CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Dragon treats, inner beasts and a world of birds

Devour the heroic tale of a tiny dragon with a heart of gold and a taste for freshly baked treats, unleash your inner animal with a thrilling new shapeshifting adventure series, take flight with some of the world’s most colourful birds, and meet a group of cat friends hatching purr-fect plans in a super selection of new children’s books

Age 3 plus
The Bakery Dragon
Devin Elle Kurtz

IF you love funny fairy tales, delicious cakes and fantastic beasts, then here is your truly GOLDEN chance to devour the heroic tale of a tiny dragon with a heart of gold and a taste for freshly baked treats! In an enchanting and award-winning picture book positively sparkling with golden hues, Californian digital illustrator, visual development artist and background painter Devin Elle Kurtz has let loose her talents on every young reader’s answer to How to Train Your Dragon, Impossible Creatures and Raya and the Last Dragon… crossed with The Great British Bake Off!

So meet Ember who has always been different from the other dragons. His fearsome roar sounds more like a polite sneeze and when he breathes fire, the villagers just pat his head and say awwww. Ember fears he will never collect a respectable hoard of gold… until a chance encounter with a baker causes his fortunes to turn (and his stomach to grumble). As the little dragon soon discovers, the gold you make is way better than the gold you steal… and gold that is shared? Well that’s best of all! Children will love this perfectly scrumptious picture book with its gorgeous blend of magic, fantasy and baking, themes of sharing, self-confidence and trying something new, all brought to life by pages packed with luminous, enchanting illustrations and glowing golden panels. The perfect read-aloud story for sharing at bedtime or when tummies are rumbling!
(Walker Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 10 plus
Beast Mode: The Animal Awakens
J.J. Arcanjo

IT'S time to unleash your inner animal! If you loved the thrills and spills of J.J. Arcanjo’s dazzling debut series Crookhaven, which featured an unforgettable school for thieves, then you need to ‘book in’ with a new gang of street-smart kids who have the most extraordinary ability… they can shapeshift into powerful animals! Filled with the same bone-crunching action, humour, mystery, and devilish twists that take your breath away, Beast Mode is the new sensation from half-Portuguese, half-English writer Arcanjo and it’s tailor-made for youngsters hooked on full-on adventure stories. Meet Caine, Ember and Blue, a ragtag group of young teens with a dark secret… the ability to transform into powerful animals. They were strangers forced together to survive but now they are ‘family’ and desperate to find out who they were before and why someone has done this to them. Together they must navigate a dangerous world where their extraordinary abilities are both a blessing and a curse. And as they unravel the mysteries of their past and how they came to be shapeshifters, they will face life-threatening challenges, betrayals, and an organisation that seeks to harness their power for evil. Can they master their inner beasts and keep their secret safe… or will they be consumed by the darkness? Beast Mode, and its daring team of fearless adventurers, are definitely ‘shaping up’ to be the next best thing for middle-grade readers so prepare for the darkness, harness your own animal powers, and get ready for an exhilarating ride!
(Starboard, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Welcome to the Museum: Aviarium
Dominic Couzens and Teagan White

TAKE flight with the latest instalment of the brilliant Welcome to the Museum series and explore a lavishly illustrated showcase of the world of birds in all their diverse and colourful glory! Simply step inside the pages of this fact-packed book to enjoy the experience of a museum from the comfort of your own home. This amazing tour puts on display an incredible collection of birds of every shape and colour, enabling readers to wander through curated exhibits on every page, all accompanied by an informative text. In this eye-catching new visit, presented in the form of a large, high-quality book packed with amazing pictures and facts, youngsters can fly high with gulls and terns, swoop and dive with swallows and flycatchers, go hunting with owls and eagles, swim with penguins and ducks, and take a stroll with kiwis and ostriches. Written by renowned bird expert and nature writer Dominic Couzens, and breathtakingly illustrated by American artist Teagan White, Aviarium is another winner for the groundbreaking Welcome to the Museum series which presents a virtual museum for visitors of all ages, is open twenty-four hours a day, and has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. A must-have gift for all bird lovers!
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £26)

Age 7 plus
Cat School: Odd Cat Out!
Rose Robbins

CAN a group of cat friends hatch a purr-fect plan to make a kitten feel at home in her new class… or will it be a big cat-astrophe? Rose Robbins – an acclaimed author and illustrator – uses her own experience of growing up autistic to show what is possible, even in the most tangled of situations, in the first of a new graphic novel trilogy set in an enchanting cat school. Stars of the show are young kittens Tangle and Eno, and their new, neurodivergent friend Pelly. And it’s the start of a new year at Cat School… a place where curious kittens learn to become confident cats. After overcoming their nerves, old friends Tangle and Eno look forward to their exciting new schedules. They meet their classmates… including Pelly, a kitten who knows she’s a little different and hides her true self to fit in. Can Tangle and Eno learn to understand her? And can Pelly hang in there long enough to understand them? Employing her own subtle voice and individual artwork, and inspired by her childhood and experience as a teacher for people with additional needs, Robbins brings young readers a beautifully created tale exploring new experiences, anxiety, feelings, friendship and community. Laced with fun, humour and empathy, and with fun extras like a map of the school, a cat herbarium and cat school rules, this is the perfect book for any nervous school starter.
(Scallywag Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Your Planet Needs You!
Brilliant Jobs to Protect Your World
Elizabeth Laird, Will McDowall
and Paul Boston

INSPIRE children to learn about future eco careers and positive solutions for climate change with this fact-packed book written by mother and son team, award-winning novelist Elizabeth Laird and university innovation and sustainability professor Will McDowall, and illustrated by artist Paul Boston. Sometimes the news about climate change can sound scary but did you know that people all over the world are inventing brilliant ways to solve the problem… and that you could help? From scientists and farmers to carpenters and fashion designers, discover the jobs you could do when you grow up to help our planet. Whether you like looking after nature, working with big machines, solving tricky puzzles or simply being creative, this book is packed with inspiration. With a gentle introduction to the latest cutting-edge science and technology, this is an accessible and engaging guide is packed with Boston’s richly detailed and colourful illustrations and is ideal to start conversations about climate change.
(Walker Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 6 plus
The Elementals: Peo Saves the Trees
Love Ssega and Erika Meza

