CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A medical marvel, flying feats and curious cooks

Laugh at the crazy capers of the world’s youngest doctor, enjoy a dizzying, dazzling journey with tales of sky-high derring-do, cook up a storm with a leading chef, and discover the amazing story of our planet as told by Earth itself in a sparkling selection

Age 8 plus
Dexter Procter the
10-Year-Old Doctor
Adam Kay and Henry Paker

IF reading this book makes you giggle so much that it hurts, you’d better book an appointment with the author! Former doctor Adam Kay, and his partner in all things yucky, aka illustrator Henry Paker, take youngsters on a pooey, frequently disgusting but entertaining and quietly educational adventure through medical marvels and mishaps in their outrageously funny new book. Dexter Procter the 10-Year-Old Doctor is the first middle grade fiction title from the winning author/illustrator team which created the bestselling non-fiction titles, Kay’s Anatomy and Kay’s Marvellous Medicine, and brilliant picture book Amy Gets Eaten which followed a piece of sweetcorn on a fascinating but squelchy journey through the human digestive system. And it’s pleasing to report that Kay and award-winning comedian, writer and illustrator Paker are on their best writing and illustrating form in this laughter-filled romp which blends riotous humour with some fascinating facts.

It was clear from an early age that Dexter Procter was different. He started speaking at four seconds old. By the age of three, he had 87 A-levels, from Afrikaans to Zoology, and by ten, he was working as a paediatrician at Lilydale General Hospital. Despite a loving but annoying family, and a couple of good friends (Rupi and Otto), Dexter has always struggled to fit in. But now he’s got a mortal enemy (Dr Drake) and there’s a major problem at his old school (all the teachers have been struck down with awful diarrhoea!) Will Dexter be able to save his job, save the school and find his place in the world? (Spoiler alert: yes!) All the family will be laughing (painfully!) as the world's youngest doctor peppers his madcap adventures with some eye-opening medical truths and proves that the functions of the human body can be intriguing as well as rather gruesome. Ideal as a teaching tool, great fun to read... and perfect to share with parents who might learn a little bit too!
(Puffin, hardback, £14.99)

Age 9 plus
Flight

From a Balloon to the Moon – and Beyond

David Long and Terri Po

TAKE flight and enjoy the dizzy heights of raw courage and success with this collection of astonishing true stories charting the advances in aviation. Written by award-winning author David Long and fabulously illustrated by Hong Kong-born Terri Po, Flight takes readers from a hot air balloon to holidays on the Moon through 190 pages of sky-high achievements and derring-do. For hundreds of years people have been reaching for the stars and, in less than a lifetime, technology has enabled us to progress from the Wright Brothers’ first, brief twelve-second flight to actually walking on the Moon.  From a medieval monk with home-made wings to the first real aeroplanes, and from barnstormers performing in flying circuses to astronauts in space, this book tells the stories of the people who made it happen. But Flight is also about the courage and ingenuity of the men and women who made such rapid progress possible, about the romance of soaring above the clouds, and perhaps most of all about the exciting and exhilarating realisation of a dream which is literally centuries old. Success involved breathtaking feats of engineering, some truly astonishing machines and raw courage on the part of the men and women (and one ten-year-old boy) who risked everything to turn those dreams of flying into reality. A truly uplifting account which is guaranteed to intrigue, enchant and inspire!
(Faber Children’s Books, hardback, £18.99)

Age 9 plus
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess
Rick Riordan

FANS of outstanding US author and global bestseller Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians fantasy series – which brings Greek mythology alive for contemporary readers – will be sky high with joy when they land on this brand new epic adventure. For those yet to be initiated into this bestselling phenomenon, the novels are set in a world with the Greek gods in the 21st century, and follow the protagonist Percy Jackson, a young demigod who has saved the world not once but multiple times. And in this new epic adventure, we meet up again with Percy who – after battling monsters, Titans, even death himself – should now find graduating high school a breeze... right? Wrong. Percy needs three recommendation letters from the gods before his final year in high school comes to an end. And one thing Percy knows, the gods on Mount Olympus don’t do anything for free. To secure his second letter, Percy and his friends Annabeth and Grover agree to a new quest – pet-sitting for the goddess Hecate while she’s away over Halloween. They just need to follow her simple rules: 1. Look after the pets like their lives depend on it (because they do) 2. Don’t touch anything – especially Hecate’s magic potions! 3. See points 1 and 2. But when Grover’s curiosity gets the better of him, the trio find themselves with a giant goat, a destroyed house, and Hecate’s (terrifying and potentially deadly) pets on the loose in New York City. Now the trio have twenty-four hours to find the pets and restore the mansion to order... or face the full fury of Hecate and her horrifying three heads. This gripping new adventure sees Percy on another enthralling, high-octane and thrilling adventure, full of legendary heroes, mythical creatures, ancient Greek gods and enduring friendships... a truly Titanic outing that is guaranteed to keep young readers hooked from first page to last.
(Puffin, hardback, £16.99)

