Age 8 plus
How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto: The cutting-edge space
science of the solar system
Dean Regas and Aaron Blecha
DID you know that in 2006, poor little Pluto was kicked out of the exclusive planet club? There are a lot of grown-ups who still don’t know that fascinating fact… so all you youngsters out there who want to give your adults a much-needed science lesson, dive into this delightfully witty and informative book from astronomer and NASA Solar System Ambassador, Dean Regas, and show off your knowledge!
How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto is the first in a fantastic new series that puts children in the driving seat and allows them to educate adults on the wonders of science. The series has been beautifully and carefully created by Britannica Books whose mission is to inspire children’s curiosity and passion for learning, offering engaging non-fiction books that you can trust, and with experts behind every page of these humorous new guides to complex subjects, the books promise to be exciting, fun and fact-filled reading adventures.
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Although Pluto has not been a planet for 16 years, its tiny
world still inspires people of all ages while sparking controversy. Regas reveals
the reason why Pluto is not counted as a planet any more as he delves into the
history of space discoveries, the key players who have helped our understanding
of the universe (including the 11-year-old girl who named Pluto in the first
place) and the ever-changing nature of science.
The book promises to equip every reader with the tools they
need to bring their grown-ups fully up to speed, and to sneak in as many
amazing astronomical facts as possible. And there’s a fun planetary personality
quiz at the end, plus a handy test so that youngsters can check their grown-ups
have been paying attention!
Related throughout in a funny and accessible way (with
plenty of jokes to keep young readers amused) and one hundred original
illustrations by Aaron Blecha to bring the cast of astronomical characters to
life, readers young and old will learn that science is a living, breathing,
changing adventure… and that’s what makes science so much fun. With the very latest science on the solar system, special
features including timelines, a helpful glossary and fast facts, and
holographic foil on the book’s cover and spine, there could be no better gift
for budding astronomers and scientists.
(Britannica Books, hardback, £9.99)
Seed
Caryl Lewis and George Ermos
WELSH novelist Caryl Lewis sows giant seeds of hope and
kindness in a magical, mesmerising story that is guaranteed to ‘grow’ on every
reader who opens the pages of this wonderfully inspirational book. The award-winning
author of literary fiction opens the door to youthful imaginations with this
big-hearted adventure – beautifully illustrated by George Ermos – which
explores the healing power of love and friendship. Marty doesn’t have much.
Unlike his mum who has billions of things… newspapers, holey shoes, rusty
lawnmowers, broken picture frames. She keeps everything! In fact, it’s hard to
leave the house. Marty does his best to look after her and wonders if anything
will ever change but on Marty’s birthday, Grandad, with a glint in his eye,
gifts Marty a very special seed. Grandad hasn’t been this excited since he
invented the bum scratcher 2000 or thought he had brewed wonder fuel from
rhubarb leaves. The seed grows bigger and bigger, and launches Grandad, Marty and
his best friend Gracie on an impossible, wondrous plan fuelled by love, hopes
and dreams. Lewis tackles some serious issues with a big helping of heart and
humour, all the while reminding us that it is in the love of family and the
kindness of friendship that we find our greatest comfort and our greatest
rewards. Uplifting and entertaining, Seed is heart, hope and humour in perfect
harmony.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Sister to a Star
Eloise Smith
LIGHTS, camera... kidnap! Former Olympic fencer Eloise Smith
is having a ‘stab’ at writing children’s fiction and the result is this super,
swashbuckling tale starring a pair of warring sisters at the sharp end of a
dastardly kidnap plot. Evie is forever crossing swords with her twin. While she
practises her after-school fencing, Tallulah is winning movie auditions.
Neither of them could have imagined how their worlds would collide, but when
Tallulah goes to Hollywood, Evie goes too… as her sister’s identical stand-in.
But that changes when the film needs some all-action sword-play. Soon Evie is
the one enjoying the limelight… that is, until Tallulah goes missing. With
three Commonwealth gold medals to her name, Smith knows a thing or two about
duels and this super, action-packed story proves that her pen is as mighty as
her sword. Sibling rivalry, Hollywood glitz and big screen skulduggery all play
leading roles in this thrilling, rollercoaster mystery which stars a diverse
cast of feisty youngsters and is set against the bright lights of Hollywood. Touché!
