Age 8 plus:
Guardians of the Planet:
How to be an Eco-Hero
Clive Gifford and
Jonathan Woodward
IN the wake of a remarkable worldwide protest in which
children took to the streets to demand climate change action, here’s the
perfect practical guide to help young eco warriors put their ideas into
practice.
Earth is most definitely in trouble and everyone knows it’s
time for real and sustained action. Although saving the planet will be hard,
there are hundreds of things that we can do to make a huge difference and a new
generation of environmentally aware children are ready for the challenge.
Guardians of the Planet: How to be an Eco-Hero contains
everything you need to become a guardian of the planet, a home hero, a wildlife
warden, a friend of the forests and much more. From composting food, reusing
clothes and reducing plastic waste to cleaning up beaches, tackling water waste
and giving wildlife a helping hand, this inspirational and timely book comes
packed with facts, activities and tips.
 |
| HOT TOPIC: Clive Gifford |
Guided by a team of friendly Guardian Masters who put the
issues in an everyday context, children will be encouraged to engage with
environmental problems and inspired to take care of our wonderful planet.
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Clive Gifford, an award-winning author with a lifelong
interest in geopolitics, ecology and the environment, provides the fascinating
facts and figures, all brought to life with the beautifully detailed and
colourful illustrations of wildlife and natural history artist Jonathan
Woodward.
Developed in partnership with ClientEarth, an organisation
that uses environmental law to protect oceans, forests and other habitats from
destructive corporate interest, this beautifully created and thoughtful book has
a foreword by musician and record producer Brian Eno, a ClientEarth trustee,
and is printed on paper made from wood sourced in Forest Stewardship Council certified
forests.
The ideal gift for budding environmental activists, eager to
show grown-ups how it’s done!
(Buster Books, hardback, £12.99)
Age 8 plus:
Rise Up: Ordinary Kids with Extraordinary Stories
Amanda Li and Amy Blackwell
AND if children need inspiration on how to triumph against
the odds, publishers Buster Books are ready to help them Rise Up and take the
challenge.
Rise Up: Ordinary Kids with Extraordinary Stories comes
packed with the empowering tales of twenty-nine amazing youngsters from around
the world who have achieved what many would think is unimaginable, whether
that’s surviving a plane crash in the jungle or winning the Nobel Peace Prize
at the tender age of sixteen.
 |
| TRUE-LIFE TALES Amanda Li |
Written by Amanda Li, who specialises in creating
non-fiction for children and teenagers, and illustrated by Amy Blackwell, these
are stirring stories of triumphing over illness and injury, completing
incredible journeys, overcoming bullying, developing outstanding talents in art
and sport, and inventing things that change the world.
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These incredible stories of heroes and heroines like climate
activist Greta Thunberg, Ugandan chess champion Phiona Mutesi, anti-plastic
pioneer Boyan Slat and blind French schoolboy Louis Braille who developed a
reading code, are brought to life with an exciting and engaging text, and
combined with Blackwell’s visually stunning illustrations.
Brimming with remarkable true-life tales of ingenuity,
courage, resourcefulness and commitment, Rise Up is an enthralling springboard
for ambitious children, a confidence-booster for more nervous youngsters, and a
powerful reminder that no matter who you are, you can rise to the challenge.
(Buster Books, hardback, £12.99)
Age 9 plus:
Guardians of Magic
Chris Riddell
STEP into a dazzling world of fairy tale wonders, intriguing
mysteries, lovable heroes, unforgettable villains and skies filled with cloud
horses as author and illustrator extraordinaire Chris Riddell works his special
magic on a thrilling new children’s series.
Guardians of Magic is the first book in The Cloud Horse
Chronicles, a sumptuously presented and action-packed adventure series which
sees former Children’s Laureate and Costa award winner Riddell at his
imaginative best as three ordinary children discover that they have
extraordinary gifts.
The Kingdom of Thrynne is a place where fairy tales don’t
behave and magic can be found in unexpected places. For as long as anyone can
remember, children have made a wish on a cloud horse, never quite believing
that their wishes will come true.
