The Bone Hacker

Kathy Reichs 

THE heat is on for forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan as she heads to the tropical Turks and Caicos Islands where young men have been mysteriously disappearing for seven years.

But what the tenacious ‘bone’ doctor finds in this sun-baked archipelago of coral islands – a tourist haven nestling in the Atlantic Ocean – is far more chilling than she had anticipated, and could potentially wreak havoc across the world.

The Bone Hacker – a classy, clever, edge-of-the-seat thriller – is the new high-stakes murder mystery in US author Kathy Reichs’ brilliantly authentic and addictive Temperance Brennan series which began with Déjà Dead in 1997 and, straight out of the blocks, won the Ellis Award for Best First Novel and became an international bestseller. Since then Reichs (pictured below) – herself a forensic anthropologist – has used her own experiences to bring her viscerally real thrillers to life and was a producer of Fox Television’s long-running, hit TV series, Bones, which is based on her work and her novels.

And her mastery of this superb medical science series retains its powerful appeal as we join Temperance (Tempe) in Montreal, where she is currently based, and find her answering a call to examine what is left of a body, thought to have been struck by lightning during a recent violent storm and then mangled by a boat’s motor.

But Tempe, who has spent her career at death scenes and in autopsy rooms, soon establishes that the corpse is male, that he was shot and killed before entering the water, and had an unusual tattoo on his body.

Tempe traces the tattoo to the islands of Turks and Caicos and when Detective Tiersa Musgrove, from the islands’ police force, arrives in Montreal to speak to Tempe, the forensic expert is soon embroiled in a much larger and more sinister case. Young men – tourists – have been disappearing there in bizarre circumstances for years. The first victim was found with both hands cut off and the other missing visitors vanished without a trace. But recently, tantalising

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A worried wolf, new horizons and natural magic

Take courage from a little wolf who learns how to feel fiercer inside, fly high for everyday adventures with a lovable bird family, find out why you should never go to sleep on an argument, and meet a girl who discovers the power of belonging in a summer holiday selection 

Age 3 plus
Victor, the Wolf with Worries
Catherine Rayner

MEET a little wolf with a lot of big worries in this comforting and beautifully illustrated picture book from CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal winner Catherine Rayner. Ideal for youngsters who are struggling with anxiety issues, or may be nervous about starting nursery or school, Rayner’s gentle and encouraging story about an adorable wolf cub will help children deal with their own worries, and is especially useful for little ones who have trouble talking about their feelings. Victor the wolf has lots of worries. He worries that he isn’t brave enough, that he isn’t big enough and that he isn’t fierce enough. In fact, Victor feels anxious about almost everything. But when Victor shares his concerns with his best friend Pablo, he starts to feel a bit better. With Pablo’s help, Victor learns even more ways to deal with those pesky worrying thoughts. And as the worries grow smaller, Victor feels a bit bigger, a bit braver... and a bit fiercer inside! The magic of Rayner’s fresh, richly expressive and painterly illustrations in a palette of pastel shades – and the poignancy of Victor’s growing understanding that a problem shared is a problem halved – springs to glorious life in her talented hands, making this an exquisitely heartwarming and stunning gift book which all the family can share and treasure.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus
Finally Seen
Kelly Yang

LINA Gao’s little sister has spent her early years with her parents in America... but Lina grew up with only postcards from her parents. Kelly Yang, bestselling and award-winning author of the hugely successful Front Desk series, returns with a gripping novel about family, friendship, and the power of belonging. Lina Gao is finally leaving her grandmother in Beijing in China to live with her parents and little sister Millie in the United States. After being teased at school as the ‘girl left behind,’ this is the moment Lina has been dreaming of for five years but once she’s in America, Lina soon realises it’s not exactly like the postcards her parents have been sending her. They live in an apartment, not a house as the postcards had described, and school is much more difficult than she thought it would be, to the point where she’s scared of making a mistake or mispronouncing words. Lina reckons it’s best for her to stay silent and avoid the humiliation. But when Lina’s teacher presents difficult challenges over her latest book selection, a book that deeply resonates with Lina, it will take all of the girl’s courage and resilience to overcome her fears and choose a future where she is finally seen. Finally Seen is an inspiring story of courage and resilience based on Yang’s own experience of moving to America at the aged of six and feeling scared and left out. The founder of the Kelly Yang Project, a leading writing and debating programme for children in Asia and the United States, this is an author who creates characters that readers can recognise and empathise with. Emotionally powerful, and filled with Yang’s warmth and wisdom, Finally Seen speaks loudly to youngsters facing their own real-life issues of change and progression.
(Knights Of, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Smugglers’ Fox
Susanna Bailey

THE spellbinding story of two brothers in the care system, fighting to stay together, is set to win the hearts of readers young and old. Susannna Bailey – whose debut novel Snow Foal was shortlisted for the Joan Aitken Future Classics Prize – returns with a poignant new adventure in which themes of family, facing your fears, and finding friends in unlikely places take centre stage. Jonah from Redcar is Rio’s big brother. It’s his job and always has been, especially when Mam does one of her disappearing acts, like now. Her name’s Marina, which means ‘from the sea’ and just like the sea, she changes with the wind. She comes, she goes. And the sea was a dominant presence the last time Jonah and Rio saw her... the sea at Whitby. And it wasn’t in a good mood. No one has seen Mam since that day and the social workers say she’s not coming back this time. As Rio starts losing his sunshine colours, Jonah promises him that they will always be together. But then Jonah is sent to live with foster carer Mimi in a town by the sea. Jonah hates the sea. Bad things happen around it. When Mimi shares a secret treasure map with him, Jonah realises there might be a way to keep his promise to Rio. And with the help of young fox Freddie, his new friend, Jonah feels a little braver and a lot less alone. This haunting and emotive story is written with the sensitivity, tenderness and insight that are becoming the hallmarks of Bailey’s work. With its blend of real life issues and the magic of the natural world, Smugglers’ Fox is destined to capture both hearts and imaginations, and to speak loudly and sympathetically to troubled youngsters.
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
A Bird Day
Eva Lindström

SOMETIMES it’s the little things in our everyday lives that can cause the biggest smiles! Much-loved Swedish author and illustrator Eva Lindström, winner of the 2022 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, brings readers an adorably funny and whimsical picture book featuring an ordinary family day, but told through the eyes of a bird family.‘Wash your beaks, it’s time for lunch – flies again today,’ says Dad. After lunch the young birds, Lena and her little brother Bo, are sent off to play... sometimes they sing in the top of the tree, sometimes they play car chicken, sometimes they hunt mosquitos, sometimes they compare leg size, and sometimes they poke grubs. This is how birds spend a day. In A Bird Day, translated from the Swedish by Julia Marshall, Lindström reflects on the familiar and the absurd in human behaviour through the medium of a delightful bird family. And it’s not hard to recognise the familiar dynamics of normal human family life... playing, mealtimes, stretching boundaries, sibling jealousies, and sleep. Expressive faces, hilarious hairstyles, Dad’s great cooking, and a sister and brother’s everyday conversation combine in this heartwarming, illustrated story and, with witty observations of behaviour that adults too will enjoy, this is a picture book to amuse all the family... and to read and share together.
(Gecko Press, hardback, £11.99)

