CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Speaking out, a vampire empire and time-travel fun

Discover a menacing world in which being polite isn’t a choice, visit it an ancient Scottish island and meet Vikings, vampires and vengeful gods, join a thrilling countdown on a journey into the past, and laugh out loud at a street full of madness and mayhem in an eclectic round-up of new children’s books

Age 9 plus
The Ministry of Manners
David Solomons and Hazem Asif

THE Ministry of Manners guides, protects and teaches the people to be better… it definitely doesn’t rule by force. Or does it? David Solomons, award-winning author of the My Brother Is a Superhero series, explores what is lost in keeping quiet and what is found in fighting back in an audacious new middle-grade novel based on the resonant themes of George Orwell’s classic book Nineteen Eighty-Four. Be quiet. Be polite. Or be silenced. Alfie and Margot Hawthorne have grown up under the Ministry of Manners where politeness isn’t a choice… it's the law. And one wrong word can change your life. Alfie knows how to stay out of trouble, but Margot has never been one for quiet obedience. When the Ministry takes Margot, everything changes. Inside the Manners Retreat, she fights to stay herself in a place built to erase her. Meanwhile, Alfie falls in with the Unsilenced… those who still dare to speak. But the Ministry has plans of its own and if they succeed, rebellion won’t just be punished... it will be impossible.

Using a world inspired by Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, Solomons brings young readers an exciting and accessible all-action adventure set against a dystopian landscape in which children fight back against an oppressive regime which requires quiet obedience over free expression. With its powerful messages and encouragement of critical thinking, a cast of gutsy youngsters, and the atmospheric illustrations of Pakistani illustrator and designer Hazem Asif, The Ministry of Manners is a thrilling and thought-provoking read.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 11 plus
Vampire Empire: Red Tide
Curtis Jobling

THINK (literally!) bloodthirsty Vikings, terror and fates that really are worse than death… and what do you get? The age of the Vampire Empire! Bestselling author, illustrator and animation creator Curtis Jobling is on fine warrior form in the first book of a thrilling duology which features a supernatural Viking warband on the rampage in 900 AD Shetland. Starring a fearless Norse girl and a blacksmith’s son fighting for survival when Viking vampires descend on their island, this is supernatural thrills on steroids. The people of Unst, Norse and Pict alike, enjoy lives of relative peace… none more so than Hilde, the fiery daughter of Jarl Frida, and Cormac, the blacksmith’s boy. Hilde yearns for a life of adventure, like the one her tormented mother had before her, carving her name in the great sagas as a legendary shieldmaiden. But Hilde should be careful what she wishes for. When a terrible Viking warband arrive upon the island, shrouded by an otherworldly fog and hell-bent upon horror, Hilde and Cormac’s worlds are turned upside down. They bring with them terrors and secrets, the likes of which a Norse girl and a Pictish boy could never have dreamt of in their worst nightmares. For when the Harrowed Men come raiding, there is no escape from their cruelty… or their unquenchable hunger. And no amount of blood will slake their thirst… Valhalla for fans of Vikings, vampires and vengeful gods!
(Fox & Ink Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
The Time Engine
Lindsay Galvin and Kristina Kister

ADA Lovelace, the 19^th century English mathematician and writer renowned for her work on Charles Babbage’s proposed ‘Analytical Engine,’ takes a starring role in a thrilling and magical new tale from Lindsay Galvin, a former science teacher who has become one of our most exciting middle grade authors. The Time Engine follows on from the success of The Elixir, a time-slip adventure which wowed readers last year with its exciting and atmospheric fusion of science-fiction and history. When Eric Finch discovers a mysterious machine hidden in his attic, he realises that his mother has been keeping a huge secret. A brilliant mathematician, Eric’s mother has used designs from an old journal belonging to her ancestor Ada Lovelace to build the machine, but Eric has no idea how it works or what it does. Unable to resist tinkering with the machine, Eric finds himself thrust into an unforgettable adventure. But his actions have also threatened the very fabric of time, with possibly terrifying consequences. Can he join forces with a young Ada Lovelace and find a way to rectify time and get back home? Galvin’s richly descriptive writing, her vibrant imagination and her ability to deliver adventures full of peril, pathos and powerful messages have made her a go-to author. Add on Kristina Kister’s atmospheric illustrations, fascinating science and history facts wrapped up in a high-stakes adventure, and Barrington Stoke’s trademark, dyslexia-friendly reading format, and you have the perfect book for both homes and classrooms.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Welcome to Weird Street
Stephen Mangan and Anita Mangan

