Age 8 plus
Antarctica: The Melting Continent
Karen Romano Young
and Angela Hsieh
WRAP up warm and take a chilling, thrilling trip across Antarctica, Earth’s most inhospitable continent where only a handful of plant and animal species can survive. It’s the coldest and driest part of the planet and a potentially dangerous place, says writer and polar explorer Karen Romano Young, which often seems designed to be inhospitable to humans. And yet Antarctica’s ice is vital to maintaining Earth’s balance and its future depends more than anything on our actions.
Antarctica: The Melting Continent – a fantastic, illustrated guide to the vast, cold and mysterious continent – comes from What on Earth Publishing which specialises in the art of telling stories through timelines, helping to encourage young readers into a lifelong love of enquiring and discovering. And this intriguing, colourful, fact-filled book is full of incredible stories about the frozen continent. Discover incredible wildlife, awe-inspiring landscapes and meet adventurous scientists and explorers.
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Romano Young’s guided tour introduces readers to some amazing people and animals as they learn about how this special place is changing and what it means for our planet. Marvel at some of the coolest creatures on Earth, both above and below the ice, as you meet emperor penguins, killer whales and elephant seals. Explore some of the harshest landscapes known to mankind and follow in the footsteps of brave explorers. Learn how scientists survive there today and what they do all day – from studying climate change to investigating ice cores to learn about the history and future of our planet.
Topics from geology and physics to climate science are
explored through an engaging, first-hand narrative with environmental messages
woven throughout. Learn about the ways Earth is changing and take a tour of
Antarctica’s more unusual wildlife animal life such as giant jellyfish and fish
with anti-freeze blood. The first-hand experiences of Antarctica by the author and
illustrator Angela Hsieh help to bring this unique continent to life and to
give youngsters an enthralling snapshot of both its beauty and its importance
to the survival of Earth.
(What on Earth Books, hardback, £14.99)
S.T.E.A.L.T.H.: Access Denied
Jason Rohan
IT seems to be just an ordinary day for an ordinary boy
until out of the blue comes a kidnap, the discovery of a hi-tech weapon that
could destroy the world, and a race against time to prevent a disaster! If that
sounds like the plot for a thrilling book, then join three daring and disparate
youngsters in the first breathless, all-action adventure in a new espionage
series from exciting London author Jason Rohan who talked his way into an
internship at Marvel Comics in New York when he was only 16. And he certainly
delivers a white-knuckle ride all the way through this witty and wonderful spy
caper which is packed with intrigue, danger, secret agents and truly villainous
villains. When his dad disappears, Arun Lal is amazed to discover that he was
secretly working on a classified project and has been kidnapped by people
intent on stealing it. Along with his computer geek best friend Sam and sassy, tough-talking
Donna, Arun is plunged into a race to rescue his father and find his creation
before the thieves can turn it into a destructive global weapon. From ordinary
kids to S.T.E.A.L.T.H., a crack team of agents, their mission is now to stay
under the radar and crack crime. Expect car chases, danger, daring and late
homework as Mission Impossible for a new generation hits the streets… and the
shelves!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)
The Drowning Day
Anne Cassidy
IMAGINE a future in which enormous floods can destroy the land
at any moment and your life is spent dreading the next tidal onslaught. That is
the thrilling and authentic dystopian world conjured up by Carnegie Medal-shortlisted
novelist Anne Cassidy in a story that reminds us all about the ongoing threat
from climate change. It’s 2052 and Jade lives in the Wetlands, a place where
the waters are rising fast. Safety can be found behind the walls of
North-Hampton, but it’s a town steeped in prejudice against Wetlanders. When
the siren sounds the flood-warning, Jade and local boy, Bates, must join with Wetlanders
outcast Samson to head to North-Hampton. But the group of three are carrying
secrets, and they are even more dangerous than the impending floodwaters. On
their journey, Jade faces many challenges and when she is robbed one night by a
group of Ferals, her chances of a better future are all but lost. But she finds
help in the unlikeliest of places and must learn to trust those fears as well
as trust herself. And when the floods come, truth rises to the surface.
