Our Fair Lily

Rosie Goodwin

AS the nation gets ready for summer to burst into full bloom, Rosie Goodwin, one of Britain’s best-loved saga queens, conjures up her storytelling magic for the first book in a brand-new Flower Girls series.

A former social worker and foster mother, four-million-copy bestselling author Goodwin (pictured below) has penned over forty beautiful, heartwarming sagas, exploring life and love in days gone by. She was also awarded the rights to follow three of the late, great Tyneside writer Catherine Cookson’s trilogies with her own sequels.

And now she’s back to win our hearts again with a gritty and drama-filled tale which stars a young parlour maid whose life changes overnight when she is called on to go far beyond the duties of a household servant. In Warwickshire in 1875, Lily Moon, a miner’s daughter, spends her days as a parlour maid for Lord and Lady Bellingham at Oakley Manor on the outskirts of Nuneaton. She has always been happy with her lot in life and never expected more.

But that changes when she temporarily becomes lady’s maid to the Bellinghams’ daughter, Lady Arabella, who is pregnant with the illegitimate child of her army captain lover and about to be unhappily married off to Lord Lumley, a man twice her age.

When Arabella suddenly disappears and Lily is left holding the two-day-old baby, the Bellinghams deny any link to the child and tell Lily to leave her on the steps of the workhouse. But Lily Moon is made of strong stuff and between her and her sick mother Sara, they know they must give a home to sweet baby Anastasia (Annie) and bring her up despite their own limited means.

It is only Arabella’s brother Louis, the handsome son and heir of the estate, who shows any interest in the child and through his kindness, a friendship forms between him and Lily... or perhaps more than a friendship if the village gossips are to be believed.

Lily knows she is no match for Louis... a humble pit girl could never steal the heart of the lord of the manor. They must both deny their feelings and exist as they are... from two very different

A Grave in the Woods

Martin Walker

WHEN three sets of bones are discovered in a long-forgotten corner of a small town in France’s idyllic Dordogne region, the local chief of police soon finds himself caught up in a hidden crime that dates back to the final, deadly months of the Second World War.

The considerable sleuthing talents of Lieutenant Bruno Courrèges are tested to the limit again in the seventeenth book of Martin Walker’s enchanting, French-flavoured series which stars an astute, epicurean detective with a taste for food, vin rouge… and crime.

Lovers of clever mysteries, social, international and political history, stunning scenery, excellent cuisine, and the very best of French wines, have enjoyed sharing the past sixteen years with the smart, likeable Bruno in Walker’s exceptionally entertaining novels. A prize-winning historian and journalist who spends most of his time in the Périgord region – the lush, gastronomic heartland of France – Walker (pictured below) has mastered the fine art of harnessing intriguing murder mysteries with paeans to his adopted country’s rich history, landscape, food and culture to dish up stories with an addictive brand of Gallic charm.

And at the heart of these witty, wonderful novels is the laidback Bruno, a bon viveur with a brain as discerning as his palate… a man who can crack crime in the fictional settlement of St Denis whilst cracking open a bottle of his favourite wine.

In his new mystery, we find Bruno convalescing with injuries he suffered in his last case but still finding time for an amorous reunion with an old flame and a visit to his place of work where he learns that the sale of a disused old hotel, Domaine de la Barde, is being complicated by reports of an abandoned grave in the grounds.

When Bruno drives to the site with visiting US archaeologist Abby Howard – who is looking to start up a business as a specialist guide for American tourists interested in local history – they find three skeletons and a sealed box buried under a concrete slab deep inside the woods. From papers and uniform insignia found in the box, it appears that the remains have lain there since 1944 and that they were two young German women from an anti-aircraft unit and an Italian submarine captain. With the distinct possibility that the women were raped before they were

The Queen of Poisons

Robert Thorogood

DOWN-TO-EARTH Suzie Harris is only attending a meeting of Marlow Town Council’s planning committee because she needs allies for her rather wicked plot to make a financial killing. What she doesn’t expect is to witness the popular Mayor of Marlow, Geoffrey Lushington, dropping dead on the floor just as the meeting moves into full flow. It looks like he was poisoned, but who on earth would want to murder such an amiable fellow?  

Think classic crime with a lively, contemporary vibe and you have Robert Thorogood’s (pictured below) The Marlow Murder Club, a team of enchanting amateur sleuths comprising the adorably eccentric crossword buff Judith Potts, prim – and only occasionally improper – vicar’s wife Becks Starling, and the ever-practical and doggedly determined dog walker Suzie.

In Thorogood’s entertaining and enjoyable new outing, featuring all the perfect whodunit ingredients plus a larger-than-life cast of characters, the daring detective trio find themselves hot on the trail of an elusive and devious killer.

It’s when traces of aconite – also known as the queen of poisons – are found in the Mayor’s coffee cup that the police realise he was murdered. But who did it and why would anyone want to kill Geoffrey Lushington who was noted for his impish sense of humour?

The police bring in Judith, Suzie and Becks – the three bad pennies who always turn up when there’s a murder – to investigate as Civilian Advisors right from the start, so they have free rein to interview suspects and follow the evidence to their heart’s content, which is perfect because Judith has no time for rules and standard procedure.

But this case has the Marlow Murder Club stumped. What would be the motive to murder the Mayor and how did the killer even get the poison into his coffee? With fears that someone else could now be in danger, the murder club face their most difficult case yet. Thorogood’s latest cosy, clever murder mystery is a true winter warmer as the intrepid crime-crackers prove once again that they are a top-class team, facing clues, suspects, red herrings and fascinating twists and turns on their journey to nailing the culprit.

And there is a fourth female player in this addictive slice of escapism in the shape of the sorely tested and long-suffering DS Tanika Malik who must negotiate not just the task of finding a killer but operating in the shadow of the indomitable murder club.

Add on Thorogood’s heartwarming and celebratory exploration of the often maligned older woman, plenty of laugh-out-loud humour, superb plotting, and a final dramatic reveal, and you have the perfect book to pack in your suitcase this summer.
(HQ, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Exotic wonders, sibling heroes and a murder club

Head off to the stunning Galápagos Islands for a down-to-Earth lesson, return to a sinister dictatorship tingling with danger and mystery, join two comical cowgirls for a fun-filled adventure, treat yourself to a sizzling summertime collection of murder mysteries, and enjoy a VIP access pass to the amazing Kew Botanic Gardens in a super new selection

Age 10 plus
Galápagos Islands: The World’s Living Laboratory
Karen Romano Young
and Amy Grimes

WELCOME to the Galápagos Islands, the pristine archipelago in the Pacific Ocean which inspired the groundbreaking work of English naturalist and biologist Charles Darwin, and which have become the new focal point for scientists seeking a more sustainable future for our planet. Discovering the right balance between humans and nature has become an imperative and now What on Earth publishers, which specialises in the art of telling stories through timelines and aims to encourage readers into a lifelong love of enquiring and discovering, brings youngsters an exciting exploration of how these volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador can show us how to live in harmony with Earth.