KNOCK, knock who’s there?  Prepare for neighbourly madness and mayhem as the sensational sibling team of much-loved actor Stephen Mangan and his talented artist sister Anita return with the weirdest and wildest collection of linked short stories! Welcome to Weird Street... what appears to be a very ordinary place, filled with very ordinary houses and very ordinary people. But wait a minute… When Sarah moves to the street and sees a cat prowling up and down, she decides to find its owner and return it. She knocks on each door and discovers a wonderfully weird (and a little bit dangerous!) array of delights within. From a haunted painting and a headmaster whose alter ego is a clown, to a jet-powered garden swing, a ghost-pet adoption agency and a wild hall of mirrors, these are zaniest neighbours you could hope to meet! As always, Anita Mangan’s quirky illustrations are the perfect pairing for her brother’s super-silly, bite-size escapades which roll out at the opening of every door and the turning of every page. Powered by youthful energy, ingenuity, wildly imaginative storytelling and an addictive brand of naughty humour, Welcome to Weird Street will have mischief-makers giggling to the end of the road… and back!
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Ben Nuttall’s Footy Factory
Ben Nuttall and Nigel Baines

HELP your young footballers to get a kick out of reading with this brilliant book from Ben Nuttall, the world’s Number One record-breaking freestyler and YouTuber who is on a mission to get reluctant readers (particularly boys!) off their screens and finding fun in books. Ben Nuttall’s Footy Factory has been carefully created and is colourfully illustrated throughout by Nigel Baines to inspire confidence and creativity in youngsters by offering an irresistible mix of a step-by-step guide to freestyle football skills of all levels and jaw-dropping stories of the famous players who have shown them off on match day. So dream big, train hard and welcome to the Footy Factory where you can learn tricks for next game. Impress your mates in the playground with your unbelievable tekkers… or just have a laugh trying a new sport! With QR codes linking to bespoke training videos of Nuttall showcasing specific skills and tricks, this is the perfect book to get your kids reading, enjoying outdoor fun… and keeping on the ball!
(Fox & Ink Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
National Trust: Rewild This Book!
Illustrated by Lizzie Lomax

CREATIVITY meets messy play! Published in collaboration between Nosy Crow publishers and the National Trust, this fun, innovative and timely activity book literally draws on nature as each page of it can be planted in the ground and returned to nature after you have covered it with your own artwork. So get rewilding… draw, stick, find, sniff, colour, rip, dip, roll, throw and make, then go outside and get the book back into nature! An interactive activity book with a difference, Rewild This Book! comes from new design talent Lizzie Lomax and encourages creative, messy play inspired by the natural world. What happens if you dip a page of this book in a puddle or roll the book down the hill? Can you turn mud into mud creatures or make a masterpiece using only a twig? Try, create and see what happens! There are over 60 activities and prompts to help spark young imaginations… and remember, you can’t rewild this book without getting a little bit WILD!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £9.99)

Age 3 plus
Go Go Dodo!
Huw Lewis Jones and Fred Blunt

THEY say there are two sides to every story and there are certainly two ways of looking at this hilarious picture book romp from the top team of author Huw Lewis Jones and illustrator Fred Blunt. Meet a blissfully carefree dodo who is taking a stroll through a very gentle jungle, across a very friendly swamp and over a very soothing sea… completely unaware that, not only is his walk full of peril, but he’s being stalked by a VERY hungry tiger! What will happen when they enter the very dangerous grass? Little readers will adore shouting, in full-on panto style, ‘He's behind you!’ in this simple and fun-to-read story where text and art tell two sides of the same story. Lewis Jones provides the brilliantly teasing wordplay and Blunt excels with a riotous colour storm of action, hidden mishaps and laugh-out-loud chaos. Destined to be a family favourite!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Marcie and Giraffe
Kim Gregory