Cassidy’s thought-provoking and timely adventure is a tale of survival, hope,
trust and the power that lies in human connections. With excitement and action
on every page, The Drowning Day is a page-turner with a big message and a big
heart.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
Ajay and the Mumbai Sun
Varsha Shah and Sònia Albert
HEAD off to modern day India with a boy whose one big (even
if unlikely!) ambition is to be… a journalist. Debut author Varsha Shah, winner
of the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition 2020, brings us a
joyful and inspirational adventure starring one of the most delightful
protagonists you will meet in children’s fiction this year. Abandoned on the
Mumbai railways, Ajay has grown up with nothing but a burning wish to be a
journalist. Finding an abandoned printing press, he and his friends Saif,
Vinod, Yasmin and Jai create their own newspaper: The Mumbai Sun. As they hunt
down stories for their paper, the children uncover corruption, fight for justice
and battle to save their slum from bulldozers. But against some of the most
powerful forces in the city, can Ajay and his friends really succeed in
bringing the truth to light? Not to mention win the most important cricket
match ever… Ajay and the Mumbai Sun is a wonderfully high-stakes,
humour-sprinkled story full of life, colour and the spirit of youth and
entrepreneurship. Shah tackles serious
topics like social justice and truth in journalism with the lightest of
touches, while Sònia Albert’s black and white illustrations bring Ajay’s world
to glorious life. Packed with adorable characters and set against a stunning
backdrop, this is a tale of heat, heart and hope.
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)
Wished
Lissa Evans
MAGIC is the word when it comes to Lissa Evans’ dazzling,
laugh-out-loud children’s books… addictive stories which always seem to capture
the spirit and anarchy of joyful youth. And this heartwarming and rib-tickling
new story of friendship, following your dreams and celebrating the power of the
imagination is everything that a young reader could have wished. Ed and his younger
sister Roo are faced with the most boring half-term holiday in history… five
days spent in the company of their elderly neighbour Miss Filey and her ancient,
smelly cat called Attlee. Ed declares he would rather spend the week in the
shed, or even in the middle of a car park, but when they find a box of birthday
candles in a cupboard in Miss Filey’s house, their world is changed completely.
These are no ordinary candles because every single one of them comes with a
wish. There’s only one problem… some of those wishes actually belong to someone
else. It’s little wonder that Evans’ novels have been shortlisted for the Costa
Children’s Book Award, Carnegie Medal, and Branford Boase Award. Wished is one
of her classics… hilariously funny but instinctively kind, entertaining and
wise, and stars a grumpy, demanding cat who could well merit his own
story!
(David Fickling Books, hardback, £12.99)
Kate on the Case:
The Call of the Silver Wibbler
Hannah Peck
YOUNG reporter-in-training Kate is back for a new adventure
and she’s (exceedingly!) hot on the trail of a rare and legendary bird! Illustrator
Hannah Peck, in her debut series as an author, certainly turns up the
temperature in the second book of her exciting mystery adventures which bring
young readers all the intrigue and colourful characters of an Agatha Christie
classic. The Kate on the Case series, with its chapter book format, is ideal
for emerging independent readers and is brimming with mystery, comedy, an
inspirational heroine, some wonderful wordplay and, in this new adventure, a
gallery of vibrant, two-toned neon-yellow illustrations. When Kate and her
mouse Rupert sail through the jungle home of the legendary Silver Wibbler, they
know there’s a story to be sniffed out. Why else would the Bird Brigade be on
board? Their fearsome leader General Hornbill is convinced the Wibbler is a
myth but young Bird Brigader Bertie is determined to prove him wrong. Can Kate
help Bertie uncover the truth? It’s full steam ahead for friendship, mystery
and some ruffled feathers! Peck moves into creative overdrive for this cleverly
plotted, sleuthing adventure which lets readers share the fun of following
clues, picking out suspects and finally solving the case. All aboard for wit, Wibblers
and whiskers!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £6.99)
Looshkin: The Maddest Cat in the World
Jamie Smart
YOUNGSTERS will be grinning and guffawing from first page to
last with the wildest, craziest cat ever in a newly remastered bind-up of two
previously published Looshkin comic-strip adventures (Looshkin and Looshkin:
The Big Number 2) from Jamie Smart, one of the shining stars of a partnership
between David Fickling Books and The Phoenix comic. Smart is the
extraordinarily talented illustrator behind the vibrant comic-strip Bunny vs
Monkey books and now loopy Looshkin, the wonderfully accident-prone cat, is
causing a fresh wave of laughter. You may think that your cat is mad, but it
has got nothing on Looshkin. Leave him for just a moment and you’ll find that
your house has flooded, a steam train has smashed into your living room and a
portal to a hell dimension has opened in your loft. Now a miniature hot air
balloon filled with intrepid explorers is making its way across your kitchen, there
are pigs on your roof, everything is covered in bees and there are sirens.