IF it’s adventure you’re after this summer, set sail for magical Sealand and enjoy fun and amazing feats with a group of young eco-warriors! The Elementals is the new escapade in a green-themed action series for young readers from Love Ssega, a musician, producer and performing artist of Ugandan heritage, and illustrator Erika Meza who was born in Mexico. Peo and her friends will do whatever it takes to keep Sealand – their island home – safe. They all have magical powers connected to the four elements… air, water, earth and fire. And fun-loving but smart Peo is learning that her earth skills are stronger than she knew! When she hears a call for help from a nearby island, Peo is shocked to find that she can talk to trees. The Elementals set off straight away, but when they arrive, all the trees are gone... Can they work together to solve the mystery and save the trees? Tree-mendous fun from first page to last!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Dogs and Bears
Max Porter and Dorothée de Monfreid

FIGHTING, brawling, squabbling – call it what you will. The thing is, it’s never a good look, it results in upset and hurt, and it never has a truly satisfactory ending. Max Porter, author of four hugely successful novels including his multi-award-winning first novel, Grief Is the Thing with Feathers, teams up with French illustrator Dorothée de Monfreid for his debut children’s picture book, Dogs and Bears, a funny and sublimely ridiculous pacifist story packed with poignant messages about peace. This third brawl just happened. Nobody knew why… The dogs and the bears have been brawling for a while. No one knows quite how it started. Was it the jackets, cloaks and bandanas the dogs were wearing, or the smell of the sickly sweets that the dogs were making? But today is the day of the third deciding brawl. The stage is set. NO snack breaks and no biscuits. But halfway through the brawl, the world is interrupted by an unexpected airborne event… it’s raining squids! This uniting event will change the relationship of the dogs and bears forever! Perfect for a time of world unrest and war, Dogs and Bears – with its timely message about peace and de Monfreid’s all-action illustrations – satirises violence and uses a cast of adorable animals to ask questions about human nature. A story fighting to be heard…
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Mazy the Movie Star: On Stage
Isla Fisher and Paula Bowles

MAZY the Movie Star – everyone’s favourite pampered pooch – is back with another dog-tastic adventure in Hollywoof! Mazy is the imaginative creation of TV and film actress Isla Fisher who has teamed up with illustrator Paula Bowles for these star-studded picture book stories set in a canine version of Hollywood populated entirely by dogs. Everyone in Hollywoof knows Mazy the Movie Star’s name but she has a secret wish… she loves dressing up and she wants a new challenge to act on STAGE! But when Mazy lands her dream role in legendary director Clint Eastwoof’s theatre production of Little Red Riding Hound, she suddenly gets a bad case of… STAGE FRIGHT! Can Mazy learn to share her worries and overcome her fears? With a little help from her friends, perhaps she’ll find a way to shine wherever she goes! The sky’s the limit in this fun-filled tale, gorgeously illustrated by Bowles and with a central message about trying new things, sharing worries, overcoming your fears and gaining confidence. Ideal for little ones starting nursery, pre-school and reception class.
(Welbeck Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Tell Tale

Claire Parkin

WHEN you have a (well-earned!) reputation as the village snooper, busybody and all-round ten-year-old troublemaker, how on earth do you convince your sceptical elders that you are the sole witness to a murder?

After the huge success of her debut book, The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe – a darkly comic novel about two elderly women’s lifelong, toxic friendship and the fine line between love and hate – Claire Parkin (pictured below) returns with a wonderfully visceral and boldly original comedy murder mystery set in her Welsh homeland during the miners’ strike of 1984.

Tell Tale stars an angry, straight-talking, innately clever girl from a deprived home whose payback for her life lived as a virtual outcast is to spy on the folk in her well-heeled Welsh village and manipulate, purely for her own amusement, rising community tensions from the industrial unrest. The result is a story full of a child’s raw honesty, boundless mischief and uncompromising worldview set alongside a searing, and often colourful, insight into the lives of those caught up in the feuds, scandals and gossip of small village life, and the struggles and bitterness of a hard-hitting strike. 

In Wales in 1984, in the small village of Llanfair – a place of handsome red-brick Victorian villas and trimmed front lawns – the most notorious busybody, young Debbie-Marie Tunstall, a victim of the bullies from an early age, has really gone and done it this time. 

Trying to blackmail the vicar and putting senna into the sandwiches of two girls in her school class, which landed them in hospital, were maybe – just maybe – two steps too far.

And now that her merciless announcements of the observations she records in her much-cherished Kajagoogoo notebook have got her into so much trouble that even her single parent mum can’t defend her, Debbie has been referred to child psychologist Dr Vanessa Bridges to save her from being expelled from school.  

But not all the residents of Llanfair are unsympathetic to Debbie… former headteacher Barbara Pritchard – who swore on her retirement that she would rather ‘sell her soul to Satan’ than face a child or its ‘ghastly parents’ ever again – regards Debbie as a different kettle of fish. Frank, fearless and feisty, this girl, she concludes, is a ‘misunderstood genius.’

And Barbara’s 31-year-old nephew Robert Hargreaves, a bartender at his dad’s pub in Llanfair, is himself a victim of childhood bullying. He is still grieving the death of his beloved mother a year ago and Debbie counts him as one of her friends as he is always willing to talk to her.

