Age 9 plus
The Storm and the Sea Hawk
Kiran Millwood Hargrave
RETURN to a fantastical adventure... one that is built on the foundations of the real world and brims with the kind of alluring, elemental magic that stretches your imagination into its furthest and most fertile regions. The Storm and the Sea Hawk is the second gripping book of an epic Geomancer trilogy which explores the magic of nature, the lure of power and the strength of love, and comes from the incredible mind of award-winning author Kiran Millwood Hargrave. Hargrave, who is also a poet and playwright, puts heart and soul into these lyrically written and action-packed fantasy adventures which are based on her research into ley lines, earth grids and the planet’s ‘natural patterns and disruptions,’ and create a wild and wonderful landscape which, enticingly, could or could not be authentic.
Unlock a magic that could change the world... or destroy it.
Ysolda – an ancient orphan girl who has lived her life in the shadow of the
wolf queen’s tyrannical rule – is on the run. She is with Eira, a princess who
is the wolf queen’s daughter, and they are travelling to the wilds of the
Drakken Peak on the back of a huge sea wolf. With her faithful sea hawk Nara by
her side, Ysolda’s quest to find the fabled and powerful magic of the Geomancer
is just beginning... Using locations inspired by the Celtic Rainforests, the Lake
District, the Scottish pinewoods and Stroma, an uninhabited island between
Orkney and the mainland of Scotland, Hargrave invites readers to celebrate the
sheer wonder of ‘the world we live on... a marvel too easily taken for granted.’ But these are also intensely creative stories that celebrate
magic and the bonds of friendship and family as we witness Ysolda’s
breathtaking bravery, feel the raw power of her emotions, and meet a cast of
amazing animal characters. Another dazzling adventure in a supercharged series that is
destined to be a modern classic.
(Orion Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)
Sword of the Sun
Sinéad O’Hart
OLD meets new in a glorious explosion of magic, mystery and
myth as master storyteller Sinéad O’Hart draws on Celtic folklore and her own
Irish heritage for a breathtaking adventure in a wildly imaginative landscape. Drawing on the rich mythology of Ireland, and sensitively
juxtaposing the contemporary challenges of moving house, living in a blended
family and settling in a new area, Sword of the Sun is an evocative thrill ride
with a cast of unlikely heroes and an atmosphere that keeps readers hooked to
the last page. When Ben and his family have to leave Dublin and move into
the remote house in County Clare where his mother grew up, he’s not at all optimistic
about what lies ahead. For him and his brother Fin, it will mean fitting in to
life with his aunts and a cousin he doesn’t even know. What Ben doesn’t expect
is that he will be drawn into the mysteries of the wild mystical landscape. But
he can sense its power, and he can see a light shining from the mountain on the
horizon. Even stranger, crows are gathering, watching him and haunting his
dreams. As Ben uncovers the stories of Ireland’s mythical heroes and warriors
that obsessed his grandfather right up until he died, Ben begins to wonder if
there is more to the tales than pure fantasy. It seems like trouble is stirring...
will he have the power to face it? O’Hart has a real gift for character development and
conjuring up thrilling fantasy worlds in which youngsters are pitted against powerful
forces and must use all their ingenuity, bravery and determination to save both
themselves and the places and people they hold dear. Played out against a stunning backdrop that melds real life
and teen angst with ancient folklore and fantasy, peppered with humour, and
with a sense of impending doom that grips from almost the moment the brothers
arrive at their new home, this is an adventure with a big story to tell... and
a big, warm Irish heart!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)
Raz Beri
Matt Stephens
A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND teenager learns that instead of trying to
be more like the cool, and sometimes cruel, kids in his class, he can earn more
respect by just being himself in an inspirational story from Matt Stephens who
lives in Bristol. Stephens, who writes
for adults under the name Ed Trewavas, says his turbulent past has been soothed
by yoga, meditation and the realisation that human good outweighs human evil,
and this insightful tale certainly packs both a powerful and empowering punch. ‘I
could be cool as well. If I could just pluck up the courage to show them...’
Thirteen-year-old Billy Turpin uses a wheelchair because he has cerebral palsy,
and he’s had enough of his classmates treating him differently. But then Mia –
the cool and gutsy new girl who also uses a wheelchair –arrives and announces a
school visit from her uncle Danny Cash who is a famous footballer and captain
of the England team no less. Maybe being a star footballer in front of his
classmates will help Billy prove to his class that he can be just like them.
