Age 8 plus
The Day My Dog Got Famous
Jen Carney
AS a child, you need a big heart and an accepting nature to share your home with an ever-changing cycle of foster ‘siblings,’ and that’s a theme that Jen Carney captures perfectly with her own big heart in the first of a delightfully funny and inclusive trilogy. Lancashire-based author and illustrator Carney is noted for her contemporary, laugh-out-loud, middle grade fiction that celebrates diversity and modern families. Highly illustrated throughout, her books tell stories with family and friendships at their heart. And here – inspired by her foster carer sister – she explores some of the emotions that birth-children in blended families go through when new foster siblings arrive... and depart.
So first off, there are few things you should know about
Ferris Foster: 1. He’s the cartooning genius behind ASTOUNDOG (star of The
Hoot, available exclusively in his school playground) 2. His best friend is his
actual dog Aldo who is anything but astounding 3. He’s had thirteen foster
brothers and eight foster sisters and now he’s about to meet his new foster
sister Tia for the first time 4. His nemesis is his totally annoying neighbour
Destiny Dean. And when Destiny boasts about videos of her dog, Princess
Foo-Foo, going viral, Ferris foolishly claims that Aldo can easily become a bigger
internet star. There's just one problem... Aldo has about as much talent as a
teaspoon. Then Ferris and Tia accidentally film Aldo doing what looks like an
amazing trick. Will Aldo finally live up to the name of his comic book
alter-ego and wow the world with his skills... or is this about to be the
biggest epic fail ever? This funny, uplifting, dog-tastic adventure is packed with
comic strips and cartoons that will make everyone giggle, but it is also a
reminder of the power of honesty, and the importance of family... in whatever
shape or form that might be.
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)
Cross My Heart and Never Lie
Nora Dåsnes
A BOOK written for any girl who has ever felt ‘alone in all
the madness of growing up’ is almost 100 per cent guaranteed to hit a chord
with mixed up, muddled up tweenie youngsters.
Written first in the author and illustrator Nora Dåsnes’ Norwegian, Cross
My Heart and Never Lie has been translated into English by Matt Bagguley and is
an unmissable, relatable and heartwarming graphic tale focusing on the universal
topics of friendship and first crushes. Tuva is starting seventh grade, and her
checklist of goals includes writing a diary, getting a cool look, building the
best fort in the woods with her BFFs, and sharing everything with them. But
when she starts school, nothing is how she hoped it would be. Seventh grade has
split her friends into rival factions... Team Linnea and the girls who fall in
love, and Team Bao and the girls who are still playing. Linnea has a boyfriend
while Bao hates everything related to feelings. Worst of all, Tuva is expected
to choose a side! Then Mariam shows up and suddenly things begin to make a
little more sense. But with all her friends fighting, this is one part of
growing up that Tuva isn’t quite sure how to share. Packed with stunning,
full-colour illustrations and engaging diary-style hand lettering, Cross My
Heart and Never Lie speaks loudly about positive and inclusive representation
of a range of diverse and LGBTQ+ identities. A warm, wise and wonderful coming-of-age
odyssey.
(Farshore, paperback, £10.99)
Usborne Adventure Gamebooks:
The Goblin’s Revenge
Andy Prentice and Tom Knight
CHOICES, choices… do you dare to enter a dark 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 Andy Prentice, and spectacularly illustrated
throughout by Tom Knight, The Goblin’s Revenge 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. In The Goblin’s Revenge, we discover that the evil sorcerer
Darkmoon has the kingdom in his grip and the only hope of stopping him is a
treacherous quest to try to find the last remaining rebels and help them end
his reign. With a horde of undead warriors on your trail and a series of
blood-curdling challenges ahead of you, it would be a terrifying task for
anyone... but you're just a goblin, which makes things even more challenging. From this point onwards, you are in control of an epic adventure
full of emotion and humour. Prepare for menacing monsters, ghostly magic and a
thrilling race against time in this spectacular mission. But remember, every
choice is yours, and your survival depends on the decisions you make. 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)
Toxic
Mitch Johnson
SAVING the planet is all in a day’s work for three intrepid
youngsters in a dazzling and danger-filled new novel from Mitch Johnson, an
award-winning writer of children's books whose debut novel, Kick, was endorsed
by Amnesty International UK for its portrayal of children’s rights. In this
all-action rainforest adventure, the stakes are high as the hunt is on to find
a rare frog with a life-changing secret. Billionaire beauty mogul Anura Hegarty
has pledged to acquire as much of the rainforest as possible to preserve it.
