Enjoy a feast of counting, colour, comic detail and cute canines in a spectacular new picture book, meet a selfish giant in one of the world’s best-loved stories, help a super-sleuthing dog detective crack his latest case, and join two hedgehogs as they navigate a path through their childhood fears in a marvellous Maytime collection
10 Dogs
Emily Gravett
TEN dogs + ten sausages = chaos, comedy and lots of crazy
canine capers! Revel in the colourful and endearing delights of a
spectacular new picture book from artistic genius and twice CILIP Kate
Greenaway award-winning artist Emily Gravett. Written and illustrated with
flair, affection and a freewheeling sense of fun which tumbles out of every
page, 10 Dogs is the adorable companion to Gravett’s fabulously feline picture book
10 Cats. When ten dogs discover ten sausages sitting on the table,
every dog licks their lips and tries to grab the string of sausages for
themselves. Soon nine dogs all have sausages... and just one doesn’t! Bursting with energy and joie de vivre, this is a story that
will have little ones counting their way through the pages whilst exploring numbers
one up to ten and ten going down to zero, several basic concepts like half,
all, more, less along the way... and enjoying the antics of a cast of daffy
dogs! Ideal for reading aloud, and with a simple but imaginative
and educational text, and a stunning gallery of dogs that will have all the
family barking mad with joy, 10 Dogs is a feast of counting, colour, comic
detail and cute canines. The perfect gift for your own little pups!
(Two Hoots, hardback, £12.99)
The Selfish Giant
Written by Oscar Wilde and illustrated by Ritva Voutila
YOUNG readers will be swept away by Finnish-born Ritva
Voutila’s amazing artwork as she breathes new life and exquisite beauty into
Oscar Wilde’s classic fairy tale of love and forgiveness first published in
1888. The Selfish Giant has become one of the world’s best-loved
stories and as testament to its eternal popularity, the cautionary tale has
been adapted into various other forms of art such as opera, music, ballet and
film. Voutila, who now lives in Australia, has illustrated more
than 50 books for children and her artwork is held in collections worldwide.
But Wilde’s story holds a special place in her heart as the first piece of
literature she read in the English language when she was at school. The children always played in the Giant’s garden, but when
he returned after years away, he said, ‘What are you doing here?’ and the
children fled. ‘My own garden is my own garden,’ said the Giant; ‘anyone can
understand that, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself.’ But when Winter
comes now, it never leaves. Spring and Summer won’t come because the Giant is
too selfish… until the power of love brings back Spring and joy into the Giant’s
garden... and into his once empty heart. Wilde’s moving story remains one of
the most beautiful stories in the English language. The large, intricate oil paintings by produced by Voutila
for the book took more than a year to complete and the result is pages of
stunning artwork, full of breathtaking atmospherics, intricate detail, and
enthralling characters, all rendered in a stunning palette of rich intensity and
colour. A book to return to time and time again, and a joy for the
whole family to treasure.
Allen & Unwin, paperback, £7.99)
The Sun and the Star
Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro
FANS of outstanding US author Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson
& the Olympians five-novel fantasy series will be over the moon and out of
this world when they get their hands on this thrilling companion novel starring
demigods Nico di Angelo and Will Solace. For those yet to be initiated into this bestselling
phenomenon, the novels are set in a world with the Greek gods in the 21st
century, and follow the protagonist Percy Jackson, a young demigod who must
prevent the Titans, led by Kronos (Cronus), from destroying the world. This gripping standalone adventure has been written in an
exciting collaboration between Riordan and award-winning author Mark Oshiro and
sees Nico and Will endure the terrors of Tartarus in their attempt to rescue an
old friend. Nico di Angelo is pretty familiar with the realms of death,
being the son of Hades and all. So when a desperate voice starts plaguing his
dreams, Nico is convinced it’s coming from the Underworld and belongs to an old
friend... a reformed Titan called Bob. Then an ominous prophecy leaves Nico in
no doubt... Bob needs his help and Nico must rescue him. Of course Nico’s boyfriend, Will Solace, the son of Apollo
(the god of light) insists on joining the quest too. But can Will, a being made
of light, survive in the darkest part of the world and what does the prophecy
mean when it says that Nico will have to leave something of equal value behind?
As Nico faces demons both internal and external, his relationship with Will is
tested to its very core. Can love find its way... even through the depths of
hell? With love shining brightly even in the darkest of times, an
enthralling mission into the most dangerous regions of Hades, and a
fascinating, in-depth exploration of two of the novel series’ favourite
characters to enjoy, this is a memorable and heartwarming addition to the world
of Percy Jackson.
