The Countess of the Revolution

Lana Kortchik

FOR the twenty-three years of her young life, Countess Sophia Orlova has led a charmed existence in the majestic Russian city of Petrograd. But in the spring of 1917, her world of wealth and privilege falls apart when revolution breaks out and a rampaging mob storms the grand home she shares with her husband, Dmitry. Surrounded by armed guards, and now classed as an enemy of the people, Sophia’s only hope of surviving this dangerous new order lies with one man... her husband’s renegade brother.

Lana Kortchik – whose bestselling debut novel Sisters of War featured two women living under the shadow of German-occupied Ukraine – sweeps readers back to the dark days of the Russian Revolution for a heart-wrenching tale of loss and sacrifice starring two lovers trapped on the opposite sides of a terrifying political conflict. And what a tumultuous and emotionally-charged story it is... written straight from the heart of Kortchik (pictured below) who grew up in Ukraine and Siberia and at the age of sixteen moved to Australia with her mother, but continues to be inspired by her own family history, not least her great-grandfather, Count Olgert Korsak, who was of Russian nobility and forced to flee his country of birth after taking part in the Polish uprising of 1863.

On March 15 in 1917, Count Dmitry Orlov has planned a lavish dinner at his home near Petrograd’s Neva River but shortly after sundown, the sound of gunfire fills the air and the eerie light of fires devouring the city can be seen from the windows.

For Countess Sophia Orlova, the city of her childhood – the only home she has ever known – is about to become her deadly enemy with the mob ready and willing to get rid of anyone connected to the old regime. The couple have been married for five years... lawyer Dmitry adores Sophia. The love he bears for his wife is overwhelming. It’s a love that consumes him, but

Breakneck Point

T. Orr Munro 

CRIME scene investigator Ally Dymond knows that science-based evidence never lies, and when she uncovers a police officer’s corrupt methods to convict a man on a murder charge, she blows the whistle on the senior detective halfway through the trial.

It’s a brave decision which costs experienced CSI Ally a place on Devon’s major investigations team and leaves her working petty crime cases on the sleepy northern coast of the county... until the discovery of a young woman’s body endangers not just Ally’s life, but that of her 15-year-old daughter.

Stiffen the sinews and summon up the blood because T. Orr Munro (pictured below) – who trained as a CSI and knows exactly what goes on behind the police crime scene tape – thrills, chills and impresses with the first book of her atmospheric and dazzlingly authentic debut serial killer series set in the dark corners of a windswept seaside town. And Breakneck Point lives up to both its name and its billing as Munro harnesses her forensic experiences, and work as a police and crime journalist, on this fast-moving, heart-pounding and disturbing thriller which pits a manipulative and merciless killer against a maverick CSI determined to dig out the truth.

Six months after she publicly refused to be part of a police inspector’s attempt to pervert the course of justice by ‘fiddling the evidence’ in a murder case, senior CSI Ally Dymond has paid a high price for exposing corruption in the ranks and, as some see it, ‘allowing a murderer to walk free.’

Now Ally is off the principal investigation team and working in a rural outpost in the rundown seaside town of Bidecombe where the openly hostile police team hardly acknowledge her existence. But when the body of nineteen-year-old Janie Warren is found by a dog walker near Bidecombe Quay, Ally’s expert skills in suspicious deaths are suddenly back in demand. It’s only

Collins Ultimate Quiz Night

Collins Puzzles and Puzzler Media

CELEBRATING Christmas isn’t just about stuffing yourself with turkey and opening a stocking full of presents... it’s also about sharing quality time with family and friends. So here’s the perfect gift book (for the festive season or any time of the year!) that brings together the generations to enjoy a super-fun quiz night of trivia knowledge offering entertainment, education... and plenty of head scratching.

With 500 quizzes, comprising 10,000 easy, medium and hard general knowledge questions, and 30 picture rounds, Collins Ultimate Quiz Night is the latest title in Collins coruscating collection of word and number puzzles, which range from delightfully teasing to fiendishly difficult. And there’s something on offer for every age and ability in this fabulous bumper-size quiz book, from easy questions for younger family members taking their first steps from quizzing base camp, to extra-tricky testers for experienced trivia travellers heading for the higher peaks of general knowledge down at the pub! The questions are arranged in the easy, medium and hard sections, and to get a taste, do you know which acid is used in lead-acid car batteries, how many eyes a bee has, and which African country takes the name of its currency, the kwanza, from one of the largest rivers in the nation? If you answered sulphuric acid, five eyes, and Angola in that order, then you’re already on a roll!

With picture rounds to exercise your brain cells, a choice of specialist subjects that includes (among many others) geography, music, sport, film, reality television, TV detectives, dinosaurs, who said it, crimes and criminals, record-setting, Downton Abbey, and a host of pot luck categories, you can be sure that there is knowledge, amusement, fun and frustration all the way. So choose a friend or family member to be your wise and witty quiz master, grab paper and pencils, and put on your thinking caps for the first of what promises to be many enjoyable quiz nights!
(Collins, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Words of wisdom and age-old life lessons

Writers from the past and the present deliver some much-needed wisdom and guidance for children and teenagers in three inspirational books which are guaranteed to inform, educate and entertain a new generation of youngsters

Age 7 plus
Aesop’s Fables
Caroline Lawrence and
Robert Ingpen

WHEN it comes to universal truths about what it is to be human, look no further than the famous Aesop’s Fables, the wise words of a slave man which are as relevant today as they were when he spoke them 600 years before Christ was born. Just as Stone Age cave paintings belong, not to the artist, but to human civilisation, Aesop’s Fables are cherished by each generation and passed on to the next, and this gorgeous new gift edition delivers life lessons on every page. Retold here by million-copy-selling author Caroline Lawrence and with full-colour artwork by Hans Anderson Award-winning artist Robert Ingpen, Aesop’s Fables are the perfect introduction to a bygone world of clever slaves, Greek gods and talking animals... a world which is sure to enchant young readers.

Aesop’s Fables belong – and have meaning – to every one of us. They were once simply the words of a slave called Aesop who was born with physical disabilities and began life as the lowest of the low. But, fortunately for us, his words were written down by a Greek and then a Roman, and they spread, like the armies of Rome, across the known world. The stories were told around heathen campfires and noble hearths, they were whispered in sacred monasteries and churches, lectured in Victorian school rooms and acted out by children at play. Each little fable – often featuring talking animals – is bound up with 2,000 years of wisdom and truth. And from these we know that a mouse is too weak to withstand the strength of a lion, yet too mighty to be bound by ropes. We learn that the violence of the North Wind is no match for the gentle beaming of the unrelenting Sun. We know in our hearts that the sheep must push through life and try to overcome its many dangers, that the wolf will trick and deceive to survive, and that we cannot pretend to understand the logic of the gods if we do not hold ourselves to the same standard.

