CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Magic awakens, female pride and horrors galore

Dive into an epic new fantasy series starring an inspirational orphan girl, learn how to embrace your inner Lioness, enjoy a delicious dollop of black comedy, and saddle up for a horse riding adventure in an exciting selection of new titles

Age 9 plus
In the Shadow of
the Wolf Queen
Kiran Millwood Hargrave

ENTER a fantastical adventure, built on the foundations of the real world, and brimming with the kind of alluring, elemental magic that stretches your imagination into the furthest and most fertile regions of the mind. In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen is the first gripping book of an epic new Geomancer trilogy exploring the magic of nature, the lure of power and the strength of love from award-winning author Kiran Millwood Hargrave. Hargrave, who is also a poet and playwright, puts heart and soul into this lyrically written and action-packed fantasy which is based on her research into ley lines, earth grids and the planet’s ‘natural patterns and disruptions,’ and creates a wild and wonderful world which, enticingly, could or could not be authentic.

In the lakes, the wolf queen sharpens her spear, in the mountains, an ancient girl opens an eye and in the forest, an orphan is summoned by the trees. Ysolda has lived her life in the shadow of the wolf queen’s tyrannical rule but, safe in her forest haven, she has never truly felt its threat. Until one day when a mysterious earthquake shakes the land and her older sister Hari vanishes in its wake. Accompanied by her loyal sea hawk, Nara, Ysolda embarks on a desperate rescue mission. But when she is forced to strike a bargain with the wolf queen, she soon finds herself embroiled in a quest for a magic more powerful – and more dangerous – than she could ever have imagined.

Using locations inspired by the Celtic Rainforests, the Lake District, the Scottish pinewoods and Stroma Island, an uninhabited island between Orkney and the mainland of Scotland, Hargrave invites readers to marvel at our awesome planet and to learn how foolish it is to pit ourselves against it. But this is also a story that celebrates sibling bonds, magic, friendship, and children’s ‘extraordinary capacity for compassion, hope, and change’ as we witness Ysolda’s breathtaking bravery, feel the raw power of her emotions, and meet a cast of amazing animal characters. A dazzling opener to what promises to be a modern classic.
(Orion Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)

Age 7 plus
Three Lionesses: Find your team, build
self-belief, embrace your inner Lioness
Ella Toone, Georgia Stanway, Nikita Parris,
Cheryl Rickman and Cat Sims

LIONESSES are brave, they fiercely look out for one another, they stick together, and they roar as loud as they need to because they want to ensure their voices are heard! Inspire youngsters to embrace their own inner Lioness with this brilliant, empowering and uplifting guide from three legendary football stars, Ella Toone, Georgia Stanway and Nikita Parris, who were all part of the Euro 2022 Lionesses squad. These three football stars share their personal stories of how they became the champions they are today as well as offering practical tips to help youngsters go after their goals, navigate challenges and setbacks, cope with stress, find their own superstar team and, most of all, embrace their inner Lioness. With inspiring anecdotes, helpful tips and practical activities, Three Lionesses is co-written with Cheryl Rickman, bestselling author and ghostwriter of 26 self-help, wellness and business books, and packed with the illustrations of Cat Sims whose work is grounded in her passion for comic art.

With a special focus on friendship, teamwork and succeeding as women in a male-dominated world, the book explores how football can teach you so much about life, whether that’s joining a new squad and finding your place in a team, stepping up to take a penalty and dealing with pressure, or getting back up when life (or a footballer!) knocks you down! With the true stories of how the three female footballers got to where they are today and tons of practical tips, this motivational book will help young readers embrace who they are, ignite their spark, go after their goals and find their team... because no Lioness is complete without her pride!
(Puffin, paperback, £12.99)

Age 8 plus
The Wonder Team And the Forgotten Footballers
Leah Williamson, Jordan Glover
and Robin Boyden

THE pioneering Dick, Kerr Ladies football team from Preston, which found fame over one hundred years ago, are the inspiration for a brand new, time-twisting adventure series from captain of the Euros-winning women’s England team, Leah Williamson. The Wonder Team And the Forgotten Footballers has been written with debut author Jordan Glover, and includes illustrations by Robin Boyden. Based on the Dick, Kerr Ladies’ brave protest against the ban on women’s football, this fun soccer adventure stars schoolgirl Leah who discovers a mysterious time capsule with her two best friends and opens up a whole new world. Transported back in time by a hundred years, Leah, George and Mimi make an unexpected discovery... women’s football has been banned! Along with their new friend Dot, Leah and the team must work together to make sure the all-important Championship Cup final still goes ahead. But with a mysterious figure working hard to ruin the team’s chances, Leah is in a race against time to put the clues together and catch the culprit before it’s too late. The odds are against them, but time is on their side! This fast-paced, fun-filled series is written straight from Williamson’s heart, explores themes of teamwork, friendship resilience, leadership and problem-solving, and aims to introduce young readers to more inspiring and fascinating women from history. Don’t miss kick-off!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 9 plus
Dread Wood: Deadly Deep
Jennifer Killick

IMAGINE a book that serves up those super-spooky vibes that kids love... horrors galore, a delicious dollop of black comedy and a bunch of spiky classmates with a murky, sea-soaked mystery to solve. If that menu tickles your tastebuds, then you’ll be dining out on queen of chills-and-thrills Jennifer Killick’s fourth brilliant adventure in a series which delivers horror and humour in perfect harmony. Perfectly pitched for middle grade readers, Dread Wood stars Hallie, Angelo, Gus, Colette and Naira, and here we find them ready for a summer term school trip with a difference! Year 8 are on a boat off the coast of France, learning about ocean life. But things are about to get weird! Who is the creepy man on board the ship heading to Corsica and what IS the vast, shadowy creature seen lurking at the bottom of the ocean? When the ship is sunk, Club Loser members, Hallie, Angelo, Gus, Colette and Naira, realise that they are the only ones who can save the day... and their classmates. Can they outwit and defeat a giant, deadly sea monster from the depths? It’s a fight for survival and if they fail, Club Loser will find themselves in a watery grave! Killick is a slick and sassy storyteller… she knows just how far to take her heart-stopping tales of cool comedy and scary horror as she pumps up the action and lets loose her rich imagination. Just be prepared to read this gorgeous, gigglesome chiller-thriller in one sitting!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Read, Scream, Repeat
Curated by Jennifer Killick
and illustrated by Mathias Ball

