Age 7 plus
One Hundred Reasons
To Hope
Danielle Brown, Adam Larkum, Captain Sir Tom Moore and Hannah
Ingram-Moore
‘For all those finding it difficult: the sun will shine on
you again and the clouds will go away. Remember that tomorrow will be a good
day.’
CAPTAIN Sir Tom Moore captured the hearts of a nation as he
walked 100 laps of his garden to raise money for the NHS but this hero of the
pandemic also wished to celebrate many other inspirational stories from what
was and still is an uncertain time, and with his blessing, these one hundred
stories make a book of hope for the future.
These true stories of everyday heroes across the nation – beautifully illustrated by Adam Larkum – are introduced by Captain Sir Tom’s daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, and have been written by Paralympian Danielle Brown to show just how extraordinarily well we can work together. The book includes well-known stories such as Joe Wicks’ family workouts, as well as equally astonishing tales of everyday heroes, like dancing binmen and fancy-dress postal workers, who brought joy to their neighbourhoods.
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These are stories of courage and community, of everyday
kindness and perseverance. From the scientists racing to find a vaccine, to
frontline workers putting themselves at risk, from clapping together to
celebrate keyworkers, to breathing cleaner air, discover one hundred stories
that will help you hope that tomorrow will be a good day. A £1 donation will be made to the Captain Tom Foundation for
all hardback print sales in the UK and Ireland. The foundation was created to
inspire hope where it is needed most, combating loneliness, helping those
facing bereavement, and supporting hospices.
(Puffin, hardback, £14.99)
Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats
T.S. Eliot, illustrated by Júlia Sardà
WHEN it comes to favourite pets, cats and dogs will always reign! And when it comes to poetry, T.S. Eliot’s beloved cat poems, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, are still the all-time winners. So team up these enchanting rhymes with the glorious illustrations of Spanish artist Júlia Sardà and you have the perfect gift for cat lovers of every age.
‘The naming of Cats is a difficult matter, It isn't just one
of your holiday games; You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter When I
tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.’
So begins one of the best-known poetry collections of all
time… an unforgettable tribute to cats, some sane, some mad, some good and some
bad. Meet magical Mr Mistoffelees, sleepy Old Deuteronomy and curious Rum Tum
Tugger but you’ll be lucky to meet Macavity because Macavity’s not there!
Lavishly illustrated by Sara Ogilvie and originally conceived by Eliot himself, these doggy poems have been lovingly penned by former Faber poetry editor, master poet and Costa-winner Reid and are as witty, varied and exquisitely compiled as Eliot’s cats.
Created in an appealing
child-friendly large format, these canine-flavoured odes are guaranteed to win
the hearts of dog lovers from every generation.
(Faber & Faber, hardback, £14.99 each)
The Week at World’s End
Emma Carroll
NOT for nothing has Emma Carroll become known as the queen
of historical fiction. And this stunning, hotly anticipated standalone story
from the award-winning author is the perfect example of how to turn real
history into a thrilling adventure. In Britain in 1962, nothing ever happens in
World’s End Close so when Stevie discovers a runaway girl in her coal shed, the
first thing she does is fetch her best friend, Ray. Both are dying for
adventure and when the girl begs for help, they readily agree. The girl, Anna, is
on the run from people who are trying to poison her. Meanwhile, the Americans
and Russians are arguing over missiles in Cuba. As the threat of war grows,
Anna’s behaviour becomes more mysterious and Stevie unearths a dark family
secret. Carroll does a magnificent job of bringing to life the uncertain times
of 1962 whilst delivering a powerful and atmospheric adventure steeped in the
close bonds of family and friendship. Utterly enthralling!