But her latest snooping and mischief has left even her few friends baffled and Debbie feels she has no choice but to run away into ‘the wilderness,’ only to find herself the sole witness to a murder. And from a decades-old tragedy to the immediate danger of a potential serial killer on the loose, Debbie decides to take it upon herself to piece together both the recent murder and the older mystery. Problem is that even if she uncovers the truth, will anyone believe the village’s biggest tell-tale? Because in Llanfair, secrets are buried just beneath the surface, and what Debbie has inadvertently stumbled upon could unravel the very fabric of her community…

Parkin brings us a cast of larger-than-life characters – some of them the familiar stalwarts of any small village and others who are instantly recognisable as the disruptors and aggressors – as a ruthless killer wreaks havoc on the residents of Llanfair. Written through the alternating first person perspective of the irrepressible and delightfully knowing Debbie and the third person accounts of child psychologist Vanessa, who has a genuine sense of purpose to help kids like Debbie, retired headmistress Barbara who alone recognises the child’s intelligence, and caring but self-doubting Robert, unearthing the murderer’s identity gradually comes full circle.

But also at the heart of the story is the dichotomy between the neighbouring villages of Llanfair and Barwood. They might only be three miles apart but it could well be three thousand miles, with mining village Barwood closely bound by a profound solidarity over the strike, and Llanfair boasting the most prosperous population in the county and yet still unhappy with its lot.

Packed with nostalgia-laden references to the social life and times of the Eighties, featuring a delightful brand of dark humour juxtaposed with some weighty emotional grit, and armed with a growing sense of suspense, a few unexpected twists and turns, and a delightful sting in its tail, this is a murder mystery to read and relish.
(Macmillan, hardback, £20)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Wild adventures, magical secrets and spellbinding plants

Follow a bunch of ragtag pets who must find their way in a dystopian land where humans have disappeared, return to the thrilling fantasy world of Rapunzel and Eugene in a teen sequel to Disney’s much-loved movie Tangled, and discover a spellbinding guide book to some of nature’s magical plants in a sizzling summer selection of children’s books

Age 8 plus
The Wild Ones
Steve Cole and Johanna Tarkela

WHEN the world changes and humans vanish, a scrappy pack of pets must find a way to survive in a land of vicious beasts… will they ever find a place to call home? Master storyteller Steve Cole – whose raft of successful books has included the hugely successful fun-filled Astrosaurs series – turns his skills to a subject dear to his heart… animals, and particularly dogs rescued from pet shelters. And so The Wild Ones, a tale of pets battling to survive in a dangerous, dystopian world, becomes an adventure with humour, fur-raising escapades… and a big heart.

The old familiar world has gone and out there in the cold and gusting dark, something new and unknown is waiting... Meet Scamp, a Jack Russell Terrier, who lives at a pet care centre. He has friends, food and a warm bed but one terrible night – the Night of the Great Growl – his world changes for ever. The people have vanished and all that’s left outside are the Things… vicious, starving beasts that roam the ruined city. Driven into the wilds – with Chandelier the cat whose loyalties are tested, Punzel the rabbit with a nervous disposition, old and wise Patticake the dachshund, Falstaff the macaw (maps the group’s journey all whilst quoting – or misquoting – Shakespeare) and cheeky hamsters Nudge and Wink – Scamp sets off in search of safety. On their epic journey, Scamp must discover his own wildness if he is to lead the pets to the one thing they so desperately need… a new home.

Young animal fans who will be captivated by this irresistible romp starring a charismatic group of pets – each with their own fears and foibles – as Cole lets loose both his imagination and his own lifelong love for rescue dogs on a thrilling, futuristic adventure. Heart-breaking and heartwarming in equal measures, and gorgeously illustrated by Johanna Tarkela, The Wild Ones is a journey you won’t want to miss!
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age 12 plus
Disney: Rootbound
Margaret Owen

RETURN to the thrilling fantasy world of Rapunzel and Eugene in this original teen sequel to Disney’s much-loved movie Tangled! Written by bestselling author Margaret Owen, this twisting, turning adventure expands the Tangled adventures with new layers of intrigue, danger and drama as the charismatic couple race to protect a neighbouring kingdom… and save their own. Corona’s neighbouring kingdom, Astera, is a famously reclusive island, so when a suspicious invitation arrives welcoming Rapunzel to the Asteran princess’s coming of age ceremony, she accepts. Rapunzel only left her tower a month ago and little does she know that she is about to plunge herself and Eugene into a tangled knot of political intrigue and magical secrets. Thrust into a power struggle between Astera’s renegade princess Verette, its domineering king Enver, and a mysterious secret society, Rapunzel and Eugene fight to defend their home from an unsettlingly familiar magical threat and discover that their past can either hold them back or help them blossom. Rootbound is an enchanting and action-packed adventure as Rapunzel and Eugene battle enemy forces in Astera, fight to save their personal dreams, and, along the way, uncover truths about Eugene’s parentage. Fun and frights every step of the way
(Studio Press, paperback, £8.99, published on July 30)

Age 9 plus
And Now We Run
Nicola Penfold

‘We're running now, along the spine of the world, and behind us,
just below, half the land is sliding away to nowhere.’ 