But when even the famous footballer turns out to be just as bad as the school
bullies, Billy begins to realise that perhaps he doesn’t need to prove anything
to anyone but himself. With themes of football, fitting in and true friendship
at centre stage, Raz Beri explores what it means to be ‘different’ in a
classroom full of kids and asks readers to explore their own attitude to
disability.
(Firefly Press,
paperback, £7.99)
Connections Puzzle Book
Roland Hall
IF you’re a fan of logic puzzles, then dive into this
brilliant interactive book which features 500 challenging puzzles to do
anywhere and at any time! All you have to do is find the link between four
words from a group of sixteen to solve each mind-bending puzzle... but watch
out for the red herrings. With its take on popular deduction puzzles for those
who love daily online games, Connections Puzzle Book features challenges
ranging from easy and medium to hard and extreme. And if you’re finding the
going tough, you can turn to the back of the book to discover the link and find
the answer. The book is ideal for fans of online games like Wordle, Quordle,
Murdle and Connections, and who have found that one challenge a day just isn’t
enough to satisfy their puzzle addiction! A gift book for all the family to
enjoy...
(Studio Press, paperback, £8.99)
Amari and the Despicable Wonders
B.B. Alston
FEEL the magic and get lost in a super-sizzling supernatural
world as B.B. Alston returns with the third book in his fantastic Supernatural
Investigations trilogy which began with Amari and the Night Brothers. Featuring
the feisty, fearless Amari Peters – a heroic black girl with magic at her
fingertips – this epic new adventure packs in thrilling action and some
wonderful, warm-hearted friendships. War has come to the supernatural world and Amari’s two worst
enemies are leading the charge. Elaine Harlowe has manipulated her way into
becoming prime minister, using her mind control ability to force the Bureau to
take up her vicious grudge against magiciankind. Meanwhile, Dylan Van Helsing,
the newly crowned leader of the League of Magicians – and Amari’s former
partner – is after a destructive new power that would not only ensure the
magicians’ victory but also make him invincible. With neither the Bureau nor
the League safe for Amari, and her newly returned brother, Quinton, determined
to keep her out of the fray, she and her friends decide to find a way to end
the war on their own. So when they learn that the only way to stop Dylan is to
find powerful magical inventions known as Wonders, they go after them. But
wielding these items comes at a terrible cost, and Amari will have to decide
just how much she is willing to sacrifice … because the Despicable Wonders will
demand everything. These mesmerising, magical and imaginative Amari adventures
possess everything young readers love… breathtaking action, surprises at every
turn of the page, humour, and a courageous heroine they love to take to their
hearts. Great stuff... and there are more to come!!
(Farshore, hardback, £12.99)
Age 8 plus
The Wonder Team and the Rainforest Rescue
Leah Williamson, Jordan Glover and Robin Boyden
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
My Big Fat Smelly Poo Diary
Jim Smith
MEET best friends Pedro, Olga and Ozzy... their initials
spell the word POO and they are the stars of the first book of a smelly (but
hilariously funny!) new graphic novel series from the master of mischief
himself, Jim Smith. Smith – creator of the bestselling Barry Loser books – has
his finger firmly on the pulse of what makes kids (and grown-ups!) laugh… and
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 crazy, laugh-out-loud adventure
packed full of friendship, fun and toilet jokes galore, and expertly delivered
in fun and witty bite-sized stories brought to life by Smith’s vibrant artwork. So join our terrible threesome, Pedro, Olga and Ozzy –
otherwise known as the Poopies – on a series of fun adventure stories, and help
them solve mysteries of the most unexpected kind… such as the case of the
unflushed poos. Positively buzzing with Smith’s wild and wonderful wit,
perfectly pitched toilet jokes and some free drawing tips for budding artists, My
Big Fat Smelly Poo Diary is organised chaos for your fun-lovers and
mischief-makers!
(Scholastic, paperback, £8.99)
Where’s Groot? & Where’s Stitch?
Marvel Entertainment International Ltd
DON'T miss out on all the fun packed inside this simply marvellous Marvel and Disney search-and-find activity books series which is brought to life by stunning, full-colour original illustrations! And if super-heroes are top of your favourites list, then you need to get your hands on the all-action Where’s Groot? Marvel book in which Baby Groot, the cutest Guardian of the Galaxy, goes missing and readers must search for him across the universe, from strange alien worlds to their own back yard.