PUT a welcome splash of colour into your little ones’ lives with this beautifully created and inspirational picture book from debut author and illustrator Kim Gregory. With resonant themes about self-expression and embracing mistakes, Marcie and Giraffe offers a fun and gloriously messy life lesson! Marcie has painted a picture of Giraffe. At first, she loves it! But when Giraffe paints a picture of Marcie, she’s not so sure. ‘Your art is better than mine…’she sighs, before making a series of FIERCE and SCRIBBLY pictures that capture her inner turmoil. Can Marcie and Giraffe find a way to make art together? In this joyful celebration of youthful life lessons, Gregory boldly explores what it feels like to compare yourself to others through high-octane illustrations in vibrant primary colours which bring Marcie and Giraffe to life in style. Full of warmth and personality, this hilarious picture book duo will inspire youngsters to express their ideas with confidence and discover the messy magic of making art with friends. Perfect for children learning to trust and celebrate their creative voice!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Valerie: Australia's Bravest Sausage Dog
Lucinda Gifford

DISCOVER the amazing true story of the tiny dog who captured the heart of a nation! All over Australia and around the world, people fell in love with Valerie, the bold-hearted dachshund who escaped a campground on Kangaroo Island and roamed the wilderness for over 500 days before being reunited with her loving owners. In this gloriously warm-hearted romp of a rhyming picture book, bestselling author and illustrator Lucinda Gifford who studied architecture in Scotland but now lives in Melbourne, imagines adorable Valerie's adventures and bring them to vivid and hilarious life. ‘Living the beach life and riding the swells. Practising backstroke and digging up shells. Dining on oysters and fancy ice cream... Valerie knew she was living the dream.’ Suddenly, Valerie hears urgent cries and hastily grabs a disguise. ‘What missing doggie? I don’t think that’s me… I’m on an adventure with lots more to see!’ Youngsters will love roaming with Valerie as she befriends dolphins, eats her fill and explores the wilds... all before finding her way safely home again. An adventure on four legs!
(Allen & Unwin, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Our Islands
Phoebe Roze

JOIN a bear on a heartwarming adventure to discover the path back home and the truest of friendships in a beautifully evocative picture book from Phoebe Roze, an illustrator from the Highlands who finds inspiration in the landscapes, nature and folklore of Scotland. When Bear’s cosy island life is interrupted by a wild storm, he finds himself adrift and alone. Washed ashore on a new island, fear turns to wonder as he encounters an unlikely friend, Isla. Together, they join forces to help Bear find his way home. As they set off, they begin to explore the vibrant surrounding islands, discovering all kinds of different homes. But after all the amazing sights they see, Bear still longs for the comfort of his island home. Can Isla help Bear navigate the sparkling islands, or will he forever be adrift? Brought to life by a gallery of colourful and atmospheric artwork, Roze’s tender tale of the lonely bear – with its exquisitely beautiful sense of place – will touch the heart of all readers as an unlikely friendship blossoms and Bear discovers the true meaning of ‘home.’
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 2 plus
123 Count with Me
Illustrated by Georgie Birkett

COUNT with me! Get your little ones in shape for counting lessons with this fun and innovative trace-and-flip board book which lets youngsters trace each grooved number to explore its shape. Using a finger, children can track numbers from 1 through to 20 whilst learning the early concepts of counting and writing, and enjoying colourful lift-the-flaps for added fun. And help them along the way by tracing the numbers as you say them, pointing to pictures of objects that correspond to each number while you count, and asking your child what comes next. Vibrantly illustrated by Georgie Birkett, 123 Count with Me’s innovative track-and-trace format is ideal for practising hand-eye co-ordination and the perfect travelling companion for road trips and train rides!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)