TWO youngsters on a school trip must work together to outrun storm flooding and reach safety in a gripping novel from eco-warrior author Nicola Penfold who hails from Billinge in Merseyside. Packed with danger, dilemmas and nail-biting drama, And Now We Run blends a thrilling adventure with timely messages about the power of nature and the need to protect the planet. Jelly is NOT looking forward to the first outing at her new school, since her best friend ditched her and is determined to make Jelly miserable. Lincoln however can’t wait… he used to visit the hills with his brothers and he’s excited to be back. But what neither of them expected was for the extreme weather to cause the reservoirs to burst, for the area to be flooded… and to be left behind when the rest of their group is evacuated. As rain pours down and the water rises, Jelly and Lincoln have to put aside their fears to outrun the storm. Friendship, survival, courage and resonant reminders about the perilous impact of extreme weather all play their part in this thought-provoking adventure which gallops along as fast as the rising floodwater and blends heartfelt emotion with spectacular, fast-paced action. A true thriller-chiller!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 8 plus
A Guide to Plants for Little Witchlings
Jennifer Lane and Adelina Lirius

MAGIC is everywhere in nature… you just need to know where to look for it! Jennifer Lane, an award-winning children’s author and practising witch since she was 12, joins forces with Stockholm-born illustrator Adelina Lirius to take youngsters on a magical journey of discovery. Did you know that magic could be hiding under any leaf, behind any tree, or next to a tiny pebble? Every plant, we learn, has a special superpower and witchlings always know just where to look. Lavender can bring you deep sleep, sunflowers bring you happiness, roses say ‘I love you’ and honeysuckle can bring you good luck. All you have to do is ask the plants nicely and work with them to cast a spell. This beautifully illustrated book shares 15 common plants that are essential for little witchlings-to-be. Packed with fascinating flower facts, fun folklore, lessons on casting spells and making petal potions, all brought to vivid life by Lirius’ colourful and endearing illustrations, this magical guide book is guaranteed to cast its own spell!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 7 plus
When I was a Wolf
Liz Flanagan and Nikola Aronova

PUTTING your feelings into words can be difficult for children, particularly at times of grief, worry, change or emotional turmoil. Determined to help youngsters through their troubled times, Yorkshire author and teacher Liz Flanagan sensitively explores the healing and help that can spring from creativity in this poignant and beautifully imagined novel. Jasmine loves wolves, her mum and her best friend, Ella. But Jasmine’s mum has fallen ill, and Ella is busy with Layla, the new girl at school. Everything has changed and Jasmine feels lost and alone. At a new art club, Jasmine learns to channel her worries and sadness into creativity, building a magnificent lantern in the shape of her favourite animal, a wolf, for the town parade. But when a moment of anger threatens to undo all her progress on the night of the lantern parade, can Jasmine find a way to control her emotions and repair her friendships? Published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format, and brimming with warmth, wise words, and a deep understanding of Jasmine’s struggles to cope with life changes and her complex emotions, When I was a Wolf sees thoughtful and perceptive writer Flanagan at her very best.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Dory Fantasmagory: Dory Dory Black Sheep
Abby Hanlon

IF you need a book to hook in your reluctant readers, introduce them to the irrepressible Dory, laugh-out-loud star of a hilarious, highly-illustrated series which has sold millions of copies and won an army of worldwide fans. Dory is the creation of Abby Hanlon, a teacher who was inspired by her students’ storytelling and drawings, and began to write and illustrate her own stories for children. With their perfect-for-bedtime length chapters, and fully illustrated throughout, these books will have your mischief-makers longing to start a new chapter. Ever since Dory met Rosabelle, a real true friend whose imagination and high spirits match her own, school has been pretty good. But now the class is learning to read, and it’s proving to be a challenge for Dory. While Rosabelle can read chapter books in her head, Dory is stuck with baby books about a happy little farm. Dory's imagination whirrs into action and her wish for a potion to turn her into a reader doesn’t go as planned. Suddenly, a naughty little girl who looks an awful lot like Dory’s imaginary nemesis, Mrs Gobble Gracker, shows up. And a black sheep leaves the pages of the farm book to follow Dory to school. It really needs her help… this seems like a job for a superhero! And it would help if she knew how to read. Following the re-issue of books one and two in the series, Dory Dory Black Sheep is the third book and the first time it has been published in the UK. With chaos erupting whenever mischief-maker Dory’s real life blurs with her imagined life, laughter is guaranteed at the turn of every page!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

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

HELP your littles ones to accept that even in the darkest times friendship can light your way, with this warm and comforting graphic novel-inspired picture book, the second in a series 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, these cleverly imagined stories star a turtle facing her fears and discovering the value of true friendship even when the darkness feels overwhelming. When Merryglow the firefly sets off on his travels, Mabel the tortoise must learn – through the help of two unexpected friends – that even in the darkest times, friendship can help her shine. Mabel and Merryglow are the best of friends, their days are filled with her laughter, and the nights shine with his light, but Merryglow has always been a wanderer at heart, and the time has come for his next adventure. With Mabel’s only friend gone, she returns to old habits, spending her days sulking. But when Mabel crosses paths with two unexpected new friends, Pip, a spirited little bunny, and Cara, a kind-hearted fox with a taste for vegetables, her days are once more filled with the laughter of friends! The outcasts learn to love themselves despite their differences, and teach Mabel to find comfort in their company with Merryglow gone. When Merryglow returns, will he recognise the once morose and miserable tortoise he called a friend? With empowering and inspirational messages about the importance of loving yourself and your differences, and standing on your own two feet even when you feel afraid, and brought to life by beautiful, atmospheric and panelled illustrations, these exquisitely written and illustrated Mabel and Merryglow adventures are on the fast track to becoming firm family favourites.
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
The Sound of a Smile
Louise Greig and David Litchfield

SILENT is my LOUD! A young deaf girl explains why not being able to hear doesn’t mean her days are spent without sound in a moving and enlightening picture book from the award-winning duo of author and poet Louise Grieg and illustrator David Litchfield. Greig, who had to give up on plans to be an air stewardess because of her progressive deafness, draws on her own experiences to explore deafness, friendship and the universal ways in which we can all communicate. Meet a girl who can’t hear the noisy world around her. In her ears, those sounds are sleeping. But she has found sounds that are hiding… between the notes of a song, between the beats of a wing. And between those sounds are her sounds and she listens. What if someone in the noisy world listened to the beauty and magic of the silent things too? Perhaps they might discover the sound of a smile… or even better, the sound of a friend. Litchfield’s heartwarming and expressive illustrations put extra power and emotion into Greig’s lyrical and beautiful portrayal of a world where silence sings and where hidden sounds and small movements like a friend’s wave or a shrug can speak as loudly as a voice.
(Orchard Books, hardback, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
Pog and Pickle's Great Escape
Ross Montgomery and Sarah Warburton

