Skip to the End

Molly James 

IMAGINE if the first kiss could foretell how a new relationship will end… If you like your escapist reading to be full of fun, get your hands on this magical (in every sense of the word!) rom-com starring a young woman desperately hunting her perfect love story. 

Skip to the End – a super-sparkling tale of kisses, sexual chemistry and kismet – comes from former journalist Molly James (pictured below), a bestselling author of captivating novels who is adding a new and exciting twist of magical realism to her warm, wise and witty romances.

And who could resist this gorgeous, heart-fluttering odyssey alongside the adorable Amy Daniels whose state of perpetual spinsterhood is thanks to a legacy handed down through the female line of her family… as soon as she kisses someone, she knows, in intimate, vivid detail, how their relationship is fated to end. But, as we soon learn, it’s a ‘gift’ that can sometimes feel too much like a curse because so far in her life there seems to have been no end to Amy’s visions of unhappy endings, and any hopes of finally finding ‘the one’ are fast fading.

Amy Daniels appears to have a pretty good life. Her career is on the up, she is about to buy her very own flat, and she has a group of the four best friends anyone could ever want… eccentric twins May and Jay, beautiful blonde Charlotte, and dependable, tree-hugging Gareth.

And on a good day, lovable, lively Amy could be described as a catch for any man. So why is she perpetually single and why do her boyfriends hardly last a day (and in some cases, a mere five minutes)? The trouble is, Amy can see something that no one else can… the end story. As soon as she kisses someone, she gets a strange ‘warp-drive surge’ and is catapulted into the future where she witnesses the end of the relationship.

Amongst others, she has seen a screaming argument in the middle of the supermarket over milk,

The Girls of Lake Evelyn

Averil Kenny 

IF shades of autumn are already casting a cloud over the last days of summer, escape into a tale of love, friendship and mystery amidst the tropical heat and wild wonders of Australia’s lush rainforests.

Featuring a runaway bride-to-be from Sydney who escapes to North Queensland in the 1950s and finds a mysterious lake with secrets of its own, this atmospheric, small-town drama is the latest sultry, sweeping novel from exciting Aussie author Averil Kenny (pictured below).

Set against a stunning, exquisitely portrayed backdrop of steamy jungle, a mysterious, mist-shrouded volcanic lake, and a remote lodge with a haunting history, The Girls of Lake Evelyn is a thrilling journey into an exotic landscape unknown to many on this side of the world. 

And at its heart are two young, determined and resilient women, born on opposite sides of the tracks, but who nevertheless form a close and unexpected friendship which blossoms amidst Queensland’s misty vales and dazzling sunshine… and a host of menacing secrets.

In 1958, wealthy It-girl Vivienne George is due to marry Howard Woollcott III of the famous winemaking dynasty in the finest society wedding of the year in Sydney. But when she realises on the eve of her wedding day that, after years of duty and obedience, she can’t marry a man she doesn’t love, she flees to Barrington Downs, a small town in tropical North Queensland. With the help of her widely travelled and inveterate bachelor Uncle Felix, Vivienne hides away at Sylvan Mist, a secluded private lodge, surrounded by the lush rainforest

Walking The Cumbria Way

Ulverston to Carlisle – main route with mountain alternatives

John Gillham 

AS summer draws to an end and autumn approaches, pull on your sturdy boots and explore the 73-mile Cumbria Way, one of Britain’s prettiest and easiest long-distance walks.

This trail through the heart of the Lake District – taking in beautiful lakes, low mountain tarns and picturesque villages with delightful country pubs and cottages – can be tackled as one walk, in five sections or as alternative mountain days to climb some of the famous fells along the route.  

But whichever way you choose to take in the outdoor exercise and memorable scenery, walkers and climbers should not leave home without this brilliant new guide from Cicerone Press to steer you through the exciting uplands and lowlands of the Cumbria Way. Cicerone – an enthusiastic publisher based in Kendal specialising in outdoor activities guidebooks –has a range of nearly 400 books for walking, trekking, climbing, mountaineering and cycling, covering the UK, Europe and other regions of the world. The guides are pocket-sized, with crystal-clear OS mapping and directions, and their authors are amongst the leading experts in their areas.

Written by professional writer, illustrator and photographer John Gillham (pictured left), who lives in Hoddlesden, a small village in the West Pennine Moors, this exciting new walk – from Ulverston in the south to Carlisle in the north – is largely low-level and has good transport links to either end.

The official Cumbria Way can be walked all year round, within a week, using bed and breakfast accommodation, or from Easter to October using campsites, while the mountain route is best saved for spring, summer and autumn.

The official 73-mile walking route takes in Torver, Coniston, Tarn Hows, Elterwater, Great Langdale, Rosthwaite, Keswick, Bassenthwaite, Back o’Skiddaw, Caldbeck, Dalston and Carlisle, and is classed as easy with only two places where the inexperienced walker can go wrong (in mist)… Stake Pass and High Pike. And although the guide divides the route into five stages of between 12 and 16 miles, there is plenty of opportunity to plan your itinerary over a more easy-going seven to eight days.

The alternative mountain days – which link up with the official route, allowing you to mix and match depending on the weather or your inclination – add the Coniston Fells, Glaramara, Skiddaw and  Walla Crag and require mountain experience and the essential knowledge of how to use a map and compass.

Packed with stunning, full-colour photographs of some of the magnificent landscapes to be enjoyed along the Cumbria Way, potted histories of villages and landmarks, advice on what to take with you, useful information for every stage of your walk, from accommodation to available facilities en route, an annotated OS map and details on points of interest, there could be no better pocket-sized companion for your year-round walks!
(Cicerone Press, paperback, £14.95)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Planet history, a gorilla mum and seagoing skulduggery

Take a look at our planet’s history, summed up in a single day, meet an orphan who’s adopted by a friendly gorilla, enjoy a historical adventure on board a ship full of mystery, discover how a problem shared is a problem halved, and follow a dream as it takes flight over the ocean in an exciting collection of new books

Age 8 plus
Earth Clock: The History of Our Planet in 24 Hours
Tom Jackson and Nic Jones

WHAT would our planet’s history look like summed up in a single day? Author Tom Jackson – who has written over 100 books and whose specialities are natural history, technology and all things scientific ­– and illustrator Nic Jones set their creative energies in action to imagine what tomorrow’s future holds for life on Earth in this stunning and informative book. With the help of Jones’ richly detailed illustrations, and Jackson’s inspirational selection of topics for reading and discussion, this book charts the formation of Earth and the evolution of life through the analogy of a 24-hour clock.

Our planet has been spinning in the blackness of space for 4.5 billion years. People have only been around for a tiny part of it, so what happened before we arrived on the scene… before animals, dinosaurs, and even trees? Starting the clock from the formation of Earth, young readers discover the most interesting and high-impact moments of our planet’s geological history as we count down to midnight. Watch oceans rise and life bloom across Earth’s surface as millions of years flash by in minutes, witness the asteroid that caused the dinosaurs’ extinction, explore endlessly evolving animals, and come face to face with our distant ancestors at just four seconds to midnight. And as the clock ticks closer to the present day, imagine what tomorrow’s future might have in store.