IF Halloween is already casting a long and exciting shadow as your youngsters’ thoughts turn to the autumn term, indulge their wicked wishes with stories guaranteed to make them shiver! Queen of screams Jennifer Killick brings together thirteen spooky mystery stories from some of the most exciting authors in children’s books today in this spine-tingling, spooktacular collection. Illustrated with a gallery of Mathias Ball’s perfectly matched artwork, Read, Scream, Repeat dares readers to see what’s lurking inside! It includes terrific tales from Killick herself, Kirsty Applebaum, Jasbinder Bilan, Aisha Bushby, Joseph Coelho, Rachel Delahaye, Kat Ellis, Phil Hickes, Polly Ho-Yen, Sharna Jackson, Elle McNicoll, Dan Smith and J.T.Williams. Discover arcade-game zombies hunting victims in the real world, a graveyard ghost on a mission and a cursed pond that wants to drag you down, down, down into its depths! With horror stories to chill, thrill and delight middle-great readers, this truly diverse anthology taps into everything youngsters are looking for in the spooky season... and is guaranteed to keep them on the edge of (or hiding behind) their sofas!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Jessie and the Star Rider
Esme Higgs, Jo Cotterill and Hannah George

SADDLE up again and get ready for another exhilarating ride as the Starlight Stables Gang gallop into a new adventure! Jessie and the Star Rider is the second outing in this super, girl-power series written in a magical collaboration between children’s author and superstar equestrian influencer, Esme Higgs, and multi award-winning children’s author Jo Cotterill. Brought to life by the perfectly matched illustrations of Hannah George, this new story is told from the viewpoint of Jessie, rider of handsome dark bay horse Angus who adores jumping. After solving the mystery of the stolen pony, the Starlight Stables Gang are ready to have a relaxing summer and enjoy the Haversham Horse Trials, but things aren’t as sunny as they seem when one of the horses manages to kick a hole in the stable block. With lots to fix and ponies to feed, the stables may be at risk of closing down for good. Determined to save the place they love, Jessie and the gang hatch a plan. Can the Starlight Stables Gang band together and work as a team once again, or will it prove too much for one of the friends? Higgs is one of the biggest social-media content creators in the equestrian world, with over 1.5 million followers across her ThisEsme channels and a very loyal fan base, but her credentials as a horse-mad ordinary girl help to bring fun and authenticity to this sparkling equestrian series. So get your feet in the stirrups, your hands on the reins... and jump into the action!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Terra Ultima: The discovery of a new continent
Raoul Deleo and Noah J. Stern

WHO would have thought our well-traversed, explored and mapped world holds an entire continent that has – almost unbelievably – escaped us all? If you thought that wasn’t possible, take a look through the pages of this magnificent book and discover Terra Ultima... the extraordinary story of a strange new world, with findings by Dutch explorer and illustrator Raoul Deleo, and brought to print with the help of his fellow explorer and scientist Noah J. Stern who compiled his work and provides the introduction. While the exact location of Terra Ultima remains a secret, Deleo’s life’s work on this previously unknown part of the world have now been made public for the very first time and he has allowed Stern, an honorary member of the Royal Science Society, to access his discoveries, illustrations and notes, and to compile them into this remarkable book, a visual sensation over a decade in the making. All Deleo’s remarkable findings and stunning illustrations bear witness to the discovery of a continent so large, so rich and diverse in wildlife, that it remains a mystery as to why it has never been properly discovered before. So welcome to Terra Ultima... an extraordinary place on the edge of the world.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £25)

Age 7 plus
Grimwood: Attack of the Stink Monster!
Nadia Shireen

YOU can never be too young, or too old, to enjoy a bit of anarchy! Youngsters (and their parents!) will be grinning, guffawing, snorting and sniggering when they get their hands on the third woodland caper in one of the funniest children’s series currently on the market. Grimwood – a sort-of Watership Down with foxes which evokes tears of laughter rather than of sorrow – is the work of author and illustrator Nadia Shireen who has won awards for her picture books and been shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Fully illustrated throughout, the books star two fox cub siblings, Ted and Nancy, who love their new life in Grimwood… the forest where anything (riotous!) can happen. They have made a lot of new friends in Grimwood – not least bouncy and ferocious rabbit Willow who has a big heart and endless energy – but now a Bigfoot is on the loose and Ted, Nancy, Willow and the rest of the Grimwood gang must embark on their greatest adventure yet to save their home from a nasty, thieving stink monster. Monster hunters are GO! Shireen serves up an irresistible blend of glorious gags, hilarious comedy routines, boundless madcap escapades, and a memorable cast of quirky characters that young readers will love following from first page to last. With a side helping of zany, high-energy black and white illustrations, which bring both the animals and the action to life, the Grimwood series has the legs to run and run.
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 5 plus
Izzy the Inventor
and the Curse of Doom
Zanna Davidson and Elissa Elwick

MEET a girl who believes in science... not magic! Author Zanna Davidson and illustrator Elissa Elwick return to Fairytale Land for the second super science-packed adventure with Izzy the Inventor and her lovable unicorn Henry. This time Izzy must rescue the prince in Sleeping Beauty from a wicked fairy’s curse. If she fails, he’ll vanish! With the help of Henry the unicorn, Izzy needs to work out how to make snow in summer, an exploding volcano and a contraption to help Henry fly. Can Izzy’s science skills outwit the wicked fairy before it’s too late? Davidson’s easy-to-read and laughter-filled story is brimming with Elwick’s lively illustrations, and there are ideas for experiments and a QR code with links for more science fun to try at home. Perfect for beginner readers and anyone who loves experiments, explosions and adventure!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £5.99)

Age 5 plus
Peanut, Butter, & Crackers: 
Puppy Problems
Paige Braddock

WELCOME to the cute and cuddly pet series that puts animals, nature and fun in the spotlight! Author and illustrator Paige Braddock showcases pets – and particularly rescue pets – in these adorable books which are the ideal first introduction to the world of graphic novels, and are perfect for youngsters who wonder what their pets might be up to when no one is around! Butter and Crackers are rescue pets living their best (and quiet) lives. Butter, a laid-back cat, has access to all the butter he can lick and Crackers, a slightly nervous dog, is free to bark at squirrels to his heart’s content. With an owner who goes to work every day, they spend their days doing whatever they want. But when Peanut, a brand-new puppy with big floppy ears, arrives, everything changes. He has no appreciation of the quiet life, no idea how stairs work and he’s even afraid of the dark! Butter and Crackers have had enough... this puppy needs to go! But when Peanut escapes and gets lost, it turns out that home isn’t home without the noisy little puppy after all. Animal-loving children cannot help but fall for Braddock’s exciting and heartwarming visual storytelling which encourages respect for animals and nature, and gently confronts some familiar childhood worries and fears. And with lots of delightful bonus extras, including how to draw, behind the scenes and a short story, there is so much to enjoy!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
Be You!
Karl Newson and Ela Smietanka