Age 3 plus
It Wasn’t Me!
Marta Altés

NEVER go to sleep on argument! When two friends discover their belongings are going missing, the blame game begins and the arguments take over. Can they ever be close friends again? CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal nominee and BookTrust Time to Read favourite, Marta Altés brings her prodigious storytelling and illustration talents to this fun and quirky picture book tale of friendship, falling out and forgiveness. Meet Ellis and Charlie... two friends, living happily on their very own island. Everything they do, they do together, and everything they have, they share. Until, that is, things start to go missing. It wasn’t so bad when just the pot went missing, and they could live without the spoon, but then it started getting silly. More and more things are going missing, NOBODY is owning up, and NOBODY is happy about it. But if it isn’t Ellis and it isn’t Charlie, then WHO on this tiny island is the culprit? With its reassuring, big-hearted message that even the very best of friends can fall out (and usually only briefly!), rich illustrations, and a twist in its tail that will make everyone giggle, It Wasn’t Me! will win the vote of every curious child, and any youngster struggling with friendship anxieties. A joyful and picture perfect reminder of the truly important things in life!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
The Bedtime Boat
Sital Gorasia Chapman
and Anastasia Suvorova

CLIMB aboard the red-sailed boat and lull your little ones into dreamland! Author Sital Gorasia Chapman and award-winning illustrator Anastasia Suvorova are here to help parents settle their restless youngsters with The Bedtime Boat, a visually stunning, thoughtful and calming bedtime tale featuring tried-and-tested mindfulness techniques. ‘Watch the boat, Chandan, it floats on the ocean. It rises and falls with your breath’s gentle motion.’ Chandan has had an exciting day out with his mum... but now it’s time for bed, and however hard he tries, he just can’t sleep. Luckily, his mum has some a calming mindfulness technique at her fingertips. The bedtime boat sits on Chandan’s tummy, rising and falling with his breath. As he travels on a voyage of imagination over the seas, the bedtime boat is always there to keep him grounded, and soon gently lulls him into a relaxed and peaceful sleep. Chapman – who was recently commissioned to write a poem for the CBeebies children’s television series Colours – uses clever repetition of the calming boat motif in her lyrical rhyming story. Add on Cyprus-based Suvorova’s dreamy digital artwork, which brings with it the feeling and warmth of traditional materials, and you have the perfect way to ease little ones into the land of sleep!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Fodo Dodo Goes Fishing
Edouard Manceau

BATH time is even more fun than usual when two quirky animals imagine their tub is a boat to go fishing for... underpants! Author and illustrator Edouard Manceau – who is based in France – lands a perfectly cute and comical picture book as youngsters are encouraged to let their imaginations take flight over the sea. This morning, Fodo Dodo and Noodle are going fishing. They take raincoats, boots, hats and a fishing rod. From their bathtub boat, they soon catch a beautiful striped fish out of the laundry basket... an underguppy! Fodo Dodo and Noodle rush to the kitchen to prepare their feast. But the owner of the underpants is not happy with this game of make-believe. Never mind, Fodo Dodo has another idea to keep the fun alive... with an even better use for the rest of the laundry! Translated from the French edition by Daniel Hahn, this simple but charming story – with its clever use of wordplay, rhythm and repetition – is packed with silly words, colourful illustrations and knockabout comedy. The perfect book to read aloud, turn a dull or troublesome bathtime routine into fun, and to celebrate the creative joy to be found in play and pretend.
(Gecko Press, paperback, £7.99)

The Silk Code

Deborah Swift

AFTER the heartbreaking discovery that her fiancé is cheating on her only a few months before their wedding, Nancy Callaghan flees her home in Scotland to become a code-breaker with the Special Operations Executive in London.

But, there is treachery afoot in the dark shadows of wartime espionage and Nancy will soon find that there are enemies closer to home than the Nazis who are bringing fear and terror to millions of people across Europe.

Deborah Swift, the bestselling Lancashire-based author of a whole raft of dazzling historical novels, turns back the clock to 1943, the pivotal heart of the Second World War, for a thrilling tale of one determined young woman’s race against the clock to uncover a traitor.

Swift (pictured below), who lives in Warton, near Carnforth, used to work backstage as a scenographer in many North-West theatres, including Liverpool Playhouse and the Duke’s Theatre, Lancaster, and it is her imaginative flair, and keen eye for drama and authenticity, that has made her novels so viscerally real and exciting. The Silk Code – the first of a gripping new Secret Agent Series – is based on the true story of ‘Englandspiel’ (England Game), a German counterintelligence operation in which the Nazis captured Allied agents in the Netherlands and used the agents’ codes to dupe the SOE, thus allowing them to capture nearly all the agents and weapons sent from Britain.

The result is a tense and sweeping story which moves from the tightly-run, secret offices of the SOE operation in bombed-out London, to the terror, suspicion and claustrophobia of the Netherlands under German Occupation.

It’s February of 1943 and so far, Nancy Callaghan has spent the war at her home in Scotland where she knits and folds bandages with the WRVS and waits for her wedding to trainee doctor Andrew Fraser. But when she discovers he has been two-timing her, Nancy flees the pitying looks of her friends, family and neighbours to join her brother Neil who is working with the Special Operations Executive in London’s Baker Street.

Nancy thought she would be doing secretarial work but her aptitude for mathematics, and her fluency in Dutch and French, thanks to her Dutch mother, makes her far more useful to the SOE as a code-breaker. And when coding expert Tom Lockwood arrives fresh from Bletchley Park with

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A vanishing act, talking animals and a haunted house

Enjoy a rip-roaring adventure starring Blackpool’s famous tower, travel to a fantastical land of wild beauty and danger, test your brain power with a timeless haunted house adventure, and meet the amazing creatures that live in the deepest, darkest and scariest waters of the sea in a super, summer holiday collection

Age 9 plus
The Wonder Brothers
Frank Cottrell-Boyce
and Steven Lenton

THERE'S always a buzz of excitement in the air when a new Frank Cottrell-Boyce book hits the shelves and the award-winning author certainly delivers a hilariously ‘tall tale’ with this rip-roaring adventure starring Lancashire’s very own Blackpool Tower! Cottrell-Boyce – who lives by the sea in Liverpool and on a clear day can see the tower from the end of his road – unleashes his vast imagination (and more than a little sleight of hand) on a joyous comedy caper in which the world-famous tower does a marvellously magical vanishing act. Brilliantly illustrated throughout by his partner in trickery, Steven Lenton, The Wonder Brothers is a gorgeous, glitter-coated celebration of family, friendship and the sheer, unparalleled exuberance of the world of showbiz.