Age one plus
World's Best Dad
Isabel Otter and Lynn Giunta

THE world's best dad is mine and he is wonderful! Celebrate your dad and all the wonderful things he does for you with this adorable pop-up board book which comes packed with love. Written by Isabel Otter and boldly illustrated by Lynn Giunta, this beautiful book is the perfect gift book for all the dads and father figures in your life. The vibrant, uplifting text reminds readers how brilliant dads are while a cute cast of animal pairings capture the special sweetness of the father and child relationship. With gorgeous paper-cut artwork and eye-catching pop-ups, World’s Best Dad is a book to be loved, shared and treasured.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £9.99)

Marked for Death

R.O. Thorp

SPENDING a term with one of the world’s most famous freshwater biologist at a stunning medieval university in Middle Europe was supposed to be a spring and summer of ‘enormous opportunity’ for Dr Finn Blanchard, a rising star in sea sciences.

But within days of his arrival, Finn finds himself plunged not into the nearby lake’s fascinating fish life but into a murder mystery involving two suspicious deaths and missing papers which could well lead to the discovery of a missing Shakespeare play.

If you set sail with Death on Ice, last year’s irresistibly compelling killer cruise crime caper starring the memorable scientist twins, Finn and Rose Blanchard, then don your gowns and mortar boards for another murderously enjoyable romp from R.O. Thorp (pictured below), an Australian currently living in Cork in Ireland who was a Clarendon Scholar at Oxford and won the London Short Story Award in 2011.

And after an adventure in the frozen north, we move to warmer, southern climes for another slice of entertaining escapism packed full of chills, thrills, history and mystery, and featuring a perplexing case starring amateur detective Finn (more comfortable with a school of fish than a faculty full of off-beat academics), and an ancient place of learning that harbours the darkest secrets and deadliest rivalries.

After a murderous time on a marine research voyage to the Arctic Circle, Dr Finn Blanchard is focusing on his spring term tenure at the University of St Ludmila in Pereja, a centuries-old town which lies next to an ancient glacial freshwater lake reputed to have a rare microclimate. Finn, a young man with a ‘positive’ disposition and an ‘aura of softness,’ is looking forward to meeting the famous freshwater biologist Dr Martine Saluto (labelled ‘absolutely terrifying’ by her students) after making his own mark with a groundbreaking monograph on Greenland sharks.

It’s only three months since the university’s administrator, Nina Hussar, fell to her death down the stairs of the university’s renowned carillon tower even though she had used the steps for many years. An investigation concluded her death was nothing more than accident but mystery still hangs over the events and Finn is far more interested in discovering whether there are any clues to a long-vanished species of shark in the nearby lake.

One of the first people he meets is Nina’s nephew, Stephen Huskins, an assistant professor in literature, who is clearing his aunt’s belongings from her room and they join forces when the sudden and seemingly unexplained death of an elderly professor unearths cryptic clues to Shakespeare’s missing play Cardenio.

By now, Finn is forced to admit that his research isn’t the only fishy thing at St Ludmila’s and he calls on the expertise of private detective Tom Heissen, who is also Finn’s much lamented ex-boyfriend. With head librarian Amelia Wolfe also joining them in their investigations, the case becomes increasingly dangerous and if Finn can't figure out who the killer is soon, the next blood in the water might be his own…

Marked for Death is glorious skulduggery from start to finish as Thorp lets loose her imagination, her sense of fun and her writing skills on a wacky, cerebral-themed murder escapade which delivers the charm and atmospherics of the Golden Age without losing the scientific know-how of the 21^st century. With the more practical and dominant twin Rose busy tagging manta rays in the Azores, this new case falls to the less worldly but lovable twin Finn who teams up here with the redoubtable Detective Inspector Nevena Marinova, a diverse team of university staff and academics, and a very welcome helping hand from Finn’s former flame and private eye Tom.

