Age 7 plus:
Ghoulia: Making New
Friends Can Be Scary
Barbara Cantini
MAKING friends can be scary… particularly if you’re a
zombie!
Halloween is the perfect time to say hello to the ghoulish but gorgeous Ghoulia, the whey-faced star of a new series from Italian illustrator – and now author – Barbara Cantini who lives in the Tuscan countryside.
Translated by Anna Golding, these gothic-toned but
warm-hearted chapter books are all about friendship and acceptance, and come
with super, atmospheric illustrations and activity pages for children to join
in the spooky fun.
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| SPOOKY FUN: Barbara Cantini |
Ghoulia lives in Crumbling Manor with her Auntie Departed
and spends most of her time playing with Tragedy, her beloved albino greyhound.
But things aren’t as easy as they seem for this little zombie girl… all she
wants is a real friend.
Click here for Lancashire Post review
Click here for Lancashire Post review
She tries to venture past the manor s walls, but she can’t
hide her pale green skin or the deep purple circles under her eyes. The other
children will be afraid of her, and no one will want to be her friend. But when
Halloween rolls around, Ghoulia hatches a brilliant plan. All the other,
ordinary children will be dressed up like monsters, so Ghoulia can go out into
the town and be entirely herself. In the end, all the kids realise that Ghoulia
is (almost!) just like them and that friendship can come in many forms.
And in the second book in the series, Ghoulia and the
Mysterious Visitor, we join Ghoulia on a dark and stormy night when cousin
Dilbert comes to visit her at Crumbling Manor. She’s confused because she
didn’t invite him, and it turns out that Dilbert complains about everything!
When Ghoulia tries to track down Auntie Departed to find out
why she invited Dilbert, she finds that Auntie has vanished. Ghoulia can’t find
her and the doorbell won’t stop ringing. One after another, Ghoulia’s friends
arrive… all with the same mysterious invitation in hand. As the gang searches
Crumbling Manor for Auntie Departed, one of their own goes missing. Finally,
Dilbert inadvertently solves the mystery in the greenhouse when he finds
himself face-to-face with the sinister Chatterbox Ivy! Youngsters will adore the adventures of the lovable,
not-so-scary zombie, and with the full-colour illustrations and child-friendly
activities, these books are ideal for newly independent readers.
(Amulet Books, hardback, £7.99)
Age 9 plus:
Inventor Lab: Projects for
genius makers
With a foreword by Dr Lucy Rogers
ENTICE your youngsters away from the TV and Xbox with a
brilliant book that unlocks their inventive and experimental skills.
Inventor Lab has been cleverly created by DK Children’s
Books to inspire budding technology buffs to learn the science of ‘making’
through 18 amazing step-by-step science projects, from an automatic night light
to your own remote-controlled snake! This superb science activity book for children is all about
building, experimenting, and inventing with technology, electronics and
mechanics at home and comes with a foreword by
Dr Lucy Rogers, an engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, problem-solver, maker, and judge on the BBC series, Robot Wars, who
is herself adept at bringing ideas to life.
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| IDEAS: Dr Lucy Rogers |
Learn how to keep siblings out of your room with a cunning
bedroom alarm, power a propeller motorboat, make a stereo from pipes, and build
your own AM radio by following step-by-step instructions and using affordable
equipment.
Simple steps with clear photographs take readers through the
stages of each low-cost project, with fact-filled ‘how it works’ panels to
explain the science behind each one, and to fascinate youngsters with
real-world examples.
The projects progress from the fairly easy, such as
constructing a working battery, to more challenging builds, including the
remote-controlled snake. Kids who have been weaned on Lego will enjoy the
building challenges and exploring STEM subjects (science, technology,
engineering, and maths), an important part of school curricula.
An awesome gift, and the perfect companion for any
inquisitive child with an interest in how and why the worlds of science
experiments and technology work, Inventor Lab is stimulating, fun, and
educational.