‘Maybe you don’t believe me. Maybe you don’t believe in magic. I bet you will by the time you’ve heard what happened to us.’ Cousins Middy and Nathan love magic... that’s the on-stage, cape-swirling, bunny-out-of-a-hat kind. Together, they form a magic act called The Wonder Brothers. For Middy, it’s all about patience and practice. She uses magic skills to help her out of tricky situations. Nathan, on the other hand, is a show-off and a total danger magnet. He loves nothing more than creating spectacles to dazzle and impress his audiences. So when the famous Blackpool Tower dramatically vanishes on the night of the Grand Lights Switch-On, showman Nathan announces live on TV that they will magic it back home. Soon Middy, Nathan, their big cousin Brodie and a massive rabbit called Queenie set out on a mission to retrieve the 500ft tower.  But with a stick of rock, a spangly cape, and a bit of misdirection, they end up lost in Las Vegas, home of Perplexion, the Master of Mystery and the world’s greatest magician. Can Middy and Nathan do the impossible and bring back the much-loved Blackpool Tower?

Storytelling magician Cottrell-Boyce casts his own very special spell over this delicious helping of exhilarating seaside adventure which comes with the author’s traditionally big slice of warm-hearted humour, magical mystery and fun-filled drama. Featuring Lenton’s brilliantly vibrant illustrations and a glossary of magic words and phrases, and full of tricks, twists and devilish deceptions, the delightful Nathan and Middy double act will keep readers guessing, gasping and giggling right through to the fantastic final act. A towering new adventure from the ‘wonder boys’ of children’s books!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 12 plus
The Song that Sings Us
Nicola Davies

WHEN you care physically about the wild world with the passion of award-winning author, TV presenter and zoologist Nicola Davies, then putting pen to paper is always going to result in powerful words and far-reaching ideas. So get ready to be knocked for six by The Song that Sings Us, the stunning novel that was nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing and is now being published in a beautiful paperback edition, complete with the internal illustrations of Jackie Morris who shares Davies’ passion for the wild world and a belief in active hope. With its cast of beautifully drawn characters and visionary, poetic storytelling, this epic environmental adventure is set in a threatened land filled with fantastical forests, icy landscapes, wild beauty, danger... and animals that can communicate with humans. And when animals talk, it’s time humans listened... Harlon has been raised to protect her younger siblings, twins Ash and Xeno, and their outlawed power of communicating with animals. But when the sinister Automators attack their mountain home they must flee for their lives. Xeno is kidnapped, and Harlon and Ash are separated. In a thrilling and dangerous adventure, they must all journey alone through the ice fields, forests and oceans of Rumyc to try to rescue each other and fulfil a mysterious promise about a lost island made to their mother. Davies’ lyrical paean to our own threatened planet packs in so much more than a thrilling, chilling tale full of action, suspense, danger... and animals with a timely and resonant warning. This is an author who pushes her imagination into overdrive to speak loudly, clearly and poetically to readers not just about the magic to be found in the natural world and the imperative need for its protection, but also the seeds of hope that are daily being planted to halt the work of Earth’s destroyers. Exhilarating, gripping, magnificent and ultimately uplifting, The Song that Sings Us is a modern classic you won’t want to miss.
(Firefly Press, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
The Housetrap
Emma Read

ENJOY having your spine tingled and your brain cells well and truly tested in a breathless, and timeless haunted house adventure which puts you at the centre of solving a dark mystery! Emma Read, whose debut novel Milton the Mighty was shortlisted for the 2017 Bath Children’s Novel Award and was selected by The Times as one of its Best Children’s Books of 2019, returns with an exciting, edge-of-your-seat caper packed full of thrills, chills and puzzles. Amity has run off into the forbidden Badwell Woods where children disappear. Her brother Claude, and friends Deliah and Sam, go after her, only to discover Amity’s scarf dangling near a mysterious mansion in the trees. Has she gone inside? They enter, not expecting to find a three storey-building with NO stairs and a party laid out when there’s nobody else around. In fact, the inside has frozen in the 1930s and an invitation promises a devious party game. Only when the front door locks behind them do they realise it’s a housetrap and they’ve been caught. Not long after they find a terrified Amity, who was hiding from ‘ghosts,’ the floor beneath their feet starts to twist and turn. The rooms are changing places. The house has rearranged itself like a giant Rubik’s cube. To escape, they must solve the puzzle... and the century-old mystery of a girl who disappeared. With its thrill-a-minute twist on traditional haunted house adventures, The Housetrap is a wonderfully creepy and enthralling experience from start to finish as readers work their way through puzzles that involve teamwork and logic versus instinct whilst enjoying the vibes of a story full of friendship thrills, heart and atmosphere. When the door closes, the game begins! 
(Chicken House Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Zeina Starborn and the Emerald King
Hannah Durkan

HEAD for the sky again as New Writing North Winner Hannah Durkan returns with the high-flying sequel to her exhilarating, middle grade fantasy adventure Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale. Filled with intrigue, drama, danger, and set in a stunningly imagined dystopian world in which explorers, inventors, mighty sky whales and other wondrous creatures do battle above the clouds, these books deliver all those exciting ingredients that children love. At the centre of all the action is Zeina Starborn who has escaped the smog-filled city of Ravenport after winning the chance to visit the famous Willoughby Whale Hotel, a ginormous structure built on the back of a flying whale. It was there she met Jackson, spoiled heir to the Willoughby fortune, and together they formed not just a friendship but a plan to foil a dastardly plot. In this new adventure, Zeina and Jackson are on the run. They know the truth about the rich Aboves and their cruel treatment of the sky whales, and have been working with a group of rebels to free as many whales as possible. When they are invited to an ice palace by a potential ally, the new Emerald King, it seems like things might change for the better. But something isn’t quite right, and Zeina and Jackson find themselves going up against new enemies and familiar foes in the adventure of a lifetime. Durkan’s hugely imaginative world-building skills have created the irresistible backdrop to these gripping adventures which feature resonant eco themes, the most amazing creatures, gadgets galore, fearless young heroes, and warm friendships. Don’t miss the ride!
(Orion Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 6 plus
Secret Beast Club: The Dragons
of Emerald Yard

