CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Boredom-busting fun for the Easter holidays

Keep your little ones out of mischief this Easter with a super selection of activity and reading books guaranteed to inform, educate and entertain

Age 3 plus
Rabbits Don’t Lay Eggs!
Paula Metcalf and
Cally Johnson-Isaacs

IT wouldn’t be Easter without a funny bunny so hop on down to the farm with this fun-filled, bouncy story that is just perfect for reading aloud! One sunny spring day, a new animal arrives at the farm... Rupert the rabbit who is eager to make himself useful. But no matter how hard he tries, he can’t cock-a-doodle-doo like Cockerel… and he certainly can’t lay eggs like Dora the duck. The other animals might poo-poo Rupert’s efforts but a carrot a day (well, a lot more than one carrot!) finally wins them over. It turns out that everyone can be useful... it’s just a matter of discovering exactly what that might be. Little ones will love this gorgeous, gigglesome spring-time story from author Paula Metcalf and illustrator Cally Johnson-Isaacs. Packed with bold and beautiful illustrations and a story full of child-appeal, Rupert the rabbit’s escapades are the perfect Easter treat!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Sticker Dolly Dressing: Easter
Fiona Watt and Non Figg

EASTER will soon be here and it’s time to pick the perfect outfit for a day out in the spring sunshine! Hours of hands-on fun are guaranteed with the new Sticker Dolly Dressing book, one of Usborne Publishing’s best and most popular series. And this magical new book is bulging with gorgeous sticker clothes and accessories to dress the dolls and decorate the pages. Have fun choosing the stickers to create outfits for the dolls as they go on an Easter egg hunt, feed hungry newborn lambs, decorate eggs, plant spring flowers, picnic in the park, visit the weekend market and handle day-old chicks. There are thirty-four dolls to dress and the vast array of stickers includes fun accessories like bags, radios, boots, animals, baking tools and headbands. Children won’t be stuck for something to do with this beautiful activity book full of dolls to dress and scenes to decorate. And with so many reusable stickers to choose from, this is a springtime show no young fashionista will want to miss!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
Peep Inside Springtime
Anna Milbourne and Stephanie Fizer Coleman

LONG before a child learns to read between the lines, here’s the perfect way to let them peep between the pages. Usborne’s Peep Inside series has become a firm favourite with pre-schoolers and this close-up look at the natural world in springtime is brought to life in an enchanting kaleidoscope of vivid colours, creatures and cutaways. Children can lift the flaps, peer through tiny cutaways and mysterious holes as they discover how the days get warmer, leaves grow and flowers pop up, and all the animals get busy. Peep under blossom, behind the meadow flowers and into the pond to find nests full of chicks, baby bunnies, wiggly tadpoles, and other animals bustling around the countryside in spring. The cutaways, flaps and holes are cleverly layered and positioned to draw youngsters into the springtime journey, and Stephanie Fizer Coleman’s lavish illustrations bring the fields and woodlands to life. With plenty to discover, talk about and enjoy, this ingenious peep-inside book is the ideal teaching tool for lessons about springtime!
(Usborne Publishing, board book, £8.99)

Age 3 plus
Wipe-Clean Easter Activities
Kirsteen Robson and Manola Caprini

JOIN a host of children and animals as they head out into the great outdoors for a journey of discovery, writing and puzzles! Developing young children’s ability to count and observe, and teaching them to control a pen or pencil on a page are all essential early skills on their journey to writing letters and numbers. It takes time and practice so this Usborne Early Years Wipe-Clean book is the ideal first step. This fun, Easter-themed book is full of puzzles and activities and can be used again and again to practise pen-control. The entertaining activities encourage little children to solve mazes, join dots, spot differences and trace over numbers and pictures. They can then wipe the page clean and do it all again. With a special wipe-clean pen included, this is the perfect starter package for your budding puzzlers and wordsmiths!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £6.99)

Age 2 plus
Hooray for Hoppy:
A First Book of Senses
Tim Hopgood

HOPPY the Rabbit has five good reasons to enjoy the arrival of spring… and he’s discovering just how useful it is to be able to smell, see, hear, touch and taste! Hooray for Hoppy is a beautifully created board book from Booktrust award-winning illustrator Tim Hopgood… it’s easy to handle, full of discovery and helps little ones to make sense of their senses. After a winter of cold and ice, Hoppy the rabbit wakes up on the first day of spring and discovers a world full of wonderful things! But after he’s sniffed the fresh air, listened to the singing birds and tasted the green grass, he starts to feel a little lonely. Will he find a way to wake up his friends so they can enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of spring too? This bold, colourful and appealing introduction to the senses helps children to learn about the way they can use their five senses to interact with the world around them, whilst the stunning, rainbow-coloured artwork has a delightful retro charm that will appeal to readers young and old. Little ones will also love joining in with Hoppy’s ‘hoorays’ and the final activity spread about how to use your senses. So don’t miss the fun with Hoppy as he makes sense of the world around him!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, board book, £6.99)

Age one plus
Easter Sound Book
Sam Taplin and Jo Rooks

SOUNDS like fun... and it IS fun! Press the buttons inside this delightful board book and hear all the springtime animals the Easter Bunny meets as he sets off on his special Easter egg hunt. The Easter Bunny is hiding his eggs in different places and it’s up to little egg hunters to spot them on each spread. Along the way, enjoy pressing the sound buttons to hear birds singing in the trees, church bells ringing, chicks cheeping in the farmyard, and ducklings quacking on the river. With an on/off button on the back of the book, Jo Rooks’ gorgeous colour illustrations and Sam Taplin’s adorable text, this is a hands-on winner for your babies and toddlers.
(Usborne Publishing, board book, £7.99)

