Age 6
Ace and the Animal Heroes: The Big Farm Rescue
JB Gill and Becka Moor
If an adventure that crosses Dr Dolittle with Dick
King-Smith sounds like reading heaven to you, get down on the farm with a plucky
young boy who never looks back after making the move from the city to the
countryside. Ace and the Animal Heroes: The Big Farm Rescue is the first
book in a sparkling new animal adventure series from pop star, presenter and
farmer JB Gill who rose to fame as a member of JLS, one of the UK’s biggest
boybands, but ten years ago set up a farm in the Kent countryside with his wife
and children, and produces award-winning turkeys and free-range Tamworth pork. So meet Ace! When Ace inherits a farm from a long-lost
relative, it’s time to move from the big city along with his amazing
grandparents and start a new life on a run-down farm. And there’s an even
bigger surprise in store for Ace when he tries on some magical new wellies and
realises he can talk to animals! And he’s going to have to master this new
skill to take on the evil Councillor Crabbington who is determined to shut down
the farm. With a little help from Ginger the Pig who rules the roost at First
Fruits Farm, some squawkative hens and his new best friend Bear who is never
without her dungarees and wellies, Ace must find a way to save the farm before
Councillor Crabbington gets his hands on it! With the hilarious illustrations of Becka Moor adding extra
fun to life on the farm, Ace and his animal pals look set to talk their way
into every animal lover’s heart!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)
Global
Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin
and Giovanni Rigano
WATCH the climate crisis – and its devastating effects –
spring to graphic life in a powerful and cautionary story from the team behind
the award-winning book Illegal. Global is itself a graphic novel and has been written by Eoin
Colfer and fellow author Andrew Donkin, and gloriously illustrated by Giovanni
Rigano who has won many awards for his artwork and is a regular at comic
festivals across Europe. The story depicts a fragile world and an epic fight for
survival, and is a hopeful and timely story about the real effects of climate
change. The action centres on two young people on different continents whose
lives are catastrophically changed by global warming. Yuki lives in an increasingly deserted Inuit township in
Nova Scotia. One day she sets out into the wilderness of the Arctic tundra
planning to photograph a rare grolar bear (a terrifying grizzly-polar
crossbreed created by climate change). If she can prove it’s a grolar, she can
protect it from being shot. With only her faithful dog for company and adrift
on a fragment of melting glacier, she finds herself being stalked across the
changing wilderness by a starving grolar bear, with only her wits and her harpoon
to keep her alive. Sami, meanwhile, lives in a fishing village on the Bay of
Bengal. But because of the ever-rising ocean level, his home was swept away in
a cyclone some years earlier. Now he and his grandpa struggle to catch anything
on their fishing trips and each day is a struggle to survive. One night, Sami
sets out alone to return to his old, submerged family home. He takes a deep
breath and dives beneath the moonlit waters, hoping to discover his past. And
if he can find his mother’s lucky knife submerged in the treacherous ocean,
perhaps he can change their fate... Moving, thrilling, action-packed and thought-provoking, this
is adventure in the true sense of the word... but with an important message
imprinted within its heart.
(Hodder Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)
The First Shadow Dragon
Lee Newbery and Laura Catalán
THE magical adventure series that sets young readers on fire
is burning brightly again in the capable hands of Welsh author Lee Newbery and
illustrator Laura Catalán. The Last Firefox was one of the most exciting children’s
debuts of 2022 and now Charlie Challinor and Cadno, his firefox from another
world, return for a fantastical sequel full of family love, friendship and
learning how to be brave. After defeating the evil Grendilock and saving Cadno, the
last firefox, Charlie Challinor is looking forward to a well-earned rest. But
when a familiar face appears from the realm of Fargone, Charlie's family is
once again swept up into adventure. Along with Lippy, Roo and new magical
friend Blodyn, Charlie must travel to Fargone to face the dreaded Draig, the
shadowy monster that is slowly draining the life from the land… and uncover the
lost secret that links Draig’s history to Charlie’s own. Newbury’s inclusive, heartwarming stories, starring a boy
finding his feet within his family of two dads and in the wider world outside,
are the perfect inspiration for children eager to discover their own inner
fire. Full of humour, heart, excitement, Catalán’s beautifully emotive
illustrations and a plot that delivers adventure at every turn, The First
Shadow Dragon is a delight from start to finish.
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)
Euro Spies
Lindsay Littleson
COULD you be a Euro spy and help to track down a missing MI6
agent? Youngsters will love solving the cryptic clues as they race against the
clock in a thrilling new novel of danger and espionage from Lindsay Littleson,
an ex-primary school teacher who is now the award-winning author of bestselling
books like The Rewilders. Samia, Ava and
Frankie are all prize-winners and are thrilled to win a whirlwind sightseeing trip
of European capital cities. But when the Euro Metro rumbles through the night
to their first destination and shots are fired, it becomes crystal clear that
this is no ordinary school trip. Their enigmatic chaperone, Miss Watson, is
forced to admit that the children are being used as cover for a spying mission.
Her colleague in M16 has vanished – presumed dead – and has left behind a trail
of cryptic clues leading to vital information. On their arrival in Paris,
Samia, Ava and Frankie are catapulted into a world of art, espionage and
terrible danger. Can the children solve the fiendish clues hidden on famous
European landmarks and avoid the scary strangers who are stalking their every
move as they help Miss Watson? Young readers will love climbing aboard with the
school friends as they travel headlong into this thrill-a-minute adventure full
of friendship, heart-stopping peril... and enthralling conundrums!
(Pokey Hat, paperback, £7.99)
How to Grow a Dragon
Rachel Morrisroe and Steven Lenton
A LITTLE girl with a talent for magical growing has her
hands full of fiery trouble when some mysterious seeds grow into a bunch of
out-of-control dragons! How to Grow a Dragon is the follow-up to How to Grow a
Unicorn and the second fun and fantastical story ion a series which mixes magic
and gardening to create a truly unique take on some of the best-loved mythical
creatures. The series is the work of talented new picture book author Rachel
Morrisroe and bestselling illustrator Steven Lenton who unleash their
imaginations on stories featuring a little girl called Sarah and Mr Pottifer,
and their magical plant shop, where fantastical creatures grow from trees. In the new adventure, an unexpected delivery of dragodil
seeds provides the perfect chance for Sarah and Mr Pottifer to grow helpful
dragon pets for their customers... or does it? It turns out that these fiery
dragons are not very well-behaved at all... and everything soon spirals into
smoke-filled dragon chaos! Can Sarah's quick thinking and green
fingers save the day? Both heart-warming and hilarious, Morrisroe’s rollicking,
rhyming, read-aloud story – brought to life by Lenton’s glorious gallery of
magical mayhem illustrations – celebrates problem-solving, kindness and
resourcefulness, and is guaranteed to capture the hearts of readers. Poetry in motion!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)
Roarr!
Sam Taplin and Ailie Busby
THERE'S double the fun in this unique novelty book which
lets youngsters see and hear jungle animals come to life! Roarr! – the first in
an exciting new Slider Sound series – is the creation of author Sam Taplin and
illustrator Ailie Busby, and features a fun text and sliders on each
spread. Each time little hands move one
of the sliders, a different image springs into view and makes a fun jungle
animal sound. But there’s an added extra! Move the same slider back again, and little
ones can see and hear a completely different sound and image. With the engaging
narrative, a feast of animal sounds, and Busby’s wonderfully vivid and
colourful artwork, expect loads of laughs as your babies and toddlers slide
into the first of many encores!
(Usborne Publishing, board book, £12.99)
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