Faith’s War

Shirley Mann

A YOUNG nurse must face bombs, bullets and the ruins of an island in the dark days of war as she works to not just save the lives of wounded Maltese residents, but to dig out the mysterious beginnings of her own early life.

Faith’s War is the sixth story celebrating the role of women during wartime in a fascinating saga series from Derbyshire-based journalist Shirley Mann (pictured below) who follows up her compelling sagas, Lily’s War, Bobby’s War, Hannah’s War, Bridget’s War and Maggie’s War, with another exciting, revealing and emotion-filled story.

Featured this time is a story honouring the Second World War endurance and courage of the people of Malta, the small, seventeen-mile-long  island which was famously described by Winston Churchill as ‘an unsinkable aircraft carrier’ and which became the vital key to dominance in the Mediterranean. As a result of its strategic importance, the island was under siege and subjected to 15,000 tons of bombs during the war, making it one of the most intensely bombed places in the world. In 1941 and 1942, there were 3,000 raids and only one 24-hour period without a raid between January and July of 1942.

When nurse Faith Simcock arrives in Malta in 1941, the tiny island at the heart of the Mediterranean is at the tipping point of the Second World War. As bombs rain down and danger is ever present, Faith tends the wounded in the darkness beneath the ancient stone of Valletta’s fortifications.

But Faith has a deeper connection to Malta than just her medical posting. Before she left her home in Manchester, her parents dropped their own bombshell when they revealed that she was adopted and that her birth mother is Maltese. Angry that her mother and father had never told her she was adopted, armed only with a rusty old tin of photographs from an unknown great aunt, and dreading discovering what ‘monsters’ were lurking in her past, Faith is drawn into a search for a family history she never knew existed.

Torn between a growing attraction to the brusque and withdrawn doctor, Major David Taylor, and her longing to uncover the truth of her origins, Faith navigates a world under siege. And as the island is relentlessly blasted by bombs and the residents face starvation, Faith must find the courage to fight on and survive… and find out where, on this island, she truly belongs.

Mann plunges readers into the maelstrom of Malta in wartime and pays a special tribute to the few old Gladiator planes there which took to the skies as the only defence against Italian bombers and were affectionately known to the island’s 75,000 residents as Faith, Hope and Charity.

Against this compelling and dramatic backdrop of wartime privations and constant danger, nurse Faith’s story – and her search for a birth mother she never knew existed – becomes a tale of self-discovery, family, unexpected romance, impossible choices, and survival against the odds. 

And as a final reminder of Malta’s immense courage and sacrifice in keeping the island from being completely overwhelmed, and to the 9,000 people who died during the years of struggle, Mann recalls the fact that every man, woman and child on Malta was awarded the George Cross. The perfect blend of history, mystery, hardship and hope…
(Zaffre, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Wartime love, kindred spirits and pirate problems

Meet a teenager mourning the loss of her daring and dashing fighter pilot fiancé in the shadows of war, find friendship, compassion and your kindred spirits as the Sad Ghosts Club reconvenes, join a seasick trainee pirate as he sets sail on a swashbuckling adventure, and share fun with a sneaky squirrel thief who just can’t stop getting caught in a sunshine holiday selection of new children’s books

Age 12 plus
Cut Him Out in Little Stars
Lucy Strange

WHEN the title of a book is plucked from perhaps one of the most soaringly romantic lines in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, then you know you’re on to a winner. And bestselling author Lucy Strange – whose books have included of Sisters of the Lost Marsh, The Ghost of Gosswater and Our Castle by the Sea – doesn’t disappoint with this devastatingly beautiful clean tween romance set against a dazzling seaside backdrop and tingling with the long shadows of wartime and a mysterious murder. Left heartbroken in the early summer of 1940 after the death in France of her daring and dashing fighter pilot fiancé Xander – her Heathcliff, Mr Darcy and Rhett Butler rolled into one – 18-year-old Juliet Bell is sent by her widower father to stay with her artist sister Frances at Samphire House, their late mother’s family home in the coastal fishing village of Fairlight Bay, now littered with wartime warning signs and a barbed wire barricade. Unhappy at leaving home and still grieving for Xander, Juliet’s quiet retreat at Samphire Bay changes when she discovers the body of local girl Minnie Munday washed up on the beach and past mysteries come flooding back. Under the darkening skies of wartime England, Juliet is thrown together with a handsome stranger. Can she find the courage to confront her deepest fears, put right a terrible injustice, and – even as the world burns around her – risk falling in love once more?

Strange is on her finest form in this bewitching, coming-of-age story starring a teenager facing lessons in life, love and loss amidst the dark, menacing days of wartime. With betrayal, heartbreak, new hope, and the thrills and chills of a murder played out alongside the heady summertime vibes of sunrise picnics and starlit assignations, this gloriously and dangerously romantic novel is destined to be every teen’s favourite beach read.  
(Chicken House, paperback, £8.99, published on August 27)

Age 12 plus
The Sad Ghost Club 5:
Find Your Kindred Spirits
Lize Meddings

EVERYBODY has to ask for help sometimes! Welcome back to the Sad Ghost Club... a club for anyone who has ever felt sad or lost. We can all feel anxious and alone sometimes... like you’re almost invisible. But at the Sad Ghost Club, you can find friendship, compassion and your kindred spirits, and know you’re not alone. It’s a club that began when a sad ghost, alone at a crowded party, spied another sad ghost across the room. What happened next changed everything because they left the party and started the Sad Ghost Club… a secret society for the anxious and lonely, a club for people who think they don't belong. And in the final volume of this fully accessible, heart-warming graphic novel series – written by Lize Meddings, creator of the online Sad Ghost Club – we find the club organising a fundraiser. But one of its founding members is suspiciously absent. Can the rest of the team rally together to take on the challenge, and find a way to support their missing member? Beautifully illustrated and filled with empathy and understanding, this is an endearing conclusion to this stunning series. And if you like what you read here, you can join the community of ghosties on Instagram @theofficialsadghostclub.
(Tempest, paperback, 12.99)