(DK Children, hardback, £12.99)
Age 9 plus:
The International Yeti Collective
Paul Mason and Katy Riddell
PUT on your walking boots and head off to the magnificent
mountains of the mighty Himalayas for the wildest adventure of the year!
Nature lover and author Paul Mason, and talented,
up-and-coming illustrator Katy Riddell, team up for an epic story with big feet
and a big, warm heart in the first book of a thrilling and timely series which
blends adventure, friendship and conservation into a magical concoction.
Twelve-year-old Ella Stern is trekking in the Himalayas with
her broadcaster-explorer Uncle Jack and searching for yeti. But what seems like
the adventure of a lifetime is cut short when she realises that these secretive
creatures might not want to be found.
Tick knows it’s against yeti law to approach humans, so when
some arrive on the mountain, why does he find himself peering through the trees
to get a closer look? What Tick doesn’t know is that his actions will set off a
series of events that threaten the existence of yeti all over the world. What
can he do to make things right? Just when all hope seems lost, help comes in
the most unexpected form…
Packed with humour and excitement, this is a thrilling tale
with a beautiful friendship at its heart and with strong ecological themes to
add extra depth and resonance to all the fun, drama and adventure.
(Stripes, paperback, £6.99)
Age 9 plus:
The Conspiracy of Magic
Harriet Whitehorn
BRAVERY and ingenuity – with a dazzling feminist twist –
take centre stage in a thrilling story filled with magic, mystery and deadly
danger. Author of the bestselling Violet series, Harriet Whitehorn
has let her imagination take flight once more for a sparkling new adventure set
in the fabulous fantasy world she created in her spellbinding book, The Company
of Eight.
Starring a young girl who lives in a magical land, these
adventures conjure up a breathtaking other-world of icebound cities, turbulent
seas and dense forests, and a wonderful secret society which youngsters will be
eager to join themselves.
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| FANTASY WORLD: Harriet Whitehorn |
Fourteen-year-old orphan Cass Malvino lives in the magical land
of Minaris with Mrs Potts, her elderly guardian, who owns the Mansion of
Fortune in which fortune tellers ply their trade.
In a world where magic is so
powerful it has been outlawed, Cass is a rare creature… she is an obtuse,
someone who is totally unaffected by magic. But her immunity to magic which has always felt to Cass like
a handicap is a strength, she has discovered, when sorcerers and magicians
begin to perform magical deceptions with malicious intent.
Tasked with protecting the Queen of Minaris, who is in grave
danger, Cass can’t wait to travel to places she has only ever dreamed of. But when the royal party is targeted by evil
forces, how can Cass defeat the sinister magician behind it all when she has no
powers herself?
Expect daredevil exploits, spine-chilling peril and moments
of heartbreaking emotion as Whitehorn’s rich fantasy adventure continues
unabated with super, swashbuckling action, a formidable cast of characters –
including crime-fighting women skilled in sword fighting and hand-to-hand
combat – espionage, and thrills galore. Inspirational, exciting and addictive…
(Stripes, paperback, £6.99)
Age 9 plus:
Wiggott’s Wonderful Waxworld: Fire Flight
Terry Deary
THRILLING adventures, wicked wit and a slice of horrible
history… it can only mean one thing! The incredible, the imaginative and the history-loving Terry
Deary is back with the second book in his unforgettable time-travelling ride
through danger, daring escapes and some of history’s most remarkable
characters.
Deary, author of the phenomenally successful Horrible
Histories books, is on top form in the brilliant Wildpool series which delivers
adventure stories full of thrills, chills, laughs and non-stop action.
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| ON TOP FORM: Terry Deary |
Stars of the show are trickster Boy, the crime college’s
best thief, and his friend Molly Maltby, who live in the strange town of
Wildpool. There’s a new mayor in Wildpool (it’s the fearful thief and kidnapper
Lady Mary Frankenstone even though she’s not necessarily the one that everyone voted
for!).