Age one plus
Fingerwiggly Easter Bunnies
Felicity Brooks and Elsa Martins

GET a wiggle on because Easter is here! Children will love getting their hands – and their fingers! – on this creative board book story which lets all the family get in on the act. There are guaranteed giggles as two people wiggle their fingers in the holes of this book to tell the story of two fun-loving, little bunnies on the hunt for Easter eggs. Both little ones and their grown-ups can stick their fingers through the holes to become the ears and paws of two little bunnies as they hop through the forest hunting for Easter eggs. Felicity Brooks’ simple, rhyming text and Elsa Martins’ delightful illustrations combine perfectly in this engaging interactive board book which lets parents and children become the characters, meet fantastic friends, and join them for a very wiggly finale. The interactive play helps encourage a young child’s mental and physical development, boosting cognitive behaviour and motor skills. So what are you waiting for... get wiggling!
(Usborne Publishing, board book, £6.99)

Age one plus
Where is Little Bunny?
Illustrated by Hannah Abbo

PLAY a game of hide and seek with Little Bunny in the meadow... and get ready for some pop-up surprises! Babies and toddlers will love following the clues and lifting the sturdy flaps with peep-through holes in this adorable board book. See if Little Bunny is hiding underneath the flaps and meet his animal friends along the way as you explore the meadow. And look out for big grins when a surprise pop-up ending reveals Little Bunny’s secret hiding place! With bright, bold illustration by Hannah Abbo, and a story full of clues and activities that help build vocabulary, memory and fine motor skills, this an ideal gift for the family’s youngest members. And if you’re on the go, you can scan the QR code on each book to listen to an audio reading!
(Campbell Books, board book, £6.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: The cell network, a princely classic and our inner awesome

Discover how an incredible thirty trillion cells work together to form one unique human being, meet a little prince on a visit to Earth from a faraway planet, find your inner strength with a football superstar, enjoy the thrills and spills of the spectacular Circus Maximus in Ancient Rome, and enjoy the fun and facts in a truly kaleidoscopic science book with a new collection of spring children’s titles

Age 9 plus
Thirty Trillion Cells: How Your Body Really Works
Isabel Thomas and Dawn Cooper

‘WHAT a piece of work is a man!’ wrote William Shakespeare and there is no more intricate part of the amazing human body than its network of tiny, but hugely important, cells. And with an incredible thirty trillion cells working together to form one unique human being, these minute particles are the building blocks of rocks and rockets, cars and clouds... and of all living creatures. Award-winning science and nature writer Isabel Thomas tackles the topic of one of the body’s most vital components with her customary child-friendly verve and accessibility as we are invited to travel through our body systems to find out how we move, grow, breathe, sense, think and feel. With Dawn Cooper’s stunning illustrations putting vibrancy and colour into Thomas’s in-depth look at the crucial building blocks of life, children get the inside story on everything from individual cells to complex systems.

Discover why you get butterflies in your stomach, how your brain is more complex than the most powerful computer, and why you are home to more bacteria cells than there are stars in the Milky Way. Thirty Trillion Cells takes readers closer to the very core of the human body than they have likely ever been before as they learn exactly what they are made of, and the ageing and dying of cells which are all natural parts of a human life. Packed with fascinating facts, and lively artwork which puts the human body firmly in focus, this is a book that is just as beautiful to look at it as it is fun to read.
(Welbeck Editions, hardback, £14.99)

Age 6 plus
The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Chris Riddell
and translated by Ros and Chloe Schwartz

THE strange but beautiful tale of a meeting between a pilot whose plane has crash-landed in the desert and a little prince who is visiting Earth from another planet has become a timeless classic in the eighty years since it was first published. And now French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s extraordinary, philosophical bestseller, The Little Prince, springs to stunning and colourful life again under the magical pen, ink and imagination of former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell, regarded as one of the most celebrated illustrators of the 21^st century. A long-time admirer of Saint-Exupéry, Riddell reveals that illustrating The Little Prince was ‘a true passion project.’ He said his approach had been to ‘take the narrator’s point of view and recreate his original drawings and illustrate him creating them.’ This allowed him to become the third person in the story, observing the pilot and the little prince, and setting himself free to imagine his world with as much detail as he could. Saint-Exupéry disappeared whilst flying a mission for the Free French Forces in the Rhone valley in 1944 and was never seen again but now his heartwarming story has been perfectly matched with Riddell’s masterful and otherworldly illustrations.

After crash-landing in the Sahara Desert, a lonely pilot knows he is going to have to make a complicated engine repair on his own. And his life depends on it because he has barely enough drinking water to last a week. But then he encounters an extraordinary little fellow... a little prince who is visiting Earth from his own planet and who tells him a series of wise and enchanting stories. Their strange and moving meeting will illuminate many of life’s universal truths as he comes to learn what it means to be human from a child who is not. With the loving, insightful, perplexed-by-grown-ups Little Prince at its heart, this tenderly told story explores timeless themes of loneliness, friendship, sadness, love and childhood. New readers will love meeting characters such as the coquettish Rose, the knowledgeable Fox and the complex Lamplighter, complete with their fresh and wonderful recreation by a true master of his art. Packed with Riddell’s exquisite and memorable artwork, and printed in full colour in a sumptuous hardback and jacketed edition with gold ribbon marker, this gorgeous gift book will be treasured by families for generations to come.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £25)

Age 9 plus
Wonder: The Natural History Museum Poetry Book
Ana Sampson

THE wonders of the natural world are an endless source of inspiration for artists, writers... and poets! So what could be better than an anthology – covering everything from the depths of space to the very centre of the Earth – which has been created in a special partnership with the Natural History Museum? This beautiful, evocative collection – compiled by bestselling anthologist Ana Sampson – includes poems about the solar system, planet earth, oceans and rivers, birds, dinosaurs, fossils, wildlife, flowers, fungi, insects, explorers and palaeontologists. Each verse section, inspired by the treasures found in the museum, offers an introduction and some footnotes about particularly interesting species as well as featuring botanical drawings and engravings from the museum’s collections. The museum itself has a collection of over eighty million objects and behind the scenes of its twenty-eight galleries are miles of preserved specimens, libraries of rare books and artworks, wonders gathered on some of the most famous voyages in history, rooms packed with pressed plants, warehouses teeming with stuffed animals and freezers full of DNA. The museum is also a state-of-the-art centre for discovery with over three hundred resident scientists and over ten thousand visiting researchers each year, investigating everything from dinosaurs to life on other planets. With classic and modern poems mirroring our incredible planet – dinosaurs great and small, funky fossils, spectacular space, creepy crawlies, amazing mammals, brilliant birds and powerful rivers and oceans – youngsters can get a taste of the work of poets like Neil Gaiman, Paul Cookson, Kate Wakeling, Robert Macfarlane, Grace Nichols and Brian Moses. The perfect celebration of nature, the planet and poetry!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 10 plus
You Have the Power: Find Your Strength and Believe You Can
Leah Williamson and Suzanne Wrack