HOME is where the hutch is! Double act – author Ross Montgomery and illustrator Sarah Warburton – find the winning touch a deliciously endearing summer holiday picture book romp starring two lovable guinea pigs. Pog and Pickle are a guinea pig couple who are never apart. Pickle loves life in their cosy hutch, but Pog dreams of exploring the world. Late one night, Pog seizes her chance to sneak into the family’s luggage for a holiday to Peru… leaving Pickle all alone! It’s time for Pickle to make an inventive escape plan of his own as he musters all his courage to embark on a hilariously chaotic and daring journey to reunite with his love. Montgomery’s trademark bouncy, rhyming text puts heart and humour into an adventure that contrasts the warmth and security of a cosy home with the exotic thrills and excitement of discovering a world far from home. Warburton puts the seal on this joyous picture book excursion with her brilliantly detailed and fun-filled colourful illustrations. Climb aboard and enjoy the ride!
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
I’ll Love You Till
the Sloths Start School
Kathryn Cristaldi and Kristyna Litten

LET'S go back to school! Author Kathryn Cristaldi and illustrator Kristyna Litten, the top team behind the lyrical lullaby book, I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home, are back to ease those first day of school jitters with a reassuring and cosy board book. School is open…... but where are the sloths? Are these nocturnal sloths late for their lessons or right on time for their own school adventure? This delightfully quirky lullaby is the perfect read-aloud story to ease little ones’ worries and remind them just how much they are loved, even when they are away at school. Brimming with gentle humour, colourful illustrations, and a reminder that school is fun, this sturdy board book is perfect for little hands and comes with the trademark tenderness that will invite many bedtime repetitions!
(HarperCollins360, board book, £8.99)

Age one plus
Bugs (My First Pop-Up)
Nelly Edwards

GOOD morning butterfly, dancing in the sun… From jewelled beetles to dazzling butterflies, and enormous dragonflies to furry bees, this stylish and colourful pop-up book from debut illustrator Nelly Edwards is the perfect introduction to insects for young children. Simple and yet captivating, each intricately engineered page introduces a dynamic assortment of creatures through six brightly-coloured, collage-style pop-ups. Each sturdy, multi-layered pop-up insect almost leaps from the page while the small format makes the book ideal for little hands. Pop-up learning for tiny tots!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, board book, £12.99)

A Village Scandal

Diane Allen

LEFT alone to run a popular pub in the Yorkshire Dales countryside when her husband signs up to fight in May of 1941, Flora Whitaker finds herself caught up in an old secret which still has the power to cause ripples in the close-knit village of Giggleswick.

The rural beauty and wild charms of the Dales once again form the alluring backdrop to a compelling tale of family bonds, hidden truths and courage from popular storyteller Diane Allen (pictured below) who was born in Leeds but raised at her family’s farm deep in the Yorkshire Dales.

Using the stunning countryside surrounding her home near the historic market town of Settle as her inspiration, Allen’s gritty and heartfelt novels are proof that she has her finger firmly on the pulse of northern saga writing, and the hardy Yorkshire folk who have for centuries made their home amongst the hills and dales. Flora Whitaker is a familiar face at the Cunning Vixen Inn, a small pub in the centre of Giggleswick. 

When her husband, Bill, re-enlists with his regiment from the last war, despite being over forty and still suffering pain from old battle injuries, he leaves Flora to run the pub with help from their 18-year-old cleaner May, the next-door neighbour’s daughter.

Flora, a typical landlady with her winning smile and a twinkle in her eye, has several money-saving and illegal schemes running to keep them afloat, and when young May starts courting local policeman, PC Trevor Whinray, he seems to show interest in Flora’s illegal activities.

Trying to alleviate their seemingly endless money troubles, Flora decides to let a room at the pub to Matt Walker, who has arrived on behalf of the War Office to oversee the smooth transfer of Italian prisoners of war to Whitefriars, a large house in Settle. Flora finds out that Matt’s mother, Maisy Walker, was once the landlady of the Cunning Vixen and they become good friends, even though her own down-to-earth mother, Mary Towler – who never approved of Flora marrying Bill – and the rest of the town do not welcome Matt’s presence.

Meanwhile, Bill – notorious for his jealous streak – hears from sources about Matt staying at the pub and becomes increasingly suspicious. Matt has a big secret, and he is about to share it with the unsuspecting Flora. Will it shatter her world, or will it bring her and her mother closer together?

Allen, an observant and insightful writer, brings us a fascinating cast of authentic northern characters in an intriguing, mystery-laced tale set in the picturesque and historic village of Giggleswick.

Packed with emotion, drama and the realities and struggles of everyday life during the Second World War, A Village Scandal sees Allen at her best as she uses her natural compassion and understanding of human frailty to shine a light on the warmth and joy that comes from family, friendship and community, and the power of love to heal both hearts and minds.
(Pan, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Horse healing, making wishes and murder night

Enjoy summer vibes, drama and humankind’s eternal bond with horses alongside a girl with a secret, discover whether being able to make all your wishes come true is as good as it sounds, tag along at a party night which turns out be murderously funny, and battle through the heatwave with a chilling folk-horror fantasy in a sizzling July selection 

Age 12 plus
Wild Horse Summer
Lauren St John

RECUPERATING after an accident that has left her scarred inside and out, an American teenager’s long-haul trip to stay with little-known relatives in a small seaside town in North Devon is a daunting prospect. And little does she suspect that it is destined to be a summer of romance, adventure, mystery… and horses! Wild Horse Summer – a clean teen novel bursting with summer vibes, drama and humans’ eternal bond with horses – comes from award-winning author Lauren St John who grew up on a farm and game reserve in Zimbabwe and is a passionate conservationist.