Written by Karen Romano Young, author of Antarctica: The Melting Continent, and lavishly illustrated by Amy Grimes, this beautiful, fact-packed book allows young readers to experience the unique Galápagos Islands in vivid and colourful detail, and learn what they – and the fascinating creatures that live there – can teach us about nature and our planet. Home to species as diverse as giant tortoises, salt-snorting marine iguanas, and the birds that made Darwin famous, the Galápagos are a living laboratory for scientists working on the most urgent problem of our times. Author, science communicator and polar explorer Young takes to the field, visiting the archipelago to observe its environments first-hand, and interviewing the scientists and the locals who are lighting the way for the rest of the world. Blending Young’s first-hand experience with easy-to-understand background and context, and all brought to life by Grimes’ artwork which includes fabulous illustrations and maps, this is the perfect introduction to the wonderful world of these exotic islands.
(What on Earth Books, hardback, £15.99)

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, and darkness, danger and mystery at every turn, this exhilarating, page-turning story is guaranteed to send a thrill down the spine of all adventure-loving youngsters.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
Cluedle: The Case of the Golden Pomegranate
Hartigan Browne

CAN you work out Cluedunnit? Grab a pen and team up with world famous private investigator Hartigan Browne to solve a curious case by solving 50 fiendishly fun and code-cracking mystery puzzles. The Case of the Golden Pomegranate is the second Cluedle puzzle book for code-cracking families, skilful young super sleuths, and mystery fans aged nine to ninety-nine. In this new adventure, set sail on the high seas and solve the fun, brain-busting puzzles. The intriguing mystery story is set on a super yacht where detectives need to discover who broke into Alota Vibratto’s safe, how the professor’s milkshake was poisoned, what is hidden in an ancient maze and who has gone overboard! Packed full of codes to crack, evidence to evaluate, clues to unravel and maps to navigate, Cluedle: The Case of the Golden Pomegranate tests verbal reasoning and comprehension, spatial reasoning, co-ordinates, map skills, logic problems, number operations and spotting patterns. Cosy crime puzzling and brain-busting fun for the whole family to enjoy!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
Cowgirls and Dinosaurs: Big Trouble in Little Spittle
Lucie Ebrey

SADDLE UP and gallop over to a town called Little Spittle for some Wild West fun, fighting and friendships! Author and illustrator Lucie Ebrey sets loose her imagination, and her talents, on a new graphic novel series which puts magic and mayhem into all-action, rip-roaring adventures with a deliciously feminist twist. In the town of Little Spittle, there are cowgirls, dinosaurs and crime-busting adventures! Abigail, who has always dreamed of becoming a sheriff’s deputy, lives on the outskirts of town with her pet dinosaur, Rootbeer. Meanwhile, Clementine, daughter of the sheriff, was born into the life of fighting crime. But when the Bandit Queen gets hold of some strange, dark magic, it’s up to Clem, Abigail and Rootbeer to team up and save their beloved town from bandits, dinomagik and undercover attacks. With comedy capers and fabulous illustrations at every turn, this hilarious tale of two unlikely friends shows how bravery comes in many forms, and how working together makes an unstoppable team. So if your youngsters love crime fighting, cowgirls and lots of fast and furious antics, then this breathless feast of fun – set in a wonderfully wacky Wild West world – is going to be the start of a reading love affair.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus
The Super Sunny Murder Club
Edited by Serena Patel and Robin Stevens
and illustrated by Harry Woodgate

AS the school summer holidays draw tantalisingly closer, here’s the perfect book to tuck into your suitcase! After the 2021 success of The Very Merry Murder Club – a wintertime collection of mystery fiction for children edited by Serena Patel and Robin Stevens – the two writers have teamed up again to edit this sizzling sunshine selection of summer-themed crime and mystery short stories. The Super Sunny Murder Club features the work of thirteen of the most popular, exciting and diverse children’s books authors, including Abiola Bello, Annabelle Sami, Benjamin Dean, E.L. Norry, Elle McNicoll, Dominique Valente, Maisie Chan, Nizrana Farook, Patrice Lawrence, Robin Stevens, Roopa Farooki, Serena Patel and Sharna Jackson. With stunning illustrations by Harry Woodgate, these sensational short stories lead you on a journey of foul play and murderously magnificent mysteries featuring sun-thieves, fantastical creatures of the deep, airport mayhem, weddings gone wrong, tropical resort travesties, and a very sticky situation at a berry picking farm. So what are you waiting for... grab your sunnies and your magnifying glass, and get ready for murder and mayhem!
(Farshore, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
An Invitation to the Botanic Gardens
Charlotte Guillain and Helen Shoesmith

GRAB your very own VIP access pass and explore the incredible Botanic Gardens in all their fascinating colour and detail. Written by Charlotte Guillain, and produced in consultation with Kew Botanic Gardens, this fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the gardens is the ideal and welcoming doorway to learning about the importance of insects, the impact of climate change, and how plants grow. Have you ever wondered what goes on at the Botanic Gardens? It's not all planting and pruning. In fact, the team have a planet-saving mission on their hands... and you can help! Step off the path and follow the Garden crew who will show you behind the scenes with your very own access-all-areas invitation. Find out how scientists research plants that can cure diseases, watch workers wading in the waterlily pond, and discover the secrets of seeds. Learn why samples of rare and endangered plants are stored in the Herbarium and leave no leaf unturned in the tropical glasshouse. Discover insect-eating plants, zombie fungus, plants pretending to be pebbles, and so much more. Packed with Helen Shoesmith’s lush, vibrant and beautiful illustrations, An Invitation to the Botanic Gardens lets children discover more wonderful details each time they return to the gardens. And with three large fold-outs which reveal even more botanical information, this is an invitation that simply can’t be turned down!
(Welbeck Children’s Books, hardback, £16.99)

