CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Silly questions, epic gaming and a grisly murder

Enjoy a coruscating cornucopia of laughter, learning and questions, take a fascinating journey through fifty years of epic role-play game Dungeons & Dragons, prepare to be whisked away to a murderous birthday party, and discover some of our best-loved flowers, trees, animals and birds in an autumn selection of new children’s books

Age 8 plus
There’s No Such Thing as a Silly Question:
213 Weird Questions,
Expertly Answered!
Mike Rampton and Guilherme Karsten

OPEN the pages of this coruscating cornucopia of laughter and learning, and discover the answers to some of your silliest but serious questions! In an inspired partnership between publisher Nosy Crow and the University of Cambridge, the book boffins have created a brilliantly simple question-and-answer format and transformed it into something special through the perfect pairing of author Mike Rampton’s witty writing style and Guilherme Karsten’s endearing and entertaining colour illustrations. Fact-checked by world-leading experts from across Cambridge University, the book is not just funny but factually accurate and up-to-date, and covers a range of subjects from science, technology, engineering and mathematics to evolution, zoology and social history.

Did you know that there is no set number of bones in the human body, or that most babies are born with around 300 bones but, by the time they’ve grown up, they usually have between 206 and 213. And have you ever wondered whether dinosaurs sneezed, if spiders ever get caught in their own webs, why there are so many types of dog, what fire is made of, what eyebrows are for, how astronauts go to the toilet, who invented chocolate, what’s the largest number in the world, and how penguins tell each other apart? The answers, and lots of other fascinating facts, are all in this dazzling book which expertly provides answers to 213 of the most unusual, interesting and, yes, silly questions you never thought to ask about the world... which means there’s one for at least every bone in your body! From the wild to the wacky and the downright weird, this wonderful gift book is a magical mix of imagination, entertainment and information, and guaranteed to inspire curious youngsters to ask their own questions... however silly they might seem!
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £18.99)

Age 9 plus
Dungeons & Dragons Museum
Hasbro International Inc.

WELCOME all adventurers! Take a seat and prepare to enjoy a fun and fascinating journey through fifty years of Dungeons & Dragons, the epic fantasy role-playing game that became a success right across the world. Unsurprisingly, D&D is often referred to as the single most influential game of all time and now you can step inside the pages of this new addition to the brilliant Welcome to the Museum series and discover a specially curated collection of rarely seen artwork showcasing the key moments in the game’s long history. During its fifty years of existence, Dungeons & Dragons has impacted everything from the wider gaming industry and its most prevalent streamers to popular TV series like Stranger Things. Illustrated throughout with amazing images, this exciting museum tour captures each stage of the game’s evolution, from its inception in 1974 to the critically acclaimed 2023 movie Honour Among Thieves and the release of Baldur’s Gate III in the same year. Discover how D&D grew out of the wargaming scene in the 1970s and continued to innovate and reincarnate to ensure it remained the definitive tabletop game whilst simultaneously branching out into all other forms of media, from cartoons to books. Readers will love learning about D&D’s evolution over multiple editions and discovering how the game cast a spell over an ever-expanding fan base. Packed with fantastic colour illustrations and intriguing facts, this beautiful gift book is a must-have for gaming fans of every age.
(Studio Press, hardback, £25)

Age 12 plus
The World Between the Rain
Susan Cahill

COPING with loss and grief is hard enough for adults but for young people, it can too often be a time of confusion, bewildering sadness and anger. It is also a topic hard to handle in children’s novels but Susan Cahill, an author who grew up by the sea in West Cork, Ireland, tackles this emotive topic head on in a deeply moving and haunting fantasy thriller about grief and letting go of the demons inside yourself. Marina has vanished to a world of gods and demons just when her family need her most. It’s the week before Halloween and Marina is about to turn thirteen. Her father died a year ago while her mother has strangely fallen asleep and no one can wake her. She is sent to live with her mysterious grandmother, Ursula, who tells her that that you can enter a strange world between the ever falling rain in the west of Ireland. And when she falls between the raindrops, Marina enters Ishka, a haunting watery world full of strange creatures, demons and gods. Meanwhile, in our world, a strange sleeping sickness has taken over. Can Marina escape the World Between the Rain and get back to save her family? With the ethereal illustrations of Holly Ovenden bringing extra pathos and atmosphere to Marina’s magical experiences, Cahill’s unforgettable and heart-rending coming-of-age tale of friendship, survival, courage and a dream-devouring monster unfolds through a miasma of enthralling magic and mystery. Storytelling at its best...
(Everything With Words, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
Portal of Chaos: Adventure Gamebooks
Simon Tudhope and Tom Knight