CAPTAINING the England Lionesses to victory in the UEFA Women’s Euro Championships last summer was one of the proudest moments in the life of Leah Williamson. But it wasn’t the end of the story for this footballing hero because now Leah is determined to help other girls to find their inner strength, believe in themselves and take control of their lives. And as a defender for Arsenal and the first captain in the men’s or women’s senior teams to lead England to a European victory, Leah is uniquely positioned to motivate and inspire younger generations. You Have the Power, an empowering guide for children written with journalist Suzanne Wrack, is filled with stories from Leah’s own life and contains lots of brilliant advice to show young girls how to find their own strength and empower themselves to follow their dreams. By proving that you can be a leader at any age, and that huge things can happen when you believe in yourself, Leah’s life and career demonstrate that youngsters can achieve anything they put your mind to, both on and off the pitch, no matter what other people say. Positively the best guide to inspire, empower and motivate!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
Circus Maximus: Rider of the Storm
Annelise Gray

BREATHTAKING horses, pulsating action, deadly danger, simmering, shimmering mysteries… and a Roman emperor hell-bent on revenge! If you hanker for truly extraordinary adventures – classics in more ways than one – then head off to Rome and share more thrills and spills of the ancient sport of charioteering alongside a courageous girl who dares to take on the best… and win. In the third book of her heart-pounding debut series, classics scholar and Latin teacher Annelise Gray once again brings the Roman world to life with a vibrancy and breathtaking authenticity that cannot fail to capture hearts and minds. A magical blend of real history and dazzling fiction transports us back to the perilous reign of the brutal Emperor Caligula in the first century AD whilst delivering a terrific and inspirational adventure starring Dido, the only girl charioteer ever to have chalked up a victory at the majestic but brutal Circus Maximus.

But it was a win that cost her dear because Caligula was intent on wreaking revenge. So Dido is reconciled to leaving the racing track and staying at home with her racehorse trainer uncle Scorpus and Parmenion, a one-time charioteer. But a storm is brewing and it brings with it a fiery black stallion, uncannily like Dido’s beloved Porcellus. Word arrives from Rome that her cousin, Abibaal, a talented young charioteer, has been recruited to compete for the evil emperor, Caligula. To save young and impetuous Abibaal, Dido must return to the great Circus Maximus track where she once drove to glory herself, reunite with old friends, face being pursued by old enemies, not least the vengeful Caligula, decide what she is prepared to risk to save the ones she loves most... and face the toughest, most dangerous race of her life. Ben Hur meets National Velvet as the intelligent, loyal and passionate Dido must once more summon up the blood to fight deadly battles in a world dominated by men whilst clinging on to hope, courage and redemption in the face of revenge, betrayal and cruelty. With an exciting cast of human and horse characters, and a story that celebrates the close bonds of family, Gray’s gripping adventure gallops along as fast as the prize stallions of the Circus Maximus whilst delivering intriguing snippets of real history and steeping readers in the sights and sounds of the Roman Empire. So saddle up, take the reins and enjoy an extraordinary and exhilarating ride!
(Zephyr, hardback, £14.99)

Age 8 plus
Find Your Calm: A fill-in journal to quiet your busy mind
Catherine Veitch, Sarah Davis and Jessica Smith

EVERYONE has an inner awesome... but if you are finding it hard to unleash, dive into the pages of this stylish fill-in journal and find help to bridge that elusive ‘confidence’ gap. Find Your Calm, written by former teacher Catherine Veitch and creatively illustrated by Jessica Smith, helps youngsters to keep track of their daily life and their dreams for the future, as well as providing advice to increase their sense of calm. Developed with child psychotherapist Sarah Davis, and packed with inspirational quotes and fun activities, as well as tips and tricks for staying calm under pressure, this journal is a great way to understand stress triggers and anxiety. There are recording/logging spreads for day-to-day activities, writing prompts, aspirational planning-ahead features, and lots of space for kids to express themselves in multiple ways. Find Your Calm also explores mental health topics and has a strong focus on mindfulness, creating healthy habits and self-expression, and is the ideal tool for kids who find it hard to understand and express their emotions, hopes and anxieties. So whether you’re looking for tips on staying calm in difficult moments or want to try some mindfulness, this clever and carefully created book could be just what you’re looking for!
(Welbeck Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus
Ultimate Football Heroes:
Vinícius Júnior
Matt and Tom Oldfield

DISCOVER the life stories of the world’s biggest and best footballers with this super series which follows their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. And in this new scintillating story, youngsters are on the trail of star Brazilian player Vinícius Júnior in an action-packed, footballing odyssey. Hailing from a poor family, Vini Jr saw football very much as a hobby rather than a career opportunity but there was no denying that the young boy from Brazil had bags of talent. Moving quickly through the ranks at Flamengo, he immediately caught the eye of the most successful European football club ever and soon joined Real Madrid. Discover how this winger honed his superior close control dribbling ability, added trickery, flair and flamboyance to his playing style, and scored the winning goal in a UEFA Champions League final at only 21 years of age! Written by sports writer brothers Matt and Tom Oldfield in a fast-paced, action-packed style, this new ultimate football hero story is guaranteed to be bang on goal with all aspiring young players!
(Dino Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 7 plus
Can You Get Rainbows in Space?
Dr Sheila Kanani and Liz Kay

