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)

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)