(Puffin, hardback, £16.99)
Amari and the Great Game
B.B. Alston
FEEL the magic and get lost in a super-sizzling supernatural
world as B.B. Alston returns with the second book in his fantastic Supernatural
Investigations trilogy and the sequel to Amari and the Night Brothers which is soon
to be a major movie starring Marsai Martin. Featuring the feisty, fearless Amari
Peters – a heroic black girl with magic at her fingertips – this epic new adventure
packs in thrilling action and some wonderful, warm-hearted friendships. After
finding her brother Quinton and saving the entire supernatural world, Amari is convinced that her first full summer as a
Junior Agent with the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs will be a breeze. But
between the fearsome new Head Minister’s strict anti-magician agenda, fierce
Junior Agent rivalries, and Quinton’s curse steadily worsening, Amari’s plate
is full. So when the secretive League of Magicians offers her a chance to stand
up for magiciankind as its new leader, she declines. She’s got enough to worry
about! But her refusal allows someone else to step forward, a magician with
dangerous plans for the League. This challenge sparks the start of the Great
Game, a competition to decide who will become the Night Brothers’ successor and
determine the future of magiciankind. This mesmerising, magical and imaginative
adventure possesses everything young readers love… breathtaking action,
surprises at every turn of the page, humour, and a courageous heroine they will
take to their hearts. Great stuff!
(Farshore, paperback,
£7.99)
Small Bites Back
Hannah Moffatt
BEING a small boy in a world of giants can cause some BIG
problems... and no problem seems bigger than the Vampire mountains! There are plenty of outsized laughs to enjoy – and lots of
beautiful moments to hug to your heart – in the second fabulous comic novel
from Hannah Moffatt, creative director at a language and behavioural science
consultancy. Harnessing her knowledge, imagination and empathy, Moffatt
follows up her brilliant debut novel Small! with a brilliant sequel that brings
us a truly daffy and delightful tall tale full of weird and wacky characters
that include werewolves, tooth fairies... and vampires! In Small! Harvey’s mum packed him off to Madame Bogbrush’s
School for Gifted Giants (even though Harvey is not a giant but a ten-year-old boy
on stilts) but now we follow Harvey and his friend Walloping Toenail into the
Vampire mountains as they try to work out what made the Never-Ending Contracts
never-ending and tied Norma Enormous and the Skelephant to the Unspeakable
Circus. Something has bitten the contracts. Could it be something with
never-ending venom? As the new Chosen One, Harvey thinks it’s his job to find
out. Viscount Bloodsucker, head of the school for vampire dentists (polish up
your fangs!) promises to help. But Harvey will have to move fast because the
Unspeakable Circus is on his tail, and Mistress Ring has a great idea for a new
act... feeding a Small to the zombie lions! With themes of friendship, loyalty and mutual support
explored, and the brilliant illustrations of Rory Walker to bring Harvey and
his world to life, this clever, creative book is fun from first to last, and
comes with a warm and genuine giant-sized heart that will appeal to readers
young and old.}
(Everything with Words, paperback, £7.99)
Sherlock Bones and the Mystery of the Vanishing Magician
Tim Collins and John Bigwood
IT might all be elementary for super-sleuth Sherlock Bones
but he is still going to need some help to crack his latest mind-bending case!
Put on your thinking caps and sharpen your pencils for the third book in a
fantastically fun interactive fiction series starring two crime-fighting
(animal!) heroes. This thrilling Sherlock Bones adventure series is the work of
award-winning children’s author Tim Collins and illustrator and graphic
designer John Bigwood. Each one comes loaded with puzzle games, including
conundrums, number puzzles, search-and-find challenges, spot-the-difference and
shadow matching, all cleverly woven into the action so that readers feel part
of the exciting detective plot starring Sherlock Bones and his trusty sidekick
Dr Jane Catson. In this latest sleuthing case, featuring Bigwood’s brilliant
artwork, the dynamic duo are on a train bound for Paris when another passenger,
a famous magician, vanishes in the middle of the night. Catson is convinced of
foul play but none of the other passengers seem to know anything about the
magician. Was he on the train at all? And how is his disappearance connected
with a fiendish plot to steal the world’s most famous painting, the Mona Lemur?
Bones and Catson are up against it to reach Paris and solve the mystery before
it’s too late. This brilliantly funny and clever new mystery features 28
puzzles – including search games, mazes and maths conundrums – that are threaded
into the action in a thrilling story told across fourteen chapters. Hours of
fun for budding young sleuths!