Age 11 plus
The Stranger’s Gift
Tanya Landman and Cinthya Álvarez

OLDER children and reluctant teens, who are seriously struggling with their reading, will love getting their hands on four titles in this superb series of quick, gripping and age-appropriate books which fill a crucial gap for EAL (English as an additional language) learners. Particularly suitable for readers aged eleven plus with a reading age of six, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, the stories feature short, sharp plots and accessible language, and are designed to build confidence in independent reading. In The Stranger’s Gift, written by Carnegie Medal winning author Tanya Landman and illustrated by Cinthya Álvarez, one man’s cunning ruse transforms stone into soup. 

Approaching a distant village on market day, a hungry man hopes to find food and a place to rest. But he’s an unwelcome arrival and the villagers refuse to help. Armed with just a single bowl and a stone he found along the road, he must rely on his resourcefulness and quick wit. Will the stranger be able to win the locals over with his cunning plan? Also new in the series is Landman’s refreshing and truly accessible retelling of Charles Dickens’ beloved classic A Christmas Carol. It’s Christmas Eve and everyone is in the holiday spirit… all except miserly old Ebenezer Scrooge who despises the holiday season. But when he’s visited by the ghost of his former business partner, who tells him he’ll soon encounter the three spirits of Christmas – Past, Present and Yet to Come – Scrooge is forced to confront his selfishness and embrace compassion, generosity and the true meaning of Christmas.

And Shelter, by another award-winning author, Steve Cole, delivers a poignant quick-read for struggling teens, expertly capturing resilience and hope amidst the devastating impact of war.  Danylo watches fearfully as war edges ever closer to his peaceful life on a Ukrainian farm. To prepare for the worst, he and his mother build a shelter for protection. But when the missiles eventually drop, they’re unprepared for the devastating impact and must cling to all they have left in order to survive. Beautifully and carefully created, Cole’s heartfelt tale is brought to life by Leo Trinidad’s illustrations which break up the text and help story comprehension. 

And in Stay Too Long, also written by Cole, and illustrated by Berat Pekmezci, an ominous presence lurks in the shadows awaiting visitors who linger too long in a creepy old house. Everyone knows the abandoned house at the edge of the woods is haunted but one reckless boy steps inside for a dare. Creeping through the dust-covered rooms, he finds a strange message scrawled on the wall… Stay Too Long. Next, he finds letters scattered on the floor written by previous visitors. Still lingering there, he begins to feel the chill of a strange presence in the gloom… is it too late to run? Chills and thrills at every turn of the page! Whether it’s mystery, chills and thrills, or a brilliant Victorian classic, entertainment is guaranteed for readers of all abilities!(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £6.99 each)

Age 8 plus
How Not To Be a Pirate
Jenny Pearson and Paula Bowles

MEET Wilbur… he’s training to be a pirate! Could it get more exciting than that? The truth is that hoisting the anchor and setting sail on a swashbuckling adventure is not much fun when you hate heights, get seasick and are too scared to fire a cannon! Award-winning author Jenny Pearson brings her trademark warmth, wit and wisdom to the first book of a hilarious new sea-soaked, fun-filled adventure series brought to life by the fabulous two-tone illustrations of Paula Bowles. Wilbur doesn’t believe he is destined to be a great pirate but, together with his more daring shipmates Ellie and Gilbert, he’s taking Level One Pirate Grading. They are in a race to find the greatest treasure of one of the legendary Jewels of the Sea. How is he ever going to win? With cursed treasure, rival crews, cannon-blasting battles and booby-trapped islands, danger is never far away. Can Wilbur survive the storm and become the pirate he is meant to be? Wilbur and his pals are riding high on the waves of this salt-flavoured feast of pirate antics as the gang of three navigate familiar childhood challenges like friendship, self-belief and the many different ways in which you can nail your colours to the mast. Don’t miss the boat… and head for the crow’s nest to spy the second sailing from this talented duo!
(Usborne, paperback, £8.99)

Age 8 plus
Wilomina: The Land of Dreams and Nightmares
John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs

DO you dare to tumble into an unknown land where dreams and nightmares come from? For those brave enough to turn the pages of this all-action, fantastical, full-colour graphic novel, what awaits is an unforgettable world full of wild imagination, enchanting characters and hair-raising adventure. Wilomina is the magical creation of John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs, an award-winning graphic novel duo based in Scotland, and dishes up a fabulous feast of words and pictures guaranteed to tickle the taste buds of all young readers. On their way to visit Mum in hospital, Wilomina, her father and baby brother Kes get stuck in the middle of nowhere. Desperate, Wilomina leaps aboard a mysterious train… and away from the world she knows. On board, she meets Mephisto, a talking cat, and this is only the beginning of an absurd adventure. Soon, Wilomina is separated from her family, tumbling into Nocturna, a parallel land where dreams and nightmares come from. But something eerie is happening… the nightmares are taking over. With Mephisto’s help, Wilomina must find her family and seek the gate that will lead them home. On their journey, they meet spectres, dragons and spider-witches, crossing monster-infested waters and facing impossible puzzles at the maze-like Premonition Library. But worst of all: Nocturna is slowly transforming Wilomina into a ferocious 'werepire'. Can she fight the monster within... and find the way home? With its spooky, gothic slant, a brave heroine, an appealing thread of real pathos, and pages packed with vibrant, dynamic artwork, Wilomina has an irresistible classic feel and is perfect for youngsters ready to start exploring the thrilling world of magical fantasy.
(Scholastic, paperback, £9.99)

