Age 7 plus
Operation Nativity
Jenny Pearson and Katie Kear
IT shouldn’t happen to the Angel Gabriel! The race to save Christmas is on in a sparkling festive, feel-good adventure from the Costa Award-shortlisted Jenny Pearson whose brilliant books are based on a wonderful mix of all the children she has ever taught. With beautiful cover and inside illustrations from the talented Katie Kear and some extra fun Christmassy activities to enjoy, Operation Nativity has everything you could want from a Christmas story... laughter, heartwarming messages about love, hope and togetherness, and the timeless joy of celebrating the season with your family.
Oscar, Molly and their parents are spending Christmas with
their grandparents, the Cuthbert-Andersons, at their grand home, Barlington
Hall, in the pretty Hampshire village of Chipping Bottom. Mum isn’t keen
because of the ordeal of taking part in Barlington’s chaotic annual nativity
play but what they don’t yet know is that this year is going to be a Christmas
they will never forget! It all starts when Oscar and Molly rush outside to
investigate a crash in the night and are shocked to find a dazed Angel Gabriel
wandering around their grandparents’ back garden. And they are certainly not
expecting to find themselves in a race to save Christmas but if they don’t
track down a missing shepherd called Steve, Balthazar the wise man, the donkey
and the actual Mary and Joseph, who have all crash-landed in Chipping Bottom
thanks to an angelic mishap, not only will Christmas cease to exist but they
will too. Operation Nativity is on!
If you love epic adventures, a cast of the quirkiest
characters you’ll find this side of Christmas, an extra-large dose of festive vibes,
and a story that acts like a warm and cuddly book hug, then Operation Nativity
is the Christmas cracker you’ve been looking for. Don’t miss the ride!
(Usborne Publishing, hardback, £12.99)
Age 9 plus
The Three Hares: The Terracotta Horse
Scott Lauder and David Ross
(Neem Tree Press, paperback, £8.99)
The Long Weekend
Savita Kalhan
‘It was a decision made without thinking... you just act. Or
follow.
You don’t stop and think: Should I be doing this?’
TWO schoolboys find themselves in deadly danger when they
accept a lift from a stranger in a tense and compelling tale from Savita Kalhan,
an author who was born in India but moved to the UK when she was young. On the
run from a cruel and remorseless abductor, The Long Weekend will have readers
on the edge of their seats as Kalhan weaves a fast-paced and action-packed adventure
which sends out important messages as well as providing a gripping,
contemporary thriller. Eleven-year-old Sam is the new kid at school but fortunately
he has already made a new friend... Lloyd who just happens to be the coolest
kid in the class. ‘Isn’t this your car we’re riding in?' In a mix-up over who
is supposed to be collecting them from school, Sam and Lloyd make a colossal
mistake when they accept a lift home in a big, flashy car driven by a man who
seems to be friendly. But now they are in a dark mansion in the middle of
nowhere with the man who wants to harm them. And Sam doesn’t know how to get
them out. First, they were trapped, then separated and now they are alone. Can
either of them get out alive? There are chills and thrills from almost page one of this
breathless and hypnotic story which carries a brutally honest warning about
stranger danger and the risks of taking lifts but also celebrates the power of
bravery, loyalty and true friendship. Perfectly pitched for young teens longing
to have their freedom.
(Troika Books, paperback, £8.99)
Scattered Showers
Rainbow Rowell and Jim Tierney
BESTSELLING US author Rainbow Rowell has won fans all over
the world by writing about love and life in a way that feels true and after the
big success of teen books like Eleanor & Park, Fangirl, Attachments,
Landline, Pumpkinheads, and the Simon Snow trilogy, she leaps back into the
spotlight with her first short-story collection, Scattered Showers. And it’s
everything you would expect from a Rainbow Rowell book... nine beautifully
crafted love stories. From girl meeting boy camping outside a movie theatre and
best friends debating the merits of high school dances to a prince romancing a
troll, a girl romancing an imaginary boy and Simon Snow himself returning for a
holiday adventure, Scattered Showers is
a feast of irresistible characters, hilarious dialogue, and masterful
storytelling. With nine short stories to enjoy and the welcome appearance of
familiar faces from previous books (think Reagan from Fangirl and Beth and
Jennifer from Attachments), Omaha-based Rowell has put her heart and soul into
this book of love which features the fabulous illustrations of Jim Tierney and
is an unmissable treat for Rainbow fans old and new.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £16.99)
The Marcus Rashford You Are a Champion Action Planner
Marcus Rashford with Katie Warriner
‘One of the best things you can do for yourself is imagine a
world
where you can reach your full potential. The more you picture that,
the
easier it becomes to make that dream happen.’
