CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Talking animals, jungle capers and scheming pirates sail in to take centre stage

Animals of all shapes and sizes take starring roles in a bumper selection of new children's books that are guaranteed to put some much-needed sunshine into June

Age 8 plus:

Evie and the Animals

Matt Haig and Emily Gravett

Well, well, well… it seems the famous Dr Dolittle isn’t the only person who can talk to the animals!

Get ready to meet some brilliant characters – both animal and human – in an enchanting and inventive new chapter book from the dream team partnership of storytelling genius Matt Haig and animal illustration magician Emily Gravett.

Evie and the Animals is a heartwarming and imaginative story about daring to be different, growing up and staying true to yourself which manages to blend the soaraway magic of adventure with some real-life environmental issues.

Click here for Lancashire Post review

Eleven-year-old Evie has a talent… a super-talent that makes her very different to her friends! In fact, it’s a secret superpower which lets her understand and talk to animals. She can hear the thoughts of an elephant, and make friends with a dog and a sparrow. The only problem is, this talent, says her dad, is dangerous… very dangerous.

When she frees the school rabbit, Kahlo, from her tiny hutch and lands herself in big trouble, Evie promises her dad she will never talk to animals again and for a whole year she keeps her talent a secret.

ANIMAL MAGIC: Matt Haig

But after a face-to-face encounter with a lion, things start to go very wrong. Her dad – and every animal in town – is now in danger and Evie is determined to save them. But first, she must find the truth of her own past and to do that, she must battle a mysterious man with a talent more powerful than any other. As time runs out, she must seek help from the animals, and finally dare to be herself…

This clever, gloriously entertaining and contemporary take on classics like Dr Dolittle and Matilda sees Haig on his best storytelling form, and Gravett’s gallery of adorable black-and-white illustrations bring the diverse cast of characters to glorious life. Unmissable reading for middle-graders!

(Canongate, hardback, £16.99)