Age 8 plus
Greenwild: The World
Behind The Door
Pari Thomson and Elisa Paganelli
IMAGINE opening a door hidden among some giant leaves at Kew Gardens in London and falling into a secret world where the wilderness is alive... and magic is real. Welcome to Greenwild, the fabulous debut novel of Pari Thomson, editorial director for picture books at Bloomsbury Children’s Books, whose aim was to write ‘a loveletter to the beauty of the natural world’ and ended up with a thrilling eco-adventure series which has all the hallmarks of a Harry Potter-style classic. Brimming with Elisa Paganelli’s stunning illustrations, an alluring brand of botanical wizardry, and starring an intrepid young girl desperately trying to track down her missing journalist mum, this spellbinding tale of magic and mystery is breathtaking in the sheer power of its world building, characterisation and imaginative storytelling.
Eleven-year-old Daisy Thistledown is on the run from her strict boarding school. Her journalist mother has been keeping big, glittering secrets, and now she has vanished. Daisy knows it’s up to her to find Ma but someone is hunting her across London, someone who is determined to stop her from discovering the truth. So when Daisy flees to safety through a mysterious hidden doorway at Kew Gardens, she can barely believe her eyes... she has stepped out of the city and into another world. This is the Greenwild. Bursting with magic and full of amazing natural wonders like roses the size of dinner plates and giant lilypads that ferry passengers across lakes, it seems too astonishing to be true. But not only is this land of green magic real, it holds the key to finding Daisy’s mother. And someone wants to destroy both Greenwild and her own world too. Daisy must band together with a botanical genius, a boy who can talk with animals, and Napoleon, a cat with an attitude, to uncover the truth about who she really is. Only then can she channel the magical power that will change her whole world... and save the Greenwild itself.
Thomson’s astonishing botanical garden is a fantastical
creation, a natural haven where botanists tend to the gardens and care deeply
for the natural world. It’s also a place where the natural world is wild and
strange, and includes everything from Whishoggs, whose ruby seeds can grant a
single wish, to Larder trees, which produce any fruit, nut or vegetable you
desire. And hidden inside this unforgettable adventure story are
concerns about the future of our forests and oceans, and a joyful celebration
of the magic, beauty and excitement that is out there in the wild if we only
take the time to pause, enjoy it, and value it. Written in Thomson’s elegant, descriptive prose, and with an
addictive sense of adventure, fantasy and fun, Greenwild is an exceptional
debut and the first of what promises to be a trilogy to savour.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)
Finding Her Feet
Eve Ainsworth and Luna Valentine
A GIRL who always feels like ‘an outsider’ at school, and
then discovers that her talent for football could be the key to finally fitting
in, is the star of an inspirational new book from award-winning author Eve
Ainsworth who often puts soccer at the heart of her stories. Ainsworth has often used the exciting history of Lancashire’s real-life Dick, Kerr Ladies FC –
the team of ordinary factory girls from Preston who made footballing history
during the First World War – in her books and these plucky young women are once
more used as inspiration in this compelling, contemporary tale. Lily always feels a little bit left out. Shy and anxious,
she finds school really hard, particularly as most of the other girls all seem
so confident. Most of the time, Lily wishes that she could just disappear but during
a game of football, Lily’s PE teacher Mr Allen spots her natural talent and
invites her to join the local girls’ team where she starts to make friends with
some of the other players. Finally, she thinks she’s found a place where she
fits in, but will a vicious argument with one of her team-mates put all her
progress in jeopardy? Ideal to tie in with the FIFA Women’s World Cup this year,
and published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format, this sensitively
told story, beautifully illustrated by Luna Valentine, is peppered with
fascinating football facts as Lily navigates the challenges of anxiety and friendships. The perfect read for young football fans... and to help
build confidence in any shy youngster.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)
Tales From Beyond the Rainbow
Pete Jordi Wood
CORNISH author, illustrator and LGBTQ+ folklore researcher
Pete Jordi Wood has combed through generations of history to gather together ten
captivating stories of adventure and resilience celebrating LGBTQ+ characters. Tales From Beyond the Rainbow is published as an illustrated
collection of queer classics for the first time, bringing to colourful life the
fairy tales that history forgot (or concealed), and delivering positive
messages for readers young and old. Each story is illustrated by an artist who shares heritage
with the culture from which the stories were born, and includes Anshika Khullar,
Ez Silva, Harry Woodgate, Jenn So, Mario Hounkanrin, Nontira Kigle, Sasha
Staicu, Sophia Watts, Xin Tang and Zat Vornik. These are tales in which gender is fluid and where queer
stories can have a happy ending. From the humble sailor who finds his handsome
prince to the transgender market girl who becomes queen, and from Europe to
Asia via the African savannah, Wood’s unforgettable collection is as much a
celebration of queer history as ten epic stories. A fabulous addition to the world of make believe from the ‘fairy
tale detective’ who has dedicated himself to the academic study of queer folk
tales, myths and legends.
