Playing Nice

JP Delaney 

IT'S every parent’s worst nightmare… A knock at the door and there stands a stranger claiming that the child you have cherished for two years isn’t yours. There was a mix-up at the hospital and two mothers left for home with the wrong babies.

There’s nothing quite like a baby switch mystery to get readers hooked, but this nail-biting, thought-provoking and utterly riveting thriller comes from a writer who never fails to put that extra mind-bending firepower into every story that comes from his magic pen.

JP Delaney – an author who has penned fiction under other names – created waves in 2018 with The Girl Before, a blistering page-turner which featured a mesmerising exploration of obsession and deceit. The book was a runaway bestseller for Delaney and was followed by Believe Me and The Perfect Wife, two more sensational psychological thrillers full of ingenious twists and turns. And now he sets his sharp eye and dazzling writing skills on a baby swap story which melds domestic suspense with a slow-burn, terrifying menace.

MASTERCLASS: JP Delaney 

Freelance journalist Pete Riley from Willesden Green in London has opted to be the stay-at-home dad to two-year-old son Theo while his partner Maddie, who works in advertising and had a traumatic birth, pursues her career. Their lives are pretty uneventful until he answers the door one morning and lets in a nightmare. On his doorstep is Miles Lambert, a stranger who breaks the devastating news that Theo isn’t actually his son.

A DNA test has shown that Theo is the son of Miles and Lucy Lambert, a well-heeled couple who live in upmarket Highgate. The babies – both born prematurely – were switched at birth by an understaffed hospital and Pete and Maddie’s real son, David, was sent home with the Lamberts.

For Pete (who thinks that love trumps paternity and genetics) and Maddie (who guiltily recalls that she found it difficult to bond with Theo), life will never be the same again, but the two families agree that rather than swap the boys back, they will try to find a more flexible way to share their children’s lives. Taking comfort in their shared good intentions to be ‘civilised’ about it, the four adults try to entwine their very different lives in the hope of becoming one unconventional modern family, but a plan to sue the hospital triggers an official investigation that unearths some disturbing questions about the night their babies were switched.

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And when Theo is thrown out of nursery for hitting other children, Maddie and Pete have to ask themselves how far they want this arrangement to go. How much can they trust the real parents of their child, or even each other, and what secrets lie hidden behind the Lamberts’ glossy front door? Pete and Maddie soon discover they will each stop at nothing to keep their family safe…they are done playing nice.

It turns out that everyone has secrets in this gripping, probing and addictive exploration of just how far a parent will go to keep their child safe, as a dual narrative – alternating seamlessly between Pete and Maddie, and including flashbacks to the past – exposes disturbing revelations on both sides of the warring families.

Fascinating, timeless issues around parenting, and nature versus nurture, inevitably come into focus as the tension ratchets up and Pete and Maddie are stretched to an electrifying breaking point which takes us deep into a minefield of murder, lies, abuse and betrayal.

Delaney never disappoints and Playing Nice is an enthralling masterclass in character development and suspense. His creation here is a truly unsettling world where suspicions abound, danger lurks round every corner, and emotional power bleeds from the pages as hearts are broken and battle lines drawn. Expect a shocking finale that will blow your socks off… and then start looking forward to what this exciting author is planning for us next!

(Quercus, hardback, £12.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Daffy detectives, fun science and happy minds

Share giggles galore with two madcap alligator sleuths, get hands-on with a creative handbook, dive into the ocean for deep sea discoveries, learn how to keep smiling, and a enjoy a magical Disney showcase as a new selection of children’s books hits the shelves

Age 7 plus:

InvestiGators

John Patrick Green

IF corny one-liners, chaos, comedy and calamities are your child’s idea of reading heaven, introduce them to the deliciously daffy detective duo… the InvestiGators! Written and illustrated by John Patrick Green – whose impressive CV includes work with Disney, Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, Scholastic and DC Comics – this full-colour, laugh-out-loud graphic series is ideal for reluctant readers.

Brimming over with glorious puns, lashings of toilet humour, and plenty of references to pop culture, Green’s high-energy, snap, crackle and pop story will have youngsters snorting and sniggering from the first appearance of the alligator investigators right through to their final frenetic flourish.

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Mango and Brash are the InvestiGators… sewer-loving agents of S.U.I.T. (Special Undercover Investigation Teams) and the scourge of supervillains everywhere! With their Very Exciting Spy Technology and their tried-and-true, toilet-based travel techniques, the InvestiGators are undercover and on the case. And on their first mission together, they have not one but two mysteries to solve. Can Mango and Brash uncover the clues, crack their cases, and corral the crooks? Or will the criminals wriggle out of their grasp?

With sewers as their preferred travel route, expect lots of U-turns and U-bends when these two super-spies fight crime, armed only with groan-worthy puns and gigglesome gags. Simply bursting with youthful energy, crazy comedy, vibrant artwork and breathtaking creativity, InvestiGators is a visual and verbal delight… and guaranteed to please even the most reluctant reader!

