Age 3 plus
Once Upon a...Fairytale
Natalia O'Hara
and Lauren O’Hara
HAVE you ever wanted to be the hero of your own story? Well here’s your chance… an exciting book that has an adventure around every corner and lets you do, see and be whatever you want! Once Upon a Fairytale is the fourth brilliant book from stellar sibling team, author Natalia O’Hara and illustrator Lauren O’Hara, and it puts young readers firmly at centre stage as they get to decide on their very own magical adventure.
All is peaceful in fairyland until a villain puts a curse on the realm. Now the wise queen needs a hero to go on an adventure, defeat the villain and break the curse. Simply create your own enchanting story and be the hero of a unique fairytale. Choose to live in a tower on a windy hill, in a tree in a playground, or in a creepy, crumbly shack. Maybe you would love to be a clever princess, a curious gingerbread man, or perhaps even a gentle knight. You can eat fresh-buttered sunbeams with fairies, share newt pie and pigtail pudding with ogres, or ride a unicorn across the sunlit sky.
The storytelling possibilities are endless in this ingenious
book which empowers youngsters to let their imaginations take flight to
fairyland and to enjoy a brand new adventure every time they pick up the book. Add on the joy of Lauren O’Hara’s bold, colourful and
action-packed illustrations, and you have the key to a captivating,
never-ending adventure!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)
Everything You Know About Minibeasts is Wrong!
Dr Nick Crumpton and Gavin Scott
IF you believe that all minibeasts are teeny-weeny, then you’d better think again! Minibeast fans will quickly become minibeast experts with this informative, inventive, entertaining and BIG-sized book about some of the world’s most fascinating insects. Two-thirds of all the species of animals that scientists have discovered on Earth are insects… that adds up to more than 200 million insects for every single human being on the planet. And they are everywhere – living in fresh water, in the air, under the ground and in the oceans. And what about all those supposedly true facts about minibeasts… bees die when they sting you, centipedes have one hundred legs, cockroaches are indestructible, butterflies emerge from cocoons, and crustaceans only live in water.
Well, forget what you thought was true because zoologist Dr Nick Crumpton is here to reveal that those ‘facts’ are WRONG and to help readers dig out the truth. From uncovering incredible insect architects to debunking the notion that you sometimes eat spiders in your sleep, this in-depth, ingenious book takes a close-up tour of the world of creepy-crawlies and reveals the truth behind the many common myths about minibeasts. With a fascinating, friendly, easy-to-understand text by Crumpton, and Gavin Scott’s richly detailed and colourful artwork on every page, this hardback gift book, complete with a stunningly tactile cover, will turn young nature lovers into the next generation of entomologists! Also available in this series is Everything You Know About Dinosaurs is Wrong!
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £12.99)
The Clockwork Queen
Peter Bunzl and Lia Visirin
THE supercharged brain of award-winning author Peter Bunzl
whirrs into action again for a thrilling and atmospheric historical adventure
courtesy of specialist publisher Barrington Stoke. Set at the dangerous and turbulent court of Russian Empress Catherine
the Great, and inspired by the true story of the ‘Mechanical Turk’ – an 18th
century automaton that fascinated audiences by appearing to play chess – this
rollercoaster adventure is a thrill ride not to be missed. Chess prodigy Sophie Peshka inherited her love of the game
from her grandmaster father. But now that he has been imprisoned in the
dungeons of the Winter Palace in St Petersburg by powerful Empress Catherine
the Great, Sophie must use all her strategic skill and cunning to help him
escape. Part of Sophie’s plan involves an incredible chess-playing automaton
called the Clockwork Queen, but will the Queen be able to outwit the Empress in
a game where the stakes are a matter of life and death? Bunzl started his career as an animator and film-maker
working on everything from commercials to BAFTA‑winning children’s TV programmes, and The Clockwork Queen is full of all the
visual drama and rich imagination that have brought him such success in his
career as a children’s author. Harnessing the kind of mechanical wizardry he employed in
his wonderful Cogheart series, and opening an intriguing window into the game
of chess for young readers, Bunzl’s gripping, suspense-packed tale is brought
to life by the stunning illustrations of artist Lia Visirin, and is published
in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)
Age 8 plus
Knight Sir Louis and the Sorcerer of Slime!
The Brothers McLeod
(Guppy Books, paperback, £6.99)
Escape to the River Sea
Emma Carroll and Katie Hickey
COMBINE all the vibes of a classic masterpiece with a
thrilling, animal-packed adventure that speaks loudly and movingly about the
threats to our precious rainforests, and what do you have? The fabulous Escape
to the River Sea, a rich and imaginative evocation of Eva Ibbotson’s
award-winning book, Journey to the River Sea, which was written over twenty
years ago and brought to life the author’s memorable vision of the
extraordinary beauty of journeying through the Amazon. And what a mesmerising,
thrilling sequel this is from bestselling historical fiction author Emma
Carroll who uses Ibbotson’s story as her inspiration and endows it with a
timely eco warning, and a fresh and invigorating post-war twist. In 1946, Rosa
Sweetman, a young Kindertransport girl, is longing for her family to claim her.