Robin Birch and Jobe Anderson

JOIN the club and find the magic in the second book of an exciting and inclusive series created by Jasmine Richards, founder of Storymix fiction studio, and Robin Birch, pen name of writer Rachael Davis. Brimming with all those ingredients that children love – adventure, friendship and an amazing array of magical creatures – Secret Beast Club is an all-round winner. Aisha and Jayden both have the rare ability of ‘magic sight’ and are official members of the Secret Beast Club, a centuries-old secret group headed up by a ghost named Pablo Fanque and which protects mythological creatures. And in their thrilling new mission, a dragon is on the loose in Birmingham and about to cause havoc... unless the Secret Beast Club can track him down. But with a dragon hunter also on the trail, it’s a race against time to find the dragon and get him to safety! Inspired by the real life story of Pablo Fanque – the first Black circus owner – and featuring fun facts about the magical creatures within each story, this warm and enchanting series is guaranteed to cast a spell over adventure-loving youngsters!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Big Sky Mountain: The Sky Eagles
Alex Milway

DR DOLITTLE meets Dora the Explorer in the fourth and final exhilarating book of an illustrated series which is the next best thing to breathing in the scents of the great outdoors! Screenwriter and Hotel Flamingo author Alex Milway inspires everyone to pull on their walking boots and join a little girl called Rosa on Big Sky Mountain… a place in the wilderness that has a home for everyone. Life never stays still for long on Big Sky Mountain. When Rosa wakes one morning to find Grandma Nan missing, she must use all of her survival skills to uncover her grandma’s whereabouts. With the help of the mountain community, Rosa’s investigation leads her to the very summit of Big Sky Mountain where a family of golden eagles are facing huge problems of their own. Through helping the eagles, Rosa realises she really is at home on Big Sky Mountain. There has been adventure with a capital A all the way through this action-packed series... the author’s love letter to nature and the wild which was inspired by his own childhood with his grandma in the Malvern Hills, and the woodland and cabin he now owns in Kent. Filled with Milway’s vibrant two-tone illustrations and wonderful animal characters, and exploring different natural environments and habitats, these stories are ideal as a first chapter book for new readers and offer a truly wild, wonderful and exciting experience for your own little explorers!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Who’s Afraid of the Light?
Anna McGregor

THERE are creatures that live in the sea... and then there are creatures that live in the deepest, darkest and scariest waters of the sea! The wonders of the ocean’s ‘midnight zone’ spring to glorious, neon-coloured life in a spectacular picture book from Melbourne-based author, illustrator and designer Anna McGregor. An award-winning creator, whose aim is to give young readers modern, quirky, and conceptual stories with a warm heart, McGregor sheds light, fascinating facts and her special brand of humour on a story exploring some curious and colourful creatures of the deep. Fergus lives down in the deepest, darkest sea and is scared of just one thing … the light! Fergus loves the dark... it’s good and safe. Real monsters, he says, hide in the light and he knows that because he’s seen them with his own two eyes. As for his identity, he doesn’t know which sea creature he is but Fergus reckons he’s probably very cute! After hiding from a parade of other strange creatures which use bioluminescence to find their way in the dark, the spotlight finally falls on Fergus... and his true identity will leave readers gasping! McGregor seamless blend of storytelling, facts and dazzling illustrations is the perfect way to introduce little children to the wonders of the vast and mysterious ‘midnight zone’ where no sunlight is able to penetrate. With its gallery of eye-catching illustrations to enjoy and a ‘did you know?’ section providing intriguing ‘in-depth’ information, Who’s Afraid of the Light? is both entertaining and educational.
(Scribble, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Hello Me!
Dr Naira Wilson and Elisa Paganelli

BE yourself in the world and don’t give up! Teach youngsters to love themselves – no matter who they are – with this inspirational and reassuring picture book from clinical psychologist Dr Naira Wilson and Italian-born illustrator Elisa Paganelli. Follow a young boy as he learns to love and accept himself despite all his struggles and everyday conundrums. ‘Sometimes I think my mind is like a house. Just like a house, I need to treat my mind with love and care.’ Relatable characters and a gentle storyline introduce little ones to the concept of mental health in an accessible and engaging way, encouraging them to think about how to look after themselves and accept themselves for who they are. Filled with childhood mental health specialist Wilson’s warm, wise words, tips on how to foster a life-long sense of wellbeing, and Paganelli’s beautifully emotive illustrations, Hello Me! is a stunning and imaginatively created addition to libraries at school, home and nursery.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Rhinos Don’t Cry
Mark Grist and Chris Jevons

CRYING is brave! That’s the message that speaks volumes to little ones in a clever and comical picture book from the top team of award-winning poet and international battle rapper Mark Grist and artist, designer and animator Chris Jevons. Starring a lovable little rhino, this upbeat, rhyming story positively zings with energy and delivers messages about the importance of showing your feelings. Milo’s a rhino... he likes to do all sorts of rhino-y things. He likes writing and climbing and banister-sliding and mountain bike riding, he paints and he sings. Milo just loves being a rhino, but there’s one small problem... rhinos don't cry. At least that’s what Spike-O Mcree, his movie-star hero, always says. But when Milo meets Spike-O face to face, he finds out that not only is crying OK, it’s also very brave! With Grist’s catchy, energetic, rhyming verse and Jevons’ bright, colourful and expressive artwork, Rhinos Don’t Cry provides inspiration for both children and adults, and is the first in a series of books from Bloomsbury highlighting the importance of children expressing their feelings.
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
The Truth About Yeticorns
Rachel Morrisroe and Ella Okstad

WHEN you get into trouble, blame a Yeticorn! A little girl’s fibs come home to roost (in the shape of a giant green beast) in a funny, cautionary tale from amazing new picture book talent Rachel Morrisroe and bestselling Norwegian illustrator Ella Okstad. A Yeticorn is charging about on the loose! Bea often tells little fibs when something goes wrong. Fairy-cats wiped mud all over the floor, wild octoponies flooded the bathroom... and lately, a humongous Yeticorn has been charging around, gobbling up her sister Edie’s sweets and sneezing confetti everywhere. But one day, Bea wakes to find that a Yeticorn REALLY has come to stay... and his whippy, trippy tail causes all sorts of problems that she gets the blame for! Can Bea find the courage to stop fibbing and finally tell the truth? Both heartwarming and hilarious, Morrisroe’s rollicking, rhyming, read-aloud story about sibling friendship, telling the truth, and the power of using your imagination for good, is brought to life by Okstad’s glorious gallery of colourfully chaotic illustrations and is guaranteed to capture the hearts of readers young and old.
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
What Can You See at the Zoo?
Kate Ware and María Perera

TAKE a walk through the zoo to discover cheeky monkeys, tall giraffes and happy hippos in a clever peep-through board book with intriguing cut-out pages that take you on a wild and wonderful journey! Toddlers will love peeping through the cut-out pages to wander through the zoo and meet a whole host of colourful animals, birds and sealife. With simple, bite-size, fun facts about colourful animal and birds – from snuggling lovebirds and meerkats standing guard to monkeys swinging through trees and penguins showing off their swimming skills – little ones can look through the pages and follow a group of youngsters to the zoo and on safari. With its sturdy board book pages, richly detailed, bright and bold illustrations by María Perera, Kate Ware’s fascinating facts, appealing peep-through pages and endless hidden details to spot, this is the perfect introduction to the natural world, and an exciting way to discover the joy of books and the fun of learning!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Keep Smiling
Floella Benjamin and Diane Ewen