(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £9.99)

Age 10 plus:

Maker Studio: Fun science and tech projects for young designers

Alison Buxton and Zoe Bateman

IF you can’t buy it, make it! Youngsters will love getting hands-on with this creative maker’s handbook which comes packed with amazing craft projects that teach young designers some essential science, technology and design skills.

Written by Dr Alison Buxton, director at Steamworks Learning, a non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing STEM activities to schoolchildren, and Zoe Bateman, an author and self-confessed craft addict, this inspirational book helps youngsters come up with stylish, fun creations. With easy, step-by-step instructions and tips, a helpful glossary and notebook pages to plan projects, children can learn how to make light-up bags, create a speaker from a Pringles tube, design their own resin jewellery, and grow amazing crystal flowers.

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And when those projects are done, they can test their skills on making a light-sensitive door sign, colour-changing bath bombs and self-watering planters.

With craft concepts ranging from simple to advanced, there is something for every skill set. Each project comes with a short explanation of the science behind it, and every stage of the making process is fully illustrated and photographed to ensure that following the instructions is simple for everyone. Making the most of young skills!

(Welbeck Publishing, hardback, £12.99)

Age 7 plus:

Bunny vs Monkey

Jamie Smart

HOLD on to your hats and watch out for trouble… Bunny and Monkey are back in a brand new remastered book collecting together the comedy and chaos of their helter-skelter world! Featuring Bunny vs Monkey 1: Let the Mayhem Begin and Bunny vs Monkey 2: Journey to the Centre of the Eurg-th for the first time, this smaller easy-to-read, chunky format features 256 pages of fast and furry-ous exuberant fun.

The Phoenix Presents series, published by David Fickling Books in partnership with The Phoenix comic, is going from strength to strength and much of that success is due to the genius of the extraordinarily talented illustrator Jamie Smart whose ingenious comic-strip Bunny vs Monkey books are causing giant laughter waves.

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And once more, we are welcomed to the woods where chaos reigns supreme! Bunny and his friends Weenie the Squirrel, Pig (the pig), Action Beaver and Skunky the Inventor lived a peaceful life in the forest…until Monkey's rocket crash-landed and he decided to take over. Now Monkey is causing mayhem, Bunny is determined to put a stop to it, and... what’s that? It’s an out of control shark tank, ruining a lovely picnic!

Outrageously comical and ingeniously addictive, these manic, high-energy stories were just made for fidgety readers who like their books to come with plenty of comic-strip pictures and loads of laughs. Madcap antics for a new generation of action kids!

(David Fickling Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 10 plus:

Happy, Healthy Minds 
A Children’s Guide to Emotional Wellbeing

The School of Life and Lizzy Stewart

THE human mind is a complicated and brilliant machine and, for much of our lives, it runs efficiently with minimal maintenance. But every now and then, our minds need some ‘proper attention’ and recognising that at an early age can help children as they progress into adulthood so, to guide youngsters through that process, here is an invaluable illustrated book.

Happy, Healthy Minds: A Children’s Guide to Emotional Wellbeing comes from the School of Life, a global organisation which wants to help people of all ages lead more fulfilled lives, and act as a resource to assist understanding ourselves, improve relationships, careers and social lives, as well as offer tips on finding calm and getting more out of leisure hours.

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Led by founder and series editor Alain de Botton, the Swiss-born British philosopher and author, the School of Life ‘library’ aims to ‘educate, entertain, console and transform,’ and this essential new guide encourages children to become more aware of their emotional needs.

The book examines a range of everyday topics that might be difficult for children… parents don’t seem to understand, falling out with friends, school feels boring or difficult, being overwhelmed by too much to do, phones troubles, or simply feeling sad, bored, anxious and fed up with things.

Happy, Healthy Minds acts as an atlas to a child’s mental processes, exploring a range of common scenarios encountered by young children, and discussing some of the best ideas to deal with them. And by offering a sympathetic and supportive framework, children are encouraged to open up, explore their own feelings and face the dilemmas of growing up armed with essential emotional intelligence. Informative, fully accessible and beautifully illustrated by Lizzy Stewart, this is a thought-provoking treasure trove of helpful resources and good common sense.

(The School of Life Press, hardback, £18)

Age 5 plus:

Fox and the Deep Sea Quest

Benjamin Flouw

DIVE into the ocean with two animal cousins… and discover a world of deep sea wonders! Fox and the Deep Sea Quest – a colourful and adventure-fuelled story of discovery and friendship –comes from German-based publishers Gestalten whose aim is to ‘continually engage with the surrounding creative landscape.’

And this educational and entertaining picture book – written and illustrated by Frenchman Benjamin Flouw – is full of colourful surprises and revelations at every turn of the page as Fox and his cousin Wolf put on their diving gear and take the plunge on a visit to the seaside. Enchanted by tales of an incredible luminous seaweed, Fox embarks on an expedition to the depths of the deep blue sea. With the help of Wolf, the equipment needed for the daring dive is mapped out and planned… a task which shines a light on the importance of friendship to solve problems and challenges.