And now something very mysterious is afoot and there’s a
danger the oldies of Wildpool – better known as ‘The Ladies Who Crunch’ – will
be forced to move home and that Wiggott’s Wonderful Waxworld, which is about to
be reopened, will actually be demolished. Can Molly and Boy save the day? Will
Wildpool ever be the same?
Deary delivers another exhilarating adventure story packed
with his trademark historical nuggets, outrageous wit and a cast of brilliant
characters, both real and fictional, from the daring boy-thief and the
delightfully named PC L.O. Elloe to the nasty Roman Emperor Nero and the
explosive Guy Fawkes. Get ready for larks, laughter and devilish historical
twists!
(Scholastic, paperback, £6.99)
Age 7 plus:
Beyond Platform 13
Sibéal Pounder and Beatriz Castro
‘That’s the thing about magic… it’s only real if you believe
in it.’
RETURN to the spellbinding wonders of the late much-loved
author Eva Ibbotson’s classic book, The Secret of Platform 13, in a new fun,
magical adventure inspired by characters from Ibbotson’s original book. Ibbotson, who was born in Vienna in 1925 and moved to
England with her father when the Nazis came to power, wrote more than twenty
books for children and young adults during her long career. She died in 2010 by
which time her imaginative and humorous books had won several prizes and stolen
the hearts of her many adoring fans.
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| MAGICAL ADVENTURE: Sibéal Pounder |
Written by Sibéal Pounder, and beautifully illustrated by
Beatriz Castro, this super new story recreates a dazzling world of hags,
harpies, mistaken identities, and the beloved Island of Mist.
The island is under siege and Prince Ben and his best friend
Odge Gribble (a hag!) are in hiding. Desperate to find out why the island’s
protective mist is disappearing, Odge travels through the gump to Vienna, to
find a mistmaker expert.
But in yet another case of mistaken identity, Odge finds
Lina, a nine-year-old girl looking for adventure. With the help of friends old
and new, and some very interesting magic, Odge and Lina must discover the
secret of the mist, before they lose their beloved island completely.
An exciting and action-packed adventure which pays warm
tribute to the spirit, imagination and vitality of Ibbotson’s work.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)
Age 7 plus:
The Extraordinary Life
of Rosa Parks
Dr Sheila Kanani and Nan Lawson
READ about the amazing lives of three important names in
world history in the latest books in Puffin’s fascinating Extraordinary Lives
series. These easy-to-read and child-friendly books explore the
lives of incredible historical and modern figures through a narrative
biography, timelines, fascinating facts and beautiful illustrations. The
series, which also includes Stephen Hawking, Malala Yousafzai, Neil Armstrong
and Michelle Obama, is diverse, empowering and educational, and is creatively
illustrated throughout with stunning one-colour pantone.
In The Extraordinary Life of Rosa Parks, we meet the woman
known for refusing to give up her seat on the bus, a small act of defiance that
triggered a monumental shift in the fight for civil rights. Raised in Alabama,
Rosa Parks knew all about the racism of her society from an early age. Discover
how she became the brilliant activist we know today in this inspirational story
by Dr Sheila Kanani which comes beautifully illustrated by Nan Lawson.
And in the The Extraordinary Life of Mary Seacole,
youngsters learn about the life of Mary Seacole… the brave woman who defied
expectation to save people’s lives. Mary is now known for her medical work in the Crimean War,
and as a brilliant woman who fought the racial prejudice she experienced in her
lifetime.
But for a long time her story was lost. From growing up in Kingston,
Jamaica, as the daughter of a doctress who taught her how to nurse to helping countless
soldiers in the war, discover how Mary Seacole became a beacon of hope in this wonderful
tribute written by Naida Redgrave and thoughtfully illustrated by Alleanna
Harris.