WHOEVER you are, whatever you do, however you feel... be you! That’s the message that speaks loud, clear and joyfully in the pages of this uplifting picture book from the top team of Karl Newson, award-winning children’s books author, and Polish illustrator Ela Smietanka. Featuring an eclectic cast of children and animals, Be You! encourages young readers to be themselves, even on the toughest of days. Illustrated with children in animal onesie costumes, this playful, pleasing book features a lively rhyming text in a bouncy rhythm which grown-ups will love reading aloud while little ones will love seeing their favourite animals on the page. Whether youngsters identify most with the child hopping across the page like a frog, roaring like a lion or buzzing like a bumblebee, this positive picture book encourages both resilience and self-acceptance. With an empowering message and fun illustrations, there is no better way to encourage youngsters to be true to themselves... whoever they are and however they are feeling.
(Studio Press, paperback, £7.99)

The Lie Maker

Linwood Barclay

WHEN nine-year-old Jack Givins’ father was taken away from their Boston home by witness protection officers, his tearful last words to the boy were ‘Your dad’s not a good person. Your dad killed people, son.’

Linwood Barclay (pictured below), the bestselling US crime and thriller author with over twenty critically acclaimed novels to his name, takes us on another unforgettable wild ride in this gripping new mystery which stars a man desperately trying to track down his father before his ruthless, but unknown enemies, can get to him.

Brimming with Barclay’s exquisitely drawn characters, and featuring a pulsating, double-stranded mystery plot which delivers jaw-dropping, killer twists at every turn, The Lie Maker is top class entertainment from the tense opener to the high drama of the last act.

When Jack Givins’ dad was whisked into a waiting car by a witness protection team, he left his terrified wife Rose and heartbroken young son to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives as best they could. Twenty-five years later, Jack is a grown man with problems of his own. He’s a talented but struggling author who gave up a few years of working in newspaper journalism to write novels and is barely scraping by on the royalties from his two moderately successful books.

So when the U.S. Marshals’ witness protection service approaches him with a lucrative job opportunity, he’s in no position to turn it down. They are recruiting writers like Jack to create false but credible backstories for people in witness protection... people like Jack’s father.

The coincidence is astonishing to Jack at first, but he soon realises that this may be a chance to find his dad. There’s just one problem... it seems Jack’s father hasn’t made contact with his handlers recently, and they have no idea where he is. He could be in serious danger, and Jack may be the only one who can find him. But how will he find a man he has never truly known? He’s a man who has done terrible things in his lifetime and made some deadly enemies in the process... enemies who wouldn’t think twice about using his own son against him.

If Jack is to track down his father before their mission of revenge succeeds, he’s going to need all the help he can get from his girlfriend Lana Wilshire, a senior reporter on a leading Boston newspaper. Lana is currently investigating the mysterious disappearance of the retired judge who presided over his father’s trial and if the two mysteries are linked, they could both be in deadly danger...

Barclay enjoys keeps us guessing right up to the final, bone-crunching showdown as he ratchets up the psychological suspense each step of the way through Jack and Lana’s perilous hunt for the truth, and spreads menace and suspicion with the expert hand of a master storyteller. But he also treats readers to the trademark authentic characterisation and dark brand of humour which have won his thrillers such a large and loyal fan club. From the insecure and haunted Jack to the fearless, resourceful and doggedly determined Lana, these are people who bring the story to vivid, visceral life. Ingeniously executed, tingling with tension, and with an unexpectedly emotional father-son plotline, The Lie Maker is Barclay at his thrilling, chilling best.
(HQ, hardback, £22)

Always By Your Side

Julie Haworth

FALL in love with one of this summer’s most romantic and uplifting reads... a simply adorable debut novel, set in the most idyllic, quintessentially English village, and brought to us by an exciting new voice in women’s fiction.

Julie Haworth (pictured below), who worked as an English teacher for a number of years, wrote Always By Your Side whilst recovering from Covid in 2020, and this perfectly imagined  celebration of rural life, love and friendship went on to win the Romantic Novelists’ Association Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year 2023.

And romance fans – and dog lovers – will be in reading heaven when they get their paws on Haworth’s warm, life-affirming and sun-soaked story starring a London teacher who goes back to her roots in the East Sussex countryside to take care of an elderly aunt and finds herself at a crucial crossroads in her life.

When teacher Rose Hargreaves loses her dream job at a London primary school after an unpleasant and insulting interview with the bullying new head teacher, her self-confidence takes a serious knock. Worse still, her stockbroker fiancé, Ollie, who has always regarded teaching as not a ‘proper’ job, sees it as the perfect opportunity for her to join his firm of investment bankers, a move which only adds to Rose’s sense that their five-year relationship might be coming to an end.

But then Rose receives an unexpected phone call telling her that her elderly and much-loved Great Aunt Jean has fallen and broken her hip and she immediately drops everything – including Ollie - and returns to Blossom Heath, the Sussex village where Rose grew up and where she spent many happy times.

Despite Ollie’s protests, and with no job to rush home to, Rose decides to stay on for the whole summer at Jasmine Cottage, her aunt’s home in Blossom Heath, and soon discovers how happy and liberated she feels, trading busy London for rural peace, and rediscovering that long-lost youthful optimism that ‘anything is possible.’ And as Rose reconnects to the village life of her childhood, she finds herself taking in Scout, an adorable Border collie rescue puppy, and falling head-over-heels for handsome local farmer, Jake Harper, and his own collies Finn and Tagg. So when her London life comes calling again, Rose is faced with an impossible choice… to return to the high-pressure life of her past, or embrace the joy of a new life in the country.

Set amidst the rolling hills of Sussex, and the warm and welcoming residents of Blossom Heath, lead players Rose and Jake are undoubtedly the stars of this romantic odyssey as their faltering love blossoms and grows despite the dilemmas, dramas and conflicts which inevitably litter their path. Add on enchanting pup Scout – and her farmyard friends – in best supporting roles (and most definitely stealing the show on more than one occasion), and only the hardest of hearts could not melt at this feast of captivating characters, feel-good delights and summer vibes.