Jackson transforms the history of Earth into an exciting, fact-filled reading adventure as youngsters turn the pages on the past, present and future whilst poring over Jones’ atmospheric illustrations, all influenced by her passion for traditional drawing techniques, vivid colours and textured brushstrokes. Get ready to be amazed at every fast-moving revelation… at every passing minute!
(Welbeck Children’s Books, hardback, £16.99)

Age 6 plus
The Ape Star
Frida Nilsson and LEE Films

EVERY orphan dreams of being adopted… but surely not by a gorilla! Frida Nilsson, one of Sweden’s leading children’s authors, explores adoption, prejudice, and what it means to be an outsider, in The Ape Star, an outstanding and entertaining book filled with black and white images from a LEE Films animated adaption, starring Stellan Skarsgård, which is now showing in cinemas worldwide. First published in 2005 and instantly winning the hearts and minds of readers across the world, this eye-catching new edition of the bestseller – translated by Julia Marshall – captures all the exuberance, fun and poignancy of a story that asks important questions about society and conveys messages that speaks loudly to readers of every age. Jonna lives in an orphanage where the manager is strict and obsessed with cleanliness. Like all the other children, Jonna has only one dream… to be adopted by a well-dressed mother who smells of perfume. But one day, a beat-up old car pulls up outside. The door opens and out step two thick hairy legs with muddy boots, followed by a belly as round as a barrel, and finally, a head like an overgrown pear. It’s a gorilla! Surely the orphanage won’t let a gorilla adopt a child but, to Jonna’s horror, the gorilla chooses her. Now Jonna sleeps in a hammock, and in the evenings the gorilla reads Dickens in her worn armchair. It turns out that Jonna and the gorilla have got a lot in common. But just when they have started to get along, a man from the council threatens to send Jonna back to the orphanage. This enchanting chapter book – ideal for reading aloud of new readers – tackles contemporary issues of economic hardship, marginalisation and justice with warmth, wit, compassion and insight as the unexpected friendship between a girl and gorilla becomes a love based on trust and a genuine sense of caring. Children will love the quirky characters, the sparkling dialogue and the different slant on relationships that are the central themes of Nilsson’s resonant story. A triumph of storytelling by an exciting Swedish writer.
(Gecko Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Accidental Stowaway
Judith Eagle and Kim Geyer

IMMERSE yourself in a fantastic historical adventure on board a ship full of mystery… and containing a girl who shouldn’t be there! A librarian in secondary schools, Judith Eagle – author of The Secret Starling and The Pear Affair – gets up a head of steam with this nautical thriller full of waves of fun and decks overflowing with high seas drama. In Liverpool in 1910, Patch runs up the gangway of the steamship, RMS Glorious, although she isn’t planning to hang around. But if she leaves her hiding place, the constable who is chasing her might catch her and ruin her reputation… so sitting tight is worth the risk. Too late, she realises that the ship is setting sail meaning Patch has become an accidental stowaway. Luckily, Patch’s unconventional past has made her pretty fearless when it comes to fending for herself and besides, there are friends in high – and low – places to be made on board. But hiding away becomes less and less easy… her new friends urgently need her help and there is a mystery that needs solving, all before they reach New York. Artist Kim Geyer provides the engaging chapter head illustrations which bring extra atmosphere to a maritime adventure with an invigorating salty tang and more than a whiff of seagoing skulduggery. Add on perfect pace and plotting, rich and vibrant period detail, a tough, feisty heroine to root for, and an unforgettable cross-Atlantic voyage to enjoy, and you have the dream escape for young readers.
(Faber & Faber, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Filippo, Me and the Cherry Tree
Paola Peretti (translated by Denise Muir)

A TEENAGE girl’s battle with losing her sight – and the difficult choices she must make along the way – are at the beating heart of this emotional and bitter-sweet story from Italian writer Paola Peretti. Inspired by her own experiences of living with loss of vision – after discovering she had a rare genetic and progressive illness called Stargadt Disease which causes eventual blindness – Peretti’s powerful, uplifting and moving story is the sequel to The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree which was nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal in 2019 and introduced readers to Mafalda when she was nine and facing the life-changing diagnosis that her sight, would fail completely within six months. Mafalda is now thirteen and has been blind since she was ten. Her best friend is the cheerfully rule-breaking Filippo, and she is accompanied everywhere by Ottimo Turcaret, her devoted cat. Mafalda is always looking on the bright side, thinking of things she can do both now and in the future despite her loss of sight. But other things are worrying her too… her father who has lost his job and is now in the depths of depression and refusing to leave his bed, and Debbie, the horrible girl in school who seems very interested in Filippo. So now Mafalda has to start thinking what Filippo really means to her. Then two new adults come into her life… Elsa, a homeless young woman, and Nino, the elderly upstairs neighbour with an awful temper and a great passion for Charles Dickens. Little by little, Mafalda learns their stories, and how their lives have also been shaped by brave and difficult choices. Mafalda’s journey through the next phase in her life cannot fail to win hearts as she grows to understand the different facets of friendships and to hang on to your dreams however hard that might sometimes be. Beautifully written, sensitively translated by Denise Muir, and with inspirational messages for readers of any age.
(Hot Key Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Feeling Good Club: Smash Your Worries, Bella!
Kelly McKain and Jenny Latham

A PROBLEM shared is a problem halved… the old, and very wise, adage takes centre stage in the first book in a fresh and informative new series which helps youngsters to understand the healing power of sharing your feelings. Written by bestselling author Kelly McKain in journal format, and packed with the fun illustrations of Jenny Latham, The Feeling Good Club books put the benefits of mindfulness activities at centre stage. Meet Bella, Archie and Shazmin who learn to help each other to feel good and face their worries. Bella couldn’t be feeling worse about it being Feeling Good Week at school. With her best friend Rosh having moved away, she’s sad and lonely, and to top it all she has a Big Worry on her mind… the class talk. Then Bella is partnered with Shazmin and Archie, and is surprised to see the shoots of a new friendship growing. They even form the Feeling Good Club to share their problems and express their feelings. But when Shazmin and Archie try to help Bella with her Big Worry, things go badly wrong. How can Bella show her new friends how she feels? Youngsters with their own worries will empathise with these perfectly pitched stories which feature some brilliant mindfulness practices and show that sharing feelings with friends is the best way to banish your problems!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, ££5.99)

Age 3 plus
Whisper on the Wind
Claire Saxby and Jess Racklyeft

‘This is the wind that carries the whisper from Ren’s dream.
This is the sailor, long at sea, who catches it.’
THE multi-award-winning duo, author Claire Saxby and illustrator Jess Racklyeft, take youngsters on a magical and mesmerising voyage over and under the ocean with Whisper on the Wind, a stunning picture book about separation, connection and reunion. A little girl called Ren who sleeps in a lighthouse dreams a glorious, colourful dream which is carried aloft in its bottle by the waves and the breeze over the dolphins that glint in the moonlight and into the fishing net of a sailor far out at sea. With Saxby’s gentle, lyrical, cumulative text, Racklyeft’s whimsical, richly imagined and atmospheric artwork, and a moving finale as we discover just who that sailor is, Whisper on the Wind is a celebration of the wonders of the ocean and a reassuring reminder to little ones that even when we are separated from family, love has the power to find us wherever we are.
(Allen & Unwin Children's Books, hardback, £11.99)