CHOICES, choices… do you dare to blast off on an epic adventure where your survival depends on the decisions you make? Author Simon Tudhope grew up with the fantasy gamebooks of the 1980s and his memories of the dark, enthralling gameworlds, and the chance to set off on an adventure not knowing what dangers lie ahead, inspired him to write his own… and the result is this brilliantly illustrated gamebook series where YOU are the hero. Portal of Chaos is the new classic ‘choose your own story’ book in the series and is packed with exciting challenges and features choices and decision-making which will delight thrill-seeking youngsters who want to put their own skills and imagination into play. Fabulously illustrated by Tom Knight, these atmospheric and engrossing gamebooks plunge readers into a story with a difference… one where you can learn to master the exciting combat system by rolling a dice and testing your picture puzzle solving skills.

In this new mission, you’re a bounty hunter and NOT a hero because in your line of work, heroes don’t last long. But now you’ve been given a mission you can’t refuse. Make it out alive, and you'll never need to work again. Fail, and, well... you’ll never need to work again. And so, staring up at the stars from the cockpit of your spaceship, you blast off on an epic adventure where every choice is yours, and your survival depends upon the decisions you make. Who to fight? Who to trust? In a book where nothing is as it seems, you find yourself grappling with forces beyond your darkest dreams. And you realise it’s not just your fate hanging in the balance. No, the universe needs a hero... and like it or not, that hero is you! Full of puzzles to solve and choices to make, each one leading to different adventures and endings, Portal of Chaos brings together a thrilling story full of emotion and humour, richly detailed illustrations, ingenious picture puzzles, and a fascinating dice-based combat system with a QR code to an online dice-roller. A full-on adventure full of chases, challenges and choices that is guaranteed to keep youngsters – and particularly reluctant readers – gripped from beginning to end!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Murder! By Narwhal!
Alex T. Smith

FIRST off, here’s a clue to the brilliance of a funny and fantastic new murder mystery series... it’s written and illustrated by none other than the ingenious Alex T. Smith, internationally bestselling creator of Claude and Mr Penguin. Murder! By Narwhal! is the first adventure of Smith’s cosy new Grimacres Whodunnit crime series and marks his impressive arrival into the popular middle-grade market. Brimming with his trademark bold and richly detailed illustrations, this playful, tongue-in-cheek crime caper is guaranteed to steal the hearts of readers young and old. So get ready to be whisked away to the country estate of tyrannical family patriarch Sir Ignatious Gristle who is murdered on his 90th birthday... and every one of his gathered family members is a suspect. Trapped by a snowstorm with no way to contact the police, it’s up to his mettlesome eleven-year-old granddaughter, the Honourable Edna Gristle, and her trusted tortoise, Charles Darwin, to determine whodunnit! Can Edna and Charles Darwin discover who killed her horrible grandfather before the killer strikes again? Smith gives youngsters a verbal and visual treat with a fast-paced plot, packed full of weird suspects, head-scratching clues and page-turning twists, and starring the quirkiest cast of characters this side of grisly Grimacres... and all brought to glorious life by his extraordinary illustrations. Murderously exhilarating!
(Hodder Children’s Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 8 plus
Feather, Flower, Forest, Fur
Celebrating The Nature That Surrounds Us
Sarah Walden, Caroline Rowlands, Kelsey Collins, Claire LeFevre, Mary Atwood and Claudine Rose

TAKE an unforgettable journey through nature with this sumptuous gift book which features over 120 pages of stunning illustrations and fascinating facts about some of the best-loved flowers, trees, animals and birds of the northern hemisphere. Wander through verdant forests of trees, spot popular feathered friends as they flit from bush to bush, delight in the springtime blossoms of hedgerows and meadows, and catch a glimpse of our favourite native wildlife. Written by Sarah Walden and Caroline Rowlands, and lavishly illustrated by Kelsey Collins, Claire LeFevre, Mary Atwood and Claudine Rose, Feather, Flower, Forest, Fur is part spotter’s guide, part folklore, part recipe book and part literary reference. All the family will enjoy poring over each beautifully created entry – including 23 stunning animals, 51 fabulous birds, 75 fascinating plants and 44 majestic trees – whilst learning about and celebrating the power of nature. The perfect armchair exploration of our wild and wonderful world!
(Noodle Juice, hardback, £18.99)