Age 7
Dungeon Runners: Hero Trial
Kieran Larwood and Joe Todd-Stanton

HEROES come in all shapes and sizes... and everyone deserves the chance to prove it! Blue Peter Award-winning author Kieran Larwood and Waterstones Children’s Book Prize winner Joe Todd-Stanton pool their considerable talents on Dungeon Runners, a fully illustrated and action-packed fantasy quest adventure series which is perfect for newly confident readers. Kit has dreamed of being a Dungeon Runner all his life, although being a gnorf (part gnome, part dwarf) means he’s much smaller than the other competitors. But when a space opens up for a new team in the Dungeon Running League, Kit doesn’t want to miss this chance to try it out! With his new friends Sandy and Thorn, they’re ready to take on anything... mazes, puzzles, monsters, treasure and most of all adventure! Are you ready for the games to begin? Welcome to the Dungeon! Young readers and action fans will love discovering the world of the Dungeon Runners, a magical land of heroes where bullies are challenged by an unlikely but plucky trio of friends willing to enter a once-in-a-lifetime competition and fight their way to the top. An uplifting tale of backing the underdog, this super new series is ideal inspiration for children finding their feet in the big, wide world, so what are you waiting for... there’s always space for a new team of heroes at the Dungeon!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Grimwood: Party Animals
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 fourth 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 there but now Sharon the Party Crow has lost her mojo! Three parties in one day have proved too much for Grimwood’s favourite raving resident, and it’s up to Ted, Nancy, Willow, and the rest of the gang to help Sharon get her groove back. Teamwork, friendship and, most importantly, dance skills, will all be put to the test as the gang try to get the party started again! Shireen serves up an irresistible blend of glorious gags, hilarious comedy routines, boundless madcap escapades, and a memorable cast of quirky characters which young readers will love following from first page to last, and from book to book. With a side helping of zany black and white illustrations, which bring both the animals and the action to life, the Grimwood series has the legs – and the laughs – to run and run.
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 5 plus
How to be a Genius Kid
Waldo Pancake (aka Jim Smith)

GET super-brainy with zero effort thanks to Waldo Pancake (better known to comedy fans as Jim Smith, author and illustrator of all the ‘mega keel’ Barry Loser books). Smith has his finger firmly on the pulse of what makes kids (and grown-ups!) laugh… the pages of his books positively buzz with energy, madcap antics, and a joyful sense of managed mayhem that is as addictive as it is entertaining. And he is on top form in this zany and laugh out loud bonkers graphic novel packed with large and small facts, and Smith’s wild and wonderful wit. Why is misspelling stuff a sign of grate intelly-genz? What have the hours in the day got to do with FINGER BONES? Why does rain on a pavement smell so delish? And while you’re in the groove, discover the reason smells help you remember stuff, why numbers are to do with fingers, and how the universe began. Full of super clever facts, really stupid jokes and free drawing tips, How to be a Genius will make you want to quote from it, repeat the gags, and re-read it again and again. Plus Waldo Pancake shows you how to draw stuff, as well as ‘learning you’ to be the biggest genius ever. Organised chaos for your fun-lovers and mischief-makers!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 5 plus
Bertha & Blink: Rumble in the Jungle
Nicola Colton

FRIENDSHIP, science and nature prove to be the perfect blend in a fun and informative new series from Irish author and illustrator Nicola Colton. Stars of the show are super-star inventor Bertha the bear and her robot bird Blink whose fun-filled adventures introduce young readers to a sprinkling of science and a nod to nature. When a rumble in the jungle disturbs Bertha’s work, she has to leave her peaceful home and investigate. Bertha doesn’t really want to leave her treehouse as she’s scared of the dark and mysterious wilderness. To help her, she creates Blink... an excitable robo-bird sidekick who can’t wait to explore! How will the unlikely pair cope in the wilderness? Can Blink help her overcome her fear and will they be able to discover the secret behind the strange noises? With bright and lively colour artwork putting all the fun and fascinating bite-size facts into focus, this is the perfect, accessible chapter book series to help build confidence in new readers, and to introduce them to various concepts of science, nature and ingenious inventions!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
Call the Puffins! Muffin and the Shipwreck
Cath Howe and Ella Okstad

WHEN a rescue is needed, call in team puffin! Author, teacher and self-confessed puffin enthusiast Cath Howe works her word magic on the third book of a sparkling series starring a stellar group of young puffins. So welcome back to the island of Egg where the puffins are training to join a search and rescue team, and meet Forti, the newest recruit. He’s a bit of a dreamer and the other puffins have their work cut out looking after him! When an old wreck washes up in a storm, the puffins are told to keep away... but Forti cannot resist swimming right up to it for a closer look. But then disaster strikes and Forti's leg gets stuck in the rigging. Can Muffin, Tiny and the other puffins remain unflappable in the face of danger and save the day? Brought to life by the enchanting artwork of illustrator Ella Okstad, this gorgeous series celebrates teamwork, belonging and resilience as the new puffin team get in the swim for their exciting rescue roles. Add on an irresistible helping of fluttery fun and high-flying mischief, and youngsters are in for another perfect puffin fest!   
(Welbeck Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 4 plus
What If My Snot Glowed in the Dark?
John Bottomley and Lee Cosgrove

WHO says snot is snot funny? Youngsters will love picking their way through this brilliant over-the-top guide to bodily functions for kids who love to grin (and maybe gag?!) while they’re learning. Written by the top team of John Bottomley – a fan of all things gross who loves to make children laugh – and illustrated by Lee Cosgrove from Merseyside, What If My Snot Glowed in the Dark? is packed full of hilarious and yucky facts about the stuff that comes out of the human body. Everybody pees, poos and pukes, and everyone has icky skin and smells horrible. But have you ever wondered what would happen if your burps could power a hot air balloon? You could burp your way across the country! Or what if your farts smelled like roses? Well, you could grow a fart garden, or start a range of perfumes inspired by your farts. Or what if you never, EVER showered again? (Perish the thought!) Budding young scientists – and fun-lovers – can learn all about why their bodies do icky things as they snort and snigger their way through a veritable vat of blood, earwax, scabs, vomit and sweat. Guaranteed to either blow you away... or make you burp with laughing!
(Hodder Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3
Natterjack Toad Can't Believe It!
Sean Taylor and Kathryn Durst

A CRUNCH moment awaits a hungry natterjack toad in a tasty new picture book from the dynamic duo of award-winning author Sean Taylor and Toronto-based illustrator Kathryn Durst. Will Natterjack Toad EVER get to eat his cookies, or will he become a SNACK himself? Do you have a favourite snack? One you’ve been thinking about all day and just can’t wait to tuck into? Well, our friend Natterjack Toad has a packet of delicious chocolate-chunk crunchy-munch cookies and he can’t wait to tuck in. So, he gets himself all nice and comfortable, ready to savour every last chocolately bite – he reaches into the packet, he opens his mouth, and then... Natterjack Toad can’t believe it! Every time he tries to eat his cookies, there’s something in the way... a lanky heron, a frisky-whiskered weasel, a scurrying vole – all on the lookout for a (toady) snack themselves. Will he ever be able to eat his cookies in peace? Youngsters will love getting their teeth into Taylor’s riotous read-aloud romp which comes packed with the addictive sense of fun and delightful repetitions that are guaranteed to tickle every child’s funny bone. Add on Durst’s bold, beautiful and busy illustrations, and you have a treat for readers both young and old!
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Gloria Goes for Gold
Marina Firth and Annabel Tempest

