Age 10 plus
Like a Girl
Rebecca Westcott
YOU can’t run and you can’t hide when you’re online... so where do you go? Rebecca Westcott, an author and a deputy head working with children and teenagers with autism and social, emotional and mental health problems, addresses some of the most pressing problems facing young people today in this powerful, honest and hard-hitting teen novel. Like a Girl speaks loudly to teenagers about finding the courage to be yourself in the face of online and in-school peer pressure in this sharp and perceptive, and yet grippingly entertaining and moving story starring a fourteen-year-old who finds it hard to fit in at school.
Eden McCoy is struggling at Woodford High. All she’s good at
is running and she doesn’t even dare join the track team. Her priority is to
stay in the shadows and avoid the Glossies, a ruthless clique of girls who use
social media to punish and humiliate their targets, led by their queen Bea and
her sidekick Mikki. But one day, Eden breaks her vow to stay unnoticed... she
beats track star Mikki in a race. This bold move captures the attention of Bea
who decides Eden needs to either prove her loyalty and become one of the
Glossies... or suffer the consequences. And so The Testing begins. As Eden is
challenged to play a cruel prank on another kid or have that same act inflicted
on her, her will is pushed to the limit. The only thing keeping her afloat is
an unexpected connection with a boy called Riley, a fellow runner who messages
her online. But how deep does The Testing run? And how long until Eden breaks?
Inspired by research into real teen opinions about the risks
and benefits of social media, Westcott explores the joy to be found in running,
sports and exercise... as well as the rewards that come from a sense of
community, real friendship and solidarity. Through the medium of storytelling, readers observe the
different ways that girls can be ‘put in boxes’ and the pressures placed on
them to act in a way that society or their peers expect of them. Leavened by a
touching mother-daughter relationship at its heart, Like a Girl also delivers an
empowering message about being true to yourself and seeking true friends. Top class teen reading...
(Scholastic, paperback, £8.99)
Age 9 plus
Mysteries at Sea: The Royal Jewel Plot
A.M. Howell
Set against the alluring backdrop of life at sea, and featuring real ships, historical figures and events, Howell brings the history of the period to vivid life in another wind-lashed story brimming with atmosphere, authentic detail and derring-do. With sparkling artwork by Marco Guadalupi, a plot involving secrets, searches and subterfuge, a captivating cast of characters, and Howell’s gift for breathless, fast-paced action, youngsters will be looking forward to the final port of call for this dazzling nautical adventure series
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
The Island at the Edge of Night
Lucy Strange
WHO doesn’t love a chilling, thrilling adventure, set on a
remote, windswept island, and featuring a load of spooky secrets and menacing
mysteries? The Island at the Edge of Night is the stunning new action
novel from highly-acclaimed, Waterstones Prize-shortlisted author Lucy Strange
whose gift is to bring us gorgeous but gritty Gothic tales threaded through
with magical realism, and fizzing with surprises and suspense. In this stunning new adventure, inspired by the wild,
otherworldly magic of the remote islands of Scotland, we meet Faye Fitzgerald
who has been abandoned at a boarding school on a bleak, treeless and remote
Scottish island. Faye soon discovers that she and the six other pupils are the
first to attend Auk Island School and have been sent there for doing something
wicked. It’s a desolate and battered place, seemingly at the world’s end, but
what is it that Faye has done? She remembers so little of the night everything
changed, the night that robbed her of being able to speak. Faye might be bold
enough to explore the sinister mysteries of the prison-like island but has she
the courage to face the secrets deep within herself? Strange is a master of atmospherics and this dazzling
magical realist tale simmers and shimmers, and twists and turns against a truly
spine-tingling and irresistible backdrop. With messages about family,
friendship, love, facing your fears, and the healing power of nature, this
green-themed odyssey is a must for middle-grade readers.
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)
Alex Neptune, Zombie Fighter
David Owen and George Ermos
INDIANA Jones meets Pirates of the Caribbean in another
ultimate treasure-hunting, puzzle-solving ocean adventure from David Owen, the
exciting author whose YA debut novel, Panther, was longlisted for the Carnegie
Medal. Zombie Fighter is the spooky new adventure in Owen’s thrilling,
all-action and fun-filled Alex Neptune series which was inspired by his self-confessed
love for nail-biting heists, fantastical monsters and heartfelt friendships. At
its core is Alex, the boy born with the power of the ocean in his hands and
here we find that a creepy fog has rolled into Haven Bay which leads to Alex, and
his friends Zoey and Anil, being ambushed by terrifying crab-riding zombies.
