Age 9 plus
The Secret of the
Blood-Red Key
David Farr and Kristina Kister
INSPIRED by his own family history which saw his Jewish
grandparents escape Germany for England,, David Farr, one of the UK’s leading
screenwriters and a film and theatre director, plays a blinder with his second
breathtaking children’s book set in Krasnia, a sinister dictatorship where
children are banned from playing in public and only allowed outdoors for
exercise and education. In this dazzling follow-up to the phenomenal The Book of
Stolen Dreams, this master storyteller whisks us back into the lives of sister
and brother Rachel and Robert Klein who have defeated the tyrant Malstain and
become the heroes of Krasnia, but all is not how it should be. Robert is swept
away with his new friends, leaving Rachel alone to take care of her ailing father
who is lost without their beloved mother. From nowhere, a boy appears knowing
the secrets of the hidden blood-red key that Rachel received in the public
library of Brava at the end of their last adventure. She soon discovers that
the key is a way into the Hinterland – the land of the dead – and Rachel must
promise that, as a new key keeper, she will answer when it calls. And when a
young girl, Elsa Spiegel, is illegally smuggled into the Hinterland, Rachel has
no choice but to use her key to save Elsa. But her fate is linked to Krasnia,
and Rachel must battle to save her home as she knows it. Once again, Farr brings us a fantastically imagined cast of
characters – including two brave lead players, an eccentric family of artist
ghosts and a pair of sinister siblings – and all set against a rich, gripping
and timeless backdrop. With the beautiful illustrations of Kristina Kister, darkness,
danger and mystery at every turn, and a dazzling silver-foiled cover, this
exhilarating, page-turning story is guaranteed to thrill all adventure-loving youngsters.
(Usborne, hardback, £12.99)
Prey Zone: The Serpent's Lair
Wilbur Smith, Keith Chapman and Steve Cole
A KILLER threat, an ancient evil and a lethal adversary!
Welcome to the electrifying sequel to Wilbur Smith’s Prey Zone series for the
next generation... thrilling adventures starring teen protagonists Ralph and
Robyn Ballantyne who live at Crocodile Lodge, their family ranch in South
Africa, where they help with wildlife and conservation. But now Ralph and Robyn
are on the run from the nefarious hunting enthusiast Josef Gerhard in the wild
Lebombo Mountains. His beastly man-made predasaurs have unleashed a deadly
virus and only the Ballantynes have the evidence to prove it. They need to
regroup and plan their next move if they want to stop him before it’s too late
and find a cure for the virus. But deep in the forest, dangers lurk... poachers
are circling, and Gerhard has a brand-new creation he wants to show off, if he
can lure the Ballantynes to its lair. Can they outrun him in time to expose his
monstrous crimes? And more importantly will they make it out of the serpent’s
lair alive? Smith, the undisputed Master of Adventure, died in 2021 at the age
of 88, but left behind an incredible raft of thrilling action novels, and with
the help of some talented co-writers, like Keith Chapman and Steve Cole,
Smith’s golden legacy lives on. So prepare for predasaurs, betrayals, thrills,
spills and action with an unmissable Wilbur Smith flavour!
(Hot Key Books, paperback, £7.99)
By the Sea: Life Along the Coast
Judith Homoki and Martin Haake
CLIMB aboard and take an exciting and revealing trip around
the coastlines of the world! Brimming with illustrations and fascinating information,
this coast-to-coast journey through time and across continents introduces young
readers to the historical and cultural importance of the world’s seashores. Coasts have always been the starting point of discovery, whether
by explorers searching for new lands or children sifting through the sand for
beautiful shells. This trip around the world’s oceans provides hours of fun and
learning in a series of highly detailed double-page spreads that look at every
aspect of critical coastal habitats, including the ebb and flow of tides, life
in a coastal settlement, artistic depictions of seashores, native animals and
plants, the whaling industry, tourism, and climate change. Sail away from the shores of the North Sea to Waikiki, from
Brighton to the Barrier Reef, and from the time the first continents came into
being to the big port cities of today. On the way, meet legendary pirates,
mythical sea creatures, sailors on shore, and the wild animals of the Brazilian
rainforest. Then cross the Atlantic on a steamboat, visit fisheries in Dakar,
and stroll across the beaches of the French Riviera. By the Sea also provides a 21st century
corrective to Western-centric narratives about exploration and colonialism and interspersed
throughout are meticulously detailed maps of the world’s largest oceans
highlighting historic events, figures and scientific facts. As fun as it is informative, this vibrant book takes youngsters
on a trip around the globe whilst fostering an important feeling of connection
between their lives and the world’s coastlines.