GET into the swim with a hippo going for gold in a delightful picture book from the top team of author Marina Firth and illustrator Annabel Tempest. As the build-up for the Paris Olympics gains momentum, remind your own budding Olympians about ambition, teamwork, and what it really means to be a winner, with this funny and heartwarming cautionary tale. Gloria the hippo is from a family of synchronised swimmers. They are gifted, graceful, and even groovy, and together they ALWAYS win gold at the Artistic Swimming Championships. But Gloria dreams of a prize she doesn’t have to share so, when the Savannah Games come to town, she decides to find a sport she can win all by herself! After dabbling in sprinting, gymnastics, and swimming, it dawns on Gloria that competing solo is rather lonely. She misses her family, but is it too late for her to fill the Gloria-sized hole in their team? Get ready for Gloria to make a splash as this ambitious hippo learns that winning gold might not be the best prize at all! Brought to life by Tempest’s joyful, energetic and expressive artwork, Gloria Goes for Gold is guaranteed to win top prize with readers young and not-so-young!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

Knife River

Justine Champine

‘Her bones were discovered by a group of children playing in the woods… the subject of so much anguish and longing, hundreds of hours of searching, now uncovered in a chance moment of play.’

A CAMPAIGNING writer who has served as an organiser on the NYC Dyke March Committee and at the Lesbian Herstory Archives, Justine Champine’s short fiction has appeared in various US publications but now this exciting author turns her laser focus on a stunning debut mystery thriller which puts her firmly on the literary crime map.

From the opening chapter of this hard-hitting and atmospheric tale of two sisters coping with the discovery of their mother’s skeleton 15 years after she disappeared, Champine (pictured below) takes readers on an unforgettable journey into a shadowy world filled with tension, buried secrets, and a sense of loss that haunts the pages like a restless ghost. But the intriguing murder mystery, which simmers seductively at the beating heart of this beautifully written and created novel, is only a part of the story as Champine digs deep into the human psyche to examine the destructive fall-out from an unresolved tragedy, and the complexities of a troubled sibling relationship.

Jess and Liz Fairchild have hardly seen each other, or even talked, since Jess, then aged eighteen, walked out of the family home in the small, claustrophobic town of Knife River north of New York City ten years ago. Liz – six years older than 13-year-old Jess – had raised and cared for her younger sister after their mother Natalie mysteriously disappeared when she set off from home for a walk after a row with Liz. It was a tragedy that turned Liz into a nervous, unkempt, unsmiling kind of woman who works hard as a teller at the bank and keeps the house pretty much as her mother had it, still holding on to the hope that Mom might come back one day, and using that vain hope, Jess reckons, as an ‘excuse to remain on the outside of her own life.’

The months of waiting for news about their mother turned into years but while stubborn Liz never seemed to edge toward acceptance, lesbian Jess left home as soon as she was eighteen. Since then, she has never had her own place, fits all her things into a few bags, has found a steady job transcribing medical reports, and has moved in with one girlfriend after another.

But trying to outrun her grief and confusion has never really worked for Jess. ‘It was the wondering that ate me from the inside – there was no refuge, no depth of dreaming that could stifle it.’ She had always imagined that getting confirmation that her mother was definitely dead would feel like ‘being ripped back through time,' and knock her to the ground.

Instead the phone call from Liz telling her that their mother’s bones have been found in woodland brings Jess only ‘stillness’ and she returns home to Knife River, where the town itself seems to be frozen in time, and the two sisters are thrown together once more. As days turn into weeks, Jess reignites a love affair with her school friend Eva and finds that her understanding of the past, her sister, and herself is becoming more and more complicated... and all the while, the list of suspects responsible for her mother’s terrible fate becomes more and more ominous.

As much a heartfelt exploration of the anguish of lives left in limbo as it is the unfolding of an intriguing murder mystery, Knife River packs a powerful punch full of startling revelations, razor-sharp insight, soul-searching tenderness, and the unique bonds that mark out the relationship between two very different – but both trauma-damaged  – sisters. Through Jess and Liz, we see how the siblings have tried to manage – in their contrasting ways – the devastating disappearance of their mother without either of them achieving a solution, or a resolution, to the gaping hole in their lives.

Cocooned in memories of her mother and ‘tethered by fantasies of a miraculous return,’ stay-at-home Liz ‘left the door open a crack’ while Jess found it easier just ‘to slam it shut,’ leaving the town abruptly at adulthood, only to fall into an aimless, nomadic and unsettled life with a string of girlfriends.

With its tantalising, slow-burn plot line, an unsolved murder forever casting a long and poisonous shadow, and the added layer of a rekindled romance between Jess and her friend Eva, this is an engrossing crime thriller with a compelling psychological twist and a fierce emotional intensity that is guaranteed to take your breath away. A cracking debut!
(Manilla Press, hardback, £16.99) 

 

The Game of Hearts: True Stories of Regency Romance

Felicity Day

IN late March of 1810, a certain Mrs Spencer-Stanhope of exclusive Grosvenor Square wrote to her son bemoaning how dull London was because no ‘matches’ had been reported and ‘the flirtations’ had not yet begun.

The Regency ‘season’ was on the verge of springing to life and for the doting ‘mamas’ of Britain’s wealthiest families, romance (and scandal!) was at the beating heart of the social whirl of lavish balls, ‘at homes’ and fashionable assemblies.

This famous age of love and elaborate courtship has long captured the hearts of readers – from the enduring wit and entertainment of Jane Austen’s novels to the much-loved tales of Georgette Heyer – while contemporary Regency romance fans have been bowled over by frothy, feel-good TV costume dramas like Bridgerton. But how close to the reality of aristocratic courtships over 200 years ago are these scandal-laden adventures and sexy romps which have become such a favourite with readers and audiences down the decades? Did Regency London truly witness a place where dashing heroes and independently minded heroines flirted, fought and side-stepped scandal, all the while in the single-minded pursuit of the perfect match? And who were the real women who went looking for love in the age of elegance, and what were their lives really like?

Harnessing what she calls the perfect pairing of romance and the Regency, debut author Felicity Day (pictured left) – who enjoys writing about British history and heritage – brings us a candid, enthralling and hitherto unseen insight into the competitive world of the Regency marriage mart and the intriguing match-making, plotting and campaigns of the ruthlessly ambitious Bon Ton mothers. These are the fascinating real-life stories of rakish husbands and rich heiresses, and true tales of lost and long-lasting love… outrageously romantic adventures which some readers might well have thought were more products of lively imaginations than actual events from the past. From the day that carriages start to roll into town, cards of invitation begin to be propped up on chimney-pieces, and match-making mamas plot out their campaigns, Day takes us behind drawing room doors and into high society ballrooms and boudoirs to unearth the extraordinary seasons of the Bon Ton.