With a twisting, turning plot which quickly runs into deep, dark waters, some entertaining personality clashes, lots of dark secrets popping up in both the lake and the university’s dusty vaults, and an interesting ‘play’ on Shakespeare’s real-life missing Cardenio manuscript, Marked for Death is chock-full of contemporary vibes and yet retains the seductive timelessness of the murder mystery genre. A first class performance!
(Faber & Faber, paperback, £9.99)

The Queen’s Coronation

Jennifer Ryan

AS Queen Elizabeth II prepares for the Coronation, a spectacular event that will mark out the rest of her days, three other young women are also looking to find their own way in an ever-changing world.

Former non-fiction books editor Jennifer Ryan (pictured below) – who has now found success writing fiction –transports readers back in time to the busy months before the Queen took the throne where we meet three women whose work at Buckingham Palace is the springboard for what they hope will be a better future. 

There’s a lot to get done ahead of the queen’s coronation in the early months of 1953… and even more so when your livelihood is at stake. Young, naïve and ambitious, Lucy Jones is a junior wardrobe assistant who dreams of being a famous singer, so when she meets a handsome, wealthy man at the palace who promises her future stardom, she cannot help but fall for his charms.

Caroline Brimstone, meanwhile, loves her role as the queen’s Assistant Dresser but behind closed doors she is struggling with a husband who gambles away their money, and is constantly fighting for a better life for herself and her daughter. 

On a trip to Balmoral in Scotland, Caroline meets a man from her past who is everything that she longs for and could be her key to a new and better future.

And then there’s Miranda Miller, an undercover journalist from America who is working as a temporary secretary with the Coronation Office’s planning committee and is secretly gathering information for an inside scoop on the royal occasion and could be the key to keeping her job… the only thing she has left.

But they are all running away from their own demons and, in order to succeed, they must shed their feelings of shame, trust themselves, and be brave enough to reclaim their lives. As Queen Elizabeth takes the throne and a new era begins, will the three women learn to join forces, find new strength, and build their own future?

The Queen's Coronation is a heartwarming tale of female resilience and friendship as the three palace workers meet the challenges that still existed for many women in the 1950s and find the courage to fight for the future they want rather than the one that society expects of them.

Using the drama, chaos and excitement of the months leading up to the Coronation, Ryan blends fact and fiction into an emotion-packed exploration of not just the start of a queen’s groundbreaking reign but ordinary women finding their feet at an equally life-changing crossroads in their lives. A right royal treat!
(Pan, paperback, £9.99)

Celebrations at the Toffee Factory

Glenda Young

OVER four years of war have finally ended and three friends, whose lives have been scarred by hardship, uncertainty and upheaval, hope for better days in the dramatic last chapter of a heartwarming trilogy from one of today’s most exciting saga writers.

Set against the fascinating backdrop of a toffee factory in Chester-le-Street in County Durham during the First World War, the Toffee Factory trilogy comes from Glenda Young (pictured below) who lives near Sunderland and has won an army of fans who have followed the fortunes of a group of likeable women encountering everything from romance and tragedy to secrets and lies.

The Great War might have ended but Jack’s toffee factory is struggling after years of sugar rations and its troubles are far from over. Fun, feisty Elsie longs for freedom and excitement. Hoping to meet the man of her dreams, she spurns the attention of dependable Stan. Will she realise that what she wants and what she needs are different things?

Efficient Anne takes control at the factory to change its fortunes after the war and creates a new line of toffee. However, an unwelcome blast from Mr Jack’s past could jeopardise the factory’s success. And Hetty is torn when her sweetheart Dirk prepares to leave for his home town in Belgium. 

At the same time, her old boyfriend Bob returns from the Front, determined to marry her. Who will Hetty choose? As the toffee factory girls celebrate the end of the war, they are more determined than ever to face the future with courage and hope.

Using her local knowledge and her eye for the ups and downs facing a small, close-knit community, Young creates an authentic and richly colourful portrait of life both in and immediately after the Great War. With drama at every turn and a cast of beautifully drawn characters, readers will love getting their teeth into this last date with the unforgettable toffee factory girls.
(Headline, paperback, £8.99)

A Woman of Spirit

Margaret Dickinson

BORN within a month of each, Molly and Queenie have been the best of friends since their schooldays but when they both fall for lovable rogue Harry Spencer, their close relationship will be tested to the limit.  