Age 2 plus
To Catch a Cloud
Elena de Roo and Hannah Peck

JOIN an exhilarating chase across land and sea with a beautiful, colour-soaked, poetic picture book from the inspirational team of New Zealand author Elena de Roo and Brighton-based illustrator Hannah Peck. To Catch a Cloud – with its lyrical rhyming verse and mesmerising pictures – is an epic tale full of nature’s potential dangers but with the action wrapped up in the vibes of a traditional sea shanty.  We watch as a boy and a dog follow a cloud out to sea but as the weather worsens, he relies on the whales and waves to bear him home. ‘I spy a cloud go floating by Where do you go, Cloud, so high? To the sea She sings Where the wild gulls fly Then catch me if you can I cry We race each other to the sea Can’t catch me, Cloud Can't catch me’ With a stylish, refined colour palette, and an alluring sing-song quality to the writing, this classy picture book offers breathtaking beauty in both its words and its illustrations.
(Faber & Faber, paperback, £6.99)

Age 2 plus
How to Catch a Rainbow
Naomi Jones and Ana Gomez

CAN you ever catch a rainbow? Naomi Jones – author of bestselling shape-themed books The Perfect Fit and One More Try – and Spanish illustrator Ana Gomez cast their magic over this colourful picture book which comes packed with fun, learning and creativity. Freya loves rainbows. She loves their bright colours and their curvy shape. And more than anything, she wishes she has one of her very own, one that she can keep forever. So Freya decides to become a Rainbow Hunter! She searches high and low, but no rainbows are to be found, so she decides to make her own, collecting items in every colour of the rainbow from the garden. But when things don’t go quite to plan, Freya has to use her imagination and creativity to come up with a way to make her wish come true. This vibrant, imaginative story – brimming with Gomez’s technicolour illustrations and a playful exploration of problem-solving – encourages little ones to talk about how rainbows are made… and is a joy to both look at and read.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age one plus
Lionel Eats All By Himself
Lionel Poops
Eric Veillé

LEARNING about looking after your own body is all part of the very early years of a child… and there could be no more lovable character than cheeky toddler lion Lionel to teach some of the golden rules! French author and illustrator Eric Veillé has fun with two mischievous, earthy and gently educational board books starring an over-enthusiastic, impulsive little lion who likes to test his daily routines to their absolute limit. In Lionel Eats All By Himself, he can’t help but enjoying the messy results of his eating escapades. He sits in his highchair and insists on eating all by himself. His veggies… well done, Lionel!

His soup… nice one, Lionel! But each bite leaves more and more mess in the room… and on Lionel. Watch out for the big burp to finish off before Dad helps Lionel who loudly insists on getting down from the table! And in Lionel Poops, we see Lionel cheerfully trying all sorts of places to poop before ending up proudly on the potty. He’s bouncing on his trampoline when all of a sudden he needs to poop. Where will he do it? On some cows! No, Lionel, no! On some wildcats! No, Lionel! Lionel thinks of many wrong places but eventually poops on his potty. Well done, Lionel! But wait… it seems that’s not all! With Lionel’s naughty grin and his dad’s eternally patient and amused voice leading the way, and Veillé’s charming illustrations to put Lionel in the picture, this clever, comical adventure of early learning will have all the family giggling and guffawing through Lionel’s misadventures!
(Gecko Press, board books, £6.99 each)

A Jewish Girl in Paris

Melanie Levensohn

WHEN librarian Judith Goldemberg falls for a handsome young Parisian law student in Occupied Paris in 1940, it’s the start of a love affair that will cast a long shadow over the next sixty or more years. Because Judith is Jewish and her relationship with the son of a wealthy, influential city banker is forbidden by his family, and the Nazis who now control France and are already planning to round up Jewish citizens and transport them to camps in the far corners of Eastern Europe.

When she married and took her husband Pascal Levensohn’s surname, former communications expert at the World Bank in Washington, German and US national Melanie Levensohn discovered that she was, in fact, the family’s second Melanie Levensohn. And when she learned that the original Melanie disappeared after being deported to Auschwitz in 1943, it set in motion a moving and atmospheric debut novel based on a series of true events.

The 70-year-old mystery surrounding the fate of her namesake was just the inspiration Levensohn (pictured below) needed to write A Jewish Girl in Paris, which has been adapted from a translation by Jamie Lee Searle and features an engrossing, multi-layered, fictionalised account of young Melanie’s precarious life under Nazi rule, beautifully interwoven with a contemporary search for the truth spearheaded by an enterprising French woman.

In September of 1940, Paris is a city filled with a ‘ghostly uncertainty’ and learning to live under German occupation. Young Jewish girl, Judith Goldemberg, enjoys her job as a librarian but finds life tough with her teacher mother who has become a shadow of her former herself since her divorce from Judith’s father who left to return to his native Romania and married again.

And it’s at the library that Judith meets the love of her life, law student Christian, the son of a wealthy banker and Nazi sympathiser. Christian’s family are gentiles and would never approve of the girl he has fallen in love with but from their first meeting, ‘something powerful had ignited’ between them.

As the Germans start to impose more and more restrictions on the Jews in Paris, the couple, who have pledged to get married, secretly plan to flee the country but before they can make their escape, Judith disappears.

In Montréal in 1982, as he lies on his deathbed, the ageing Lica Grunberg confesses to his daughter, Jacobina, that she has an older half-sister called Judith. Living in Romania, Lica

We’ll Meet Again

Anton Du Beke

EMOTIONS are running high, and the future looks uncertain as the staff at London’s exclusive Buckingham Hotel prepare for a war that will bring darkness, danger, duty and sacrifice.

Put on your dancing shoes, polish up the sequins, and glide seamlessly into the glitz and glamour of Mayfair as the shadow of war falls over the luxury hotel which has become the much-loved stage for Strictly Come Dancing star and all-round entertainer Anton Du Beke’s richly nostalgic novel series.

The king of dance – and now king of romance – Du Beke (pictured below) returns to sweep us off our feet and waltz us back in time to the upstairs and downstairs dramas of the residents and staff of the Buckingham Hotel in 1939 as Britain is plunged into war in Europe. We’ll Meet Again is our fourth trip back in time to the music and magic of the Buckingham’s magnificent Grand Ballroom where dreams, dancing and dilemmas are part of everyday life, but where the advent of war is now casting a long shadow over the anxious staff and residents.

In September of 1939, in the days after the declaration of war, the hotel staff are fully aware that they must do all that they can to keep their important guests happy, but behind the scenes they are scared. Away from the glamour of the hotel’s renowned ballroom, they must face the new reality that some of the staff will be leaving home and loved ones to fight on foreign fields, while those left behind will have the responsibilities involved in holding the hotel and the country together.

Newlywed Nancy knows that her brave husband, debonair dancer Raymond de Guise, will want to fight for his country and enlist in the forces. She loves and supports him but cannot help feeling heartbroken at the thought of them being apart, and the dangers he will face.

With a new hotel manager at the helm, and the lights that once lit up nearby Berkeley Square blacked out, no one knows what the future holds but as fashionable society retreats from London and staff depart to sign up for service, one thing is certain… life at the Buckingham will never be the same again. 