When sixteen-year-old Morgan Taylor arrives from New York to spend the summer with her British cousins, all anyone knows is that an accident has left her vulnerable and troubled. But Morgan is also hiding a secret that she will do anything to keep. And when the town’s hottest surfer, Cal Heyward, saves her life, the truth about her past suddenly feels harder than ever to hide. To escape, Morgan takes a job at a stable yard, hoping that horses will heal her as they have done so often before. But everything changes when she is asked to help Night Dancer, a horse with his own dark history... In the scorching summer heat, attraction swirls and tensions rise. Out on the moors, meanwhile, Morgan, Night Dancer and Exmoor pony Mouse must confront their greatest fears if they are to survive a 100-mile journey across one of the toughest wildernesses on earth. With a compulsive, edge-of-the-seat story full of romance, heartbreak, healing, resilience and second chances, all explored through St John’s lyrical and atmospheric storytelling, the heat will be on this summer when teens get their hands on this fabulous, horse-powered odyssey! 
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 12 plus
Song of the Saltings
Rachael King

FIGHT off the summer heat with a chilling folk-horror fantasy about a girl who must defy tradition to save her beloved island from the monstrous forces that are tearing it apart. Song of the Saltings, a powerful novel tingling with suspense and atmospherics, is the work of Rachael King, a writer, reviewer and former literary festival director from New Zealand, and was inspired by King’s visit to St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides, and her own passion for Scottish folklore. On the isolated island of Brack, the people live by an ancient bargain… every year, a sacrifice must be made to the Glimm, the creature that haunts the salt marshes. Once, it demanded children. Eight years ago, it should have taken Lotta. Instead, the monster spared her and claimed her pony, shattering tradition and anointing her both folk hero and object of suspicion. Now sixteen, Lotta tends the Council’s sacrificial horses, keeping her distance from the islanders who whisper about her fate. But something is stirring. The island hums beneath her feet, and a song threads through her dreams. Is the Glimm calling Lotta back? When she crosses paths with Moss – a boy once hidden from sacrifice – a daring bog rescue sparks a chain of events which forces them both to question the Council’s rule and the lore that binds their people. As crops and animals are blighted and uncanny weather plagues the community, Lotta and Moss must decide whether to obey the Council or risk everything to uncover the island’s deepest secrets… because on Brack, monsters come in many forms. Exploring community, politics, manipulation and myth, and set against a stunning backdrop brought to visceral life by King’s lyrical prose and imaginative prowess, Song of the Saltings is a haunting, enthralling and unforgettable read. Don’t miss it!
(Guppy Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
Murder on a Midsummer Night
Lucy Strange and Hannah Peck

PARTY night turns out be murderously funny in the first of the dazzling Mulberry Hall Mysteries, a young readers’ cosy crime series from award-winning author Lucy Strange and illustrator Hannah Peck. Packed with puzzles to solve, a cast of quirky characters to love and laugh at, and a youthfully enthusiastic detective team, this fresh and fun series promises to be a true killer thriller. It’s the night of Sir Percy’s midsummer costume party, and Mulberry Hall has been turned into an enchanting wonderland… but a murderer stalks the grounds of the hall and the evening takes a dark turn when grumpy guest Magnus Cooper is mysteriously poisoned. The bumbling village policeman, Inspector Plum, is baffled so it’s down to quick-witted Eliza and her brother Bram Rose, who live with their parents in the gatehouse, and Sir Percy’s great-nephew Krish to solve the mystery. Can they find out who had access to the bottle of poison? Did a demon really appear in the maze? And what on earth is going on down in Sir Percy’s cellar? Strange, who admits to having loved murder mysteries since she was a child, blends mayhem and mischief to perfection as she sets her imaginations loose on an atmospheric midsummer adventure which delivers all the spooky vibes that children love, but with a big helping of heart and humour. Teamed with Peck’s darkly funny illustrations, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this is a classic whodunit… with a smile on its face!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Summer My Wishes Came True
Radhika Sanghani

IMAGINE what fun it would be if everything you wished for came true! But would it really make you happier? It’s a fascinating concept that is explored in a fun and relatable new novel from Radhika Sanghani, an award-winning journalist, author and body positivity campaigner. Ayesha can’t wait for summer camp, it’s going to be the best two weeks ever with her best friend Nikki. But Nikki has changed over the summer and things don’t feel the same between them. When Ayesha overhears Nikki telling their roommates she’s immature, Ayesha is embarrassed and wishes her life could be different. The next day, Ayesha realises everything she wishes for is coming true. Lie-in in the morning? Tick! Pizza for lunch? Tick! Nikki to be her best friend? Tick! Suddenly Nikki's hanging out with her again, and then Ayesha wishes for Nikki to get a part in the camp’s musical… and now she’s playing the lead role. But their friendship still isn’t the same. Ayesha thinks she needs a part in the musical too so she makes another wish, even if her actions have taken a role in the musical from someone else who would really love it. She’s got everything she has ever wished for, but will Ayesha’s wishes really make her happy? This summer isn't turning out to be everything she hoped for... With its empowering messages about self-esteem and being true to yourself, Ayesha’s journey to discovering what really makes her happy is ideal for tweens facing the all-too-familiar challenges of friendships. With its irresistible a sprinkling of magic and an emotion and drama-packed storyline, The Summer My Wishes Came True is the perfect fun read for your tweens.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
Colour Your Streets: London