BE inspired and empowered by the
words of star footballer Marcus Rashford with his You Are a Champion Action
Planner, an interactive guide that will show you how to become a champion in
anything you put your mind to. Rashford has inspired millions of children
around the world with his award-winning guide for life, You Are a Champion, and
now he has created a fun and engaging action planner packed with positive
activities, brilliant advice and inspiring challenges that will help youngsters
reach their full potential. Rashford has once again teamed up with performance
psychologist Katie Warriner and journalist Carl Anka, his collaborators on You
Are a Champion, to help youngsters achieve their dreams. With chapters
including Mindset Matters, Fuel your Adventures and Success and Setbacks, each
section of the book asks children thought-provoking and pertinent questions and
sets them tasks to do as well as space to fill in their answers, results and
thoughts. Just like each child, the action planner is unique to each of its
owners and will become a diary-like tool for children to use both now and in
the future.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
The Wild Verses
Helen Mort and Sarah Maycock
LOVE, hope, healing and the consoling wonders of the natural
world take centre stage in a beautiful and emotive poetry collection from award-winning
author Helen Mort. Fabulously illustrated by the extraordinarily talented,
self-taught animal artist Sarah Maycock, The Wild Verses invite you to slow
down, reflect and to seek solace in our fast-paced world through poetry and
nature. From comforting words of hope and healing to meditations on love and
friendship, this striking collection has a verse for every feeling. From joy to
hard times, and from time out and letting go to regrouping and finding safety
in numbers, Mort’s thoughtful and inspirational words reveal the mind as an
incredible landscape of moods, reflection and emotions. Siblings, partners,
friends and family all come under her watchful eye while Maycock’s glorious
ink-based artwork adds extra power to the words within this stunningly crafted
book. Verbal and visual perfection!
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £16.99)
The Corny Scaredy-Cat Paranormal Investigation Squad
David Wandsworth and Rory Walker
GET ready to giggle and gasp as you dive into teacher (and
now author) David Wandsworth’s captivating debut novel starring a
neurodivergent boy whose fears are banished by the hilarious antics of a
charismatic sibling duo... and a bunch of ghosts! Eleven-year-old Alastair
leads a lonely life in darkest Cornwall... his parents ignore him, his only
friend has moved away, and he’s beset by a host of frankly embarrassing nervous
conditions that ensures permanent ostracism from the rest of his class. But
then who should arrive in the village but Saoirse, a new girl, cool where
Alastair is pathetic, smart where he is perennially confused, unconcerned with
school popularity contests and obsessed with unsolved mysteries involving
ghosts. In her wake is her adorably potty-mouthed little brother Billy, crazy,
reckless, a force of nature and a law unto himself. Everywhere he goes, Billy
creates a hurricane of chaos to which he is oblivious. Saoirse pressgangs
Alastair and Billy into a team of wonderfully incompetent ghost hunters and,
through their adventure into the village’s murky past, replete with sinister
sword-wielding ghosts, Alastair is forced to confront his own shortcomings as
well as his greatest fears. With Rory Walker’s anarchic illustrations bringing
the ghost hunters’ comic adventures to life, Wandsworth’s twisting, turning, riotous
romp cannot fail to tickle young readers’ funny bones. Add on a cast of
adorable and quirky characters, important themes of friendship, being true to
yourself and overcoming insecurities, and you have a brilliant story that
entertains, empowers... and makes you laugh!
(Everything with Words, paperback, £7.99)
Through the Looking-glass and What Alice Found There
Lewis Carroll and Sir John Tenniel
THERE could be no better way to celebrate Christmas than
with a truly Wonderland keepsake edition of Lewis Carroll’s iconic Through the
Looking-glass and What Alice Found There. First published by Macmillan more
than 150 years ago, Carroll’s iconic stories about Alice – illustrated by Sir
John Tenniel – have been loved and enjoyed by generations of children the world
over, and this charming miniature hardback, with a special gold-foiled jacket
and pages, is the ideal stocking filler for all Alice fans and a must-have for
every collector’s bookshelf. Featuring a Christmas letter from Lewis Carroll as
a foreword, this unique edition contains Carroll’s complete, original text and
Tenniel’s illustrations throughout as Alice’s extraordinary adventures are
brought to life. Follow her as she gets caught up in the great looking-glass
chess game, sets off across a gigantic chequerboard landscape to claim her
crown on the final square and meets unforgettable characters along the way,
such as Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and Humpty Dumpty. Add on famous poems like
The Walrus and The Carpenter and Jabberwocky to enjoy, and you have the perfect
festive package!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £9.99)
Speak Up!
