feel-good Heidi Swain (pictured below) in a sizzling novel which explores the emotional turmoil when a young woman at a crossroads in her life, and in need of comfort and healing, finds herself on a collision course with the man she had hoped would be her happy ever after. Swain, who lives with her family in picturesque west Norfolk, has won thousands of adoring readers with her enchanting and heartwarming stories set in different fictional locations in her home county, but her new summer stunner, Walking on Sunshine, border hops into the equally alluring neighbouring county of Suffolk.

But wherever and whatever the setting, Swain’s stories always have a strong sense of community, family and friendship and this sparkling standalone – her remarkable twenty-second novel – sweeps us into the ups and downs of the lovable, kindly and resourceful Tilly.

When Tilly heads to the lush riverside at Willowell to scatter her dad’s ashes, she’s in need of some rest, relaxation and renewal. Her father meant the world to her after her mother died when she only ten and his recent passing and the sale of the family home has made Tilly take stock of her life.

Disillusioned with her thankless job as an HR manager, the end of a relationship that she knew in her heart was not right, and reaching her landmark 30^th birthday has made Tilly want to make all-round changes in her life.

The beauty of Willowell’s magnificent woods inspired a love of horticulture in both Tilly and her brother on their many family summer holidays in the area, and it was there that Tilly first set eyes on a picture perfect riverside Georgian house called Fernside which immediately took hold as her ‘dream home.’

Meanwhile, Constance Clarke, who is in her mid-eighties, has lived at Fernside forever and is feeling low about the thought of one day leaving the only home she knows. Constance also owns

Dora’s Dream

Annie Murray

A YOUNG maid who finds herself alone in the tough and teeming streets of mid-19^th century Birmingham must fight against the odds to survive in a gritty and emotion-packed tale of hardship and struggle from Annie Murray, one of the UK’s best-loved saga writers.

The city of Birmingham may not now be Murray’s (pictured below) home territory but its people, its streets and its fascinating past have become an integral part of both her life and her writing. 

And 31 years after she captured readers’ hearts with Birmingham Rose, her first novel based in the city, she’s back with Dora's Dream, the second book in the Children of Birmingham series which began with The Pearl Button Girl and follows the trials and triumphs of the Fletcher family.

In 1851, the Fletchers were struck by tragedy and the four youngest siblings, Elsie, Dora, John and Mabs, were taken to a workhouse orphanage whilst the family’s eldest child, Ada, was taken in by their neighbour. Seven years later, Dora is a spirited young maid with a vivid imagination and finds solace in the library of the esteemed Birmingham family she works for. But when a forbidden love leads to a secret that could ruin her, Dora has no choice but to leave the only place that has ever offered her security and kindness.

Alone and with only her own instincts and initiative to rely on, Dora reinvents herself as a washerwoman, with each stitch and scrubbing of clothes acting as a testament to her fierce determination to protect her daughter, Rose.

But, snatching any free moment in her exhausting days, Dora begins to write her own stories, dreaming that one day she will see her words in print. As fate reunites Dora with members of her long-lost family, she must face fresh challenges and personal heartache. Can this plucky young woman, armed with grit, love and a pen, defy her past and finally write her own destiny?

Murray, whose home was in Birmingham when she began her own writing career, invests hours of local research and her powerful gift of imagination and empathetic insight into her drama-packed, family-based stories, and her genuine affection for the city and its people always shines through in her compelling and authentic sagas.