(Prestel Junior, hardback, £19.99)
Wheels: The Big Fun Book of Vehicles
Tom Schamp
NO ONE knows exactly who invented the wheel... but in the
inventive hands of illustrator Tom Schamp young readers will have great fun
learning about all the ways that wheels have rolled through history. Let animal pals, Otto and Brutus, and their friends take you
on a thrilling journey through all kinds of vehicles from the historic Trojan
Horse and the renowned Harley Davidson motorbike to the once indispensable stagecoach,
groundbreaking steam train, famous double-decker bus, and the action lover’s
skateboard. From prehistoric carts to cars of tomorrow, this big,
fact-packed book guides youngsters through a world where everything has wheels,
whether that’s the simple Vespa scooter or the super-fast Ferrari. Discover why
racing cars have spoilers, which bicycle race has a leader who wears a pink
jersey, which van was made famous by surfers in California, what different
countries’ emergency vehicles look like... and find buses of every imaginable
dimension and weight. Every spread of this entertaining and educational book is
filled with Schamp’s quirky and colourful artwork. His sly, subtle texts will
make adults smile while younger readers will return again and again to these
playful and crowded pages in which each viewing reveals charming new details
that are as absurdly funny as they are educationally rewarding. So if the engines of your mind are already racing, go full
speed ahead on the road to a whole wonderful world of vehicles!
(Prestel Publishing, hardback, £18.99)
Age 7 plus
Gods and Monsters – Mythological Poems
Ana Sampson and Chris Riddell
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)
The 169-Storey Treehouse: Monkeys, Mirrors, Mayhem!
Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
THERE are lots of laughs at every level in the 169-Storey Treehouse, the last hilarious, all-action book in the worldwide bestselling Treehouse series by author Andy Griffiths and illustrator Terry Denton. Yes, the ‘wizards of Oz’ are back with their incredible, ever-expanding treehouse and this time the incredible 169 storeys mark the final chapter of a larger-than-life series! For over twelve years, and across ten million or more readers, the Australian team of Griffiths and Denton have turned their zany adventure stories, featuring two young would-be publishing sensations (unsurprisingly called Andy and Terry!), into a real-life reading phenomenon. The success of the Treehouse series just grew and grew, and the amazing creators are climbing higher than ever in their last wild and wacky, highly illustrated, laugh-out-loud book which comes packed with hilarious antics, jokes and cartoons. And the 169-Storey Treehouse proves to be their biggest and most astonishing treehouse yet! It has everything they – and you – could wish for, including an electric pony stable, a NOISY level, a weather dome (where you can have whatever weather you want whenever you want it), and a 100% edible gingerbread house and a potato-powered translation transmitter that allows you to talk to everything everywhere all at the same time.
There’s also a hall of
funhouse mirrors, which is the perfect place to hide from Mr Bunkoff who is
trying to catch Andy, Terry and Jill in order to send them to school. But
Anti-Andy, Terrible Terry and Junkyard Jill, their trouble-making opposites,
are trapped in one of the mirrors... and they want out. (Oh, and Mr Big Nose
wants them to write their book... right now!) Can our heroes escape school,
defeat their doppelgängers AND meet their book deadline? Well, what are you
waiting for? Come on up and see for yourself! Easy-to-read, visually exciting and wonderfully
entertaining, the pace is fast and the fun never stops. Climb each level in
fits of laughter in this glittering, gold-foiled hardback edition and then take
a trip back in time and introduce another generation of reluctant readers to a series
that will have them begging for more!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)
Maggie Blue and the White Crow
Anna Goodall
FINDING light in a dark world has never been more relevant than it is today and the second book in Anna Goodall’s coruscating middle-grade Maggie Blue trilogy burns brightly for readers young and old. Inspired by her interest in animals (including talking ones!), other worlds, families and friendship, Goodall’s thrilling, thought-provoking debut series stars a troubled 12-year-old girl thrust into terrifying adventures and discovering the power of friendship, courage and simply being yourself. Maggie and her beloved, grumpy talking cat companion Hoagy are trying to adjust to a quieter life after the terrors she has encountered in a world she never knew existed. She is once again living with her eccentric aunt Esme and hanging out with friends Ida and Will. Maggie wants to forget about the events of the previous year but the Dark World won’t let them go. Maggie is being watched and one day a small white bird appears. Where has the white crow come from, and why won’t it leave Maggie alone?