But when armed guards appear and bring in portable terrariums to capture
wildlife, Jessica and her friend Renata realise something much more sinister is
going on. The rainforest holds a frog with a secret to staying young forever,
and Jessica and Renata know they must find and save it first. Together with
Briony-Rose, the girls journey deeper into the rainforest. Danger and betrayal
lurk in every corner, and soon they are running for their lives, dodging blow
darts and falling into traps. Will the children make it out of the forest
alive? This fantastic, race-against-time battle to survive long enough to find
the frog will have young readers leaping eagerly from page to page. With
thrills and chills at every turn, and three inspirational heroes to cheer for,
this is the ideal read for all daring adventurers!
(Orion Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
The Pirate’s Dragon
Liz Flanagan
PUT fire into the tail end of winter with the mesmerising
conclusion to Yorkshire writer Liz Flanagan’s thrilling Legends of the Sky
fantasy trilogy which brought us the much acclaimed Dragon Daughter and then
second book, Rise of the Shadow Dragons. Inspired by many of the beautiful places she has visited, these
dazzling stories sweep youngsters into a magic land of dragons and evil deeds
where thrilling adventures spring to life with tension, danger, fast-paced
action, fiery friendships and daring dragon riders. In The Pirate’s Dragon, we are swept away to the island of
Arcosi where we meet up once again with Milla, the former servant girl who is
now a princess after discovering her hidden past and her true destiny as a
dragonrider. Serina lives on a separate
island to Raff Sparrowhawk , whose mother Malena was once Queen of the Pirates,
and each believes the other’s people to be their sworn enemy. Forced together
in dramatic circumstances, they become unlikely friends while caring for their
young dragons. But when Serina’s home, family, and all the dragons of Arcosi
are threatened, can Raff and Serina persuade their families to work together?
It will take faith, forgiveness and courage to save the dragons! Flanagan has a true gift for superbly imagined and richly
detailed world building, and this breathtaking finale to a dazzling and
much-loved fantasy series is packed with bravery, danger, powerful emotions and
the unbreakable bonds of family and friendship. Don’t miss it!
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £8.99)
The Second-Hand Boy
Jennifer Lane
LOSING a best friend can often be a big deal for children,
and a writer who knows that well is Greater Manchester-based author and freelance
nature writer Jennifer Lane. As Children’s Mental Health Week draws to a close,
Lane’s timely new novel, The Second-Hand Boy, is a reminder of the struggles
and anxieties that youngsters of all ages can experience. As someone who battled with her own childhood
anxiety issues, Lane brings us the tale of Billy who fears that the school
bullies will come for him now that his best friend and protector Marty is
moving away. With Marty gone, Billy finds himself all alone and his world comes
crashing down around him. Between avoiding the bullies and looking after Mum,
there seems to be no escape from his problems. However, when his Mum, who has
her own mental health problems, gives him a second-hand copy of Philippa Pearce’s
classic time-slip novel, Tom’s Midnight Garden, everything changes. Billy now
has a new friend called James, the previous owner of the book who liked to
scrawl messages in the margins. And soon Billy finds himself drawn into an icy
world of parallel universes where things aren’t quite as they seem. Expect
imaginary friends with evil intentions and new friendships in unexpected place
as Billy learns that he must overcome his fear of being different and conquer
his demons if he is to grow and take control of his life. An alluring blend of
real life and one boy’s fantasies, this is a story that offers both reassurance
and fun.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £8.99)
Age 7 plus
Don't Panic! We CAN Save The Planet!