We’ll Meet Again delivers the same heady mix of real social and British history and a story filled with nostalgia, suspense, romance and intrigue as the once busy, bustling hotel becomes

Hope to Die

Cara Hunter

WHEN the police are called to the gruesome shooting of a man at an isolated farmhouse on the outskirts of a rural village, it appears at first to be a burglary gone wrong. But the officer in charge of the case, DI Adam Fawley, is not convinced and soon his team are trawling through the evidence and discovering connections to a high-profile case from years ago… a case that involved a child’s murder and an alleged miscarriage of justice.

Hope to Die, a terrific, twisting, turning tale of murder and mystery, is the sixth book in Cara Hunter’s outstanding Oxford-based police series and if you thought last year’s pulsating The Whole Truth – a prestigious Richard & Judy Book Club pick – couldn’t be bettered, then get your hands on this super-intelligent, super compelling new chapter for Fawley and his team.

Written in her own leafy corner of Oxford, and steeped in gritty reality, suspense and authentic detective work, Hunter’s (pictured bvelow) series has – unsurprisingly to her army of fans – sold more than a million copies worldwide, seen the TV rights acquired by the Fremantle group and left her comfortably perched on the top branch of the crime-writing tree. And this new page-turner – which was inspired by a real-life murder mystery – is brimming with all the gripping thrills, psychological chills and brilliant police procedural detail that we have come to expect from a classy crime series set in the city that spawned the unforgettable Inspector Morse.

Taking the lead once again is DI Adam Fawley whose personal life has been transformed by the birth of baby daughter Lily Rose, the child whose arrival has banished many of the dark shadows that have surrounded him and his wife Alex since the tragic death of their ten-year-old son Jake two years ago.

But now work calls… a man has been shot dead at Gantry Manor, a run-down farmhouse in the village of Wytham. It is owned by elderly couple, Richard and Margaret Swann, and as Mr Swann has openly admitted shooting the man with his own shotgun, it seems initially like the intruder was a burglar.

But DI Fawley suspects there is something more to this case. The police were alerted to the scene after neighbours reported hearing gunfire… the Swanns had not called 999 for help. And why does Mr Swann seem remarkably composed, why had the intruder been shot in the face at such close range, and why does Swann have no blood on him despite the kitchen looking ‘like an abattoir’? The murder leads Fawley and the team to a convoluted investigation from the past, and a family torn apart by a devastating crime involving a child's

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Marvellous medicine, girl power and fantastic football

Take a visual tour through the history of medicine, share giggles, gasps and cringes with a hilarious schoolgirl, meet a boy in a tide-turning tale and learn fascinating facts about the beautiful game in a super selection of new books

Age 9 plus
Medicine: A Magnificently Illustrated History
Briony Hudson and Nick Taylor

DISEASE, injury and death are all part of being human… but how did people through the ages tackle these hurdles? From potions and ointments to space age bionics, plagues to prosthetics, and from ancient mummies to modern MRI scans, this visually extraordinary book presents the history of medicine as it has never been seen before. With an expert text written by museum curator, pharmacy historian and lecturer, Briony Hudson, and the stunning graphic artwork of Nottingham-based Nick Taylor, Medicine: A Magnificently Illustrated History takes youngsters on a fascinating journey of discovery.

The history of medicine is the history of everybody – and every body – both past and present, and the evolution of medicine has been one full of experiments, trials and breakthroughs. Humankind’s battle to stay alive has also been horrifying, bizarre and exhilarating, and there is still a long way to go. Find out how ancient texts and artefacts help us understand medicine today as we join a mind-boggling and eye-opening exploration of fascinating beliefs, intriguing remedies and scientific discoveries as well as learning about some of medical history’s strange accidents and quirky experiments. So who was Hippocrates, how did rural doctor Edward Jenner from Gloucestershire make the breakthrough in mass vaccination, and how was the life-saving antibiotic penicillin invented by scientist Dr Alexander Fleming at a London hospital? Uniquely presented through a series of posters, comic-strip retelling, timelines, newspaper articles and much more, Hudson’s accessible and engaging facts and Taylor’s extraordinarily offbeat and vintage-style illustrations are guaranteed to keep children gripped from first page to last.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £16.99)

Age 9 plus
The Mega-Complicated Crushes of Lottie Brooks
Katie Kirby 

‘Things that are rubbish in my life: Have the most disgusting little brother in the entire world. Have to get braces when am on the brink of having my first kiss. Mum is making cottage pie for dinner. VOM.’

IF the tone of that message strikes a chord, then you’ll be heading straight off to the shops to buy the third brilliant book in Katie Kirby’s hilarious and relatable Lottie Brooks series that is being devoured by readers in the unique ‘tweenage’ years. Kirby, who writes and illustrates this perfectly pitched series, has a natural gift for finding humour in recognisable, everyday challenges, and the mega-funny Lottie Brooks books capture all the giggle-worthy and cringe-inducing essence of this often awkward pre-teen time of life. And after Lottie’s adventures and misadventures in The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks and The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks, she’s back for more extremely embarrassing adventures as she goes on holiday and gets her very first boyfriend!

Daniel and Lotti finally have their first date… a trip to a fancy gelato place in Brighton. But how do you eat ice-cream in front of your crush and is Lottie ready for her first kiss? I mean he’s nice and all that, but boys are still a bit gross, aren’t they? But before they know it, the school holidays are looming and with Lottie off camping to France for two weeks and Daniel spending most of the summer on a fancy Greek island, it looks as if the young lovebirds will be cruelly ripped apart. But then Lottie makes friends with a French boy called Antoine… the language is an obvious barrier but does it matter when he’s THAT good  looking? Lottie once more navigates the pitfalls and perils of growing up in this fantastically funny and yet wonderfully life-affirming new story which is filled with friendship troubles, pre-teen politics and embarrassing moments, and is guaranteed to have young readers giggling, gasping and cringing all the way to the start of a new term!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Stupendous Sports: Fantastic Football
Robin Bennett and Matt Cherry

FOOTBALL is, without doubt, the most popular sport in the world. According to FIFA, there are over 250 million players playing in 200 countries with over 3.5 billion fans… that’s nearly half the number of people in the world! Fantastic Football is the second book in the super Stupendous Sports chapter books series from award-winning children’s publisher, Firefly Press, and puts the spotlight firmly on football with cartoons, jokes, fun facts and useful stats, a brief history of football, details of player positions, the future of the game, the importance of diversity, the forthcoming Football World Cup, the rise of womenʼs football, and a great section on skills and tricks. The aim of the series is to teach kids about sports, but with a light touch that highlights the spirit of the game as well as the rules. Written by sport-mad Robin Bennett, and with the hilarious illustrations of Matt Cherry, this super new book in the series is ideal for fans of the beautiful game, their parents (and grandparents!), but mainly for young readers who enjoy dipping into a book of entertaining football facts and, like the game itself, to share it with friends. With an exploration of the origins of football, helpful playing tips, amazing stories, loads of facts, and details of a Stupendous Sports website (www.stupendoussports.com) promoting the fun side of sports for children, signed books, special offers and merchandise, this is football heaven for fans of every age. So what are you waiting for… the whistle has blown and the game is on!
(Firefly Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 9 plus
Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief
David Owen 