Using diaries, letters and stories of scandal from the newspapers, this fascinating exploration reveals the real women of the Regency world – their loves, their lives, their opinions and adventures – by following six leading ladies and their family, friends, and contemporaries as they move from matchmaking to matrimony and beyond.

Meet the reluctant debutante Lady Sarah Spencer who felt overshadowed by her famously beautiful mother and preferred life at her family home, Althorp in Northamptonshire, to the social whirl of London. Discover the scandalous story of Lady Augusta Boringdon, whose notorious love life involved infidelity, adultery, separation and divorce, and marvel at the trials and tribulations of Frances Anne Vane-Tempest whose interfering aunt took Frances’s betrothed, Charles, Lord Stewart, to court to try to put a stop to their marriage. And these are just some of the super-rich young women caught up in the high points and hazards of what ‘fashionably impure’ courtesan Harriette Wilson called ‘the game of hearts.’

In the hands of Felicity Day, the undeniably dazzling nature of Regency rules of romancing proves to be as irresistible and exciting in reality as it in a raft of novels… it was an age when ‘flirting meant lingering looks, locked eyes across the dance floor and the fleeting touch of hands,’ and it all took place in magnificent ballrooms bathed in the rich atmospherics of candlelight.

But Day’s compelling and thoroughly researched book is so much more than just an account of extravagant courtship customs as she digs deep into the archives to unearth the very human stories of a collection of truly captivating lives. And by showcasing the voices and opinions, hopes and desires of the women who actually lived and loved through it all, we discover that truth really is stranger than fiction when it comes to Regency romance!
(Blink Publishing, paperback, £10.99) 

Labelled With Love: A History of the World in Your Record Collection

Andy Bollen

By Guest Reviewer CRAIG FLEMING

YOU live and learn. As a child I was fascinated by the shape and style of the 13-storey Capitol Records Building, a graphic of which appeared on many of the late 1950s record sleeves in my music-loving mum and dad’s extensive collection.

I count myself lucky to have finally seen the eye-catching tower in real-life in Hollywood in 1994 on a memorable California holiday. The world’s first circular office block, with a tall spike emerging from the top, it resembles a stack of records on a turntable. Purposely designed, or so I had always assumed.

But in his book, long-time music obsessive Andy Bollen (pictured below) claims this was just an urban myth and – sure enough – my Google trawl that followed his disclosure revealed that the very effective resemblance was indeed coincidental, the client’s identity kept secret from the designer back in 1955. Labelled with Love is packed with such short and snappy ‘fanorak facts’ about the featured record labels, their founders, artists, success stories and, yes, even the odd failure. Would you have known, for instance, that Atlantic Records signed hard rock pioneers Led Zeppelin on the recommendation of 60s songthrush Dusty Springfield?

Or that cash from the sales of the Harvest label’s bestselling release, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, was used to subsidise the cult film Monty Python and the Holy Grail? Or that the  B side to Napoleon XIV’s zany They're Coming To Take Me Away was a flip side in every meaning of the word because it was the hit song played backwards, with even the printed Warner Bros. label reversed.

And who would have guessed that Sub Pop sends out rejection letters starting with the harsh yet funny ‘Dear Loser’ to those getting their hopes dashed of becoming the next big thing on the label?

As interesting and informative as these many panels are, they ultimately serve as tasty bite-sized appetisers for the satisfying feast that runs to more than 300 pages. Bollen takes readers on an insightful, sometimes quirky, journey through the many influential labels which have kept our toes tapping and our ears burning throughout the decades.

Through extensive research on a subject he obviously lives and loves, he combines historical fact with personal memories of the music and bands he grew up with or discovered later. Many labels are given their own chapter to show how talented teams – some working to the tightest of budgets and constraints of expensive studio time – understood great music and, just as importantly, knew exactly how to promote and sell it to the rest of us.

But maybe not the customary know-how in the case of A&M Records whose UK arm – having signed those darlings of punk, the Sex Pistols, in 1977 after they were ditched by EMI – promptly sacked them after just six days when the company’s founders, trumpeter Herb Alpert and promotions man Jerry Moss (the A&M in the name), baulked at the growing controversy surrounding the band.

Instead of enjoying the expected sales bonanza, A&M ordered the destruction of all 25,000 copies of the yet-to-be-released single God Save The Queen. Within weeks, Richard Branson had signed the Pistols to his Virgin label, and in doing so started to shake off its hippy image.

As Bollen, at that time still at primary school, notes: ‘It was a gamble that proved a smart move – to  offer the most notorious band in the UK, perhaps even the world, a deal. The publicity around the band had already upset and captivated millions in equal measure.’

Virgin reaped the benefits where EMI and A&M had failed. But, just like a record, what goes around definitely comes around and those sackings and hirings mean little today when consolidation in the industry sees A&M, EMI and Virgin all answering to the same bosses at Universal Music Group.

For an industry entrenched with round numbers – top 10 LPs, top 20 singles, top 30 downloads and even Bollen’s personal playlist of the top 5 albums released by each of the labels he puts under the spotlight – it comes as a surprise then to find the book’s tally inexplicably stacks up to... 59 labels!

A pity perhaps that Bollen has not given readers an extended play and stretched to chapters on 60 labels. That is no criticism, of course, but I would have been interested to know his take on, for instance, the fortunes and ultimate misfortune of Pye which was certainly a key name in the record shop racks from the year I was born in the early 1950s until just after disco’s glitterball faded in the late 1970s.

Label identity probably has limited significance to today’s younger buyers brought up on a diet of streaming, downloading and online purchases rather than a frantic or leisurely browse through boxes of singles, LPs or shiny CDs in shops which were par for the course for previous generations. You would even be hard pressed to find a record rack in a supermarket these days.

But the unfolding, informative tale of recorded music – from pioneering techniques to ever-changing public taste, and the way Bollen puts all this into perspective – should provide more than a passing interest to any music lover, regardless of their age or favourite sounds.

The big five companies, which later became four, now stand at just three conglomerates with a worldwide reach. Universal, Warner and Sony effectively control the bulk of what we listen to, whether these are reissued legacy sounds from a seemingly bottomless archive or the latest release from the proverbial next big thing.