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With flippers on, an oxygen cylinder filled, and an underwater camera in hand, Fox dives in. And his mission to find the mysterious submerged plant takes many twists and turns as he encounters giant algae, a city of coral, and a whale trapped inside a fishing net. But his final discovery has a very important message for us all… together we are stronger.

Youngsters will love exploring the ocean with Fox and learning about activities connected to the seaside, and look out for that special mica anemone, hold it into a bright source of light, and watch it glow in the dark! Discover more about Fox and the Deep Sea Quest at https://gestalten.com/products/fox-deep-sea-quest

(Little Gestalten, hardback, £16.95)

Age 5 plus:

Over and Under the Rainforest

Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal 

UNDER the canopy and up in the leaves of the rainforest, hundreds of amazing creatures make their homes… And now you can step into the pages of this gorgeous illustrated book and discover the wonder that lies hidden among the roots, above the winding rivers, and under the emerald leaves of the rainforest.

As part of Chronicle Books’ critically acclaimed Over and Under series, award-winning duo Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal take readers on a thrilling tour of one of the most diverse ecosystems on planet earth… the rainforests of Central America.

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Explore the canopies, where toucans and pale-billed woodpeckers chatter and call, meet the slender parrot snake and the blue morpho butterfly, and marvel at the capuchin monkeys who swing from vines, and the slow-moving sloths who wait out daily thunderstorms.

The hidden world of the rainforest springs to life in this stunning book which is part educational, and part entertaining to behold. Watch as day turns to night and see creatures like the orb spider which weaves a web like a golden tapestry shining in the moonlight. The perfect addition to school libraries, and a gift book to treasure for all young animal lovers!

(Chronicle Books, hardback, £13.99)

Age 5 plus:

The Happy Book

Alex Allan and Anne Wilson

WHAT does happiness feel like… and is it okay not to feel happy all the time? These are just some of the questions a young child may ask and it’s not always easy to answer in a way they will understand so here’s the perfect picture book to share with any child suffering from anxiety, feeling unhappy, or just having problems adjusting to a new school or a new routine.

Warm, charming, relatable and playful, The Happy Book is full of ideas and thoughtful prompts to encourage children to pay attention to their moods and learn to express their thoughts and feelings rather than hide them away.

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The book was developed in consultation with psychotherapist Sarah Davis and includes top tips to help young children not just to identify their different emotions but to understand and talk about them. Mini science sections explain simply what happens in their brain and body, and there are helpful resources for parents and carers. With an array of fabulous illustrations by Anne Wilson to bring feelings and emotions to life, and a gentle text by Alex Allan, this is ideal for home, nurseries and schools.

(Welbeck Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus:

All’s Happy that Ends Happy

Rose Lagercrantz and Eva Eriksson

THE moving story of a friendship between two little girls reaches its final, heartwarming chapter in a brilliant series from a talented author and illustrator team. Popular Swedish author Rose Lagercrantz and award-winning illustrator Eva Eriksson have brought a special kind of magic to thousands of children with their tales of delightful Dani, an enchanting girl who has the ability to be happy and make others happy too… not least, her best friend Ella.

This chapter book series – perfect for young readers moving away from picture books – fills the reading gap with its compelling combination of superb storytelling, emotive illustration and a clever balance of adventure and real life issues.

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It’s spring and Dani is going to Rome for her father’s wedding but Ella is not invited because Dad said no. What will Ella think when she finds out? The road between them is becoming longer and longer. They almost never meet. Will their friendship survive the distance, and can Dani make sure their story ends happily?

The success of this series, with its funny, charming stories, lies in its emotional power, appealing characters and its child’s eye view of the world… a place of warmth, wonder, love and learning.

(Gecko Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus:

The Blue Giant

Katie Cottle

THE sea is the alluring backdrop to the second, inspirational picture book from award-winning author and illustrator Katie Cottle who is on a mission to put our endangered planet at centre stage. Cottle’s 2019 debut picture book, The Green Giant, which won the Batsford Prize, was a beautifully illustrated letter to the natural world and this gorgeous new book has a blue environmental theme, turning the focus on our rich and diverse oceans.

Meera and her mum are enjoying a break at the seaside… until a creature emerges from the waves. It’s a giant, a blue giant, with warnings of a huge problem for the world. And it has a stirring and resonant plea to us all to help clean up the ocean and save sea creatures from the menace of plastic waste. Meera and her mum agree to help. But they can’t do it alone... they are going to need help.

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This poignant and timely picture book introduces children to issues of pollution, waste management and the oceans, with useful suggestions about lifestyle changes to help the world become a better, cleaner place. Using a gallery of broad-stroke, blue-themed illustrations, exciting page spreads, a gentle narrative, and warm messages of kindness, friendship and hope, The Blue Giant is the perfect story to inspire your own little eco-warriors.

(Pavilion Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 to adult:

Disney Block
Magical Moments for Fans of Every Age

Illustrated by Peskimo

STEP into the world of Disney’s animated films for a magical showcase featuring your favourite characters… and lots of unforgettable moments! Disney Block is the latest title in Abrams’ brilliant, collectible Block Book Series and comes with the fantastic, full-colour illustrations of Peskimo, a husband-and-wife illustration and design team from Bristol.