And this hard-hitting and yet warm-hearted series packs in all those ingredients – close family bonds, romance, drama, human emotions and the struggles and uncertainties of life amidst the hardships of an industrial city – which make her stories such a genuine reading treat for all saga fans.
(Macmillan, hardback, £22)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Runaway thrills, epic fails and a world of mystery

Spring is finally here and a new collection of April children’s books has hit the shelves so get set and go on a soaring adventure with a house that’s on the run, then pack your bags and head off to the ski slopes with everyone’s favourite tween girl Lottie, and don’t forget to book in at the Royal Institute of Magic to help track down the world’s most powerful weapon

Age 9 plus
The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away
Sophie Anderson, Elisa Paganelli
and Melissa Castrillon

SIT back, make yourself comfortable, and get ready for the most fabulous fantastical journey you will take this spring! Lake District author Sophie Anderson, who won critical acclaim and a place on the CILIP Carnegie Medal shortlist for her 2018 debut novel, The House with Chicken Legs, returns with a thrilling sequel set in the same extraordinary world which was inspired by Slavic folk tales and the stories of her Prussian grandmother. Brimming with the same fairy-tale magic, themes of friendship and stunning world-building of the first book, The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away features Anderson’s trademark sublime and lyrical storytelling, a gift which allows her to sweep readers away to soaring, evocative landscapes where folklore and realism blend together in memorable, mesmerising adventures.

So meet Marinka who has lived all her life in her house with chicken legs… a Yaga house which has always been kind, generous, playful and protective. It is a house where dead souls come to celebrate their lives before being guided to the stars in a beautiful, comforting ceremony. Running across the world on thrilling adventures, Marinka knows how her house is feeling, and it listens to her, too. But something is wrong. And before anyone can stop it, the house has pulled itself apart and run away. With her friend Benjamin and jackdaw Jack, Marinka races after the house to find answers. Travelling across far-distant lands, through new realms and magical places, Marinka must face up to her fears to save her friends. But her house might not want to stop running...

Thanks to a beautiful prologue, The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away can easily be read as a standalone and is generously littered with the stuff of fairy story dreams, and all set in a fantastical parallel world full of mysticism and magic. But it is also grounded in traditional values like courage and compassion, love, caring and belonging, and explores big ideas and questions about what it is to be human, and the sorrows and joys of the circle of life. Brought to vivid, vibrant life by the atmospheric artwork of Elisa Paganelli and Melissa Castrillon, illustrators of the original book, The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away is another triumph. Filled with rich and descriptive detail, nail-biting suspense, a pulsing sense of danger, and powerful emotions, this is a story in the running to be one of the best of 2026!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
The Seriously Epic Holiday of Lottie Brooks
Katie Kirby

PACK your bags, and put on your helmets because everyone’s favourite tween girl, Lottie Brooks, is back… and it’s non-stop laughs, non-stop fails and non-stop cringe all the way down the ski slopes! The Seriously Epic Holiday of Lottie Brooks is the ninth book in Katie Kirby’s hilarious and relatable tales of Lottie’s adventures and misadventures... part of a runaway successful series that is being devoured by an army of young readers who lap up the extremely embarrassing antics of the irrepressible schoolgirl. Kirby – who has her finger firmly on the pulse of girls in those unique (and notoriously awkward!) ‘tweenage’ years ­– writes and illustrates this perfectly pitched series and has a natural gift for finding humour in recognisable, everyday challenges with the mega-funny Lottie Brooks capturing all the giggle-worthy and cringe-inducing essence of this often intensely self-conscious pre- and early-teen time of life. Here we find Lottie hoping she has finally exhausted every possible way to embarrass herself. From her brother broadcasting her bra size to the world, to getting her head stuck in a coffin during an escape room, she has ‘completed’ the cringe list… or so she thinks! 

Consequently, when she is invited to join her friend Amber’s family on a once in a lifetime skiing holiday, what could possibly go wrong?! Amber, it seems, has seen the light and returned to the Queens of Eight Green. Phew! But the holiday does throw up one tiny problem… Lottie has never been skiing before and she doesn’t know her piste from her poles! How hard can it be, though? Join Lottie as she learns how to ski with old and new friends, tries fondue for the first time, and discovers what the banana of destiny has in store for her. Will this be the best holiday ever or is it all downhill disasters from here?