Age 6 plus
Ballet Besties: Indu’s Time to Shine
Yasmine Naghdi, Chitra Soundar
and Paula Franco

PUT on your dancing shoes and pirouette your way into the Shimmer & Shine dance studio where the ballet besties are ready to put on a show! Indu’s Time to Shine is the second book of a heartwarming and inclusive series from Yasmine Naghdi, a Principal with the Royal Ballet, storyteller and author Chitra Soundar, and Argentinian illustrator Paula Franco. Brimming with rich and authentic detail about the world of ballet, and brought to vibrant life by Franco’s enchanting artwork, this is a super series that puts young ballet fans in a spin. Indu loves learning ballet at Shimmer & Shine, her local community dance school. Unlike her friends, she doesn’t want to be a principal dancer when she grows up and she’s a bit scared of being on stage. But it’s still one of her favourite hobbies... until Miss Diamond announces that this term they will be putting on a performance of Cinderella! Suddenly everyone is talking about what lead role they want and how fun it will be to dance for an audience, leaving Indu feeling nervous and left out. What role will she audition for? Will her friends understand her worries and will she ever be able to conquer her stage fright? By featuring characters of all ages, genders, ethnicities and body size, the exuberant Ballet Besties adventures break down the traditional idea of what a ballet dancer looks like and bring the joy of classical ballet to young readers. Dancing delights for everyone!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
The Woodland Explorers Club: Shyla’s Wood Wide Web
Ewa Jozefkowicz and Gillian Flint  

AS the nation’s woodlands prepare for the changes wrought by the autumn and winter seasons, discover the wonders of nature in the new adventure of an exciting forest school series from Waterstones Prize shortlisted author Ewa Jozefkowicz. Brimming with friendship, adventure and learning through nature, these inspirational stories – with Gillian Flint’s fun illustrations on every page – feature the Woodland Explorers who solve mysteries and protect the animals of Willow Wish Woods. At Forest School, the Woodland Explorers – Benji, Shyla, Ajay, Trix, Fujiko and Eric – are learning about fungi and how it connects trees underground in a huge network known as the Wood Wide Web. When Shyla is given her grandmother’s binoculars for her birthday, she discovers mushrooms growing in a circle, called a pixie ring. Suddenly her eyes are opened to a whole new world... and Willow Wish Woods’ magical woodland creatures show Shyla how to spread the word about protecting the forest. With magic, mystery, forest school fun, a whole natural world to explore, and the added bonus of outdoor activities to try out, youngsters will be pulling on their wellies and heading for the great outdoors!
(Zephyr, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Message in the Mooncake
Sapphire Chow and Xiaojie Liu

A POPULAR folktale dating back 800 years to China’s Yuan Dynasty is brought to vivid life in an exciting and colourful picture book retelling by the late Sapphire Chow who grew up in Southeast Asia but emigrated to Canada where she embarked on her author journey. Starring a young girl who plays a part in resisting the Mongolian occupation, Message in the Mooncake is brought to life by the atmospheric artwork of Xiaojie Liu, an award-winning illustrator based in New York. Su-Ling and her family live in a small village where the Mongols have invaded and made life very difficult for them. But the villagers are clever and, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, a plan to revolt against the Mongols begins to form with a message tucked into the festival mooncakes... ‘On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, on the day of the full moon, commence attack at midnight.’ The guards will be suspicious of adults so Su-Ling is their only chance. She will have to use her wit and courage to deliver the message inside the mooncakes to her uncle and grandmother... without getting caught by the Mongol guards. Chow’s inspirational story of bravery in adversity is filled with a lyrical beauty and youngsters will be fascinated to learn more about mooncakes, the history of the Mongol invasion, and the original ancient legend in notes at the end of the book. Picture book magic!
(Barefoot Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus
Body Detective! Decode
Your Sensory Signals
Janet Krauthamer and Christiane Engel

UNDERSTANDING your feelings isn’t easy when you’re a very young child so empower your youngsters with this beautiful, large-format board book which playfully and accessibly explores the human body’s signals. Written by occupational therapist Janet Krauthamer and colourfully illustrated by Christiane Engel, Body Detective! uses revealing pull-tabs, clear explanations, lift-the-flaps and mindful activities to help children to identify and name what they’re feeling. The body and brain send signals back and forth all day and night, and decoding your sensory signals – or interoception – lies at the heart of this interactive book. So be a body detective and learn – through playful riddles and questions – that you’re hungry when your tummy makes funny noises, thirsty when your mouth and throat feel dry and sticky and cold when goosebumps appear on your skin. Pull the tabs and lift the flaps to reveal answers to the playful riddles and find out more information about interoception and feelings at the end of the book. The perfect way to make learning fun!
(Barefoot Books, board book, £10.99)