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From Snow White and Pinocchio to Beauty and the Beast, Mulan and Frozen 2, each spread is brimming with nostalgia, wonder, and iconic scenes, making this book perfect for the youngest Disney fans as well as seasoned collectors. The super chunky book includes enchanting artwork and cut-out shapes on every spread. There are also familiar quotes from the characters as a reminder of why everyone falls in love with Disney’s fabulous films. And as a final flourish, there’s a spread which encourages little ones to make their own magic!

(Abrams Appleseed, board book, £11.99)

Age 3 plus:

My Grandma is 100

Aimee Chan and Angela Perrini

LESS is best in an enchanting picture book from top author and illustrator team Aimee Chan and Angela Perrini. My Grandma is 100 is a funny and moving cross-generational tale about a child who doesn’t know what gift to give his grandma on her very big birthday, and learns that life is actually simpler when you don’t have too many possessions!

Grandma Edna is about to have a very special 100^th birthday... but there are so many questions that need to be answered first. Will there be 100 candles on her birthday cake, will she eat potato chips and party pies and, most importantly, what do you buy someone who is turning 100?

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My Grandma is 100 offers heartwarming, humorous and salutary lessons about the burden of wanting too many things, and will delight readers aged from three to 103. With Chan’s playful but thought-provoking story, and Perrini’s endearing and colourful illustrations, this is the ideal book to encourage conversations about love, family and ageing.

(Little Steps Publishing, paperback, £6.99)

Age 2 plus:

How to Drive a Roman Chariot

Caryl Hart and Ed Eaves

A TRIP into the countryside to see some horses gives playful Albie free rein for a full-gallop Roman adventure! How to Drive a Roman Chariot is the tenth book in Peak District author Caryl Hart and top notch illustrator Ed Eaves’ much-loved, picture book action series featuring the irrepressible Albie and his amazing adventures.

Albie is outside feeding four big horses with his mum when it starts to rain and he dives into a barn to shelter. It’s there he meets a young girl called Julia who whisks him off to the hippodrome in Ancient Rome for a big chariot race. And before they know it, the two youngsters are at the helm of a runaway chariot.

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History has never been so much fun in this breathless ride through the ancient city. Can Albie and the plucky Julia beat the odds in the scary chariot race and win a golden crown from the Emperor? Packed with Eaves’ bold, colourful illustrations, plenty of action and knockabout fun, this is the perfect setting for young imaginations to take flight on their own historical adventures!

(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £6.99)

The Coming of the Wolf

Elizabeth Chadwick

THREE years after the Battle of Hastings, resentment is still rife in some parts of England and there are those who would wreak vengeance on their Norman conquerors. But in the borderland with Wales, Lady Christen of Ashdyke Manor is happy to keep a low profile – until her ageing husband, Lyulph, is slaughtered by brutal Norman attackers and her only option seems to be to enter into an arranged marriage with one of the enemy.

Just twenty years old and childless, Christen must decide whether to lose her lands, title and home, and spend the rest of her life in a nunnery… or marry a stranger and safeguard the future of both herself and her estates.

Thirty years ago, Elizabeth Chadwick made waves in the world of historical novels with her thrilling debut, The Wild Hunt, a sweeping tale of warring dynasties, political intrigue and soaring romance set in the wild, windswept Welsh Marches at the turn of the 12^th century. It was an instant bestseller, winning a Betty Trask Award, and was just the opener for a stellar career that has seen a string of enthralling stories mined from England’s rich medieval history… not least novels featuring the life and times of William Marshal, the legendary 12^th century soldier and statesman, and a brilliant trilogy starring Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of England’s most iconic queens.

ON TOP FORM: Elizabeth Chadwick 

And now, inspired by a holiday in the Welsh borders, Chadwick has wound back the clock to 1069 and returned to this landscape of castles, forts and medieval military manoeuvring for a long-awaited and much-anticipated prequel to The Wild Hunt.

Married at fifteen to Lyulph of Ashdyke Manor in the Welsh borders five years ago, Lady Christen’s life with a man thirty years older than herself has been one of comfort and safety rather than excitement and passion.

But the arrival of her reckless and belligerent brother, Osric – who has still not accepted the defeat of King Harold at Hastings three years ago – disturbs the peace at Ashdyke, and when the manor house is attacked by Norman invaders hunting for Osric, Christen is forced to witness her husband’s murder and the pillaging of her lands. The attack on Ashdyke was orchestrated by William FitzOsbern, Earl of Hereford and a relative of King William, who has a policy of rape and pillage, and it is only when Miles Le Gallois, Lord of Milnham-on-Wye, arrives that the attack is called off.

Young and ambitious, Miles was born and bred in England to a Norman father and a Welsh woman of noble blood, and he has his eyes set on marrying Christen and becoming the new Lord of Ashdyke Manor. It’s a stark choice for Christen, newly widowed and in danger of losing everything… marrying him would secure his tenure on all sides of the political divide, secure her future, and allow her to become the ‘mediator’ for Miles with the local people.