HAVE you ever wondered how flamingos become pink, why some flames burn green, and why an octopus has blue blood? Some of the weird, wonderful and – yes – colourful facts about nature are explored and explained in this truly kaleidoscopic science book which takes youngsters on a thrilling ride and allows them to enjoy seeing the world through a whole new spectrum! Can You Get Rainbows in Space? has been written by Dr Sheila Kanani, a planetary physicist, science presenter, secondary school physics teacher, space comedian and published author, with a background in astrophysics and astronomy research. Packed with fun and facts, this colourful compendium of space and science is brought to vibrant life by the stunning illustrations of Liz Kay from West Yorkshire as we travel through the rainbow and into the great blue yonder on an unforgettable, colour-filled adventure. From tiny iridescent insects to the ‘blue moon,’ children will love to learn about the unique way hippos keep cool, why gold is useful in space and why a monkey’s bright red bottom is much more important than you might think!

Find out why blood is red, why carrots are orange, who invented the light bulb, why the world is ‘going green’ and what ultraviolet light is. Discover why a hippo’s sweat is red, how some animals are able to glow in the dark and how others change their colours to hide from predators. Do you know why leaves change colour in the autumn, why your veins look blue but your blood is red, and why the sea looks blue and why the language we use shapes the colours we see. Using Dr Kanani’s accessible, bite-sized facts and Kay’s fabulous illustrations, this ingenious and inventive book is perfect for your curious youngsters to discover the answers to these questions, and it will even tell you exactly how to make a rainbow... in space!
(Puffin, hardback, £14.99)

Age 7 plus
The Other Edie Trimmer
Jacqueline Wilson

TWO girls, one name, and a twist in time! Step into the past and get a taste of the sights, sounds and smells of Victorian London in an exciting new time-slip novel from one of Britain’s bestselling and most beloved children’s authors Jacqueline Wilson. Filled with Wilson’s customary extensive research, larger-than-life characters and dazzling storytelling, The Other Edie Trimmer is a joy from start to finish. ‘I seemed to be seeing double. I saw two Edies instead of one – but they weren’t the same.’ Edie is fascinated by Victorian times, and she is just desperate to be cast in the lead role of her drama club production of Oliver. When she’s given a real Victorian notebook she’s determined to write the best story ever, all about a girl in a workhouse. But when she starts writing, something strange happens. Edie finds herself in Victorian London. She feels the same, but everything around her is completely different to what she knows. Soon, she realises she’s living the life of another Edie Trimmer... and is in danger of being sent to a real workhouse! Will she forget everything she knows about her other life, and will she ever be able to make it back to her family? The Other Edie Trimmer is stamped all over with Wilson’s warmth, wit and wonderfully imaginative scene-setting as this tale of family and friendship delivers excitement and drama on every page. The ideal read for all history and adventure fans... and look out for the cameo appearance of familiar Victorian literary giant Charles Dickens!
(Puffin, hardback, £14.99) 

Age 7 plus
High: Soar to New Heights
Jess McGeachin 

DO you ever gaze at the skies and wonder what the world looks like to the birds, creatures and people who live or fly high above us? Enjoy discovering the wonders that exist miles above the Earth on a very special reading ‘flight’ which takes us up close to the amazing aviators, soaring seabirds, treetop dwellers, and mythical creatures of the cosmos. The fascinating and diverse topics of nature, weather, astronomy, architecture, engineering, and mythology are all explored in the most exciting, accessible and colourful way inside the pages of talented Melbourne author and illustrator Jess McGeachin’s exceptionally entertaining and vibrantly illustrated book High. Meet the creatures who live high in the treetops, the birds that ride the wind across the globe, the people who have braved the highest mountain summits, and the stories we tell to explain the night-time’s dazzling stars.

There is a whole world in the sky, waiting to be discovered as McGeachin – whose work is inspired by the natural world – takes youngsters on a thrilling journey from the tallest trees and across breathtakingly lofty skyscrapers to the mountain peaks that overshadow them all. Through words and pictures, High also explores the efforts humans have made to venture high above the Earth, from early flying machines and buoyant balloons to space rockets and the chariots of the gods. Linking seemingly diverse subject matter, McGeachin reveals how high places have a way of putting things into perspective and reminds us just how fragile our homes look from way up in the skies. A fabulous, high-flying book that is guaranteed to give lift off to young imaginations!
(Welbeck Editions, hardback, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
The King’s Hats
Sheila May Bird and Mark Beech

YOU have to take off your hat to author Sheila May Bird and illustrator Mark Beech as they work their special magic on a gloriously funny picture book celebration of the upcoming Coronation of King Charles III. ‘The King put on his heavy crown. It felt so hot and tight. His dear Mama had worn it well, On her it looked just right...’ Charles is now King of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, but he is finding his new crown just a little heavy to manage and he is worried that he might not be as beloved as his dear mama, Queen Elizabeth II. But his good friend Tom the gardener is on hand to show him that kings must wear all sorts of hats and that he must be brave and allow himself to be the king he was born to be. Bird’s jaunty, joyful rhyming text – capturing the chaos and comedy of all the roles the king might have to take on through the hats he will have to wear – is brilliantly brought to life by Beech’s exuberant illustrations which explode across the pages in a rainbow of colours. The crowning glory for young readers as the big day on May 6 draws closer!
(Welbeck Flame, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
The Hotel for Bugs
Suzy Senior and Leire Martín