Age 7 plus
Squirrel Shady: The Golden Acorn
Nick East

FORGET heroes and meet Shady the sneaky squirrel thief… he’s the outlaw with paws, a peanut butter superfan and an aspiring criminal mastermind. He just has one BIG problem… he just can’t stop getting caught! Squirrel Shady is the brilliant new bad guy hero of a full-on-fun illustrated crime caper series from talented York-based author and illustrator Nick East. While normal squirrels are out stashing nuts for winter, Shady loves collecting treasure… the shiny kind, the kind that belongs to someone else! Yes, Shady is a shameless crook, and that’s exactly how he has landed back in Badun Island Prison. There’s only one way out... escape! Unfortunately, tortoise crime boss Naughty Tortie wants Shady for her latest job… stealing the Golden Acorn of Destiny from Big City Bank. And Shady can’t refuse. Reunited with his old partner in crime, Roxy 'the Paws' the raccoon – and a series of criminal critters who may be heroes or rivals – Shady is off on the mega-heist of his career. But will he actually get his paws on the loot? Squirrel supervillain Shady and a hilarious cast of unexpected animal crime lords – including Roxy the Paws, Dandy Pom-Pom and Tina Two-Hoots – are set to steal the show (and the hearts of young readers!) as East releases his creative magic and anarchic energy on this stunningly illustrated animal romp!
(Scholastic, paperback, (£7.99)

Age 7 plus
Supa Nova: Robot Takeover
Chanté Timothy

PUT some colour, fun, dynamism and oh yes, whisper it, a bit of scientific knowledge, into your youngsters’ reading with this graphic novel series from a rising star in children’s books. Chanté Timothy, an illustrator who loves experimenting with movement, vibrant colour, character design and storytelling, brings us Supa Nova, a young Black girl who is bold, got brains, and is soaring high with her fun-filled adventures. Nova is a scientist. Some people say she’s a genius. Some people even call her Supa Nova… get it? Like a supernova. Basically, she’s a huge star and in her second outing, Nova invents a robot and is convinced she will never have to do chores again. She can just do science! But she doesn't expect the robot to become cleverer than her, do all her experiments and takeover her lab! Can Nova find a way to outsmart him? It’s time for a robot takedown! Zinging with colour, fizzing with energy, and full of invention and creativity, the adventures and antics of Super Nova are making an explosive series.
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Cabin Head and Tree Head: Feeling Good!
Scott Campbell

HERE'S a heads up for you! If your youngsters are eager to branch out with their reading, introduce them to Cabin Head and Tree Head, the wacky and wonderful double act from the ever-inventive mind of author and illustrator Scott Campbell. Using an original concept, Campbell’s richly detailed and colourful artwork combines with his unique sense of humour to create six stories, all packed full of zany, laugh-out-loud adventures and hilariously endearing characters who readers can’t help but love. So jump back into the head-verse because best friends Cabin Head and Tree Head are ready for their next big adventure, and things are about to get seriously weird! From getting into strong shape (and then immediately breaking everything because they’re TOO strong) to giving out trophies for... everything (including showering and breathing), you never know what’s in store when Cabin Head and Tree Head are around. But you can always count on feeling good! Written in an accessible and easy-to-read graphic novel format, this seriously silly series is an alluring gateway for young readers, and perfect for those who struggle with reading.
(DK flip, flexibound, £12.99)

Age 6 plus
My Book of Jewish Festivals
Hannah Shafiroff

DISCOVER the joy of Jewish festivals and the rich history and traditions of Judaism in this beautiful and colourful book from talented illustrator and California native Hannah Shafiroff who has been raised in the Jewish faith. An illustrated treasury of Jewish celebrations, My Book of Jewish Festivals introduces young readers to the foundation of the faith in an inclusive, informative and accessible format. Celebrate and learn about ten Jewish celebrations – Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu Bi’Shvat, Purim, Pesach, and Shavuot – with this inviting and warm-hearted treasury. Perfect for reading together, this carefully curated collection explains when, why, how, and what Jewish people celebrate during special festivals throughout the year. With clear descriptions of Jewish history and traditions, easy-to-follow pronunciations of important Hebrew words, and packed with fun facts and vibrant, lively artwork, the book is the ideal showcase for the diversity of modern Judaism. Both appealing and practical, My Book of Jewish Festivals is perfect for children who are beginning to learn about the Jewish faith as well as for teachers, parents and carers looking for a resource to guide children through every meaningful Jewish celebration.
(Bloomsbury Education, paperback, £9.99)

Age 5 plus
The Waking Wood
Alexi Francis

IF you go down to the wood tonight… you’ll see a curious badger cub who is lost and far from his family. Will he ever find his way home again? Journey into The Waking Wood, a beautifully crafted and illustrated modern fable – complete with stunning papercut pages – from debut author and illustrator Alexi Francis who lives in West Sussex and has been involved in wildlife surveys both in the UK and abroad. Here, she brings youngsters an inspiring, lavishly illustrated, peep-through story about family, growth and adventure whilst inspiring a love of nature and outdoor exploration. In the heart of the wood stands an ancient oak, home to a badger family for generations. As night falls, the badgers roam the forest, following paths laid down by those who came before. But when one young badger loses his way in the darkness, how will he find the path back to his home? Featuring intricate papercut pages and stunning pen-and-ink illustrations of woodland creatures, the book invites readers to follow the badger’s journey through the woods, moving from shadow to light as dawn breaks and drawing readers into its immersive world.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
Princes Don’t Practise
Kathryn Simmonds and Becky Colvin