They have swallowed up so many long-standing labels – including maverick independents such as Immediate, Island and Stiff, along with bigger pioneering names like Polydor, Parlophone, Columbia, Motown, Decca, RCA, Reprise, Fontana and Chess – each, at one time, labelled with the love of the listener.
(The History Press, paperback, £20)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Money matters, a world of stories and wartime danger

Learn how to make the most of your finances, discover the stories that are the building blocks of the world’s cultural heritage, be swept away to the perils of wartime Europe, return to a secret land where the wilderness and magic are alive, and enjoy a coruscating cornucopia of fascinating facts about the human body with a summertime selection of children’s books

Age 11 plus
Deborah Meaden Talks Money
Deborah Meaden

CAN finance ever be fun? The answer is yes when the topic is in the capable hands of Dragons’ Den investor and entrepreneur Deborah Meaden. Deborah Meaden Talks Money – an unmissable non-fiction book about money and finance for young people – is the first of a new trend-led series for children aged from eleven to sixteen and is the perfect, empowering introduction to money and finance. Money is such a huge part of our lives so learning how to make it work best for you is a crucial skill. Knowledge is power! Whether you want to earn money, save money, set goals, or set up and grow a business, Meaden will be your personal guide, demystifying the world of finance and sharing the knowledge and insights that have made her one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs. So if you’re fearful of finance, take heart that you are not alone. Discover how to budget like a boss, deal with debt, finance your future and power your pension. Talks Money comes packed with podcast-style interviews with ordinary young people, as well as top business people and personalities, including Steven Bartlett, Joe Lycett, Gary Neville and Sophie Ellis-Bextor who reveal the secrets to their success... and the mistakes they’ve made along the way. With Q&As, quizzes, tips and challenges, the book helps youngsters build the skills and confidence they need to manage finances and reduce money worries. The ideal way to make finance exciting, relatable and personal.
(Red Shed, paperback, £9.99)

Age 7 plus
Stories That Built Our World
Caroline Rowlands and Alette Straathof

ONCE upon a time (actually, a long, long, time ago!) a story was told. Then, over time, that story was handed down through the generations, becoming a mythical, legendary tale and a building block of our cultural heritage. For as long as humans have existed, tales of adventure and wonder have entertained and educated people in every society around the globe. These ancient stories are sometimes based on fact, but other times they are pure fiction, and have been shared by word of mouth, written text, through songs and dances and even in sculptures and paintings. But research carried out by young and vibrant children’s publisher Noodle Juice with teachers and school librarians revealed that many children today (and over 50 per cent of primary school teachers they spoke to) no longer know these pivotal tales, meaning we are in danger of losing their impact on future society. And after looking at the evidence, the publishers have created Stories That Built Our World which features a tale for every week of the year and is designed to be both an effective and joyful resource in primary schools. The book – a dazzling blend of Caroline Rowlands’ masterful story retellings and illustrator Alette Straathof’s sumptuous watercolour artwork – brings together 52 tales of adventure and wonder, and includes everything from Perrault’s fairy tales, Norse sagas and Scheherazade’s 1001 Arabian Nights to Shakespeare’s comedies and African, North American, Innuit and Indian folk tales. The perfect resource for home or school, Stories That Built Our World ensures these precious, life-enhancing stories are not lost and teaches children about the tales that inform our culture, our language and our understanding of other peoples.
(Noodle Juice, hardback, £18.99)

Age 11 plus
The Teenage Guide to Digital Wellbeing
Find the balance to live your best life
Tanya Goodin

NAVIGATING the digital world is a minefield for many tweens and teens so let author, podcaster and  digital wellbeing expert Tanya Goodin guide them safely through the pluses and pitfalls with this invaluable, friendly guide. With a pledge to help youngsters live their best life both offline and on, the book is not about urging teenagers to give up their devices forever... it’s about being more mindful of how they use them and inspires them to set their devices aside (sometimes anyway!) and start living in the here and now. Digital wellbeing is all about finding the balance between the digital world and the real world... and making sure we use smartphones and other digital devices in a healthy way, while living fulfilling lives beyond the screen. Goodin, who is founder of the ‘Time to Log Off’ movement, packs her guide with positive prompts, thought-provoking science, and hands-on activities to encourage healthy habits around screen use... including nostalgic crafts, retro tech scavenger hunts, and phone-free nature excursions, plus practical tips on how to deal with digital challenges like comparison culture on social media, cyberbullying, trolling, and much more. Teenagers discover how to develop healthy habits, identify priorities and set achievable goals as well as know their own screen limits and deal with digital distractions. There is also advice on staying safe and savvy on the internet, and focusing on the positive and productive uses of smartphones (no more doom-scrolling!) Learn how to quieten your inner critics, how to nurture friendships and family relationships offline and on, and how to build resilience and self-confidence to live healthily and happily with digital devices. The Teenage Guide to Digital Wellbeing is essential reading for all youngsters, and full of good advice for parents who want to understand how they can help and support their children through the tricky world of smartphones and digital devices.
(Collins, paperback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus
Code Name Kingfisher
Liz Kessler

LOSE yourself in a moving dual timeline story featuring two generations – several decades apart – and the plight of a Jewish family caught up in the Nazi terrors of wartime Holland. Code Name Kingfisher springs from the vivid imagination of Liz Kessler, author of twenty-three books for both children and young adults, including the outstanding novel When the World Was Ours. Inspired by her father’s experiences when he escaped from Nazi-occupied Europe just before the start of World War Two, her moving and insightful wartime adventures have won the hearts of readers of all ages. Weaving together the narratives of a 13-year-old girl struggling with friendship issues, and her 92-year-old grandmother whose dementia is slowly wiping out her memory bank, Kessler whisks us away to 1942 where we find two sisters under strict orders to hide their Jewish identities. The world is at war and as the Nazis’ power grows, Jewish families are in terrible danger. Twelve-year-old Mila and her older sister Hannie are sent to live with a family in another city with new identities and the strict instruction not to tell anyone that they are Jewish. Hannie, determined to fight back, is swept into the Dutch resistance as an undercover agent... Code Name Kingfisher. And although Mila does her best to make friends and keep out of trouble, there is danger at every turn and the sisters are soon left questioning who they can trust…

In the present day, Jewish schoolgirl Liv is finding life tough. Her long-time best friend Karly – she’s the one with the ‘loud personality’ – has got in with a new group of friends, has very little to do with Liv now, and seems to find pleasure in making fun of her. Liv’s grandmother Bubbe hasn’t been the same since grandad, Pop, died and now the old lady, who has always been secretive, is confused and sad. But then Liv finds a box from grandmother Bubbe’s childhood and uncovers an extraordinary wartime story of bravery, betrayal and daring defiance...a story that will change Liv and her family forever, and which goes back to Holland in 1942. Kessler’s compelling and suspense-packed story is both timely and heart-rending, reminding us of the terrible crimes and cruelties perpetrated by the Nazis against Jewish people, and the importance of not forgetting events in the past that have shaped our future. But as well as delivering a thrilling and atmospheric adventure across two very different timelines, Code Name Kingfisher explores themes of female friendship, family, courage, connection, and ultimately, hope against a superbly imagined and emotionally charged backdrop. A masterpiece of storytelling and real history with echoes that speak loudly in today’s world...
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Greenwild: The City Beyond the Sea
Pari Thomson and Elisa Paganelli

