Age 9 plus
Darwin’s Dragons
Lindsay Galvin
JOIN a young cabin boy on the voyage of a lifetime in a
brilliant new middle grade book from author and science teacher Lindsay Galvin
who knows how to put the fun into learning.
Darwin’s Dragons – a history lesson of fascinating facts
wrapped up in a thrilling fantasy adventure – sweeps us across the high seas
alongside Syms Covington to the Galapagos Islands where English naturalist
Charles Darwin made his groundbreaking, evolutionary discoveries.
Based on the real-life boy who made that famous voyage on Darwin’s ship, HMS Beagle, this wonderfully imagined and original rollercoaster ride of discovery across the rich habitat of the Galapagos is the ideal introduction to both Darwin and the concept of evolution. And there is the added joy of some child-pleasing magic, and an entertaining and informative glossary of information on the people and places mentioned in the book.
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Syms Covington has landed the job of a lifetime… cabin boy and fiddler on Charles Darwin’s mighty wooden ship Beagle. But when he falls overboard during a huge storm, he washes up on an unexplored island and his life takes a truly extraordinary turn. Because he has landed on a Galapagos island and it’s there that he makes a discovery that could change the world… and make his fortune. But should he share his find, or will it lead to the extinction of a legendary species? There is one person who could help, but he’s busy writing a book that will one day change the way we see the world. Extensive research, rich imagination and enthralling storytelling combine to make this an unforgettable learning adventure as fantasy, history and a fearless young hero prove to be utterly irresistible.
(Chicken House Books, paperback, £6.99)
Morgana Mage in the Robotic Age
Amy Bond
BEWITCHED bothered and bewildered! A young witch with a penchant for robots is set to cast a spell over young readers as in a fresh, funny and original series from Irish librarian Amy Bond, an exciting new name in middle grade fiction.
Morgana Mage is a heroine for our times… a feisty, feminist, supernaturally powered girl who is ready to break boundaries by blending her love of science and technology with her gift for the world of magic. Morgana loves science and longs to attend robotics school in the shiny city. But she’s a witch, living in a magical woodland community and the closest she comes to technology is petting her ancient mechanical familiar, Kitty.
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Morgana simply doesn’t belong but when she finally finds a
way to the city, she learns of a troubling secret hiding beneath its gleaming
surface… a secret that threatens the balance of civilisation. Caught between
two worlds, it’s up to Morgana to work out a solution… if she has the brains
and the spells to do it. Morgana Mage in the Robotic Age is a thrilling start to this
clever new series which delivers a full-on, high-energy, fantasy adventure as
well as conveying important, contemporary messages about the co-existence of
essential technology with more relatable, human concerns like friendship and
acceptance. Science and witchery in perfect storytelling harmony!
(Chicken House Books, paperback, £6.99)
Once We Were Witches
Sarah Driver and Fabi Santiago
WITCHES also take centre stage in a wonderfully spellbinding new middle grade adventure series from Sarah Driver, author of the critically acclaimed fantasy adventure trilogy, The Huntress. With the fantastic cast of characters brought to life by the atmospheric illustrations of Fabi Santiago, the Once We Were Witches books get off to a cracking start as we meet two sisters who discover they are witches in a world that sees them as wicked and dangerous.
Thirteen years ago, magic was banished and the witches were hunted. Sisters Spel and Egg are the daughters of witches, but they grow up in Miss Mouldheel’s School for Wicked Girls with no idea who they really are. Until the day the message arrives telling them to run… the message sends them to a funeral parlour in a faraway village, and their new guardian, the Undertaker, has a secret.
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Beneath the funeral parlour is a portal to the Other Ways…
four worlds that lie parallel to ours. When Egg vanishes through the portal,
Spel knows she must try to save her sister and that can only be done with the
help of dragons, sailors, the souls of witches and a very grumpy undertaker.
But no one can step between the worlds… or can they?
There is a magical mix of action, thrills, fun and
friendship in this superb dual-world adventure which comes loaded with all
those fantasy features that young readers love… dragons, ghosts, spells, curses
and curious creatures. Expect emotions to run high and danger at every turn as you
join Egg and Spel on their unforgettable adventure!
(Egmont Books, paperback, £6.99)
The Awesome Power of Sleep:
How Sleep Super-Charges Your Teenage Brain
Nicola Morgan
‘Innocent sleep. Sleep that soothes away all our worries.