Youngsters will love meeting up again with Lottie as she navigates the pitfalls and perils of growing up in this fantastically funny and yet wonderfully life-affirming new chapter of her chaotic journey through troublesome friends, trying family members, pre-teen politics, and an endless series of embarrassing moments. Guaranteed to have young teens giggling, gasping and cringing all the way to a new school term!
(Puffin, hardback, £14.99)

Age 9 plus
Royal Institute of Magic: The Protectors
Victor Kloss

THE most powerful weapon in magic is missing and a boy’s life depends on finding it... Immerse yourself in the third adventure of the extraordinarily entertaining Royal Institute of Magic fantasy series from master storyteller Victor Kloss who sadly died in 2016 aged 36 while writing the sixth and final book which was later completed with the help of his wife Tara and brother Darren.

Two years after his parents mysteriously vanished without a trace, Ben Greenwood discovered the Royal Institute of Magic and a hidden new world full of mind-blowing magic and fantastical creatures. Now Ben is continuing his apprenticeship at the Institute hoping things will be slightly less complicated now that he has advanced to the second grade. Fat chance… Coupled with the sterner challenges that the second grade brings, there is also the small matter of the impending dark elf invasion, making life at the Institute even busier than usual. Ben is the only one who can stop them, by finding Elizabeth’s Armour and its Guardians. Ben has retrieved one piece of the Armour – the boots – but the rest remain hidden. He has just one clue, which could lead to Elizabeth’s Helm… an old black and white photo given to him by the Master of Apprentices. Ben must split his time between his apprenticeship and searching for the helm, before the dark elves strike and all hell breaks loose.

Kloss lived in a small town in West Sussex where he built websites by day and by night, wrote stories full of fast-paced action and prodigious imagination for children who love secrets, danger and magic.  So if you thought that magic isn’t real, you’re going to get the surprise of your life when you embark on another thrill ride into an amazing world of mystery!
(Vinci Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
We Are Dragon
Alastair Chisholm

WHEN everything is at stake, how do you stay human? Return to a thrillingly imagined dystopian world packed with big ideas, spine-tingling danger and jaw-dropping surprises as highly-acclaimed author Alastair Chisholm unleashes the epic conclusion to his dazzling sci-fi trilogy. With a bold and highly original ‘other world’ at the heart of the stories, a cast of unforgettable characters, and plenty of thought-provoking concepts, Chisholm’s rip-roaring series – which has included I Am Wolf and I Am Raven – has brought youngsters page-turning adventures which enthral from first page to last. Rieka’s world is on fire. She has lived her whole life aboard Constructs, giant mechanical creatures that battle each other for territory. Now a new enemy has swept across the land… Dragon. And even with all the survivors united against it, Dragon is winning. Technically brilliant, Rieka believes that she alone can turn the war. But the path she sets out on is dangerous, both for her and her friends. And all the while, there is a truth about herself she must face… if she doesn’t, she could destroy everything she’s trying to save. With her world on fire, can Rieka extinguish her internal battles and the real-world war that threatens everyone? Or will Dragon engulf them all?

Expect to be bewitched and bedazzled by Chisholm’s imaginative power as Rieka’s fascinating, fearsome world rolls out across 208 pages of action, intrigue, peril and unlikely alliances. Packed full of menace and suspense, featuring world-building at its mesmerising best, and with hidden danger waiting round every corner, We Are Dragon is the thrill-packed finale we have all been waiting for!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
What it was like in Ancient Benin
David Long and Stefano Tambellini

STEP into the world of the ancient Kingdom of Benin on the west coast of Africa and discover a small but rich and powerful civilisation which lasted for more than 700 years before disappearing in the 19^th century. Award-winning non-fiction writer David Long takes readers on a captivating exploration of the daily life, culture and legacy of the unique Edo people in the sixth book of his enthralling What It Was Like to Be... series. An expert in distilling complex stories from the past into an informative and entertaining format for young readers, Long skilfully explains everything about this land of warrior kings in a fact-packed and accessible introduction to a famous ancient civilisation. Under the rule of the Oba, the Kingdom of Benin was one of the richest and most powerful in West Africa. Behind a network of massive walls, its vibrant capital city boasted the Oba’s impressive palace, filled with intricate artworks, while the Edo people worked as skilled artisans, formidable hunters and talented traders. Yet as European influence began to grow, so did the challenges that faced the Benin kingdom. From the omnipotent power of their warrior-kings to the devastating impact of the slave trade, Long unearths the remarkable stories of life, trade, and the unique culture of the Edo people. With all the intriguing facts about the people and their world brought to vivid life by Stefano Tambellini’s rich artwork, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this is a top class series from a dynamic writing and illustration duo.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Megalomaniacs: The Invasion Begins!
Jamie Smart