Age 9 plus
Why Your Parents Are Hung-Up on Your Phone and What To Do About It
Dean Burnett

‘Can you get off your phone/ PS5/ Xbox!? NOW!’ 

NEUROSCIENTIST and bestselling author Dean Burnett puts his wit and wisdom to excellent use in this invaluable book exploring the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to youngsters and their mobile phones. ‘I bet that you and your parents argue about phones,’ Burnett counters as he helps answer some burning questions like should phones be banned in schools, what is ‘too much’ screentime, and how old do you need to be before you can have a phone? Burnett shows youngsters why parents are sometimes wrong about phones (and why, annoyingly, they can be a bit right), how you can understand them a bit better, and (even better!) how you can stop arguing about them. Using an informal and accessible style, he also explains why turning off TikTok can be so hard, how video games can change your brain for the better, and how Snapchat can make us sad (and lots of other complicated feelings). Screens, he says, can be a good thing, and a bad thing, but they’re definitely not worth getting hung up about. Packed with expert and engaging guidance, this straight-talking book helps youngsters understand their phones, why their parents are so ‘strange’ about them, and what they can do to make things better. The perfect book to unpack the science and tell you what REALLY matters!
(Penguin, paperback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus
Planet Earth: My Life So Far
Mike Barfield and Jess Bradley

DISCOVER the amazing story of our planet... as told by Earth itself! This quirky, comic-style, first-person ‘autobiography,’ featuring Earth telling its own life story, is the work of creative and award-winning duo, author Mike Barfield and illustrator Jess Bradley. So welcome to the planet we call home and enjoy the ultimate world tour through Earth’s history, habitats and unique line-up of life forms past and present. From its very earliest beginnings 4.5 billion years ago to the birth of life, rise of biodiversity and the myriad creatures and lush landscapes that cover its surface... it’s ALL here! Planet Earth: My Life So Far comes with fact-packed pages, terrific timelines, earth-shattering shocks and some gigantic ‘guest stars,’ as well as explorations of the formation of Earth and the Moon, Earth’s geographical and geological features, and the challenges it faces today. Written in Barfield’s trademark comedy style and accompanied by Bradley’s engaging and colourful comic-strip illustrations, this is a global adventure you won’t want to miss!
(Buster Books, paperback, £10.99)

Age 7 plus
Chefs Wanted! 
Allegra McEvedy and Alice Bowsher

IF the kitchen is your kids’ happy place, then help them cook up a storm with this brilliant, inspirational book from Allegra McEvedy, chef, writer, cookery teacher and co-founder of LEON, the popular, healthy, fast-food restaurant group. McEvedy is aiming to inspire children to be passionate about cooking by presenting children’s TV programmes, such as Junior Bake Off and Step Up To The Plate, and now she has carefully prepared this tasty blend of top techniques and tips and delicious recipes for 45 restaurant-grade dishes, with the added bonus of lashings of full-on fun. Chefs Wanted! covers all areas of the kitchen and includes specialised techniques pages to help young chefs become more professional. With simple, step-by-step instructions, mouthwatering photographs of every dish, and Alice Bowsher’s quirky, colourful illustrations, this magnificent cookbook takes youngsters’ skills to the next level. From family favourites like cannelloni and chilli, street food like spring rolls, and sweet treats like profiteroles, to exciting and sometimes challenging food from around the globe like maki rolls, sunshine scones, gyozas, and paneer masala, McEvedy helps children bring new flavours to their cookery. So what are you waiting for? Wash your hands, put on your apron... and get cooking!
(DK Children, hardback, £16.99)