Sleep that puts each day to rest. Sleep that relieves the weary labourer and
heals hurt minds. Sleep, the main course in life’s feast, and the most
nourishing.’
SHAKESPEARE'S wise words on the importance of sleep are as relevant today (if not more so) as they were over 500 years ago. It helps you learn, it keeps you healthy and super-charges your brain… so why do teenagers so often struggle to sleep? Award-winning teenage well-being expert Nicola Morgan, author of bestselling Blame My Brain, The Teenage Guide to Stress and The Teenage Guide to Friends, grasps the thorny topic of sleep in this essential new guide.
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Late nights, addictive technology and minds racing with exam
stress and friendship worries… it’s no wonder the teenage stereotype is tired
eyes and sleeping through the weekend. Just like adults, teenagers are sleeping
less now than ever before, yet sleep is crucial to our health and well-being.
An internationally renowned expert on the teenage brain,
Morgan asks why teenagers so desperately need a good night’s sleep, exploring
what a lack of sleep does to their developing brains, and explaining how to
have the best sleep possible. Based on the latest science, youngsters can discover how to
improve their sleep hygiene and find out what is going on in their sleeping
brain to help make the most of the power of sleep. Authoritative, accessible and informed by the latest thinking,
this is a fascinating and helpful guide for both children and adults, and could
be just what you need for that good night’s sleep!
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)
Made for Each Other
Joanna McInerney and Georgina Taylor
YOU were made for me… Marvel at the wonders of nature in a beautifully illustrated book that explores symbiotic relationships between organisms. In the natural world, teamwork or an unexpected partner could make all the difference to survival, whether that is warding off predators, removing parasites or aiding reproduction.
Made for Each Other, written by Joanna McInerney and with
stunning watercolour illustrations by debut artist Georgina Taylor, explores
organisms that have learnt to adapt and co-exist in the wild.
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From the monarch butterfly that only exists on one type of
plant, to the majestic bobtail squid that acquires its illuminating glow from
bacteria that live on its skin, and the amazing partnerships between oxpecker
birds and giraffes, clownfish and sea anemones, and woolly bats and pitcher
plants, take a closer look at some of nature’s most fascinating symbiotic
relationships. Taylor’s gorgeous botanical images capture these astonishing
moments in the wild making this the ideal gift for both inquisitive youngsters
and nature lovers.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £15.99)
Freddy vs School
Neill Cameron
BEING different to everybody else at your school isn’t easy when you are the most super-amazing superhero robot ever… And when Freddy discovers that the deputy head is getting fed up of your super-strength, lasers and rocket boosters, and is threatening to expel you, the heat really is on!
Much-loved comics creator Neill Cameron turns on his own
creative boosters in this fully illustrated new series which positively fizzes
with fun, firepower and antics, but also cleverly celebrates unity, uniqueness
and diversity.
‘Okay humans, listen up! My name is Freddy, I live with my
Mum and Dad and I go to school. Oh yeah, the main thing is… I am an awesome
robot with awesome robotic superpowers! But I’m hardly ever allowed to use
them, and definitely not at school, which is going to be a problem...’
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Freddy’s unbelievably amazing robotic abilities are mind-blowingly cool but it turns out that teachers get really angry when you use your rocket boosters in class. And now it’s three strikes and he’s out! Freddy’s mishaps and misadventures are guaranteed to make readers of all ages laugh out loud whilst also providing a heartwarming and perceptive insight into diversity, and acknowledging that not all children are the same.
With its quirky, comic-strip style narrative and format,
illustrations that zing with humour and energy, and two lovable and empathetic
heroes, Freddy vs School is a clever, fun and fast-paced adventure, and ideal
for your reluctant readers.
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £6.99)
Pizazz vs the New Kid
Sophy Henn
AND there are more super-awesome laughs in the second book
of award-winning author and illustrator Sophy Henn’s hilarious comic-book strip
style series starring scintillating superhero schoolgirl Pizazz.
Classroom politics, friendship fails and laugh-out-loud
humour are the hallmarks of this perfectly pitched series which has all the
‘powers and stuff’ that you expect from a superhero story but with the added
delight of some very human characters and some very human dilemmas.