This sumptuous gift book – part of Ingpen’s beautiful series of illustrated children’s classics – has a ribbon marker and a helpful glossary with brief definitions of some of Aesop’s words which come from a world thousands of years ago. Beautifully produced and lavishly illustrated with Ingpen’s breathtaking imaginative power and with excerpts from an ancient biography of Aesop woven into the fables, this is a gift to treasure through the generations.
(Welbeck Editions, hardback, £20)

Age 11 plus
Boys Will Be Human
Justin Baldoni 

WITH a warning to readers that this might be the most honest book they have ever read, you can be sure that it will pique the interest of any boy struggling to find his place in the world. Puberty is one of the most challenging phases of a boy’s life and nobody knows this better than filmmaker, actor and author Justin Baldoni who reveals he has written the book that he desperately needed when he was at school and facing ‘one of the most confusing and lonely times in a boy’s life'. ‘My hope,’ he says, ‘is that this book can become a trusted friend and resource to any young person trying to navigate what it means to be a boy or understand the complex experience of growing up as a boy in the world today.’ And so the bestselling Boys Will Be Human was created, an invaluable go-to, get-real, gut-check guide to becoming the ‘strongest, kindest, bravest person you can be’ by helping boys aged eleven and over to embrace their feelings and fears instead of repressing them. In a radically honest but child-friendly voice, Baldoni introduces topics like equality, male privilege, body image, sex and consent with both humour and heart.

Have you ever noticed, he asks, that there are unwritten rules that tell boys how to act, think, and feel? Nobody knows where they came from, but one day – bam! – you suddenly feel these invisible forces, pushing you to follow the rules of masculinity, even if they don’t make you happy. But the book, he adds, isn’t about learning the rules of the boys’ club, it’s about unlearning them. It’s a reality check guide book that shows you how to be brave enough to reveal who you really are, clever enough to ask questions, cool enough to feel all your emotions, confident enough to know your worth, strong enough to speak your truth and much more. And Baldoni cautions readers to be prepared because his book is raw and surprising. 

There are no lies or subjects off-limits. Sometimes things might get a little uncomfortable but he explains that that is an important part of getting to know – and believe in – yourself, reminding readers that they are not on the journey alone. With highly designed, two-colour pages, filled with activities, sidebars, and inspirational quotes, this groundbreaking book is an invaluable self-esteem-building guide and the perfect social and emotional learning tool for parents and teachers who want to jump-start conversations about masculinity with boys.
(HarperCollins, hardback, £12.99)

Age 4 plus
The Sour Grape
Jory John and Pete Oswald 

AND enjoy more food for thought as bestselling author and illustrator team, Jory John and Pete Oswald, serve up a fruity feast of life lessons in The Sour Grape, the sixth tasty romp in their inventive Food Group picture book series. Ripe with the duo’s trademark humour, and bursting out all over with common sense and creativity, this new adventure stars a Sour Grape who holds a bunch of grudges for every reason under the sun. Lime never returned a borrowed scarf. Grudge! Orange never called back. Grudge! But when his friend Lenny holds a grudge against the Sour Grape without listening to an explanation, the Sour Grape quickly realises how unfair grudges can be. Could a sprinkling of gratitude and a bunch of forgiveness be enough to turn a sour grape sweet? This terrific top team can’t put a foot wrong when it comes to delivering up child-friendly stories with important life messages, all carefully cooked to perfection inside John’s warm and witty wordplay and Oswald’s captivating, high-energy artwork. So get ready for giggles galore as youngsters gorge on the antics of a thin-skinned grape while gaining valuable lessons about compassion, understanding, and accepting that life is what you make it.
(HarperCollins, paperback, £6.99)

Airside

James Swallow

IT'S been a bad day for Kevin Tyler… everything that could go wrong has gone wrong, and it has proved both catastrophic and ruinous for the London businessman. Stranded at a remote airport in Germany after missing his flight during a storm, he’s at rock bottom until he discovers a hidden bag with two million euros in cash inside it. Does he hand it over to the authorities… or has he stumbled on the answer to all his problems?

Fresh from his smart, classy, high-octane Marc Dane series – must-reading for discerning espionage and action fans – BAFTA-nominated scriptwriter and bestselling author, James Swallow (pictured below), returns with a heart-pounding, standalone thriller featuring a desperate man with a difficult choice.

Fascinating, addictive and with a ‘be careful what you wish for’ motif, Swallow’s story threads back to when he was working on a project that involved extensive air travel and the germ of an idea took root during the long hours spent in airports and on airliners. Harnessing that insular, no-man’s-land quality of airport departure lounges – the ‘anticipation, anxiety and boredom’ of being captured ‘in a big glass box’ – Swallow’s imagination takes flight on a thrill trip that will leave readers gasping for air.

Engineer and businessman Kevin Tyler’s life is imploding. He has spent the last six months travelling backwards and forwards to set up a deal to open an office in northern Germany, risking everything he owns to push the project through.

But on his current visit, and at the last possible moment, his partners reneged on the agreement when another organisation swept in with a better offer. Left high and dry, consumed by guilt, and with a ‘giddy trickle of pain building between his eyes,’ Kevin feels that everything has gone wrong with his life.

His marriage to Sadie is over, his beloved daughter Maddie is far away, studying in New York, and he knows he is going home to bankruptcy and an uncertain future. And to add insult to injury, an overbooked flight at Barsbeker airport sees him bumped off the last plane home and left behind to wait out a storm until the next departure the following

Believing in Tomorrow

Rita Bradshaw 

THE hardships and challenges of girls and women in the early part of the 20^th century come under the spotlight in a moving, gritty and gripping tale of love, loss and survival from one of the nation’s favourite saga queens.

Prepare to have your heartstrings pulled as committed Christian, animal lover and captivating storyteller Rita Bradshaw (pictured below) – whose raft of compelling novels includes Storm Child and The Winter Rose – sweeps us away on a rollercoaster journey filled with high emotion and life-changing drama.

Molly McKenzie, who lives with her family in the countryside near Newcastle, is only eleven years old in 1900 when her abusive, farmworker father Josiah McKenzie – known for his hands the size of cannonballs – beats her to within an inch of her life for sneaking out of the house to attend the Michaelmas Fair.

Molly is certain that he killed her only sister Kitty when she fell pregnant at fourteen and, terrified that one day she will die the same way, she escapes from the hovel she calls home and is taken in by kind fisherfolk in North Shields who find her sick and close to death.

They are the Mallard family – Jed and Enid, their two married daughters, and their three sons Harry, Rory and Matthew who live at home – and with them, she experiences the love of a family for the first time. Life is still hard for Molly but she is content in their care.

Time passes and Molly is looking ahead to a future with the boy she loves, but then a terrible tragedy rips her life apart. Once again she is cast adrift in an uncaring world, but Molly is made of stern stuff and is determined to survive.