Age 3 plus
All Aboard the Bedtime Bus
Karl Newson and Tim Budgen

ENGINE on, lights aglow, PJs ready... away we go! Little ones will be fully on board with this gorgeous bedtime picture book that is guaranteed to transport sleepy heads all the way to dreamland. Cleverly created by multi-award-winning children’s book author Karl Newson and freelance illustrator Tim Budgen, All Aboard the Bedtime Bus features an infectious song that mirrors each step in a typical bedtime routine and is ideal for helping tired parents deal with bedtime battles. Roll up, roll up and join the bus driver and all his sleepy passengers as they go on a magical bus journey to bedtime. Travel from stop to stop, brushing your teeth at Snoozyville, reading bedtime stories at Sleepy Town and, finally, snoring along at Slumber Land. It’s a winning combination just perfect for getting your little ones ready for bed, and helping to gently soothe them into the land of nod. Next stop... bedtime!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Don’t Eat Granny
Gillian McClure

‘Red Hoodie is going to visit Granny in her bag.
Red Hoodie has a cake, cookies and candy.’

PUNCTUATION can be confusing for younger children learning grammar... putting your full stops and commas in the wrong place can completely change the meaning of a sentence. So put fun into learning how to use punctuation marks with a delightful picture book from Gillian McClure, an author and illustrator with a Primary Teaching Diploma whose career has spanned four decades. Don’t Eat Granny – a clever and comical twist on the traditional story of Little Red Riding Hood – stars the far more cool and contemporary Red Hoodie who is trying to write a story about herself, her granny and a wolf, but some of her punctuation is wrong and consequently her sentences take on a different meaning. Oh dear, her story is getting out of control and it hasn’t ended happily for granny! Who will help her? Four little punctuation characters arrive on the page but soon they are caught up in the action, too! Packed full of punctuation jokes, wordplay and McClure’s entertaining artwork, this is the perfect book for mischievous youngsters who are learning the first four punctuation marks.
(Plaister Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3
Moon Mouse
Corrinne Averiss and Lorna Hill

ENJOY a beautiful tale of tears, laughter and an unexpected friendship with a heartfelt and imaginative picture book from Corrinne Averiss, the multi-award-winning author of My Pet Star, and prize-winning illustrator Lorna Hill. Moon Mouse lives far out in space with only his garden and his ideas for company. Mouse loves his moon home but sometimes, when he spies a birthday party on Earth through his telescope, he finds himself wishing he could join in with the fun. Then one day, a birthday balloon floats away from a birthday boy and up, up, up... all the way to Moon Mouse’s garden! Will Mouse find the courage to leave the comfort and security of his home to discover what it means to make a friend? Hill’s exquisitely emotive and stylish artwork blends sublimely with Averiss’s magical, rhyming adventure as young readers are transported on an epic journey to the moon and back, and discover the joys of friendship, kindness and bravery along the way.
(Orchard Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Our World: Philippines
Zewlan Moor and Happy Garaje

LITTLE ones are transported to faraway countries in two new bright and colourful board books in Barefoot Books’ educational Our World series for very young readers. In Our World: Philippines, youngsters are greeted with the words Magandang umaga! Come along for a day in the Philippines... ride the unicorn jeepney, stop by the sari sari, and cool off with sweet halo halo. 

Filipino author Zewlan Moor and illustrator team Happy Garaje draw on their own lived experiences to create this beautiful, playful story which includes educational endnotes about life in the Philippines. And in Our World: Pakistan, written by Rumaisa Bilal and illustrated by Nez Riaz, the greeting is Subah bakhair! Come along for a day in Pakistan. Choose a salwar kameez, ride the driverless train, and taste sweet and sour falsa. These delightful books offer real insights into the culture of a country and resonate with children all over the world. Bold artwork, a vibrant text and relatable topics make them appealing to the youngest readers as well as introducing basic vocabulary and pronunciation guides.
(Barefoot Books, board books, £7.99 each)

The Good Liars

Anita Frank

IT'S not just the First World War that casts a long shadow over the lives of the Stilwell family at their rundown Tudor home, Darkacre Hall, in 1920… secrets from the past are coming back to haunt them and the consequences will be deadly.

