Age 9 plus
Clarity Jones and the Magical Detective Agency
Chris Smith and Kenneth Anderson
PREPARE for mystery, magic and mayhem as bestselling author
Chris Smith digs deep into his incredible imagination for a hilarious new fantasy
adventure set in the great and unforgettable city of Meandermart. Billed as Cressida Cowell meets Robin Stevens with a dash of
Pixar gold, Clarity Jones and the Magical Detective Agency is full of humour,
adventure, marvellous magic and the kind of comical chaos that is guaranteed to
have youngsters laughing out loud as every page turns. Taking starring role is strangely wonderful Clarity Jones,
M.I. (that’s Magical Investigator to those who don’t yet know) and her
Sherlock-esque motto is ‘Never, ever eliminate the impossible.’ Thus, when lonely
orphan and newly appointed (accidental) apprentice detective Mutt gets a job at
the leading detective agency at Meandermart, the easternmost city of the
kingdom of Rillia, he’s not expecting to work with ex-princesses, snow gnoblins
and the most notorious assassin of the White Hand Clan. Meandermart is a very
peculiar place, with its castle set on a hill and its high walls overlooking
the Truly Terrifying Forest which is packed with strange and frightening
creatures like grabbits, umlauts and the deadly nyterra. And poor Mutt is also definitely
not expecting to be thrown in at the deep end (with the help of ace detective Clarity
Jones of course!) on the agency’s toughest and most dangerous job yet... the Mysterious
Case of the Vanishing Jester. Packed with the perfectly matched, anarchic illustrations of
Kenneth Anderson, Clarity Jones and the Magical Detective Agency is
outrageously entertaining from start to finish with a cast of gorgeously
grotesque characters and an exuberant, child-friendly plot brimming with
adventure, mystery and an addictive sense of fun.
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)
Age 13 plus
Clicks – How to Be Your Best Self Online
Natasha Devon
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)
Jodie
Hilary McKay and Keith Robinson
PREPARE to have your spine well and truly tingled in this
haunting and superbly atmospheric modern ghost story from multi-award-winning
author Hilary McKay. Starring a girl on a school residential trip who finds
herself trapped and alone on the salt marshes, and troubled by a haunting
presence, there are chills galore for young mystery fans to enjoy. Jodie never wanted to come on the residential trip to the
field centre. A loner at school, she’s forced into a dormitory with other girls
from her class who don’t understand her and talk about her behind her back.
Even though they’re not trying to be mean, Jodie feels excluded and miserable,
and eventually escapes out on to the salt marshes in search of a little dog she
can hear barking in the distance. But the salt marshes are dangerous and Jodie
gets trapped by the incoming tide. Stuck in the sucking mud, will anyone even
notice that she’s gone? And where is the little dog that keeps barking so
mournfully? McKay is now one of Britain’s best-loved children’s authors
and has won countless accolades, and it’s easy to see why. Written with her
trademark insight and lyricism, the story is set against a dazzlingly dark
backdrop brought to life by Keith Robinson’s evocative illustrations. As we learn the reason for Jodie’s isolation, insecurity and
loneliness, the hardships of her troubled home and family life are slowly
uncovered, but McKay also gives us a redemptive, emotional and unexpected
denouement, one that speaks loudly to youngsters about the power of hope and
the importance of kindness and friendship.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)
The Ministry of Unladylike Activity
Robin Stevens
WHO knew spying could be dead funny? Robin Stevens, the multi-award-winning author of the Murder
Most Unladylike series, gathers up her murder-mystery loving fans and sweeps
them away to wartime and into the life of a feisty ten-year-old girl who is
hell-bent on saving the world. And with spills, thrills and laughter all the
way, this all-action new series looks set to be an all-round, hands-down,
dead-cert winner. In 1940, Britain is at war and a secret arm of the British
government called the Ministry of Unladylike Activity is training up spies.
Enter May Wong (soon to be eleven)... she’s courageous, stubborn, and desperate
to help end the war so that she can go home to Hong Kong (and leave her
annoying school, Deepdean, behind forever). May knows that she would make the
perfect spy. After all, grown-ups always underestimate children like her. When
May and her friend Eric (who is kind and sensible, and usually right about
everything) are turned away by the Ministry, they take matters into their own
hands. Masquerading as evacuees, they travel to Elysium Hall, home to the
wealthy Verey family, and that includes snobby, dramatic Nuala. They suspect
that one of the Vereys is passing information to Germany. If they can prove it,
the Ministry will have to take them on. But there are more secrets at Elysium
Hall than May or Eric could ever have imagined. And then someone is murdered... California-born Stevens is the best thing since Agatha
Christie when it comes to murder mysteries for young readers. Packed with a
dazzling cast of goodies and baddies, rich in seductive period detail and
exciting backdrops, and with a plotline that includes bags of intrigue, some
deft detective work and a gang of the canniest kids in town, this series looks
set to be another Robin Stevens classic.