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Being a superhero is the best thing ever, right? Wrong! Hello, my name is Pizazz and I’m a superhero. You probably think that’s really awesome and while it can be, it’s also REEEEEEEAAALLLLY annoying. I guess it was sort of going OK (I say, ‘sort of’ – I still have to wear a silly cape and save the world all the time) until this new kid showed up, and started wowing everyone with their super powers.
Yep, super – just what this town needs, another superhero who just happens to have the coolest name ever: Jett. And now, because of Serena and her gang of Populars, I have to compete against Jett in an almighty and ultimate super-off. But it’s fine. I mean, even if I lose, there’s space for two SUPERS in this school, isn’t there?! Expect raucous rivalries and some sassy schoolgirls as Henn serves up a verbal and visual feast of super-powered fun.
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £6.99)
I Don't Like Books. Never. Ever. The End.
Emma Perry and Sharon Davey
ONE of life’s simplest but most rewarding pleasures is, of course, reading a book. But maybe you have a little one who doesn’t yet share that passion and just needs the gentlest (and most entertaining) of pushes to prove that books are actually fun. And what better way to kick off a lifetime of reading than author Emma Perry and illustrator Sharon Davey’s glorious picture book about the irresistible magic of stories.
Young readers, keen or reluctant, will be enchanted by the crazy adventures of the adorable Mabel who doesn’t like books Never. Ever. The End. and her incredible journey from book-hater to book lover. Mabel can’t be bothered with books. They’re fine for juggling, standing on to reach high shelves, and even bumpety-bumping down the stairs. But the stories inside? No thankyou!
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Until one day, the books decide that they have had enough. They’ll show her! Mabel is plunged between the pages of the books that she has ignored and meets a whole host of characters who will change the way she looks at books forever…
This brilliantly devised and illustrated story by a top team
celebrates both reading and the power of the imagination as Mabel’s salutary
journey into a world of clever detectives, moon travel and daring knights
proves that life is very, very dull with no stories and no adventures. Warm, wise and brimming with mischief and subtle messages,
this is the ideal book to inspire a lifetime love of reading.
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £6.99)
Mr. Tickle: 50th Anniversary Edition
Roger Hargreaves
IT started with a tickle… Fifty years ago, successful copywriter Roger Hargreaves’ son Adam asked him what a tickle looked like and in response, Roger drew a small orange man with extraordinarily long arms that could reach anywhere and tickle anyone.
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The idea that a tickle could be a character in its own right sparked an idea in Roger’s mind… an idea that grew into a series of titles that would be an instant hit and become a favourite with generations of children… the Mr Men and Little Miss books. Roger Hargreaves died in 1988, but his son Adam took over the series, introducing new characters and exciting new adventures. As Roger once said, ‘I feel very happy to think that when the Mr Men and Little Misses are 100 years old, their readers will always be five.’ And now a new generation of little ones can enjoy the tale of Mr Tickle in this special 50th anniversary edition with its gold foil cover and bonus story about how the series began.
Mr Tickle is small and round and has arms that stretch and
stretch. Extraordinarily long arms, perfect for tickling! Who will he tickle
next? The perfect gift for fans of the Mr Men, and those new to
this wonderful storytelling experience.
(Egmont Books, paperback, £6.99)
Leo and the Octopus
Isabelle Marinov and Chris Nixon
IT'S hard for adults to fully understand the realities of living with Asperger’s syndrome so it must be doubly perplexing for young children. And so full marks to author and illustrator team, Isabelle Marinov and Chris Nixon, for this beautiful and sensitively created picture book story about a child with Asperger’s and the special bond he forms with one of the Earth’s most astonishing creatures.
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The world was too bright for Leo. And too loud. None of the
other children understand Leo and he doesn’t understand them. ‘I must be living
on the wrong planet,’ Leo thought. Leo struggles to make sense of the world. He
doesn’t understand the other children in his class, and they don’t seem to
understand him. But then one day, Leo meets Maya.
Maya is an octopus with changing moods and colours, and the
more Leo learns about her, the more he thinks that perhaps he isn’t alone in
this world, after all. With its mesmerising, thoughtful and gently humorous story,
and enchanting illustrations in a muted palette of colours, Leo and the Octopus
features authentic and perceptive descriptions of what it is like to have
autism and the challenges it presents.
(Templar Publishing, paperback,
£6.99)
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