(Studio Press, paperback, £7.99 each)
Age 3 plus
Colin’s Castle
Holly Swain
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)
Running with Wings
Sam Squiers and Lara Porter
‘With their wings they can run, With their wings they can soar, It’s not about the race, But so much more.’
AS the countdown begins to
the start of the Paralympics, meet two little girls who love to race! Running
with Wings – a moving picture book about winning, losing and simply being the
best you can be – comes from the creative pairing of award-winning Australian sports
journalist, presenter and author Sam Squiers, and South African-born
illustrator Lara Porter. Mimmi loves running... as does Frankie who has
prosthetic legs. They both dream of one day running in the biggest, most
impressive, spectacular race there is...The Big One. But first of all, there’s
the sprint in the school carnival and while Mimmi gets nervous and distracted,
Frankie has her own challenges to overcome. But what happens when Frankie
offers Mimmi some important advice about imagining she has wings on her heels? Squiers,
who has earned a reputation as a powerful advocate and voice for women in sport,
works her special magic on this inspirational tale of friendship, travelling
together, and overcoming challenges... whether you are disabled or able-bodied.
Add on Porter’s delightful illustrations, which keep the story flying high, and
you have the perfect picture book for young sport fans.
(New Frontier Publishing, hardback, £12.99)
Try
Rob Burrow, Kevin Sinfield,
Emma Adams and Ben Whitehouse
‘True friends are always there,
even when times are tough.’
THE words of Rob Burrow – a former professional rugby league footballer who played for Leeds Rhinos in the Super League before retiring in 2017 – ring out loud and clear in this big-hearted picture book celebrating the remarkable friendship between two rugby legends. Two years after he retired from Rugby League, it was publicly revealed that Burrow had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) and, by his side until Rob died in June this year, was his best friend and fellow rugby player Kevin Sinfield. They first met playing rugby as young boys and shared a special bond that grew over the decades. Through good times and bad, their friendship remained a constant both on and off the rugby field, and together they campaigned to raise money for and awareness of motor neurone disease. Try, a story about a friendship between two young boys, was written with Emma Adams and illustrated by Ben Whitehouse. So meet Rob and Kev, they play games together, laugh together and go to school together. They have lots of other friends but Rob always has Kev, and Kev always has Rob. When their teacher, Ms Phelps, asks the class to think of their hero, Kev knows exactly who to pick... the fast, brave and strong captain of the Roaring Bears rugby team! Rob, however, feels unsure. Do heroes really have to be big and strong? Before long, Rob and Kev start to realise that perhaps being a hero isn’t all about strength and muscles... it’s much, much more than that.
Try captures the importance of friendship between children
and teaches them that sometimes the strongest thing you can do is to be kind to
others, a theme brought to life beautifully with Whitehouse’s warm and
expressive illustrations. With messages celebrating strength through love and
friendship rather than being judged on physical merit, this is the ideal story
to teach children – and particularly boys – about the many ways you can be
strong and what the word hero really means. And for every copy sold, Macmillan Children’s Books will
donate 50p to be split equally between the Motor Neurone Disease Association
and Leeds Hospitals Charity.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)
The Fairy of Lost Things
Victoria Sandøy
WHEN a fairy is tempted to keep a little girl’s lost
bracelet instead of returning it, she soon learns that dishonesty has
unwelcome results! Norwegian illustrator Victoria Sandøy – whose gorgeous
artwork brought to life celebrated author Julia Donaldson’s much-loved picture
books, The Christmas Pine and The Oak Tree – works her own special magic on
this cautionary tale. Both written and illustrated by Sandøy, The Fairy of Lost
Things brings us a cheeky, feisty little fairy whose antics are guaranteed to capture
every reader’s heart. Who’s that flying through the night? It's the Fairy of
Lost Things! She finds things children have lost, and then secretly takes them
back to their owners. But one night the fairy finds a little bracelet, and it’s
so pretty, she doesn't want to give it back. When a thieving magpie pricks her
conscience, can she pluck up the courage to admit she’s done something wrong
and rectify her mistake? With beautiful, atmospheric illustrations – full of
colour and character – and a captivating story exploring important themes of
kindness, caring, courage and honesty, everyone will be cheering on the playful
fairy as she does the right thing in the end. A guaranteed bedtime favourite!
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)
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