CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A fiery dragon, forward thinking and a hiccups howler

Be careful what you wish for as you enter a bewitching world of adventure, go back to the future with a fondly-remembered book from 1979, join a modern-day Robin Hood who is out to catch the villains, gasp with laughter at a boy with never-ending hiccups, and kick off a summer of football with two of England women’s outstanding players

Age 9 plus
The House With
A Dragon In It
Nick Lake and Emily Gravett

BE careful what you wish for! Enjoy being transported – both verbally and visually – into a thrilling adventure full of magic, mystery, witches and dragons as critically-acclaimed YA author Nick Lake teams up with artistic genius and twice CILIP Kate Greenaway award-winning artist Emily Gravett. The House With a Dragon In It is a dazzling and deliciously exciting adventure with family and friendship at its heart, and messages about believing in your own magic and accepting yourself for who and what you are echoing through the pages. A promise from a dragon is written in fire... when Summer and her foster family are having lunch one day, a hole appears in the middle of the living room. That hole leads to a dragon and the promise of three wishes, granted by a very unusual witch. Summer wishes for popularity and plenty of money, and things are looking up... until she realises that the hole in the floor is getting bigger and the witch is getting more sinister. As things begin to unravel, will Summer get her dearest, most secret wish? Lake’s beautifully imagined story of wild adventures and wish fulfilment reminds us all that everyone is different and that acceptance is a vital component of happiness. Add on Gravett’s richly detailed and atmospheric black and white illustrations and you have a special gift book guaranteed to be loved and treasured by everyone who reads it.
(Simon & Schuster Children’s books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 10 plus
The Usborne Book of the Future
Written by Kenneth Gatland and
David Jefferis, and illustrated by
Gordon Davie, Terry Hadler,
Michael Roffe and George Thompson

TO celebrate their 50^th birthday this year, Usborne, one of the world’s leading independent children’s book publishers, is going back to the future! First published in 1979, the Usborne Book of the Future is a fondly-remembered book from a time when people dreamed of the future as a place filled with wonder and amazing new technology. And after more than 40 years of science fiction focusing on dystopias and doom, it’s time to remind readers both young and old that, in fact, the future is STILL a place that holds hope and excitement. This fascinating and nostalgic book – which offers predictions that now seem either spookily accurate or amusingly out-of-kilter – is built in three sections. The first explores all kinds of robots, the jobs they will do on land, sea and in space, and where they will get power from. The second is all about cities of the future, and how people will live, what new buildings they will build, how computers will change the world, and what people will do for fun. The final section is about the future of travel, from planes, trains and cars on Earth, to space shuttles and journeys to colonise other planets. This re-issued edition retains the original text and stunning artwork but now comes with a foreword by renowned BBC Futurologist Tom Cheesewright who was inspired into his career by the original edition of the book. From outlining the internet and asteroid mines to 3D printers and robot helpers, readers will be surprised at how accurately this book predicted life in the 21st century. Long out of print, copies of the original printing of The Usborne Book of the Future fetch three figures on auction sites. But now people who remember this book from their childhood can find it again, and share it with the next generation... at normal bookshop prices!
(Usborne Publishing, hardback, £12.99)

Age 10 plus
Robin Hood: Bandits, Dirt Bikes & Trash
Robert Muchamore

HE might be a modern-day Robin Hood… but he’s still out to catch the villains who are cheating the poor and vulnerable! Welcome back to international bestselling author Robert Muchamore’s contemporary take on the legend of Sherwood Forest in the sixth book of an enthralling series that delivers a gripping formula of fun, action and thrills. In the new action-packed mission, Robin Hood is pleased to hear from his old school friend Alan Adale, not least because Alan’s father is Guy Gisborne’s top henchman. Now that Gisborne is in the running to be elected Sheriff of Nottingham, he needs to keep his criminal activities under wraps. So when Alan tips off Robin and the rebels at Sherwood Castle that Gisborne’s waste disposal business is costing its workers lives, the stakes become very high. Robin is soon literally digging the dirt on his arch enemy to finally bring him down in this latest high-octane adventure. Muchamore delivers more outrageous and high-intensity action as teen rebel and social-media star Robin Hood and his friends continue their campaign against the brutal and corrupt powers that be. Brimming with guts, gusto, gags and gripping adventures, this is Robin Hood and his merry men as you’ve never before seen them… enjoy!
(Hot Key Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Day The Hiccups Took Over
Jo Simmons and Lee Cosgrove

A NEVER-ENDING case of the hiccups is set to make fun-loving readers gasp and gulp with laughter when they get their hands on another hilarious caper from comedy genius and bestselling author Jo Simmons. The Day The Hiccups Took Over comes from the same team of Simmons and illustration wizard Lee Cosgrove who won an army of fans with their riotous romp The Day My Family Disappeared. Meet Frank... he has a big day ahead of him, with a trip to the dentist, a trumpet exam, a swimming trial and then, the event he’s been looking forward to for months... he has tickets to see his knitting hero on stage at the World Knitting Games right here in his home town! But all that is put at risk when secret knitting fan Frank wakes up with the hiccups. Hic, hic, hic... they just won’t STOP! Helped by his new friend Daisy, Frank tries ever more wacky and hare-brained ideas to get the hiccups to go away. But will the whole day end in disappointment and humiliation, or will Frank manage to turn a hiccupping calamity into a dramatic triumph? Published by Barrington Stoke in their trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this madcap masterpiece of hiccupping mayhem is perfect for reluctant readers... and mischief-makers of any age!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Magician’s Daughter
Caryl Lewis and George Ermos