Looshkin, what HAVE you done?! Hilariously comical and packed with Smart’s
ingenious illustrations, these manic, high-energy stories deliver a cat basket
of laughs and are ideal for fidgety readers who like their books to come with
plenty of bold and busy pictures. Cat-astrophic cat antics for action kids!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £8.99)
The Wild Garden
Cynthia Cliff
BIODIVERSITY is fast becoming an integral part of the
world’s race to save the natural world from disaster. Using a simple but
powerfully emotive story, and a gallery of richly detailed and colourful
illustrations which bring nature and its glories to vibrant life, author and
illustrator Cynthia Cliff works her special magic on this beautiful picture
book. In the village of Mirren, a tidy community garden is carefully organised
and tended by the townspeople. On the other side of the garden wall is a wild
patch of land with a jumble of trees, a pond and tall grassy places. While the
garden is cared for in different ways throughout the seasons, Jilly and her
grandfather like to visit the wild place, foraging for mushrooms, asparagus,
and nuts, and watching the insects, birds and other animals. When the
townspeople decide they need a bigger garden, they make plans to expand beyond
the wall into the wild place. Worried about what will happen to their special
piece of nature, Jilly and her grandfather come up with a plan, inviting the
townspeople to discover a new kind of gardening. Their plan works and the wild
place and the community garden merge harmoniously… the bees pollinate the
crops, berry bushes take over a garden corner, pumpkins grow along the pond,
and delicious herbs appear among the ferns. With her experienced designer’s
eye, Cliff uses an enchanting, rustic backdrop of people, plants and animals to
illustrate her story of community and biodiversity, and introduce children to
the variety of ways that things can grow and flourish in nature. With the joys
of every kind of garden celebrated throughout the book and a story that offers
endless opportunities to talk about healthy eating, nature, ecological
gardening, and friendship, this is the perfect addition to any home or school
shelf.
(Prestel, hardback, £11.99)
Ada Twist, Scientist:
Show Me the Bunny
Gabrielle Meyer
HIDE, seek… and find the bunny! It must be Easter because
the irrepressibly curious Ada Twist, Scientist, star of the much-loved Netflix
show, is on the hunt for eggs, and she has a few questions to ask along the
way. The eggs are decorated, the baskets are ready and it’s time for the annual
Twist Easter Egg Hunt, Ada’s favourite family tradition. And this year, her
parents are letting Ada hide the eggs but Arthur, her big brother, thinks the
egg hunt is going to be too easy now that he’s eleven. So Ada has to do a test
hiding to make sure it’s super hard or else Arthur will retire from the egg
hunt forever. Ada and her friends Rosie and Iggy brainstorm about how to find
the hardest hiding spot in the history of egg-hiding… but it won’t be
straightforward! This sweet and funny picture book about learning from your
mistakes and accepting that sometimes you might fail delivers some fascinating
facts and egg-cellent messages for the Easter season as well as ideas for
creating your own Easter Egg Hunt. The perfect gift for your own little egg
hunters!