A SMILE becomes a superpower in a beautiful and inspirational picture book from actress, writer, producer and working peer Dame Floella Benjamin and award-winning illustrator Diane Ewen. Benjamin, best known as a presenter of the popular BBC children’s television programmes Play School and Play Away, reveals that smiling is one of her ‘very favourite things’ because it sends outs all sorts of special messages, and this tale of positivity, kindness and smiles certainly delivers that often elusive ‘sunshine’ effect. Vina's Mum has always told her that a smile is the best gift you can give someone. And as Vina loves smiling more than anything else, she gives the gift of her smile to anyone who needs it. But on her first visit to her new school, Vina’s own smile gets a bit... lost. She can’t find it under the slide, or on the climbing frame. Then, a smile appears... in the most unexpected place! Keep Smiling – brimming with the vibrant colours and charm of Ewen’s illustrations – is a joyful, sensitive and heart-melting celebration of that most universal symbol of hope, joy and positivity... a smile!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age one plus
Ready Steady Potty!
Becky Davies and Rosalind Maroney

‘Potties are different ... They’re funny or noisy, majestic
or spotty. And each one is perfect for resting your bott-y.’ 

IF just the thought of potty training your little one is sending you potty, find comfort (and a few giggles!) in a cute and comical sounds book from the book boffins at Little Tiger Press. Featuring six super sounds – from addictive baby laughter to the ‘flush’ of a successful potty session – this clever board book offers advice all the way whether that’s meeting the potty and learning about handwashing or letting children choose their own pants. With a jolly rhyming text, top tips for parents and carers throughout, and all the joy of the press-button sounds, this fresh, fun and encouraging book is the perfect introduction to potty training, and the perfect way to give reassurance about ‘accidents,’ celebrate the successes... and get your child excited about using their potty!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £10.99)

Ever After

Kate Eberlen

‘Falling in love is only the beginning of the story...’

IF the summer holidays are beckoning, you’re almost beach ready, and looking for a beautiful, soul-searching romance to pack between the frocks and suntan cream, Kate Eberlen’s dazzling new novel is guaranteed to break your heart and put it back together again.

An intense and powerfully emotional love story, set against the starkly different backdrops of breathtaking Italy and busy, cosmopolitan London, Ever After is an enchanting and inspirational exploration of two thirty-somethings brought together by ‘serendipity’ rather than ‘destiny.’

At its beating heart are nail salon manager Tess and hospital doctor Gus... an unlikely pairing but, in a classic case of opposites attract, find themselves falling truly, madly, deeply in love at (almost) first sight one summer amidst the dazzling, sunlit magnificence of Florence. Like their backgrounds, their past histories, their work and their friendships, their journey is often miles apart, chequered, painful and unconventional, and however strong their love may be, life will throw up hazards that may, or may not, take them on different roads.

Love isn’t always a fairy tale and even when she was just a child, Tess doubted the veracity of two people being destined to live ‘happily ever after’ when they’ve only just met. But when she gets her first sight of Gus one sun-drenched morning in Florence, it really does feel as if fate has brought them together.

Both aged 34, both holidaying alone, and both living at the (albeit very different) ends of the same London street, it soon turns out that their lives have unknowingly ‘brushed past each other’ several times before and that they have both suffered family deaths which have brought them terrible grief.

But there is also a chasm between them in terms of their current lives... public school-educated Gus – a frustrated artist – is materially far better off than state school-educated Tess but he is a troubled man and far less contented than Tess who enjoys managing her best friend’s bustling nail salon even though she dreams of being an author.

And neither of them expected to feel ‘a magnetic pull’ to each other at first sight, an attraction that ‘might make them inseparable if they were to move a millimetre closer.’ It’s the start of a whirlwind love affair which they swear will continue when they return to London and real life. For the first

The Accident

Katie McMahon

HOBART – the tiny capital city of Tasmania snuggled into the lee of the towering kunanyi/Mount Wellington – is loved by the inhabitants for its short work commutes, stunning views, and clean, bracing sea air.

But with a population of just 55,077, it’s also a place where everybody knows everybody and that means lives are intertwined and secrets are hard to keep... not least a secret that could cost someone their life.

Katie McMahon (pictured below), an exciting Australian writer whose debut novel, The Mistake, turned heads in the literary world, returns to chill and thrill us with a dark, character-driven mystery set on her home turf of Hobart where she works as a GP and teaches communication skills to medical students. Centred on three troubled women – whose close-knit suburban worlds are linked by unseen connections to friends, family and lovers – The Accident is a tense, page-turning, psychological drama which takes readers on a rollercoaster ride to a split-second event that will change them all forever.

Lonely Imogen has always wanted to be a doctor but working in the emergency department at a Hobart hospital has convinced her it’s a lie to believe that ‘stress and pressure brought out the best in people’ and that ‘facing hardship together forged bonds.’

Socially awkward and frequently careless, Imogen is struggling to prove her worth as a ‘lowly junior doctor. ’ She finds it difficult to be a ‘team player’ and has already come to the conclusion that the staff station is ‘not a very nice place.’

In another corner of the city, middle-aged single mum and veterinary surgeon Grace used to joke that her difficult daughter Emma was just going through the normal ‘teenage stage’ but there is nothing remotely funny about Emma’s behaviour now.

What started with an aversion to eating breakfast became full-blown anorexia and although Emma is now termed as being in recovery, she is still fragile and suffering some serious bullying and abuse at school which has been brought to her attention by Emma’s psychologist. And then there’s friendly, dedicated Hobart schoolteacher Zoe who has devoted the

Good Taste

Caroline Scott

AS the Great Depression casts a long shadow over the country in 1932, food writer Stella Douglas is commissioned to put together a history of food in England that will lift the spirits and make people feel proud of their national cuisine.

But it’s a task that becomes doubly difficult when Stella discovers that most of England’s favourite dishes actually have their origins in other lands, and then faces a powerful distraction from Freddie Langham, the handsome antiques dealer who comes to her rescue on a marathon cross-country journey to unearth lost recipes.

Historian and highly acclaimed author Caroline
Scott – whose haunting novels, The Visitors, The Photographer of the Lost and When I Come Home Again, contemplated different aspects of the aftermath of war – forges a delicious new path with this paean to food set at a time when modern England was starting to emerge from the past. And what a tale of light and darkness, tears and laughter, and dainty and not-so-dainty dishes, Good Taste proves to be as Scott (pictured below) packs in a fascinating exploration of social history alongside a moving tale of friendship, family and self-discovery, all set against a 1930s backdrop facing much the same changes and challenges, hardships and crises as our contemporary world.