Anita Frank (pictured below) – who impressed both readers and critics with her stunning, award-winning debut novel, The Lost Ones, and followed up that success story with the piercingly insightful The Return – sweeps us away to a rural enclave in the raw aftermath of wartime, a claustrophobic place where old sins resurface, the scars of battle have not yet healed, and the pain of strife and terrible loss still stalks every dwelling.

Written in Frank’s impeccable, descriptive prose, and tingling with the atmospherics that have become a hallmark of her novels, The Good Liars explores a compelling and complex family whose standing in the local community has suffered from changing times and past events, along with the slings and arrows of wartime, tragedy, grief... and guilt.

In August of 1914, the disappearance of 17-year-old Bobby Higgins is overshadowed by looming war. Six years later, Detective Sergeant Verity arrives at Darkacre Hall armed with new evidence regarding the boy’s case. A witness has suggested that the boy was at Darkacre on the day he disappeared, throwing the spotlight firmly upon the Stilwell family who no longer command the respect they once took for granted.

Even Darkacre’s grandeur has faded and the hall is now a place where the day’s ‘wan light’ fails to penetrate and instead, ‘seems to hover outside the vast windows, uncertain of its welcome.’ It is home to brothers Maurice and Leonard Stilwell, Maurice’s wife Ida, and the debonair Victor Monroe, a ‘house guest’ who has lived at Darkacre since boyhood and still lingers there ‘like a cuckoo in the nest.’ Leonard, who lost three limbs on the Western front, is confined to a wheelchair and has ‘sadness emanating’ from him while his older brother Maurice’s life is blighted by shell-shock and night terrors. Ida, meanwhile, longs for the lost days of privilege and parties and is looking forward to the arrival of Sarah Hove, a much-needed new housekeeper from Brighton.

As Verity digs further into the events of that final halcyon summer six years ago, he uncovers a viper’s nest of secrets that will change the whole aspect of the case. And as he does so, Darkacre Hall becomes an unlikely battlefield... one that not all of its residents will survive.

Frank works her special storytelling magic on this gripping and emotionally charged tale, set in the painful aftermath of war when families were still reeling from not just the loss of loved ones but also caring for those whose injuries are both seen and unseen. At the centre of the story is the pivotal mystery of missing teenager Bobby Higgins, his links to Darkacre Hall, and the hunt for the truth of his disappearance in the dying days of summer in 1914. And riding the storm that rages outdoors, and the seemingly impenetrable tempest of lies that surrounds the dark and brooding Stilwell household, is the doggedly determined detective Verity.

With each unique and fascinating character exquisitely drawn, Frank’s piercing psychological insight guiding us deep into the heart and soul of a damaged and secretive family, several breathtaking twists and turns, and a thrilling thread of supernatural pulsing through the action, The Good Liars sees this gifted author at the top of her game.
(HQ, paperback, £9.99)

Steel Girls in the Blitz

Michelle Rawlins

AS war rages and bombs start to fall on Sheffield in the autumn of 1940, the brave women who are helping to keep the wheels turning at the vital Vickers steelwork factory must rally together in the face of danger, heartbreak and unbearable loss.

Inspired by her research into the real-life stories of the women who worked in the factories that lined the River Don during the Second World War, Michelle Rawlins (pictured below) sweeps us back into the trials, triumphs and tragedies of a group of plucky Vickers friends.

Working relentless and exhaustingly long shifts in windowless factories amidst deafening noise and dangerous conditions was a huge culture shock for many of these women who had walked through factory doors for the first time.

Steel Girls in the Blitz is the fifth book in this much-loved series and once again highlights the hardships, strength and resilience of the Vickers workers as they took on risky jobs like driving cranes or toiling in the red-hot conditions of the foundries, and made sacrifices day in and day out.

And as we meet up again with the now familiar group of crane drivers, we discover that the Luftwaffe’s Blitz is about to reach Sheffield. Despite the obvious perils that surround them, Hattie’s fiancé John has told her to get a marriage licence for their wedding at a local church as he is due weekend leave from his mortar-bomb training at Salisbury Plain.

But another war is brewing for Hattie at home...  a battle between her mother and her dad over his drunken episodes. Vinnie spends every penny that Hattie and her mum earn and Hattie is desperate to help her mother in any way she can. With a sea of domestic woes mounting up, she is going to need the help of her Vickers factory friends.