AWARD-WINNING Welsh novelist Caryl Lewis – author of the enchanting book Seed – plays with our heartstrings again in this funny, thrill-packed adventure about the power of true magic. After one hilarious, disastrous magic show too many, Abby’s dad decides it’s time to give up showbiz... until the day Abby finds a mysterious, dusty old book of spells among her mum’s things. Mum – who died suddenly when Abby was very young – had always been the dazzling magician, after all. And as Abby practises, each new spell brings wonder and joy, not only to Abby and her dad, but also to the whole community. One old lady feels young again when she is lifted into a dance, and two children learn that anything is possible when they fly. Nothing lasts forever, though, and after each public performance another spell vanishes from the book. So before the magic disappears forever, Abby and Dad plan one final, spectacular, impossible show in London... a show where the meaning of true magic will be revealed.  Illustrated throughout by George Ermos, The Magician’s Daughter tackles important topics like bereavement, the shared comfort from being part of a community and the power of love to heal grief whilst delivering a heartwarming adventure full of colourful characters, stage dramas... and magic. The perfect book hug!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Ultimate Football Heroes
Leah Williamson & Beth Mead
Emily Stead

AS next month’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand draws near, kick off a summer of football with Leah Williamson and Beth Mead, two of England women’s outstanding players. Williamson was born into a footballing family, following in the footsteps of her mother who cut her hair short so she could play with the boys. Williamson began playing at Scot Youth, a boys’ team in Bletchley, quickly becoming their star striker. Representing England since 2010, Williamson has played at an international level since the age of 13 and was made permanent captain of the Lionesses in 2022. Discover how this versatile player from Milton Keynes balanced school with a burgeoning football career to hone her skills. From her early start as a six-year-old and being a part of Arsenal's youth programme at nine to receiving an OBE in 2023 for services to association football and being made captain of England, Williamson is a true star.

And Mead, an energetic six-year-old, was taken to a weekly local football session by her mum. Finding a passion for the game, Beth often found herself as the only girl on the team. Despite being laughed at for this, she let her natural talent do the talking. At 16, Mead was signed to Sunderland where she made a name for herself as a top goal scorer. She later signed for Arsenal and earned a place in the England national team. From becoming captain of her primary school’s boys’ team to being announced as the youngest winner of the Women's Super League Golden Boot and being named as the Player of the Tournament at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 tournament, Mead is a footballing hero. Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys to stardom. Written by passionate supporter of women’s football Emily Stead in a fast-paced, action-packed style, these ultimate football hero stories are guaranteed to be bang on goal with all aspiring young players!
(Dino Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 8 plus
Me and the Robbersons: Bandit Karaoke
Written by Siri Kolu and translated by Ruth Urbom

‘Thinkin’ with yer head, fightin’ with yer fists and relaxin’
with yer belly full. That’s what life’s all about.’ 

BUCKLE up and get ready for a rollicking ride alongside a bandit family that consumes a LOT of sweets and has a penchant for madcap adventures! Bandit Karaoke is the second title in a fresh, fun and anarchic series from Finnish author Siri Kolu whose Me and the Robbersons books have become an international hit. Translated into English by Ruth Urbom, these brilliant escapist reads – full of laugh-out-loud humour and a larger-than-life cast of characters – really hit the spot when it comes to child-appeal. Maisie’s summer can finally start when she’s whisked away from a boring music camp by her bandit family, the Robbersons. Bring on a summer of screeching down country lanes, camping out on lake shores and devouring sweets... Maisie can’t wait! The Robbersons are equally happy to have Maisie and her sharp skills back just in time for the robbers’ summer festival. This year a new Bandit Leader will be appointed and with the bandit clans out for revenge, the Robbersons need all the help they can get! This twisting, turning, all-action story – with a warm heart and important messages for our contemporary world – is guaranteed to have youngsters giggling from start to finish. Don’t miss it!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Pizazz vs The Future
Sophy Henn 

ENJOY more super-awesome laughs in the sixth book of award-winning author and illustrator Sophy Henn’s hilarious comic-book strip style series starring scintillating superhero schoolgirl Pizazz. Classroom politics, friendship fails and laugh-out-loud humour are the hallmarks of this perfectly pitched series which has all the ‘powers and stuff’ that you expect from a superhero story but with the added delight of some very human characters and some very human dilemmas. Being a superhero is the best thing ever, right? Wrong! Pizazz is everyone’s favourite 9¾-year-old (reluctant) superhero. You probably think being a superhero is really awesome and while it can be, it’s also REEEEEAAALLLLY annoying. Always having to zoom off to save the universe can be tricky at the best of times, but at the worst of times it’s practically impossible! And yet, despite all, Pizazz is ready to give this super thing her ALL... she’s even got a brand-new costume. Pizazz soon discovers that a bunch of baddies have formed Team Toxic and are trying to destroy the planet for ever, but none of the grown-ups even care! This time it’s up to Pizazz and her friends to save the world. Expect lots of wicked humour and evil plans as Henn serves up another ferocious and fast-paced feast of super-powered, caped crusader fun!
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £6.99)

Age 7 plus
The Lost Bear Cub
Holly Webb and David Dean

ENJOY a trip into the wild and wonderful landscape of Canada with a warm, tender and action-packed story from bestselling author Holly Webb who has written over 130 books for children. Starring an adorable bear cub which seals the bond between two sides of a family who live oceans apart, and featuring the evocative illustrations of David Dean, The Lost Bear Cub is a delight. Lucy is so excited to spend the summer holidays with her cousins in Canada. Lucy and her big brother Jack don’t really know their three cousins, Reuben, Sam and Kitty, and she is a little nervous in case they don’t get on well together. All seems fine until they tell her to watch out for bears in the forest and her excitement immediately turns to fear. One day, she stumbles upon a bear cub on its own. At first she’s scared before realising that the poor creature is lost. Can Lucy help the cub find its mother without also putting herself in danger? Webb charms us all again with her trademark emotive animal adventure and for those wanting more of the same, check out her enchanting reads, The Dawn Seal, The Hideaway Deer, The Silver Pony and The Wildmeadow Hare.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 7 plus
Questions and Answers about Refugees
Katie Daynes, Ashe de Sousa and Oksana Drachkovska

WHAT happens when your home isn’t safe any more? Around the world, millions of refugees face this heartbreaking question and it’s important that young children understand the answers to some important questions about displacement and what it means to be a refugee. Written in consultation with the Refugee Council, this thoughtful and compassionate lift-the-flap book – stunningly illustrated by Oksana Drachkovska who grew up in Ukraine – answers some tricky questions with simple, direct answers. Why do people become refugees, when can refugees see their friends again and what is life like in a camp are just a few of the questions that are explored by authors Katie Daynes and Ashe de Sousa. Drawing on conversations with refugees and aid workers from around the world, the questions cover all stages of a refugee’s journey, from fleeing danger and embarking on hazardous journeys, to seeking asylum and struggling to find a new place to call home. The language and scenes have been carefully considered to be appropriate for younger children, providing an extremely useful educational tool for families and schools.
(Usborne Publishing, board book, £10.99)