(Chicken House, paperback, £6.99)
The Warrior In My Wardrobe:
More Misadventures of Merdyn the Wild
Simon Farnaby and Claire Powell
WHO can resist the magic of a comedy of errors? Readers,
young and old, are sharing the joy of this simply wizard middle grade series
from Simon Farnaby, writer of Paddington 2 and star of Horrible Histories. More
Misadventures of Merdyn the Wild is the second book in a hilarious series and
once again stars the badly behaved, time-travelling Merdyn (the greatest wizard
of the Dark Ages) and Rose, his 21st-century descendent. Vanheldon the vandal
warrior, meanwhile, is furious. After all, last time they met, Merdyn turned
his army to stone. Seeking revenge, Vanheldon comes up with a way to kidnap
Rose and transport her back to Dark Ages Transylvania, set on luring Merdyn
into a terrible trap. Except (whoops!) his magical minion kidnaps Rose’s
teenage brother Kris instead. Rose, Merdyn and Bubbles the guinea pig must team
up to save the day. But can they rescue Kris without creating historical
mayhem? Will Rose's wizard ancestor even remember her and will Bubbles ever
stop pooing? Whether this terrific tale of is read alone or aloud, there are guaranteed
gags, giggles and great adventures with a historical twist on every page as
Farnaby lets his imagination and storytelling skills run riot, and Claire
Powell adds the finishing touches with her super-charged, richly detailed
illustrations.
(Hodder Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)
Barry Loser: Total winner!
Jim Smith
IF zany humour tickles your funny bone, then you have
nothing to lose when you open the pages of a brilliant graphic series that has been
making kids snigger and snicker for ten long years of laughter! Winner of the
Roald Dahl Funny Prize, the Scholastic Lollies award, and shortlisted for the
Waterstones prize, Jim Smith’s hilarious Barry Loser is bounding back with a
series of brand new adventures published for the first time in full colour.
Anarchic fun, a super-child-friendly format full of graphic, cartoon-style
illustrations, a ‘how to draw’ section to help youngsters make their own comic
books, and crazy catchwords that have become part and parcel of the Barry Loser
experience, are the hallmarks of Smith’s exhilarating books. So sit tight and
join the laugh-out-loud fun with Barry, Bunky, Nancy and the gang as Barry (along
with his new cat French Fries) decides he has had enough of being a loser and
wants to prove he’s a Total Winner. But when his parents ban him from gaming,
he has to think outside of the box! Smith has his finger firmly on the pulse of
what makes kids (and grown-ups!) laugh… the pages of his books positively buzz
with energy, madcap antics, and a joyful sense of outlandish chaos that is as
addictive as it is entertaining. Wild, witty and completerly wonderful!
(Farshore, paperback, £8.99)
Age 7 plus
Funny Bums, Freaky Beaks and Other Incredible Creature
Features
Alex Morss, Sean Taylor and Sarah Edmonds
(Welbeck Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels
Tim Collins and John Bigwood
IT might all be elementary for super-sleuth Sherlock Bones
but he is still going to need some help to crack his toughest case yet! Put on
your thinking caps and sharpen your pencils for the first fantastic book in a
brand-new, interactive fiction series starring two crime-fighting (animal!)
heroes. Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels – a right royal mystery
featuring no less than the crown jewels – is the work of award-winning
children’s author Tim Collins and illustrator and graphic designer John
Bigwood. This fun-filled puzzle adventure contains over thirty games, including
mind-boggling mazes, number puzzles, search-and-find challenges,
spot-the-difference and silhouette matches, all cleverly woven into the action
so that readers feel part of the exciting detective plot starring Sherlock
Bones and his trusty sidekick Dr Catson. In this first case, the dynamic duo
face multiple suspects and a trail that’s starting to run cold as they
endeavour to track down the crown jewels which have gone missing from Kennel
Palace. They are going to need some help to crack the puzzles if they are going
to catch the culprit in time. Hours of fun for budding young sleuths!
(Buster Books, paperback, £6.99)
Age 7 plus
Great Elizabethans: HM Queen Elizabeth II
and 25 Amazing
Britons From Her Reign
Imogen Russell Williams and Sara Mulvanny
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £9.99)
Bugs
Patricia Hegarty and Britta Teckentrup
‘If you look down towards the ground, A world of wildlife can be found. And now that spring is in the air, New life is blooming everywhere.’
A COLOURFUL array of amazing bugs and minibeasts take starring
roles in this striking peep-through book from children’s author Patricia
Hegarty and award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup. Little ones will love
turning the pages of this gorgeously produced book to watch the wonders of
nature’s insect world unfold. Hegarty’s lyrical, rhyming text helps little ones
to understand the magical activities and busy lives of creatures like
caterpillars, ladybirds, moths and butterflies throughout the year while
Teckentrup’s colourful and expressive artwork brings the teeniest, tiniest bugs
to life. Don’t miss this visual and verbal trip to a wild and wonderful world
of creepy crawlies!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)
Tickle!