When Stella Douglas, author of a much-loved but not very successful biography of forgotten cookery writer Elizabeth Raffald is summoned from her Yorkshire base to see her editor in London at the end of 1931, she is dreading being told her career is over before it’s even started.

She has recently given up her home in London to return to live with her father in Calderdale after her mother’s death left him vulnerable, fragile and seemingly ‘shrinking.’ However, she misses the bright lights and bustle of the big city, and particularly her close friend, chef Michael, the man who has been her comfort and confidant for many years. But far from losing her job, Stella finds she is being commissioned to write another book... this time a history of food in England and how the English like to eat. ‘Nostalgia is potent stuff,’ says her editor, ‘and it’s fashionable at the moment.’ Her task

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Monster hunting, ice cream magic and an evil spider

Meet a boy using monsters to help him cope with his grief, buckle up for more thrilling, fast-paced action with two teenage mutant boys, tuck into a delicious, magic-sprinkled caper with ice cream at its heart, immerse yourself in the atmospherics of a danger-filled steampunk adventure, and share giggles with a ‘loser’ who proves to be a total winner in an exciting summertime selection 

Age 9 plus
The Boy Who Made Monsters
Jenny Pearson and Katie Kear

BLENDING comedy and pathos is always a complex business so full marks – as always! – to primary school teacher and award-winning author Jenny Pearson who has her finger firmly on the pulse of writing inspirational and reassuring stories perfectly pitched for children. The Boy Who Made Monsters is the fifth fantastic adventure from the Costa Award-shortlisted Pearson whose brilliant books and engaging characters are based on a wonderful mix of all the children she has ever taught. And this new tender, and yet laughter-filled, story stars a boy struggling with the grief of losing his parents in a sailing accident, the upheaval of moving to a new home in Scotland, and discovering that a monster in a loch is not the only monster he will have to take on.

Benji McLaughlin is a visionary... he believes in things that other people think are impossible, like that he and his brother Stanley will be happy in their new home in Scotland, and that the Loch Lochy monster exists, and that his parents will come home safely one day, even though they have been missing for months after a terrible sailing accident. When he finds out that his Uncle Hamish’s Loch Lochy tourist business is struggling, and it looks like Benji and Stanley might lose another home, Benji is not worried. He has a plan. If he can show everyone that the Loch Lochy monster exists, people will flock to come to see it, and the business will flourish again. Together with his new friend, wise-cracking Murdy and Mr Dog, the best dog in the world, Benji sets off to capture evidence of the monster, even if he has to get a little creative. But Benji might end up confronting more monsters than he expects. This uniquely moving and heartfelt tale of love, loss, laughter and hope – beautifully illustrated throughout by Katie Kear – sees Pearson at her very best as she expertly weaves between tear-jerking emotions and a full-on comedy capers in a manner that is both wise and accessible for youngsters. Reminding readers, both young and old, that it’s possible to find joy after terrible despair, and happiness after bereavement, and that there are caring people and coping mechanisms to help us navigate a way through even the darkest times, The Boy Who Made Monsters is a brilliant, bittersweet reading triumph.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
21% Monster: Serpent Strike
P.J. Canning

SCIENTIFIC know-how goes a long way in a thrilling debut trilogy from P.J. Canning whose adventures starring two teenage mutant boys have won over readers with their authenticity, logic... and fast-paced action. Serpent Strike is the last in the series and delivers the same blend of fun, science fiction and high octane thrills and spills in a stunningly imagined plot that is proving to be irresistible to adventure and action fans. For once, 21% monster teenage-boy Darren Devlin thinks he has the upper hand over Xastris, the secret organisation that transformed him into a genetically-modified superhuman. Since joining forces with 19% alien boy Marek Masters, 17% sabre-tooth polar-bear Aurora Valero, and now 16% alien girl Genie, Darren has never been in a stronger position... but neither have Xastris because they are busy planning an attack on the world’s greatest superpowers. The fate of millions is now at stake. Can Darren and the team intercept Operation Serpent Strike... or will Xastris land their deadliest bite yet? With a stellar cast of superhuman teens, a plot that revolves around a valuable secret, and more twists and turns than a snakes and ladders board, this pulsating, high stakes mission for the daredevil team is the perfect page-turning finale for a fantastic series.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Sundae Delivery Service
Holly Rivers 

ICE creams are most definitely on the menu in Holly Rivers’ delicious sequel to The Boy in the Post, an enchanting, magic-sprinkled adventure which won the hearts of thousands of young readers. And this new outing to the delightful village of Little Penhallow delivers the same enchanting retro feel and cast of quirky characters as we are once more immersed into a fabulous fantasy world full of warmhearted fun and ice-cold skulduggery. A few months have passed since Orinthia Shalloo’s transatlantic adventure with her two younger brothers and the mailbox menagerie is thriving as they train animals to deliver the post. But then a family of ice cream makers arrive in the village – including daughter Dotty Ambrose – and announce they are entering their ice cream into the prestigious Golden Udder ice cream awards in Norway. And when Dotty discovers that the post in her village is delivered by animals trained by local children, it means her family could have their entry delivered by cows! But training cows is the easy part. Dotty soon discovers on the voyage to Norway that rival sundae-makers will do almost anything to sabotage their efforts and take the prize. The Sundae Delivery Service can be easily read as a standalone story as the friends set sail for Bergen and an epic adventure across land, sea and sky starring a menagerie of furry and feathered posties! A high-flying mission you won’t want to miss...
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Usborne Adventure Gamebooks:
League of Thieves
Sarah Crofton, W.J. Tattersdill and Tom Knight

CHOICES, choices… do you dare to enter a strange and magical world and choose your own danger-packed adventure? This classic adventure gamebook from Usborne is packed with exciting challenges, choices and decisions which will delight a new generation of thrill-seeking youngsters who want to put their own skills and imagination into play. Written by Sarah Crofton and W.J. Tattersdill, and spectacularly illustrated throughout by Tom Knight, League of Thieves is the latest atmospheric and enthralling adventure in a series which grips readers from beginning to end and brings together picture puzzles, exciting dice-based combat and a story in which the hero is YOU. As a member of the League of Thieves, you’re used to plenty of danger and mystery, but your most perilous mission yet is about to begin. Among the shadowy alleys and moonlit rooftops of Morrowstone, a mysterious enemy has kidnapped your friend... and the only person who can rescue him is YOU. Can you succeed where all others have failed and break into the infamous Castle Flaggstone to rescue your friend, steal a priceless treasure and uncover an ancient secret? From this point onwards, you are in control of an epic adventure. Every choice is yours, and your survival depends on the decisions you make. Who to fight? Who to trust? In a book where nothing is as it seems, even the pictures hold secrets that must be unlocked. Full of choices to make, each one leading to different adventures and endings, this dark and sweeping story, with its fiendish picture puzzles, is perfect for all fans of gaming and fantasy role-playing games.
(Usborne, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Carnival of the Spider
Kieran Larwood and Sam Usher