RETURN to the secret world where the wilderness is alive and the magic is real in the second book of the fabulous, prize-winning Greenwild debut series from Pari Thomson, editorial director for picture books at Bloomsbury Children’s Books. Thomson’s aim was to write ‘a loveletter to the beauty of the natural world’ and she ended up with a thrilling eco-adventure series which has all the hallmarks of a Harry Potter-style classic and is brought to life by Elisa Paganelli’s stunning illustrations, delivering an alluring brand of botanical wizardry. Starring an intrepid young girl desperately trying to track down her missing journalist mum, these spellbinding tales of magic and mystery are breathtaking in the sheer power of their world building, characterisation and imaginative storytelling.   

After stepping through a mysterious hidden doorway at Kew Gardens, Daisy Thistledown found herself in another world... the Greenwild. It’s a place bursting with magic and full of amazing natural wonders like roses the size of dinner plates and giant lilypads that ferry passengers across lakes. But Daisy is on a mission to find her kidnapped mother and despite defeating a terrible enemy, she still hasn’t found her. So Daisy and her friends in the Five O’Clock Club have smuggled aboard a long-awaited expedition to the heart of the Amazon but soon find themselves in danger on the high seas, pursued across the waves by Grim Reapers. Their only hope is to find the legendary Iffenwild, a mysterious city hidden beyond the sea and lost to time. What they hadn’t reckoned on was a strange, wild magic that is stirring beneath the waves. It will take all of Daisy’s courage and determination – and the trust of a new friend – if she is to discover the truth that haunts Iffenwild, and save the magical world before it’s too late. Thomson’s astonishing botanical wonders are a fantastical creation, the products of people who care deeply for a natural world that is wild and strange but hidden inside these unforgettable escapades are concerns about the future of our forests and oceans, and a joyful celebration of the magic, beauty and excitement that is out there in the wild if we only take the time to pause, enjoy it, and value it. Written in Thomson’s elegant, descriptive prose, and with an addictive sense of adventure, fantasy and fun, Greenwild is an exceptional debut trilogy which can be enjoyed and treasured by readers from nine to ninety!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 8 plus
Always Anthony
Terri Libenson 

SCHOOL is full of challenges… just ask chalk and cheese (or so they think!) classmates Anthony and Leah! Always Anthony is the eighth brilliantly empathetic book in the bestselling Emmie & Friends graphic novel series from bestselling US author and cartoonist Terri Libenson and is told from the alternating narratives of popular Anthony, a Black boy with dyslexia, and timid Leah, a Jewish girl from a single-parent home, as they grapple with a bullying incident at school. And in her much-loved, trademark style, Libenson’s latest look at middle school life is packed full of her lively illustrations and perfectly pitched at the eight-plus age group who are just starting to learn the ways of the world. Here young readers meet Anthony who is TPFW (Too Popular For Words), loves science, hates writing, and Leah, a super-shy nerd who’s finally making friends of her own. What could they have in common? A lot more than they thought, as it turns out! But then one day they witness Anthony’s team-mates bullying a sixth grader. What happens next could cement their new friendship... or blow it up forever. Libenson’s funny, tender and heartfelt story about unexpected friendship and everyday bravery is full of relatable incidents and dialogue, and explores issues like teenage boys’ mental health and the struggle to express feelings, which are guaranteed to strike a chord with young readers.
(HarperCollins, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Everything You Know About the Human Body is Wrong!
Emma Young and Maribel Lechuga

IF you thought that every part of your body is human and that the appendix doesn’t actually do anything, then you’d better think again! Youngsters will love impressing friends and family with their bodily knowledge brilliance when they dive into this coruscating cornucopia of fascinating facts about the human body. Curious readers will quickly become experts with this informative, inventive and entertaining take on an anatomy book. Do you know everything there is to know about the body? Humans have all of the answers about how it works, right? Well, this book is here to show you that you’re WRONG! But don’t worry because even the experts can’t be right all the time and this fun-filled, factual book is here to uncover the truth. From breathtaking brain tricks to awesome undiscovered senses, discover how everything you think you know about the human body is actually untrue in this in-depth, ingenious look at the workings of the human body. With an intriguing, friendly and easy-to-understand text written by award-winning science, health and medical journalist Emma Young, and Spanish illustrator Maribel Lechuga’s amazingly designed and detailed colour artwork on every page, this beautifully produced hardback gift book, with its stunning tactile cover, will impress readers of any age. Also available in this series are Everything You Know About Dinosaurs is Wrong!, Everything You Know About Minibeasts is Wrong! and Everything You Know About Sharks is Wrong!
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £14.99)

Age 7 plus
Fantastically Great Women Sports Stars and Their Stories
Kate Pankhurst

MEET one of the greatest gymnasts of her generation, a small town girl who became a big football star, and a woman who wins in the water and out of it, in the latest inspirational book from Kate Pankhurst, a descendant of Emmeline Pankhurst, the famous organiser of the UK suffragette movement. Pankhurst, an author and illustrator, has captured the hearts and minds of young readers with her internationally successful Fantastically Great Women series and in this new book, she tells the fascinating stories of some of history’s most talented female sports stars. So be inspired to aim for the top of the sporting tree as we travel to Greece and watch Cynisca, a Spartan princess, become the first ever woman to win at the ancient Olympic Games, and touch the heavens with Junko Tabei as she carves her path through history and mountain ranges with little applause but a lot of bravery.  