Written and illustrated by Rebecca Burgess
A YOUNG girl’s struggles to manage her autism and beat the
bullies takes centre stage in an inspirational and moving coming-of-age graphic
novel debut from Rebecca Burgess, an autistic writer and illustrator who has
faced personal battles. Speak Up!, published by Quill Tree Books, an imprint of
HarperCollins, follows an autistic girl who finds friendship where she least
expects it and learns to express her true self in a world where everyone
defines her by her differences. Twelve-year-old Mia is just trying to navigate
a world that doesn’t understand her true autistic self. While she wishes she
could stand up to her bullies, she has always been able to express her feelings
through singing and songwriting, even more so with her best friend, Charlie,
who is nonbinary, putting together the best beats for her. Together, they have
taken the internet by storm but little do Mia’s classmates know that she is the
viral singer Elle-Q! While the chance to perform live for a local talent show
has Charlie excited, Mia isn’t so sure. She will have to decide whether she
will let her worries about what other people think get in the way of not only
her friendship with Charlie, but also show everyone, including the bullies, who
she is and what she has to say. This clever, empowering and emotion-packed
story pushes against many stereotypes and provides much-needed autism
representation as Burgess writes from personal experiences and the
self-acceptance of being autistic. Life-affirming and brimming with wonderfully
expressive artwork, Speak Up! sends out important messages in a voice that is
loud, clear and convincing.
(Quill Tree Books, paperback, £9.99)
Luna
Holly Webb and Jo Anne Davies
ONE of the UK’s best-loved children’s authors, Holly Webb
works her mesmerising animal magic on an enchanting time-slip adventure starring
a bear in need of some human help. Luna is just the latest book in Webb’s adorable
Animal Stories series which has sold hundreds of thousands of copies since the
first book hit the shelves in 2006. In this new wintertime story, we meet Hannah
who knows there is something special about the wooden bear cub puppet from the
moment she buys it at a Christmas market. So when the puppet gets broken, distraught
Hannah cries herself to sleep. Woken by a growling noise, she finds herself in a
stable and wearing strange old-fashioned clothes. And then she comes face to
face with a real-life bear cub! The cub has been locked in, ready to be put on
show at the local market. Can Hannah return the bear to the wild and find a way
back to her own time? Jo Anne Davies provides the gorgeous black and white
illustrations, and with cover art by Britta Teckentrup, this beautiful,
heartwarming and snow-sprinkled adventure is the perfect gift and guaranteed to
capture the heart of any child who can’t resist the mystery, magic and majesty of
animals!
(Stripes Publishing, paperback, £6.99)
The Midnight Moon Feast
Emma Beswetherick and Anna Woodbine
HOW to save the planet... one adventure at a time! Author
Emma Beswetherick and illustrator Anna Woodbine return with the latest
exciting, eco-themed mission in their empowering The Playdate Adventures series
which teaches young readers about the value of friendship and the issues facing
our planet today. Join Katy, Cassie, Zia and Luca as they work together to save
the planet. The friends are having a sleepover when they discover that the
usually fearless Zia always sleeps with the light on. To help her, they plan
their first ever magical midnight feast. Soon, they find themselves in a
moonlit forest surrounded by nocturnal creatures. But something isn’t right...
the animals don’t know if it’s night or day. The four friends and Thunder the
cat race to the rescue. Can they save their sleepy forest friends before the
clock strikes twelve? Beswetherick – whose aim is to write exciting,
inspirational and enabling adventure stories to share with children – covers
everything from deforestation and litter on the streets to climate change and
water conservation in this entertaining and informative series. With Anna
Woodbine’s illustrations bringing the fun and action to life, these books are
the perfect read for your own little eco-warriors.
(Rock the Boat, paperback, £5.99)
Lunar New Year Around the World
Amanda Li and Angel Chang
CELEBRATE the most colourful time of the year! From
fireworks and festivals to home-cooked meals and treasured traditions, Lunar
New Year is a colourful celebration across the world and now youngsters can
learn all about it in this stunning picture book. Lunar New Year Around the
World, written by award-winning author Amanda Li and brimming with the gorgeous
illustrations of Angel Chang, an illustrator from Taiwan who lives with
high-functioning autism symptoms, is the perfect introduction for little ones
to Lunar New Year celebrations. Through the eyes of the children across the
globe, meet families in China, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, as
well as in bustling cities like San Francisco, London, Sydney and Toronto. And
join them in their celebrations at home and on the streets in parades, lantern
festivals and in temples. Packed with fascinating facts, eye-catching artwork
and a gold-foiled cover, this is a beautiful and informative book for curious young
readers who love finding out about then world’s different traditions.