Margaret Dickinson (pictured below) – a writer who had her first novel published at the age of 25 and has since gone on to pen a raft of bestselling sagas – is on fine form as she brings us a gritty and heart-rending tale of unrequited love set against the fears, suspicions and uncertainties of the First World War.

In June of 1912 in Leicestershire, all the girls notice startlingly handsome Harry Spencer… with his shiny black hair and brown eyes full of mischief, the girls in the neighbourhood battle to ‘walk out’ with him or even just talk to him. Molly and Queenie are no different but Molly knows she fades into insignificance at the side of blonde-haired, blue-eyed Queenie who seems to make everyone look twice at her.

It breaks Molly’s heart to see Queenie flirting with Harry but she quickly turns her mind to the Suffragette movement, finding solace and passion in helping their cause.

Inevitably, the girls’ friendship becomes strained and when war breaks out in 1914, the local community starts to hear rumours that Molly has been delivering white feathers, a symbol of cowardice, and she is cast out by everyone she holds dear. In times of despair, can Molly hold on to hope and prove the truth that is in her heart?

Dickinson is a born storyteller who knows how to immerse her readers in the past and a forgotten way of life, and in her emotion-packed new romance, she brings us a torrid tale filled with heartache, courage and page-turning drama. 

Written with the author’s signature warmth and insight, A Woman of Spirit delivers the kind of rich period detail that brings the past and its people to vibrant life. A delight for all saga fans!
(Macmillan, hardback, £22)

Hay Bales and Hollyhocks

Sheila Newberry

A YOUNG girl’s idyllic life in the Cambridge Fenlands is changed forever when her family moves to the  Norfolk countryside, just as the country is about to be plunged into the upheaval of the Second World War, in a heart-warming saga from Sheila Newberry.

Newberry (pictured below), the Suffolk-born author who died in 2020, knew a thing or two about the ups and downs of family life. A mother of nine children, and with twenty-two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, this much-loved writer left a legacy of nostalgic sagas – including this page-turner previously published as Our Cousin Rosanna – which have enthralled readers across the decades.

In Hay Bales and Hollyhocks, we are transported back to the Fens in 1938 where little Rosanna is part of a close-knit family and the youngest of three cousins. In a time of childhood abandon and with adventures to enjoy on the waterways, life couldn’t be more perfect for her.

But things are not always as they seem and when Rosanna’s new baby brother Russ is born, tragedy strikes the family. To make matters worse, the outbreak of World War Two is just around the corner and when the family moves to the Norfolk countryside, Rosanna is torn from the life she loves. But as she and the other young family members grow up together, she realises that to find happiness, we sometimes have to break away from the things we know.

Full of rich period detail and nostalgia, and written with Newberry’s natural empathy and insight into what it meant to live through times of upheaval and personal challenges, this gently uplifting story is a saga to savour.
(Zaffre, paperback, £9.99)

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

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

Age 8 plus
Dragonflar
Jamie Hammond

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

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

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

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

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

Age 8 plus
Minotaur Boy
Shane Hegarty and Ruby Fresson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Age 5 plus
Croaky: Danger at Crater Canyon
Matty Long

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

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

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

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

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

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

Age 3 plus
Mission: Bedtime
Tracey Corderoy and Alex Patrick

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

The Enemy’s Wife

Deborah Swift

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

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

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

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

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

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

In December of 1941, Zofia has been torn from her happy home and what she hoped was, at long last, a new life in Japan with her businessman husband Haru Kimura whom she married

The Seven O’Clock Club

Amelia Ireland

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

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

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

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

Their scepticism about this new kind of grief therapy – and their unnervingly perceptive counsellor Genevieve – means they are all wary, but as the weeks go by, they find themselves returning again and again, pulled back to work their way toward healing, even if it means first facing the pain head-on. Fifty-two-year-old Victoria is a sharp-tongued lawyer at a cut-throat City law firm and has no intention of letting down her defensive

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)