(Buster Books, paperback, £6.99)
Growing Up: An Inclusive Guide to Puberty and Your Changing Body
Rachel Greener and Clare Owen
FOR a young child, it’s hard to imagine that every single
adult (even their own parents!) was once a child! If your youngsters are starting to get curious about how
adults get from being a child to being an a grown-up, children’s publisher Nosy
Crow have created this modern and inclusive guide to help them understand that inevitable
journey. Growing up is a natural part of life and children will, at
some point, need to understand the different ways their body may change as they
grow older. While puberty happens to everyone, every child’s journey from
childhood to adulthood will be as unique as they are. In this honest, accessible illustrated guide – written by
books editor Rachel Greener and sensitively illustrated by Clare Owen – young
readers can find out exactly what may happen as they grow from being a child to
becoming a grown-up. From getting taller and discovering hair growing in new
places to developing breasts, experiencing periods or having wet dreams, this
book provides the perfect stepping stone for parents and carers to have an open
conversation about what it really means for a child to be growing up. Written in friendly and accessible language that can be
shared with a child or read independently, Growing Up also includes a further
reading section and glossary to answer more complex questions, and signposts where
young readers can find help from trusted sources outside of the home or school
environment. An invaluable book of answers for every body...
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £12.99)
I’m Not Scared: A Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog Adventure
Britta Teckentrup
PRICKLE and tickle your youngsters into an enchanting and
reassuring story which helps them to navigate a path through their childhood
fears. I’m Not Scared is the second adorable Big Hedgehog and
Little Hedgehog adventure from award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup and
– with its gentle, wind-down story and a gallery of gloriously atmospheric
illustrations covering dawn to dusk – is guaranteed to tenderly guide your
little ones into the land of sleep. From dark basements to deserted streets, swooping birds to
cars’ glaring headlights, and menacing foxes to friendly cats, the two hedgehog
friends spend a day and evening facing up to things that are both frightening
and harmless. And as they walk through their neighbourhood, they talk casually
about their fears and strategies for dealing with them – whistling, holding
hands, counting, being still, and accepting kindness. The lovable and relatable Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog
are just two of German-born Teckentrup’s many marvellous characters who embody
human emotions that young readers can recognise and easily understand. In her trademark style, Teckentrup’s stunning illustrations
capture the lush range of colours and textures in nature, while her warm and
reflective story offers valuable skills to help youngsters identify and deal
with the things that make us scared. Picture – and word – perfect reading for
bedtime!
(Prestel, hardback, £10.99)
Mavis the Bravest
Lu Fraser and Sarah Warburton
MAVIS the chicken is too scared to leave the barn and
discover the wonderful world waiting outside... will she be brave enough to
rescue her friend from a thief? Award-winning writer Lu Fraser, an exciting new
voice in children’s picture books, and illustrator Sarah Warburton – the
creative duo who bought us One Camel Called Doug – work their special magic
again on a crazy chicken caper that is perfect for wind-down reading at bedtime.
Mavis is not like her adventurous friend Marge. Mavis is a chicken who finds
EVERYTHING scary (night-time and daytime and anything hairy!) So when the
slumbering peace of their cosy barn is disturbed by someone trying to steal
their friend Sandra the sheep, will Mavis be able to find her bright spark of
braveness and save Sandra? This warmly reassuring, rhyming and irresistible
story is full of comedy and chaos but also reminds young readers that we all
have a bright spark of braveness in us... we just need something or someone to
help us discover it. A delight to read out loud and packed with Warburton’s rich,
colourful and characterful illustrations, this is the perfect picture book
partnership!
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £6.99)
Does a Monkey Get Grumpy?