(Faber & Faber, hardback, £12.99)
The Stardust That Made Us
Colin Stuart and Ximo Abadía
Imagine that Nature has an unseen cookbook full of different
recipes and you might find that learning chemistry is fun! In their third
stunning STEM book, the top team of author Colin Stuart and illustrator Ximo
Abadía embark on a visual exploration of chemistry, atoms, elements and the universe,
and come up with a scientific wonder that that will enthral children. Their
‘nature recipes’ can make everything from fish to fingernails and sand to
Saturn, and all feature the ‘ingredients’ that are known as chemical elements, organised
in a grid called the periodic table. With stunning, surrealist illustrations
and an easy-to-read informative text, this is the ideal inspiration for budding
young scientists.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £16.99)
Rules for Vampires
Alex Foulkes and Sara Ogilvie
STRAIGHTEN your cape and sharpen your claws! If Lemony
Snickett and Skulduggery Pleasant tickle your spook buds then dive into this
wickedly dark and funny debut novel from exciting new author Alex Foulkes who is
aided and abetted here by award-winning illustrator Sara Ogilvie. Star of this
gorgeously gothic tale is the hilarious Leo, a vampire girl who finds that being
a vampire is harder than it looks, particularly when you have protect the
balance between the worlds of the Living and the Undead. Hauntingly humorous
and frantically fast for the season of Halloween!
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Adventures of Trains:
Danger at Dead Man’s Pass
M.G. Leonard, Sam Sedgman
and Elisa Paganelli
FULL steam ahead for more thrilling Adventures on Trains as
schoolboy Harrison (Hal) Beck investigates an ancient family curse high in the
German mountains. Authors M.G. Leonard
and Sam Sedgman, and illustrator Elisa Paganelli, whisk youngsters away to
lofty mountain peak Brocken in a dynamic mystery series that has become
must-reading for action fans and train buffs. So take the night train to Berlin,
go undercover with Hal and his Uncle Nat, and don’t look back until the last
page has turned at the mysterious journey’s end. One of the wildest and most
wonderful reading journeys you will make this year… and just the latest in a
fabulous adventure series that has all the bells and whistles any rail fan
could want!
(Macmillan, paperback, £7.99)
Maggie Blue and the Dark World
Anna Goodall
FINDING light in a dark world has never been more relevant
than it is today and Anna Goodall’s coruscating middle-grade debut novel,
Maggie Blue and the Dark World, burns brightly for youngsters who have been
struggling to cope with the pandemic. This thrilling and thought-provoking
story stars a troubled, angry 12-year-old girl thrust into a terrifying
adventure and discovering the power of friendship, courage and simply being
yourself. With wit, humour and themes of friendship, this is the perfect
package for every child that craves an all-round, cracking adventure story!
(Guppy Books, paperback, £7.99)
Eddie Albert and the Amazing Animal Gang:
The Amsterdam Adventure
Paul O’Grady
ANIMAL lover, TV celebrity and comedian Paul O’Grady makes
his debut as a children’s books author and scores top marks with this laugh-out-loud,
action-packed adventure starring a pint-size Dr Dolittle who can talk to the
animals. Somewhat-unhappy and never-quite-fitting in 10-year-old Eddie Albert has
a secret unknown to anyone else… he can speak to animals, including his pet dog
Butch, his hamster and his two zany goldfish who believe they were once
pirates. But when Eddie is sent to stay with his eccentric aunt in Amsterdam,
he discovers that she has the same gift. Cue for a cosmopolitan comic crime caper
full of cinematic action and big-hearted messages about friendship and the
magic of animals. First of a series that promises to be a menagerie of mayhem
and fun!
(HarperCollins Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)
Mr Penguin and the Tomb of Doom
Alex T. Smith
INDIANA Jones meets Hercule Poirot in this brilliantly funny
series for early readers from an author and illustrator at the top of his game.
The ever-inventive Alex T. Smith brings us the hilarious Mr Penguin and his
trusty sidekick Colin (the spider) and in their fourth adventure, the dynamic
duo head into the heat of the Egyptian desert on their most important mission
yet to find a kidnapped friend. With a stunning gallery of black and orange
illustrations, a baffling mystery and adventures galore, there’s a belly laugh
round every corner on the track to the great pyramids!