The zombies are controlled by the evil spirit of Brineblood the pirate and the
only weapon that can stop Brineblood’s zombie army is a powerful trident... but
it has been broken into three pieces. Alex, Zoey and Anil must enter three
deadly worlds, which have been magically trapped in bottles to retrieve the
hidden pieces, all before the zombies can catch them. But with some penguins,
an octopus and a frozen dragon on their side, how can they go wrong? With the
power of the sea at the centre of a fast-flowing story, the weirdest cast of
characters this side of the tide, eco themes that speak as loudly as the
crashing of the waves in Haven Bay and the fantastic illustrations of George
Ermos, this sparkling maritime odyssey is must reading for all adventure
lovers!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
Me and Aaron Ramsey
Manon Steffan Ros
WHEN an accident shatters a family’s footballing dreams,
picking up the pieces proves to be harder than schoolboy Sam could ever have
imagined. Welsh novelist, playwright and screenwriter, Manon Steffan Ros, Carnegie-winning
author of The Blue Book of Nebo, pulls on our heartstrings again with this moving
middle-grade story about family, misfortune and football. Sam and his dad both
love football, which is always there for them however tough real life becomes. But
when Dad’s dreams of football stardom go horribly wrong, Sam’s love for the Welsh
footballing legend Aaron Ramsey becomes tangled with his troubled relationship with
his father. With the one interest they share taken away from them, what will
emerge from the complicated relationship between father and son? Ros’s
insightful novel explores themes of family relationships, football, friendship,
physical disability and illiteracy with warmth and understanding. An emotive
story with hope at its heart.
(Firefly Press, paperback, £7.99)
Mission: Microraptor
Philip Kavvadias and Euan Cook
WHAT happens when you bring back a microraptor from
extinction? The answer lies in this brilliantly funny new series from exciting
debut author Philip Kavvadias who is not just passionate about getting kids
reading, but actually knows how to do it! Billed as Jurassic Park meets Wimpy Kid, Mission:
Microraptor is packed full of humour, action and adventure, and stars two
twelve-year-old boys, a tiny flying dinosaur, and a seemingly mission
impossible to keep her safe. Falling behind their classmates on a school trip to the
Alps, Finn and Milo stumble on an egg buried in ice. Later that night, they are
amazed when it hatches and a 65million-year-old baby is born! Artemis (Arty) is
a microraptor, a small, winged dinosaur brought back from extinction. She’s
amazing, what could possibly go wrong? But keeping her safe proves hard because
wicked scientists will do anything to get their hands on her, and soon Finn and
Milo must run for their lives in a dark, mysterious forest and with a squad of
army-trained mercenaries searching for them... There are giggles and guffaws galore to enjoy from first
page to last in this high-tech, fast-paced, eco-themed adventure which has a secret
dinosaur at its heart, explores some real-life survival skills, and is brought
to life by the atmospheric illustrations of Euan Cook.
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)
Outside In: Nature Poems
Daniel Thompson and Julia Murray
AS Spring starts to finally spring, encourage your children
to connect with the joys of nature and the great outdoors with this stunning
collection of nature poems. Outside In: Nature Poems is written by poet, storyteller,
film maker and musician, Daniel Thompson, author of Being You: Poems of
Positivity which was the 2023 City Kids Green Awards Winner and selected for
the Reading Agency’s 2023 summer reading challenge. Thompson has been an Amazon bestseller in both humorous
poetry for children and children’s philosophy, and is passionate about
encouraging children to explore the philosophical principles behind self-belief
and inner positivity. This new warm-hearted and endearing collection of 50 poems aims
to spark a love of nature, bring calm and happiness and let the outside in.
Beautifully illustrated by New Zealand artist Julia Murray, the poems are ideal
for children to read alone or enjoy with the whole family. And with enchanting
verse about the seasons, senses, wildlife, weather and the joys of mud, it’s
the perfect gift book for children to treasure.
(Collins, hardback, £9.99)
Jack-Jack, A Dog in Africa
Ben Garrod and Charli Vince
ENJOY a dog’s eye view of his amazing world in the first
book of delightfully cute and funny new fiction series written by Ben Garrod,
Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement at the University of
East Anglia. Garrod was inspired to pen The Adventures of a Dog Called
Jack-Jack after filming the hit BBC2 series, Baby Chimp Rescue in Africa,
falling in love with Jack, and bringing him back to the UK where the two are
now inseparable. So meet Jack-Jack who is not just any old dog... he’s the
world’s coolest dog, looks after orphaned chimpanzees in Africa and he’s about
to embark on his biggest adventure ever! Jack-Jack spends his days playing with
baby chimps but when he meets Ben, he suddenly has more baths than ever (after previously
none), waves goodbye to his pet fleas, and prepares to fly thousands of miles.