PUT some colour into a tour of the UK’s capital city with this brilliant, interactive colouring book full of quizzes, fun facts and even a treasure hunt! This entertaining insight into London’s landmarks comes from Colour Your Streets, a family-run business created by husband and wife team, the entrepreneur Jeremy Weil and broadcaster Emma Barnett, who were inspired by their two children wanting to learn more about their local area in a screen-free way. From the famous London Eye and Big Ben to less familiar sites like Crystal Palace Park Dinosaurs and St Katharine’s Dock, youngsters can bring the capital city’s landmarks to life with their favourite colours. With over 40 landmarks in the book, readers can also learn fascinating facts about each place… and there are plenty of puzzles (and even a quiz) to do. So if you are planning a sightseeing visit to London this summer, searching for a souvenir, or looking for something to keep your child occupied at home or even while riding on one of the city’s eye-catching red buses, climb on board to discover this amazing city!
(Puffin, paperback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus
Royalslinger
Graci Kim

RETURN to a dazzling world in which there are two different versions of the truth as Korean Kiwi diplomat turned bestselling author Graci Kim brings us the second and final book of her thrilling Slinger fantasy duology which is international in its scope but inspired by Korean mythology and culture. Kim, who lives in New Zealand, writes about the magic she wants to see in the world so enjoy being swept away to another fantastical adventure in which dragons and phoenixes roam the skies of Seoul, meals magically appear based on your mood, and your wildest dreams – or your darkest nightmares – come to life before your eyes! After successfully passing the Annual Royal Slinger Trials, Aria Loveridge – one of a group of children born with genetic mutations which transport them to a powerfully magical realm while they sleep –is about to kick off her second year of training at the Royal League of Dreamslingers. All she and her bloom dragon, Rio, have to do is pass the last Fellowship exam and finally become fully-fledged Fellows. But before training can begin, the king of Royal Hanguk cancels the exam, and instead commands Aria and the other novices to reclaim the Touch of Death… a powerful ancient relic that was stolen from the kingdom… by Aria’s mother no less! If that wasn’t bad enough, Aria experiences a devastating loss and considers going to horrific lengths to cope… even potentially joining the freedom slingers, a rogue and dangerous faction of dreamslingers. How will Aria choose to deal with her grief? And will her decisions result in the end of the League?

Kim delivers a fabulous finale to this magical series with its original premise, a heroine to adore and admire, and a gripping story which explores the different ways of looking at truth, and the courage it takes to embrace the complexities and challenges in a world in which our dreams affect our reality. A dream read for fantasy fans!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
BobLand
Matt Lucas and Begoña Fernández Corbalán

JUMP on the merry-go-round and join actor, comedian, presenter and author Matt Lucas for a wild ride in a theme park called BobLand! This madcap tale of comedy and chaos is the second hilarious children’s adventure story of family and friendship from one of TV’s most recognisable personalities and Spanish illustrator Begoña Fernández Corbalán. What’s better than the best theme park in the world – in your own garden! Bob Grubb and his family live on a ramshackle smallholding backing on to the world-renowned theme park, Happey World, run by Arthur Happey and his dreadful granddaughter, Maisie. When Bob accidentally gets into Maisie’s bad books, he is banned from Happey World… FOREVER. What is an entrepreneurial boy to do? Build his own theme park in his back garden, of course! With the help of friends and family, BOBLAND is go! But with Arthur and Maisie doing everything in their power to derail Bob’s plans, will they make it to the Grand Opening (where they are due to meet the king himself !) in one piece? And what is the big family secret that lurks beneath it all? Lucas is on his best form for this funny, joyful and heart-warming adventure which shines a light on the rewards of creativity, learning to be resilient, and simply being yourself. Corbalán’s characterful illustrations put extra vigour and charm into the thrills and spills of Bob’s story making this the perfect read for your own young adventurers.
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Paddock Grove: Runaway Horse
J.P. Rose

WHAT could be better than boarding school adventures… with horses taking the starring role? Pony lovers will be in seventh heaven as award-winning author J.P. Rose returns with the third book in her much-loved series about friends and their horses at Paddock Grove school. Ever since her parents sold her last horse, Tabitha Bailey has yearned for the chance to build that special bond with another. Now she finally has the chance to do this with Rusty, an ex-racehorse from her parents’ training stables. Even though Rusty is a handful to ride, Tabitha isn’t about to admit that she’s in over her head… not if it means her parents might take Rusty away. When the Paddock Grove gang enter a competition where they must navigate a complex route across unfamiliar moorland, Tabitha is determined to not let her control over Rusty slip. Packed with excitement, dramas, and the ups and downs of school days spent alongside some characterful horses, youngsters will be galloping to the shops to saddle up with some now familiar school pals!
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Weather, Camera, Action! 
Liam Dutton and Giordano Poloni

GRAB your coat, sunglasses, umbrella and snow boots for an action-packed adventure through every kind of weather! Channel 4 News weather presenter, author and meteorologist Liam Dutton has had nearly two decades of experience in explaining the weather and proves the perfect guide through some of the planet’s wildest weather in this big, colourful and fascinating book. Lavishly illustrated throughout by Giordano Poloni, an award-winning freelance illustrator based in Milan and known for his cinematic vistas, Weather, Camera, Action! is globetrotting heaven for all young weather watchers. Discover whirling planetary jet streams, catastrophic hurricanes, torrential monsoons, blinding dust storms, volcanic lightning and other amazing phenomena all through the lens of Dutton’s knowledge and experience. From super-rare iridescent clouds to rainbows created by the smallest raindrops, this adventure through the atmosphere shows off the splendour of our skies in their most fierce and dramatic states and uncovers the science behind weather events. With important reminders about the impact of climate change and extreme weather, this fact-filled book proves that what’s going on around us has never been more important to understand. Sky high lessons for budding meteorologists!
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £10.99, published on July 30)