Age 4 plus
The Moon Is a Ball
Ed Franck and Thé Tjong-Khing

IF you’re looking for a book that speak directly to your child, then this adorable, warm, wise and wistful collection of nine stories about an unbreakable friendship between a panda and a squirrel is the perfect choice! The Moon Is a Ball – translated from the Dutch edition by David Colmer – is the creation of Ed Franck, one of Belgium’s most important and innovative children’s writers, and Thé Tjong-Khing, a world-leading illustrator for children whose many accolades include nomination for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Panda and Squirrel can’t live without each other and do everything together... they lie on the rocks to look at the moon, take walks and play games. Sometimes they argue... but they always make up again. Theirs truly is a friendship for any day, whether they’re roaring, quiet, grumbling or snoring! Ideal for youngsters starting to read alone, or to share with adults at bedtime, and gorgeously illustrated, each story in this collection is beautifully imagined and speaks straight to the heart of every child who has formed a close friendship.
(Gecko Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3
Julia Donaldson's Book of Names
Julia Donaldson and Nila Aye

‘WHAT'S in a name?’ wrote William Shakespeare. Using that simple but resonant premise, bestselling author of The Gruffalo and many other children’s classics, Julia Donaldson celebrates the children she has met at hundreds of book signings over the years. Packaged as a magical rhyming celebration of children, imagination, stories and names, this beautiful picture book will delight readers of every age. ‘I’ve signed for boys called Romeo and girls called Juliet . I’ve signed for Roman, Saxon, Dane – though not for Norman yet.’ From months of the year and colours to flowers, fairy tales, food and gemstones, Donaldson has seamlessly grouped together a charming selection of children’s names and woven them together in her unmistakable rhyming style. Set in a magical transforming bookshop, Julia Donaldson’s Book of Names is a love letter to the world of books, wordplay and young bookworms and is brought to life by the colourful and heartwarming illustrations of the award-winning Nila Aye. Young readers will love trying to find their own name in this cleverly created book, and even if it isn’t included, there is a special dedicated space for them to add it.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Five Minute Mum: Starting School
Daisy Upton and Mackinzie Rekers

STARTING school is a big day for both children and parents so let author and social media superstar Daisy Upton (aka Five Minute Mum) take you by the hand and lead you through what can be a daunting experience. With its funny and informative format, the colourful, child-friendly illustrations of Mackinzie Rekers, and lots of Upton’s trademark five-minute entertaining games and activities, this is the perfect, must-have guide from a writer who draws on her experiences as both a mum and a teaching assistant in schools. Covering topics like uniforms, meeting the teacher, getting to school on the first day, making new friends, finding the way around, having fun at playtime, asking for help, packing their bag, learning about letters and numbers, going to assemblies and getting changed for PE, there is everything here for that first big step to school. The book also includes lots of five-minute games and activities designed to help your child feel confident and excited about starting school, and offering them glimpses of all the learning they will do and all the fun they will have. Full of those vital key ideas, and perfect for reading and sharing together, Starting School is all you need for starters! 
(Ladybird Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 3 plus
Don’t Disturb the Dragon!
Rhiannon Findlay and Siân Roberts

IT'S time to wind down the day and set off on a brilliant new bedtime adventure with Rhiannon Findlay, author of the much-loved Ten Minutes to Bed series, and her illustrator team-mate Siân Roberts.  Somewhere near, a huge beast lies, with giant claws and great big eyes... do not disturb the dragon! Oh no... the Princess’s little brother has learned to crawl and has gone missing from his cot. It’s up to the princess to find him before he disturbs the fearsome dragon. Armed with a map and her dragon-fighting kit, she sets off with the readers on an exciting rescue mission... but can she save her brother and still get back in time for bed? Little ones will love joining the interactive hunt as they tiptoe over, under, round and through the book to make sure they don’t disturb the dragon. With Findlay’s rhymthic, read-aloud adventure providing the perfect preparation for bedtime, and Roberts’ winsome and wonderfully colourful illustrations adding an irresistible air of calm, little eyes will be closing as the last page turns!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
The Gardening Dog
Cindy Wume

MEET two very special friends in this heartwarming and beautifully illustrated tale about gardening and the rewards of being patient from Cindy Wume, a freelance illustrator from Taiwan. The Gardening Dog is never chosen to go home with anyone who visits the rescue centre where she lives. Instead she spends her time quietly growing beautiful plants. Then one day she meets a shy boy called Lewis who much prefers drawing to running around with all the other children. Working together, Lewis and the Gardening Dog create a wonderful community garden for everyone to share and as new shoots grow outside, they build a deep friendship that leads to a new start for them both. Children will love meeting the boy and the dog who both don’t quite fit in but together discover that a friendship, like a garden, takes time to grow... and is always worth the wait. Illustrated in a riot of vibrant colours to match the seasons and the weather, The Gardening Dog delivers important messages about self-acceptance and following your passions. Enchanting and heartwarming, The Gardening Dog is perfect for all little outdoor lovers and ideal for storytime at both home and school.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
NOT Just Another Book About:
Farm Animals & Things that Moove
Illustrated by Jake McDonald

WHAT parent or carer could resist a book that bills itself as ‘boredom-free guaranteed!’ These sturdy board books are the latest titles in what is definitely NOT just another first concept series. Packed with learning, fun, and a fine line in wit which will appeal to adults as well as children, these brilliant books offer entertainment all the way.