A POMPOUS young prince who believes he can do anything without ever needing to practise gets a much-needed lesson in patience and perseverance in a funny and cautionary rhyming romp from award-winning poet and writer, Kathryn Simmonds, and prize-winning illustrator Becky Colvin. Young Prince Lupin has jousted and feasted and now he’s BORED. But when he decides to spend the afternoon ‘helping’ the gardener and the palace cook, he leaves a trail of chaos and destruction behind him. After an embarrassing musical performance, Prince Lupin flees into the forest where he meets a retired witch with a passion for pottery. With her patience and friendship, Prince Lupin finally learns that practice makes magic… and that it helps to have manners too! Packed with funny – and relatable – messages for little ones who struggle with NOT being instantly perfect (ie nearly ALL children!) this playful picture book comes packed full of adorable artwork, miles of smiles, magic, marvels and mischief!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Poo in the Zoo: Ready Set Poo
Steve Smallman and Ada Grey

BOTTOMS up as Steve Smallman and Ada Grey, the king and queen of splat, patter and plop, return with a shiny new foiled look and toot-tastic addition to their much-loved Poo in the Zoo series! Few children can resist sharing the fun of a poopy kind of adventure, and author Smallman and illustrator Grey’s gloriously funny rhyming picture book, featuring everyone’s favourite little zookeeper Bob McGrew and his inventor friend Hector Gloop, has it – literally – in enginefuls. It's the Super Pooper Road Race, and Bob, Hector, Poo Investigator Arabella Slater and the animals in the zoo are building the perfect poo-powered race cars. It’s going to be a poop-tastic adventure. But, oh no!, who is that making a stink at the starting line? This race course is becoming more doo-doo dangerous by the minute! Who will zoom to victory and who will be number two? Packed to the car roofs with poop, and given extra comedy power by Grey’s rib-tickling, action-packed illustrations, this is hold-your-nose adventure is definitely not to be sniffed at. Laughter guaranteed from first poo to last!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 3 plus
The Sheep Who Came for Dinner
Steve Smallman and Joëlle Dreidemy

YOUNGSTERS will love getting their teeth into the eighth tasty picture book in Steve Smallman and Joëlle Dreidemy’s heartwarming and hilarious The Lamb Who Came for Dinner series. The Sheep Who Came for Dinner positively rolls and bounces with Smallman’s wit and warmth and French illustrator Dreidemy’s striking and characterful artwork as we meet up again with Wolf, Hotpot the lamb and their pet crocodile, Omelette, one summer holiday time afternoon. When a flock of sheep arrive in the woods, they can’t believe Hotpot lives all alone with a wolf. And a crocodile! How can a hungry wolf look after a cute, cuddly lamb? But when Hotpot and the flock of sheep get caught in a dangerous situation, it’s Wolf who comes to the rescue, and the sheep soon learn that true family is about much more than appearances. Smallman’s clever, comical and cautionary tale encourages young readers to challenge stereotypes and expectations, accept that someone who looks tough on the outside can sometimes be soft and vulnerable on the inside, and celebrate the idea that non-traditional families can make the happiest of homes. The perfect book to share with your own special family and friends!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Don’t Do It, Doug
Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie

WE all know that little voice in your head… the one that says ‘Do NOT do that thing.’ Doug the hamster knows it but he ignores it… every single time! From shaking fizzy pop (uh-oh) to pressing oh-so-tempting red buttons and pulling forbidden levers, Doug just can’t help himself. Don’t do it, Doug! Will he ever learn to control himself? Little ones will adore sharing lovable Doug’s madcap misfortunes in this brilliantly funny picture from author Maudie Powell-Tuck and illustrator Duncan Beedie, the top creative team behind Hank Goes Honk. With subtle messages about the rewards of friendship and the unfortunate consequences of over-impulsive behaviour, brought to glorious life by Beedie’s vibrantly colourful and playful artwork, Don't Do It, Doug is guaranteed to be a favourite read with both mischievous tots and (only occasionally!) mischievous grown-ups.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age one plus
Noisy Nursery Rhymes
Lauren Crisp

HERE'S a gorgeous touch-and-feel sound book that lets little ones touch, feel and hear classic nursery rhymes on every page! Enjoy watching little faces light up when they press the sounds button on each page in this interactive, chunky board book, packed with appealing photographs, tactile textures and the tunes of favourite nursery rhymes. Press on a fluffy Incy Wincy Spider, sing along to Wheels On The Bus, enjoy the much-loved Old MacDonald’s Farm, and wind down the day with Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Perfectly created to improve hand-eye co-ordination with exploration of each texture, encourage speech, and inspire a love of reading by sharing and enjoying a book with your little one, this is ideal for helping your child to observe and explore the world around them.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £14.99)

The High Island

Lin Anderson

YOU only have to look at England’s prolonged and bitter War of the Roses to learn that the fall-out can be not just vicious, but deadly, when family feuds become more than domestic battles.

And when you live and work as a police detective in the small and tight-knit communities of Scotland’s wild and beautiful Orkney islands where you grew up, the warring, the accusations and the acts of revenge can become so close to home that secrets in your own past start to rise perilously to the surface.

Welcome back to Scotland’s rugged and most northerly coast where Lin Anderson (pictured below), one of the undisputed queens of Tartan Noir, has created a stunning crime-rich world on the remote Orkney archipelago… first, through her atmospheric and long-running murder mysteries starring forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod, and now with this thrilling offshoot series.

