Age 8 plus
Secret FACTopia! Follow the Trail of 400 Hidden Facts
Paige Towler and Andy Smith
DID you know that police in Iran once arrested a group of squirrels because they thought that they were spies? If you think that sounds too bizarre to be true, then ‘steal’ your way through this amazing trail of 400 hidden facts which lie buried in the worlds of detectives, poisons, lost cities, spy gadgets and plenty more. Written by American author, poet and editor Paige Towler and the Britannica Group, and brought to life by amazing photographs and award-winning Andy Smith’s witty and wonderful illustrations,Secret FACTopia! is the seventh title in the dynamic and bestselling FACTopia! series created by the inventive boffins at Britannica Books. And as with the other titles in the series, Secret FACTopia! is verified by Encyclopaedia Britannica and doesn’t offer just one trail through a multitude of facts. Each of the 400 mysterious facts is connected in surprising and sneaky ways and an ingenious web of information lets you leapfrog from topic to topic.
With entertainment guaranteed all the way, young readers
discover everything from secret recipes and escape artists to hidden treasure
and invisibility cloaks. Marvel at how in the first half of the 20th
century, women across Europe acted as spies by hiding codes in their knitting,
meet an underwear-stealing cat, find out about sharks that glow, uncover a
toilet in disguise and learn about the biggest ever game of hide-and-seek. And
the facts aren’t the only secrets in this book because hidden among the
illustrations are ten mice just waiting to be found! Filled with Smith’s lavish artwork, this enthralling and
hilarious book is a joy ride from start to finish and youngsters will be eager
to share their dazzling array of curious ‘discoveries’ with their friends and
family. And that’s a fact!
(Britannica Books, hardback, £10.99)
Oddney’s Otherland
Sarah Matthews and Rodney Matthews
WHAT would you do if you found a tunnel beneath your shed
and what if you knew it led to a whole other world? Get lost in a deliciously
daffy ‘otherland’ and marvel at a world brought to life with dazzling colour
and imagination in a spectacular fantasy adventure from talented husband and
wife team, acclaimed fantasy album artist Rodney Matthews and debut children’s
author Sarah Matthews. This beautifully created hardback book – with a foreword by
writer and comedian John Cleese – is packed with thrills and comedy and
features an explorer on an epic quest to find a two-headed firedrake dragon in
the ‘Otherworld’ under his shed. Move over retirement, for naturalist Professor Oddney has discovered
his Uncle Cuthbert’s old journal and a mysterious tunnel beneath his shed which
he feels compelled to investigate. Joined by his trusty sidekick, Magnus the
talking magpie, the pair soon find themselves on a daring quest and a
wonderfully absurd journey to a weird and fiery hidden world called Otherland.
And it’s there they must find the mighty beast known as The Two-Headed
Firedrake. But it’s a place that is also inhabited by Grumpy Meadow Gnomes,
Bloated Hobgoblins, the Rhubarbarian, Great Leaping Buttock-Biters and the
despicable Dragoner. And as they navigate this strange new land, they must find
out who to trust... and who might help them in their quest. With a wild and whimsical story – packed with soaraway
imagination, madcap antics and buttock-snapping inhabitants, and exploring themes
of kindness and friendship – all brought to life by Rodney Matthews’ lavish and
atmospheric illustrations, this is a book to love and treasure.
(Rodney Matthews Studios, hardback, £16.99)
Mawson in Antarctica:
To the Ends of the Earth
Joanna Grochowicz
DISCOVER the incredible story of the young Australians who
diced with death when they took part in a wind, ice and snow-lashed polar
expedition on the freezing edges of Antarctica over 100 years ago. Polar historian and author Joanna Grochowicz digs out the
true story of the famous expedition led by geologist Sir Douglas Mawson whose Australasian
Antarctic Expedition of 1911-14 included mainly young men in their early to
mid-20s and involved battling the elements in minus 17 degree temperatures. Hunkering down in the windiest place on Earth, eighteen young
Australians eagerly await a chance to prove themselves as polar explorers and
scientists. The spring sledging season will bring adventure, danger, and the
discovery of new lands under the command of Douglas Mawson who had visited
Antarctica once before and had declared he would never go back. But tragedy
also lies in wait. Mawson’s tale is legendary, an epic struggle between one man’s
self-belief and the worst conditions the hostile polar environment can throw at
him. His journey represents not only a feat of physical endurance but also a
triumph of the human spirit’s ability to conjure hope when luck has all but run
out. With graphic descriptions of Antarctica, Grochowicz’s fast-paced
and exquisitely written story reveals in fascinating detail the human
aspirations and tragedies that have shaped our understanding of the polar
regions. Drawing on diaries, letters and expedition narratives from
archives and personal collections around the world, her portrayal of historical
figures and the interplay of personalities lend her work a grittiness and
authenticity that is not often present in historical writing for children and
young adults.