THE insect world is buzzing when a smart new hotel for bugs opens in town! All guests are welcome... well, maybe not slimy slugs! Author Suzy Senior and illustrator, Leire Martín, much-loved and very talented creators of picture book Unicorn Club!, have fun with a new, laugh-out-loud, rhyming romp starring a cast of the most curious creatures this side of the bug world. With its joyously quirky and inclusive story about tolerance, embracing difference and speaking out against injustices, this is a fun ride from hotel opening right through to snuggling down into a four-poster bed. ‘The crowd started clapping and then with an ‘Oooh!’ They peeked through the entrance to get the first view Of huge bouncy sofas and soft, mossy rugs In the brand new and the fabulous Hotel for Bugs!’ It’s the grand opening of the Hotel for Bugs complete with a buffet, pool and spa... the ideal place for bugs to go on holiday. Then a slug turns up. He’s much too squishy and slimy and is NOT welcome at the Hotel for Bugs... until a small bug speaks up. A slug is no weirder than a dung beetle rolling poo or a butterfly tasting with its feet. Everybody should be welcome at the brand new and fabulous hotel for all! With Senior’s addictive verse perfectly matched to Martín’s brightly coloured and richly detailed illustrations, there is plenty for bug-finders big and small to spot in this beautiful, celebration of difference, tolerance and acceptance!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Finding Floss: The colour-changing Cockapoo!
Cara Matheson and Mirna Imamovic

GETTING lost can be scary for children so help put them on the road to understanding stranger danger with this charming picture book starring everyone’s favourite dog... a cockapoo! Author Cara Matheson and illustrator Mirna Imamovic work some special doggie magic on this story about a mischievous, colour-changing cockapoo who saves the day when a little girl loses her family at the fair. Floss the pet cockapoo is one of a kind... she can change colour making it seem impossible to find her. Mum reckons Floss is half-dog and half-chameleon... ‘a real cockapoo-meleon.’ Everybody in the mixed-race family who own Floss love her, but what happens when one of the family’s little girls is exploring the local funfair and can’t be found? It’s time for some of Floss’s colour-changing cockapoo mystery and magic! Matheson’s lively rhyming verse is the perfect blend with Imamovic’s joyful springtime colour palette while little ones will love poring over each page and spotting the colour-changing pet in every picture. Finding Floss is not just a bright and beautiful celebration of the bond between a child and their pet, but also a clever way to deliver important messages to children about what to do if they ever get lost.
(Owlet Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Mr Men Little Miss:
Be Yourself & Sharing 
Roger Hargreaves

JUST because you’re little doesn’t mean you don’t have BIG emotions! Inspire, uplift and empower your pre-schoolers with this 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: Be Yourself, an inspiring and engaging Mr Men Little Miss story about finding confidence in being you, we meet Mr Funny who is full of confidence... but you don’t have to be loud or funny to believe in yourself. You sometimes just need to realise that you’re liked and accepted for who you are, whether you’re as cheeky as Little Miss Naughty or as quiet as Mr Quiet! In Mr Men Little Miss: Sharing, a heartwarming and engaging story about the joy of sharing, we discover Little Miss Sunshine and Mr Cool who love sharing even though sometimes it can be difficult to share. Mr Grumpy and Little Miss Stubborn find it particularly hard. Will they learn to enjoy sharing too with some help from their friends? 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 2 plus
The Storm Whale
Benji Davies

THE tender, timeless and beautifully wrought tale of a lonely little boy who finds a stranded whale on the beach after a storm makes a welcome tenth anniversary appearance for a new generation of young readers. Author, illustrator and animation director Benji Davies made waves with The Storm Whale, a breathtaking picture book which was awarded the inaugural Oscar's Book Prize and has gone on to become a modern classic and a much-loved global bestseller. Noi lives with his dad and six cats by the sea. With his dad working hard as a fisherman, Noi sometimes feels a bit lonely so when, one day, he finds a little whale washed up on the beach after a storm, he takes it home to care for it. At first, Noi tries to keep his new friend a secret, but there’s only so long you can keep a whale in the bath without your dad finding out. Noi is persuaded that the whale must go back to the sea where it belongs, but their friendship will stay with him forever. Davies’ stunning illustrations evoke a sense of wonder and whimsy while the moving story captures perfectly how it feels to be a child and explores themes of compassion, friendship and the power of small acts of kindness. With every page a feast for the eyes and senses, a note from the author on his inspiration for the book and a limited edition art print inside the back cover of some editions, this gorgeous anniversary hardback is a book to treasure.
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)

Age 2 plus
The Girl Who Loves Bugs
Lily Murray and Jenny Løvlie 

THERE'S no escaping the joyous fun and laughter in this bug-filled picture book from the top team of superstar writer Lily Murray and Waterstones Prize-winning illustrator, Jenny Løvlie. After the resounding success of their picture book, A Dress With Pockets, the dynamic duo turn their sights on a little girl whose life and loves revolve around the (not always popular!) world of creepy-crawlies.  Aimed at empowering young girls to always be curious, and inspired by the trailblazing life of Evelyn Cheesman, the first woman to run London Zoo’s Insect House, The Girl Who Loves Bugs is as hilarious as it is heart-warming. Evie loves bugs and she’s fed up of having to keep up with her mums and brother on walks when she would rather be peering under logs and examining snails. So, one day, she decides to bring the bugs inside so she can be with them all the time. The problem is, the family is coming to stay, even fearsome Great Gran, who doesn’t stand for any nonsense. And on the day of their arrival, Evie wakes up to find her bugs have escaped... all over the house! What is Great Gran going to say? Murray’s fabulous rhyming romp – with themes of following your dreams and the unconditional love of family – is matched perfectly with Løvlie’s array of busy, beautiful and bug-laden illustrations. With ideas and tips at the back of the book for looking after your own bugs (preferably outside!), this is the perfect picture book to unleash the adventurous spirit in all fun-loving girls.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Short Walks in Arnside and Silverdale

David Jordan

IF spring – and the great outdoors – are beckoning, why not map out some enticing walks in a stunning corner of one of our North West coastline’s often overlooked gems.

The Arnside and Silverdale peninsula might be one of the smallest Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England but its landscape – rich in plantlife, wildlife and fascinating cultural history – is undoubtedly big on dazzling charm.

Even when rain lingers on the higher hills of the neighbouring Lake District, Arnside and Silverdale can be clear and sunny, and offers spectacular walks along the coast, over crags, and through scenic farmland, heath and woodland.  