Age 7 plus
Mix and Match: Inventors
Jane Wilsher and Mar Hernández

IF you could invent anything, what would it be? Join some amazing inventors and dream up your own mind-boggling creations in a brilliant flip format book which puts young readers in the driving seat to tomorrow’s world! There are over 450 possibilities to create your own incredible inventions as you flip the split pages and let your imagination soar! If there were no limitations to your creativity, how far would you go? Mix and Match: Inventors makes the reader the inventor and the sky is the limit when it comes to the contraptions you can create. From star-powered submarines to dream-powered space rockets, and flush-powered bicycles to solar-powered toilets, you can create the wildest, most unbelievable inventions ever seen on planet Earth. With bright, bold illustrations by Mar Hernández, and page after page of brilliant facts dug out by author and editor, Jane Wilsher, you could even become the inventor of your own future!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)

Age 7 plus
Bunny vs Monkey: Intergalactic Monkey Business!
Jamie Smart

HOLD on to your hats and watch out for trouble… Bunny and Monkey are back in their exhilarating remastered series which delivers all the comedy and chaos of the daffy duo’s helter-skelter world, and is published for the first time in book form! This outrageously funny new adventure in the super-popular series features 213 pages of fast and furry-ous exuberant fun… plus some entertaining draw-it-yourself activities. Bunny and Monkey are part of the Phoenix Presents series, published by David Fickling Books in partnership with The Phoenix comic, which goes from strength to strength, and much of that success is due to the genius of the extraordinarily talented illustrator Jamie Smart whose comic-strip Bunny vs Monkey books cause giant waves of laughter.

So welcome back to the Woods where chaos reigns supreme once more with the arrival of a new mischief-maker… Little Monkey, a smaller, cuter and even stranger Monkey than our beloved chaos-causer. But as Bunny and friends try to work out his motives, they are led far from the woods and into outer space. And on Planet Monkey, the laughs are positively intergalactic! Laugh-out-loud comical and ingeniously addictive, these manic, high-energy stories were just made for fidgety readers who like their books to come with plenty of comic-strip pictures and loads of turbocharged snorts and sniggers. Madcap antics for a new generation of action kids!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 5 plus
Fairytale Fiasco: Jack and the Beanstalk
Myles McLeod and Evgenia Golubeva

MEET Cleo! She has a special power and with the help of her friend, Book Mark, she can launch herself into any fairy tale each bedtime and try to fix all the things that go wrong. The problem is that it tends to turn into a fiasco and she has to use her courage and quick wit to save the day! This clever, colourful and enchanting comic-form series is the creation of husband and wife team, author Myles McLeod and illustrator Evgenia Golubeva, and with contemporary, fresh retellings of familiar favourites, each with a brilliant twist, the books dish up everything to entice and entertain newly independent readers. Poor Jack has been tricked into swapping his favourite cow for a handful of beans, and here comes Cleo to save the day! ZIP and BOOM and FLASH and KAZAM! Even Cleo has met her match in the cruel giant at the top of the beanstalk. Luckily she’s brilliant at coming up with clever plans! But can Cleo help Jack grab the golden-egg-laying chicken, harp and coins without getting caught, and be home in time for her bedtime story? Packed full of McLeod’s empathetic storytelling and Golubeva’s endearing and inclusive colour illustrations, and published in a small size book that is tailor-made for little hands, early reading has become a whole lot of fun!
(Guppy Books, paperback, £7.99 each)

Age 3 plus
Enchanted Beach
Esther Freud and Emma Chinnery

WHO can forget those magical childhood seaside holidays? There is something very special about being beside the sea and this captivating illustrated story about family memories of beaches, sunshine and fun encapsulates all those experiences we treasure. Enchanted Beach – the perfect travelling companion for youngsters heading off on their own summer breaks – is the first picture book from acclaimed novelist Esther Freud and is brought to life by the stunning illustrations of Emma Chinnery. From treasure hunts in spring, summer days spent playing on the beach, flying kites in autumn and walking through buffeting winter storms, the magic of the beach is that it changes with the seasons… and we change with it. Whether it’s brief moments playing in the sand or the bigger milestones of birthdays or New Year’s Day swims, this is an evocative, timeless and heartwarming celebration of your own special moments at the beach… and a story to share time and time again in any season!
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Milo and Twig
Liz Brizzi

WHAT does it mean when someone says, ‘If you love something, let it go’?  Milo and Twig is the exquisitely beautiful author-illustrator debut picture book from Liz Brizzi who brings young readers a loving and gentle story about a boy who rescues and cares for a bird… and then faces the heartbreak of setting him free. The day a little bird called Twig falls out of his nest, he meets a boy called Milo. Milo cares for Twig, building him a new nest in his home, tending to his broken wing and introducing him to his own ‘flock’ of friends. Twig sings his appreciation to Milo as his wing heals, and they become the best of friends. But Twig is still a bird and soaring along with Milo on his bike just isn’t the same as spreading his wings in the air. When Twig stops singing, Milo is left with a hard decision about the one last, but very important, thing his best friend needs to heal. Brizzi’s moving and gorgeously illustrated tale of Milo and Twig helps little ones to understand the quiet courage needed to let go of something or someone you love… and the joy to be found in freeing a loved one to become their true and happy self. The gift of love in a book!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Ben’s Library
Amani Uduman and Joanna Bartel

YOUNG bookworms will be cuddling up with this heartwarming picture book which celebrates books, libraries and the joys of friendship from Amani Uduman, a children’s author based in Melbourne, and fellow Aussie Joanna Bartel, an illustrator who draw much of her inspiration from everyday life with her three children. Elissa loves reading and her bookshelf overflows with all the story books that she has read. One day she tries to borrow several books from the school library only to realise that she can’t carry them home in her bag. However, her new neighbour, Ben, also shares her love of reading. As their friendship blossoms, Ben’s wheelchair proves to be the key to helping Elissa with her quest to read even more books! With themes of community, determination, problem solving and helping others, this beguiling picture book packs in wise words, richly detailed and colourful illustrations… and all the fun of friendship.  
(New Frontier Publishing, paperback, £8.99)