(Allen & Unwin Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)
The Boy to Beat the Gods
Ashley Thorpe
A YOUNG boy must battle against the power of angry gods in a
thrilling debut novel from Ashley Thorpe, a Black British author who works as
an editor for Storymix, helping other writers to create epic stories. And this
action-packed, high-stakes, fantasy adventure is certainly epic as it harnesses
the incredible pantheon of Orishas, the divine spirits which play a key role in
the Yoruba mythology of West Africa and are part of Thorpe’s ancestry. Kayode
dreams of eating the forbidden fruit of the Orishas in order to gain their
power and stop these merciless beings who terrorise his people. So when a fruit
mysteriously appears in his path after the Orishas snatch his sister, he leaps
on it. Surging with new and difficult-to-control powers, he joins forces with a
shapeshifting trickster god and a vengeful princess to save his sister and put
an end to the mighty Orishas. But each has more fearful powers than the last...
and Kayode's stolen half-god strength won’t last forever. Youngsters will be
willing on plucky Kayode as he battles against the odds in a heart-thumping
quest full of magical world-building, fast and furious adventures and
spine-tingling danger. Epic fun from start to finish!
(Usborne, paperback, £7.99)
Bunny vs Monkey: The Impossible Pig
Jamie Smart
HOLD on to your hats and watch out for trouble… Bunny and
Monkey are back in their exhilarating remastered series which delivers all the
comedy and chaos of the daffy duo’s helter-skelter world! This outrageously
funny eighth book in the super-popular series introduces youngsters to the
hilarious, all-powerful pig, and features 230 pages of fast and furry-ous
exuberant fun and a draw-it-yourself activity. Bunny and Monkey are part of the Phoenix Presents series,
published by David Fickling Books in partnership with The Phoenix comic, which is
going from strength to strength, and much of that success is due to the genius
of the extraordinarily talented illustrator Jamie Smart whose comic-strip Bunny
vs Monkey books are causing giant laughter waves. So welcome back to the Woods where chaos reigns supreme once
more! There is uproar everywhere because Pig has vanished. What could have
happened to him? And who is this familiar-looking bearded figure sitting on a
cloud? Could they be connected? Laugh-out-loud comical and ingeniously addictive, these
manic, high-energy stories were just made for fidgety readers who like their
books to come with plenty of comic-strip pictures and loads of snorts and
sniggers. Madcap antics for a new generation of action kids!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)
Age 7 plus
Lola and Larch Save the Sunshine Spell
Sinéad O’Hart and Rachel Seago
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)
Wildsmith: The Hidden Sea
Liz Flanagan and Joe Todd-Stanton
FEEL the magic, get lost in a fantastical world, and enjoy
turning the pages of the third book of the enchanting Wildsmith series from
Yorkshire author and teacher Liz Flanagan who puts wildlife conservation at the
heart of her stories. Best known for her popular Dragon Daughter books,
Flanagan has teamed up with award-winning illustrator Joe Todd-Stanton to
deliver thrilling and imaginative fantasy adventures that combine the
favourite, child-friendly ingredients of magical creatures, family, friendship
and fun. Rowan, whom we first met when she discovered the secret of her
identity, has started to embrace her gifts as a magical wildsmith which enable
her to heal and speak to animals. But when she finds herself alone and far from
home, this time Rowan is the one who needs to be rescued! She travels deep into
enemy territory and makes some surprising discoveries, coming face to face with
great danger. With the help of new friends – and old ones – will she ever make
it home again? Young readers cannot help but fall under the spell of these
sparkling adventures which feature Todd-Stanton’s dream-like illustrations, the
excitement and joy of fostering animals, and a magical cast of characters that
includes baby dragons and white winged stallions known as pegasi. A totally
wild all-round winner!