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)
An Alien Stole My Planet
Pooja Puri and Allen Fatimaharan
TOP team Esha and Broccoli return with an amazing new
invention… so what could possibly go wrong? Everything it seems! Welcome back
to the wild, wacky and wonderful world of genius inventor extraordinaire Esha
Verma, the hilarious creation of author Pooja Puri and her brilliant
illustrator team-mate Allen Fatimaharan. In this all-action, laugh-out-loud third
book in the A Dinosaur Ate My Sister series, which introduced readers to Esha,
her snotty apprentice Broccoli and his secretly cunning pet tortoise, the trio
are on an inter-galactic mission to stop an alien from stealing their planet.
When Esha invents the Inviz-Whiz, a device designed to make the user invisible,
she does not expect it to open a portal to outer space! And things go from bad
to worse when Esha, Broccoli, Archibald and Broccoli’s annoying cousin Bean are
immediately abducted by Goospa, an alien with an evil plan. With the help of a
surly alien called Nix, Esha and the gang must race across the galaxy, navigate
a Lava Marsh, fight vicious Ice Bats and prevent Bean getting into too much
trouble. But can they stop Goospa’s plan before it’s too late? Puri and
Fatimaharan work their special magic on this madcap adventure which also
features a devious shape shifter and a deadly cobra. A hilarious chapter of
accidents that no mischief-maker would want to miss!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
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Suitcase S(witch)
Aisha Bushby and Coralie Muce
THERE'S fun coming down the line and you wouldn’t want to
miss the ride! The magic begins with a train journey in award-winning
children’s author Aisha Bushby and illustrator Coralie Muce’s charming fantasy adventure
which has a twist reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio known for its
lovable characters and whimsical stories. When Zahra accidentally swaps
suitcases with a witch, it’s the beginning of a whole series of magical
mishaps. Her feet take on a dancing life of their own when she puts on a pair
of enchanted boots (mortifying!), while her first flying adventure in a charmed
cloak nearly ends in disaster... terrifying! But it’s not all bad. She learns a
spell that can transform her dad’s worst cooking into a gourmet delight and
makes a new best friend in the form of a talking cat. When she finds the witch
again, will Zahra even want to get her own suitcase back? Packed with fun and
fantasy, all brought to vibrant life by Muce’s beautiful artwork, and published
in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, Suitcase S(witch) is
top-class storytelling with an important message finding your confidence gently
wrapped inside. Truly spellbinding!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)
The Worries: Leo Says Goodbye
Jion Sheibani
WHEN there is a death in the family, it’s not always easy
for young children to understand the concept of bereavement and grief. So if
you too are lost for words, guide youngsters through this emotional time with
the fourth book in Jion Sheibani’s gentle and reassuring illustrated series which
aims to help children talk about their different worries. In this story we meet Leo who has always been a happy little
boy but when his beloved Nana dies, he feels very sad and very worried. What if
something happens to him, or his mum and dad? And what if he begins to forget
Nana? Mum and Dad say Leo’s feelings are normal... but they don’t feel very
normal to Leo. The last thing Leo thinks he needs is a bunch of fretful furry
monsters causing chaos... it’s the Worries! But sometimes, Worries are good.
Sometimes, they show us that our feelings might be sad and strange but by
paying attention to them, they can help us heal. Leo Says Goodbye has been written with input from Winston’s
Wish, a leading child bereavement charity and includes guides on talking to
children about death, grief and living with loss as well as activities for
children. Matched by her simple, child-focused artwork in a beautiful,
two-colour format, Sheibani’s thoughtful text balances fun storytelling with a
gently important message, making it ideal to read and share with bereaved
youngsters.