TAKE one of most exciting, contemporary children’s authors and a multi-talented illustrator, and what do you get? This brilliant middle-grade series from superstars Kieran Larwood and Sam Usher is so steeped in the atmospherics of Victorian city steampunk that you can almost touch the grime and grit, smell the muck, and feel the miasma of choking smog! Carnival of the Spider – the follow-up to the fantastic Carnival of the Lost and Carnival of the Hunted – sweeps us back into the wonderfully murky, carnivalesque world of intrigue, friendships, magic and mysteries, and into an audacious rescue mission from London to Paris! Stars of the carnival show are an unusual troupe of performers that includes Sheba the wolf girl, Pyewacket, a witch’s imp, and Sister Moon, a knife thrower. And in this new adventure, we discover that were three men and two women... one had half a face, one had iron legs and the others all had one or both arms missing. There were pincers and claws and guns instead. When Sheba learns that her old friend Sister Moon is being held prisoner by the Spider and its gang of mechanical villains, the Carnival immediately launch a rescue mission to Paris. Along with Pyewacket, and catlike Inji, Sheba joins forces with Moon’s son Remy, a boy who can bend shadows to his will. Deep underground in the catacombs of Paris there is a map which they must find to trade for Moon’s freedom. With the city under siege from Prussian invaders and the Spider’s henchmen on their trail, the Carnival will need to use all their powers to save their friend. There is so much for youngsters to love and enjoy in this full-on, immersive adventure… humour, originality, page-turning thrills, danger and daring, and all brought to life by Usher’s gorgeously gothic and characterful illustrations. Middle-grade writing and illustrating at its best!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Big Amazing Poetry Book
Gaby Morgan and Chris Riddell

BIG really is beautiful – and amazing! – in a gorgeous anthology, filled with wondrous words, inspirational ideas and illuminating illustrations, from the top team of editor Gaby Morgan and award-winning illustrator Chris Riddell. The Big Amazing Poetry Book is a warm, funny and imaginative celebration of verse, and the ideal introduction to a mix of diverse poets, from famous names of the past like Lewis Carroll and Charles Causley, to well-loved poets of today including Nikita Gill and the new Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho. With Riddell’s superbly detailed and luminous black and white illustrations throughout, plus an insightful foreword from Liverpool poet Roger McGough, this perfect gift book is a rich and dazzling collection of poets and poetry. Morgan, who has compiled many bestselling poetry anthologies over nearly thirty years, has chosen the ideal pick’n’mix of poems that will intrigue and delight young readers, but also sometimes challenge and puzzle them. And The Big Amazing Poetry Book is certainly one to treasure. With its words of wisdom and emotional intelligence, the anthology features seven poems (one for each day of the week) by fifty-two poets (one for each week of the year) and a biography to showcase each poet. Readers cans simply dip in and out of the book as the time or the mood takes them. Packed with different styles of poetry – including ballads, riddles, tongue-twisters, shape poems, haiku (a short form of poetry originally from Japan), sonnets and raps – and featuring poems about seasons, festivals, animals, birds, love, war, food, fish and football and much more, every page is filled with Riddell’s stunning line artwork. From John Agard, Clare Bevan, Valerie Bloom, Steven Camden, Pie Corbett, Shauna Darling Robertson, Jan Dean, Peter Dixon, Julia Donaldson, Eleanor Farjeon and John Foster to Sue Hardy-Dawson, A.F. Harrold, Michaela Morgan, Brian Moses, Kate Wakeling and Zaro Weil, this is an unmissable feast of visual and verbal delights!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 7 plus
Myths, Mummies and Magic in Ancient Egypt
Stephen Davies and Núria Tamarit

DISCOVER the thrilling myths and magic of Ancient Egypt in a spectacular comic-strip style retelling by children’s author Stephen Davies and illustrator and comic artist Núria Tamarit who is based in Spain. The ancient Egyptian myths are some of the oldest and most famous stories ever told and this vivid and contemporary comic book collection is the perfect introduction to them. Myths, Mummies and Magic in Ancient Egypt features six striking tales full of mythical creatures, gods, pharaohs and adventure and explores traditional themes like love, loss, greed, envy and bravery. Set sail with Prince Naneferkaptah on his quest to find the magical book of Thoth, join Seth and Horus as they battle for the throne of Egypt, and meet a pharaoh called Khufu who wanted to have the most magnificent tomb ever. Bursting with detail and humour, and Tamarit’s funny and fascinating comic-strip illustrations, this fully accessible and entertaining retelling of ancient myths is a delight for readers both young and old.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £14.99)

Age 7 plus
Barry Loser: Double Trouble!
Jim Smith

IF zany humour tickles your funny bone, then you have nothing to lose when you open the pages of a brilliant graphic series that has been making kids snigger and snicker for ten long years of laughter! Winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, the Scholastic Lollies award, and shortlisted for the Waterstones prize, Jim Smith’s hilarious Barry Loser is a total winner and bounding back with this series of brand new adventures published for the first time in full colour. Anarchic fun, a super-child-friendly format full of graphic, cartoon-style illustrations, a ‘how to draw’ section to help youngsters make their own comic books, and crazy catchwords that have become part and parcel of the Barry Loser experience, are the hallmarks of Smith’s exhilarating books. So sit tight and join the laugh-out-loud fun with Barry, Bunky, Nancy and the gang as they take starring roles in three amazekeel stories, including one where Barry’s dad turns into a vending machine, and all Barry has to do is ‘press his buttons’ to get exactly what he wants, and another where hearing the most boring story in the world has a disastrous effect on Barry’s mind and body. Smith has his finger firmly on the pulse of what makes kids (and grown-ups!) laugh… the pages of his books positively buzz with energy, madcap antics, and a joyful sense of outlandish chaos that is as addictive as it is entertaining. Wild, witty and ‘completerly’ wonderful!
(Farshore, paperback, £8.99)

Age 6 plus
Yomi and the Fury of Ninki Nanka
Davina Tijani and Adam Douglas-Bagley

A FUNNY thing happened on a trip to The Gambia... Join in the fun and fabulous fantasy adventure in the first book of author Davina Tijani and illustrator Adam Douglas-Bagley’s new Nkara Chronicles series which is being billed as Beast Quest meets Pokémon... across Africa! A fresh and fast-paced series based on African mythology, Tijani’s stories are brimming with heart and humour, and come perfectly packaged with a cleverly imagined and fully accessible mythology and fantasy theme. Yomi and her younger brother Kayode are supposed to be on the trip of a lifetime visiting The Gambia with their Uncle Olu. Instead, their uncle’s work has made this the most boring holiday ever! But when Yomi witnesses the Dragon King, Ninki Nanka, being kidnapped from the sky, things get a lot more exciting. Determined to save him, Yomi and Kayode uncover secrets and meet many magnificent beasts... but will it be enough to save Ninki Nanka? With dragons, mystery, danger and secret societies to enjoy, this African adventure series is set to be a big hit with young readers.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
Dave Pigeon (Kittens!)
Swapna Haddow and Sheena Dempsey