The war in Europe is over and she is the only child left at Westwood, a
rambling country estate in the north of England where she took refuge seven
years earlier. The arrival of a friend of the family, Yara Fielding, starts an
adventure that will take Rosa deep into the lush beauty of the Amazon
rainforest in search of jaguars, ancient giant sloths and somewhere to belong.
What she finds is Yara’s lively, welcoming family on the banks of the river
and, together, they face a danger greater than she could ever have imagined. Fans
of Ibbotson’s book will love discovering what happened to the children of the
original stars, orphan girl Maia, and Finn, the mysterious boy who lived alone
on the wild river shores of the Amazon. With the stunning artwork of Katie
Hickey on the book cover, a richly imagined and magical story that children
will return to again and again, and its important messages about saving the
rainforests, this is both a super gift book and a wonderful teaching aid.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)
Action Dude
Andy Riley
IF you think Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham and
Die Hard-era Bruce Willis are the coolest action heroes in town… you obviously
haven’t met Charlie Munderdrew. Sorry, that should read Action Dude because
he’s changed his name! Emmy-winning screenwriter and million-copy-selling
author and artist Andy Riley is on his best imaginative form with a fantastic, laugh-out-loud
graphic novel that is packed full of explosions and friendship and fun… and yet
more explosions! Star of this comic caper fest is the eponymous Action Man.
First Name… Action. Second Name… Dude. He lives for danger, he lives for
excitement, he also lives with his mum because he’s only nine years old. Action
Dude is always jumping out of helicopters, crashing ships, running along the
tops of cranes and walking out of buildings just before they explode. He’s the
bravest action hero there ever was… except that he’s terrified of spiders. (But
don’t ever tell anyone that!) When the robots in a new theme park go haywire,
the city needs a hero. It’s up to Action Dude to come to the rescue. After all,
no one else is crazy enough to just walk in there and save everyone! Action
Dude – the first of three books by the author and artist of the hilarious King
Flashypants series – is a riot of slapstick comedy, anarchic action and crazy
characters. Ideal reading for your own all-action mischief-makers!
(Welbeck Flame, paperback, £7.99)
Freddy The Superstar
Neill Cameron
BEING different to everybody else at your school isn’t always easy when you are the
most super-amazing, superhero robot with super-awesome powers! There can’t be
too many ‘superlatives’ when it comes to much-loved comics creator Neill
Cameron’s fully illustrated Awesome Robot Chronicles. This is a series which
positively fizzes with fun, firepower and frantic antics, but also cleverly
celebrates unity, uniqueness and diversity. Freddy The Superstar
is the third laugh-out-loud adventure with rocket-boosting Freddy and finds him
and his pals, not least long-suffering Riyad, getting involved in the school
science fair. Naturally, his robot abilities means Freddy is suddenly the
centre of attention… and Freddy one hundred per cent loves that! But will
Freddy let this brush with fame go to his head? Of course he will… but that
might not go down so well with his friends! Cameron once again turns on his own
creative boosters as he cleverly balances moments of pure comedy with
insightful lessons on negotiating friendships, stepping out of the spotlight to
let others shine, and tackling the tricky emotions of growing up. With its
quirky, comic-strip style narrative and format, illustrations that zing with
humour and energy, and a cast of lovable and empathetic heroes, this
entertaining and inspirational series is ideal for both avid and reluctant
readers.
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £6.99)
Panda in the Spotlight
Sarah Horne
THE best of friendships can be formed in the most unexpected
ways! Take Callum Campbell… life is good for Callum’s family and Pudding, their
real-life panda, who escaped from the zoo and arrived as the live-in nanny, but
is now their very best friend and a BIG part of the family. Share laughter,
love and lashings of knockabout fun with the second book of author and
illustrator Sarah Horne’s adorable and heart-warming adventure series starring
a panda whose great talent is talking… and acting! In their new outing in the
spotlight, Pudding and Dad’s hit stage show, Panda-mime, has been wowing
audiences… but then ambitious journalist, Penni P, twigs that Pudding is a
real-life talking panda. If she exposes the truth, her story will be everywhere
and the family will be in big trouble. Penni woos the family with false
promises of fame and fortune in Hollywood in order to find her proof. Soon,
everyone is starry-eyed except Callum. Can he expose Penni and stop her from
breaking the story that could tear his family apart? Panda in the Spotlight is
a delight for both children and grown-ups… a big, furry, panda-sized bear hug
with pawfuls of comedy, fabulous illustrations and some important messages
about childhood, anxiety, belonging, truth and the reassuring warmth of family
love.