SAY hello to some tiny terrors who are BIG on monstrous mayhem! If you haven’t already guessed, the multi-million copy bestselling phenomenon Jamie Smart is back with a new graphic comic book series jam-packed with out-of-this-world comedy and chaos. Megalomaniacs is the latest addition to the Phoenix Comic Books series, published by David Fickling Books in partnership with The Phoenix comic, which goes from strength to strength, a success story that is due in large part to the genius of the extraordinarily talented illustrator Smart. So what are Megalomaniacs, you may ask. Well… there are three things you need to know about Megalomaniacs. They are TERRORS from outer space, there are LOADS of them and they are TINY! Bobbletown is under attack from the cutest, silliest and zaniest alien invasion ever! The super-powered Megalomaniacs have crash-landed and they’re going to do their very best to take over planet Earth. That is, if they don’t get in each other’s way first… Smart's uniquely exuberant humour and artwork prove irresistible yet again and youngsters can rest assured that this latest wild and wonderful extravaganza is like NOTHING they have ever before read!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
Keeping Possession
Eve Ainsworth and Luna Valentine

MEET a talented young footballer who must tackle the complex dynamics of friendship breakdown without losing sight of pursuing her dreams. Keeping Possession is the new empathetic and insightful sports tale in the fourth book of acclaimed author Eve Ainsworth’s much-loved Lightmoor Lionesses series. The Carnegie Medal-nominated writer has used the exciting story of Lancashire’s real-life Dick, Kerr Ladies FC – the team of ordinary factory girls from Preston who made footballing history during the First World War – in her creative books. But this sensitively written, contemporary series shines a light on topics that are close to the heart of youngsters in 21^st century society. Eboni’s decision to join the Lightmoor Lionesses has led to a falling-out with her closest friends on her old team. They feel betrayed and Eboni is frozen out at school. Feeling isolated, she is delighted when she forms a new friendship with popular Olivia, quickly realising that they have loads in common. But there’s one problem. Olivia isn’t interested in football and can’t understand Eboni’s dedication to the sport that she loves. Will Eboni stay true to herself or will she sacrifice her footballing dreams for friendship? Published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format, and vibrantly illustrated by Luna Valentine, the sympathetically told tale of Eboni’s friendship dilemma is an ideal read for children navigating their own friendship dramas for the first time while the series reinforces the positive impact of female football.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
The Island Vet: Storm Bird Magic
Gill Lewis and Irina Avgustinovich

A NEW school and a new island home far away from the big city have transformed Tia’s life... and when your mum is a vet anything can happen! Acclaimed and award-winning children’s author and former vet Gill Lewis works her special brand of animal magic on this inspirational illustrated Island Vet series which follows Tia and her mother’s exciting life on Gull Haven Island. In this fifth conservation-themed adventure, Tia discovers the true magic of the elusive storm petrel amidst island tales of long-lost fairies and pirate chickens. Long-lost fairies hiding near the lighthouse… and chickens belonging to a sea witch that warn sailors of coming storms? There are a lot of wild stories going about as some tall ships seek shelter in Gull Haven Bay. Tia and Nat don’t believe any of them to begin with. But when Nat’s dad helps unravel the truth, they learn about a seabird that’s in danger. Can Tia and Nat find a way to help, and will it allow them to rediscover the magic of the real world all around them in their island home? Teamed with the beautifully emotive illustrations of Irina Avgustinovich, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this heartwarming and inspirational series is ideal for young animal lovers and children who are passionate about taking care of our natural world.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
The Runaway Tortoise
Holly Webb and Ocean Hughes