Also featured are five times Wimbledon champion Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Dod, women’s sport pioneer Alice Milliat, Junko Tabei who was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, Derartu Tulu, the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal, Brazilian Marta Vieira da Silva, regarded as the greatest female footballer of all time, British Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds, and Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history. From football superstars to trailblazing Olympians, women throughout history have fought for the right to take part, win or lose, in sports across the globe. Whether they were the Lionesses on the pitch who won the UEFA European Championship in 2022, or behind the scenes setting up rival games when the Olympics said NO to women, these women are all sporting heroes. With diary entries, postcard messages, maps and more, Fantastically Great Women Sports Stars and Their Stories is a celebration of just some of the women whose tenacity and skill have made a mark on the world. The perfect gift for your budding sports stars!  
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
The World’s First Rollercoaster: and Other Amazing Inventions
Mike Barfield and Franziska Höllbacher

DISCOVER the amazing stories of some of the world’s most famous inventions in this fun-filled compendium of curiosities told in comic-book form by Blue Peter Award-winner Mike Barfield, a writer, poet, performer, songwriter, ukulele player and award-winning cartoonist. Packed with the joyful and colourful illustrations of Munich-based artist Franziska Höllbacher, this clever and entertaining book – the first of a three-book non-fiction series from Barfield – offers children an irresistible way into science and technology, with a delightful dash of history. Did you know that bubble wrap started life as a new type of wallpaper that didn’t catch on, or that Lonnie Johnson invented the Nerf Super Soaker while working on a NASA mission to Saturn? Barfield digs into the past to tell the fascinating true stories behind an amazing range of wild, weird and wacky inventions and innovations. From bubble wrap to the barcode, instant noodles to drones, from rollercoasters to supermarkets, pizzas to post-its, and from trainers to the teddy bear, the story of each invention is told in a lively and child-friendly comic-strip format as we meet the colourful cast of characters involved in the lightbulb moments which left their mark on the world. Fun, facts and fascinating world firsts from start to finish!
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £10.99)

Age 4 plus
Why Do We Need Worms?
Katie Daynes and Moesha Kellaway

DISCOVER why worms are so much more than wiggly minibeasts! Inquisitive little pre-schoolers will love digging into this bold, bright and brilliant life-the-flap First Questions and Answers book which delves deep underground to find out what worms do all day (and night!) Written by Katie Daynes, and with flaps to lift, simple explanations, and Moesha Kellaway’s gorgeous, colourful illustrations on every page, this fascinating, fact-filled board book explores a wonderful world of microbes, plant roots and creepy crawlies, and reveals the crucial role they all play in making soil just right for plants to grow. Little hands will enjoy lifting the flaps to discover answers to all the intriguing questions in this entertaining and enlightening book. A wild and wonderful wiggle underground through twelve exciting pages of fun and flaps!
(Usborne Publishing, board book, £9.99)

Age 3 plus
Mrs Owl’s Forest School: The Moonlit Campout
Ruth Symons, Seb Braun and Lizzie Noble

IF you go down to the woods today... you’ll find fun at a very special forest school! The joys of the great outdoors spring to glorious (and fascinating!) life in the second adventure of an inspirational picture book series which aims to get youngsters into the wild and wonderful world of nature. Deep in the woods, beneath the trees, the animals are gathering. It's time for Mrs Owl's Forest School. Join Mouse, Squirrel, Fox and Rabbit for a little forest school adventure. Out in the woods, they can learn about wildlife, try something new, get creative and – of course – make friends! And today they are learning how to go camping for the night. Written by author Ruth Symons in consultation with Lizzie Noble, a forest childcare provider with experience of running creative, play-based forest school sessions for families, and featuring richly detailed and colourful scenes created by French artist Seb Braun, these beautiful books will have little ones itching to explore their local woodland. And with exciting, fact-packed stories to share, and lots of activities to try for yourself, the Mrs Owl’s Forest School books are the perfect accompaniment for summertime adventures.
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
The Poo That Grew
Peter Bently and Nick East

IT'S a fact hard to swallow but some creatures like eating poo! Bestselling duo, author Peter Bently and illustrator Nick East, have fun with a ‘delicious’ cautionary tale about nature’s need for dung beetles in their laugh-out-loud picture book. Little ones will be giggling from start to finish as they discover the disastrously, pooey results when the dung beetles go on strike. ‘The animals were in a funk. The poop was EVERYWHERE. It stuck to paw and claw and trunk, To tail and horn and hair.’ Dung beetles love to chew on other animals’ tasty poo but when the monkeys make fun of them for having such a stinky lunch, the beetles decide to munch elsewhere. What the monkeys don’t realise is that without the beetles, there’s no one to clean up their business. And so, the pile of poo grew and grew and GREW. Bently lets his richly creative imagination take flight over what might happen if dung beetles stopped doing their job and shows children that every creature is important to our environment, even those that are small and smelly! Add on East’s bold, bright and super-colourful illustrations and there’s tasty treat in store for all young readers!
(‎Hodder Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age one plus
Gigantosaurus: Giganto Games
Cyber Group Studios

JOIN four daring dinos as they compete in the epic Giganto Games! There are pages of action-packed fun to enjoy with Bill, Rocky, Mazu and Tiny in a super, sporting quest which sees the dinosaur pals vying for fame, glory and a delicious reward. This heartwarming and roaringly good adventure comes packed with dinosaur love and is based on the Gigantosaurus TV series which is developed by Paris-based Cyber Group Studios from characters created by Scottish-born author and illustrator Jonny Duddle. Here we find the foursome racing, climbing and competing for glory in Cretacia’s greatest sporting event... the Giganto Games. The prize up for grabs is a delicious, glistening golden pineapple, the tastiest you’ve ever seen. But as Bill becomes more and more determined to win, how far will he go to secure the prize? Will his selfish antics put his friends in danger? Perhaps good friends are the best prize of all... It’s no surprise that Duddle’s award-winning picture book Gigantosaurus has been a global hit with the TV series launching in America on Disney Junior in 2019 and in the UK in 2020 on Tiny POP. So follow the dinos on this adorable and joyful adventure and watch out for more Gigantosaurus fun!
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £6.99)

Age from birth
Black & White
Black & White in Colour
Tana Hoban

BEFORE babies can see colour clearly, they respond to the high contrast between black and white, so let them feast their eyes on these delightful concertina board books from the iconic American photographer and filmmaker Tana Hoban. Hoban (1917–2006) was the creator of more than one hundred books for children and her photographs have been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and in galleries around the world. 

Black & White is the perfect first book for newborns, created in a concertina-style fold-out format and sturdy enough to stand by itself. It features fourteen bold black-and-white high-contrast images of everything from a baby bottle to a banana and a bib – to engage babies and very young children, help their brains develop, and stimulate development in the retina and the optic nerve. Next in the sequence is Black & White in Colour which features iconic black-and-white images of recognisable objects from a child’s world accompanied by full-colour photographs of adorable babies interacting with the objects. Also created in a concertina-style, the book is ideal for little hands, and features Hoban’s bold black and white images of familiar objects – like a bottle, a spoon and a flower – along with full-colour photographs of adorable babies interacting with those objects. Cleverly designed and full of entertainment and education, Black & White in Colour encourages a baby’s brain to make connections in an ever-expanding world. And with a handy Velcro fastener, both these books are perfect for sharing at tummy time and an ideal gift for new parents.
(Greenwillow Books, paperback, £6.99 each)