In the male-dominated society of the early 1900s, Molly has to fight prejudice and hatred, and rejection comes from all sides. Can she hold fast and become the woman she is destined to be?

Tears will be shed and hearts broken and mended again in this harrowing but ultimately uplifting family saga which is filled with love and hate, humanity and inhumanity, compassion and cruelty, and never fails to impress with the sheer power of its emotional storytelling. A determination to succeed against all odds, the sense of community and warm friendship that helps even the most oppressed to survive, and the strength of love to defeat malice and brutality are the driving forces for a novel which will delight Bradshaw’s army of fans.
(Pan, paperback, £7.99)

The Orphanage Girls Reunited

Mary Wood

A GROUP of girls who met when they were trapped by circumstances in the cruel confines of notorious London orphanage take centre stage again in the second book of an emotion-packed trilogy from favourite saga writer Mary Wood.

Inspired by her own early years living in the East End of London, Wood sweeps us back to 1912 and into the trials, tribulations and hard-fought victories of three friends who helped each other to survive the privations of a Bethnal Green orphanage.

These heartbreaking but also inspirational tales are full of the grit and hardship that have become hallmarks of a storyteller who writes straight from the heart. Wood (pictured below), who lives between Blackpool and Spain, worked in the probation service in both Lancaster and Blackpool, and her hard-hitting and moving historical sagas reflect her own experiences with people from all walks of life, helping her to bring a rich authenticity to her writing. Here, we meet up again with Ellen and Ruth who fear that they may never again find their good friend Amy after she was taken from the orphanage and put on a boat to Canada with the promise of a new and better life across the ocean.

Ellen, who was abandoned by her father for the second time and left scarred from her years at the orphanage, has finally found happiness and hope after being reunited with her long-lost grandmother at her house near Leeds.

Despite feeling loved and cared for her – particularly by her grandmother’s warm and kindly housekeeper Dilly – it cannot compensate for being torn apart from her beloved friends Ruth and Amy. And when a devastating encounter leaves Ellen broken and desperate, she is forced to fight her past demons.

Meanwhile, Ruth has found peace, building a new life as an actress and surrounded by new friends. But she still longs to be with Ellen and Amy after everything they endured together in the orphanage. Amy was shipped to Canada with hundreds of other orphans and Ruth fears that she has little hope of ever finding her. One wish comes true when Ruth’s acting career leads her to Ellen but no sooner has the dust settled than war appears on the horizon. Friendship locked them into each other’s hearts forever but does this approaching conflict mean they are destined to never reunite?

Wood ratchets up the emotional temperature in this gripping tale which comes packed with heartbreak, drama, rich period detail, and the harsh realities of the early 20^th century as Ruth and Ellen battle the slings and arrows of love, life and loss. Written with insight, warmth and the empathy gained from her years working with a cross-section of society, Wood’s new story is a moving and enthralling rollercoaster from first page to last, and will leave readers longing for the final chapter of the girls’ turbulent lives.
(Pan, paperback, £7.99)

Codename Faust

Gustaf Skördeman

SWEDISH detective Sara Nowak hoped that a devastating burn injury to her face during a perilous encounter with a decades-old terror plot would become her only serious brush with death. But a dangerous assassin with the codename Faust – a man linked to a group of radical terrorists – has the volatile and headstrong police officer firmly in his sights... and he’s closing in fast.

Buckle yourself in for a thrill ride because screenwriter, director and producer Gustaf Skördeman (pictured below) returns with a brilliant new standalone spy drama starring the charismatic detective who won hearts and minds in his pulsating debut Geiger, a bestseller which was optioned for the screen by ITV’s Monumental Pictures.

Translated by Ian Giles, Codename Faust is the same tense and terrifying mix of spy mystery and edge-of-the seat action thriller, delivering all the ingredients of a modern classic as Skördeman unleashes his filmic imagination on a tale stretching back into the Cold War and European terrorism. And with a spy who never forgets and never forgives, a sadistic killing made to look like a suicide, a trail that leads to European terrorists, and a desperate hunt to find a fanatical assassin, Skördeman’s intriguing, perfectly plotted and super-powered novel is the next best thing to watching a blockbuster movie.

Who have you spoken to about me, what do you know about Operation Wahasha, and what have you told Sara Nowak? These are some of the last words priest Jürgen Stiller hears before he is executed by a former terrorist known only by the codename Faust at his picturesque vicarage.

Detective Nowak of the Stockholm police, meanwhile, is fully occupied by her personal life. Still recovering from the physical scars of being badly burned in a dangerous police operation, and the mental scars of discovering her well-known father was a rapist, she worries about how easily she resorts to violence against

Dawnlands

Philippa Gregory

JUST as the different generations of the Reekie family finally feel settled into their lives and careers in the bustling and burgeoning city of London in 1685, England once again faces the turmoil of a civil war between the warring Stuarts.

And in a divided country, where power and loyalty conquer all, the peace that wise woman Alinor has sought for almost forty years looks set to be torn apart by her brother Ned who has returned from America with only one thing on his mind... rebellion.

In the third book of her dark and atmospheric Fairmile series, Philippa Gregory (pictured below) turns her historian’s keen eye and novelist’s vivid imagination to a thrilling new adventure as we are swept from the busy River Thames wharfside and opulent palaces of London to the marshy coastal tidelands of Sussex where Alinor Reekie’s story began, and on to New England and the shores of slave island Barbados. And after the dramatic events of Tidelands and Dark Tides, this epic historical odyssey skips forwards 15 years to catch up with ageing healer Alinor, now a grandmother and great grandmother, her hardworking businesswoman daughter Alys, Alinor’s cold and scheming former daughter-in-law Livia Avery, and Ned Ferryman, a fierce Parliamentarian who fled England after King Charles II was restored to the throne but is now back to see off the new Catholic King James II.

And in her trademark style, Gregory delivers a seething, smouldering, stunning tale steeped in political turmoil, vaulting ambition, perilous secrets, the challenges facing women in a male-dominated world, and the rewards and dangers to be found in a New World which is opening up far across the seas.