I’ve never been on a lead or in a car, so what will an aeroplane be like? With
the richly detailed and fun-filled black and white illustrations of Charli
Vince on every page, Jack-Jack’s adventures as a snack-loving, exercise-shy
hound like no other are set to win the hearts of all young (and old!) animal
lovers!
(Zephyr, paperback, £7.99)
Island Vet: Pirates and Sea Monsters
Gill Lewis and Irina Avgustinovich
A NEW school and a new island home far away from the big
city may sound daunting but when your mum’s a vet anything can happen!
Acclaimed, award-winning children’s author and former vet Gill Lewis works her
special brand of animal magic on the first book of an illustrated Island Vet
series following Tia and her mum’s exciting new life on Gull Haven Island. Tia’s
mum finds there are a lot of animals who need her help on the island and when
she’s called away to help a sickly cow on a nearby island and gets trapped
there in a storm, Tia has to step up and care for the animals staying in the
surgery. It’s a big responsibility and then she has to deal with a mysterious
creature that washes up on the shore after the storm. Their new life on the
Haven Islands is clearly going to be full of adventures! Teamed with the
beautifully emotive illustrations of Irina Avgustinovich, and published in Barrington
Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this series is ideal for young
animal lovers and is sure to delight readers of every age.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)
Porky Pies
Ross Montgomery and Marisa Morea
THE pig who cried wolf finally gets his comeuppance in a hilarious
twist on two classic fairy tales from bestselling children’s author and master
of comedy Ross Montgomery. Filled with Marisa Morea’s colourful and
characterful illustrations, an addictive sense of fun, and messages about the
consequences of getting caught in a lie, Porky Pies is the latest book in
publisher Barrington Stoke’s super-readable Little Gems series which brings
together leading authors and illustrators. Porky Pies is always telling lies,
trying to terrify his brothers and sisters into believing that the Big Bad Wolf
is back. But when the biggest fibber in the litter tries to plan his most
daring prank yet, the joke is on him this time. So who will have the last
laugh? This action-packed adventure, which delivers a witty and wonderful twist
on The Three Little Pigs and The Boy Who Cried Wolf, includes some extra
giggles inside the cover and comes with a host of clever design and finishing
techniques, like dyslexia-friendly fonts, to create easy-to-read, first chapter
books in a format ideal for little hands. A fun-filled escapade which – without
needing to tell a lie – guarantees readers will have the last laugh!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £6.99)
A Midsummer Night’s Drama
Louie Stowell and Isobel Lundie
WELCOME to a drama like no other at The Glade Theatre... a
special place where budding bards can hone their skills and discover that all
the world’s a stage! A Midsummer Night’s Drama is the first picture book in a
brilliantly creative Shakesbearean Tales series from the top team of children’s
author Louie Stowell and talented illustrator Isobel Lundie. These charming
books, based on Shakespeare’s plays, introduce a cast of lovable animal
characters and offer an endearing introduction to the world of theatre. So meet
star of the show Bill Bear who loves staging plays with his friends in their
woodland theatre. Bill writes brilliant plays for The Glade Theatre and his latest
play is a huge success, but then the problems start... Bill’s brain is so busy
that he just can’t sleep! Can his animal friends come up with a plan to get him
off to sleep? Stowell’s comical and clever story encapsulates the ups and downs
of dealing with drama of every kind while Lundie’s atmospheric and richly
detailed illustrations bring The Glade Theatre to life. Parents everywhere will
recognise the drama of getting an over-excited little bear off to dreamland
while the funny and reassuring story addresses some of the big emotions felt by
little ones. The second act can’t come soon enough!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)
High Top: Sole Mates
Tom Lacey
KIDS will be laughing their socks off when they get their
hands on the new adventure in a simply shoeper comedy series! The High Top
books are the brainchild of Tom Lacey, the pseudonym of a group of creative ‘sole’
mates who, between them, have written and illustrated numerous bestselling
books on both sides of the Atlantic. So welcome to Shoe Town where the
residents are all footloose, and meet High Top, the sneaker who is everybody’s
friend. High Top just LOVES love and he knows how to show it... in increasingly creative ways! But when the
irrepressible young sneaker embarks on a plan to ensure his friends are left in