YOUNGSTERS (and their grown-ups!) will be all of a-flutter when author Swapna Haddow and illustrator Sheena Dempsey’s new Dave Pigeon comedy adventure wings its way into their eager hands. With a laugh guaranteed on every page, this much-loved, award-winning chapter book series shows off the outstanding queens of comedy at their very best and has received rave reviews since first publishing in 2016. In their fifth adventure, we find Dave Pigeon and his trusty sidekick, Skipper, minding their own business in the garden shed when they see their nemesis, Mean Cat, behaving very strangely. And why is she multiplying? The arrival of some very cute kittens is disastrous news! More cats? Ugh. But then the kittens come under threat... are Dave and Skipper cold-hearted enough to leave them defenceless? Especially when one looks a teeny, tiny little bit like Dave? If slapstick fun, outrageously bad behaviour and panda poo makes you giggle and guffaw, then Bad Panda is your perfect go-to comedy read. Packed with Haddow’s warmth and wicked, laugh-out-loud wit, and Dempsey’s irresistibly funny black and white illustrations, this fantastically funny and addictive series from one of the most inspired partnerships in children’s comedy fiction is simply irresistible!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus
How to Make a Book
Becky Davies and Patricia Hu

CHILDREN love to write and draw their own stories... but how many are aware of the creative journey that is involved before a book is published? How to Make a Book – a picture book that is the result of its own imaginative journey – comes from the pen of children’s book editor Becky Davies and the colour palette of talented illustrator Patricia Hu. Acting as an inspirational and informative illustrated guide to publishing, the book introduces youngsters (and adults too!) to all the people involved in creating a book, from the author and editor to the illustrator and the designer. Do you think it would be cool to have a job where you make books? Have you ever wondered how a book is made? Follow the stages from acquisition and artwork to publicity and printing, and enjoy taking an accurate look at the entire process of what it took to make a book like this one! With Davies’s clear and concise text, and Hu’s gallery of characterful and colourful illustrations, How to Make a Book is perfect for children, publishing and bookselling professionals, artists and authors...  and anyone who wants to see how a book is made!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 3 plus
The Ocean Gardener
Clara Anganuzzi

THE colour, vibrancy and beauty of the underwater world springs to glorious life in a dazzling and inspirational picture book from author and illustrator Clara Anganuzzi who was raised in the Seychelles. Ayla and her marine biologist mum live on a beautiful tropical island surrounded by a coral reef which they visit every day. One morning, Ayla notices that many of the fish have disappeared, and the once vibrant corals have turned pale. Is it too late to save the reef? Fortunately Ayla’s mum has a plan and they set to work together to give the coral reef a fresh new start. The Ocean Gardener – a story of hope and determination – is a stunning blend of verbal and visual beauty, capturing the colour and magic of the coral reef, and the important role it plays in the ocean’s eco-system. From the impact global warming has on reefs to the amazing things marine biologists are doing to protect it, readers will love learning about this fascinating topic and how we can protect our reefs. Anganuzzi's gentle story and breathtaking artwork looks at the complex topic of global warming in an eye-opening but positive way, showing that there is time to reverse the damage which has been caused. Ideal for use as a gentle introduction to how climate change affects coral reefs and how we can protect them, and with information about reef restoration projects and the marine biologist who inspired the story, The Ocean Gardener is a wonderful addition to every child’s book shelf.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3
Ray
Alex Latimer

THE funny, heartwarming tale of little mouse with a BIG imagination sheds light on children’s fears of the dark in a dazzling picture book from talented author and illustrator Alex Latimer who is based in Cape Town, South Africa. Ray stars a terrified mouse (and a menagerie of other creatures!) whose walk home through the dark woods is lit up by a friendly firefly. When night falls and the shadows get longer and darker, Mouse is scared. How will he find his way home? Luckily he meets a firefly who reassures him, ‘I’m Ray and I’ll light your way.'’ On their starlit walk, however, it can seem that behind every shadow is lurking danger. And the meerkat, chickens, frogs and squirrels who join them agree... until Ray flies close with his light and shows what the shadows really are. But sometimes, just sometimes, the shadows might be just what they look like... With a gallery of rich, atmospheric and luminous illustrations, a witty story featuring a cast of colourful creatures, and a twist in the tail that will make everyone giggle, this is the picture perfect way to illuminate those all-too-familiar night-time fears!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Sunny and the Birds
Wendy Meddour and Nabila Adani

CREATIVE writing lecturer and award-winning children’s author Wendy Meddour gently introduces the theme of immigration to young children in her moving and thoughtful new picture book. Starring a little boy who hatches a plan to help his father find joy in his new home, and beautifully illustrated by Nabila Adani, who lives in Indonesia, Sunny and the Birds celebrates family, kindness and the power of belonging. Sunny and his family have recently moved to a new country and his dad is struggling to see their new house as home. Sunny can tell that he is yearning for his old life where collared doves cooed in the soft morning light and swallows swooped in the sunset. So, with the help of his grandmother, Sunny buys his dad a bird table and a seed feeder to attract birds into their garden and soon the birds have a feast and dad’s sadness takes flight. With its sensitive exploration of moving to a new country and the meaning of home, this evocative, illustrated story is perfectly pitched for the youngest readers.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
The Digits: The Perfect Number & Odds Vs Evens
Tony Bradman and Miguel Sánchez

WELCOME back to the wonderful world of the Digits... friends you can count on to prove that maths is fun! The Perfect Number and Odds Vs Evens are the third and fourth books in Oxford University Press’s funny, entertaining and educational picture book series that makes learning about numbers a laugh-out-loud adventure. Each clever, playful story – imaginatively written by award-winning author Tony Bradman – stars the Digits, a group of number friends and in The Perfect Number, exploring addition and subtraction, we meet Eight who wants the Digits’ day trip to the Number Land theme park to be perfect.

But when it’s time to go on Eight’s dream ride, will there be the right number of Digits? With a simple maths concept subtly woven into the playful storyline, this is the perfect book for practising adding up and subtracting skills! 

And in Odds Vs Evens, we find the Digits squabbling over whether odd or even numbers are best until Ten challenges everyone to a football match down at the park to settle the argument. This is the ideal, action-packed adventure for understanding the maths concept of odd and even numbers. With each story stylishly illustrated by Miguel Sánchez, and a guide for adults about reading, sharing, and exploring further topics and activities, these books are an invaluable asset for teaching, learning... and fun.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99 each)