In the spring of 1685, England is on the brink of a renewed civil war as the new Stuart King James II and his Italian wife Queen Mary Beatrice of Modena fully embrace their Catholicism in a country that has renounced the ‘old religion.’ Many families are still bitterly divided and inspired by news of a rebellion against the king, Ned returns

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: The magic of Christmas with Little Tiger Press

Enjoy snow-filled adventures, the charming world of animals, and the countdown to the big day with a super selection of books from children’s publisher Little Tiger Press which capture all the magic and excitement of Christmas

Age 3 plus
One Christmas Wish
M Christina Butler and
Tina Macnaughton

REACH out and touch the red magic of Christmas as Little Hedgehog returns with another snow-filled adventure. This is the 14th festive outing for everyone’s favourite hedgehog whose crowning glory is his velvety, touch-and-feel red woollen hat and which always seems to save the day! The baby mice have just one Christmas wish... to build snow mice. But there just isn’t enough snow. So Little Hedgehog and his friends set off on a snow hunt. On the way home, the mice share their snow with others in need. Will there be enough left to make their wish come true? Little Hedgehog creators M Christina Butler and Tina Macnaughton capture all the warmth and gentle reassurance of shared friendship in this beautifully illustrated Christmas extravaganza. And little ones will love getting their hands on that fun and fuzzy hat! Hats off to another happy hedgehog Christmas…
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 6 plus
A Puppy’s First Christmas
Holly Webb and Sophy Williams

MUCH-LOVED children’s author Holly Webb is enchanting young readers again with the incredible 50^th heartwarming adventure in her adorable Animal Stories series which has sold hundreds of thousands of copies since the first book hit the shelves in 2006. Webb has written over 100 books for youngsters and in this adorable Christmas story, we meet Aria who is excited to celebrate her puppy Jackson’s first Christmas… they’ll make snowmen, eat lots of food, and she has bought him a special present with her pocket money! But when Aria’s family come to stay, Jackson becomes over-excited and scares Aria’s younger cousin. On Christmas morning things get worse. Jackson is shut out of the living room while gifts are being opened, Aria can’t find his present, and then the puppy eats Grandma’s fluffy winter boots. With her parents refusing to take her side, will Aria and Jackson get their perfect Christmas after all? Sophy Williams provides the gorgeous black and white illustrations for this beautifully created adventure which is guaranteed to capture the heart of any child who can’t resist the magic of animals!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £5.99)

Age one plus
Is it Christmas Yet?
Jane Chapman

WHOEVER said that anticipation is better (well, almost better!) than realisation certainly got it right when it comes to the run-up to Christmas. So here’s a beautiful, heartwarming story to share with the youngest members of the family as the big day draws ever nearer and the excitement mounts. Christmas is coming and little bear Ted is so excited that he is just about ready to pop! ‘Is it Christmas yet?’ he cries. ‘It is it Christmas yet?’ Poor Ted, will it ever be Christmas… there are presents to wrap and a Christmas tree to find. Big Bear has his work cut out to keep little bear busy all day. This exquisitely produced, chunky board book edition of award-winning Jane Chapman’s favourite Christmas story is full of the fun and spirit of loving and giving that is the hallmark of the Christian festival. The sturdy pages are easy for little hands to turn and the endearing illustrations and comical words and antics make this an advent treat for little ones and their parents.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £5.99)

Age one plus
Nibbles Christmas
Emma Yarlett

NIBBLES, the adorable yellow monster who stole our hearts with his munching antics in Emma Yarlett’s bestselling The Book Monster series, is back for some jolly, holly, jingles madness! Multi-talented author and illustrator Yarlett goes into her special brand of imaginative overdrive again as naughty Nibbles chomps and gnaws his way through a clever, Christmas-themed introduction to counting. Packed with objects to spot and count, and with a fun-filled, bouncy rhyme, this ingenious Nibbles book is brimming with the kind of multi-coloured, lively illustrations that children love, and with the cheeky monster as their guide, you can expect mischief right up to Christmas... and the last page!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99) 

The Secrets We Keep

Theresa Howes

A LOVE – forbidden in more ways than one in Occupied France – puts deadly danger in the path of a woman who has been recruited by British spies to dig out war crime evidence against high-ranking Nazi officers.

But even in the darkest of times and in the midst of war, artist Marguerite Segal is prepared to put her life on the line to fight for the people she loves and to help the Allies defeat an enemy more cruel and brutal than anyone could ever have imagined.

Theresa Howes (pictured below), whose work has been long-listed for various awards including the Mslexia Novel Award, thrills and chills readers with a dazzling debut historical novel which explores the courage, endurance and determination of ordinary people living through the most extraordinary and terrifying of times. Passion, tragedy, hardship and betrayal unite in this gripping and atmospheric story which captures all the uncertainty, suspicion, pain and subterfuge of living in the shadow of the jackboot, and the strength of those who were prepared to risk all for an end to German tyranny.

At the heart of The Secrets We Keep is Marguerite, a woman with a secret past known only to her close friend, and Etienne Valade, the local priest and art lover whose church is frequented by Nazis... and it’s their love affair that will pose danger on all sides of a lethal divide.

In June of 1944, Allied air raids are bringing night time destruction to the Cote d’Azur, compounding the suffering which has been endured since the German Occupation a year ago. Thirty-nine-year-old artist Marguerite Segal has been living in this once French haven under a false name with her friend Simone for ten years after leaving behind a dark secret in London.

They take care of each other as best they can and help the Resistance in their undercover work which includes Marguerite forging identity cards for Jews to hide them from the ‘iron-lawed scrutiny of the swastika’ which has now stamped its ‘black mark of terror’ on every street. But not

A Murder at the Castle

Chris McGeorge

IF your reading taste is a Christmas murder mystery – stuffed full of all the trimmings – then wrap up warm for a trip to snow-covered Balmoral Castle for a right royal festive treat! Master of the locked-room mystery, Chris McGeorge, who wrote his first crime novel Dead Room as the thesis for his Creative Writing MA, has won an army of fans for his wickedly weird and wonderfully imaginative stories which blend classic tropes with contemporary themes, and roll out lashings of intrigue, red herrings and mind-bending twists.

And after the success of cracking novels like Guess Who, Now You See Me and Inside Out, McGeorge (pictured below) is back to play with our minds, confound our expectations and keep the midnight oil burning with an alternative royal history murder romp, served up with a cosy Christmas flavour. 

Taking the starring role in this tasty dish is ageing King Eric Windsor ­– born into the family via King Edward VIII who in this story found a wife with the establishment’s seal of approval – as he hosts a tense family Christmas at his beloved Balmoral. And even though his loved ones sense this isn’t going to be another run-of-the-mill seasonal celebration, they certainly didn’t expect the monarch to drop down dead after taking a long swig of his traditional post-dinner whisky.

Even as a violent snowstorm swirls around Balmoral and the Royal Family gathered at the castle for their traditional Christmas celebrations, there were rumours that 85-year-old King Eric was planning to name a new successor and, to make sure nothing was leaked, all mobiles were locked away and only one security man was left on the premises.

So with ex-SAS operative Tony Speck busy carrying ‘the safety of the Crown solely on his shoulders’ outdoors, the king’s head chef and favoured ‘friend’ Jon Alleyne – a 55-yearold half-British, half-Barbadian man – was the only servant inside the now totally snow-bound castle. Alleyne doesn’t just walk the corridors of power, ‘lining the stomachs of the powerful,’ he is also an ‘important cog in the goliath of a machine’ and when the king’s poisoning points to a member of the family being guilty, it’s up to Jon to play detective and get to the bottom of this heinous crime.