James Campbell and Rob Jones
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Mind and Me: Going To Bat
Sunita Chawdhary
MIND how you go! Join the dynamic double act known as Mind
and Me in the second book of a funny, perceptive and reassuring series from
doctor, and also author and illustrator, Sunita Chawdhary. These gentle and
relatable stories are the ideal introduction to discussions with young children
about mental wellbeing and managing anxieties. In this new adventure, it’s the
start of a new term and Maya is excited to join the cricket club at school and
share the good news with her Grandpa in India. But between juggling sports
superstars, the big green monster, and her mum coming to coach the team, she
has a lot to handle. And on top of that, Mind thinks they’ve forgotten
something important… like sending that letter to Grandpa. Can Maya and Mind
work together to get it all sorted out before the big cricket game? These
engaging and clever adventures star Mind as the voice in Maya’s head,
reflecting her ideas and emotions. Mind is very active and can be quite noisy
which is sometimes helpful but sometimes a hindrance! With warm-hearted,
mindfulness stories and lively illustrations that give focus to thoughts, the
books are perfect for reading aloud at bedtime or in class, giving adults and
children a prompt to talk about emotions. Mental health lessons for children in
the most helpful and entertaining way!
(Knights Of, paperback, £5.99)
Age 4 plus
How I Feel: 40 Wellbeing Activities for Kids
Becky Goddard-Hill and Assia Ieradi
(Collins, paperback, £9.99)
PLEASE!
Simon Philip and Nathan Reed
A SIMON Philip adventure always takes some licking and this
cautionary tale – with the magic word ‘please’ at its soft centre – is
guaranteed to scoop plenty of plaudits! Philip is one of the comedy kings of
picture books and this anarchic rhyming romp – perfectly matched with Nathan
Reed’s high-energy and wonderfully detailed illustrations – zones in on the
importance of saying please with a giant dollop of pure comic madness. You
probably know it’s good manners to ALWAYS say ‘please’ when asking for
something. But when Bill forgets this very simple rule at the ice-cream van,
the consequences are wackier than he could ever have imagined. Join Bill on a
laugh-out-loud adventure featuring spaceships, jungle tigers, mountain yaks,
fairytale castles and a whole host of alien toads as he learns that saying ‘PLEASE’
should never be forgotten! With an addictive sense of youthful joy running
through every page, Reed’s dazzling artwork and Philip’s trademark wit and
verve, this ‘pleasing’ story is set to become a firm family favourite!
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Once Upon a Storytime
Gareth Peter and Natelle Quek
SETTLE down together at bedtime with this beautiful picture
book that transports little ones to dazzling, dreamy adventures... and the
wonderful world of sleep! Written with love and heartfelt emotions by Gareth
Peter, the author of My Daddies!, and lavishly illustrated by Natelle Quek, a
Malaysian-born illustrator now living in England, Once Upon a Storytime is an uplifting
homage to the power of the stories we love most, and the way they bring us
together. Nia loves stories about dragons and unicorns, brave princesses and
faraway lands. Every night, Mum tucks her into bed and they lose themselves in
another wonderful adventure. But what if, Nia asks, she gets kidnapped by a
wicked witch? Or locked up by a terrible beast in a tower? Or stuck at the top
of a beanstalk with a grouchy giant? Would Mum come and rescue her? The answer
to that is … ‘yes, always.’ Filled with colour, warmth and gentle reassurance,
this alluring picture book is both a fantastical adventure and a big hug for
bedtime!
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
No Matter What: 25th Anniversary Edition
Debi Gliori
‘I’ll always love you no matter what...’
STEEP yourself in
the beautiful words and pictures of award-winning writer and illustrator Debi
Gliori’s classic, heartfelt picture book No Matter What, which has been
repackaged and sealed with love for a new generation to enjoy. Gliori’s warm,
reassuring and irresistible story about unconditional love is perfect for
comforting little ones, and this glorious 25th Anniversary Edition
retains and enhances all the exquisite colour, poignancy and vibrancy of the
original. ‘I’ll always love you no matter what...’ says Large. ‘No matter what?’
Small asks. But what if he turns into a bug, or a crocodile, or even a grizzly
bear? Small has all sorts of questions about love, and Large reassures him that
her love will never, ever run out... no matter what. Gliori’s reassuring beautifully
told and illustrated story has been setting little ones’ big worries to rest
for twenty-five years and it’s easy to see why. Soothing and sensual, this
gorgeous edition includes never-before-seen sketches and a special letter from
the author that will delight readers young and old.
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
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