And with friendship, family, community spirit, the importance of not giving up on your dreams, and, most importantly, true love taking centre stage, Always By Your Side is a winning opener to what looks to be just the start of Haworth’s successful fiction writing career.
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £8.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A timeless classic, a growing up guide and a mining mystery

Enjoy a beautiful illustrated anniversary edition of a book adored by generations of children, discover an invaluable guide written specially for teenage boys, marvel at a tale of history, mystery and myth inspired by a real-life mining disaster, and meet a boy who finds a way to work through his worries in an eclectic middle grade line-up

Age 10 plus
Skellig: the 25th anniversary illustrated edition
David Almond and Tom de Freston

‘The story of Skellig came out of the blue. I had no plan nor plot, but once I began to write, it had a life of its own.’

WHEN David Almond’s timeless and life-affirming tale of love, loss and hope was published 25 years ago, it became an international bestseller and won both the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children’s Book Award. And to celebrate this magical book – which is adored by generations of children and has inspired a stage play, a movie, a radio play and opera – readers of every age can enjoy a deluxe 25^th anniversary edition, spectacularly illustrated for the first time by acclaimed artist Tom de Freston. And what a moving, mystical and mysterious adventure Skellig is, drawing on elements of the author’s own childhood in Newcastle and written with a rare beauty and lyricism that cannot help but touch the minds and hearts of all those who share the strange journey of a little boy called Michael.

When a move to a new house coincides with his baby sister’s illness, Michael’s world seems suddenly lonely and uncertain. One Sunday afternoon, he stumbles into the ramshackle garage of his new home and finds something magical. It’s a strange creature... is it a human, a beast, a bird, an angel? Whatever he is, he’s a being who needs Michael’s help if he is to survive. With his new friend Mina, Michael nourishes Skellig back to health. But Skellig is far more than he at first appears, and as he helps Michael breathe life into his tiny sister, Michael's world changes for ever... With its messages of love, friendship and trust, a sense of wonder that pervades every page, and now brought to life by de Freston’s stunning and atmospheric black and white illustrations, Skellig is as emotionally powerful and unforgettable today as when Almond sat down to pen his story 25 years ago.
(Hodder Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 13 plus
Lads: A Guide to Respect and Consent – Step Up, Speak Out and Create Positive Change
Alan Bissett

RECOGNISING boundaries, and learning what is and isn’t acceptable, have always been some of the conundrums facing teenage boys. Many youngsters now turn to the internet for guidance but instead of relying on a plethora of all-too-often ‘hateful voices,’ there’s now a book that provides not just the know-how to tackle the pains and pluses of growing up, but offers important help to create a culture of positive change. Determined to help young men call out bad behaviour and understand the serious issues facing girls today, Scottish novelist, playwright, and former secondary school teacher and university lecturer, Alan Bissett has come up with the perfect ‘toolkit.’ Topical, timely and like nothing published before for this young male market, Lads is a much-needed non-fiction guide for teenage boys, exploring consent, respect, bullying and navigating relationships, and written in a conversational, witty and fully accessible style.

Have you ever been in a situation where there’s a loud guy making dodgy comments, cracking jokes that only he thinks are funny, or leering at the girls in the room? You can feel the tension... you know ‘That Guy’ is the worst, but no one is saying anything because the whole situation is intimidating and awkward. It is just this kind of all-too-recognisable situation that is addressed in Bissett’s invaluable book which comes complete with helpful resources. From flirting disasters and what staying in the friend zone really means, to the perils of porn, ‘locker room talk’ and the importance of consent, this is a vital handbook for lads who are fed up of That Guy, and want to ensure that everyone feels happy, heard and respected. In a world where negative influences seem to abound, Lads is a breath of down-to-earth fresh air, full of wisdom and experience, perfect for instilling understanding and confidence, and a must for school libraries.
(Wren & Rook, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
The Storm and the Minotaur
Lucy Strange and Pam Smy

HISTORY, mystery and myth combine in a beautiful and mesmerising story inspired by the real-life mining disaster at the Huskar Pit near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, in 1838 which killed 26 children aged between seven and 17. The Storm and the Minotaur comes from the creative team of bestselling children’s author Lucy Strange and critically acclaimed illustrator Pam Smy, and explores the tough lives and times of children working in coal mines in the early decades of the 19th century. Money is scarce in George’s family and so at the age of nine he has to join his father underground, hewing coal in the local mine. It’s a far cry from the dreams George had of continuing his education after learning to read and write, and it’s also a dangerous way to earn a living which has already claimed the life of his dad’s older brother Mal. George is worried but consoles himself every night with a book of Greek myths that belonged to Uncle Mal and contains the amazing tale of Theseus and the Minotaur. But not long after he starts work, a summer storm leads to flooding in the mine. Trapped down in the dark, George spots a shadowy figure that seems to be the Minotaur and is telling George to follow him. Can a ghost from the past lead him back to safety, or will George meet the same fate as his long-lost uncle? Strange works her own special magic on this compelling, moving and eye-opening story which blends the down-to-earth harsh realities of pit work and perils with the miasma of an ancient mythological beast. With its air of mystery, high emotional intensity, edge-of-the-seat suspense, and exquisitely illustrated by Smy, The Storm and the Minotaur is brilliantly imagined by both author and artist.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Worrybot
Simon Packham and Lucy Mulligan

WHEN you suffer from anxiety, it can too often feel like you are struggling alone with your worries. It’s a situation all too familiar to Simon Packham who uses his own experiences of being bullied at school, and his daughter’s problems with anxiety, for a resonant story which explores feelings, friendships, and transition, whether that is a move to a new area or to secondary school. Packed with emotional power, suspense, drama and humour, Worrybot – illustrated by Lancashire-based artist Lucy Mulligan – is ideal for encouraging youngsters to open up about their own feelings, and offers some practical techniques and strategies for coping with anxiety. Josh is such a worrier, he worries about everything from water slides and school to global warming and sleepovers. But he knows something is really wrong when his mum and dad begin to act strangely... his family is moving to Brighton and he must start a new school with new teachers, new pupils and new everything! He used to have his own Worrybot – a home-made cardboard robot which was supposed to eat up his worst fears if he wrote them down on bits of paper and posted them into its mouth – and it did help a bit. But now Josh is terrified that his anxiety will return when he starts at his new school. And he is more than a little surprised to discover that there’s a robot in his new class... a real-life learning robot which sits on the desk next to his and allows classmate Charlie to join lessons remotely. Soon Charlie becomes Josh’s best – and perhaps his only – friend. Will Charlie’s friendship help Josh overcome his fears, or will it just give nasty Noah more reasons to make fun of him? And why won’t Charlie come to school anyway? Josh’s emotional, high stakes journey is packed with authentic characters and the kind of worries and fears that many children will recognise from their own young and impressionable lives. As the tension rises and the mystery of Charlie’s absence becomes more profound, Packham makes sure the reveal holds a surprising twist. An entertaining and warmly wise addition to school and home bookshelves...
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies
Alison D. Stegert