Finally, The Extraordinary Life of Mahatma Gandhi lets us
discover more about a remarkable man whose voice influenced the world. After growing up in India and studying in London to become a
lawyer, Gandhi worked as political activist and became a powerful speaker in
South Africa, campaigning for change.
He went on to lead some of the most
important protests in the fight for Indian independence. Mahatma Gandhi’s
legacy has lived on well beyond his years, and he is known all over the world
as a symbol of perseverance and peace. Written by Chitra Soundar and beautifully illustrated by
Dàlia Adillon, this is a wonderful tribute to a brilliant, strong-willed and
influential man.
(Puffin, paperback, £6.99 each)
Age 7 plus:
Nose Knows: Wild Ways
Animals Smell the World
Emmanuelle Figueras and
Claire de Gastold
SOME books are a winner… by a nose! Children will love getting on the scent of Nose Knows, a
fresh look at the world from an animal’s perspective, and the second exciting title
in the Wild Ways series which began with the award-winning book, Eye Spy.
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| ON THE SCENT: Emmanuelle Figueras |
In a new, inventive take on the natural world, youngsters
can discover how animals use smell in a wild assortment of ways, including
finding prey, courting mates, warning friends, and even playing dead. Using this fun, flap-filled book, written by French Guianan
author Emmanuelle Figueras and imaginatively illustrated by Paris-based Claire
de Gastold, youngsters will love exploring how smell plays a key role in the
lives of animals and shapes their behaviour and relationships.
Each flap reveals the hidden side to the environment of
different creatures, only perceptible through smell, providing a clever
layering of information, and providing a constant element of surprise from
start to finish.
This wonderfully entertaining and informative book comes
from What on Earth Publishing which specialises in the art of telling stories
through timelines. And for every question the book answers, it sparks another
one, helping to encourage young readers into a lifelong love of enquiring and
discovering. An ingenious, interactive way of learning that is not to be
sniffed at!
(What on Earth Books, hardback, £14.99)
Age 6 plus:
Turn and Learn: Our World
Isabel Otter and Hannah Tolson
OUR world is a spectacular place, full of curiosity and
wonder. So why not take a closer look! Explore five fascinating habitats – the desert, the
rainforest, the Polar region, the savannah and the sea – in this ingenious,
fact-filled book which comes with magic sliders that let youngsters make their
own investigations.
Read about weird and wonderful plants, from the prickly
cactus to the carnivorous Venus flytrap; discover the amazing adaptations that
animals and plants have made to survive in some of the harshest places on
Earth; and learn about the traditions of people from all over our world,
including the ancient Maasai tribe in Africa.
And in Turn and Learn: Weather, inquisitive youngsters
can discover all the answers to their weather questions by delving into amazing
weather systems… rain, thunder and lightning, sunshine, wind and snow. How does
the wind blow? Why isn’t rain salty? How do we feel heat? Why is snowy weather
so crucial for our planet?
Using the magic sliders, children will love to digging
deeper to uncover the ways in which weather of every kind affects our world. Brimming with fascinating facts and the beautiful artwork of
illustrator Hannah Tolson, these books are the perfect introduction to intriguing
habitats, and our ever-changing but essential weather systems.
(360 Degrees, hardback with slide and reveal wheels, £12.99
each)
Age 5 plus:
Together: Animal partnerships in the wild
Isabel Otter and Clover Robin
SEE nature in perfect harmony in a beautiful, peep-through
picture book packed full of colour, learning and inspiration. Follow a flock of cranes as they migrate by land and sea,
and find out how animals forge unlikely partnerships to help each other in the
wild as author Isabel Otter and illustrator Clover Robin take youngsters on a
flight of factual delight.
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| TAKING FLIGHT: Isabel Otter |
From little birds that pick the morsels from a crocodile’s
teeth to the zebras and ostriches which benefit from each other’s strongest
senses, Otter takes young reader on a journey of migration, and along the way
she highlights the shared advantages of togetherness.