ENJOY having your heartstrings well and truly tugged in a gentle and moving story from bestselling author Holly Webb who has written over 130 books for children. Featuring a family’s hunt for their missing 45-year-old tortoise, a story brought to vibrant life by the bright and colourful illustrations of Ocean Hughes, The Runaway Tortoise is the latest book in the super-readable Little Gems series which brings together leading authors and illustrators, and a host of clever design and finishing techniques, like dyslexia-friendly fonts, to create easy-to-read, first chapter books in a format ideal for little hands, and with some extra activity fun inside the cover. Ava thinks that her tortoise Albert is the most boring pet ever. She can’t take him for walks or even cuddle him! But when Auntie Grace’s dog frightens Albert with all his barking, Ava comes home from school to find a great big hole under the fence… and the shocking discovery that Albert has made a daring escape! And now that he’s gone, Ava realises just how much she loves her tortoise. Will she be able to track down Albert and bring him home? Packed with heartwarming storytelling, beautiful artwork and fun activities, this is the perfect early chapter book for all animal fans and youngsters taking the first steps on the path to reading independence.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
Mirabelle and the Enchanted Sea Globe
Harriet Muncaster

BEING different is fun… especially when it comes to making mischief! From the magical world of author and illustrator Harriet Muncaster’s much-loved half-vampire, half-fairy Isadora Moon comes her impish, lovable cousin Mirabelle Starspell who puts the nice into being naughty. Mirabelle's mum is a witch, her dad is a fairy, and she is a bit of both. She likes casting spells with her fairy wand and flying around on her witchy broomstick, but most of all the thing she really, really likes to do is cause mischief. Here we find Mirabelle and her family on holiday and staying in a lovely cottage by the sea. There’s just one problem… they’re not meant to be using magic. Can Mirabelle manage a whole week without any magical mischief? Of course not! But perhaps she can use a teeny bit of magic to create a magical creature? Just for one night… Full to its sparkly covers with crazy capers and striking purple and black illustrations, this enchanting series of first chapter books is perfect for early readers who like their glitter with a bit of knockabout, naughty fun. Clever, imaginative, funny and positively fizzing with potions and broomsticks, Mirabelle’s misadventures always leave youngsters eager for more!
(Oxford University Press Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
The Moonlight Mystery Agency: The Case of the Race
Vashti Hardy and Agnes Saccani

JOIN a little girl and her detective cat on their mission to track down Brumble the bear wizard’s missing medals before a running race is won in the third book of a marvellously magical series from Blue Peter award-winning author Vashti Hardy and illustrator Agnes Saccani. The Moonlight Mystery Agency series is part of publisher Barrington Stoke’s super-readable Little Gems series which comes with a host of clever design and finishing techniques, like dyslexia-friendly fonts, to create easy-to-read, first chapter books in a format ideal for little hands. It’s race time for the animals of Moonlight, but disaster has struck! Brumble the bear wizard has lost the winners’ medals! Hana and her cat Ace from the Moonlight Mystery Agency must use their detective skills to track down the medals, but can they also find time to enjoy all the wonders they see along the way? Wordsmith Hardy conjures up her world-building magic while Saccani’s illustrations bring the adorable characters and their fun-filled adventures to colourful life. Add on an intriguing puzzle inside the front cover and you have the perfect early reading package.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £6.99)

Age 4 plus
Now You Know Your ABC
(Or do you?)
Caspar Salmon and Matt Hunt

LEARNING the alphabet is fun when you join the top team of author Caspar Salmon and illustrator Matt Hunt on a romp right through from A to Z! But you’ll have to mind your Ps and Qs because a wolf is chasing you and he’s a master of disguise… The award-winning and irrepressible creators of How to Count to One have set their sights on teaching the alphabet now and this hilarious race from A to Z puts the reader firmly in the driving seat. So you think you know your ABCs, right? Great! A is for apple, B is for ball, C is for castle… you get it. But is it really that easy? What if D is for dog, but that dog in the picture is actually a wolf in disguise? And that wolf starts chasing you through all the other letters? Get ready to learn your ABCs like never before as you journey pell-mell through the alphabet and try to outsmart that dangerous wolf. And with giggles guaranteed right through to the last page, Hunt’s comical illustrations, and a free Stories Aloud QR code audio recording to enjoy, learning the alphabet has never been so much fun!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
The Bear and the Seed
Poonam Mistry