This new approach aims to ensure toddlers and parents giggle together as they find out just how funny learning can be. As little ones travel their way through Farm Animals, you might find that they will never look at a cow, sheep or llama the same way again! And as they speed through the pages of Things that Moove, they will discover ridiculously funny facts, everything from from bicycles to space rockets, and lots to keep them amooosed!  With a joke to enjoy on every page and the enchanting illustrations of Jake McDonald adding extra colour to learning time, these books are a must-have for all pre-schoolers.
(Noodle Juice, board books, £7.99 each) 

Age 2 plus
Sheldon's New Shell
Lily Murray and Sam Caldwell

A CRAB needs a shell like a foot needs a shoe... but what if there are none to be found? Author Lily Murray gets into the rhythm of the sea in this sparkling picture book which is published in partnership with Surfers Against Sewage, a successful environmental charity dedicated to the protection of our oceans. Sheldon the hermit crab needs a new home so it’s time for him to scour the beach and look for the perfect shell. However, the only thing he can find is rubbish! There are plastic bottles and tin cans littered everywhere. It’s a good job he has his fellow beach-side animal friends to help, as well as one little girl who is determined to clean up his environment for good. With Murray’s fun and addictive rhyme, a story that gently reminds youngsters of real-life ecological issues that affect animals and marine life around the world, and all brought to life by Sam Caldwell’s vibrant artwork, Sheldon’s New Shell delivers a powerful and resonant message for readers of every age.
(Buster Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Luna and the Sky Dragon
Bethan Woollvin

SCIENCE meets magic in a gorgeous new picture book from multi-talented author and illustrator Bethan Woollvin who is much loved for her uniquely humorous twist on classic fairy tales. In this adventurous celebration of stargazing and the joy of storytelling, Woolvin brings us a terrific tale inspired by the Ancient Greek astronomer Aglaonice who used her knowledge of the moon to predict lunar eclipses. Luna loves the sky and finding out about all the wonders she can see above her. But the villagers can’t stop worrying about the mythical Sky Dragon... a fearsome creature who is said to dwell in the sky. Can Luna share her love of the sky and show the villagers that the Sky Dragon is nothing to be afraid of? Featuring real constellations as well as facts about the Milky Way, eclipses, comets and other astronomical delights, Luna and the Sky Dragon is a warm and playful feminist story which weaves together mythical legends, science and one curious little girl. With lots to learn and talk about and Woolvin’s striking artwork in a vibrant palette of colours, this is the perfect book to inspire your own little stargazers.
(Two Hoots, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Don’t Say Elephant!
Stuart Heritage and Nicola Slater

IF a genie granted you three wishes, what would you wish for? Be careful what you wish for is the order of the day in this laugh-out-loud picture book from the top team who brought us the marvellously madcap Jonathan the Magic Pony. Guardian journalist Stuart Heritage’s weekly column about his young son, Man With a Pram, ran in the paper’s Family section between 2015-16 and now he has teamed up again with children’s books illustrator Nicola Slater for another slice of warm and wacky fun. So meet dog brothers Pancakes and Cha-Cha and fall into a brilliant world of magic, mischief and a whole lot of pizza! Pancakes and Cha-Cha are set for a perfect day of pizza and playing in the park... when they are surprised by a genie granting wishes! What in the whole wide world will they wish for? Treasure, magical powers, a lovely cheesy pizza the size of a paddling pool, or maybe – just maybe – they will be surprised by something unexpected. Brotherly love, the art of compromise and an elephant covered in cheese take centre stage in Heritage’s endearing and entertaining story, all brought to big, bright and beautiful life by Slater’s brilliant illustrations. An elephant story you’ll never forget!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Into The Wild
Thomas Docherty

ENJOY a riot of colour, a boy on a wild journey, and a menagerie of the most amazing animals in a dazzlingly creative and joyful picture book from acclaimed author and illustrator Thomas Docherty. Joe loves wild things but there aren’t any in the city where he lives... or are there? One moonlit night Joe leaves his window open and with a swirl of leaves and a flap of feathers, the Wild invites him outside on an adventure to explore the night-time city. What will they find among the concrete and cars of Joe’s city? Before the night is over, Joe learns that animals and plants can thrive even in the most built-up environment, and that with a bit of imagination, a city can be full of surprises. Docherty fills his beautifully imagined story with a gallery of richly detailed illustrations and, with its message to youngsters that there are wild things to be found in every town or city, Into The Wild will inspire children to always expect the unexpected.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age six months plus
Don’t Tickle the Shark!
Sam Taplin and Ana Martin Larranaga

DON'T tickle the shark... you might make it splash! Little ones will be well and truly tickled when they get their hands on this fabulously fun and ‘feely’ sound book. There’s a splashy shark, a screechy seagull, a squeaky dolphin and a grunting sea lion just waiting to entertain when toddlers give them a tickle! Tiny tots will love pressing the fluffy, touchy-feely patches to hear the different sea creature sounds in this delightful novelty board book. At the end of the story, all the animals get noisy at the same time in a musical finale guaranteed to get everyone dancing. With Sam Taplin’s fun narrative and the wonderfully vivid artwork of Ana Martin Larranaga bringing the sea creatures to life, expect loads of laughs and lots of singalong encores! Perfect for babies’ tummy time, sensory play, or snuggling up at story time. Simply splashtastic!
(Usborne, board book, £12.99)

Age six months plus
That’s Not My Rocket...
Fiona Watt and Rachel Wells

SET your little ones’ imaginations on fire with the exciting new book in Usborne’s award-winning That’s Not My... series, a much-loved favourite with both parents and children. The bestselling touchy-feely series has over 70 titles and has sold over 20 million books worldwide. The simple text, bold, colourful illustrations and tactile patches are irresistible to babies and toddlers who love turning the pages and touching the fun and ‘feely’ patches. Written by Fiona Watt and illustrated by Rachel Wells, this new title features different textured patches on every spread as we discover a rocket with a sparkly nose, a rocket with lumpy fins, a rocket with a shiny window and a rocket with a smooth fuel tank. These beautifully colourful and carefully created board books allow the youngest family members to have a hand in all the fun of reading as they follow the story and look for the little white mouse on every page. Specially designed to develop sensory and language awareness, the distinctive That’s Not My… board books really are a vividly visual and hands-on treat for inquisitive babies and toddlers. Touchy-feely genius at a stroke!
(Usborne Publishing, board book, £6.99)

The Beach Holiday

Isabelle Broom

IT was meant to be the dream setting to write that bestseller that struggling Honor always hoped was buried deep inside her. But summer at the Hamptons – the stunning holiday playground for America’s rich and famous – throws up a leading man so perfect for her novel that Honor starts to lose sight of what is best for her rather than just the pursuit of her writing ambitions. 