Taking centre stage in these gritty Orcadia Mysteries is Detective Inspector Erling Flett, who has returned to Orkney following years away and, after rising through the ranks to a senior police detective role, finds himself as both an insider and an outsider among people who were once known to him… but now feel more like strangers.

At his side at work is Detectve Sergeant Jo Green, his strong and dependable sidekick who has been transferred to Kirkwall from Caithness and is proving to be the perfect yin to Flett’s yang. And The High Island, which begins with the nightmare discovery of the remains of a young mother and her baby on a building site on the island of Hoy, is a dark and dazzling opener.

It’s a big day on the ‘high’ island of Hoy – scene of the infamous sinking of the Royal Navy’s famous battleship HMS Royal Oak by a German submarine at Scapa Flow in 1939 – as islanders gather for the funeral of Ivor Mowat, one of its oldest residents.

But not everyone is in mourning for the loss of Ivor… there are many who disliked him and even members of his own family hold their grudges. Locals are well aware that Orkney has a long history of family feuds stretching back to their Viking ancestors and land ownership is often at the heart of these rifts.

And it turns out Ivor has inflamed old tensions by secretly selling the old family croft to Richard Webber Maitland, a wealthy architect with links to the island, who has already started clearing the area to build a contemporary eco-house. And to make matters worse, it is rumoured that Ivor has changed his will, in favour of his youngest grandson, Kris Mowat, who doesn’t now live in Orkney.

But the Maitland family’s dream of building a stunning eco-home becomes a waking nightmare when the peat yields a grisly secret… the remains of a young mother and her baby. For DI Erling Flett, the discovery raises spectres from the past. He spent years running from Orkney, only to be pulled back to the islands he once fled. As he fights to identify the nameless woman and child, the local community starts to push back… and his own troubled history begins to surface.

There is a lethal family feud at the heart of this case, one that involves abuse, a terrible revenge and blood-soaked soil. As Flett delves into some disturbing and heartbreaking secrets, can he finally face the ghosts of his own past… or will the island claim its next victim before the truth is told?

As always, Anderson wows readers with her powerful and descriptive gift for people and place, sweeping us away to the windswept islands she knows and loves, those remote clifftops, peat bogs and isolated crofts on the edge of the British Isles where residents are shaped by their isolation, their unforgiving landscape, their history, and even the legacies of their long-ago Viking invaders.

But The High Island is also a gripping page-turner which blends top class police procedural and a cast of superbly portrayed characters with an intriguing and emotive mystery steeped in the darkness, danger and emotional depth that have become the hallmarks of Anderson’s writing.

The discovery of the two bodies acts as portal into both old crimes and grudges, and more contemporary threats and law-breaking like drug running and organised crime. And for DI Flett and DS Jones, this tricky case opens up a Pandora’s box of family feuds, inheritance wars, fights over land, and callous acts of revenge.

For fans of Anderson’s Rhona MacLeod books, there will be a few familiar faces here, not least our main man Erling Flett who now takes on a much enhanced role, but readers only just discovering these top-notch Scottish mysteries, need not fear because new and old faces slip seamlessly into this classy and compelling reset for one of the crime world’s most gifted writers… and one of Tartan Noir’s most exhilarating locations. 
(Macmillan, hardback, £20)

The Weekend

T.M. Logan

FINDERS keepers says the old adage but what if you found a backpack with £1.6million in used notes stashed inside it… would you do the right thing and hand it in to the police, or give in to temptation and keep it?

One of the most exciting authors writing for the ever-burgeoning crime thriller market, T.M. Logan (pictured below) – whose books have sold more than three million copies in the UK alone – is back with his tenth ingeniously imagined and perfectly executed page-turner, and this one is a mind-blowing thrill ride through moral conundrums, deceit, treachery and murder.

Packed with Logan’s gobsmacking plot twists, and an enthralling what-would-YOU-do premise, The Weekend features six friends – three couples – on their annual New Year weekend away in the Yorkshire Dales facing a decision that is set to change their lives forever. Lifelong middle-aged friends Helen and Jason, Kat and Dev, and Miranda and Christian have rented a converted farmhouse near picturesque Pateley Bridge. While out on a walk in the rugged countryside on New Year’s Eve, they get caught in a storm and to escape the cold winter downpour and lashing wind, they take shelter in the mouth of an old lead mine. And in a hollow at the back of the cave they find a large backpack stuffed with bank notes wrapped in heat-sealed plastic packages.

Telling themselves that it could be evidence of a crime and could help police crack an unsolved case, they agree to take it back to their rental house and hand the money to the police at the first opportunity the following day.

However, in the house that evening and after several drinks, the friends decide to open the packs and count the notes. And when the total comes to a staggering £1.6million, they privately contemplate what a share of £530,000 for each couple would mean… and start to think again about handing it over to the police. It’s the beginning of a downward spiral of distrust and suspicion, and the friendship dynamics slowly start to fracture because there are toxic secrets festering at the heart of this group. There’s debt, obsession, a career on the brink… the sort of problems that could be solved instantly with an unexpected windfall.

It seems the friends don’t know each other as well as thought they did and soon they find themselves sliding headlong into a world of deceit, treachery, betrayal and murder…

There won’t be a moment’s pause for readers as they are pulled into the lives of six authentically ordinary people caught up in an extraordinary situation which not only tests just how well they truly know each other but exposes the unseen fault lines in their relationships, and the covert lies and dark secrets that are undermining their friendships.

But reader beware because this is an author who loves to confound expectations, and as old and new resentments rise to the surface, loyalties that once appeared rock-solid are ditched, and the pressures of dishonesty and subterfuge take their toll, Logan launches into a series of his trademark shocking revelations.