MEET a star water dragon, two loyal friends, a sharp-shooting octopus, three acrobatic otters, a thieving seagull, an army of crabs… and a brand new hero! David Owen, whose YA debut novel, Panther, was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal, thrills and enthrals us with Alex Neptune, his first fabulous, action-packed series for younger readers, born out of his self-confessed love for nail-biting heists, fantastical monsters and heartfelt friendships. With the power of the ocean at the centre of this fast-flowing adventure and an imprisoned water dragon desperately in need of help, this is a sweeping, tide-turning tale perfect for summer reading. For as long as Alex Neptune can remember, the ocean has been trying to kill him. So he’s not too happy when a bunch of sea creatures drag him to the abandoned aquarium on the hill in rundown seaside town Haven Bay where an imprisoned water dragon needs his help. But how can he say no to a magical creature? Recruiting his tech-genius best friend Zoe, legend-lover Anil, a sharp-shooting octopus, three acrobatic otters and a thieving seagull, Alex plots a heist to break the dragon out of prison. And suddenly, and excitingly, Alex discovers he has the power of the ocean at his fingertips. With the weirdest cast of characters this side of the ocean, a new hero to share fun and adventures with, and eco themes that speak as loudly as the crashing of the waves in Haven Bay, this is just the start of a sparkling sea-themed odyssey with a born storyteller.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Mia and the Lightcasters
Janelle McCurdy and Ana Latese

DIVE into an exciting and magical ‘other world’ in the first book of the Umbra Tales, an exciting and gripping debut fantasy series from Janelle McCurdy, an author and fully-fledged gamer. With a vivid imagination attuned to video games, martial arts and fantasy, McCurdy conjures up a deliciously dark and magical adventure that is the perfect fit for video game fans. Beware of the shadows, the Reaper King is coming… Mia always dreamed of being an umbra tamer until she met the wild creature on the Nightmare Plains. Since that day, she prefers to stay safe within the walls of Nubis. Safe, that is, until a surprise attack. With her parents captured, Mia's only hope is to travel to the City of Light to find help. But with only her little brother, two friends and one solitary tamed umbra, the journey feels impossible. Mia not only has to overcome her fears, she also has to learn to harness her umbra taming abilities if they are to complete the quest in time. With Ana Latese’s atmospheric illustrations bringing all the thrilling world-building to life, a cast of inspirational characters, lots of heart-pounding action, resonant messages about courage and the power of friendship, this gripping tale is just the start of what promises to be a thrilling adventure series.
(Faber & Faber, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Maths is Weird
The Periodic Table is Weird
Noodle Fuel and Luke Newell

MATHS isn’t boring… it’s wonderful and definitely weird! Enjoy two fascinating and enthralling non-fiction books, which add up to fun from first page to last, as a husband and wife team put an exciting new slant on learning mathematics. Noodle Fuel, the creative partnership of Sarah Walden, a veteran of publishing, and her husband, Mark, a children’s author and ex-computer game designer, and Luke Newell bring youngsters two brilliant brain-bursting books.

True to their mission to produce engaging high-octane content for children, Maths is Weird travels from zero to infinity and back again via algebra, polygons, probability and averages with friendly (but silly!) robots guiding the reader through the weirdness of mathematics. And in The Periodic Table Is Weird, young readers will discover every element from actinide to zirconium alongside a group of alien scientists. With up to 300 fascinating facts, 150 riotous gags, and some awesome activities to enjoy, these inspirational, cleverly educational and entertaining books help youngsters understand why maths is so much weirder than they ever could have imagined.
(Caterpillar Books, £7.99 each)

Age 7 plus
The Case of the Runaway Brain
Nick Sheridan and David O’Connell

IT'S no mystery that children love mysteries so let them indulge their detection skills (and have fun along the way!) in the first in a new laugh-out-loud, illustrated mystery series from award-winning journalist and television presenter Nick Sheridan. Starring three unlikely (and lovable!) detectives and one BIG mystery, The Case of the Runaway Brain has been dubbed Scooby-Doo for a new generation and comes with the brilliant illustrations of David O’Connell. When a child escapes Madame Strang’s Academy for Incredibly Irritating Children in the dead of night, Madame Strang, her cool and calculating right-hand man, Mr Grule, and her overweight sausage dog, Mangler, will do anything to track him down. But friends Riz and Olly know a good story when they see one, and with the help of runaway Drew Hill, the trio are soon on a mission to uncover the secret that Madame Strang is so desperate to keep… one that involves a dastardly brainwashing invention and an academy full of plain and perfectly behaved children. Prepare to laugh your socks off as this mischief-laden adventure comes with clues, comic action and chaos at every turn of the page. A no-brainer for comedy and mystery fans!
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 7 plus
My Mum Is A Spy!
Andy McNab, Jess French and Nathan Reed

I SPY with my little eye… a fresh, funny and informative new adventure series that fizzes with espionage, animal facts and fantastic illustrations. My Mum Is A Spy is the work of former SAS warrior and now bestselling author Andy McNab, vet, zoologist, TV presenter and author Jess French and illustrator Nathan Reed, and is set to be a winner with fun-loving youngsters. My mum is absolutely definitely 100% NOT a spy! When Lucia and her dad come to stay for a week, Idris can’t believe his bad luck. He had prepared himself to share the TV remote and maybe some of his toys, but he hadn't prepared himself for Lucia. Lucia loves spying and – worst of all – she is convinced that Idris’ mum is a spy. And that just can’t be true... can it? But even Idris has to admit there is something a bit unusual about their family trip to the zoo. Were his eyes playing tricks on him, or did someone really drop something that looked like a secret message into Mum’s bag? And why is Budi the orangutan, who is normally so cheerful, suddenly off his food? Maybe it’s time for some spying after all. With a cast of quirky and charismatic characters, a topical exploration of nature and conservation, a down-in-the-mouth orangutan taking a starring role, and the sheer exuberance of a tale told with gusto, this is an animal extravaganza you won’t want to miss!
(Welbeck Flame, paperback, £6.99)

Age 4 plus
The World at Your Feet
Karl Newson and Clara Anganuzzi

THE importance of simply being yourself shines through in a beautiful and empowering new picture book from author Karl Newson and illustrator Clara Anganuzzi, the top team who brought us How to Mend a Friend. Who will I be, what will happen, where will I go and why? Join a child and a host of animal friends as they explore new possibilities and discover that it’s okay to try things and not to know how they will turn out. This moving story about trying your best and being true to yourself has an enchanting sense of youthful curiosity, uncertainty and unquenchable exuberance as the child and his animals pals receive the encouragement and reassurance they need to understand that it is all right not to always succeed or to have all the answers. The best thing they can do is go out into the world and realise their potential. With Newson’s lyrical, mesmerising verse carrying along the story and Anganuzzi’s stunningly imagined gallery of illustrations, this is an uplifting picture book with wise messages for us all.
(Studio Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Everything Changes
Clare Helen Welsh and Åsa Gilland