(Abrams Books for Young Readers, hardback, £7.99)
Phyllis and Grace
Nigel Gray and Bethan Welby
FRIENDSHIPS can be made in the strangest of ways. Take
Phyllis and Grace… Grace is a little girl and Phyllis is the old lady next
door. And despite their vast age difference, and Phyllis’s dementia, they end
up sharing the most heartwarming and enduring friendship. Be prepared to shed a
few tears as award-winning author Nigel Gray brings young readers a moving story
based on the experiences of his own granddaughter and her elderly neighbour. Phyllis
lives alone and her memory is fading but that doesn’t stop Grace from liking
her and visit her often with food gifts and smiles. They find that, despite the
huge gap in their ages, they have much in common and a touching friendship is
born. Using empathy, humour, a compassionate understanding of the barriers
caused by dementia and Bethan Welby’s imaginative and sensitive illustrations,
this is a beautiful picture book and ideal for introducing the topic of
dementia to younger children.
(Scallywag Press, hardback, £12.99)
Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog... Take An Evening Stroll
Britta Teckentrup
PRICKLE and tickle your youngsters into the land of sleep
with this gorgeous bedtime tale of two adorable hedgehogs! Award-winning
illustrator Britta Teckentrup combines a gentle, wind-down story with a gallery
of gloriously atmospheric, dusk-toned illustrations to soothe and amuse your
youngsters. It’s evening and the big and little hedgehogs are slowly making
their way home. There is so much to see and the little one wants to take it all
in. Each step of the way as the little hedgehog stops to take in the wonders of
the world, the big hedgehog patiently asks: ‘What are we waiting for now?’ The
little hedgehog’s answers unfold in a series of lush landscapes as the two
animals wait for the sun to set, for birds to fly by, for the moon and stars to
appear, and for the world around them to prepare for sleep. At last, the little
hedgehog is also asleep, carried home in the big hedgehog’s arms. With Teckentrup’s
trademark simple text and picture perfect illustrations, this foray into nature
and its calming array of eventide colours is every parent’s answer to choosing
a story for bedtime!
(Prestel, hardback, £10.99)
The Boys
Lauren Ace and Jenny Løvlie
THE journey of four boys from childhood to adulthood becomes
a tale of friendship, sharing and self-discovery in a beautiful picture book
from the creators of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize winner, The Girls. Lauren
Ace, who has worked in publishing for ten years, and illustrator Jenny Løvlie
combine their talents once again for a resonant story about the wonderful
adventure of life and the close and lasting bonds we form along the way. Four
boys meet by the sea... Rey, Nattie, Bobby and Tam splash together in the water
and play on the shore. They all have different ways of expressing themselves and
as they grow up, they hold on to their friendship. As we follow their journeys from boys to men,
they take different paths. But even if their friendships are occasionally put
to the test, they listen to and support each other no matter what. With its diverse
cast of characters, Løvlie’s exquisitely detailed illustrations to enjoy, and
Ace’s warm and emotional story, this is the ideal companion book to the
prize-winning The Girls and the perfect book to inspire both children and
adults.
(Caterpillar Books, paperback, £6.99)
Punk Rocker Poodle
Laura Dockrill and Sandhya Prabhat
WHAT is a toddler’s favourite word? NO! Every parent or
carer will feel the vibes and nod to the rhythm from this adorable picture book
which puts the terrible twos firmly at centre stage. Author and performer Laura
Dockrill lets a prancing poodle strut his stuff in a story perfectly tailored
for every toddler with an ‘attitude’ problem! No school. No THANKS. No. NO. NO!
Dockrill’s inimitable style of poetic rap is brilliantly suited to this romp
through the house and round and round the playgroup as a feisty little poodle
demonstrates what fun it is to stomp and stamp and pout… that is until naptime,
when all she really wants is a cuddle! Family members young and old will be
tapping their feet and smiling with joy as they relish the funky music video
quality to the story and feast their eyes on Sandhya Prabhat’s riotous artwork.
Words, pictures and troublesome toddlers in perfect harmony!
(Faber & Faber, paperback, £6.99)
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