Meanwhile Betty – always the first to help anyone in need – is overjoyed to learn that her fiancé William will be coming home to complete his training as an RAF pilot but when the bombs start to fall, she fears he may be in greater danger than ever.

And young Patty, who has been forced to grow up by witnessing the atrocities of war, has never been prouder of her sweetheart Archie than in his role as an Air Raid Warden. But having seen the true cost of war, is Archie struggling more than Patty could ever imagine? As the bombs rain down on Sheffield, and with heartbreak on the horizon, can the steel girls find shelter in each other and hold on to the hope that they so desperately need?

Brimming with the emotional intensity and ever-present dangers, fears and uncertainties of wartime, this new chapter for the gutsy Steel Girls in the Blitz delivers all the nostalgia, drama, warmth and sense of family, friendship and community that makes Rawlins’ sagas such a reading delight.

Based on the author’s mantra that ‘it’s always the most ordinary people who have the most extraordinary stories,’ this is an impeccably researched and richly evocative series filled with good old Yorkshire humour, the awe-inspiring courage of the Sheffield factory women, and provides a window on to what it was like to live, love and work through the long, hard years of wartime.
(HQ, paperback, £8.99)

Devilishly good puzzle books just perfect for holiday season entertainment

As the season of giving draws nearer and thoughts inevitably begin to turn to gifts for friends and family, take your pick from two wickedly clever puzzle books that will put even the best of brains to the test

The Official Agatha Christie Puzzle Book
Agatha Christie Ltd

DO you have the flair, order and method of Hercule Poirot, or the unassuming shrewd intelligence of Miss Marple? Agatha Christie fans and armchair sleuths can put their detective skills to the ultimate test with this brilliant book packed full of one hundred puzzles and a killer mystery to solve!

If you’re game for the whodunnit, with what and why, brush off your moustache, collect your knitting needles and put your little grey cells to good use in the case of the missing librarian. With perplexing puzzles left scattered throughout the library to solve, can you complete them and follow the trail of the crime?

To whet keen puzzlers’ appetites, readers begin the fun by unscrambling these anagrams of the Agatha Christie classics you’ll come across inside the book ... DRUM ON THREE EXPERT SENIORS; FORUM FOR FINDING DAFT TYPO; RARE MUD INDUCES ANON; BAD SCRUM THERE; DAME DOLLY FANS; HE HATED NO INLET.

Enjoy word searches and crosswords with a devilish twist, solve secret codes, piece words together to work out codes, complete number games, immerse yourself in logic challenges, and see if you can beat the clock with this new and official puzzling series of events. And don’t despair if the little grey cells let you down... all the answers are (thankfully) at the end of the book!
(‎Laurence King Publishing, paperback, £16.99)

Lateral: 100 Fiendish Questions
to Make You Think Differently
Tom Scott and David Bodycombe

WHY are Swiss army knives red, which type of alcoholic drink – when added to ice – becomes something a child could consume legally, and what sort of person would be interested in buying exactly 1.91 US dollars?

If your puzzler brain likes to think outside the box, look no further than this fiendish treat from ‘brain boxes’ Tom Scott, host of the Lateral quiz game podcast featuring weird questions with wonderful answers, and the deviously clever David Bodycombe, a professional quiz writer and quiz consultant.

Lovers of lateral thinking and logic puzzles, or anyone who simply enjoys learning fascinating and bizarre facts, will have a field day with Lateral: 100 Fiendish Questions to Make You Think Differently. Can you outsmart questions like why do Australians with swimming pools always make sure there’s a float available and tied to a nearby tree, where in London might you find a regularly scheduled passenger train that nobody will ever board, and why was the small Californian town of Yreka once famous for its local bread supplier?