Bristling with tension, powered by the psychological weight of temptation and the eternal sin of avarice, awash in moral dilemmas and dramas, and with a wholly satisfying final act, The Weekend sees a crime-writing conjuror at the very top of his game!
(Zaffre, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Danger dreams, racetrack rivals and a palace of facts

Escape to a thrilling 19^th century London where the boundary between sleep and the waking world starts to dissolve, meet an ambitious racer who dreams of becoming the first female F1 champion, step into a palace of facts where the world’s most mind-bending facts are on display, and join two girls fighting to find their way out of a web of lies of their own making in an enthralling summertime selection 

Age 12 plus
The Sign of the Raven
Pippa Dunn

‘WE are such stuff as dreams are made on,’ wrote William Shakespeare, and that haunting reference to the fleeting, dream-like nature of human life fits perfectly with this thrilling and atmospheric world-building classic from Peak District author Pippa Dunn. The Sign of the Raven is a fantastical, fast-paced historical teen fantasy where the boundary between sleep and the waking world begins to dissolve, forcing one audacious dreamer to face a reality more dangerous than any nightmare. Sixteen-year-old Ashlyn Threadneedle lives a double life. By day, she has a tedious job as a government messenger for Lord Whitaker in an alternate 19^th century London. But by night, she escapes. Ashlyn plunges into vivid, lucid dreams, navigating the Stream… a mystical dreamworld where time bends and the only limit is her imagination. When her long-dead mother appears in a dream, everything Ashlyn thought she knew is turned on its head, and the future of her loved ones hangs in the balance. Drawn into a dangerous quest for answers, she joins The Corvi Signum, a secret society of lucid dreamers. Together with her best friend Dimitri – an underground journalist fighting for the people – she must battle to protect the Stream from a powerful enemy who wants to manipulate thoughts and seize control of the waking world. But the Stream is a perilous place. To save the freedom of thought itself, Ashlyn must risk both her past and her future.

The Sign of the Raven, with its luscious blue and gold-foiled cover, is a delight to both look at and read. Fast-paced action keeps the exhilarating, thrill-packed story in top gear while the richly imagined world of dreamers is not just stunningly creative, but described with an almost ethereal elegance. Mysterious, enthralling and laced with daring and danger, this is teen adventure reading at its very best.
(DK flip, hardback, £14.99)

Age 12 plus
The Fast Track
Angelica Cheng

MEET an ambitious racer who dreams of becoming the first female Formula 1 champion only to find her plans going off track when she starts falling for the boy who is her principal competition! Teen fans of rivals-to-lovers romance will be racing to get their hands on this delicious tale of F1 rivalry from New York-based author Angelica Cheng. Justine Kwong has always dreamed of becoming a Formula 1 champion. There’s just one problem… no female driver has ever done it before. So when she’s offered a coveted chance to race in Formula 3, she leaps at the opportunity. Half the fans might think she’s just there to fill a diversity quota, and her team-mate, the infuriatingly cute Cameron Evans, mistakes her for an intern, but Justine knows her talent will leave them all in the dust. But driving well isn’t the only prerequisite to getting noticed, and Justine is forced to fend for herself in a sea of prejudice, paparazzi, and petty backstabbing. There’s a lot riding on her ability to navigate the complicated trackside hierarchy, like the open F2 seat that could be her ticket to the big leagues. Except when Justine and Cameron's bickering gives way to unexpected chemistry, the boy she’s falling for may be the one person standing in the way of her dreams… because while they may be team-mates, they are also each other’s biggest competitor. And with her only shot at glory on the line, this race could break more than just hearts. Romance is definitely in the driving seat of this winning tale as Justine and Cameron negotiate the path to true love both on and off the track!
(Ink Road, paperback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus
The Palace of Facts:
400 Astounding Facts Await…
Kate Olesin and Andy Smith

STEP into The Palace of Facts, a lavishly illustrated and spectacularly gigantic fact book, inspired by the idea of a memory palace and created by author Kate Olesin and illustrator Andy Smith, the dynamic duo behind the bestselling FACTopia! series which has sold over half a million copies worldwide. Inside the ‘doors’ of this stunning gift book, readers travel through magnificent rooms and gardens where 400 of the world’s most mind-bending facts are on display. Search the treasure room to find out facts about crystals, explore the fossil hall to dig up facts about dinosaurs, scale the observatory to spot facts about space and delve into the dungeons to discover hidden facts. On this marvellous journey around the world, you will be accompanied by three characters – Pip, Alice and their dog Charley – who will lead you from room to room with witty and playful charm. Every fact is woven into Smith’s lavishly illustrated scenes, using the idea of a memory palace where facts are located in imagined physical spaces. From the golden gates of the Palace of Versailles, up the secret staircase in the US Capitol Building, through the 9,000 rooms of China’s Forbidden Palace and all the way to Australia’s hospital for bats, this unique book makes information both beautiful and memorable. The short facts are written in clear, accessible language, and page after page of eye-catching playful visuals make this the perfect gift for reluctant or struggling readers, and any child with an insatiable curiosity!
(What on Earth Books, hardback, £22)