IT was when she read The Secret Garden at the age of twelve that Alison D. Stegert – a country girl from small-town America – began harbouring her fascination with the UK and a desire to write and travel. Now living in Australia, and winner of the Times/Chicken House and Institute of Engineering and Technology Prize, Stegert unleashes her storytelling skills on her debut novel, an epic Victorian adventure, set between London and Paris, and featuring a heady mix of plots, spies and real-life historical inventions and events. Mischief is afoot, and Queen Victoria is not amused. Her stalker must be stopped. Forget the cavalry...  this is a job for Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies which includes Stella, a stylish young lady who specialises in hand-to-hand combat, Celeste, a charming Belle-of-the-Ball who is also a champion fencer, sharpshooter, and world-class equestrian, and softly spoken Effie who can crack codes as easily as cracking eggs! The League’s newest recruit is Winifred Weatherby, a feisty girl-genius, gadget-maker and social misfit. Winnie’s creations are remarkable – not least her Multi-Device Interchangeable Utility Chatelaine (patent pending) – but is she clever enough to protect the Queen... and achieve her own dream of winning the top prize in Paris for young inventors? Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies is a Victorian romp to relish as Stegert celebrates the important roles girls play in the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and the hurdles and prejudices they must overcome to keep the realm from harm. With its mix of fact and fiction, an all-action plot brimming with villains, spies, gadgets, mind-boggling inventions and fearless heroines, this is inspirational (and fun!) reading for all ambitious and remarkable young ladies!
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Monster in the Woods
Dave Shelton

IF your summer holidays need a laughter shake-up, look no further than award-winning author and illustrator Dave Shelton as he puts mirth and monstrously funny mischief into a marvellous medieval romp! Warm, wise and witty, Monster in the Woods is a truly unique adventure about family, friendship, and first impressions which brings with it all the hallmarks of a modern comedy classic with a big helping of heart. Rumour has it that there’s a scary monster in the woods... but why doesn’t anyone do something about it? Frith isn’t so sure that the monster story is true and is convinced that there’s more to the mystery than everyone else believes. Determined to save the day, and accompanied by her hard-working dad, younger brother Spuggy, and a dog called Cabbage, Frith travels to the big city on a wild journey to convince the king that Something Must Be Done. Along the way, she will encounter a Big Wise Head and a curiously cheeky squirrel, and discover that not all is as it seems... and that the truth is more surprising than she could ever have imagined. Every page of this exciting, action-packed, laughter-filled adventure offers a feast of fun and an imaginative take on the whole theme of mystery and monsters. Fizzing with energy and brought to anarchic life by Shelton’s brilliant illustrations, this is perfect reading for all young mischief-makers!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Light Thieves: Search
for the Black Mirror
Helena Duggan

WHEN it comes to saving the world, it’s only kids you can trust! Welcome back to the second, thrilling eco-adventure from Irish author Helena Duggan, creator of the much-loved and bestselling A Place Called Perfect series. Brimming with action, mystery, and timely warnings about the dangers of placing too much reliance on technology, The Light Thieves stars a group of plucky youngsters whose mission is to stop the theft of invaluable sunlight. The energy from the sun is being stolen, the days are getting darker and it’s a catastrophe for the planet and every living thing on it. Friends Grian, Jeffrey and Shelli are desperately trying to work out how it’s happening. They know secretive billionaire and tech genius Howard Hansom is behind the theft and they are determined to stop him. But they can’t use any of Hansom’s smart technology in their quest as it will track them wherever they go. The three young heroes need to find a strange black mirror to help them save the sun. Time is running out... can kids really save the world? Set against a superbly imagined dystopian world, and full of Duggan’s now trademark humour, intrigue, quirkiness and thrilling adventures, this is a thought-provoking and excitingly imaginative series full of ideas, fantasy and gripping twists and turns, and guaranteed to keep readers hooked from first page to last!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

The Maid of Lindal Hall

Katie Hutton

INSPIRED by her father’s early years in Barrow, and her own frequent visits to the town, saga author Katie Hutton (pictured below) brings us a moving and drama-packed tale of a young orphan girl whose life is overshadowed by dark secrets in her past.

Set between the wars, and harnessing the rich history of this corner of Cumbria, Hutton introduces readers to some of the area’s famous landmarks like the impressive Cistercian Furness Abbey, Townend, the eccentric National Trust property at Troutbeck, near Ambleside, and the distinctive cottage children’s care homes in Roose Road, once run by the Barrow Poor Law Union.

The two semi-detached houses – originally built by the Barrow Board of Guardians in the early 20^th century – accommodated about seventy destitute children, aged three and over, who were brought up in ‘a village-like atmosphere’ and were expected to work as servants when they were old enough.

And it’s at Roose Road in 1920 that we meet three-year-old Molly Dubber, brought from Manchester to Barrow as an orphan, and placed in the care of the home’s resident ‘mother and father,’ Robert and Annie McClure, two characters whom Hutton’s avid readers will recognise from her previous book, Annie of Ainsworth’s Mill. 

A skilled tailor, Robert trains boys to his profession whilst his wife prepares the girls to go into service. By 1933, Molly has lived at the house for 13 years but she has never been told the truth about the terrible event that brought her there.

When a request comes in for a new girl to work at Lindal Hall, Annie decides to put 16-year-old Molly forward. The hall has a reputation for not keeping servants due to the moody and unpredictable owner, Anthony Gascarth, who has been damaged by his experiences in the First World War trenches.

Meanwhile, Molly has fallen for Annie’s stepbrother, 28-year-old Mark Fagan, who was blinded in action during the war, but she takes up the position at the ramshackle hall because she is resigned to the fact that her love is unrequited.

But then Molly finds herself with some unexpected attention and an unwelcome visitor from the tragedy of her hidden past... a past she fears she might never truly leave behind. With its alluring blend of mystery, hardship, authentic detail, and triumph against adversity, The Maid of Lindal Hall is packed with drama and romance... and don’t miss Hutton’s inclusion of a recipe for Butter Pie, that tasty, age-old Chorley and Preston favourite dish!
This book is published on August 31.
(Zaffre, paperback, £8.99)

The Yorkshire Farm Girl

Diane Allen

A HARD-WORKING farming family in the Yorkshire Dales are always hoping that they can make a better life for themselves but when war looms, it threatens to tear apart all their long-held dreams.