But magic also brings danger to three very different
teenagers with special skills – apprentice baker Zam Zephyr, musician Phoebe
Limetree, and orphaned daughter of a giant slayer, Bathsheba Greengrass –
because it is forbidden.
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The reason is that times are changing. The future of magic
is under threat from three powerful enemies… the King Rat, the Clockmaker and
the Professional Princess are working together to harness the sacred magic for
their own desires. If their evil plan succeeds, the magic of nature and its
most powerful source, the Forever Tree, will be destroyed.
Unless the three brave children can fight back and believe
in the impossible, soon magic and the cloud horses that nestle in the branches
of the giant Forever Tree will be gone forever.
Set against fantastical landscapes, and featuring witty and
inventive twists on traditional fairy tales, Guardians of Magic stars an
engaging cast of new and familiar characters battling evil and taking on
enemies with youthful wisdom, energy and determination.
Highly illustrated throughout in Riddell’s unique, rich and
intricately detailed style in a blue-toned palette, and with a special fold-out,
full-colour guide to the giants in the book, this this is the sort of adventure
that allows youngsters to step into an amazing, superbly imagined fantasy
world. The perfect gift for all adventure-seekers!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)
Age 8 plus:
Anatomicum
Jennifer Z Paxton and
Katy Wiedemann
IF you’ve ever wondered what the inside of your body looks
like, then open the pages of this exciting, giant-sized book and take an
extraordinary anatomical tour!
Welcome to the Anatomicum… the latest, innovative title in
the Welcome To The Museum series from the Big Picture Press, an original
concept which offers fascinating guided tours in museums that are always open
to explore.
 |
| FACTS: Jennifer Z Paxton |
The series also includes the hugely successful Historium, a
collection of objects from ancient civilisations, Animalium, a detailed
exploration of more than 160 animal specimens, Botanicum, a super-sized book of
stunning botanical delights, and the dangerously entertaining Dinosaurium.
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The books enable readers to wander the galleries from the
comfort of home and discover a collection of curated exhibits on every page,
all accompanied by informative text. Published in association with the Wellcome Foundation,
Anatomicum is an anatomy lesson with a difference, allowing youngsters to turn
the pages and watch their heart beating, witness their skin cells growing, look
at their vocal cords, discover the muscles we use to show emotion, and even
pinpoint the delicate part of the brain where a thought takes shape.
With richly detailed, eye-catching artwork by Katy Wiedemann
and an expert text by professor Dr Jennifer Z Paxton, this beautiful book is a
feast of anatomical knowledge and visual enlightenment, and ideal for use at
school or home.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £25)
Age 7 plus:
Atlas of Amazing Birds
Matt Sewell
BEST-SELLING wildlife author, illustrator and avid
ornithologist Matt Sewell, who has been described as the Banksy of the bird
world, takes flight once again as readers young and old come face-to-face with
some of our planet’s most amazing birds.
Packed with Sewell’s eye-catching, watercolour illustrations,
his irresistible wit and charm, and interesting facts and figures, this big,
beautiful book includes the author’s personal selection of birds from around
the world, all brought to life in his dazzling style, and accompanied by maps
of every continent.
 |
| TAKING FLIGHT: Matt Sewell |
Travel the world to see magnificent eagles, resilient
penguins, tiny hummingbirds, towering ostriches and incredible peacocks. From
British garden birds to African water birds, rainforest birds of paradise to
American roadrunners, these are colourful, clever, song-filled, strange and
stunning creatures to amaze and celebrate.
Did you know that the bald eagle holds the record for the
world’s biggest nest, weighing in at more than two tons, that when the elf owl
gets into trouble, it plays dead rather than fighting and that the Adelie
penguin can hold its breath for six minutes and leap up to three metres out of
the water?
Every bird chosen to appear in this book is amazing in its
own individual way… birds that migrate thousands of miles, have strange and
showy mating rituals, survive in extreme environments, are brilliant builders, or
are super-fast, super-brave or super-big!
Budding ornithologists, and bird lovers of every generation,
can discover many more fascinating facts in this superbly produced and
presented book… perfect as a gift and ideal as a teaching tool.