(Puffin Classics, hardback, £11.99)
Aubrey and the Terrible Spiders
Horatio Clare
STORYTELLER supreme Horatio Clare makes a welcome return
with the third book in his outstanding Aubrey series which explores just how
much is expected from children in this era of conflict and climate change. Clare
won the Branford Boase Award for his first novel, Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot,
and his second book, Aubrey and the Terrible Ladybirds, was longlisted for the
Carnegie and the UKLA book awards. This thrilling new adventure opens just as the
animals start rebelling. Aubrey is stung by a very polite wasp and he realises
there is something weird going on in the valley below Rushing Wood. And as he’s
the only boy he knows of who can talk with animals, he is determined to find
out what. With help from his friends Ariadne the house spider, Silvio the
silverfish and Lupo the Huskey pup, the young warrior sets out to find the Terrible
Spiders and their genius creator Big B and, just maybe, save the world. With
the superbly atmospheric illustrations of Jane Matthews and an all-action story
that blends drama with humour and topical environmental themes, this is a book
brimming with imagination, far-reaching ideas and an addictive sense of
youthful passion and enthusiasm.
(Firefly Press, paperback, £7.99)
Chews Your Own Tasty Adventure
Sai Pathmanathan and Lucia Vinti
TURN cooking and baking into an exciting – and challenging –
adventure with this ingenious book of vegetarian recipes from around the world. Chews Your Own Tasty Adventure – a fun, interactive and
highly imaginative cookbook – has been written by Dr Sai Pathmanathan who has
over 20 years of experience in science education, and lavishly and colourfully
illustrated by London-based artist Lucia Vinti. With each simple recipe using only six ingredients, children
are empowered to choose and experiment with cooking and join in the fun as they
tackle tasty recipes from countries as diverse as Mexico, Persia, India, the
Middle East and even Ancient Greece. And whether its cupcakes and churros or paratha and pide, youngsters
can choose each ingredient in an interactive game and then see which recipes they
can create. Perfect for beginner cooks to start their cooking adventure. Add on
the bonus of fascinating fun facts for each recipe, lots of top tips and
Vinti’s stylish illustrations and you have the perfect gift for children who love
food and all budding cooks and chefs!
(Faber Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)
Age 7 plus
Everything You Know About Sharks is Wrong!
Dr Nick Crumpton and Gavin Scott
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £14.99)
Star Cat: A Turnip in Time
James Turner and Yasmin Sheikh
FASTEN your seatbelts and travel through the universe with
the craziest spaceship crew this side of the moon! Illustrator, cartoonist and
comic writer James Turner, and Yasmin Sheikh, an artist from the Netherlands,
return with the second book of their wild, wacky and wonderful graphic novel
series. The Star Cat comic strip adventures – packed full of full of high jinks
and hilarity – were originally published in The Phoenix comic and as a graphic
novel in 2014, but have now been completely redrawn in a new chunky, easy-to-read
format. In the deepest depths of space, there is only one crew brave enough to
take on the universe’s most dangerous villains... unfortunately, they aren’t
available for this book so you’ll have to make do with the crew of the Star Cat!
Join Captain Spaceington and his team as they blunder across the universe
getting into all sorts of madcap escapades. From the space slugs wreaking havoc
at the Space Prettiest Flower competition, to the flativerse where everything
is two-dimensional (top tip: you can only enter the flativerse when flattened
by a giant mallet), you’ll discover that life on board the SS Star Cat is never
dull! Expect light years of laughter, a galaxy of giggles and a cabin full of cosmic
comedy as you enjoy a space adventure like no other!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)
Indiana Bones and the Invisible City
Harry Heape and Rebecca Bagley
GET ready for more wits, courage, and snacks-a-plenty as
Indiana Bones returns to solve another twisting, turning adventure!