The rural beauty of the Dales forms the alluring backdrop to a gripping tale of family, love, hope and resilience from popular storyteller Diane Allen (pictured below).

Allen, whose inspiration comes from the stunning countryside surrounding her home near the historic market town of Settle, has her finger firmly on the pulse of northern saga writing and the hardy Yorkshire folk who have for centuries made their home amongst the hills and dales. Life is hard for the Fothergill family as they try to make a living on their farm in the Yorkshire Dales in 1938. Bob Fothergill has set his sights on buying his own farm instead of renting the one they currently hold.

His daughter Sally, who will soon be sixteen, wishes her father would see that she could help more with the farm, but he believes that a girl’s place is in the home. Ben, the youngest sibling, has no interest in farming so he is ignored. Sally’s loving and hard-working mother Ivy makes do just knowing that her husband wants what’s best for them.

But when Bob decides to take a well-paid job collecting milk for the local dairy, it causes friction in the family, bringing tension to New Year’s Day in 1939. And with Germany shaking its angry fist at other nations and the threat of another war undermining everything, Ivy and Sally’s lives change.

Sally finally gets her wish to be more hands on with the farm, coping with a bad winter and lambing sheep on her own. But then a stranger walks into Ivy’s life and shows her the affection that she craves and she is in danger of losing her heart to him.

Times are hard and the future is uncertain. Perhaps the coming years can bring better times... but first the Fothergills must survive the oncoming storm. Allen, an observant and insightful writer, fields a fascinating cast of authentic characters in an enthralling tale packed with emotion, drama and the harsh realities of a family’s struggles in the run-up to the Second World War. The Yorkshire Farm Girl is a warm-hearted and compassionate tale, evoking the long and tough working hours of farming life but Allen also brings us romance, the shining light of shared adversity, and proof of the enduring power of love and family to transform even the darkest days.
(Pan, paperback, £7.99)

The Baker’s Sister

Gracie Hart

HEAD off to Leeds in the final years of the 19^th century for the third book in Gracie Hart’s heartwarming saga series which harnesses all the warmth and goodness of a tasty home-baked cake! 

After two years, 21-year-old Meg Fairfax has finally started to make a success of herself and her job. Her skills as a baker have made her enough to buy the bakery she loves and she’s planning a wedding to her fiancé Frankie. 

But Frankie hasn’t been entirely honest and both the bakery and Meg’s happiness are threatened when she discovers the truth.  Meanwhile, Meg’s younger sister, Sarah, is attempting to build a life for herself in London but soon realises it’s far from what she expected. Finding herself alone on the city streets, Sarah seeks comfort in the arms of a young cockney named Sam Waites. With so much to lose, will the sisters find the security and happiness they seek? 

Hart (pictured above), who was born in Leeds and raised on the family farm in the Yorkshire Dales, knows the winning formula when it comes to northern sagas and this turbulent tale of love and survival is a Yorkshire-flavoured treat!
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £7.99)

A Daughter’s Gift

Mollie Walton

SOME of the Second World War’s unsung female heroes are being given their place in the spotlight in a gripping saga trilogy from Molly Walton, better known as the historical novelist Rebecca Mascull.

A Daughter’s Gift is the second book in this enthralling series which stars the women who worked at a Y Station, a signals intelligence site, near Scarborough.

Inspired by her visit to the stunning Raven Hall Hotel, which sits 600 feet above sea level in Ravenscar, near Scarborough, and enjoys a cliff-top view over Robin Hood’s Bay, Walton dug into this beautiful area’s wartime history and discovered that Raven Hall, built in 1774, was used as a billet for these wartime workers. 

And as the wartime home front has often been compared to people’s lives during the Covid-19 pandemic, in terms of the anxiety, fears for the future, restrictions on civil liberties and the grieving process of families who lost loved ones, Walton (pictured below) set out to explore the experiences of women in society, in work and in the home.

At the heart of these stories are widow Rosina Calvert-Lazenby and her five daughters – Grace, Evelyn, Constance and twins Daisy and Dora – and Raven Hall, the crumbling ancestral home of the Lazenby family, of which Rosina is now the sole living member.

We meet up with them again in September 1940, a year since war was first announced and at a time when the threats are becoming all too real. With Raven Hall requisitioned by the army, Rosina must do all she can to protect her family home from the rowdy troops. And after Rosina’s burgeoning relationship with young RAF Sergeant Harry Woodvine is interrupted when he’s posted abroad, the arrival of an older officer who takes a keen interest in her could also spell trouble.

Meanwhile, Rosina’s fearless second daughter, 20-year-old Evelyn, decides to join the Auxiliary Fire Service. Determined to help with the Blitz effort in London, she faces extreme danger. Two kind professional firemen, the Bailey brothers, take her under their wing to help protect and guide her. But with the bombings getting worse, there can be no guarantees. Who will be safe, how can Rosina protect all those she loves, and is love still possible with such high stakes?

A Daughter’s Gift is another superbly researched rollercoaster ride through the heartaches, dramas and perils of the Calvert-Lazenby family as Rosina and her daughters continue to adapt to a new and complex way of life in which love and friendship blossom, and the dangers and losses of wartime are never far away. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the North Yorkshire coastline, and with its rich and authentic portrayal of the changing role of women and the pressures they faced on the home front, Walton brings us an emotional and insightful story of strength, resilience and romance.
(Welbeck, paperback, £8.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Amazing science, a reluctant demon and pirate ghosts

Discover the answers to many of our planet’s most intriguing puzzles, meet a demon tasked with saving the underworld, feel the magic burn in an epic rescue adventure, and enjoy fun with two little friends with big ideas in a summer holiday selection 

Age 7 plus
How to Spaghettify
Your Dog
Hiba Noor Khan
and Harry Woodgate

SCIENCE is full of amazing (and often funny!) facts... and has the answers to many of our planet’s most intriguing puzzles. From the mind-blowing butterfly effect to the bizarre behaviour of quantum physics, and from the reason why black holes gobble up everything near them to the more prosaic mystery of what farts are made of, this brilliant new science book uncovers the jaw-dropping secrets of the universe. How to Spaghettify Your Dog – written by author and former physics teacher Hiba Noor Khan, and spectacularly illustrated by Waterstones Book Prize winner Harry Woodgate – is bursting with fascinating physics facts that will explain everything you want to know, and more, about the curiosities of our cosmos.