TACKLINGthe tricky topic of divorce with very young children is never easy so help your youngsters through this anxious time of change with a beautifully pitched and created picture book. Clare Helen Welsh and Åsa Gilland, the author and illustrator team behind The Perfect Shelter – which helped children understand and cope with serious illness – work their magic and gentle charm on this sensitively imagined story. Laughing and playing together as a family on the beach, it seems the happy, warm days of summer will never end. Then, everything changes. Mummy and Daddy say they can’t live together any more, and sad, worried feelings begin to emerge. It’s not fair! Was it all my fault? But, as time passes and the seasons change, it becomes clearer that hard times won’t always be quite so hard. Welsh’s lyrical tale about the difficult emotions a child can feel when their parents break up also carries an optimistic message of hope and resilience, while Gilland’s illustrations, with their emotive colour palette, perfectly capture the nuances of feelings experienced by children and parents during a separation. Full of care, understanding and the empathy needed for this time of change.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
When You Joined Our Family
Harriet Evans and Nia Tudor

EVERYTHING is new and strange when a child is adopted so here is the perfect picture book to explore the emotions and fears that inevitably arise during this life-changing experience. Written by seasoned author Harriet Evans, and beautifully illustrated by Nia Tudor, When You Joined Our Family takes a gentle look at the whole adoption process, from first meetings to creating new family traditions. By following the stories and poignant journeys of a diverse group of children, we learn that the arrival of a newcomer in a family is just what they had waited and wished for. Packed with accessible, emotive and informative messages, and Tudor’s heartwarming illustrations, this beautiful and creative picture book showcases exquisitely the unconditional love between an adopted child and their adoptive parents. Perfect for families who have experienced adoption, and for teaching little ones that families come in all shapes and sizes.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £11.99)

Age 3 plus
Ollie’s Back-to-School Bear
Nicola Killen 

SCHOOL is one big adventure in an animal magic picture book that is perfect for little ones starting pre-school or big school. Author and illustrator Nicola Killen is back to bewitch and beguile us with a playful new story in her warm and wonderful Ollie series which has captured the hearts of readers young… and not-so-young! On the night before school starts, Ollie is feeling nervous. Finally asleep, she is suddenly woken by the call of an owl outside her window. Following it into the woods, she sees lots of other animals there too. But where can they all be going? Join Ollie on an amazing adventure she will never forget. This charming picture book with its reassuring and engaging messages, intriguing cut-outs for little ones to peep through and explore, enticing foiled illustrations in a limited, eye-catching palette, and a simple but magical story with a big, warm heart, will help to ease you little ones into their own new school adventure.
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £6.99)

Age 2 plus
Which Bum’s Mum’s?
Jonny Leighton and Mike Byrne

A STAMPEDE is guaranteed as mischievous youngsters race to get their hands on a cheeky, charming picture book about animals and their big, hairy, spotty and smelly bums! Author Jonny Leighton and north-west illustrator Mike Byrne – the dynamic duo behind the hilarious Does a Bear Poo in the Woods? – work their special magic on this bum-tastic, laughter-filled odyssey with a playful zebra. When young zebra Ziggy accidentally causes a huge stampede, he finds himself lost and alone in the savannah. But he knows he’ll find home again if he just looks out for his mum’s distinctive, zig-zag striped bum. Along the way, he encounters big ones, small ones, spotty ones, tall ones, hairy bums, smelly bums, scaly ones and old ones… belonging to huge hippos, very tall giraffes, lazy lions and many more animals besides! With Leighton’s comical, rhyming story and Byrne’s charismatic illustrations bringing all the rear-end fun to life, youngsters will be making their own laugh-out-loud journey through this book with a big smile on their faces!  
(Buster Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 2 plus
Martha Maps It Out
Leigh Hodgkinson

STEP into Martha’s world where we are all connected and anything is possible! Author and illustrator Leigh Hodgkinson helps put simple scale, shape, and an addictive vibrancy, to our complex world in this richly detailed, colourful and subtly educational picture book. Packed with Hodgkinson’s stunning, distinctive and lively illustrations, Martha Maps It Out is a perfect package of fun, facts and food for thought. Martha loves drawing maps. She creates maps of everything, the city where she lives, her block of flats, her bedroom and even her thoughts and dreams! So let Martha be your guide as she welcomes you to her world. Starting in outer space, we zoom in page by page to our planet, Martha’s community, and beyond to her dreams of a future where anything is possible. Full of quirky details and Martha’s fun, non-fiction labels ideal for children to pore over, the book offers cool new facts with every reading, and maps imbued with an irresistible sense of excitement about the world and optimism for the future. A dream read for curious minds! 
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £6.99)

The Lighthouse Bookshop

Sharon Gosling

WHAT better escape could there be this summer than a trip to a quiet corner of Aberdeenshire and time spent with a close-knit community whose gathering point is amongst the quaint charms of a lighthouse bookshop.

Well-known children’s author Sharon Gosling, who harnessed her love for Crovie, a historic village on the Moray Firth in Scotland, for her spellbinding adult debut novel, The House Beneath the Cliffs, moves further inland for a beautiful and heartwarming new story of secret passions, tragedy and a long-ago romance.

And Gosling (pictured below), who lives in a remote village in northern Cumbria, has also found inspiration from the bookshop that she and her husband run in the nearby market town of Penrith, imagining a village of book-loving residents who share their triumphs and disasters at their local bookshop… housed in a lighthouse-shaped folly on a crumbling country estate. And what a book lovers’ delight it proves to be as we are swept into the lives of a quirky cast of characters, each with a tale to tell and each playing their part in the struggles of a young woman whose mysterious arrival in the village five years ago hides secrets in her past.

At the heart of a tiny community in the remote village of Newton Dunbar, just inland from the Aberdeenshire coast, stands an unexpected lighthouse, the folly built two centuries earlier by eccentric landowner, James MacDonald, who died in a disastrous fire at the big house on his grand estate.

Since then, the house has fallen into ruin and the lighthouse folly is home to the only bookshop for miles around and owned by the one remaining family descendant, the elderly Cullen MacDonald, whose home is in the little gatehouse.

The shop is run by Rachel, an ‘incomer’ to the village, who lives in the top two floors of the lighthouse. She arrived in Newton Dunbar, with her well-hidden secrets, five years ago and found a job she loved and a place she could call home. And the bookshop is also the place where she meets Toby, a former foreign correspondent for a national newspaper, who was wounded in the Yemen and hasn’t worked since. He’s now researching the history of the lighthouse and might just need Rachel’s help. But when Cullen dies suddenly, Rachel steps in to

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A mighty Mouse, a perfect day with friends and a fiery finale

Meet a girl called Mouse with the heart of a lion, celebrate the simple joys of the great outdoors, enjoy a hilariously hot and flamingly funny adventure, share puppy love in the first book of a magical animal series, and dive into a dizzying and delightful graphic novel series with a super new selection of children’s books

Age 9 plus
Mouse Heart
Fleur Hitchcock

FORGET Burns’ famous ‘wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie,’ and meet the mighty Mouse, a girl with the heart of a lion and the super-sleuthing skills of Sherlock Holmes! Fleur Hitchcock – an exciting author whose speciality is writing thrilling children’s mysteries with added adventure – transports readers into a gripping theatre land murder mystery set against a sumptuous historical backdrop and steeped in spine-tingling danger. With atmospheric artwork by the talented Ben Mantle, and heart-stopping action full of daring stunts, Gothic vibes and truly villainous villains, Mouse Heart serves up all the perfect ingredients for middle-grade mystery fans.