Age 7 plus
The Wild Robot
Peter Brown

WHAT happens when the natural world collides with technology? Bestselling author and illustrator Peter Brown’s heartfelt novel, The Wild Robot, has become a modern classic since it was first published in 2016. Described by one critic as a ‘fable for our age,’ the story has been adapted as a major DreamWorks animation film due to be released this month and to celebrate the big day, this new edition of Brown’s book includes eight pages of fantastic full-colour art from the movie. When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is... but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a fierce storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realises that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island’s unwelcoming animal inhabitants. As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home... until, one day, her mysterious past comes back to haunt her. Packed with action, drama and heartwarming messages about friendship, family, love, and the importance of balancing technological advance with the need to protect nature, this is a tale of our times you won’t want to miss!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
The Safari: An Alphabet Story from A to Z!
Joanna McInerney and Jana Glatt

JOIN a little frog as he travels the world and meets new friends in a bright and busy alphabet book from editor and writer Joanna McInerney and exciting talent Jana Glatt who was born in Rio de Janeiro and has been described as Richard Scarry for a new generation. Youngsters are guaranteed fun on every page as they search for animals from A to Z in scenes full of colour, rich detail and vivid characters. Our friendly frog is on a quest to say hello to as many animals around the world as possible! From the wildest savannahs to the depths of the ocean, each spread is jam-packed with animals to find. But, there’s a catch! Can you find the animals which begin with the correct letter? The Safari is a picture perfect alphabet book designed to spark the imagination and with an adorable rhyming story that is perfect for early learning. Who will you meet along the way... don’t miss the fun of finding out!
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
Patrick and Flippa
Wendy Meddour and Merle Goll

MEET Patrick the polar bear and Flippa the seal... Flippa is Patrick’s best friend but something’s not quite RIGHT and it’s going to test their friendship! Award-winning children’s writer Wendy Meddour and German-born illustrator Merle Goll have fun with a heart-melting picture book about friendships and setting boundaries. Patrick and Flippa love watching clouds together. Every day, Flippa dives for their dinner and makes sure that Patrick’s tummy is full of fish... so why does he always have that empty bear feeling? Is it because Flippa is always in charge or is because he’s hungry and needs to start catching his own fish? Meddour’s gently educational story delivers important messages at the same time as making us smile, while Goll’s artwork brings the adorable  creatures to vibrant life. Perfect to dive in and enjoy with your little ones... the water might be icy but a warm hug awaits!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, ££7.99)

Age 2 plus
CLANG!
Sam Usher

‘When I woke up this morning, Penguin was missing!’ 

WELCOME to a wild and wonderful adventure with a little boy and his grandad as they head off on a voyage around the world on an old steamship. CLANG! is the second title in author and illustrator Sam Usher’s Adventures with Grandad (Transport Quartet), starring his much-loved Boy and Grandad double act. Boy has lost his beloved toy penguin. He and grandad have looked all over the place but she’s nowhere to be seen. Boy thinks he might know where she’s gone but if they’re going to find her, they need to build a big boat! Little ones will love seeing Boy and Grandad use their ingenuity to turn an old bath into a seaworthy vessel and navigate all the way to the South Pole. Along the way, they encounter a variety of ships, submarines... and even pirates! Usher’s warm-hearted, original and inspirational stories celebrate the special bond between children and their grandparents, and are must-reading for pre-schoolers. With themes of creativity, resourcefulness and shared adventures, and some subtle science facts, Usher’s quirky and charming story is complemented by a palette of gloriously funny watercolour illustrations which add extra character and texture to an enchanting and life-affirming adventure. Don’t miss the boat!
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Bird Bath
Steve Antony

BATHTIME is splashing good fun in the second book of award-winning writer and illustrator Steve Antony’s lively and lovely pre-school picture book series that puts the focus on familiar childhood moments, emotions and milestones. Simple, playful stories blend with gorgeous illustrations in a style that is full of visual and verbal appeal for babies and toddlers. In Bird Bath, Antony explores the joys and frustrations of bath time... a source of hilarity, mischief – and stress for parents! Stars of the show are four mucky birds, all desperately in need of a bath! They’ve got soap, shampoo and a BIG bottle of bubble bath, but can they be trusted not to use it all? Will they keep the water inside the bath? And how many birds can you fit in the tub? Because when bath time is this much fun, EVERYONE wants to get in. A squeaky clean pleasure to share with your own little bathtime mischief-makers!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Operation Tulip

Deborah Swift

WHEN the Battle of Arnhem failed to create an Allied invasion route into German-held territory in northern Holland in September of 1944, it left the Dutch facing winter without food or fuel... and as many as 18,000 people starved to death.