Trapped by the raging blizzard, he must work out why one of the king’s own family would want to kill him and how they did it. What happens in the castle usually stays in the castle but this secret

Eye of the Storm

Hilary Jones

THE war might be over but the painful legacies live on as a young couple – both medics and both driven by a desire to help others ­– return home to England from the killing fields of France in 1919. The instant connection that was forged between the dedicated nurse and the handsome and sensitive young soldier in the carnage and chaos of a field hospital has set in motion a family dynasty that will be at the forefront of medical advances in the 20^th century, from dealing with the aftermath of war right through to the discovery of penicillin and the birth of the NHS.

Doctor Hilary Jones (pictured below), a GP and regular contributor to newspapers and television shows, has dug deep into his medical experience, knowledge and imagination for this epic series charting the rise of a prominent medical family through decades of war, unrest and great change.

With fascinating facts on caring for the sick, the special treatments and inventions devised specifically for healing the mental and physical scars of warfare, and some of the last century’s life-saving developments in medicine, Eye of the Storm is the second book in the series and comes packed with drama, high emotion and real history.

When the Great War broke out in 1914, Grace Tustin-Pennington, who was born into the landed gentry in rural Gloucestershire, was the first of her family to volunteer, joining the mounted First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) and heading off to France with the British Expeditionary Force.

And it was there that she met and fell in love with Will Burnett, the studious teenage son of a London dockworker who was an apprentice porter at a local hospital but dreamed of studying medicine and who was now serving as a stretcher bearer with the Royal Medical Corps.

Despite Grace being seriously injured by a German shell and Will’s almost daily sorties amidst the bullets and bombs of the battlefield, their love survived the conflict and they married and honeymooned in northern France at the end of the war. But as the 1920s roar

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Wartime heroics, animal magic and two Christmas crackers

Marvel at a thrilling tale of wartime daring and danger inspired by real family history, discover some truly amazing creatures in a fabulous, fact-packed book of mammals, enjoy a winter-themed countdown with a family of penguins, and get colourful with a host of your favourite Disney characters in a super selection of children’s books

Age 10 plus
Zinc
Sue Klauber

ON the eve of conflict in Europe, three young siblings are determined to do their bit for the war effort... wherever that might take them. Based on the extraordinary real-life stories of her father, uncle and aunt, fundraiser and former media educator Sue Klauber has put pen to paper to celebrate the heroic part played by her North London Jewish family in the wartime struggle against tyranny. The sibling trio were born into a Hungarian, Jewish, British family. John became a code-breaker at Bletchley Park while George was a secret agent for the Special Operations Executive, parachuting behind enemy lines. Meanwhile, their sister Eva, who had married a Hungarian and gone back to live in Hungary, was in grave danger because the Hungarian government was an ally of the Nazis. Zinc was written principally for her son, reveals Klauber, adding that it is ‘an adventure based on the real-life history that makes me, me’ and ‘very much a family story, in every way.’  

It’s 1939 and the Nazis are menacing Europe and planning to invade Britain. As the Second World War breaks out, brothers George and John and their sister Eva want to make a difference with each of them fighting in their own different way. Soon secret agent George is being parachuted into enemy territory in Slovakia in an operation codenamed Zinc and on a mission to blow up trains, and John is cracking German codes at Bletchley Park. Meanwhile, their sister Eva is stranded in enemy-occupied Hungary. What will she do in this time of unimaginable danger?

Zinc is a triumph... a thrilling adventure, full of daring, danger and rich authenticity, which explores the lives of three ordinary young people at an extraordinary time of war when life was anything but normal. It’s a story that reveals how our relationships and decisions are shaped by our experiences and how those decisions impact on our future lives. Written straight from the heart, and with many themes that will strike a chord with contemporary readers, this is a gripping story of one family’s heroic and selfless part in the battle to defeat a brutal enemy.
(Troika Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 6 plus
There are Mammals Everywhere
Camilla de la Bedoyere
and Britta Teckentrup

PACK your rucksack and get ready to discover some truly amazing creatures with a fabulous book of mammals that come in every size and shape! Camilla de la Bedoyere, an author with an academic background in zoology, and award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup explore the colourful world of animals in There are Mammals Everywhere, a super-sized and lavishly illustrated non-fiction book and the last book in this sumptuous series. Wherever you travel, the world of mammals is full of surprises and diversity. Some of them clamber through the canopy, others scuttle through the undergrowth, and some even move underground. Follow a pride of lions across the savannah, spot a polar bear hidden in the Arctic snow and swing through the treetops with a family of gibbons. Young readers learn where all different kinds of mammals can be found and all the weird and wonderful things about them that they never imagined were true. With facts galore, an added search-and-find element and Teckentrup’s vibrant illustrations bringing the creatures to life, this is an exciting, fun and fascinating way to look, learn and enjoy.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 2 plus
Five Little Penguins
Lily Murray and Holly Surplice

CHRISTMAS is in the air and the penguins are on a roll! Author Lily Murray and illustrator Holly Surplice team up for the second book in an enchanting and wonderfully colourful lift-the-flaps picture book based on the familiar nursery rhyme Five Little Ducks. ‘Five little penguins went out one day Over the hills and far away. Mamma Penguin said ‘Hurry back to me!’ How many penguins can you see?’ Little ones will love joining the adorable and playful penguin family on a lift-the-flap walk through a winter wonderland. There’s so much to see as Mamma Penguin and her little penguins waddle through a frosty forest, skate down an icy river and toboggan down snowy slopes. Along the way, they meet all kinds of festive animals playing in the snow. But wait... the little penguins are disappearing one by one. Whatever are they up to? Lift a host of intriguing, easy-to-handle flaps to find the lost penguins, discover a fantastic surprise ending, and learn how to count as you hunt for the chicks. With its festive mix of magical words and snow-sprinkled illustrations, this is the picture perfect book for sharing with the family at Christmas!
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Disney The Christmas Collection Colouring Book

AS Christmas looms large on the horizon, ‘draw’ on the help of your favourite Disney characters to keep little ones out of mischief! This bumper official Disney colouring book – packed with Christmas-themed illustrations of favourite Disney characters – is guaranteed to lift the spirits and get everyone in the festive mood. Featuring princesses like Elsa, Belle and Rapunzel, villains like Cruella De Vil, the much-loved Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Lilo & Stitch, Toy Story characters like Buzz and Woody, and Winnie the Pooh, there is something for all ages to enjoy. With intricate patterns and stylised art, the book contains over eighty festive images to colour and design and will keep youngsters entertained for hours. The perfect gift or stocking filler for anyone and everyone who loves Disney!
(Studio Press, paperback, £10.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: An angelic mission, museum mysteries and a festive Alice

Join two daring youngsters as they race to save Christmas, escape to Ancient China in a thrilling historical fantasy, enjoy a truly Wonderland keepsake edition of Lewis Carroll’s iconic book star Alice, and meet a bear in need of some human help in a super-sparkling line-up of new children’s books

Age 7 plus
Operation Nativity
Jenny Pearson and Katie Kear

IT shouldn’t happen to the Angel Gabriel! The race to save Christmas is on in a sparkling festive, feel-good adventure from the Costa Award-shortlisted Jenny Pearson whose brilliant books are based on a wonderful mix of all the children she has ever taught. With beautiful cover and inside illustrations from the talented Katie Kear and some extra fun Christmassy activities to enjoy, Operation Nativity has everything you could want from a Christmas story... laughter, heartwarming messages about love, hope and togetherness, and the timeless joy of celebrating the season with your family.