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)
Dream Sticker Dress-Up:
Dogs & Puppies
Noodle Fuel and Lucy Zhang
SUMMER is almost here and it’s time to pick the perfect
outfit for a day out in the sunshine with a host of cute puppies! Hours of
hands-on fun are guaranteed with the new Dream Sticker Dress-Up book from
Usborne Publishing whose various sticker doll series have proved popular with
all little fashion lovers. And with over 200 stickers to enjoy, this delightfully
dreamy sticker book is perfect for little animal lovers! Meet adorable puppies
on every spread as you bring their world to life. From the park and the dog
cafe to the vets and the dog groomer, there are so many fun settings to explore
with your new fluffy friends. With lots of dolls and perfect pups to
accessorise, and the vast array of stickers, children won’t be stuck for
something to do with this beautiful activity book. And with so many reusable
stickers to choose from, this is a paw-fect book that no young fashionista will
want to miss!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)
I Am, You Are: Let’s Talk About Disability, Individuality and Empowerment
Ashley Harris Whaley, Ananya
Rao-Middleton and Hannah Wood
SOME people have disabilities you CAN see and others have
disabilities you CAN’T see. Ashley Harris Whaley, a writer, speaker,
speech-language pathologist and disability activist, has used her knowledge and
experiences to bring youngsters a resonant book which aims to support children,
parents, teachers and carers by explaining what disability is and why it should
be celebrated. Diversity means we are all different and we can learn so
much from each other’s differences. I Am, You Are is a powerful, practical book
which helps children and adults have meaningful discussions about disability
and ableism. Most importantly, it encourages children to feel empowered, to
embrace individuality, to look out for one another and to celebrate disability
as diversity. Fully-illustrated throughout by talented disability
activist and advocacy campaigner Ananya Rao-Middleton, and children’s
illustrator Hannah Wood, I Am, You Are is aimed at children aged four and
above. Containing explanations on key words and concepts, written
in child-friendly, accessible language, and with relatable examples, the book
supports children’s understanding in building an anti-ableist stance from an
early age, and is perfect to read at home or in classrooms to support
children’s lifelong learning journey.
(Ladybird, hardback, £12.99)
More Peas Please!
Tom McLaughlin
IF you dream about your fussy little eater saying more peas
please, then tuck into this tasty picture book and give the greens a chance to
shine! Author and illustrator Tom McLaughlin gives vegetables centre stage in
his funny, fantastical, action-packed picture book which aims to help
despairing parents – who we know always have a lot on their plate – encourage their
picky or reluctant young diners to eat up.
‘I can’t eat peas!’ exclaims Milo. ‘They’re too GREEN! Greener than a
stinky, swampy pond, greener than a giant dragon, greener than a fleet of
space-sick aliens.’ It’s fair to say that Milo doesn't like peas but is it
possible that his wise and inventive sister Molly could help him change his
mind by showing him how cool they can be? McLaughlin’s gallery of bold, vibrant
illustrations provides extra gusto to a clever, comical and hopefully
enlightening story which is guaranteed to provide plenty of food for thought!
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Bugs
Patricia Hegarty and Britta Teckentrup
‘If you look down towards the ground, A world of
wildlife
can be found. And now that spring is in the air,
New life is blooming
everywhere.’
A COLOURFUL array of amazing bugs and minibeasts take starring
roles in this striking peep-through book from children’s author Patricia
Hegarty and award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup. Little ones will love
turning the pages of this gorgeously produced book to watch the wonders of
nature’s insect world unfold. Hegarty’s lyrical, rhyming text helps little ones
to understand the magical activities and busy lives of creatures like
caterpillars, ladybirds, moths and butterflies throughout the year while
Teckentrup’s colourful and expressive artwork brings the teeniest, tiniest bugs
to life. Don’t miss this visual and verbal trip to a wild and wonderful world
of creepy crawlies!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)
Wellington’s Big Day Out
Steve Small
LET your little ones learn how to think big in this
irresistibly funny and heartwarming picture book from BAFTA-nominated animation
director Steve Small. Guaranteed to win the hearts of elephant lovers – and
little boys – everywhere, Wellington’s Big Day Out is a wonderfully whimsical
tale about the all-too-familiar worries of growing up. When Wellington is given
a new jacket exactly like Dad’s for his birthday, at first he’s delighted. But
his delight turns to disappointment when he tries it on and it’s far too big.
And what if, even worse, Wellington thinks, it’s not that the jacket is too big
but that he’s too small? Well, Wellington’s dad has a plan, and on an exciting
day out that takes in a ride on the bus, a super-size strawberry sundae, a toot
on a tuba and a visit to his grandad, Wellington learns that he’s growing up
exactly as fast as he should be… and just like his dad. Small’s colourful
gallery of pictures is a joy to behold… both children and parents will feast on
this beguiling blend of heart-melting illustrations and a story that reaches
out far beyond the pages. Picture book perfection!
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £7.99)
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