Age 9 plus
Evie and Maryam’s Little Lies
Janeen Hayat

CAN two girls who have found an amazing family connection find their way out of a web of lies of their own making? After the success of Janeen Hayat’s award-winning book, Evie and Maryam’s Family Tree, young readers are thrust into another thrilling adventure full of mysteries and mazes. Since the incredible adventure that led to them discovering a link between their great-grandmothers, Evie and Maryam’s friendship has gone from strength to strength. And now Maryam is thrilled to be awarded a scholarship to an esteemed boarding school, something she has always dreamed of, but when she arrives, the other pupils are unwelcoming and she feels totally isolated. Evie is also struggling back at home because the play she and Maryam wrote about their shared family history is being judged by award-winning but mercurial theatre director Bill Jeffrey who takes an immediate dislike to the subject of India and partition. Evie and Maryam decide that they need to do something drastic, including looking into secrets in Bill Jeffrey’s own past… but before long the two girls have created a web of lies which get out of control. Will they ever find their way back to the truth? Youngsters will love returning to a heartwarming and fascinating friendship which continues to evolve and change, and carries with it messages about staying true to our beliefs and fighting for what we believe in.
(Guppy Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Myths of Japan: Meet the Gods, Creatures, and Heroes of Ancient Japan
Masako Carey and Katie Ponder

ENTER a world of powerful gods, extraordinary creatures and brave warriors in this thrilling compendium of Japanese myths. With more than 25 exciting tales, beautifully illustrated, compellingly retold, and backed up by fascinating historical information, this is a must-have introduction for young readers intrigued by the world of ancient Japanese culture and mythology. From the creation of the world to the first emperors, this book charts the full sweep of Japanese myth, revealing captivating aspects of ancient Japanese ritual and customs along the way. Meet a whole host of mischievous creatures, such as the shapeshifting fox-spirit kitsune and the turtle-like kappa who loves cucumbers and sumo wrestling. Say hello to the mighty gods and emperors, including the legendary first emperor of Japan, Jimmu and the powerful sun goddess Amaterasu, the chief deity in Shintoism, and discover Momotaro, the Boy Born from a Peach, and Yuki-Onna, the Snow Woman. Written by Masako Carey, a Japanese-born storyteller who now lives in Northern Ireland, and lavishly brought to life by the stylised illustrations of multi-award-winning artist Katie Ponder, Myths of Japan includes profiles of the gods, heroes and creatures of ancient Japan, and a pronunciation guide. Add on a beautifully crafted cover with gold foil finishes and gilded edges and you have the perfect gift for children who love history, myths, and legends.
(DK Children, hardback, £18.99)

Age 5 plus
Great Dinosaur Mistakes
Jonathan Emmett, Dr Adam S. Smith
and Stieven Van der Poorten

EVEN experts can sometimes get things wrong! And that is exactly what happened when scientists through the ages were tasked with understanding the world of dinosaurs as these puzzling prehistoric creatures were dug up over a span of centuries. Great Dinosaur Mistakes explores some of the most extraordinary errors those early experts made and brings past and present versions of each prehistoric creature face to face in a fantastical time-travelling adventure. Packed with both fun and fascinating facts, the book is written by award-winning author Jonathan Emmett and world-renowned dinosaur expert Dr Adam S. Smith, and features the wonderfully detailed illustrations of Stieven Van der Poorten, the top team that created The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers. The first fossils found of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, we learn, were often incomplete. So, with many of the bones from its skeleton missing, early experts often had to guess how a complete animal looked when it was alive. Sometimes they guessed right, but sometimes they didn’t! With its mixture of a playful commentary between the experts from different timelines, richly detailed illustrations and fact-filled information sections exploring the older and newer theories, this is the perfect way to make learning about palaeontology a fun experience.
(Fox & Ink Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Grow
Jess McGeachin

DISCOVER seeds of wisdom that only nature knows! This fascinating, illustrated exploration of plant life wonders, and what it means to grow is the creation of acclaimed Australian author and illustrator Jess McGeachin. Whether they are branching ever upwards, or tangled deep below, flowers bloom and ferns unfurl and in the pages of McGeachin’s beautiful book, children can discover how earth’s garden grows and changes every day. Featuring flowers, fungi, moss, corals, seaweeds, succulents, grasses, trap plants, trees and so much more, Grow is a beautifully evocative and rhyming exploration of the ancient, fragrant, spiky, hidden and vibrant wonders of the natural world. Young readers learn about many kinds of growing things on the earth while embracing gentle messages about the importance of growth and change in their own lives. Both joyful and revealing, Grow carries resonant messages about caring for our planet.
(Allen & Unwin Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
I Am Going To Jump This Log
Stephanie Stansbie and Jack Viant

TAKE one (perhaps a little over-confident!) frog, one log and one jump… what could possibly go wrong? Little ones will be jumping for joy when they dive into this glorious picture book from author Stephanie Stansbie and debut illustrator Jack Viant. Frog is going to jump the log and it will be easy... or so he thinks! Bursting with braggadocio, misplaced bravado, and some truly unforgettable sportswear, Frog’s frustration builds as his feeble efforts fall short. Will he ever clear the log… and what awaits him on the other side? Stansbie’s pared-back, humour-filled story leaps off the page alongside Viant’s bright and wonderfully expressive artwork in this crackingly, croakingly mischievous picture book. And revel in the satisfying twist at the end… and Stansbie’s subtle and superbly subversive lesson on misplaced arrogance!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 3 plus
The Bear Who Wanted to Dance
Stephanie Stansbie and Wendy J Warren

LITTLE ones will pirouette with delight when they leap into the life of Rita, a big bear who dreams of being a dancer! This heartwarming picture book about chasing your dreams, celebrating your differences and twirling to your own rhythm is the creation of author Stephanie Stansbie and debut illustrator Wendy J Warren. Rita is a talented, passionate, hard-working ballerina and she’s top of her class. But when she studies her ballet magazines, and compares herself to her friends, she realises… she’s the wrong shape! Can Rita find her inner power and confidence in her beautiful big-bear body? Stansbie’s lyrical and uplifting story comes alive through Warren’s soft, magical illustrations as youngsters learn subtle lessons about self-acceptance, body positivity, representation and… the exuberant joys of dancing!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 2 plus
Oodles of Poodles
Rachel Morrisroe and Aysha Awwad