Amelia Hepworth and Jorge Martín
EVERYONE is going to giggle, wriggle and chuckle when they
turn the final page of this terrific and ticklesome lift-the-flap book! Tickle!
is the second inventive lift-the-flap board book creation of author Amelia
Hepworth and illustrator Jorge Martín in a fabulous, fun-filled series that
began with Roar! and features a cute animal story with a very noisy surprise in
its tail. The challenge in this new, laugh-out-loud (literally!) adventure is
to make Moose laugh! So little ones (and a cast of comical creatures including
a proud peacock and an ambitious octopus) had better get their tickling fingers
ready because this moose is a tough nut to crack! There are lots of laughs and
miles of smiles to enjoy as youngsters peep under the flaps of this chunky
board book, join in each animal’s antics as they attempt to make Moose chuckle,
and giggle along with the surprise sound hidden under the final flap!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £9.99)
How It Works: Dinosaur
Amelia Hepworth and David Semple
LOOK and learn! Did you know that each of a T-rex’s 60 teeth
was the size of a banana with razor-sharp edges! Take a close look at the
‘cutting edge’ of the most famous and mighty dinosaur of all in a super chunky
board book perfectly created for the very youngest dino fans. Dinosaurs were incredible
creatures and now little ones can look inside them and discover when they
lived, just how small their brains were, where they laid their eggs, how
powerful their legs were, and what they liked to eat. The sturdy book is ideal for
little hands, with interactive, layered, peep-through pages to grasp and
explore. There is a little Mouse to guide readers through the pages which are
jam-packed with bite-size facts, simple labels and an accessible text to
captivate curious children. Ideal as a first non-fiction series to engage and
inspire young children, the inventive How It Works books also include Rocket,
Tractor and The Body.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)
One More Try
Naomi Jones and James Jones
JOIN a determined little circle on an up-and-down journey of
self-discovery in the pages of a brilliantly clever picture book from
husband-and-wife team, author Naomi and illustrator James Jones. The couple’s
fabulous debut, The Perfect Fit, proved to be a worldwide hit and this
endearing new story features strong and positive messages about never giving up
and problem solving, as well as introducing little ones to geometric shapes and
the difference between 2D and 3D perspectives. Circle loves the tower that the
squares and hexagons have built and wants to make his own. But circles,
diamonds and triangles are pointier, rounder and much wobblier… making a tower
is not as easy as it looks! The shapes try and try but their tower just keeps
tumbling down. Can Circle persuade them to have just one more try? Geometry
meets appealing storytelling and vibrant, full-colour artwork as Circle’s
adventures and misadventures blend maths as a core Early Years Foundation Stage
subject alongside important life lessons on personal, social and emotional
development. And it’s a joyful, fun-filled story offering an entertaining and
imaginative exploration of shapes as well as a warm, playful celebration of the
rewards of perseverance, teamwork and friendship.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £6.99)
The Boy Who Sailed the World
Julia Green and Alex Latimer
ENJOY the hopes, achievements and adventures of a little boy
in a beautiful, emotive picture book that was inspired by the childhood dream
of author Julia Green’s son Jesse that one day he would sail round the world. ‘Right
from the start, the boy loved the sea! He ran along the sand, danced in and out
of the waves, his heart full of longing and delight.’ This little boy has always
loved the sea and so he builds a boat and sails away on a voyage of adventure
in which he faces strong sea currents, big ferries and cargo ships, watches
magical sunsets, meets leatherback turtles and singing dolphins, rides the
storms and makes new friends on their island home. Brimming with Green’s
lyrical text which celebrates all the wonders of the natural world, and brought
to life by the vibrant illustrations of Alex Latimer, this enchanting and
inspirational tale of ambition, determination and the rewards of following your
dreams is perfect for little ones who love adventure, the sea, and harbour
their own hopes of one day travelling the world!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £6.99)
People
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. First 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 People which lets little ones discover a
world of opposites with different kinds of people. From happy kids to sad kids
and real people to imaginary, 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 chunky, fold-out flaps transform the pictured scenes to
make the opposite come to life. Simply lift, learn and explore and look out for
more books coming soon in this inventive opposite series… Vehicles, Animals and
Houses.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £6.99)
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