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Meanwhile, Osric has been captured and is under armed guard and as part of the marriage deal, gains his freedom. Soon, Christen finds herself hastily married to Miles, with her brother swearing vengeance on her new husband.

Christen needs ‘truth and trust’ in this new marriage but her precarious union with a man who is essentially a Norman invites enemies from all sides and when Miles is summoned for a lengthy

The Secret of the Château

Kathleen McGurl 

WHEN a group of recently retired university friends pool together to buy a stunning château in the picturesque French Alps, a restless ghost unlocks dark and disturbing secrets buried deep within its mellowed stone walls.

If history, mystery, romance and a soupçon of the supernatural float your boat, set sail with Kathleen McGurl’s enthralling summer read… a beautiful and heartbreaking time-slip story of excess and despair, revolution and revenge set against the stunning backdrop of France’s alpine foothills.

Starring an aristocratic family fleeing the opulent Palace of Versailles in 1789 to find refuge at their faraway château, and five present day friends seeking new beginnings and solace in the rural charms of their newly acquired French home, this is a gripping story of love and redemption across two centuries.

When Catherine Aubert became the new Comtesse de Verais in 1785, her husband Comte Pierre was decades older and already well established as a trusted adviser at the court of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. For the young and naïve Catherine, it was a journey of excitement and discovery as her life at the magnificent Palace of Versailles instantly became one of lavish jewels, expensive clothes and dining on the finest food in the land.

BEWITCHING STORY: Kathleen McGurl

Totally ignorant of the daily grind and poverty of those who lived beyond the excesses of the palace, Catherine took her privileges for granted and was content to live a cossetted and sheltered existence alongside the childlike Marie Antoinette.

But within years, revolution is in the air and Pierre, Catherine and their two young children have to flee the Reign of Terror that is descending on Paris and head for the Aubert family château miles away in the Alps.

However, the revolution is spreading through the country, and even hidden away, the Auberts are not safe because aristocrats are being ruthlessly hunted down. Soon they must make a terrible decision in order to protect themselves, and their children, from harm.

Centuries later, retired history teacher Lu Marlow’s two sons have fled the nest and she has still not recovered from the death of her beloved mother so during a drunken evening with her husband Phil, and their long-time friends Maud and Steve, and singleton Gray, she agrees to them all selling up and moving to France for ‘a better lifestyle.’

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And when they fall for the dreamy, eight-bedroom Château D’Aubert with its view over the mountains and sea, it really does feel like a fresh start for them all. But the locals have warned them about the château’s ghost that ‘does not like to be alone’ and Lu can’t resist digging into

Painted in Blood

Ilaria Tuti

AN Italian portrait dating back to the last days of the Second World War has been hiding a shocking secret for over 70 years… it was painted in human blood by an artist who dipped his fingers into someone’s heart.

For those who haven’t already met Superintendent Teresa Battaglia, the ageing police chief, experienced profiler, and star of Ilaria Tuti’s mesmerising murder mystery novels, then immerse yourself in this stunning and atmospheric cold case thriller, and discover one of crime fiction’s most captivating detectives.

Painted in Blood is the second book in a trilogy – flawlessly translated into English by Ekin Olap – which began with the outstanding debut, Flowers Over the Inferno, a fabulous thriller-chiller which became a top ten bestseller on publication, and made Tuti one of the most internationally successful Italian authors of recent years. Tuti lives in Friuli, in the far north-east of Italy, and these hard-hitting stories harness the wild beauties of this majestic region as the backdrop for her ageing detective whose tough-nut exterior, secret battle with early dementia, and a not-so-secret soft spot for the children she never had, make her an extraordinary and unique protagonist.

FAST-PACED PLOT: Ilaria Tuti

Superintendent Teresa Battaglia’s life is now a guessing game… guessing ‘where to look, what words to say, and which shadows to be wary of.’ Desperate to hide her early stage dementia, she is trying ‘to play the hero when she can no longer remember what things are called.’

Fortunately, her work partner and sometimes combatant, Inspector Massimo Marini – half her age and ‘the son Teresa never had’ – is her greatest admirer and knows she can crush his ego with the blink of a pair of eyes that always ‘see well below the surface.’

And Teresa needs all the help she can get with a new cold case centred on The Sleeping Nymph, a work of art of magnetic beauty, painted by young partisan fighter, Alessio Andrian, during the last days of the Second World War. DNA analysis has revealed that the striking portrait of a young woman – discovered in the attic of the artist’s great-nephew – has a shocking secret hidden in the red pigment on the canvas. It was painted with blood and cardiac tissue created by the artist dipping his fingers into a human heart.

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Teresa is able to trace the evidence to the Resia Valley in the north-east of Italy, a perfect genetic enclave protected for centuries from the outside world, where she uncovers more about the life of Andrian who painted whilst hiding in the mountains between German raids.

But Teresa’s investigation is getting too close to the truth and a fresh human heart is hung at the entrance to the valley with a warning not to cross its threshold by someone hell-bent on

The World That We Knew

Alice Hoffman

IN a world that has been consumed by wickedness, a mother will do anything it takes to save her child…

If you haven’t already fallen under the spell of US author Alice Hoffman and her seductive brand of magical realism, then immerse yourself in her extraordinary novel, The World That We Knew, a heartbreaking and utterly enthralling wartime odyssey which opens up a unique perspective on humanity and inhumanity amidst the horrors of the Holocaust.