Thinking differently is the only way forward as you answer each of the 100 off-the-wall questions which have been designed to make you think sideways in order to answer them. So whether you’re in the mood for a solitary challenge, picking questions at random with a friend, or looking for the next big hit for game night, Lateral is your ideal think-outside-the-box choice!
(Macmillan, paperback, £16.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Art to love, historical truths and fabulous folklore

Marvel at a stunning book which gives children a springboard into a lifetime love of art, discover how historians find evidence and tell stories, dive into a delicious river adventure inspired by the magic of English folklore, and thrill to a new series that blends Indiana Jones with a big serving of steampunk
in a super new selection 

Age 5 plus
Small Stories
of Great Artists
Laurence Anholt

GIVE your children the perfect springboard into a lifetime’s love of art with a spectacular book that has introduced millions of young readers to the art world since it was first published thirty years ago. This beautiful anniversary edition of Small Stories of Great Artists features an exploration of art through stories about key Western artists, and is a memorable celebration of a book that was lovingly written and illustrated by Laurence Anholt, an artist and author who was born in London to a Dutch family with Persian roots and has lived most of his life in England. From his studio near Lyme Regis, Anholt has created more than 200 books and this new anthology of one of his best-loved publications includes hand-crafted watercolour illustrations, carefully made reproductions of some of the world's most famous artworks, eight child-friendly artist biographies, and additional interactive questions about the life and work of the artist and what it means to create art.

Anholt's storytelling has inspired generations and made art accessible to young readers by viewing and narrating it through the eyes of children who knew these artists themselves. These classic tales focus on the likes of Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci and Cézanne and have been adapted in many forms including ballet, opera, Braille editions for blind and partially sighted children, and a full-scale stage musical in Korea. Each story is closely based on historical events and extensive research, and in many cases, Anholt visited the artists’ homes and studios, walking in their footsteps and interviewing their relatives. He was granted private access to Monet’s house in Giverny and became close friends with Sylvette David (now Lydia Corbett), Picasso’s famous Girl with a Ponytail. In this way, readers are able to ‘piggyback’ through the story, and artists who might otherwise be inaccessible become the humans they were. On a subconscious level, the reader absorbs many important themes such as kindness, self-esteem, perseverance, creativity, and courage through Anholt’s gentle storytelling. Impeccably researched and created, this dazzling, inspirational and quietly educational art book is a gift for every family to treasure.
(TASCHEN, hardback, £30)

Age 10 plus
History for Beginners
Andy Prentice, Tom Mumbray and Paul Boston

THE main focus of history books is generally to tell readers exactly what happened in the past... but sometimes that doesn’t tell the full story. So here’s a history book that is probably very different to the ones we normally read. Exploring key periods from world history, authors Andy Prentice and Tom Mumbray instead show youngsters HOW historians find evidence, make arguments and tell stories... proving that reading between the lines of history can be revealing as well as informative. Every nation tells its own history in its own way. History for Beginners – created in consultation with leading Oxford University historians – explains what’s going on behind the scenes in those tellings... who gets to decide which facts are taught, and which truths are massaged, or even denied. Using a mix of comic strips, diagrams and clear, simple language, readers are shown how to dig deeper into any story, how to investigate recent and ancient history for themselves, and learn why it’s vital to understand how the world has ended up where it is today. Given life and vigour by Paul Boston’s brilliant illustrations, the book unpicks details within those stories, showing how and where those stories came from and why they can change depending on who is telling them. Past perfect for historical truth seekers!
(Usborne Publishing, hardback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
The River Thief
Hannah Peck

IF a thrilling and haunting tale about a remarkable friendship, a closely guarded secret and a quest to the sea tickles your reading taste-buds then tuck into this delicious tale inspired by the magic of English folklore. The River Thief is the work of author and illustrator Hannah Peck, whose Kate on the Case series has been shortlisted for the V&A Award for Book Illustration, and is filled with her rich storytelling and powerful imagination. Like many rivers, the banks of the Lyde hold a hoard of forgotten things... pottery, trinkets, a shard of glass. They also hold a Memory and in the days of this story, the buried Memories were forgotten by most. But not by all... Adderley has never travelled beyond the boundary of her village. But as a fierce drought holds the country in its grip, a Green Woman appears speaking of a wrong that must be put right to bring back the rain. So when Adderley discovers Ef – a being who seems part human and part fish – in the river by her home, she is drawn into an adventure that challenges everything she has learnt about the world. Ef is searching for a special stone that they say has been stolen from their people. Could this be the key to the drought that is destroying Adderley’s home? Together, Adderley and Ef resolve to recover the stone and return it to its true home, but the river waters are not always on their side and the journey is filled with danger. Forgotten magic and the joys of friendship blend perfectly with the fabulous folklore vibe that flows through this gripping, river-based story which celebrates the natural world, but also reminds us of the urgent need to protect our planet from climate disaster.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Tosh's Island
Linda Sargent, Joe Brady and Leo Marcell

