Age 7 plus
Trixie Pickle Art Avenger:
Toxic Takedown
Olaf Falafel
BEING the world’s only ‘sort-of-superhero’ in the art world means that Trixie Pickle has to draw on all her time and energy to solve mysteries... but can she get to the bottom of the weird sickness bug sweeping through town? Welcome back to the laugh-out-loud world created by author-illustrator, stand-up comedian and art expert Olaf Falafel in the second book of his Trixie Pickle Art Avenger highly illustrated middle-grade adventure series featuring an art-loving girl who hates bullies and takes them down using art (she’s the Banksy of her school!) The series is a super accessible introduction to art history for kids (and grown-ups!) as Trixie takes inspiration from lots of different real-life artists to carry out her Art Avenger missions, and the books include fully illustrated artist fact files.
So meet Trixie Pickle the Art Avenger. She loves art and
hates bullies, and so decided to become an Art Avenger, righting wrongs at her
school through art. She uses inspiration from artists like Picasso, Pollock and
Ofili to teach bullies a lesson, get out of lessons and help those in need...
much like an arty Robin Hood! Her latest mission is to investigate a mysterious
sickness bug which has been spreading through Wormwood Town and left everyone
wondering if there’s something in the water. It’s up to Trixie Pickle to find
out if the bug is coming from the town reservoir but she’s got a lot on her
plate... being bored to sleep by Money Week at school, making comics with her
best friend Beeks, and finding a way to bring down the local mean girls. But
with artistic inspiration from Botticelli, Damien Hirst and Kehinde Wiley, the
Art Avenger is sure to win the day. Packed with humour and action, lots of Falafel’s brilliantly
funny and quirky illustrations, and the fascinating educational art history
element (including irreverent details about real artists such as Yayoi Kusama
and Hokusai) children will be laughing (and learning!) from start to finish!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)
Age 7 plus
Lenny Lemmon and the Invincible Rat
Ben Davis and James Lancett
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)
My Dad Is a Tree
Jon Agee
WHEN is a tree not a tree? When it’s your dad! Master of the
absurd Jon Agee branches out in My Dad Is a Tree, another of this talented
author and illustrator’s trademark gloriously mischievous picture books
featuring his zany, zingy humour. Brimming with Agee’s wonderfully understated comedy,
imagination, surprises and amazingly expressive illustrations, this funny, but
also moving, story stars a father and daughter as they forge a special bond in
a game of make-believe in their garden. Do you want to be a tree? Madeleine reckons it’s easy. All
her dad has to do is pretend his arms are branches, his body is a trunk, and his
legs are roots. Then stand in one place and see what happens! If your parent is
as patient as this dad, you might get to see an owl sleep on your shoulder,
have a robin nest in your hair, feel a spider spin his web under your arm, see
a squirrel stuff an acorn in your pocket, feel the rain on your head, and stay
outside... all... day... long! Nature and the elements test dad’s patience and endurance in
this delightful tale which celebrates a little girl’s relationship with her
dad, the power of a child’s special gift for make-believe, and the fun that
springs from playing amongst nature in the great outdoors. Packed with playful illustrations and the author’s unique,
exuberant charm, this is Agee at his entertaining and empathetic best.
Treemendous fun!
(Scallywag Press, hardback, £12.99)
The Storm Child
Gabriela Houston
IMMERSE yourself in the second epic fantasy adventure from
author Gabriela Houston who was inspired by the pre-Christian Slavic folklore
of her childhood and the vast forests of her native Poland. It’s a story that began with The Wind Child and reaches its
thrilling conclusion in this powerful new chapter which comes complete with a
colourful Slavic cast of tempestuous gods and frightening monsters, and
explores friendship, family relationships, and the concept of sacrifice. Who would you become to save someone you love? Mara, the
granddaughter of the God of Winter Winds, had her human soul ripped out for
defying the laws of gods and men. A year on, she and her shape-shifting friend
Torniv are on the run from Koschei the Deathless who will stop at nothing to
destroy them. The two friends will have to face their past and decide how far
they are willing to go to keep each other safe. And in the world of Slavic
monsters and gods, there is always a price to pay... The Storm Child is an enthralling, fast-paced adventure,
full of sensual delights and moral conundrums, and unafraid to tackle more
difficult subjects like childhood grief. Add on a cast of beautifully imagined
characters and you have a timeless tale for middle grade readers.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
School Trip: The New Kid
Jerry Craft
BON voyage! Join a group of (now familiar!) kids as they
navigate friendships, a foreign city... and the world in general! Bestselling American
author and illustrator Jerry Craft is back with the newest adventures of
Jordan, Drew, Liam, Maury and all the characters that fans first met in New
Kid, the groundbreaking book that won both the Newbery Award and the Coretta
Scott King Author Award. And after the companion book, Class Act, this fabulous,
full-colour contemporary graphic novel, easily read as a standalone, once more
features the gang from Riverdale Academy Day School as they head to Paris for
an international education like you’ve never seen before! As an aspiring artist
himself, Jordan can’t wait to see all the amazing art in the famous City of
Lights. But when their trusted faculty guides are replaced at the last minute,
the school trip takes an unexpected – and hilarious – turn, especially when
trying to find their way around Paris ends up being almost as tricky as
navigating the same friendships, fears, and differences that they struggle with
at home. Will Jordan and his friends embrace being exposed to a new language,
unfamiliar food and a different culture? Or will they all end up feeling like
the ‘new kid’? There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments to enjoy with the
gang in this fantastic French escapade as the cleverly imagined cast of young,
multicultural characters learn as much about the complexities of relationships
as they do about the intricacies of great art. Inspirational and entertaining
from start to finish, and packed with Craft’s engrossing and colourful artwork,
this is must reading for middle grade adventurers.