Summer wouldn’t be summer without a smart, sexy and escapist romance from Isabelle Broom (pictured below), an author whose gift is to transport her readers to locations most of us could only ever admire in the pages of a glossy travel magazine.

So welcome to Southampton, one of a string of picturesque seaside towns located on the tip of Long Island, New York, noted for their gorgeous mansions, endless beaches, and eclectic mix of A-list celebrities escaping the city heat. And meet Honor Butler from Cambridge, the unassuming daughter of her (mostly absent) US-based bestselling thriller writer father Jeffrey Butler who is, under duress, including his daughter in a summer stay at the Hamptons.

With a mother who owns a bookshop in Cambridge and an author father famous across the world, all Honor has ever wanted is to be successful. She is convinced it’s the only way she can impress the reluctant father she never met until she was eight, the now ex-boyfriend who gave up on her, and the nagging voice in her head that tells her she’s not good enough.

But wanting to tell a story is not the same as having a story to tell, and every successful story needs ‘a strong opening.’ So when she sees a writing competition offering a two-book publishing deal for a story inspired by both England and New York, Honor knows she has a personal knowledge of both but needs to find that much-needed ‘good idea.’

Luckily, she has been invited to spend the summer in the Hamptons with her father and Tallulah, the young writer he is ‘mentoring’ and Honor hopes it could be the dream setting for a book. What she doesn’t expect is to literally bump into her potential leading man in a cycling mishap outside a shop on her first day in the idyllic holiday location.

Publicity shy, British-born heart-throb Cellan Thomas is a Hollywood actor but he’s only recently out of rehab after a break-up with his high profile girlfriend and not on his best form. He tells Honor he’s a stunt man and soon Honor is flexing her long-unused ‘flirtatious muscles’ on Cellan.

Cellan is easy to talk to, more than a little attractive, and the ideal inspiration for that elusive romantic bestseller. But realising her writing dream could come at the expense of her own happy ever after...

If the full-on glamorous location alone isn’t enough to send Broom’s fans to seventh heaven then the sultry, simmering, sizzling romance between likeable Honor and luscious Cellan – a liaison littered with entertaining misunderstandings and Broom’s trademark wit and humour – is guaranteed to be an all-time favourite.

As the line between fact and fiction starts to blur, and the toxicity of social media makes it hard to know who to trust, the two protagonists are forced to negotiate a thorny path through truth, lies and treachery. With sun, sand, secrets, complex family relationships, and the fascinating but cut-throat world of publishing, all playing major roles, The Beach Holiday is all you need for your own summer escape.
(Hodder, paperback, £8.99)

No Pie, No Priest

A Journey through the Folk Sports of Britain

Harry Pearson

‘The chink of steel ringer on iron hob, the rattle of lignum vitae cheese on elm pins, the snap of oak bat on rubber ball, the rap of metal toe-cap on shinbone, the squelch of velvet trunks on boggy turf.’

IF those ‘sporting’ sounds don’t seem at all familiar, you’re not alone! But as Harry Pearson points out in No Pie, No Priest, his entertaining trawl through the folk sports of Britain, from the Middle Ages through to the 19^th century, these were the sounds of sports in Britain.

As tennis, golf, snooker and all the rest of our now familiar sports rose, other games that were once just as popular have been forgotten, seemingly left to languish in the nation’s backwaters. 

And yet... as Pearson (pictured below) set out on his warm and witty journey around Britain in pursuit of the lost folk sports that somehow still linger on in the glitzy era of the Premier League and Sky Sports, he discovered how and why many have survived and met the characters who keep them going.

When Victorian public schoolmasters and Oxbridge-educated gentlemen were taming football, codifying cricket, bringing the values of muscular Christianity to the boxing ring and the athletics field, games that dated back to the pagan era clung on in isolated pockets of rural Britain, unmodified by contemporary tastes, shunned by the media and sport’s ruling elites. In Tudor times, governments tried to ban sports like quoits and skittles, fearing their effect on the nation’s ‘martial spirit.’ The Roundheads proved no more approving of the sports, attempting to stamp out their ‘joyful, drunken barbarism,’ and the Victorians regarded the sports as untamed mob-ruled exhibitions of violence, gambling and ‘encouragers of grievous immorality.’

But, happily, many of them remain... small, secret worlds, free from media scrutiny and VAR controversies, wreathed in an arcane language of face-gaters, whack-ups, potties, gates-of-hell and the Dorset flop, as much a part of the British countryside as the natterjack toad and almost as endangered.

No Pie, No Priest unearths some real sporting gems with Pearson’s tireless labours leading him to the championship of Knur and Spell (a Viking forefather of golf) on the West Yorkshire moors, watching Irish Road Bowling in County Armagh (once a surprising interest of England cricket captain Mike Brearley), Popinjay at Kilwinning Abbey in Ayrshire, the Aunt Sally competitions of Oxfordshire, Toad-in-the-Hole in West Sussex and taking in world championship Stoolball (often considered the dairymaid’s form of cricket).

An enticing and enlightening blend of sports reporting, travelogue and history, and featuring a cast of bucolic eccentrics and many deeply impenetrable regional accents, this is both a joy to read and a treasure trove of Britain’s hidden sporting legacy.
(Simon & Schuster, hardback, £16.99)

Fyneshade

Kate Griffin

WHEN orphan girl Marta is cast off by her aunt to be governess at a remote mansion in deepest, darkest Derbyshire, she finds a home that is crumbling and a family mired in mystery and murky secrets.

But Marta has devilishly dark secrets – and plans – of her own and it will take more than the schemes of the housekeeper, the malign machinations of a wayward son and the walls of a forbidding, fortress-like house to get in her way.

Think favourite gothic novels like Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Henry James’ The Turn of The Screw, Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, and the vibes of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey.... and now add Fyneshade to that list!