Little does she know
yet that the Dark World has been waiting for her to return... and when her mum
Cynthia is kidnapped and taken there, Maggie has no choice but to go back. With
the help of Hoagy and some new friends by her side, Maggie must go back to the
place that she never wished to see again if she is ever to see her mum... or
regain control of her own life. With her sarcastic cat Hoagy by her side,
Maggie’s fantastical adventures cannot fail to entertain. Maggie’s connection to the sinister Dark World lies at the
pulsating heart of Goodall’s bizarre and magical adventures...all the action
and danger is rooted in the darkness and buried secrets that simmer inside her. Tingling with a tangible current of emotion, and with a
thrill-a-minute story that follows the lost and melancholic Maggie’s adventure
in the chilling, mercenary Dark World, Goodall cleverly explores themes of
identity and mental health with a deft and sensitive touch. Add on the leavening wit and sarcasm of one-eyed Hoagy, and
a stunning cover illustration by Sandra Dieckmann, and you have the perfect package
for every child that craves an all-round, cracking adventure story!
(Guppy Books, paperback, £7.99)
Tyger
SF Said and Dave McKean
‘There are three doors that I may show you.
You will find a
different kind of power behind each one...’
AUTHOR SF Said, whose debut novel,
Varjak Paw won the Nestlé Smarties Prize, immerses young readers in a strange,
alternate world in a thrilling new novel starring a mysterious and mythical
animal. Adam has found something incredible in a rubbish dump in London. It’s a
creature called a tyger but however magical it is, the animal is in danger, and
Adam and his friend Zadie are determined to help. But it isn’t just the tyger's
life at stake... their whole world is on the verge of destruction. Can they
learn to use their powers before it’s too late? Said’s atmospheric and
cautionary tale opens up a gateway to an extraordinary other world and the
canvas for a thrilling eco-themed adventure. Fabulously illustrated by artist,
photographer, filmmaker and musician Dave McKean, and with a beautiful,
gold-foiled cover under the dust jacket, Tyger is a dazzling adventure which
inspires and instils hope in its realisation of the sparks and hidden powers
that lie within us all. The secret of seeing this hidden power, and learning
how to use it, is itself the machine that powers this wonderful story.
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £7.99)
Dreamweavers: Night of
the Scary Fairies
Annabelle Sami and Forrest Burdett
ARE you looking for a dream read? Well, look no further than
this fun, fresh and exciting new series from writer and performer Annabelle
Sami, and American illustrator Forrest Burdett. Dreamweavers introduces young
adventure fans to the ultimate Dream Team! When Tito becomes friends with the
mysterious new girl at school, Neena, she introduces him to the world of
Dreamweaving. Soon Tito and Neena are going on adventures every night,
exploring dreams where quirky creatures called jinn roam. And when their
classmates start acting strangely... it’s like their personalities have
swapped! Tito and Neena soon realise that
someone else is Dreamweaving too but using it to cause chaos. Can the pair stop
them before the dream world takes over the waking world? Sami’s magical story
features excitement all the way while Burdett brings the action to life with
his enchanting illustrations. Dreaming is believing!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £6.99)
Age 5 plus
Ben Rothery’s Weird and Wonderful Animals
Ben Rothery
(Ladybird Books, hardback, £14.99)
Age 5 plus
Peanut, Butter, & Crackers: Doggy School
Paige Braddock
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)
Age 3 plus
The Littlest Yak: Home Is Where the Herd Is
Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £7.99)
Wolf and Bear
Kate Rolfe
WE all have mood swings... but for a young child, these
highs and lows can seem confusing and distressing. So help your little ones
understand and express their feelings when they feel low and depressed with
exciting debut author and illustrator Kate Rolfe’s wise and heartfelt story
about a playful young wolf and her best friend, Bear. The two best friends
always play together, whether that’s paddling in the stream, skidding in the
snow, or tumbling in the falling leaves. But sometimes Bear feels sad and just wants
to be alone... can Wolf find a way to comfort Bear and lift her out of the
shadow of loneliness and sadness which engulfs her? This beautiful tale of kindness, empathy and
hope explores the topic of depression through gentle words and sensitive
illustrations created using the unusual technique of cyanotype, a photographic
process using sunlight, crayons and digital drawing to express emotions in the
story. The result is a powerfully emotional and stunningly illustrated book
which speaks resonantly to youngsters about feeling down, a topic which can
often be difficult to discuss with very young children. A stunning debut from
an impressive new talent.