Moira Butterfield and Adam Ming
WHEN you’re down and feeling grumpy, take comfort from a
monkey... because monkeys get grumpy too! Author Moira Butterfield and
illustrator Adam Ming put animals at the heart of their fun and fact-filled
picture book which helps youngsters understand – and cope with – their
emotions. This charmingly illustrated and cleverly created book identifies a
range of familiar emotions and then lets youngsters explore the very same
feelings as they are experienced by a cast of adorable animals. Do horses feel
happy and can geese get glum? With a different emotion on each spread, this
funny and moving book takes a look at feelings such as sad, happy, grumpy,
excited, scared, playful, lonely and kind. Children will love making
connections between their own feelings and their favourite animals, including
elephants, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, monkeys, deer and horses. With Butterfield’s
short, rhythmic text and Ming’s bold, colourful and playful illustrations, Does
a Monkey Get Grumpy? – the first in a series of books relating human behaviour
to animals – delivers a host of humorous facts and lovable animal characters,
help children identify basic, normal feelings, introduces ideas of empathy and
animal welfare, and is the perfect, wind-down book at bedtime
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Holey Moley
Bethan Clarke and Anders Frang
I AM a mole and I live in a...?! Get ready to have your
brain befuddled and your funny bone tickled as exciting debut author Bethan
Clarke and rising star illustrator Anders Frang from Denmark combine their
creative talents on an outrageously anarchic picture book. Holey Moley will
have young readers giggling and guessing as rhymes and wordplay put the comedy
and complexity of language at centre stage. Gus the Goat loves guessing, and
(rather irritatingly) interrupting ... oh, and he also loves rhyming. So, when
he meets Mavis Mole, he can’t stop himself trying to guess where she lives. Is
it in a hole? In a bowl? In a sausage roll? No, not quite... and will Mole EVER
get a word in edgeways? If silliness wins prizes from young readers, then this
wonderfully nonsensical story is topping the shortlist as Clarke blends her rollicking
rhyming skills with the deadpan humour of Frang’s stylish, contemporary
illustrations. Perfectly created to inspire a love of language, nonsense and
puns, and with a delightful final twist at the end, this is a story to share
and enjoy time and time again.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)
Everything Possible
Fred Small and Alison Brown
FORTY years after American singer-songwriter, activist and
Unitarian Universalist minister Fred Small wrote the inspirational lyrics to
the iconic folk song Everything Possible, illustrator Alison Brown has
harnessed both his words and the message for a stunning picture book. Small’s
song became an anthem for generations and was recorded and made famous by the
gay male cappella group the Flirtations, travelling around the world with its
resonant message. With a joyful and inclusive lullaby about love, acceptance
and following your heart, and a gallery of bold and beautiful illustrations,
this gorgeous new book celebrates the fact that every child is unique and their
future filled with possibilities. Strong and bold, or quiet and kind, children
are firmly in the frame every as they are gently encouraged to dream their own
dream and choose their own path, wherever it may take them. Perfectly reflecting Small’s passionate
advocacy for equality, inclusion and environmental justice, Everything Possible
is an inspiring and uplifting picture book for children everywhere and includes
a free ‘Stories Aloud’ audio recording with revised lyrics. Simply scan the QR
code at the end of the story to hear the song.
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £12.99)
50 Words About Nature: Animals
Lily Holland and Debbie Powell
THERE'S discovery and (don’t whisper it too loudly!) learning written all over a brilliant and ambitious new series from the clever book boffins at Oxford University Press! 50 Words About Nature includes four sparkling little books introducing first words on nature, and has been written by early years professional, Lily Holland, who is passionate about being out in nature with children. Each title introduces pre-schoolers to new and challenging words, as well as more familiar ones, alongside simple, easy-to-understand explanations and the enchanting, full-colour artwork of illustrator Debbie Powell.
I Just Ate My Friend
Heidi McKinnon
WHAT happens when you eat your best friend? Turn the pages
of this delightfully quirky picture book from Melbourne-based debut author and
illustrator Heidi McKinnon and revel in the hidden messages just waiting to
pounce on your mischievous little readers. I just ate my friend, says a strange
little character with the biggest eyes and the widest mouth. His friend was a
good friend, he tells us, but now he’s gone. Would you be this strange
creature’s friend? McKinnon’s simple but effective cautionary tale about the
search for friendship and belonging will have youngsters giggling and
sniggering as enjoy the laughs along the way... But there’s a darkly humorous
sting in the tale that might just remind them that being too impulsive can have
disastrous results. Guaranteed to be returned to time and time again by popular
request!
(Allen & Unwin Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Don’t Mix Up My Puppy
Rosamund Lloyd and Spencer Wilson
DO you have a favourite puppy... and would you like to make
your very own furry friends? Little ones will be sitting up and begging for
more when they get their paws on this colourful and creative board book from
Little Tiger Press. With its chunky pages full of Spencer Wilson’s big, bold
illustrations, this gorgeous mix-and-match book lets babies and toddlers spin
the wheel and find a tail for each of the puppies. The built-in wheel contains
different touch-and-feel panels for little hands to explore and is perfect for
developing hand-eye coordination. With five options to choose from, and the fun
of spinning the wheel, this doggie delight is guaranteed to be a hands-on
winner!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)
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