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| RICH TEXTURE: Clover Robin |
Robin’s illustrations bring animals and nature together in a
balance that portrays a vibrant natural world, with her intricate collage work
providing a striking rich texture that positively brims with life. Clever,
cut-out holes also give youngsters a sense of continuity as they trace the
migrating cranes across each page.
And by marrying gentle haiku poems with fascinating facts to
give powerful insights into how animals work side by side, Otter also proves
that the most unexpected pairings can sometimes reap the most enchanting
results. The perfect way to watch creatures of the world in natural
unison…
(Caterpillar Books, hardback, £11.99)
Age 5 plus:
Through the Animal Kingdom
Derek Harvey and Charlotte Pepper
GO on a journey that spans every corner of our planet and
discover amazing animals and their remarkable homes. What do freezing mountain peaks, vast deserts, lush forests,
and the deepest, darkest oceans have in common? They are all places that
incredible animals call home. Through the Animal Kingdom invites you on a
journey across these habitats to discover the secret lives of the animals that
live there.
Track a bald eagle as it soars majestically over the Rocky
Mountains, follow migrating wildebeests across the Serengeti as they attempt a
dangerous river crossing under the watchful eyes of hungry predators, or trace
the tracks of the solitary amur leopard – the rarest cat on Earth – as it
silently stalks its prey through the icy forests of the Siberian wilderness.
The structure of each habitat is meticulously planned out,
letting young readers navigate the pages in a way that resembles a journey,
stopping along the way to absorb the information before carrying on.
And to add to the fun, the contents page is displayed in the
form of a colourful map which allows readers to chart their journey of
discovery from the Arctic Tundra across the Amazon rainforest, over the
Atlantic Ocean, past the Sahara Desert, into the Siberian Forest, over the
Coral Reef, and across to Antarctica.
Combining high quality DK photography, rich illustrations by
Charlotte Pepper and a lyrical, enchanting text for a fresh and imaginative way
of exploring the animal kingdom, this is just the first instalment of a new
series aiming to reinvent early reference for a whole new generation of readers.
The perfect gift for young adventure seekers … and animal
lovers of every age!
(DK Children, hardback, £9.99)
This wonderful treasure trove of myths and legends comes
with outstanding, eye-catching colour illustrations by some of today’s most
talented illustrators and each entertaining, easy-to-understand story has been
retold by a host of well-known children’s authors like Jeanne Willis, Michaela
Morgan and Tony Bradman.
Age 5 plus:
Michael Morpurgo’s
Myths & Legends
BRAVE heroes, battling beasts, mighty gods and magic spells…
here’s a treasury of epic tales to amaze, bemuse and enchant! Award-winning children’s writer and former Children’s
Laureate Michael Morpurgo has collected classic tales of heroism and adventure
from around the world and put them together in one beautifully illustrated book
that will leave youngsters mesmerised by the marvels of mythology.
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| TREASURE TROVE: Sir Michael Morpurgo |
There are lots of stories to choose from, including Mulan,
Icarus, and Hercules the Hero, plus The Legend of Robin Hood, Thor and the
Stolen Hammer, The Giant of Mont Saint-Michel, and a retelling of Gawain and
the Green Knight written by Sir Michael himself.
Each story includes a brief summary of its fascinating origins, and the underlying message and meaning are explained in the simplest terms to young readers, so whether you are looking for a quick read or a longer story to escape into, something to enjoy alone or a tale to share, there is an enchanting story here to read and relish.
A legendary book that speaks volumes to readers young and old!
Each story includes a brief summary of its fascinating origins, and the underlying message and meaning are explained in the simplest terms to young readers, so whether you are looking for a quick read or a longer story to escape into, something to enjoy alone or a tale to share, there is an enchanting story here to read and relish.
A legendary book that speaks volumes to readers young and old!
(OUP, paperback, £9.99)
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