And if the call of walks, and fascinating places to visit like the RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss and the Wolf House Gallery at Silverdale, are already piquing your interest, make sure you don’t leave home without this brilliant new guide from Cicerone Press which steers you through fifteen of the best short walks around Arnside and Silverdale. 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.

And like the other books in their super pocket-sized guide series, Short Walks in Arnside and Silverdale contains crystal-clear OS mapping and directions, and has been written by David Jordan (pictured left), an author who is a leading expert in this area.

These hand-picked walks involve no complicated navigation or challenging terrain, come with clear route descriptions, GPX files available for download, lots of images, plus information on local beauty spots and tasty refreshment stops.

Most of the walks are under three hours in duration and from two to six miles in length, mainly accessible by public transport, and include Arnside Knott, Beetham, Hale Fell and the Fairy Steps, Gait Barrows and Hawes Water, Leighton Moss and Cringlebarrow Wood, Arnside Tower, Warton Crag, Jenny Brown’s Point, the Pepperpot and Eaves Wood, and Levens deer park and the River Kent.

Good woodland and coastal tracks make for easy walking for much of the way although limestone – a key characteristic of the area – can be slippery when wet so care should be taken in rain. Signposting and waymarkers are commonly present, as are benches on some routes.

Must-see points include outstanding estuary views from Arnside Knott and Warton Crag, monuments to kings and queens at Eaves Wood, the famously narrow Fairy Steps, and the mystery of Jenny Brown’s Point.

So whether you enjoy spring flowers, summer’s clear skies and views, leaves falling and wildlife sightings in autumn, or the swoop of migratory winter birds, round up the whole family, grab your handy guide, and head for the coast. You won’t be disappointed!
(Cicerone Press, paperback, £9.95)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Chilly thrills, a rat romp, dragon races and baby giggles

Enjoy spine-tingling adventures in a frozen fantasy world, tread carefully with rampant rats who rule the streets and skies, share giggles with the worst – and funniest – fairy ever, fly high with a daring cast of characters and a magnificent dragon, and discover a treasure trove of exciting traditions and festivals in a dazzling collection of new children's books

Age 8 plus
Fireborn: Phoenix and
the Frost Palace
Aisling Fowler and Sophie Medvedeva

FANTASY adventures don’t come better than this chilling and thrilling series set in a frozen world which transports young readers to the headiest heights of imaginative storytelling. Phoenix and the Frost Palace is the second fabulous Fireborn book from Surrey-born but now Los Angeles-based Aisling Fowler, an exciting new author who has set critics’ tongues wagging and youngsters gasping with delight as her epic adventures play out in the snowy northern forests of a prehistoric world, and come gorgeously illustrated by Sophie Medvedeva. By turns breathtaking, funny and heart wrenchingly sad, these stories star a girl called Twelve who has spoken the Pledge and become a Huntling. And now she is training in the art of fighting monsters and has chosen a new name to reflect her elemental power... Phoenix.

Three months after the destruction of the Hunting Lodge, a witch arrives from the frost palace of Icegaard, desperate for Phoenix’s help. Icegaard is in grave danger from an evil force called the Shadowseam and, if the witch-palace falls, all the clans of Ember will fall with it. Travelling north, Phoenix and her friends, Five, Six and Seven, must battle frightening new monsters and find a way to defeat the Shadowseam. But as Phoenix learns to control her new power, the faceless Croke begins to haunt her dreams. Phoenix will have to fight with everything she’s got to save Ember from mortal danger. But the price of survival may be more than she can pay. Fowler’s dazzling new adventure has all the perfect ingredients for fantasy fans... stunning world-building, exhilarating action sequences, magical moments, terrifying monsters, warm friendships and a cast of memorable characters both good and bad. But this is also a story that is not afraid to tackle darker topics like envy, betrayal and grief, and with a compulsive plot that continues apace from almost the very moment that the first book, Fireborn, ended, this is an addictive series that no thrill seeker will want to miss.
(HarperCollins Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus
Moonflight
Gill Lewis and Pippa Curnick

FAMILY comes first in a glorious, heart-melting adventure with all the heady hallmarks of a modern classic from much-loved, award-winning author Gill Lewis. Moonflight is a magical reading experience as Lewis immerses young readers in a mesmerising world of rats... good and bad rats who rule the streets and skies, and a timid young ratling called Tilbury Twitch-Whiskers who is about  to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. And what an epic, exhilarating story it is, packed with action, drama and emotion, liberally wrapped in Lewis’s warmth and wisdom, and all brought to life by Pippa Curnick’s sumptuous and atmospheric black and white illustrations. ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that the seventh-born rat of the seventh-born litter is always a rat in want of an adventure. Tilbury Twitch-Whiskers is no exception. He just doesn’t know it yet.' Tilbury lives with his family in the Dockland area of London and even though he was born small and weak, and is terrified of the world outside his family home in the Chandlery, he is destined to do great things. The curse of a legendary diamond hangs heavily over the Dockland Rats and when his eldest siblings leave home, it becomes clear only Tilbury can break the curse and save ratkind from Disaster. And so Tilbury finds himself catapulted into an adventure which involves journeying across the sea to the realm of the dreaded White Death. 