It’s the reign of Queen Anne II and Mouse might be a foundling but she carries a fierce love for her pieced-together family at the riverside Moth Theatre. She has found a home and happiness with Mr and Mrs Hawkin, their two children (Eve who is ‘poisonous’ and her ‘kinder shadow’ brother Adam) plus all the theatre’s resident actors. And when their leading man, Walter, is wrongly arrested for murder, Mouse swears she will free him. But another member of the cast has a secret identity… as a ruthless killer. As Mouse’s investigation leads her ever closer to their true, deadly nature, can she outwit them without losing everything she holds dear?

Mouse Heart – with its clever, entertaining balance between the light and dark delights of crime mysteries – is a wonderful starter for young readers as Hitchcock invests her adventure with lots of twists and turns, a vibrant cast of superbly imagined characters, and a brave, daring and inspirational female star player. Expect, spies, pirates, rich period detail, and an abundance of drama and theatrics as the curtain rises on one of 2022’s most memorable and imaginative performances!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus
A Perfect Wonderful Day with Friends
Philip Waechter

WITH the summer holidays in full swing, here is the perfect picture book story to celebrate the simple joys of the great outdoors, and the warmth and fun of sharing time with friends. Philip Waechter, a German freelance graphic designer and illustrator, captures the essence and enthusiasm of childhood in his big-hearted picture book about outdoor adventures on the perfect sunny, summer day. Raccoon decides to bake an apple cake but he has no eggs, so visits his friend Fox who needs a ladder to mend the roof. Badger will have one, but he needs help too so they set off to find Bear. They stroll through meadows, meet up with Crow, nibble blackberries and find Bear fishing at the river. Soon the five friends are having the best day out… the sun shining on their fur, fishing, swimming, a picnic and finally home to bake the cake, well, two cakes, because bears have big appetites! In this this funny, feel-good and nostalgia-laden story of a carefree childhood day, where one simple activity leads to another until they all return home, Waechter captures readers’ hearts with his laidback narration, lyrical text, humorous dialogue and exquisite illustrations. Translated from German by Melody Shaw, A Perfect Wonderful Day with Friends uses repetition of language making it the ideal book for reading aloud… preferably in the shelter of a tree on a sun-soaked day!
(Gecko Press, hardback, £11.99)

Age 3 plus
Mr Men Little Miss: Worries
Roger Hargreaves

JUST because you’re little doesn’t mean you don’t have BIG emotions! Inspire, uplift and empower your pre-schoolers with an entertaining, educational and collectible illustrated Mr Men and Little Miss ‘Discover You’ series which helps little ones unpack big feelings. Roger Hargreaves’ eternally popular Mr Men and Little Miss are the ideal characters to help children understand their own – sometimes puzzling – emotions and how to manage them. With engaging questions to encourage conversations and some tips from favourite characters to help children develop their emotional intelligence, these small, carefully created books gently explore big feelings with sensitivity and thought, allowing room for discussion, engagement and fun. In Mr Men Little Miss: Worries, we meet Mr Worry who worries about everything. Can Mr Calm and Little Miss Sunshine help him to ease his worries?  In All Different, an empowering story about appreciating and celebrating our differences, Little Miss Tiny wishes she was taller while Mr Tickle loves his long arms, perfect for tickling. The Mr Men and Little Miss are all different, and it’s time for them to realise that they are all uniquely brilliant in their own way.

In Try Again, an inspiring story about self-esteem and resilience, Little Miss Brave approaches life head on, bravely facing any challenge while Mr Bump finds that he bumps and trips his way through life but always bounces back. Being able to adapt and recover from change or misfortune is as important for us as it is for the Mr Men and Little Miss. And in Be Kind, a story about the power of kindness and the happiness it brings, Mr Happy loves making his friends happy by doing kind deeds while Mr Mean finds it the hardest to be kind. Can Mr Happy and Little Miss Giggles help him to learn that small acts of kindness bring much happiness? With colourful characters on every page, and gentle, reassuring messages about feelings and emotions, these clever little books are perfect additions to any home, nursery or school.
(Farshore, paperback, £4.99 each)

Age 9 plus
The Last Monster
Dan Walker

AFTER the success of his fabulous fantasy adventure, The Light Hunters, children’s author Dan Walker sweeps us back into the thrilling world of the youngsters whose mission is to save the world from Monsters. Walker’s books have been nominated for many awards and his sense of pace and gift for exciting storytelling shine through in this gripping sequel. The Light Hunters have fought Monsters for centuries and Squad Juno are the very best at it. From cities to villages, the young group’s abilities are on show for all to see now that their powers don’t have to be used in secret. Every victory they have prevents a Monster from taking more victims, preventing more loss. Lux Dowd, Squad Juno’s healer, has had more than enough loss... but a more immediate loss is that of his powers. Lux can’t – or won’t – heal his team-mates. Whenever he tries, a terrible energy comes from within and hurts the people around him. Lux can’t afford to lose any more of those he cares about. Sent on a mission that could end their war against the Monsters, the Light Hunters soon find themselves making new allies in their quest to unearth an Ancient secret that may be able to stop the attacks. Could this really be the last monster they fight? Young readers will love catching up with Lux and Squad Juno in this edge-of-the-seat adventure which delivers action and twists at every turn of the page whilst exploring the rewards of teamwork, true friendship and trust.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Fire Power
J.M. Joseph

SET your summer reading on fire with the third and final book in a hilariously hot and flamingly funny series from master of comedy J.M. Joseph. Fire Power is the follow-up to the hugely popular Fire Boy and Pants on Fire which introduced us to 11-year-old Aidan Sweeney who received a mysterious package of sweets from South America and found that they gave him amazing superpowers, including igniting his body! But it’s not easy being an accidental superhero. Aidan (aka Fire Boy) and the circus he joined are in trouble once again. Aidan’s nemesis, the billionaire Clayton Jones, is spreading fake news throughout the world, painting Aidan as the bad guy. With circus fans dwindling and the world turning against them, Aidan knows it’s once again up to him to save the day. But to do so, he will have to reveal the truth about Clayton Jones… and it looks like Clayton might have some special powers of his own. Joseph certainly knows how to set young imaginations on fire as he peppers his story with quirky chapter headings, notes and doodles which are guaranteed to keep youngsters glued to the page… and giggling all the way to the satisfyingly fiery finale.
(Hodder Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 7 plus
Barb the Brave: The Ghost Blade
Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson

WHEN the going gets tough, Barb the Brave gets going! Welcome to the second high-octane and laugh-out-loud adventure in Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson’s dizzying and delightful graphic novel series which well and truly hits the funny spot with young readers. Abdo and Patterson (aka Dan & Jason) have developed numerous animated campaigns, network TV and web series in both the US and UK and their latest star, Barb, is the top of the current crop. Barb is a Berzerker, one of an elite crew of warriors who protect the land of Bailiwick from the scourge of monsters. The evil Witch Head has captured all of the adult Berzerkers… cue Barb to the rescue! But she’s not alone because Barb has got her own amateur crew of wannabe zerks, made up of farmers, monsters, and her best pal Porkchop the yeti. This ragtag gang must infiltrate Maug Horn, the monster capital, and find Franny Fire Fingers, who they hope will lead them to the Wise Wizards and the power to fight Witch Head. But when Barb’s powerful Shadow Blade sword is no match for the evil she encounters, she must learn that her true power comes from her own heart. With a high-stakes adventure, action sequences bursting out of every page, a fine line in knockabout humour, and a cast of super-quirky characters to enjoy, this is top notch reading for fans of Bunny Vs Monkey, Disney’s Brave and Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man.
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 6 plus
Space Blasters: Suzie Saves the Universe
Katie and Kevin Tsang and Amy Nguyen