Halifax-based author and comedy maestro Harry Heape and illustrator Rebecca
Bagley are on top form for their new adventure starring shaggy, magical talking
pooch Indiana Bones and his number one side-pal Aisha Ghatak. With the
detective dog’s fiendish fondness for fish fingers, and Aisha’s ‘black belt’ in
archaeology and general all-round cleverness, this daring duo are well
‘plaiced’ to tackle any ‘fishy’ mystery involving ancient history. As the
slithery Serpent reveals his plan to plunge the world into peril, our hairy
hero and Aisha are in a race against time to unravel the clues to stop him. Not
even six million skeletons and an invisible enemy can stop these brave badgers!
Or can they? Because Indiana’s mind is on something else... and unless his
friends can help, they will all end up in very deep water. This delightfully dogtastic
detective escapade – brimming with laughter, big-hearted adventures and vibrant
illustrations – proves that Heape and Bagley are currently one of the best
author and illustrator teams in children’s middle grade fiction. A shaggy dog
story for all the family to enjoy!
(Faber & Faber, paperback, £7.99)
Matilda Meets The Universe
Dom Conlon and Heidi Cannon
MEET a science-mad girl who wants you to know everything
about her planet, her solar system, her galaxy, her UNIVERSE! If you haven’t
already met Matilda in her first book, Meet Matilda, Rocket Builder, then now
is the perfect time to climb aboard as she launches a thrilling mission to discover
how likely it is that life exists on other planets. Matilda is the brainchild
of poet and author Dom Conlon and her enthusiasm for space and science is just
too good to miss. So, if you want to make contact with aliens, join marvellous
Matilda who, with the help of her friends and family, is learning all she can
about her favourite topics. What was the Big Bang, how does the universe
expand, how are stars and planets formed? Along the way Matilda discovers the
electromagnetic spectrum, the speed of light, and some all-important snacks!
Filled with facts, fun, Heidi Cannon’s fabulous illustrations, and written in a
chatty, notebook style to make complex subjects like physics, history and
language more accessible and easy to understand, Matilda’s enthusiasm and
adventures are the perfect inspiration for your own little scientists.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
Adventuremice: Mermouse Mystery
Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
YOUNGSTERS love these meeces to pieces! The dream team of
author Philip Reeve and illustrator Sarah McIntyre pool their talents for the
second book in a simply delightful early reader series which has all the fun of
TV hit Paw Patrol, and the charm and whimsy of classics like The Wind in the
Willows. With its focus on fun, friendship and kindness, Adventuremice features
Pedro, a timid little mouse who has proved himself to be brave enough to join
the heroic team who protect the Mouse Islands from danger. And here we find Pedro
getting used to the thrilling life of the Adventuremice. But one stormy night,
he finds something he’s only ever dreamed of seeing... a real, live mermouse!
The little mermouse is lost, and Pedro and the Adventuremice need to get him
safely home. They must summon all their bravery and brilliance, plunge into the
depths of the ocean and find the mysterious Mermouse City. It won’t be
straightforward, but it will be another exciting, friend-filled adventure for
Pedro and the team! Reeve’s lively, heartwarming and fun-filled storytelling
delivers all those ingredients that children love – immersive adventures,
lovable heroes, reassuring friendships, exciting action and plenty of smiles –
and all brought to vibrant, colourful life by McIntyre’s exquisitely
characterful illustrations. A whiskery favourite with mouse lovers of every
age!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £6.99)
Peggy Little Legs
Pip Jones and Paula Bowles
A LITTLE sausage dog is faced with tall order at puppy
school in a terrific ‘tail’ from Pip Jones, the award-winning author of Izzy
Gizzmo. Peggy Little Legs – featuring the adorable adventures of a dainty dachshund
– is the latest super-readable Little Gem from innovative publisher Barrington
Stoke… and it comes from the top team of Jones and talented illustrator Paula
Bowles. Peggy the sausage dog feels really sad when she finds she’s too small
to really compete with the other dogs at puppy school. Her little legs and long
body make it hard for her to jump high or run very fast. But when one of her
school friends has a dangerous fall, it’s Peggy who comes to the rescue,
proving that everyone has strengths of their own and that heroes come in all
different sizes! The Little Gems series brings together leading authors and
illustrators, and a host of clever design and finishing techniques, like
dyslexia-friendly fonts, to create easy-to-read, first chapter books in a
chunky format ideal for little hands, and with some extra reading, jokes and
activity fun inside the covers. And this heartwarming, inspirational adventure
– brimming with Jones’ enchanting storytelling and Bowles’ vibrant
illustrations – is a doggie treat for all the family.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £6.99)