His mission is to return the priceless diamond to its rightful owners. Along the way, he will find huge cats and unfamiliar rats ruling the roost, squabble with his gutsy sister Nimble-Quick, and learn shocking hidden secrets. A truly intrepid hero has been born! Moonflight is a thrilling, high-flying story as Lewis’s soaring imaginative powers create a stunning cast of rats set in a contemporary world but with all the nostalgic tropes and vibes of classics through the ages. Young readers will love watching Tilbury grow in mental stature as he faces up to his fears and discovers the value of family, the importance of telling your own story and understanding where life’s real treasures are to be found. A sparkling and inventive adventure that promises to be one of 2023’s standout middle grade novels.
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Dragonracers
Peter Bunzl and Lia Visirin

THE super-powered brain of award-winning author Peter Bunzl reaches dizzy new heights of imagination and invention for a thrilling and magical real history-inspired adventure courtesy of specialist publisher Barrington Stoke. Set amidst the competitive and innovative 1910 Manchester-London air race, packed with suspense, fun-filled fantasy, a daring cast of characters and a magnificent dragon, this sky-high adventure is a thrill ride from the starting gun right through to the finish line. Twins Kitty and Harris Hawk have grown up at the airfield where their father works as an engineer. Kitty dreams of taking to the skies and competing in the world’s first long-distance air race. But despite her obsession with the idea of becoming an aeronaut, her father thinks children should stay firmly on the ground. When the twins discover a strange and unusually large egg from which a dragon hatches, they watch it grow rapidly into a magnificent and powerful creature that learns to fly with Kitty riding on her back. And little do they imagine that this is the first step on a journey that will see them taking to the skies and competing in that first long-distance air race. Can they win the huge prize that’s at stake, and will their daring adventure lead their father to change his mind about Kitty’s future?

Bunzl started his career as an animator and film-maker, working on everything from commercials to BAFTA‑winning children’s TV programmes, and Dragonracers is full of all the visual drama and rich scene-setting which have brought him such success in his career as a children’s author. Harnessing fascinating real history around the early days of flight with a brilliant brand of soaraway fantasy, and opening an intriguing window into life over one hundred years ago, Bunzl’s magical tale is brought to life by the stunning illustrations of artist Lia Visirin, and is published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format. Another brilliant flight of fancy from a master storyteller!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Curio Collectors
Eloise Williams and Anna Shepeta

CLIMB aboard a travelling caravan and share a thrilling adventure with two intrepid youngsters caught up in a perilous mystery! Award-winning Welsh children’s writer Eloise Williams sets hearts pounding with a gripping historical adventure starring a cast of intriguing characters and a plotline brimming with twists and turns. In 1896, Lily and Tom are wanderers, travelling the county with their adopted mother Ma Hawker, and enthralling crowds with their amazing collection of curios. Always on the look-out for new wonders, Lily is tricked into buying a worthless bag of rubbish. But hidden inside is a special piece of scrimshaw...  a large, engraved clam shell. A young maid called Flora Meriweather is desperate to buy the scrimshaw, hoping it can help her solve a mystery surrounding her late mother. But someone else also wants to get his hands on the scrimshaw and ensure that secrets stay hidden in the past. Can the Curio Collectors help the truth come to light before time runs out? Williams is a born storyteller, creating characters who linger in the memory and painting an immersive world full of mystery, excitement and suspense. With eye-catching and atmospheric illustrations by Anna Shepeta to bring Lily and Tim’s fast-paced adventure to life, and published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format, this is a magical book for all young readers.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Stink
Jenny McLachlan

STAR author (and now illustrator!) Jenny McLachlan is back with a magical new series and it’s definitely not to be sniffed at! Giggles galore are guaranteed as youngsters get up close and personal with Stink, the worst fairy ever... and the writer of the funniest diary-style adventure on the human side of fairyland. We all know fairies, they’re sweet and sparkly and lovely. Right? Wrong! Meet Stink, she’s the rudest, naughtiest fairy there’s ever been. Instead of sparkles, Stink makes mess. Instead of being kind, Stink plays pranks. She also eats woodlice and rides on rats. From the moment Stink flies out of the fairy door and attaches herself to his hair, Danny Todd knows that Stink is trouble. She needs his help to do a good deed and win her silver wings... and Danny will do anything to get Stink to go back to fairyland because if he doesn’t help her earn some fairy nuggets she says she will stay with him forever. But can Stink ever be good? Expect multiple multi-coloured foxes, nuisance gnomes and loads of troll poo as Stink leaves a trail of magical mayhem and side-splitting laughter in her wake. With McLachlan’s gallery of hilarious illustrations putting extra oomph into her wacky and wonderful adventure, this is heaven-scent reading for young mischief-makers!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Tales of Wonder
Sandra Lawrence, Jane Newland
and Emma Trithart

CELEBRATE the magic of our world with this treasure trove of exciting traditions and festivals! Tales of Wonder is written by Sandra Lawrence who loves collecting stories from all over the world and finding out how different countries celebrate big events. Learn all about the festivals and folk tales which shape cultures around the world and revel in the beautiful, perfectly matched, vibrant illustrations of Jane Newland and Emma Trithart. Find out where lost loved ones are remembered with paper lanterns and which culture tells the story of Rama and Sita, and discover the origins of Diwali and which US state builds massive sandcastles. Meet powerful gods and bold, brave heroes, and enjoy cultural highlights both ancient and modern, from the heavens down to every corner of the Earth. This fascinating book celebrates all that makes the world special... how we all have similarities and differences and how, despite our various cultures and beliefs, we are united by storytelling and celebrations. With its colourful array of rich and unique festivals and myths, which are central to many religions, nations and cultures, and pages of stunning artwork, Tales of Wonder is a glorious celebration of communities coming together.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 4 plus
SuperQuesters: The Case of the Missing Memory
Dr Thomas Bernard, Lisa Moss
and Amy Willcox

DISCOVER your inner superhero in this unique interactive story, part of a brilliantly brainy series which aims to fire up imaginations and inspire scientists, engineers, mathematicians and technology experts of the future! The Case of the Missing Memory is the second book in the SuperQuesters series from husband and wife team and STEM experts, Thomas Bernard and Lisa Moss, whose mission is to inspire and equip a new generation to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education and careers, reduce the skills shortage and close the ethnic diversity and gender gap in STEM studies. A young fiction adventure series with a fun educational twist, SuperQuesters blends exciting stories with hands-on activities, expertly designed to develop skills in creative new ways, and includes over 100 reusable stickers in each book. The stars are Lilli and her best friends Leo and Bea, three endlessly curious children with big imaginations. When they unite to solve a challenging science problem, they turn into superheroes Lillicorn, Leo Zoom and Bea Bumble and journey to a world full of magic, adventure and quests. And they want readers to join in the mission and the fun.