no doubt of his feelings for them, will the course of true love run smooth? Or
will High Top be left with his laces in a knot? Giggles and guffaws are
guaranteed as High Top’s hilarious antics land him in a knot with his footwear
friends. With an irrepressibly energetic hero striding out on a series of
madcap adventures, and a gallery of colourful shoes, pumps and boots keeping
young readers on their toes, this series is destined to run and run!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)
Heavy Metal Badger
Duncan Beedie
SOMETIMES you just have to let the music out! Creative
author and illustrator Duncan Beedie has fun with a rock-and-roll-loving badger
in this strumming, thrumming, thumping good picture book which is alive with
the sound of music. Badger is ready to ROCK! The music inside him is ready to
burst out. He just needs to find a band. But a recorder class isn’t right and
neither is the church choir. And as for the marching band, he has to beat a
hasty retreat. Will Badger ever find his musical tribe? Maybe, just maybe, it’s
been there all along! With Beedie’s funny and playful illustrations keeping
perfectly in tune with the beat of his rhyming story, all the laugh-out-loud
chaos to enjoy as Badger looks for a musical home, and tons of rock-themed
references, puns and visual jokes, this empowering rock anthem is the perfect
celebration of identity, self-expression... and the sheer joy of music!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)
Addie Ant Goes on an Adventure
Maren Morris, Karina Argow
and Kelly Anne Dalton
JOIN an adventurous Ant as she leaves her cosy home in the
Tomato Bed and steps out into the brave new world beyond the garden shed in a
beautiful picture book that celebrates the glories of nature. Addie Ant Goes on
an Adventure is co-authored by acclaimed US singer-songwriter Maren Morris and her
best friend, former schoolteacher Karina Argow, and lavishly illustrated by
Kelly Anne Dalton. Set in a vast and magical garden full of insect friends,
vegetables, blooming flowers and the abundance of nature, this delightful story
charts one little ant’s journey for independence and all the while learning when
to ask for help. Addie Ant travels from one garden bed to another on her first
solo adventure. But as she forges her own path, she gets lost along the way and
finds help and advice from her trusted garden pals, Lewis Ladybug, Beatrix
Butterfly, and Cleo Cricket, in finding her way back home. A visual and verbal celebration
of friendship, this imaginative and entertaining book is a stunning collaboration
between Morris and Argow, combining clever wordplay alongside themes of
independence, friendship and inclusivity, and all brought to life by Dalton’s enchanting,
full-colour illustrations. A dazzling book that does exactly what the authors
aimed for... instils in children ‘a deep love for the world around them.’
(Chronicle Books, hardback, £13.99)
How Many Dinosaurs
Is Too Many?
Lou Peacock and Nicola Slater
‘One day, I got a dinosaur, but very soon I knew one dinosaur was not enough and so I wanted... two!’
MEET a riotous bunch of cheeky
dinosaurs in an adorable cautionary tale about friendship, fun and counting to
ten! Author Lou Peacock and illustrator Nicola Slater work their special magic
on this colourful and comical picture book which comes with a jaunty rhyming
text and bright, stylish artwork full of zingy neon detail. When a dinosaur comes
to play, you’re sure to have lots of fun. But wouldn’t 2...3...4 ...or even 10
dinosaurs be better still? Or would they be too big, too messy and just a
little bit too naughty? Perhaps one very special dinosaur is just perfect after
all! Little ones will love watching the increasing chaos as each favourite
dinosaur joins the party and with giggles galore guaranteed right through to
the last page, and a free Stories Aloud QR code audio recording to enjoy, this
is a dinosaur get-together your youngsters won’t want to miss!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)
Jane Foster’s I Love Yellow
Jane Foster
I LOVE yellow! Yellow is the best! I have yellow shorts and
a matching yellow vest! Add colour to your child’s life – and maybe even your
own! – with this stylish and humorous board book celebration of all things yellow.
Perfect for teaching little ones about colours, I Love Yellow is the creation
of acclaimed artist and leading textile designer Jane Foster and with a rhyming
text, adorable characters and sunshine-bright artwork, this eye-catching book
is guaranteed to appeal to readers of all ages... whatever their favourite
colour. Early learning fun that is perfect for sharing, and a stylish
alternative to traditional first board books.
(Templar Publishing, board book, £7.99)
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