Hoffman’s dark and dazzling novel uses the classic fairy tale trope of the battle between good and evil for a searing exploration of the power of love, resistance, determination and kindness in a time of unspeakable brutality. The result is her most accomplished and unforgettable book yet… Hoffman’s ingenious alchemy blends ancient Jewish folklore, spine-tingling supernatural, and gut-wrenching reality in an exquisite formula that shocks, enchants, and makes us weep.

ENTHRALLING ODYSSEY: Alice Hoffman

In the spring of 1941, the world of Jewish mother Hanni Kohn and her twelve-year-old daughter Lea is an increasingly terrifying place. Hanni’s heart surgeon husband, Simon, was murdered during a riot and now Hanni, her paralysed and bedbound Russian-born mother Bobeshi, and Lea are struggling just to stay alive.

But Hanni’s love for her only child is boundless and, with Jews disappearing from their homes every day, she knows she must send shy, intelligent Lea away to save her from the Nazi regime. Hanni has no choice but to stay behind to care for her mother so she comes up with a daring plan to keep Lea safe on her journey to freedom.

‘To fight what was wicked, magic and faith were needed. This was what one must turn to when there was no other option,’ Hanni observes, so she rests her hopes on a renowned rabbi who, she has been told, can create a rare and unusual golem, a mystical, elemental Jewish creature who looks human but has no soul, Her mission will be to guard Lea and ‘follow her to the ends of the earth and never abandon her.’

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But it’s the rabbi’s daughter, 17-year-old Ettie, ambitious and clever beyond her years, who agrees to conjure up the golem from river clay and sacred water scattered with Hanni’s tears, and once Ava is brought to life, she, Lea and Ettie become eternally entwined, their paths fated to cross and their fortunes linked.

Using money from selling a secret hoard of Bobeshi’s Russian jewels, Lea and Ava, along with Ettie and her younger sister Marta, buy false passports and train tickets to travel to Paris. But

Six Tudor Queens: Katheryn Howard, The Tainted Queen

Alison Weir

SHE is the young queen who likes to dance and sing, and thinks a royal marriage will bring her riches and privilege beyond compare. But Henry VIII is a jealous king who prizes virtue above all else in women… and Katheryn Howard is an English rose with hidden thorns. If the truth of her past is weeded out, she could so quickly be cut down without ever reaching full bloom.

No queen of Henry rose so quickly and fell so spectacularly as the young and reckless Katheryn, and in the latest book of her groundbreaking sequence of novels featuring the six famous royal wives, Alison Weir uses her vast historical knowledge, in-depth research, and a tantalising slice of artistic licence to bring us a fascinating and compelling account of the doomed queen.

Born into an impecunious branch of the most noble family in the land, Katheryn was Henry’s youngest bride… a diminutive, naïve, and lively girl whose short life has become one of the most tragic and heart-wrenching tales in English history.

Cruelly neglected in childhood by her feckless, spendthrift father who farmed her out into the care of other aristocratic families, the pretty, fun-loving and virtually uneducated Katheryn was easy prey for the ambitious, power-hungry Howard clan who were prepared to use a vulnerable girl to get closer to the throne.

COMPELLING ACCOUNT: Alison Weir

When her mother dies in childbirth in 1528, seven-year-old Katheryn’s world is shattered. Her father has squandered her mother’s inheritance and ensured that, although they are members of the foremost noble family in England headed by the powerful Duke of Norfolk, they are almost penniless.

Sent to live in the household of her step-grandmother, Agnes Howard, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, to learn the ‘skills and graces’ needed to make a good marriage, Katheryn spends her days with other dependant young ladies, and soon discovers that they are freely left to ‘make their own pleasure.’

Although she has no dowry, the fast-blossoming Katheryn comes to the attention of louche and dangerous young men like Francis Dereham, and Thomas Culpepper, a distant relative noted for ‘the pursuit of his own pleasure,’ who are attracted by her ‘pretty face and noble blood,’ and rumours that her Howard cousin, Lady Anne Boleyn, is soon to be the next queen.

But all that changes when, three queens later, the 49-year-old king is on the hunt for a new wife with an impeccable past. Used shamelessly as a pawn by her family, the trusting Katheryn is quickly manoeuvred into the eyeline of the king and completely captures his heart.

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Although she cannot countenance marrying a man who is old, fat and smells, she has no choice but to comply and is secretly thrilled at the prospect of wearing ‘gorgeous clothes’ and living in ‘palaces of the greatest splendour.’ But Katheryn knows she is far from the ‘virtuous’ woman that the king so desires, and what would be the cost if he discovered the truth?