(Pavilion Children’s Books, hardback, £16.99)
Age 7 plus:
Beatrix the Bold and the Riddletown Dragon
Simon Mockler and Cherie Zamazing
IF anarchy, queens and a big dose of deadly peril float your
boat, then set sail with Beatrix the Bold! Expect villains galore, madcap antics, and lots of
laugh-out-loud moments as the second book in Simon Mockler’s gloriously funny
Beatrix the Bold series hits the ground running alongside a captivating,
quick-thinking royal rogue.
Beatrix the Bold is queen of a distant land. She is also a very bold queen, good at
telling jokes, dancing and throwing knives. Beatrix might be only ten years old
but that’s never stopped her from doing anything, and it’s not going to stop
her now.
She has already averted her own kidnapping and fought off an
Evil Army. Now she needs to find her long-lost parents, and fend off her
villainous aunt Esmerelda. She just has to cross a vast kingdom to get there
and save a bunch of children from deadly peril while confronting a terrifying
dragon…
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Not easy, right? But when you’re Beatrix the Bold and you've
got Oi the Boy, Dog the Dog and Wilfred the Wise by your side, you can do
anything.
Vividly illustrated by Cherie Zamazing, these magical,
old-fashioned stories are proving to be perfect for both young mischief-makers
and action fans with their charismatic cast of wizards, queens and curious
creatures, lashings of knockabout comedy, and a big-hearted, fearless heroine.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £5.99)
Age 7 plus:
Skeleton Keys: the Unimaginary Friend
Guy Bass and Peter Williamson
MEET a lovable skeleton with fantabulant fingers… and the
gift to make you laugh!
Guy Bass, an author who knows how to evoke humour and pathos
in equal measure, uses the power of his own imagination to conjure up a
reassuring story about a lonely boy who discovers that the strangest and most
wonderful things can happen when imaginations run wild.
Skeleton Keys: the Unimaginary Friend is the first book of a
playful but thoughtful new series which arrives brimming with super-spooky
stories, wonderful words, lots of goodies and baddies, an unexpectedly
endearing hero, and plenty of empowering concepts for young readers.
 |
| FUN KEY FABLE: Guy Bass |
The star of the show is Skeleton Keys whose fantabulant
fingers (which look remarkably like keys!) can open doors to hidden worlds and
secret places… doors to the limitless realm of all imagination. We join him for
the curious tale of Ben Bunsen, whose only friend is a figment of his
imagination... until now.
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Ben can’t believe it when his imaginary friend the Gorblimey
becomes unimaginary. The Gorblimey is loyal and kind… and real! But Skeleton
Keys is far from convinced by the Gorblimey’s friendly ways. He’s got the
twitch, which is (almost) never wrong, and it’s telling him the Gorblimey is
dangerous and needs banishing to the endless void of Oblivion.
As Ben battles to save his new friend, the Gorblimey is soon
the least of Skeleton Keys’ worries. It seems that there’s more than one
unimaginary in town. And this one is out for revenge…
Pete Williamson’s atmospheric, black and white illustrations
bring to life all the chaos, comedy and subtle emotions of Bass’s bittersweet
adventure which cleverly explores hidden corners of every child’s fears and
foibles. Unique and beautifully conceived, this is Bass and
Williamson at their award-winning best.
(Stripes, paperback, £6.99)
Age 5 plus:
Sophie Takes to the Sky
Katherine Woodfine and
Briony May Smith
THE incredible, real-life story of Sophie Blanchard, the
world’s first female hot-air balloonist, is the inspiration behind a thrilling,
action-packed story from bestselling Lancaster author Katherine Woodfine.
Sophie Takes to the Sky, a touching tale for young readers about
learning to overcome anxiety and follow your dreams, is the latest
super-readable Little Gem from innovative publisher Barrington Stoke… and it’s
a real historical gem!
 |
| ACTION-PACKED STORY: Katherine Woodfine |
The Little Gems series brings together leading authors and
illustrators, and a host of clever design and finishing techniques, to create
easy-to-read books in a chunky format ideal for little hands, and with some
extra reading, jokes and activity fun hiding inside the jacket.
