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)
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
(Firefly Press, paperback, £6.99)
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)
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)
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.
(Caterpillar Books, £7.99 each)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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