Kate Griffin (pictured below) – whose gripping and atmospheric Kitty Peck historical crime series brought late Victorian London’s ferocious villains and foul deeds to vivid, visceral life – is back to seduce us with an unforgettable anti-heroine who packs more wickedness into her wiles than a meeting of the witches’ coven. Filled with spine-tingling menace, a thrilling sense of foreboding and darkness, a fine line in black humour and a star player who is set to bewitch, bother and bewilder, Fyneshade is an exhilarating twist on the Victorian gothic governess trope, and a stunning piece of storytelling.

So meet Martha, known as Marta, who has been raised by her French grandmere in the small, watchful village of Croyle. Despite some claiming that her grandmere was a witch because of her ‘skill with herbs,’ Marta has always felt safe and been led by the phases of the moon.

But on the day of her beloved grandmere’s funeral, Marta discovers that she is to become governess to the ten-year-old daughter of widower Sir William Pritchard. 

Armed with grandmere’s foretelling that her fate ‘will turn on the letter P,’ separated from her lover – the local vicar’s son who is in line to inherit the family estate – and discarded by her relatives, Marta has no choice but to journey to Pritchard’s ancient house, Fyneshade, in the wilds of Derbyshire. But all is not well at Fyneshade. Marta’s pupil, Grace, has an affliction that means she can say little and be taught nothing, and Marta takes no comfort from the secretive, guarded housekeeper and silent, malformed servants who will not meet her eye. More interesting to Marta is that the north wing of the rambling house is chained and bolted, Sir William is mysteriously absent, and his son and heir Vaughan Pritchard is forbidden from entering the house.

Despite the housekeeper’s warnings that Vaughan – with his eyes ‘pale and cold as the ice-stopped river’ – is a danger to all around him, Marta feels the bond of ‘an affinity’ with him, recognising him as ‘a hunter.’ And besides, Marta is no innocent to be preyed upon. Many would

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Drama at sea, a world of danger and a Roman romp

Climb aboard Titanic with two young adventurers, discover an underworld of danger and drama, enjoy Ancient Rome as you’ve never before seen it, meet a young boy battling to save the family pizza shop and enjoy bizarre goings-on at super-strange school in a sunshine selection

Age 9 plus
Call of the Titanic
Lindsay Galvin

A YOUNG cabin steward, a stowaway girl and a mischievous dog take centre stage in a thrilling and magical new adventure from Lindsay Galvin, a former science teacher who has become one of our most exciting middle grade authors. Already the bestselling creator of immaculately researched novels Darwin’s Dragons and My Friend the Octopus, which have become favourite reads in classrooms across the world, Galvin now harnesses dramatic events around the sinking of the Titanic with an uplifting alternate history of real-life survivor, Sid Daniels. With a touching animal friendship at the heart of the story, as well as hints of mythology, Call of the Titanic is an enchanting read, showcasing Galvin’s trademark combination of exciting adventure, real-life history and an alluring magical twist. Cabin steward Sid is proud to be working on the Titanic, the greatest steam liner ever built. Clara, meanwhile, dreams of adventure at sea, and discovers it the hard way as a stowaway in the hold of a much smaller ship, the Carpathia. Here, she meets a giant Newfoundland dog called Rigel who is on his way to be reunited with his owner and has a reputation for mischief. What none of them can foresee is how they will need each other on the ice-cold night when the Titanic collides with an iceberg. Or that an even more extraordinary creature, a sea serpent, might also answer their call... 

Galvin certainly knows how to put an alluring sense of adventure into learning. Packed with rich and well-researched historical detail, Call of the Titanic reimagines the tragic sinking and the terrible aftermath in a sensitive way that makes it a comfortable read for children to understand and relate to.  With the endearing animal friendship taking the spotlight, intriguing ingredients of myth and legend, a wonderfully mysterious link to historical sightings of sea serpents, and some real facts and figures at the end of the book, this stunningly imagined and magical new story is destined for classrooms everywhere… and as a favourite holiday beach read.
(Chicken House Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Fablehouse
E.L. Norry

UNLOCK the legends, unleash the magic and step into a fantastical world of danger, wonder... and hope! Author E.L. Norry, who grew up in residential children’s homes and foster homes, relied on books and her ‘big wild imagination’ to get through some tricky times. She says that as mixed-race, Welsh and Jewish, she always felt that she belonged ‘everywhere and nowhere, an inhabitant of multiple worlds and identities.’ And it was her constant search for ‘connection,’ and Holnicote House, a Somerset orphanage that was once home to the ‘brown babies’ of white women and black American GIs, that inspired the creation of Fablehouse, a moving, heart-rending story set in 1954. Fablehouse, a mysterious mansion surrounded by ancient woodland, is Heather’s new home. Roaming the countryside with some of the other mixed-race kids who feel that something is missing in their lives and are in care there – Lloyd, Arlene and Nat – she finds a stone tower with a strangely magical feel. And it’s there that the friends meet Palamedes (Pal) the Black knight from King Arthur’s court, who is out of time and place. He warns them that danger lurks in a world beneath their feet. Heather, Pal and the gang set off to rescue children who have been taken to this threatening underworld. No child will be forgotten on their watch. Heather and her friends soon realise they have been specially chosen for this quest and now they must use the talents they’ve been given to save Fablehouse and all the children who have found shelter there.  With action, drama, magic and adventure on every page, and history and legend providing a colourful backdrop, reading Fablehouse is a thrilling escape into a world tingling with atmosphere. So fasten your seatbelts and get ready for an unforgettable ride with a feisty, fearless heroine and a marginalised friendship group that refuses to give up the fight to save other lost children… and to claim their rightful destinies.(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
My Family and Other Romans
Marie Basting and Flavia Sorrentino