With the Nazis purloining food stocks, destroying ports, and terrorising the civilians, it was a desperate time for those who were trapped but the work of the Resistance movement continued, with undercover operatives seeking ways to disrupt or report back on German activities.

And it is this deadly end-of-war period – known to the Dutch as the Hunger Winter – which forms the thrilling backdrop to the final book in bestselling Lancashire-based author Deborah Swift’s gripping Secret Agents trilogy which has included The Silk Code and The Shadow Network. Swift (pictured below), who lives in Warton, near Carnforth, used to work backstage as a scenographer in many North-West theatres, including Liverpool Playhouse and The Duke’s theatre , Lancaster, and it is her imaginative flair, painstaking research, and keen eye for drama and authenticity, that has made her novels so viscerally real and exciting.

In this page-turning last chapter of what has been an outstanding and hugely popular series, we meet up again with fearless SOE agent and fluent Dutch and French speaker Nancy Callaghan whose dicing-with-death missions and love affair with coding expert Tom Lockwood in London has won the hearts of readers.

In her tense new undercover mission in the autumn of 1944, we find Nancy in northern Holland where the Germans are clinging on ‘like an angry toddler with a toy’ after Allied airborne troops failed in their brave attempt to capture the bridge at Arnhem and forge a critical invasion route. Unable to contact other networks or Tom Lockwood, the man she loves, Nancy is one of the few agents left and faces her toughest case yet in The Hague. A key member of the Dutch resistance has been captured and they need to locate where he is and find out how much the Nazis know about the Resistance networks.

Nancy – who is ’not the crumbling type’ – is assigned to play the role of Danique Koopman, wealthy widow of a Nazi sympathiser, and win over notorious SS officer, Detlef Keller, who is in charge of the records that log crucial information about Resistance prisoners and their transportation.

Meanwhile in London, Tom is devastated to learn that the Allies have failed to push back the Nazis, leaving northern Holland completely cut off from the rest of Europe... and also leaving him cut off from his beloved Nancy. Tom isn’t supposed to even know that Nancy is an agent but, desperate to rescue the love of his life, he devises Operation Tulip, an audacious plan to bring Nancy home by heading off to Europe alone and making his way into Holland through the Allied lines.

But as Nancy infiltrates the Dutch SS, she finds herself catching the eye of an even more senior member of the Nazi Party. Is she now too deep in the enemy camp, and can Tom reach her before she gets caught? One of the secrets of Swift’s success as a historical novelist is the depth and rich detail of her research, an aspect of her writing which she finds the most enjoyable and rewarding. And the immaculate wartime backdrop she paints for this atmospheric and heart-pounding tale brings to life German-occupied Holland and all its breathtaking darkness, danger and menace.

It’s an eye-opening story of undying love, and immense bravery and sacrifice set against the harsh realities faced by Dutch people north of the Rhine in the last agonising months of the Second World War. The country’s proximity to Germany meant many residents agreed with the Nazi regime, and betrayal by neighbours and friends was not uncommon. With starvation ravaging many urban areas, death or transportation from a vengeful and rampant enemy a constant threat, and trust something that can’t be taken for granted, Holland is now cut off from the Allies and at the mercy of the Nazis.

And it’s through Nancy’s work as an undercover operative, and the deadly perils of her high-risk assignment to infiltrate the Dutch SS, that Swift shows us just how courageous were those selfless wartime agents who put their lives on the line every moment of every day spent in enemy territory. With real history in the raw, heart-pounding drama, bone-chilling cruelty, plot twists, and the sheer power of true love, this is a terrific finale to an unforgettable series.

And there is a chance to learn more about Swift’s research for the Secret Agents series and the work of the women of the wartime Dutch Resistance when she gives an author talk at Carnforth Bookshop in Carnforth, Lancashire, at 2pm on Saturday, October 5. 
⧭ Lancs novelist reveals wartime research: See full story below.
(HQ, paperback, £9.99)