(Two Hoots, hardback, £12.99)
Age 3 plus
The Dodo Who Dreamed She Could Fly
Catherine Emmett and Claire Powell
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Age 3 plus
Science Words for Little People: Space & Nature
Helen Mortimer and Cristina Trapanese
(Oxford University Press, hardback, £5.99 each)
Paws, Claws, Tails & Roars:
Brian Wildsmith’s Animal Kingdom
LOSE yourself in the arresting colour, form and timeless
beauty of Brian Wildsmith’s artwork in this stunning gift book which has been
teamed up with a lyrical new text. Wildsmith, who died aged 86 in 2016,
published over seventy books with Oxford University Press, and earned a
worldwide reputation as one of the greatest children’s illustrators. This
lavishly produced book – with its foiled cover and gilt-edged pages – shows off
Wildsmith’s breathtaking animal illustrations through images digitally
remastered by his son, Simon Wildsmith. Each illustration is so richly detailed
and evocative that readers, young and old, will want to pause a while and
linger over the glorious wild animals, birds, and fishes that fill the pages.
With a foreword by author Michael Rosen, this enchanting book will be loved by
readers who are already fans of Wildmsith... and a whole new generation of children.
(Oxford University Press, hardback, £20)
A Bad Day for Bear
Duncan Beedie
WE all have bad days but how do you cope with life’s ups and
downs when you’re a bear with a sore head? Duncan Beedie, the creative author
and illustrator whose delightful picture book, The Bear who Stared, was shortlisted
for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, returns to win ours hearts again
with his lovable bear. In this fun and inspirational new adventure, Bear is in
charge of the camp fire for the forest party. But as he sets out to collect
wood, all sorts of BAD things happen... he gets a splinter in his paw, a big
bump on his head and falls into a huge muddy puddle. And to make matters worse,
the logs Beaver gives him are now soaking wet! How is Bear EVER going to make
the camp fire? It’s a good job Bear’s friend Frog is there to show him that
things are never as bad as they seem. Beedie’s playful but educational story,
with its big, beautiful illustrations, teaches important lessons about finding
power in kindness and comfort in friendship even on the worst of days. Every
cloud has a silver lining... even for a bear!
(Templar, paperback, £7.99)
Noisy Babies (My First
Touch and Feel Sound Book)
Lauren Crisp
HERE'S a gorgeous touch-and-feel sound book that will chime
with babies... and their parents! Enjoy watching little faces light up when
they press the sounds button on every page in this interactive, chunky board
book, packed with appealing photographs, tactile textures and the sounds of a
baby’s day. Tickle the baby to hear a giggle, tap the drum to hear a
rat-a-tat-tat, push the duck to hear it quack, rub the bib to hear a baby say
‘Mmm!’ and touch the mobile to make it chime. And, to add more fun, baby can
press the final button to hear all the day’s sounds again! Perfectly created to
improve hand-eye co-ordination with exploration of each texture, encourage
speech, and inspire a love of reading by sharing and enjoying a book with your
little one, this is ideal for helping your child to observe and explore the
world around them.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £14.99)
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