Combining brilliant storytelling with interactive hands-on learning, the book’s stickers feature magical charm rewards and there is also a reward chart to mark progress and celebrate success, and a glossary and answer page. Skills covered include problem solving, coding, sequencing and algorithms and the book is carefully designed with cross-curricular learning opportunities in mind, linking with computing, maths and science in the national curriculum. To support grown-ups, spark children’s curiosity and enhance the adventure, there is also a ‘how to use this book’ guide, glossary and answer page, plus free additional hands-on activities and further learning resources to download at: www.questfriendz.com. And it’s all brought to vivid life through the bright and colourful illustrations of Amy Willcox... so if you’re a superhero enthusiast and love learning through play then this is the perfect way to Read, Quest and Learn!
(QuestFriendz, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
My Mummy is a Witch
Helena Garcia and Jess Rose

WHAT better time to celebrate the close bond between a mother and her daughter than on Mother’s Day? But what if your mummy isn’t just a mummy but a witch as well? This wonderfully witchy, rhyming story – written with love by Great British Bake Off star and now debut author Helena Garcia and gorgeously illustrated by Jess Rose – is a cauldron of utterly charming ingredients, and told through the eyes of an enchanting little witchling. This is a book brimming with precious moments, a sprinkling of magic and the creation of treasured memories. From dandelion ice-scream to pumpkin perfume and cauldron baths, and best of all a mummy who can wake up the sun and make the stars shine, Garcia and Rose’s exquisite book radiates affection, care and kindness from every page. With maternal warmth and wisdom beating at its heart, My Mummy is a Witch is sure to cast a spell over mums and children everywhere!
(Owlet Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
When I’m Gone
Marguerite McLaren and Hayley Wells

WHEN a parent dies, children grieve just as much as adults but show it in different ways and they rely on adults to provide them with the support they need. With a limited ability to put feelings and thoughts into words, they often show their feelings through their behaviour. And while experts agree there is no magic formula to help each unique child to cope, giving them a channel to grieve, celebrate and learn how to live and love life when a parent is gone is an important step. When I’m Gone – a sensitively written and deeply moving picture book – has been specially created by Ladybird Books, with expert advice from the charity Child Bereavement UK, and is an ideal starting point for helping grieving children. Beautifully written by Marguerite McLaren and exquisitely illustrated by Hayley Wells, children are helped to understand that when someone you love has died, there will be sad days, confused days and angry days but also happy days and fun days. Nobody lives forever ... and some wish they could have stayed for longer, and even though your parent is gone, you can love them for ever and ever. Full of warmth and wisdom, this exceptional book has the power to make you smile and break your heart at the same time.
(Ladybird, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Amazing Me, Amazing You
Christine McGuinness and
Hannah Jayne Lewin 

EXPLORE the world from a different angle with a joyful and inclusive picture book from author, model and autism ambassador, Christine McGuinness, who was recently diagnosed with autism, alongside her three children, and hasn’t let that diagnosis stop her from living her best life. McGuinness is passionate about celebrating uniqueness and Amazing Me, Amazing You delivers powerful messages of kindness and friendship for all children. Meet some special children who might not like gritty sand or scratchy labels, busy places or messy tables, but with a quiet walk, a gentle smile, and some time alone for a little while, can be amazingly ‘me’... just like you!  Sensitively and vibrantly illustrated by Hannah Jayne Lewin, who believes pictures can evoke an emotional response and might make someone feel happy, sad, thankful, curious or even brave, McGuinness’s heartfelt story shows just how important it is to embrace diversity and inclusivity. She also highlights just how much it means to accept one another just as we are, with all the uniqueness that makes us special. With its resonant messages for parents and carers to help them talk to their children about neurodiversity, this delightful picture book is the perfect way to introduce the subject to young readers and emphasise the importance of empathy and kindness.
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
This is Me!
George Webster and Tim Budgen 

PREPARE to have your heartstrings tugged and your heart lifted with a fun and joyful picture book from CBeebies star George Webster and bestselling illustrator Tim Budgen! Webster is an actor, BAFTA-winning presenter and ambassador for Mencap who was catapulted into the public eye when he spoke about Down’s syndrome in his myth-busting video for BBC Bitesize, and was later asked to be a presenter on CBeebies. In This is Me! he teams up with outstanding illustrator Budgen for a playful rhyming story to show children that not only are they amazing, but their friends, family and even people they haven’t yet met are amazing too. Meet George and his friends... this is me. I am George. My eyes are sparkly, just like my mum. Like my dad, I’m determined and brave, and like my sister, I’m full of fun! This is Me celebrates our differences and why they make us special, and is perfect for every child and every family. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt and positive story, with colourful and engaging illustrations that are guaranteed to make you smile, and guaranteed to bring out the glow in everyone. So, get ready to read all about George, a little boy with the biggest heart, and imagine how boring the world would be if everyone had the same name!
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age six months plus
Babies Laugh at Peekaboo
Dr Caspar Addyman and Ania Simeone

PERFECTLY designed to make your baby laugh! What could be better than a baby board book that brings peekaboo – the scientifically proven funniest baby game – to life with ingenious grab-and-pull mechanisms and a mirror. Babies Laugh at Peekaboo has been scientifically developed to help babies and parents/carers share magic bonding moments through reading and laughter. Written by Dr Caspar Addyman, a leading expert in what makes babies laugh, this adorable book brings a game of peekaboo to life with its easy-to-grab, sturdy pages and a shiny mirror. Dr Addyman’s research showed that playing peekaboo is the best way to make a baby laugh... and this book is sure to get them giggling! Tiny tots will love opening the pages to reveal smiling, giggling and laughing baby faces, all beautifully illustrated by Ania Simeone and the mirror at the back of the book is perfect for entertaining babies at tummy time. Bold, beautiful and the perfect gift to encourage emotional, sensory and motor development in babies’ early years.
(Campbell Books, board book, £6.99)