Magic Faces: Superhero Mega Mission
Esi Merleh and Abeeha Tariq
OPEN the box of magic face paints and discover the adventure
that’s waiting for you! Author Esi Merleh and illustrator Abeeha Tariq return
with the second super adventure in their Magic Faces series which sees two
playful youngsters and their dog transformed into an assortment of thrilling
characters. ‘Fairy world or superheroes: which one will you choose? In each a
race to find the prize, Will you win or lose?’ The magic face paints have
transformed Austin, Alanna and sausage dog Ozzy into superheroes! When two
supervillains, Foul Prune and Brains, swoop into the busy City Museum in a
flying machine, they steal a priceless gem and Austin and Alanna narrowly
escape being hit with their Freeze Ray. Alanna Storm and Austin Steel must
track down the supervillains, return the gem and save the museum before their
time in this superhero world runs out! Fun is the keyword for this joyful
series which puts Merleh’s imaginative storytelling, giggles and a big dose of
magic at centre stage. Add on Tariq’s rich and colourful illustrations and you
have a series that is destined to run and run.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £6.99)
Wise About My Body
Illustrated by Ekaterina Trukhan
YOUR body never stops working... even when you’re fast
asleep! Help open up the wonders of the human body to young children with this
perfectly pitched, child-friendly, illustrated guide from iconic children’s publisher
Ladybird. With beautiful, vibrant illustrations by Russian-born artist
Ekaterina Trukhan throughout, Wise About My Body covers a wide variety of
topics relating to the human body, Find out what it can do, how it works and
how you can look after it. From pumping blood to breathing in, this bright,
factual and fascinating book is the ideal way to talk about the body with young
children. There is also information on disabilities, differences and
consent, topics that are being discussed at school at an earlier age. Each
spread is themed to allow for a dip-in, dip-out reading experience, with
information written in conversational, bite-sized chunks. With easy-to-understand explanations and illustrations that
inform as well as entertain, Wise About My Body offers curious children a clear
introduction to the human body and helps them understand just what an amazing
machine it is!
(Ladybird, hardback, £9.99)
Welcome to Our Table
Laura Mucha, Ed Smith and Harriet Lynas
BON appétit, delizioso, oishii, svadishta! Whichever way you
look at it and however it is pronounced, food is something we all love and can
share. So tuck into this delightful and delicious book which celebrates what
children eat all around the world. Welcome to Our Table is written by husband and wife team – bestselling
poet and author Laura Mucha, and acclaimed cookbook author Ed Smith – and comes
lavishly illustrated by award-winning illustrator Harriet Lynas. From pasta to passionfruit, baguettes to biryani, ramen to
rambutan, and smelly cheeses to pastries and puddings, there are so many
different dishes and delicacies all around the world. And in this this
fascinating exploration, young children can learn all about what people in
other countries eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as where our food
comes from, and the stories, cultures and traditions behind what we eat. Brimming with Lynas’s engaging, colourful artwork, this
unique, heartwarming and inclusive book teaches children understanding, empathy
and respect for different experiences, cultures and tradition. A mouthwatering adventure full of delectable discoveries
that is perfect for inspiring a lifelong love of food, its versatility and its
fantastic flavours.
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £14.99)
An Adventure for Lia and Lion
Al Rodin
EXCITING new author and illustrator Al Rodin certainly makes
a splash with his second glorious picture book for younger readers. An
Adventure for Lia and Lion – a tale of friendship and sharing – plays out
amidst sensational design, wise words and an unforgettable riot of colour and
texture. Lia is off to the meadow on an adventure, and she would like a pet to
take with her. In another corner of the meadow is Lion who is also looking for
an adventure, and for a pet of his own. Lia is determined that her pet will
enjoy adventures on her terms, and Lion has his own ideas, dreams and
adventures to find when it comes to a pet. So what will happen when they meet? Rodin
– whose striking debut picture book Little Echo won much critical acclaim –
explores what true friendship means, the nature of play, conflict and
compromise, and gently reveals how much richer life is when you work out how to
share it. Using a rich palette of vivid colours and combining oil paint with
inks, watercolours, acrylics and pencils, Rodin paints a spectacular canvas for
a story that speaks loudly about accepting difference and learning to love each
other for who we really are.
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)
Age 3 plus
Supertato: Mean Green Time Machine
Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £7.99)
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