ENJOY the ancient world as you’ve never before seen it in a rip-roaring Roman romp from Manchester-based author Marie Basting who bewitched young readers with her critically acclaimed debut novel Princess BMX. And after turning traditional fairy stories on their head, this imaginative writer turns back the clock to the beating heart of Ancient Rome for an all-action, laugh-out-loud adventure starring a madcap family thrust back in time. As a schoolgirl called Livi, she just wanted to fit in so being catapulted back to Ancient Rome and finding out her mum is a warrior goddess was not part of the plan. As for the rest of the family... her sister is a cyclops, her uncle is building an army, and her role-play, LARP-obsessed dad is now a lava soldier. So here she is now, Silvia Fortuna Juno De Luca... half-schoolgirl, half-goddess. Yes, an actual Roman goddess. And it all started with Dad. He was messing about, re-enacting battles at Hadrian’s Wall, when – pow! – he was transported to Ancient Rome. Livi went after him because someone has to and now, the fate of her whole family and the world rests on her shoulders. Can she sort out this mess? Filled with humour, fascinating facts on Roman mythology and life in the city that was once the centre of a vast empire, My Family and Other Romans sees Basting – who long ago learned that girls can do anything they want – put Fun (with a capital F!) into this witty and wonderful adventure. Add on important themes of family, belonging and confidence-building, and the quirky illustrations of Flavia Sorrentino to provide the final, fabulous flourish, and My Family and Other Romans is just too good to be missed!    
(Chicken House Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Pizza Pete and the Perilous Potions 
Carrie Sellon and Sarah Horne 

WHEN a 12-year-old boy starts meddling with magic to save the family pizza shop, only one thing can ensue... chaos! Meet Pete, the memorable and empathetic star of Carrie Sellon’s delightfully clever and entertaining debut novel which offers laughs, tasty pizzas and words of wisdom in equal measure. ‘Twenty-five days ago, something awful happened, and I made a promise to myself. Never to leave home again.’ Pete loves the pizza shop where he lives with his dad and is terrified of the outside world. But when a huge restaurant chain steals their customers, Pete and his friend Anna have to come up with an ingenious plan to sell more pizzas, otherwise he’ll be forced to move. When they find a mysterious briefcase in the attic, they create the most extraordinary magical pizzas, and soon a queue of customers snakes down the road. But can they make enough money in four days to save Pete’s home? Throw in an exploding headmistress, a fire-breathing dog and a vengeful bully, and Pete’s life soon ramps up from Margherita to Spicy Pepperoni! Pete is a true hero for young readers, a boy who has to battle to save his family’s pizza business whilst struggling with his own anxiety issues. And it’s the author’s distinctive brand of laugh-out-loud, slapstick humour – perfectly complemented by Sarah Hone’s extravagant, fun-filled illustrations – which provide the ideal wrapping for a story that gently, and sensitively, tackles serious issues around mental health and bullying. Don’t miss a slice of the pizza action fun!
(Guppy Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Attack of the Robot Librarians
Sam Copeland, Jenny Pearson,
Robin Boyden and Katie Kear 

IF you enjoyed The Underpants of Chaos, last year’s exciting first superstar collaboration of authors Sam Copeland and Jenny Pearson, then get ready for more irreverent larks and laughter as their middle grade detective series, Tuchus and Topps Investigate, makes a welcome return. This pitch-perfect middle grade series juxtaposes laugh-out-loud humour with themes of friendship and teamwork, and comes in an easy-to-read, illustrated, dual-narrative format that boys and girls alike are sure to love. The super-funny books follow the adventures of reluctant detective duo Lenny Tuchus and Agatha Topps who investigate all the peculiar goings-on at their rather bizarre school, Little Strangehaven Primary. And we join them for a new year at the school, where things are just as weird as last term. Who put laser-eyed robot librarians in charge of class discipline, what's with the new pedal-powered desks and what does it all have to do with the mysterious goings-on in the cellar? Spy-detectives Lenny and Agatha reckon it’s got to be something to do with Pamela Stranglebum and her sinister company, Minerva Industries. With the help of their Scottish gargoyle chum Gregor, can Lenny and Agatha uncover the truth before it’s too late? Packed with the hilarious illustrations of Robin Boyden and Katie Kear, this daffy detective romp will have youngsters giggling and guffawing from first page to last!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Saving H’non: Chang and the Elephant
Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung 

CAN a hard-working elephant be rescued from a lifetime of hardship and captivity? The ongoing battle to save the world’s precious wildlife is brought to vivid life once again by the talented partnership of Trang Nguyen, a Vietnamese wildlife conservationist and environmental activist, known for tackling the illegal wildlife trade in Africa and Asia, and Vietnamese award-winning manga artist Jeet Zdung. They are the caring pair behind Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear, which was shortlisted for the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration, and they have pooled their skills once more for Saving H’non: Chang and the Elephant, an inspirational graphic novel adventure based on a real rescue case. After 50 years of living and working in captivity, H’non the elderly elephant meets Chang, a young activist and intrepid explorer who is determined to rescue her from a lifetime of captivity. And together, they embark on a quest to find a new home where H’non can live as nature intended... wild and free.  Saving H’non follows Trang’s own story about overcoming the odds to rescue H’non and documents the harrowing and heartbreaking conditions that she – along with thousands of other working elephants – endure throughout their time in captivity. Packed with Zdung’s breathtaking traditional manga illustrations, which use pencils, watercolours, ink and other digital devices to create works of beauty and innovation, this moving graphic novel provides inspiration for all young conservationists who have ambitions of their own to help endangered wildlife around the globe.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)

Age 5 plus
What is Art? & What is Music?
Sarah Walden and Katie Rewse

IF you want to encourage your little ones to start engaging with big ideas, this perfectly pitched Little Book, Big Idea series has some resonant questions and answers. Helping to build foundations for life-long learning by explaining big ideas to little people, the carefully created, illustrated series uses simple language to explain complicated ideas, with each book taking the core questions that relate to each subject and providing answers that make sense to young children. We have drawn on walls since prehistoric times and in the third book in the series, What is Art?, children learn what art is, what you can make with art, what modern art is, and how art can help people. 