MEET Suzie Wen, an extraordinary girl who loves gadgets and inventing things… even if her inventions don’t always turn out how she expects! Blast off for fun and space facts with a super new space-themed adventure series from bestselling husband and wife team Katie and Kevin Tsang. With the fabulous illustrations of Amy Nguyen bringing all the action to life, this awesome and laughter-packed series is fun, accessible and has STEM themes woven throughout, including real mind-bending space facts and pages from Suzie’s inventors’ notebook. When Suzie invents the Super 3DTV Gizmo, she ends up getting transported into her favourite TV show… Space Blasters! On board the space ship with Captain Jane, Spaceman Jack and alien with attitude Five-Eyed Frank, Suzie is soon exploring new planets – like the smelly Planet Cheddar – and meeting plenty of aliens. But when moons start disappearing, it’s up to Suzie to save the universe. Can she put her inventing skills to use, and will she ever get home? With its highly illustrated story, plenty of fascinating facts to enjoy, and all the madcap antics of Suzie and her quirky crew, this brilliant new series is guaranteed to leave youngsters over the moon!
(Farshore, paperback, £6.99)

Age 6 plus
Puppy Club: Lulu’s Big Surprise
Catherine Jacob and Rachael Saunders

ANIMAL magic comes adorably alive in the first book of a gorgeous new early reader series from author Catherine Jacob and illustrator Rachael Saunders. Packed with puppy love and a cast of characters that youngsters will take to their heart, this is the ideal book to make the leap from picture books to chapter books. Jaya and her friends Willow, Harper and Elsa all dream of having a dog and are desperate for a puppy of their own. They’ve even created Puppy Club to find out all they need to know. When the time comes, they will be the perfect owners! So when Jaya’s aunt, who runs Underdogs Rescue Centre, tells Jaya that new dog Lulu is expecting puppies, it feels like the girls’ best chance to get their parents to agree. It’s time for Operation Paw-fect Puppy! Along with new Puppy Club members, Arlo and Daniel, the children set about trying to prove to their parents what responsible owners they would be. But will it be enough to persuade them? Puppy heaven for animal lovers!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £5.99)

Age 3 plus
Captain Cuddles
Maudie Powell-Tuck and Julio Antonio Blasco

SUPERHEROES don’t have to be super-awesome, sometimes they are just… well, cuddly! Stretch out your arms and give a big book hug to Captain Cuddles, a hilarious hero who is saving the world one hug at a time. Top team, author Maudie Powell-Tuck and illustrator Julio Antonio Blasco work their special magic on this cuddle-filled picture book caper with a wickedly funny and huggable story full of twists and turns, and Blasco’s fantastic, colour-filled illustrations. Rascally bank robbery? Runaway train? Never fear, Captain Cuddles is here! The world’s snuggliest superhero can turn baddies into goodies with just the power of… a HUG! But watch out, Captain, there’s a wicked flea on the loose! Will Captain Cuddles’ superhero squeeze be enough to save the day? Or will he be blasted off far, far away? With flaps to lift and die-cut shaped pages for curious little readers, this is the perfect snuggle-up story for bedtime reading.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Who’s Hiding?
Satoru Onishi

LEARNING is definitely fun with Japanese author and illustrator Satoru Onishi’s classic bestseller Who’s Hiding? and now a new sturdy board book format of the much-loved book makes it accessible to even the youngest child. This brilliantly inventive and engrossing look and search puzzle book features many interactive layers and is ideal for reading aloud. Keep your eyes peeled as eighteen colourful animals, including everything from Dog, Tiger and Hippo to Zebra, Bear, Reindeer and Kangaroo, do something new on every page. Can you spot what it is? Who’s hiding, who’s crying, who has horns, who’s facing backwards? Look carefully because the answers to these questions are not as simple as they first appear. Everything changes on every double page as the animals disappear, turn around, cry or sleep, and young children love spotting the changes and getting to know the animal names, colours, expressions, emotions and how to count. Ideal for testing children’s observation, memory, recognition skills and vocabulary, the book is educational and challenging without being too daunting, and offers fun as well as learning.
(Gecko Press, board book, £8.99)

Age 2 plus
The Worry Jar
Lou John and Jenny Bloomfield

‘Everybody has worries. And worrying
about them makes them worse.’
THE words of a little girl’s granny ring loud and true in a beautiful, reassuring picture book from author Lou John and illustrator Jenny Bloomfield. Managing worries is hard for everyone but it can seem like a mountain to climb for little ones so help build their confidence and teach them a simple but effective coping method with this heartwarming and uplifting story. Frida worries all the time. Big worries, small worries, and all-the-time worries. Her worries feel heavy, just like the pebbles she collects every day. Some days, Frida’s worries become the only thing she can think about but then, one day, her granny teaches her an ingenious way to keep her worries in check with a jar full of worry pebbles. And Frida finally feels the weight of her fears slip away. With John’s cleverly created and gentle story, and Bloomfield's beautifully observed illustrations bringing Frida’s feelings and experiences vividly to life, this is a must-have book for school, nursery and home.
(Oxford University Press, hardback, £11.99)

Age 2 plus
What Can You See? In Space
Kate Ware and Maria Perera

DISCOVER the wonders of the universe in a clever peep-through board book with intriguing cut-out pages that take you on a journey through outer space! With simple, bite-size fun facts about rocket launches, astronauts, walking on the moon, comets whizzing through the sky, our solar system and galaxy, little ones will love peeping through the pages and following the space adventure from mission control and blast off to the enormous Milky Way. With its sturdy board book pages, richly detailed, bright and bold illustrations by Maria Perera, Kate Ware’s fascinating facts, intriguing peep-through pages and endless hidden details to spot, this is the perfect introduction to the joy of books, the fun of learning… and the vast and amazing universe! Also available in the series are What Can You See? On the Farm, What Can You See? At Night and What Can You See? On the Building Site.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)

Age one plus
Toddler Take-Along: Things That Go
Becky Davies and Ana Zaja Petrak

THERE are so many things that go to discover outside… what will YOU spot? There’s a transport of delight inside the chunky pages of this fun and informative board book which encourages little ones to explore their environment, have adventures in the great outdoors, and spot and recognise the different vehicles around them. Toddlers will love carrying the book around with the pair of bright and sturdy fabric handles. Inside the book, there are simple labels to help curious explorers identify the transport in their own surroundings, Ana Zaja Petrak’s bright, colourful illustrations bring the scenes to life, and the peep-through pages provide extra fun. Toddler Take-Along: Things That Go is the second title in Little Tiger’s clever and educational new board book series which focuses on child-led learning. Also available in the series is Toddler Take-Along: Nature. Perfect books for keeping little ones busy when you’re out for a walk!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)