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Scaredy-Cat Sophie is afraid of everything! So when a
balloonist comes to the town fair, Sophie is left behind while everyone else
goes to watch him fly in his marvellous balloon. She's far too frightened of
the crowds, the commotion and even riding in a horse-drawn carriage. But Sophie
longs to watch the hot-air balloon sail across the blue sky. If she could just
be brave enough to face her fears, who knows where her journey might take her…
Whether your child is a new, struggling, reluctant or
dyslexic reader, this wonderful Little Gem story celebrating an amazing girl from
a small French village is both entertaining and empowering. Briony May Smith’s
gallery of colourful and atmospheric illustrations are the perfect foil for a
story full of adventure, discovery and daring.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £6.99)
Age 3 plus:
Dracula Spectacular
Lucy Rowland and Ben Mantle
WHAT does a vampire do when he’d rather make friends than
scare people? Author Lucy Rowland and illustrator Ben Mantle, the creative
duo behind wonderfully clever picture book Little Red Reading Hood, combine
their talents again on a playful, heart-warming story about learning to be
brave, kind and above all, proud to be yourself.
 |
| JOYFUL YARN: Lucy Rowland |
The Dracula family live in a house in the park that’s creepy
and crooked and dusty and dark. It might be dreary and dreadful but for Mr and
Mrs Dracula, it’s a wonderful life.
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So how come they have a son who’s happy and
smiling, and not in the least bit evil? It’s tough being a vampire when you’re
more giggles and glitter than beastly and bitter. Will Dracula Boy dare to
follow his heart and live life in technicolour with his new friend Rose?
Full of spooks, sparkles and sound common sense, Dracula
Spectacular is a gorgeous picture book, written in bouncy, addictive rhyme by Rowland
and richly illustrated with an abundance of wit and warmth by Mantle. Fun and
joyful, Dracula Boy’s colourful journey of self-discovery is destined to be a
favourite with all the family!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)
Age 3 plus:
Kindness Grows
Britta Teckentrup
KINDNESS makes the world a better place in a charming and
empowering picture book from the award-winning Britta Teckentrup.
With topical themes of love, support, kindness and
friendship, this beautiful, colourful, peep-through picture book uses
Teckentrup’s signature collage imagery to celebrate care and co-operation.
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‘It all starts with a crack that we can hardly see, It
happens when we shout or if we disagree. But with every kindness that we care
to show, Something good and magical then begins to grow.’ Angry words cause a crack to open up, but find
out what happens when kindness begins to blossom!
Through a simple, rhyming text and a dual image of negatives
and positives, all enhanced by intricate peep-throughs and a growing tree, Teckentrup
conveys dynamic messages to young readers about working together to heal rifts
rather than letting them grow.
Thoughtful, clever
and full of compassion, this is a stunning reminder of the power of unity.
(Caterpillar Books,
hardback, £11.99)
Age 3 plus:
On Sleepy Hill
Patricia Hegarty and Xuan Le
JOIN a host of creatures great and small as together they
create a night to remember!
If you’re looking for the perfect bedtime story, open the
pages of this peep-through, multi-layered, mesmerising picture book and watch
sleepy eyelids start to close.
As the sun goes down on Sleepy Hill all the animals are
settling down for the night. Baby rabbit hops back to her burrow, baby bear
cubs enjoy one last play in the cooling air, and the deer are heading home.
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With clever layered pages and intricate peep-throughs, this
beautiful bedtime book builds and reveals breathtaking scenes of animal
families that change with every turn of the page.
The amazing depth of the landscape and Xuan Le’s warm, richly
detailed and imaginative page spreads provide a magical reading experience while
Patricia Hegarty’s gentle rhythmic story is a voyage of bedtime discovery for
little ones winding down at the end of their own busy day. A dream read to end the day!
(Caterpillar Books, hardback, £12.99)
Age 3 plus:
A Gallery of Cats
Ruth Brown
AUTHOR and illustrator Ruth Brown puts cats in the frame as
she introduces young readers to some of the world’s greatest artists.
This imaginative, inspiring and exquisitely illustrated
picture book is itself a masterpiece as the award-winning Brown brings to life
a gallery of famous paintings, each with its own funny, feline twist.