(Quill Tree Books, paperback, £10.99)
Mermaid Academy: Isla and Bubble
Julie Sykes, Linda Chapman and Lucy Truman
DIVE in at the deep end and share underwater adventures at
the Mermaid Academy! Young readers will be swishing their tails in delight when
they meet some magical mermaids and get in the swim with lovable dolphins in
this sparkling new series from the team behind the bestselling Unicorn Academy
series. Authors Julie Sykes and Linda Chapman, and illustrator Lucy Truman,
work their own special magic on these mermazing action-packed stories,
perfectly packaged with Truman’s striking black and white illustrations, and
with a gorgeous a glittery cover. Hidden deep beneath the waves is Mermaid
Academy, a magical school where mermaids are paired with their very own dolphin
and must discover their unique mermaid magic, with plenty of adventure along
the way! Impulsive Isla isn’t afraid of breaking a few rules to win the school
treasure hunt and her dolphin, Bubble, is always up for a dare. But the seas
surrounding the academy are swirling with magic, and soon Isla and Bubble find
themselves in very deep water. Mermaid and adventure fans will be riding high
on the waves of these exciting, undersea adventures and will soon be scanning
the horizon for the next books in the series... Cora and Sparkle, and Maya and
Rainbow.
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)
Mega Robo Bros: Next Level
Neill Cameron
BRACE yourself for another rocket-powered graphic novel
adventure courtesy of David Fickling Books’ highly popular The Phoenix Presents
series… and comic books creator Neill Cameron. Part of an amazing all-colour story strip series, Next Level
is the fifth book in a republished version of Mega Robo Bros, but now fully
remastered and adapted into a new chunky format with lots of extra bonus
content. Packed with all-action fun, exhilarating drama and comedy,
these supercharged tales of two robot brothers fighting evil enemies will
delight young readers and help to encourage a love of books and good storytelling. So travel to London in the future and meet Alex and Freddy who
are just like any other brothers. They are always squabbling and forever
finding new ways to drive their adoptive parents crazy. There’s only one
difference... they are also the most powerful robots on Earth. In this epic story, Alex and Freddy’s powers are growing, as
is their fame. They are now publicly adored but with fame comes danger,
intrigue and evil robot doppelgangers! Can Alex and Freddy save London – and
themselves – from disaster? It will test their bravery and brotherhood like
nothing before... With big explosions, family drama, electrifying high stakes
and two madcap brothers saving the day, these superhero thrillers are ideal for
your own young techno wizards!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)
Age 5 plus
Max & Chaffy: Welcome to Animal Island!
Jamie Smart
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £6.99)
Between Night and Day
Sean Julian
CAN a daytime-loving orangutan ever forge a friendship with
a strictly night-time bat? Bask in the warmth and love that flows from the
pages of author and illustrator Sean Julian’s exquisite picture book which
explores the daytime and the night-time worlds, and the blossoming of an
unlikely friendship between two very different creatures. When Pongo, a young
orangutan, reaches for a ripe mango, she gets a big surprise! Clinging to the
fruit, and very confused, is a little bat called Bulu who can’t find his way
back to his cave in the busy daytime forest. Pongo soon learns that for a creature
who is used to the shadows of the night, the day can be a very scary place.