(Chicken House, paperback, £6.99)
The Upside-Down Detective Agency
Ellie Hattie and Brendan Kearney
CAN two super-sleuthing sloths (slowly but surely) save the
day when a thief puts the brakes on a fast-moving racing car driver? Budding
detectives will love putting their skills to the test in this fast and furious,
slow and steady interactive crime caper from top author and illustrator team Ellie
Hattie and Brendan Kearney. Stop thief! Someone has stolen the diamond warp
drive from Lady Velocity Speed’s car. Lady V is on the fast track to success
but without the diamond warp, she’ll never win The Big Race. Can sleuthing
sloths Stan and Stella crack the case? Maybe with a helping hand… and hey,
reader, that’s you! Little ones will love helping this pair of topsy-turvy,
crime-busting buddies crack their latest case. Packed with prompts, cues, hidden clues – and giggles – this
intriguing, immersive adventure helps develop problem-solving techniques,
encouraging little readers to take their time and try new perspectives. Hattie’s
engaging and interactive narrative, and Kearney’s lively and intricately detailed
illustrations are the perfect match for an adventure that will have little
mystery fans raring to go!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £11.99)
The Mystery of the Golden Pyramid
Adela Norean and Aaron Cushley
A TALKING dog, a jewelled casket and a quest for stolen
treasure! Mystery, excitement and adventure are never far away in this fabulous
picture book – brimming with flaps to lift and holes to peep through – from the
vivid imaginations of author Adela Norean and illustrator Aaron Cushley. When Sophie
walks into the bedroom of her new home, she discovers an extraordinary dog
called Ari waiting to take her on a magical Egyptian adventure full of puzzles,
pharaohs, pyramids and precious amulets. Lift the flaps and peep through the intriguing
holes to help her save King Nebra and solve the mystery of the golden pyramid. Norean’s
spectacular, all-action mystery story is brought to glorious and colourful life
by Cushley’s extraordinarily rich and detailed illustrations. Add on the
eye-catching gold-foiled cover and you have the perfect, interactive book for
your own little Ancient Egyptian adventurers!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)
Lionel and Me
Corinne Fenton and Tracie Grimwood
YOUNG and not-so-young, little and not-so-little,
well-behaved and not-so-well-behaved… the best friendships can be formed from
the strangest pairings! Australian author Corinne Fenton and fellow Aussie,
illustrator Tracie Grimwood, team up for an enchanting and heartwarming picture
book which celebrates the eternal joy of friendship and the rewards that come
from being patient. When dachshund puppy Lionel arrives in his house, Maverick
is unimpressed. Lionel seems to be getting all the family’s attention, eating
tastier-looking food, and generally making everybody smile. Will there ever be
enough love to go round for the two dogs? Fenton’s gentle, cautionary tale explores
feelings of jealousy and compassion with humour and wisdom, while Grimwood’s
charming, soulful illustrations bring all the action and emotions to life.
(New Frontier Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
Age 3 plus
Meadow and Marley’s Magical Mix
Katie Mantwa George and Natalie Creed
(Little Steps Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
You Can Be A Supercat
Rosamund Lloyd and Chris Dickason
YOUNGSTERS can practise their super-cuddle powers with this
enchanting board book celebrating the power of kindness and friendship. Do you
have a problem? Do you need a friend? Have no fear: Supercat is here! She’s the
kindest puss on the planet. Our lovable, huggable superhero is here with one
simple mission… to cheer up everyone with her super-sunny smile. This colourful
board book – brimming with Rosamund Lloyd’s bouncy, rhyming text and Chris
Dickason’s perfectly punchy illustrations – has a detachable, fun felt mask to
pull out and wear. Packed full of sunny smiles, warm friendships and shared
laughter, pre-schoolers will LOVE learning how to practise their own super-kind
powers and to be budding superheroes!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)
Touch and Learn Space
Becky Davies and Mei Stoyva
LET little fingers do the learning with this fun and
educational board book which is simply out of this world. Touch and Learn Space
is part of an early-learning series for toddlers. Each book contains soft felt
finger trails with educational value, so little learners can trace and
discover. Here, youngsters are invited to touch, trace and learn about space. Simply
follow the felt finger trails to launch a rocket into space, orbit the sun like
a planet and even bounce on the moon. This bright, interactive book is the
perfect blend of learning and fun, with keywords to spot on every spread and
stepped felt pages for toddlers to grasp and turn. There’s so much to spot in
space! Also available: Touch and Learn Farm and Touch and Learn Things That Go.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)
When Mummy Works
From Home
Paul Schofield and Anna Terreros-Martin
SINCE the Covid-19 pandemic, working from home is increasingly becoming the norm. But for parents of pre-schoolers, this can pose challenges for both grown-ups and children. So here are two delightful, rhyming board books from debut author Paul Schofield which capture all the mayhem and magic of home working, and help little ones to understand the concept of sharing their parents’ time (and energy!). Toddlers love to burst in on a video call and Mummy and Daddy would love to play, but they have to finish their work first.
(Templar Publishing, board books, £6.99 each)
Vehicles
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. Second 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 Vehicles which lets little ones discover
a world of opposites with things that go. From the highest hot air balloon to
the lowest submarine, 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
more books coming soon in this inventive opposite series.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £6.99)
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