TOTS will love watching their grown-ups delivering oodles of canine comedy with this riotous read-aloud picture book featuring a preposterous poodle word-play explosion! Perfectly created for sharing, bestselling author Rachel Morrisroe and illustrator Aysha Awwad’s Oodles of Poodles brings us a zany, rhyming giggle-fest and a cast of incredible poodle illustrations simply bursting with comedy and colour. So, if you didn’t already know, each city is full of oodles of fluffy, fancy poodles, but if you think you’ve met them all… think again! From quite the coolest dude-les to pesky pirate crew-dles and even yucky, mucky eeeeeew-dles, there is SO much more to these fluffy pets than meets the eye. A feast of fun from start to finish!
(Hodder Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age from birth
Snuggle Up
Emma Dodd

IT'S never too early to start reading to your baby! So look no further than this beautiful board book series created by award-winning illustrator Emma Dodd and written by her in consultation with Early Years expert, Lizzie Noble. First Stories for Baby presents a pitch-perfect blend of read-aloud, developmentally tailored stories and high-contrast visuals to stimulate babies at every stage in their first year, with each book containing four stories featuring four adorable animals, an owl, bear, tiger and dolphin. Snuggle Up is the first book in the series and is all about closeness, cuddles and physical descriptions, and is purely in black and white to help tiny babies focus on the page. Neither too long, nor too short, these stories easily fit into baby’s daily routine, helping to make reading together a regular activity which all the family can enjoy and benefit from. And when your little one is ready to move on, try the next book in the series, Make Some Noise (3-6 months), which focuses on rhyme, rhythm and animal noises – perfect for babies just starting to babble – and is created with a yellow and blue palette. Early learning fun, a perfect gift for baby showers, and a stylish alternative to traditional first board books!
(Templar Publishing, board books, £10.99 each)

Freyja

Margrét Ann Thors

FOR decades, single mother Unnur has been hiding from all memories of the disappearance of her long-ago friend Freyja at the notoriously remote and forbidding Dark Valley on the coast of Iceland.

But the past has a way of catching up and faced now with the threat of losing her own precious daughter, Unnur is desperately trying to recall those nightmarish last days of her blighted childhood to work out whether her doubts and fears stem for complicity in the mystery of missing Freyja.

If your overheated summer needs the cool vibes of a bone-chilling mystery set against black-sand beaches, silver skies and frigid air full of ‘ice and salt and bite’, then treat yourself to this brilliant chiller-thriller debut novel from Margrét Ann Thors (pictured below), an Icelandic-American writer based in Reykjavík who teaches English courses at the University of Iceland. Steeped in all the atmospherics of Icelandic folklore and myth, Freyja is the gripping and suspense-filled story of a young girl’s disappearance, an enthralling, haunting and lyrical tale of redemption and forgiveness, and a powerful reminder of the sheer power of a mother’s love.

Unnur Stelludóttir works at a bakery in Reykjavík under an assumed name. She is a single mother to her beloved seven-year-old daughter, Lilja, and lives a deliberately ‘unremarkable’ life. Her past is kept ‘bound and gagged in a basement, accessible only by trapdoor’ and the key is lost, even to herself.

But her constant battle to ‘lie low, keep Lilja safe’ and blot out traumatic visions from the last summer of her childhood in Iceland’s Dark Valley where eleven-year-old Unnur’s close friend Freyja mysteriously disappeared, is thrown into disarray with the imminent arrival of Lilja’s father Nói who is returning to Iceland for a custody meeting after a two-year absence.

Even more disturbing for Unnur’s life spent under the radar is the discovery of an unsigned note in her letterbox with just four words on it ‘Hae Unna. Remember me?’ 

Only one person knows that deliberately playful misspelling of her name… her long lost, otherworldly friend Freyja whose white-blonde hair and ice-coloured eyes made her look like she was made of ‘snow and nature and mist.’

And when ex-husband Nói returns and unexpectedly brings with him his new girlfriend Lóa, and her own seven-year-old daughter who, unnervingly for Unnur, is called Freyja, she may finally have to face what happened long ago on a black sand beach in the remote Dark Valley… and the possibility that she might be responsible for Freyja’s disappearance. As a series of disturbing events unfolds, a cold case investigation is reopened and the intricate threads of past and present start to tangle. Unnur must race to recover the broken memory of what happened all those years ago… or risk losing her own daughter.

Thors puts heart, soul and her powerful gift for mesmeric lyricism into this myth-coated, time-travelling Icelandic stunner which explores the fickleness of memory and a mother’s willingness to do almost anything to protect her child.  As the remnants of buried memories are reignited by disturbing events in the present, we witness Unnur’s battle with guilt, her complex, compromised relationships, and the price she has paid for failing to unravel the secrets of her past. ‘If our lives are stories,’ she says, ‘mine was missing the first hundred pages.’

It’s a haunting, thrilling and atmospheric tale played out against an unforgettable Nordic backdrop where fantastical folklore and mythology have impacted on families for centuries, winter chills are cruel, grass is ice-crystalled, northern lights shoot ‘neon arrows of purple and green’ and even autumn  holds ’an ever-darker darkness.’

Slipping seamlessly between two timelines, tingling with malice and mystery, and all penned in Thors’ incisive and almost poetic prose, Freyja must surely be just the impressive starting point for an exciting new Icelandic talent.
(Zaffre, paperback, £9.99)

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…
(Faber Children's 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)