MARVEL at the ethereal beauty and timeless wonder of an exquisite new picture book from Greenaway-shortlisted author and illustrator Poonam Mistry. The Bear and the Seed is a gentle, hopeful and heartwarming fable about protecting and preserving nature’s beauty, brought to life by stunning illustrations. Bear lives in the bountiful forest, filled with breathtaking flowers and plants, and trees that tower up to the sun. One night, the trees and plants disappear and when the animals wake up, they begin to flee the forest in grief. But when Bear finds a lonely seed, he works tirelessly to help it grow, seeking words of advice from the few animals that pass by. He shades it from the harsh wind and cold snowy season, but nature’s power is unavoidable and soon it is time for him to hibernate. Bear hopes that by the time he wakes up, his determination will help the forest renew. Using a resonant and lyrical text, and a landscape rendered in dazzling shades of green, purple, brown and yellow, Mistry’s folktale reminds readers about the importance of caring for the planet and protecting our fragile environment.
(Templar Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Moon’s Lullaby
Júlia Moscardó

TRANSPORT your little ones into the land of sleep with this beautiful picture book that was just made for bedtime reading! Award-winning artist and Carnegie-nominated illustrator Júlia Moscardó uses the power of words and pictures to soothe and calm youngsters after a busy day on the go. ‘Can we have the story of Moon's lullaby?’ asks a little gosling. ‘Yes,’ says Mama. ‘But you will have to be very quiet and listen…’ Day is drawing to a close at the pond but five little goslings aren’t ready to sleep just yet. They want to hear their favourite bedtime story about the animals that Moon watches over on her nightly crossing of the sky. Soon the goslings are wrapped up in their mama's words, scurrying like rabbits, buzzing like bees and croaking like frogs. But as darkness blankets their home, they find themselves feeling sleepier and sleepier… Filled with atmospheric illustrations in an increasingly blue palette to reflect the colours of approaching night time, Moon’s Lullaby follows familiar woodland animals in their final adventures before darkness falls. The perfect last book of the day for tired tots!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 2 plus
Uh-Oh, Niko: The Farm
Chris Chatterton

‘Feed the chickens. What a crowd!
Uh-oh, Niko. That’s so loud!’ 

EVERY toddler needs a helping hand when they are learning about all those recognisable daily routines and familiar places to visit. Whether it’s bathtime, bedtime, going to nursery or spending time at a farm, this gorgeously illustrated, push, pull and slide interactive board book series, starring adorable little bear Niko, from author and illustrator Chris Chatterton puts your toddlers at centre stage. In his new adventure, little ones are invited to help little Niko feed the animals, ride a tractor and waddle with the ducklings. Niko sometimes gets things a little wrong but whatever happens, he always tries again and learns new skills along the way. With a fun-filled rhyming text and colourful illustrations, these sturdy, board books are the perfect way to entertain toddlers and help them with their daily lives.
(Ladybird, board book, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Bunnies Know & Grow
Dr Laura Gehl and
Amy Schimler-Safford

YOUNG bunnies know how to do so much, but there is always more to learn! Follow adorable young bunnies and discover the ways they learn as they grow. From snuggling with their siblings to hopping and munching on lettuce, there is so much to learn! Also in the series is Puppies Know & Grow in which little ones follow puppies from sleeping to learning to walk and fetching sticks.

Part of the Barefoot Baby Animals series, these sturdy books – written by award-winning author Dr Laura Gehl and beautifully illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford – feature extra information in the back of the book about how the animals develop. Perfect for animal-loving babies and curious toddlers!
(Barefoot Books, board books, £7.99 each)