Oscar, Molly and their parents are spending Christmas with their grandparents, the Cuthbert-Andersons, at their grand home, Barlington Hall, in the pretty Hampshire village of Chipping Bottom. Mum isn’t keen because of the ordeal of taking part in Barlington’s chaotic annual nativity play but what they don’t yet know is that this year is going to be a Christmas they will never forget! It all starts when Oscar and Molly rush outside to investigate a crash in the night and are shocked to find a dazed Angel Gabriel wandering around their grandparents’ back garden. And they are certainly not expecting to find themselves in a race to save Christmas but if they don’t track down a missing shepherd called Steve, Balthazar the wise man, the donkey and the actual Mary and Joseph, who have all crash-landed in Chipping Bottom thanks to an angelic mishap, not only will Christmas cease to exist but they will too. Operation Nativity is on!

If you love epic adventures, a cast of the quirkiest characters you’ll find this side of Christmas, an extra-large dose of festive vibes, and a story that acts like a warm and cuddly book hug, then Operation Nativity is the Christmas cracker you’ve been looking for. Don’t miss the ride!
(Usborne Publishing, hardback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus
The Three Hares: The Terracotta Horse
Scott Lauder and David Ross

IMMERSE yourself in a thrilling and danger-filled historical fantasy adventure based on real works of art, characters and events. The Three Hares: The Terracotta Horse is the work of Ayrshire-born Scott Lauder, who now lives in the UAE, and David Ross who has travelled and taught throughout Asia since he first moved there in 1987. Rich in mythology and history, this is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure and the third book in the exciting Three Hares series which can all be read as standalone novels. Salma Mansour is a black belt in taekwondo, a skill she will need to stay alive. One second, she’s in the British Museum, the next a thousand years away in a battle between the Saxons and Vikings. How on earth is she supposed to help? Things momentarily brighten when she encounters Sara and Sanjeev, who seem to understand. They don’t have much time to plan though because without warning, all three are transported to Xi’an, stronghold of Chan, a wealthy gang leader bent on immortality. Chan has kidnapped world-famous geneticist Lin Dan and assembled fragments of an ancient magic. Chan will stop at nothing to fulfil his dream… even if it means releasing forces far beyond his control. The destiny of the world is in their hands. The Three Hares must work together to defeat Chan and the power that controls him… or else. With its diverse cast of characters, spectacular settings, and a gripping time-slip adventure which explores both Ancient China and the age of the Vikings, The Terracotta Horse is a fabulous thrill ride travelling from present day London to Xi’an, home of the famous terracotta Army. History, mystery and magic, all perfectly pitched for youngsters aged between nine and early teens.
(‎Neem Tree Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 12 plus
The Long Weekend
Savita Kalhan

‘It was a decision made without thinking... you just act. Or follow.
You don’t stop and think: Should I be doing this?’

TWO schoolboys find themselves in deadly danger when they accept a lift from a stranger in a tense and compelling tale from Savita Kalhan, an author who was born in India but moved to the UK when she was young. On the run from a cruel and remorseless abductor, The Long Weekend will have readers on the edge of their seats as Kalhan weaves a fast-paced and action-packed adventure which sends out important messages as well as providing a gripping, contemporary thriller. Eleven-year-old Sam is the new kid at school but fortunately he has already made a new friend... Lloyd who just happens to be the coolest kid in the class. ‘Isn’t this your car we’re riding in?' In a mix-up over who is supposed to be collecting them from school, Sam and Lloyd make a colossal mistake when they accept a lift home in a big, flashy car driven by a man who seems to be friendly. But now they are in a dark mansion in the middle of nowhere with the man who wants to harm them. And Sam doesn’t know how to get them out. First, they were trapped, then separated and now they are alone. Can either of them get out alive? There are chills and thrills from almost page one of this breathless and hypnotic story which carries a brutally honest warning about stranger danger and the risks of taking lifts but also celebrates the power of bravery, loyalty and true friendship. Perfectly pitched for young teens longing to have their freedom.
(Troika Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 12 plus
Scattered Showers
Rainbow Rowell and Jim Tierney

BESTSELLING US author Rainbow Rowell has won fans all over the world by writing about love and life in a way that feels true and after the big success of teen books like Eleanor & Park, Fangirl, Attachments, Landline, Pumpkinheads, and the Simon Snow trilogy, she leaps back into the spotlight with her first short-story collection, Scattered Showers. And it’s everything you would expect from a Rainbow Rowell book... nine beautifully crafted love stories. From girl meeting boy camping outside a movie theatre and best friends debating the merits of high school dances to a prince romancing a troll, a girl romancing an imaginary boy and Simon Snow himself returning for a holiday adventure, Scattered Showers is  a feast of irresistible characters, hilarious dialogue, and masterful storytelling. With nine short stories to enjoy and the welcome appearance of familiar faces from previous books (think Reagan from Fangirl and Beth and Jennifer from Attachments), Omaha-based Rowell has put her heart and soul into this book of love which features the fabulous illustrations of Jim Tierney and is an unmissable treat for Rainbow fans old and new.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £16.99)

Age 10 plus
The Marcus Rashford You Are a Champion Action Planner
Marcus Rashford with Katie Warriner

‘One of the best things you can do for yourself is imagine a world
where you can reach your full potential. The more you picture that,
the easier it becomes to make that dream happen.’ 