(Studio Press, paperback, £7.99)
Eight Nights, Eight Lights
Natalie Barnes and Andrea Stegmaier
AND as Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, draws near,
discover how this special time of year brings people together and light to the
darkness in a beautiful, atmospheric picture book from Hertfordshire writer
Natalie Barnes and German illustrator Andrea Stegmaier. Eight Nights, Eight
Lights is a story celebrating Chanukah, told across eight nights, and exploring
the much-loved time for songs and prayer, delicious food and friendship, and fun
and family. Celebrate each night of Chanukah, known to some as Hanukkah, with
eight different families and learn about the rituals and traditions which make
up this wonderful holiday. With Stegmaier’s rich, emotive and colourful illustrations
and Barnes’ lyrical, rhythmic text, this lovingly created book is the ideal
gift to share with children. With its comforting and cosy ethos, the book is
also perfect for any child who wants to learn more about The Festival of Lights
which this year will be celebrated from Sunday, December 18 to the evening of
Monday, December 26.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)
Floof
Heidi McKinnon
EVERYONE loves a kitten... but not many people have yet
encountered a kitten like this! So meet fluffy Floof, a furball of laid-back
loveliness and the creation of Melbourne author/illustrator Heidi McKinnon. The
bestselling creator of I Just Ate MY Friend, Baz & Benz and There’s No Such
Thing is back to make cat lovers purr with delight as she introduces Floof.
Floof is floofy. Floof is VERY floofy. Floof is the floofiest! Floof is going
to have a very busy day... sleeping, meowing, sleeping, hiding, sleeping,
eating and sleeping. With its superbly understated, bold and expressive
illustrations and clever design, Floof provides lots of fun for grown-ups
reading the story aloud to little ones who will love noticing when the text
says one thing and the illustrations say quite another! A must-have for cat
fans of every age!
(Allen & Unwin Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)
Perfect Presents!
Anke Kuhl
SOME gifts are not to everyone’s taste but a little lizard
is quite sure that the presents he has bought for his owl friend will go down a
treat! Spread love, giggles and happiness this Christmas with a comic gift book
that will delight readers of any age... but especially those who are hard to
buy for. With lots of comic strip style fun and the hilarious illustrations of
award-winning German Anke Kuhl, this story about gifts and the joy of giving
stars the lizard who watches increasingly fearfully as the owl wolfs down each
one of his presents... and then reaches out greedily for the lizard! With comic
tension and a funny twist, the reader thinks the lizard may get eaten, but all
turns out well as the story finishes with a big kiss and a cup of peppermint
tea. ‘Perfect presents,’ says his friend. This whimsical, warm-hearted tale
makes an ideal stocking filler or a present for giving all-year round at
birthdays, anniversaries or any celebration.
(Gecko Press, hardback, £7.99)
I Can Learn: I Can Count
Lauren Crisp and Thomas Elliott
LEARNING how to count is hands-on fun with this innovative and
interactive board book from Little Tiger Press’s bright and bold I Can Learn
series. The series lets youngsters explore colours, shapes, counting and many
other first concepts through special features such as tactile elements like beads,
sound buttons and flaps, helping to reinforce learning and strengthen hand-eye
co-ordination. In this clever new novelty book, a colourful ten-piece wooden
bead abacus encourages youngsters to enjoy using their hands as they get to
grips with counting and gain the skills and confidence to recognise how numbers
work. With a text that prompts children to use the abacus and put their
counting skills into practice, little ones learn the concept of counting in a
way that is both educational and entertaining. Add on Thomas Elliott’s bright,
child-friendly illustrations, a simple vocabulary, author Lauren Crisp’s gentle
rhymes and the fun of sliding the beads, and you can count on the perfect gift
book for the Christmas season!
(Caterpillar Books, board book, £9.99)
123 Sleepy Me
Sophie Aggett and Gareth Lucas
THE countdown to bedtime begins when little ones get their
hands on this super board book and its special magic touch! 123 Sleepy Me –
written in a sweet rhyming text by Sophie Aggett and illustrated by the award-winning
Gareth Lucas – is the new title in Little Tiger Press’s Textured Touch Counting
Books series which features unique textured numbers on its pages. ‘One little
night star shining over you. Glow worm spots another and that makes… two!’
Settle down with five sleepy bugs as they say goodnight to their friends and
count the twinkly stars using the special, colourful numbers. Each title
features fun and simple counting prompts to engage little learners. The tactile
numbers one to five, each made of moulded plastic, peek through the pages for
little hands to trace and each number has a different textured pattern to help
with memory association. Ideal for practising hand-eye co-ordination and teaching
first numbers, this is a bedtime counting book with a difference!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)
Houses
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. Fourth 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 Houses which lets little ones discover a
world of opposites with different kinds of houses. From new houses to old, a
country house to a town house, and a small house to a tall house, 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 Vehicles, People and Animals, the three
earlier books in this inventive opposites series.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £6.99)
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