Brimming with the kind of rich period detail that has made Weir as much loved for her historical novels as her illuminating non-fiction books, this is an enthralling story that fuses a large helping

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A tale of hope, a Regency romp and a space odyssey

Discover the real-life story of the Windermere boys, meet an adorable Regency rule-breaker, share fun with a naughty knight, and learn how to say sorry in a sunshine selection summertime children’s books

Age 8 plus:

After the War: From Auschwitz to Ambleside

Tom Palmer and Violet Tobacco

THE story of three Polish teenagers brought to Windermere after the war to help rebuild their shattered lives lies at the heart of a moving new novel from master storyteller Tom Palmer.

Inspired by the incredible true story of the Windermere Boys (recently given a new focus in a film written by Simon Block and directed by Michael Samuels), and based on the experience of child survivors of the Holocaust who were brought to the Calgarth Estate next to the lake, this is a beautiful, sensitive tale of friendship, courage and belonging.

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In the summer of 1945, the Second World War is finally over and Yossi, Leo and Mordecai are among three hundred children who arrive in the Lake District. Having survived the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps, they have finally reached a place of safety and peace, where they can hopefully begin to recover. But Yossi is haunted by thoughts of his missing father and disturbed by terrible nightmares. And as he waits desperately for news from home, he fears that Mordecai and Leo – the closest thing to family he has left – will move on with their lives without him. And will life in the beautiful Lake District be enough to bring hope back into all of their lives?

After The War: From Auschwitz to Ambleside – written with a grace and simplicity that makes the story of these brave survivors even more powerful – speaks loudly to a new generation of children who must find it difficult to conceive of their unspeakable suffering. Inspirational, heartbreaking, and a must read for children (and adults) of all ages.

(Conkers, paperback, £6.99)

Age 7 plus:

A Most Improper Magick

Stephanie Burgis

IF you thought all Regency romances were full of very proper young ladies, step into the very improper world of the cute and canny Kat Ann Stephenson! A Most Improper Magick is the first thrilling instalment of Stephanie Burgis’ fun adventure series starring a lovable young lady who likes to break the rules of society, work a little magic, and prove that girls weren’t really made to sit at home and sew.

At twelve years old, any proper young lady should be practising her embroidery and keeping her opinions to herself. But Kat Ann Stephenson is no ordinary young lady. Her late mother was a notorious witch and Kat has just discovered that she has inherited her magical talents. Despite her Stepmama’s stern objections, she is determined to learn how to use them so she chops off her hair, dresses as a boy and sets off to save her family from ruin… even if she does only get to the end of the front garden!

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And it’s just as well that Kat has learned some magic arts because she is now the newest target of an ancient and secretive magical order. With her eldest sister Elissa’s intended fiancé, the sinister Sir Neville, showing a dangerous interest in Kat’s magical potential, her other sister, Angeline, wreaking romantic havoc with her own witchcraft, and a highwayman lurking in the forest, even Kat’s reckless heroism will be tested to the limit. If she can learn to control her new powers, will Kat be able to rescue her family and win her sisters their true love?

Burgis, who grew up in America but now lives in Wales, delivers a spellbinding mix of comedy, romance, mystery and danger in this gorgeous middle grade Regency romp which has all the familiar tropes of a genteel Georgian adventure but with the added fun of a daring heroine, even more feisty and fearless than the proud Elizabeth Bennet. A rollicking good story for all unordinary readers!

(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 7 plus:

Knight Sir Louis and 
the Dreadful Damsel

The Brothers McLeod

IF it’s crazy fun you’re looking for this summer, mount your steed and join the charge with the first book in a hilarious, illustrated new series from BAFTA award-winning sibling duo, The Brothers McLeod. Knight Sir Louis and the Dreadful Damsel has been dubbed Monty Python and the Holy Grail for middle grade readers… and it’s easy to see why! Brimming with inventive storytelling, laugh-out-loud adventures, and madcap illustrations, this is a masterclass in crackpot comedy
.

Knight Sir Louis is the bravest knight at King Burt’s Castle Sideways. He has defeated hungry dragons, evil goblins and horrible wizards (but please nobody mention wasps, Knight Sir Louis is absolutely NOT afraid of them). Along with his trusty mechanical steed Clunkalot, and mystical sword (known as Dave), Knight Sir Louis and his friends are sent to do battle with the Damsel of Distresse, who has been terrorising the land. But nothing is as it seems.

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Knight Sir Louis finds himself dealing with strong enchantments and powerful magic (as well as potatoes) and the machinations of his soon to be arch-enemy-nemesis… the Stripy Knight.

With an assurance that no potatoes were harmed in the writing of this book, The Brothers McLeod (otherwise known as Myles and Greg) dish up a raucous romp full of super-silly sword play, bone-crunching action, and hilarious heroes. Sublimely funny and seriously entertaining, this is the ideal way to get your youngsters hooked on reading… and medieval mischief!

(Guppy Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 6 plus:

Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Space

Written by Katie Tsang and Kevin Tsang and illustrated by Nathan Reed

THE brilliant Sam Wu series of funny and frantic illustrated books has been wowing an army of young readers, and now our bravest ever scaredy-cat hero is back for his final, fantastic adventure! The books, which are ideal for reluctant readers who like their stories to come with lots of madcap antics and eye-catching illustrations and graphics, are the work of husband and wife team Katie and Kevin Tsang, and were inspired by Kevin’s own childhood experiences of feeling scared and anxious.