BE inspired and empowered by the words of star footballer Marcus Rashford with his You Are a Champion Action Planner, an interactive guide that will show you how to become a champion in anything you put your mind to. Rashford has inspired millions of children around the world with his award-winning guide for life, You Are a Champion, and now he has created a fun and engaging action planner packed with positive activities, brilliant advice and inspiring challenges that will help youngsters reach their full potential. Rashford has once again teamed up with performance psychologist Katie Warriner and journalist Carl Anka, his collaborators on You Are a Champion, to help youngsters achieve their dreams. With chapters including Mindset Matters, Fuel your Adventures and Success and Setbacks, each section of the book asks children thought-provoking and pertinent questions and sets them tasks to do as well as space to fill in their answers, results and thoughts. Just like each child, the action planner is unique to each of its owners and will become a diary-like tool for children to use both now and in the future.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Wild Verses
Helen Mort and Sarah Maycock

LOVE, hope, healing and the consoling wonders of the natural world take centre stage in a beautiful and emotive poetry collection from award-winning author Helen Mort. Fabulously illustrated by the extraordinarily talented, self-taught animal artist Sarah Maycock, The Wild Verses invite you to slow down, reflect and to seek solace in our fast-paced world through poetry and nature. From comforting words of hope and healing to meditations on love and friendship, this striking collection has a verse for every feeling. From joy to hard times, and from time out and letting go to regrouping and finding safety in numbers, Mort’s thoughtful and inspirational words reveal the mind as an incredible landscape of moods, reflection and emotions. Siblings, partners, friends and family all come under her watchful eye while Maycock’s glorious ink-based artwork adds extra power to the words within this stunningly crafted book. Verbal and visual perfection!
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £16.99)

Age 9 plus
The Corny Scaredy-Cat Paranormal Investigation Squad
David Wandsworth and Rory Walker

GET ready to giggle and gasp as you dive into teacher (and now author) David Wandsworth’s captivating debut novel starring a neurodivergent boy whose fears are banished by the hilarious antics of a charismatic sibling duo... and a bunch of ghosts! Eleven-year-old Alastair leads a lonely life in darkest Cornwall... his parents ignore him, his only friend has moved away, and he’s beset by a host of frankly embarrassing nervous conditions that ensures permanent ostracism from the rest of his class. But then who should arrive in the village but Saoirse, a new girl, cool where Alastair is pathetic, smart where he is perennially confused, unconcerned with school popularity contests and obsessed with unsolved mysteries involving ghosts. In her wake is her adorably potty-mouthed little brother Billy, crazy, reckless, a force of nature and a law unto himself. Everywhere he goes, Billy creates a hurricane of chaos to which he is oblivious. Saoirse pressgangs Alastair and Billy into a team of wonderfully incompetent ghost hunters and, through their adventure into the village’s murky past, replete with sinister sword-wielding ghosts, Alastair is forced to confront his own shortcomings as well as his greatest fears. With Rory Walker’s anarchic illustrations bringing the ghost hunters’ comic adventures to life, Wandsworth’s twisting, turning, riotous romp cannot fail to tickle young readers’ funny bones. Add on a cast of adorable and quirky characters, important themes of friendship, being true to yourself and overcoming insecurities, and you have a brilliant story that entertains, empowers... and makes you laugh! 
(Everything with Words, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Through the Looking-glass and What Alice Found There
Lewis Carroll and Sir John Tenniel

THERE could be no better way to celebrate Christmas than with a truly Wonderland keepsake edition of Lewis Carroll’s iconic Through the Looking-glass and What Alice Found There. First published by Macmillan more than 150 years ago, Carroll’s iconic stories about Alice – illustrated by Sir John Tenniel – have been loved and enjoyed by generations of children the world over, and this charming miniature hardback, with a special gold-foiled jacket and pages, is the ideal stocking filler for all Alice fans and a must-have for every collector’s bookshelf. Featuring a Christmas letter from Lewis Carroll as a foreword, this unique edition contains Carroll’s complete, original text and Tenniel’s illustrations throughout as Alice’s extraordinary adventures are brought to life. Follow her as she gets caught up in the great looking-glass chess game, sets off across a gigantic chequerboard landscape to claim her crown on the final square and meets unforgettable characters along the way, such as Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and Humpty Dumpty. Add on famous poems like The Walrus and The Carpenter and Jabberwocky to enjoy, and you have the perfect festive package!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus
Speak Up!
Written and illustrated by Rebecca Burgess 

A YOUNG girl’s struggles to manage her autism and beat the bullies takes centre stage in an inspirational and moving coming-of-age graphic novel debut from Rebecca Burgess, an autistic writer and illustrator who has faced personal battles. Speak Up!, published by Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, follows an autistic girl who finds friendship where she least expects it and learns to express her true self in a world where everyone defines her by her differences. Twelve-year-old Mia is just trying to navigate a world that doesn’t understand her true autistic self. While she wishes she could stand up to her bullies, she has always been able to express her feelings through singing and songwriting, even more so with her best friend, Charlie, who is nonbinary, putting together the best beats for her. Together, they have taken the internet by storm but little do Mia’s classmates know that she is the viral singer Elle-Q! While the chance to perform live for a local talent show has Charlie excited, Mia isn’t so sure. She will have to decide whether she will let her worries about what other people think get in the way of not only her friendship with Charlie, but also show everyone, including the bullies, who she is and what she has to say. This clever, empowering and emotion-packed story pushes against many stereotypes and provides much-needed autism representation as Burgess writes from personal experiences and the self-acceptance of being autistic. Life-affirming and brimming with wonderfully expressive artwork, Speak Up! sends out important messages in a voice that is loud, clear and convincing. 
(Quill Tree Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 6 plus
Luna
Holly Webb and Jo Anne Davies

ONE of the UK’s best-loved children’s authors, Holly Webb works her mesmerising animal magic on an enchanting time-slip adventure starring a bear in need of some human help. Luna is just the latest book in Webb’s adorable Animal Stories series which has sold hundreds of thousands of copies since the first book hit the shelves in 2006. In this new wintertime story, we meet Hannah who knows there is something special about the wooden bear cub puppet from the moment she buys it at a Christmas market. So when the puppet gets broken, distraught Hannah cries herself to sleep. Woken by a growling noise, she finds herself in a stable and wearing strange old-fashioned clothes. And then she comes face to face with a real-life bear cub! The cub has been locked in, ready to be put on show at the local market. Can Hannah return the bear to the wild and find a way back to her own time? Jo Anne Davies provides the gorgeous black and white illustrations, and with cover art by Britta Teckentrup, this beautiful, heartwarming and snow-sprinkled adventure is the perfect gift and guaranteed to capture the heart of any child who can’t resist the mystery, magic and majesty of animals!
(Stripes Publishing, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
The Midnight Moon Feast
Emma Beswetherick and Anna Woodbine