Have you ever wondered how to slow down time, what would happen if the Earth stopped spinning, or whether you’d be OK if you fell into a black hole? Well, wonder no more. Through the busy, brightly coloured pages of How to Spaghettify Your Dog, young readers become acquainted with the phenomenal laws of physics... from the tiniest building blocks of our body, to the universe superglue that we call gravity and the enormous stars that burn in our skies but are light years away. And what makes the book so much fun to explore is the way that Hiba Noor Khan breaks down complex science topics into fun, digestible chunks. Featuring easy-to-follow experiments, Woodgate’s child-friendly and eye-catching illustrations, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this hands-on book will not just demystify physics and bring science to life, but inspire a new generation of scientists to make their own forays into the wonderful world of science.
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
Meesh the Bad Demon
Michelle Lam

DARING adventures aren’t just for those who think they’re super-brave! In the first book of her magical and inspirational Meesh the Bad Demon graphic novel series, Los Angeles-based story artist Michelle Lam draws on her Chinese American childhood experiences to bring youngsters stories brimming with fantasy and fun. The star of this epic series is a reluctant twelve-year-old demon called Meesh who becomes leader of a band of outcasts tasked with saving the underworld. Bullied by the other demons, Meesh is more likely to be reading magazines from Plumeria City – the fairy realm – and fangirling about fairy princesses than going about anything in the least demonic. But when disaster strikes and all of demon-kind is threatened, Meesh must journey to other worlds in search of help. As luck would have it, she meets a fairy princess right away but things in the fairy realm aren’t so perfect either. As Meesh makes surprising new friends and unites a band of outcasts, she learns there is much more to being a demon than she ever realised. And learning to love herself might just uncover the secret to saving her home. Youngsters will love joining Meesh in her amazing, magical world and following her exciting adventures as she faces up to the conundrum of how far she will go to save her home... and find herself in the process. With an eclectic cast of demons, werewolves, fairy princesses and unicorns to enjoy, Lam’s gallery of adorable characters and fantastical illustrations bringing the story to devilish life, Meesh and her gang are set to become everyone’s favourite good-bad guys!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus
Dead Good Detectives: Ghost Rescue
Jenny McLachlan and Chloe Dominique

FEEL the magic burn again in the epic conclusion to bestselling author Jenny McLachlan’s action-packed duology which boasts ghosts, giggles galore and simply spooktacular adventures! Epic, exciting, and extraordinarily funny, the Dead Good Detectives stories – brimming with the fabulous black and white illustrations of Chloe Dominique – were inspired by the author’s visit to an alleged ‘pirate graveyard’ in Dorset where headstones had engravings of skulls and crossbones. It was just ‘the bones’ needed to set McLachlan’s prodigious imagination whirring and the result is gorgeously ghostly tales that deliver the perfect balance of comedy, capers, thrills, spills and some fascinating nuggets of history. Sid Jones has always known she is different, but after accidentally freeing a 300-year-old pirate from the dead (using a gel pen and a chocolate bar!), it opened the door to the Halfway House, a magical inn full of lost souls from across the ages, all trapped there by a sinister landlord. And now that Sid knows she has ACTUAL magic, she is using it to free more ghosts. But then a mysterious sickness strikes the people of Fathom. Can Sid and best friend Zen solve the mystery, save the town and free the ghosts? With magical mysteries to solve, strange spooks, spine-tingling fun, and a cast of adorable characters, this Dead Good Detectives duology is more than just a dead good read… it’s a gripping, rip-roaring, unmissable adventure!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
The Best Sleepover in the World
Jacqueline Wilson and Rachael Dean

WHEN bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson’s funny and touching book, Sleepovers, was first published in 2001, many of her (now grown-up!) readers told her that it was their favourite of the over one hundred stories Wilson has written. The much-loved tale introduced us to school friends Amy, Bella, Chloe, Daisy and Emily who were looking forward to planning sleepovers for their birthdays... except new girl Daisy, who had a non-verbal sister Lily, and was dreading her own sleepover because Chloe was proving to be VERY unfriendly. And those all-too-familiar worries about bullying, disabilities, siblings and friendships are explored again in this long-awaited, heartwarming sequel starring the same friendship circle and Chloe’s new grand plan to hold the best sleepover in the world. Daisy’s worst ever enemy Chloe is desperate to win back her friends so she announces she’s going to have the best ever sleepover. Chloe’s party is going to have a swim in a luxury pool, a special makeover for every guest, and a real live meeting with a social media superstar. All Chloe’s old friends are invited, even Daisy’s best friend Emily, but Daisy is left out. Daisy’s sister Lily has learned Makaton – a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate at her new special school – and she signs to Daisy that she wants a sleepover. Will family and friends somehow make Lily’s party the best sleepover in the world? Rachael Dean’s beautifully emotive illustrations bring Wilson’s sensitively written and inspirational story to life as readers enjoy following the girls through another rollercoaster chapter of family and friendship dramas, and the triumphs and disasters of the new sleepover plans. With her gift for understanding and acknowledging the fears that so often beset children, and the subtle messages of help and guidance that flow from the pages, this is Wilson on her very best – and  most entertaining – storytelling form.
(Puffin, hardback, £14.99)

Age 6 plus
Huxley and Flapjack: Race to the Rescue
Alan MacDonald and Francesca Gambatesa

HAVING a best friend is one of life’s great joys so meet Huxley, an irrepressible koala with BIG ideas, and his best friend, Flapjack, a rather jumpy penguin, who have the happy knack of discovering a new adventure every day. In truth, Flapjack the worrier would much rather stay at home, but for Huxley, their days together sparkle with possibility and the chance of those exciting new adventures! Lucky Huxley has some pocket money to spend, and where better to spend it than at the grand opening of Jollygoods, a new department store in town. But after a mix up with a robber, Huxley is mistaken for a thief. Can Huxley – with a LOT of help from Flapjack – catch the real robber before Huxley is well and truly framed? Will there be trouble ahead, and will they still make it home in time for tea? Francesca Gambatesa’s adorably cute and colourful illustrations are perfectly matched with this funny, frantic and action-packed romp from prolific children’s author Alan MacDonald. With its celebration of friendship, all-action story, and inspirational messages about the importance of righting wrongs, this delightful first chapter book is a must for adventure-loving youngsters.  
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers
Jonathan Emmett, Dr Adam S. Smith
and Stieven Van der Poorten