And in What is Music?, also written by Sarah Walden and illustrated by Katie Rewse, youngsters learn the answers to questions like what is a song, what is an orchestra, what is rhythm, is music the same all round the world, and what can you do with music. Each double-page spread in these creative books explores one question and various answers, and each page is filled with Rewse’s imaginative illustrations which inspire positive thinking and make each exploration fresh, engaging and different. And with a glossary of important words at the back of each book, What is Art? and What is Music? are perfect for sharing with any inquisitive child.
(Noodle Juice, hardback, £9.99 each)

Age 3 plus
Sammy Striker and the Football Cup
Catherine Emmett and Joe Berger

KICK off a summer of football with this beautiful picture book published in perfect time for the Women’s World Cup which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand, and runs from July 20 to August 20. With Oscars Prize-shortlisted Catherine Emmett’s inspirational rhyming story about following your dreams, and all brought to colourful life by illustrator and cartoonist Joe Berger, Sammy Striker and the Football Cup hits the spot perfectly. Sammy Striker is never found without a football at her feet, and one day at the park, she’s spotted by Melissa McDream who coaches the Under-8s National Team. Sammy is a dribbler-extraordinaire, headed straight for the top but, as the Football Cup gets closer, Sammy’s shots on goal go a bit.... well, wonky. Will Sammy work out that it’s what makes her different that will help them win the final? This picture book team are right on goal for young footie fans with their uplifting, empowering, illustrated story about friendship, football, and having the courage to believe in yourself. Sammy’s struggle to fulfil her potential provides the ideal lesson for young children as they learn that sometimes in life, you have to move the goalposts to follow your dreams!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Amazing Dad
Alison Brown

DADS are amazing... and here’s a picture book that celebrates their fun, versatility and care. Talented author and illustrator Alison Brown – who won hearts with her gorgeous book Amazing Mum – turns the spotlight on dads with another of her super-cute picture books. Amazing dads are all around! They find your lost treasures, they celebrate your achievements and they never let you down. Some dads juggle, some dads snuggle, some fuss, some drive a bus. They can be chatty, practical, silly, sporty, and other dads can be busy, whizzy, caring, sharing. But there’s just ONE dad who gives the best hugs of all. Can you guess who it is? All the family will enjoy this pitch-perfect, inclusive celebration of dads everywhere. This super-cute new book from brilliantly talented picture book creator Alison Brown is the ultimate inclusive, joyful celebration of dads and care-givers – and the love they give us every day. Full of youthful energy, with an adorable rhyming text, and gorgeously illustrated with a whole host of irresistible, relatable and quirky animal characters, Amazing Dad is perfect to share at any time of year when you want dad to know how much you love him!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Can You Share, Little Whale? 
Jonny Lambert 

BLEND a beautiful, thought-provoking tale with spectacular artwork, and what do you have? A stunning new picture book from talented illustrator, designer and paper engineer Jonny Lambert! Creator of Little Why, The Only Lonely Panda and I Love You More and More, Lambert has a way with both words and pictures, and this strikingly illustrated book about learning to share will delight readers both young and old. Little Whale does NOT like to share. She wants to be the one to lead the pod and to eat all the delicious fish by herself. And she certainly doesn’t want anyone to share her mum’s attention. But when her friend Blue shares a snack, Little Whale is inspired to set out on a journey to find the beauty of sharing with one another. Can You Share, Little Whale? is a visual and verbal treat with the heartwarming and tender story providing an ideal talking point for parents who want to discuss with their children the importance and joy of sharing.  A special book to love and treasure.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
My Small World: Dinosaurs
Caryl Hart and Harry Woodgate

SEE imagination spring gloriously and colourfully alive in My Small World: Dinosaurs, a spectacular new picture book series from the top team of award-winning Peak District author Caryl Hart and Waterstones Book Prize winner, Harry Woodgate. Hart’s enchanting rhyming story features two inquisitive youngsters on a journey of discovery in a place where creatures run wild and the sun shines all day and is brought to vibrant life by Woodgate’s beautiful artwork. ‘My small world is waiting, so come take my hand, I’ll show you who lives in my Dinosaur Land.’ Youngsters will love joining in the fun of an adventure of a lifetime through the land of the dinosaurs! Meet Europasaurus, the helpful herbivore, a whole family of Stegosaurs and many, many more. And, at the end of the story, learn how to build your very own Small World, with instructions and a handy How To guide. Adventure, fun and learning in one BIG adventure!
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
Hello Summer
Jo Lindley

THE warm sun is high in the sky, the days are long, and it’s perfect weather for the beach. Yippee, it’s summertime! Soak up the vibes of summer in the third title of a magical picture book series from debut author and illustrator Jo Lindley. Best Friends with Big Feelings features stories about friendship, feelings and the seasons, and each is set in an enchanting natural world that little readers will love to return to again and again. So say hello to the Little Seasons! The sun is shining and the Little Seasons are on their way to the beach. But Summer is feeling hot and bothered. First their picnic is overrun by hungry creatures, next their game of catch is ruined when their ball goes POP. Luckily his friends know the perfect way to relax... building a giant sandcastle. Finally Summer is starting to have fun but no one has noticed the great big wave that’s rolling in! Lindley’s four charismatic friends, who control the seasons, gently explore key social and emotional themes, such as managing emotions, especially anger and frustration, and showing compassion – to ourselves and others – in this new addition to an irresistible series. With its sparkling foil cover and a gallery of colourful and eclectic illustrations, Hello Summer is an entertaining teaching tool for exploring both emotions and the seasons. 
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age one plus
Flora and Nora Hunt for Treasure
Kim Hillyard

MEET Flora and Nora, two cats who live a purrfect life together at sea until a storm splits them apart... and they discover that being on the ocean wave isn’t always plain sailing. Award-winning author and illustrator Kim Hillyard – whose previous picture books, Mabel and the Mountain, Ned and the Great Garden Hamster Race and Gretel The Wonder Mammoth, touched young readers’ hearts – returns with a beautiful story celebrating the power of friendship. Flora and Nora are a pair of adventurous seafaring cats. As they sail off in search of The Secret Treasure, a storm hits, destroying their boat and leaving the best friends separated at sea! Will Flora and Nora remember the value of their friendship or will they get carried away by the lure of adventure and jewels? Courage, self-belief, kindness and friendship all play leading roles in this fun and funny tale which is filled with Hillyard’s adorable illustrations and has love at its heart. The perfect, wind-down bedtime read!
(Ladybird, paperback, £7.99)