HOW to save the planet... one adventure at a time! Author Emma Beswetherick and illustrator Anna Woodbine return with the latest exciting, eco-themed mission in their empowering The Playdate Adventures series which teaches young readers about the value of friendship and the issues facing our planet today. Join Katy, Cassie, Zia and Luca as they work together to save the planet. The friends are having a sleepover when they discover that the usually fearless Zia always sleeps with the light on. To help her, they plan their first ever magical midnight feast. Soon, they find themselves in a moonlit forest surrounded by nocturnal creatures. But something isn’t right... the animals don’t know if it’s night or day. The four friends and Thunder the cat race to the rescue. Can they save their sleepy forest friends before the clock strikes twelve? Beswetherick – whose aim is to write exciting, inspirational and enabling adventure stories to share with children – covers everything from deforestation and litter on the streets to climate change and water conservation in this entertaining and informative series. With Anna Woodbine’s illustrations bringing the fun and action to life, these books are the perfect read for your own little eco-warriors.
(Rock the Boat, paperback, £5.99)

Age 5 plus
Lunar New Year Around the World
Amanda Li and Angel Chang

CELEBRATE the most colourful time of the year! From fireworks and festivals to home-cooked meals and treasured traditions, Lunar New Year is a colourful celebration across the world and now youngsters can learn all about it in this stunning picture book. Lunar New Year Around the World, written by award-winning author Amanda Li and brimming with the gorgeous illustrations of Angel Chang, an illustrator from Taiwan who lives with high-functioning autism symptoms, is the perfect introduction for little ones to Lunar New Year celebrations. Through the eyes of the children across the globe, meet families in China, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, as well as in bustling cities like San Francisco, London, Sydney and Toronto. And join them in their celebrations at home and on the streets in parades, lantern festivals and in temples. Packed with fascinating facts, eye-catching artwork and a gold-foiled cover, this is a beautiful and informative book for curious young readers who love finding out about then world’s different traditions.
(Studio Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Eight Nights, Eight Lights
Natalie Barnes and Andrea Stegmaier

AND as Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, draws near, discover how this special time of year brings people together and light to the darkness in a beautiful, atmospheric picture book from Hertfordshire writer Natalie Barnes and German illustrator Andrea Stegmaier. Eight Nights, Eight Lights is a story celebrating Chanukah, told across eight nights, and exploring the much-loved time for songs and prayer, delicious food and friendship, and fun and family. Celebrate each night of Chanukah, known to some as Hanukkah, with eight different families and learn about the rituals and traditions which make up this wonderful holiday. With Stegmaier’s rich, emotive and colourful illustrations and Barnes’ lyrical, rhythmic text, this lovingly created book is the ideal gift to share with children. With its comforting and cosy ethos, the book is also perfect for any child who wants to learn more about The Festival of Lights which this year will be celebrated from Sunday, December 18 to the evening of Monday, December 26.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Floof
Heidi McKinnon

EVERYONE loves a kitten... but not many people have yet encountered a kitten like this! So meet fluffy Floof, a furball of laid-back loveliness and the creation of Melbourne author/illustrator Heidi McKinnon. The bestselling creator of I Just Ate MY Friend, Baz & Benz and There’s No Such Thing is back to make cat lovers purr with delight as she introduces Floof. Floof is floofy. Floof is VERY floofy. Floof is the floofiest! Floof is going to have a very busy day... sleeping, meowing, sleeping, hiding, sleeping, eating and sleeping. With its superbly understated, bold and expressive illustrations and clever design, Floof provides lots of fun for grown-ups reading the story aloud to little ones who will love noticing when the text says one thing and the illustrations say quite another! A must-have for cat fans of every age!
(Allen & Unwin Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
Perfect Presents!
Anke Kuhl

SOME gifts are not to everyone’s taste but a little lizard is quite sure that the presents he has bought for his owl friend will go down a treat! Spread love, giggles and happiness this Christmas with a comic gift book that will delight readers of any age... but especially those who are hard to buy for. With lots of comic strip style fun and the hilarious illustrations of award-winning German Anke Kuhl, this story about gifts and the joy of giving stars the lizard who watches increasingly fearfully as the owl wolfs down each one of his presents... and then reaches out greedily for the lizard! With comic tension and a funny twist, the reader thinks the lizard may get eaten, but all turns out well as the story finishes with a big kiss and a cup of peppermint tea. ‘Perfect presents,’ says his friend. This whimsical, warm-hearted tale makes an ideal stocking filler or a present for giving all-year round at birthdays, anniversaries or any celebration.
(Gecko Press, hardback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
I Can Learn: I Can Count
Lauren Crisp and Thomas Elliott

LEARNING how to count is hands-on fun with this innovative and interactive board book from Little Tiger Press’s bright and bold I Can Learn series. The series lets youngsters explore colours, shapes, counting and many other first concepts through special features such as tactile elements like beads, sound buttons and flaps, helping to reinforce learning and strengthen hand-eye co-ordination. In this clever new novelty book, a colourful ten-piece wooden bead abacus encourages youngsters to enjoy using their hands as they get to grips with counting and gain the skills and confidence to recognise how numbers work. With a text that prompts children to use the abacus and put their counting skills into practice, little ones learn the concept of counting in a way that is both educational and entertaining. Add on Thomas Elliott’s bright, child-friendly illustrations, a simple vocabulary, author Lauren Crisp’s gentle rhymes and the fun of sliding the beads, and you can count on the perfect gift book for the Christmas season!
(Caterpillar Books, board book, £9.99)

Age one plus
123 Sleepy Me
Sophie Aggett and Gareth Lucas

THE countdown to bedtime begins when little ones get their hands on this super board book and its special magic touch! 123 Sleepy Me – written in a sweet rhyming text by Sophie Aggett and illustrated by the award-winning Gareth Lucas – is the new title in Little Tiger Press’s Textured Touch Counting Books series which features unique textured numbers on its pages. ‘One little night star shining over you. Glow worm spots another and that makes… two!’ Settle down with five sleepy bugs as they say goodnight to their friends and count the twinkly stars using the special, colourful numbers. Each title features fun and simple counting prompts to engage little learners. The tactile numbers one to five, each made of moulded plastic, peek through the pages for little hands to trace and each number has a different textured pattern to help with memory association. Ideal for practising hand-eye co-ordination and teaching first numbers, this is a bedtime counting book with a difference!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)

Age from birth
Houses
OKIDOKID and Liuna Virardi

OPPOSITES are part of everyday life and it’s a concept that children are never too young to learn. So here’s an inventive board book series that teaches little ones first opposites in the most delightful and entertaining way. Fourth in the series – which was created by OKIDOKID, an agency founded by Justine de Lagausie who now works hand-in-hand with children’s author Raphaël Martin – is Houses which lets little ones discover a world of opposites with different kinds of houses. From new houses to old, a country house to a town house, and a small house to a tall house, little hands will love lifting the flaps of this bright and chunky board book. Featuring the bright, stylish and quirky illustrations of Liuna Virardi and simple, accessible pairings ideal for language development, the book’s fold-out flaps transform the pictured scenes to make the opposite come to life. Simply lift, learn and explore, and look out for Vehicles, People and Animals, the three earlier books in this inventive opposites series.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £6.99)