No visit to an art gallery can rival this one. Tom visits a
very special exhibition where each picture features a cat. One by one, the cats
all leap out of the paintings and follow him, until a very large and scary cat
makes them rush back to the safety of their frames. But these aren’t just any
cats or any pictures!
Young children will love discovering the interesting variety
of well-known paintings as they travel through the gallery with Tom, watching
the increasing number of cats following him around, and matching the cats with
the pictures.
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Brown’s playful and inventive illustrations are combined
with textual jokes making the book a visual and verbal journey full of great
art and fun discoveries for all the family to enjoy.
From Jackson Pollock, Gustav Klimt, Frida Kahlo and Vincent
van Gogh to René Magritte, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Edvard Munch,
William Morris and Henri Rousseau, the world’s greatest painters provide a rich
canvas for children to learn the joys of art.
(Scallywag Press, hardback, £12.99)
Age 3 plus:
The Wonder Machine
Barry Timms and
Laura Brenlla
Laura Brenlla
SOMETIMES friendship brings more happiness than having it
all…
Much-loved picture book duo Barry Timms and Laura Brenlla work
their special magic on this enchanting and warm-hearted story starring an
adorable inventor wolf who discovers that the closeness of people beats the
wonders of her science.
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Haven’t you heard? Wolf, the world’s greatest inventor, is
building a new machine. The wolf who has built machines to wash her hair, make
her bed and pick apples from her orchard, is now working on a very special machine…
a Wonder Machine that will make dreams come true. ‘My greatest invention ever!’
cheers Wolf. But what will happen when at last she turns the handle?
Packed full of intriguing flaps to lift and delightful peep-through
holes, The Wonder Machine is a dazzling blend of inventive paper engineering,
Timms’ beautiful, inspirational storytelling about the joys of sharing your
talents, and Brenlla’s enchanting and intricately detailed artwork. A work of wonder!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)
Age 3 plus:
I Am Love: A Book of Compassion
Susan Verde and
Peter H. Reynolds
Peter H. Reynolds
SOMETIMES the simplest of stories carry the most resonant
messages…
A group of children discover the transformative power of
love and compassion in this beautiful book – grounded in the concepts of
mindfulness – in this beautiful picture book from author Susan Verde and
illustrator Peter H. Reynolds.
I Am Love is the fourth book in their bestselling wellness
series which includes I Am Human, which was an instant bestseller, I Am Peace,
and I Am Yoga, and this time offers a celebration of love and connection for
young readers.
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Beautifully illustrated and full of inspirational messages,
the book asks readers to look inward when they feel angry, afraid or sad. When
a storm is brewing inside us and the skies grow dark, the transformative power
of love lets the light back in. Love, the book tells us, means showing
kindness, living with gratitude, and taking care of our minds and bodies by
practising self-love. Letting our hearts lead the way can move us closer to a
better world.
Grounded in mindfulness and wellness, and with yoga poses
and guided meditation included, this is a lesson in love for every generation.
(Abrams Books for Young Readers, hardback, £10.99)
Age 3 plus:
The Way Home for Wolf
Rachel Bright and Jim Field
SHOW me the way to go home! The words of the old song ring loud and true in this warm,
feelgood picture book story of a little wolf cub lost in the cold and ice of
the Arctic but too proud to shout for much-needed help.
Author and wordsmith Rachel Bright provides the gorgeous
lyrical rhyming text, and illustrator and animator Jim Field brings the story
to life with a gallery of beautiful pictures in a striking palette of blue and
grey tinged with gold, green and burnt amber.
Star of the show is Wilf who thinks he is as strong and
independent as a wolf cub can be. He doesn’t need help from his friends and
family because whatever challenge lies ahead, he can do it all by himself. But
when Wilf finds himself lost and alone in the snow and chill of an Arctic
night, he discovers something important… sometimes we all need the help of
friends to keep us safe and show us the way.
Field’s illustrations add depth and drama to Bright’s
moving, enchanting story which features a menagerie of amazing creatures,
including a sea unicorn, an Arctic fox, a bear-moth and a musk-ox, and holds
crucial life messages about friendship, trust and kindness.
The perfect bedtime story for your own little cubs!
(Orchard Books, paperback, £6.99)
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