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Sam Wu is not afraid of many things. Definitely not ghosts, sharks, the dark, spiders or EVEN zombies! But space, well… he’s definitely not afraid of black holes, meteors and imploding stars!

So when Sam gets the chance to go to Space Camp with his friends in the summer, he has never been more excited. He’s desperate for everyone to love it as much as he does, and together win the Space Camp Challenge trophy! But not everybody at Space Camp is ready to be a team player and for Sam it’s starting to look like winning the trophy might be as difficult as landing on the moon!

Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Space offers fun, mischief, adventure and plenty of reassurance for youngsters who are worried about staying away from home for the very first time. Fabulously illustrated throughout with Nathan Reed’s warm and witty artwork, and with an inspirational South Asian hero and his diverse group of friends, this is both comfort and comedy reading for younger children.

(Egmont Publishing, paperback, £5.99)

Age 3 plus:

Oof Makes an Ouch!

Duncan Beedie

SORRY is the buzzword in an enchanting picture book from the ever-inventive author and illustrator Duncan Beedie. Starring two children from an ancient tribe still getting their tongues round the concept of communication by language, Oof Makes an Ouch! is the last word in playful humour, bold illustration and all-round good ideas.

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Oof and Pib know hardly any words… in fact they only know how to say their own names. But it doesn’t stop them from being the best of friends and doing everything together. But then Oof starts inventing all sorts of catchy NEW words, and Pib feels so jealous that he does something to threaten their friendship forever. Can Pib come up with a word of his own to make things right again?

With Beedie’s trademark blend of vibrant colour and rich detail on every page, and a clever, comical – and yet emotionally resonant – story about the power of friendship, self-expression, and forgiveness, this is the ideal book to both entertain and educate.  

(Templar Publishing, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus:

Polly Profiterole's Little Town: Good Enough to Eat

Maggie May Gordon 
and Margarita Levina

IMAGINE living in a town that’s good enough to eat? Australian poet and author Maggie May Gordon gets her creative juices flowing on this tasty offbeat picture book about a canny cook who builds a town out of cakes, tarts, flans, burgers and puddings!

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Polly Profiterole lives in a town that has no school, no bank, no church… and only one shop. And Polly’s Pancake Parlour is that one and only shop.  Polly is starting to feel decidedly fed up because no one wants to build shops in their little town in the middle of nowhere. Then one day she wakes up with a great idea… she’s going to bake a town full of shops, and her husband Percy is going to build it!

Gordon’s mouth-watering baking bonanza ­– which dishes up a Hot Bread Bank, a Choc-Chip Church and a Treacle Tart Toy Shop – will have everyone’s tummies rumbling, while Margarita Levina’s rainbow palette of illustrations are the icing on the cake. Simply scrumptious!

(Little Steps Publishing, paperback, £6.99)

Age 2 plus:

The Monstrous Tale 
of Celery Crumble

Ben Joel Price

Sorry seems to be the hardest word! If your naughty little youngsters have an aversion to saying sorry, introduce them to a tasty little dish called Celery Crumble who has been cooked up by inventive author, illustrator and graphic designer Ben Joel Price.

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Celery Crumble is a naughty girl who likes to play tricks. She just won’t say sorry, no matter how horrid she has been. She’s warned that if she behaves like a monster, then she’ll become a monster. But her reply is always ‘Sorry, Not sorry!’ Then one morning she wakes to find that she has grown boils on her back, claws on her toes and a witchy, stripy tail. Will Celery finally learn how to say sorry and curb her mischievous ways?

Price’s comical, cautionary tale starring the deliciously naughty Celery will strike an all too familiar note with exasperated parents eager to reinforce valuable messages about treating others how you want to be treated yourself. With striking illustrations featuring Price’s distinctive gothic style, and a monstrously clever story, Celery Crumble is best served just before a toddler tantrum!

(Oxford University Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 2 plus:

The Mega Magic 
Teacher Swap!

Rochelle Humes and Rachel Suzanne

IF your little ones are growing anxious about starting school or changing classes, here’s a story to set their minds at rest. The Mega Magic Teacher Swap! is the follow-up to TV presenter Rochelle Humes’ bestselling debut picture book, The Mega Magic Hair Swap, and is a fun and magical story with a reassuring message at its warm heart.

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When best friends Mai and Rose return to school for a new year, they don’t want to leave Mrs Bee, the best teacher ever! With a wish and some help from My Little Coco, Mai and Rose find themselves back in Mrs Bee’s class. But they quickly discover that it’s less fun without their friends, and they've already learnt these subjects before. When they meet their new teacher, Ms Daly, they quickly find out that change can be a good thing… and they even make a new friend!

Humes’ story is full of magic, warmth and fun, and is the perfect antidote to new school or class fears, and all brought to life by Rachel Suzanne’s joyful and colourful illustrations. Change doesn’t have to be scary!

(Studio Press, paperback, £6.99)