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
Tiny Dogs: The Lost School Pet
Rose Lihou
JUST because you’re a tiny dog doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy
BIG adventures! Join a little girl as she starts a new school in the second
book of an enchanting series which has been perfectly created by dog-lover Rose
Lihou, a debut children’s author and illustrator. Tiny Dogs stars four
delightfully tiny dogs who share fun and adventures with a little girl who is
settling into her new life with her mum and grandparents in a small village,
far away from the big town that she has always known. Now the big day has
arrived and it’s Bea's first day at her new school. She's nervous about making
new friends but with the help of Sorrel, Willow, Pepper and Clover, her tiny
dog friends who cheer her on, Bea’s confidence blooms. She quickly learns how
to make new friends and her first day at school is a breeze... until Bamboo the
class hamster goes missing and Bea was the last person to play with him. Join
the FIND BAMBOO club and earn your Animal Hero badge with Bea and the tiny dogs
as they work together to find Bamboo! With Lihou’s emotive and colourful
illustrations, reassuring messages about building confidence, finding your
voice, and discovering the joys of friendship and nature, little ones will
already be tugging on the lead for the next Tiny Dogs adventure!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)
Perla: The Mighty Dog
Isabel Allende and Sandy Rodriguez
MEET a very special dog called Perla! She has two
superpowers... she can roar like a lion and she can make people love her! Perla:
The Mighty Dog is the first title in a cute canine picture book series from internationally
bestselling author Isabel Allende and award winning illustrator Sandy Rodriguez.
Allende – the most-read author in the Spanish language throughout the world
with 74 million books sold – was inspired to write her debut children’s book by
her own much-loved rescue dog. So meet Perla, a small dog with a BIG
personality and a very impressive roar. When she is adopted by the Ricos, a
Mexican-American family in search of a guard dog, Perla quickly makes friends
with seven-year-old Nico Rico – now her human brother – who needs someone to
help him deal with the school bullies. Soon Perla has changed the lives of
everyone in the Rico family… and found a place in their hearts forever. Children
will love sharing magical adventures with feisty dog Perla and her new loving
best friend and brother Nico. With messages about family love and fighting back
against the bullies, this inspirational story – complete with Rodriguez’s
heart-melting illustrations – will have young readers sitting up and begging
for more!
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)
Where’s Gigantosaurus?
Cyber Group Studios
JOIN four daring dino friends as they adventure across
Cretacia in this bumper prehistoric search-and-find activity book which has over
100 things to spot! These dino darlings are 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. Have you seen Rocky, Bill,
Mazu and Tiny? Can you find where the MIGHTY Giganto is hiding? This dino-tastic
activity book includes 12 renowned locations from the Gigantosaurus TV series,
from the den and the jungle to the beach, the secret cave playground and lots
more. Enjoy the fun-filled adventures with everyone’s favourite dinos and keep
your eyes peeled because there is so much to look for!
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £6.99)
Adventure Babies
Rosamund Lloyd and Chris Dickason
BABIES just love having fun... and there are miles of smiles
on every page of this delightful board book. Learn to count from one to ten and
follow the antics of an adorable group of fearless babies who are hungry for
adventure. From skydiving to surfing, and from circus tricks to deep-sea diving
and big dipper-riding, these babies are on the move. But after all that fun,
they can’t help but fall fast asleep in the clouds! This joyful, chunky board
book – colourfully illustrated by Chris Dickason –helps babies to learn to count
from one to ten in a lively and engaging way, and features a mix of photos and
illustrations to bring the adorable babies to life in extraordinary adventure scenes.
And with Rosamund Lloyd’s bouncy rhyme to read aloud, lots to spot on every
page, a summary at the back to help little ones remember numbers, and a
surprise mirror at the back, this is a book you can count on!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)
Bear's Wash Day
Nicola Kent
CAN you help a little Bear do the washing? Follow Bear and
his friend Croc around the house as they do the laundry and show your little
one all the steps of household chores – loading the washing, pouring the soap
and tumble drying – in a charming and engaging way. Full of flaps, wheels and
even a slider, this hands-on introduction to busy chores for little paws is the
work of award-winning author and illustrator Nicola Kent. So roll up your
sleeves, turn on the fun and get your little ones in a spin with with this picture
perfect exploration of grown-up tasks for tiny tots!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)
Hide and Seek with
the Baby Animals
Molly Littleboy and Gareth Lucas
LITTLE ones will be in a flap when they get their hands on
this enchanting board book which features a menagerie of noisy baby animals
playing hide and seek! Will their chirps, barks and squeaks give them away? Written
by Molly Littleboy and colourfully illustrated by Gareth Lucas, Hide and Seek
with the Baby Animals is the latest book in a fun and educational lift-the-flap
board book series for young toddlers. Full of fun and rich detail, the story
encourages children to search for their favourite pets behind the illustrated
felt flaps. With Littleboy’s delightful rhyming text and a host of cheeky baby
animals to find, this seek-and-find book is perfect for hands-on entertainment!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)
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