When they finally find Bulu’s home, the roles are reversed and Pongo must
venture into a dark and unfamiliar world. Can the two animals find somewhere
between night and day where their friendship can take root? Julian’s story –
which tenderly encourages youngsters to look at the world from another’s point
of view – springs to life through his richly evocative and atmospheric artwork
in a stunning palette of muted colours. With resonant messages about friendship
between those from different backgrounds, Between Night and Day portrays a dark
space as a place of beauty and is the perfect bedtime read for children who are
scared of the dark.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)
The Selfish Crab
Anya Glazer
A SELFISH shellfish is set to win young hearts as he washes
up on the shore and leads his fellow crabs on a chaotic seaside escapade! Join
in the colourful fun, and learn shellfuls of fascinating facts about the
intriguing hermit crab, as talented London-based illustrator and writer Anya
Glazer brings us a wonderfully imaginative story about learning to give and
take. Claude has the most beautiful shell of all the crabs on the beach. It
makes him feel special and he’s determined never, ever to part with it. Of
course, hermit crabs change their shells as they grow... in fact they often
swap with each other but when it’s time to swap, Claude says 'No!' His decision
spins the hermit crab community into chaos and it means that little Alphonso’s
shell is much too big. At the seaside this is dangerous. Can Claude give up his
selfish ways in time to save his friend? Glazer’s funny, cautionary tale –
brought to life with glorious illustrations in a palette of vivid colours – is
packed with laughter and learning as we follow the antics of stubbornly selfish
Claude who just won’t give up his shell. Picture book perfection!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)
Daddy Do My Hair: Deji’s Haircut
Tolá Okogwu and Chanté Timothy
AS Father’s Day fast approaches, share in the joy of a
wonderful, heartwarming story which celebrates the versatility of Afro hair,
barber shops, and father and son relationships. Written in rhyming verse by hair
care educator and author Tọlá Okogwu, and with bold and colourful artwork by rising
star illustrator, Chanté Timothy, this is a picture book for all the family to
treasure. It’s Sunday evening and dinner is over. Nana’s getting married and
today is the big day! I’m her little page boy and Daddy’s giving her away. ‘Deji
and Daddy, just look at your hair!’ Uh-oh, we’re in trouble. Nana shoots us a
glare. ‘You better find a barber. You both need a cut. Now hurry along,’ she
adds with a tut. Deji and Daddy need haircuts... right away! Join them on a
race against the clock to make sure they look slick just in time to walk Nana
down the aisle. Youngsters will love joining Daddy and Deji on a wonderful hair
adventure which highlights the quality time spent between parent and child, and
includes Afro hair care tips from Nigerian-born Okogwu.
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)
Age 2 plus
The Goat and the Stoat and the Boat
Em Lynas and Matt Hunt
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £12.99)
Richard Scarry’s Postman Pig and His Busy Neighbours
Richard Scarry
JOIN Postman Pig for a day of fun, discovery and adventure!
Spring is the ideal time to treat your youngsters to a gorgeous, classic
picture book written and illustrated by American author and artist Richard
Scarry, one of the founding fathers of children’s illustration. Scarry, who died in 1994 aged 74, was unquestionably one of
the best-loved children’s authors of all time, writing more than 250 books
which have gone on to sell more than 150 million copies globally. Born in
Boston in 1919, he moved to Switzerland in 1968 and once wrote: ‘It’s a
precious thing to be communicating to children, helping them discover the gift
of language and thought.’ Scarry had a unique ability to see the world from a child’s
point of view and Postman Pig and His Busy Neighbours is a shining example of
his inimitable and inspirational work which offers a special kind of gentle
charm on every beautifully created page. Postman Pig is delivering post across Busytown! With exciting
deliveries to the police station, the doctor’s office, the library, the bank
and many other places, young readers see how all the different people in their
communities go about the day. Filled with Scarry’s trademark humour, his richly detailed
and colourful pictures to study and enjoy, and hilarious antics to spot in
every spread, this is a very special delivery for any child who wondered what
exactly adults get up to while the young ’uns are at school!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Move and Play: I Want to Be a Lion and I Want to Be a Monkey
Illustrated by Pintachan
WE'RE on the move! Get your little ones waddling, hopping, flapping and leaping with Move and Play, an all-action new series which has been specially created by Oxford University Press. Featuring everyone’s much-loved favourite animals, these bright, beautiful and busy picture books support the development of children’s motor skills and imagination. Each book features a cut-out mask, song and animation, and the gorgeous, child-friendly illustrations of Spanish artist Pintachan.
And in I Want to Be a Monkey, little ones can
wear the special cut-out monkey mask and copy the actions as Monkey jumps,
climbs, and swings through the trees. You’d be hopping mad to miss the playtime
fun!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99 each)
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