TYRANNOSAURUS rex may be the king of the dinosaurs, but that doesn’t stop know-it-all Velociraptor telling him he looks old-fashioned and needs a makeover! Youngsters will love watching as everyone’s favourite dinosaur, T.rex, gets a whole new look – including an improved posture, some restyled body parts and a coat of shaggy feathers – thanks to the latest evidence from the world’s current experts in palaeontology. World-renowned dinosaur expert Dr Adam S. Smith and award-winning author Jonathan Emmett – the duo that brought us The Plesiosaur’s Neck – work more of their prehistoric magic on this fun and fact-filled picture book which blends laughter with fascinating science, and features the wonderfully detailed illustrations of Stieven Van der Poorten. Combining their skills, the team brings youngsters an amusing and informative overview of how new discoveries have transformed our understanding of T.rex’s appearance since this giant prehistoric predator was first unearthed over a century ago. With its mixture of a playful commentary between the T.rex and a velociraptor and fact-filled information sections exploring the science behind the theories, this is the perfect way to make learning fun.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Peanut, Butter, & Crackers: River Rescue
Paige Braddock

WELCOME back to the cute and cuddly pet series that puts animals, nature and fun in the spotlight! Author and illustrator Paige Braddock showcases pets – and particularly rescue pets – in these adorable books which are the ideal first introduction to the world of graphic novels, and are perfect for youngsters who wonder what their pets might be up to when no one is around!  Rescue pets Peanut (a very excited puppy), Butter (a laid-back cat) and Crackers (a slightly nervous dog), are off camping but getting lost was never part of the plan. It was meant to be fun in a camper van in the great outdoors but when indoor cat Butter discovers that their human forgot to pack a litter tray, he’s sure there must be one in the forest... how else do cats go to the toilet?! Together with puppy Peanut, he sets out to find one... only to get lost. And things go from bad to worse when Butter and Peanut fall into a river! Can Crackers pull off a river rescue and help his two friends get back home? Animal-loving children cannot help but fall for Braddock’s exciting and heartwarming visual storytelling which encourages respect for animals and nature, and gently confronts some familiar childhood worries and fears. And with lots of delightful bonus extras, including how to draw, behind the scenes and a short story, there is so much to enjoy!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
Woodland Magic: Operation Owl
Julie Sykes and Katy Riddell

MEET the tiny little people on another big mission to keep the countryside safe! Operation Owl is the fourth story in a magical and timely illustrated adventure series from Julie Sykes, bestselling author of the Unicorn Academy series, and talented young illustrator Katy Riddell. Brimming with drama and with a powerful environmental message, the stories focus on The Keepers, a secretive tribe of little people who live in the middle of the Whispering Woods. Their task is to care for the countryside and rewild it when humans (or Ruffins as they call them) are careless with it. Autumn is a busy time in the Whispering Wood and on their very first venture into the Big Outside as fully trained Keepers, Cora and Jax come across a barn owl caught in a tree by a discarded fishing line. Determined to help free it, Jax climbs on to the owl’s back to loosen the line but the owl takes to the air... with Jax on board. Will Cora ever see him again and if she does, will they make it home for the Harvest Celebration? With its alluring mix of animal rescue, nature conservation, exciting adventures, fascinating facts and fun activities, this magical, warmhearted series is a must for all young and enthusiastic eco-warriors.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £5.99)

Age 2 plus
Can You See the Stars Tonight?
Anna Terreros-Martin

THE danger to wildlife from light pollution comes home to roost in a delightful debut picture book from illustrator, and now author, Anna Terreros-Martin. Passionate about animals and wildlife, Terreros-Martin works her magic on this tale of a little girl on a mission to discover why the baby puffins (puffligs) near her home are not heading off on their important winter flight paths. When pufflings start getting lost, one of them flies in through an open bedroom window and Nora and her own pet Puffin try to understand why they are not flying out to sea. But, after an adventure to Puffin Island with Nora’s daddy, they learn that the moon and stars aren’t bright enough to guide the pufflings safely on their way because they are confused by the bright electric lights in the town. Can Nora and Puffin make a difference and save these tiny birds, and can they make the night sky shine again? Brimming with fascinating facts and the cutest of characters, this timely, heartwarming tale celebrates friendship, teamwork, bravery and determination, and proves that you’re never too small to make a difference. Brought to life by Terreros-Martin’s emotive artwork, and with its inspirational environmental messages about endangered species and the threatened natural world, this beautiful book is ideal for sharing with children at home, nursery and school.
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age one plus
Lionel is just like Dad
Eric Veillé

TRYING to be just like Dad is an endearing and instantly recognisable trait of the very early years of a child… and there could be no more lovable character than cheeky toddler lion Lionel to highlight some of those developmental steps. French author and illustrator Eric Veillé has fun with the third book in a mischievous and gently educational board books series starring an over-enthusiastic, impulsive little lion who likes to push boundaries to their absolute limit. In his latest escapade – translated from the French by Daniel Hahn – Lionel can do everything Dad does... Dad combs his hair, and so does Lionel. Dad scratches his arm, and so does Lionel. Dad sings very, very loud and so does Lionel. But when Lionel throws all the toys in the air and they come down THUNK on Dad’s head... Dad yells ‘Ow!’ and so does Lionel! Dad takes a break and has a think, then comes rushing back for a big hug... Dad is very, very happy, and so is Lionel! With Lionel’s naughty grin and his dad’s eternal patience, and Veillé’s charming illustrations putting Lionel in the picture, this clever, comical adventure of early learning and gentle guidance provides a great role model for parenting, and will have all the family giggling and guffawing through Lionel’s mischievous misadventures!
(Gecko Press, board book, £7.99)

Age from birth
Look: A Tummy Time Book
Gavin Bishop

IT'S never too early to share books with your baby... and here’s the perfect concertina board book for those engaging tummy time sessions. Leading Māori author and illustrator Gavin Bishop’s delightful, fold-out book, Look, brings the joy of artwork to the very youngest babies. Featuring big bright faces, and familiar toys and objects, the book is ideal to place around baby on the floor for both tummy time and to place around them when they are learning to sit up. The illustrations in this sturdy and eye-catching two metre fold-out book are drawn in bold lines with a striking minimalist colour palette and as the baby grows, the simple images – including a dog and objects that babies love to hold and explore like soft toys, a ball, keys, and an enticing pair of spectacles – are perfect for introducing first words and concepts. The perfect gift for a new baby or baby showers.
(Gecko Press, board book, £9.99)