(Hodder Children’s Books, hardback, £9.99)
The Secret Garden
Geraldine McCaughrean, Frances Hodgson Burnett and Margarita Kukhtina
ENJOY one of the world’s favourite bedtime stories in a beautifully
retold, illustrated edition by Carnegie Medal-winning author Geraldine
McCaughrean. Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic tale about the restorative power
of nature comes as a sumptuous gift book with dazzling, full-colour artwork by Margarita
Kukhtina. The story of spoiled and contrary child Mary Lennox, who is sent from
India to live with her uncle at gloomy Misselthwaite Manor and with the help of
a little robin, unlocks the wonder that lies beyond the garden walls, is
sensitively imagined and updated for a contemporary audience by McCaughrean. With
a cloth binding, foil cover, textured paper jacket and ribbon marker, there
could be no better Christmas gift for your loved ones this year.
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £14.99)
The Gloriumptious Worlds of Roald Dahl
Stella Caldwell, Roald Dahl
and Quentin Blake
EXPLORE the characters and creations of the world’s number one
storyteller in this glorious tribute to the inspirational author Roald Dahl. Dive
into your favourite stories, retold through never-before-seen letters,
photographs, magic books, recipes, diary entries and newspaper clippings, and discover
fascinating facts about the author and the worlds he created, from Charlie and
the Chocolate Factory to The Witches, Matilda and The BFG. Read Mrs Twit’s
recipe for bird pie, become a giant expert with the BFG's spotter’s guide and
discover Willy Wonka’s golden ticket. And don’t miss the bonus envelope packed
with Dahl-inspired booklets, games and activity sheets to inspire and encourage
your own budding storytellers!
(Welbeck, hardback, £16.99)
Toto the Ninja Cat and
the Legend of the Wildcat
Dermot O’Leary and Nick East
HEAD off for more mischief and mayhem with a magical moggie
who sleeps all day and fights crime at night as Dermot O’Leary and illustrator
Nick East return with amazing ninja cat, Toto, for another gigglesome,
gob-smacking adventure starring the feline heroine who was inspired by
O’Leary’s own rescue cats. Plenty of cat-astrophic antics guaranteed as the
zany cat gang are sent to a bootcamp for naughty animals! An ideal gift,
especially for newly confident readers.
(Hodder Children’s Books, hardback, £9.99)
Unipiggle: Witch Emergency
Hannah Shaw
WELOCOME back to Twinkleland Kingdom where you can enjoy more
madcap adventures and giggles galore as Hannah Shaw returns with her magical
Unipiggle series for young readers. Princess Pea, who doesn’t like rules and
loves getting muddy and having adventures with her royal pet, Unipiggle, finds
herself in the midst of chaos when she discovers a dusty old magic book. Like a
pig in muck, Shaw has fun, games and muddy magic with this wonderfully madcap
and imaginative series which is filled with high-energy, full-colour
illustrations, knockabout comedy, and lots of interactive extra material.
(Usborne, paperback, £5.99)
The Good, the Bad and the Spooky
Jory John and Pete Oswald
ENJOY more food for thought as bestselling author and
illustrator team, Jory John and Pete Oswald, sow the seeds of another tasty and
inventive picture book! Based on their sensational The Bad Seed series, this
entertaining new book features Halloween, the Bad Seed's favourite holiday, but
what if he can’t find a show-stopping costume for the big night? Get ready for
some trick-or-treating fun in this enchanting new adventure which includes two
sticker sheets, perfect for decorating your own mini jack-o’-lantern!
(HarperCollins Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Winnie’s Best Friend
Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul
THE madcap adventures of Winnie the Witch and her black cat
Wilbur have provided spellbinding, bite-size stories for over three decades and
now the two much-loved stars take centre stage in a story that goes back to the
beginning of their friendship. With its universal theme of finding your very
own best friend, lots of mad, bad and dangerously hilarious escapades, and
Korky Paul’s anarchic colour illustrations to bring the crazy antics to life,
this is the perfect introduction to the irresistible duo for a new generation
of young readers. A super gift book for your own mischief-makers!
(OUP, hardback, £12.99)
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