STORIES arising from the lived experience of disability were rare when author Linda Sargent was growing up and, as a sufferer of arthritis since childhood, she has made it her mission to create disabled characters who live out their lives based on truth and reality. Now a writer, storyteller and creative writing consultant, Sargent digs deep into her own experiences to bring us this visually stunning and empowering graphic novel about friendship, imagination and chronic illness with a troubled young girl at its heart. Tosh's upbringing feels close to perfect. She lives on a beautiful farm with her loving adoptive parents and life is full of best friends and mischief. But suddenly Tosh is in pain and it won’t go away. She’s afraid of what it means to be hurting so much and no doctor seems to understand. Tosh’s chronic illness threatens to derail everything she loves but she’ll hold on to one thing through all her pain, friendship dramas and struggles at school... her imagination. Tosh’s imaginary island will give her escape, adventure and lead to the truest of all friendships. This heart-rending graphic novel about discovery, adversity, and the overwhelming healing powers of imagination and stories has been created by Sargent, Joe Brady, deputy editor of The Phoenix comic, and illustrator Leo Marcell. Full of powerful truths, atmospheric writing and important messages about finding both your way in life and your true friends, this is an inspirational story for readers young and old.
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £10.99)

Age 9 plus
The Clockwork Key
Vashti Hardy and Rebecca Sheerin

THINK Indiana Jones with a big serving of steampunk and a delicious helping of archaeology, and you have The Relic Hunters, a fantastic new world-building adventure series from the inventive imagination of bestselling author Vashti Hardy. With action at every turn, an adorable cast of characters, and the fantastic illustrations of Rebecca Sheerin, The Clockwork Key is the first of what promises to thrill rides into the wonders of fantastical technology. Plucky go-getter Mabel Greystone and her shy and more fearful brother Will are looking forward to an exciting holiday with their aunt Lucy, a famous relic hunter in the land of Marvolia. Using an ancient map and working with their aunt, they are searching for the legendary lost town of Umber, famous for the invention of clockwork, which was mysteriously abandoned hundreds of years ago. The only other clue they have is a strange old key left behind by the last inhabitant of the town, but they have no idea what the key is for. Also on the hunt for Umber is devious Byron Cogsworth, desperate for the glory such an important discovery will bring. Can Mabel, Will and Aunt Lucy find Umber before him... and what secrets will the clockwork key unlock? Produced in a super readable format, and especially suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers, The Clockwork Key is an exhilarating reading experience, full of amazing inventions and intriguing mysteries, and an exciting opener to a brilliant new fantasy series.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Bletchley Riddle
Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

HISTORY, mystery and gripping adventures are blended to perfection in a wartime thriller from Carnegie Medal winner Ruta Sepetys and Newbery Honor winner Steve Sheinkin. Brimming with spies, secrets, ciphers and the exciting intricacies of code-breaking, The Bletchley Riddle stars two siblings caught up in the race to crack the Nazis’ Enigma code and discovering that the enemy is closer than they could ever have imagined. It’s the summer of 1940 and the world is at war. These days, you don’t know who you can trust or who might be a secret spy. Maths whizz Jakob Novis has been recruited to the secret codebreaking centre at Bletchley Park and is hard at work trying to crack the elusive Enigma cipher. Meanwhile, his younger sister, Lizzie, is busy on an undercover mission of her own... to find their American mother Willa who was reported to have died in a bomb blast. Lizzie is supposed to be boarding a ship in Liverpool to travel across the ocean and live with her strict grandmother in America. But the feisty 14-year-old has other ideas and Jakob – who is bound by the Official Secrets Act – is going to have his hands full cracking codes AND keeping them both out of trouble... and deadly danger. Set against the rigours and restraints of wartime, The Bletchley Riddle is a delight from start to finish as the two top writers combine their storytelling talents for an all-action adventure featuring real history, thrills galore, brave young heroes, and a high-stakes twisting and turning plot. Youngsters will be on the edge of their seats for this enthralling rollercoaster ride!
(Rock the Boat, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Ultimate Football Heroes 2025
Matt Oldfield, Emily Stead, Seth Burkett
and John Murray

LOOK back at an amazing year in football with Ultimate Football Heroes 2025, a bumper special edition of the ever-popular Ultimate Football Heroes series. These brilliant books feature biographies and life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys to stardom, as well as lots of fascinating football facts. And now you can relive the goals, games and glories of the 2023-24 season, including titanic three-way battles for the Premier League and Women’s Super League, a rollercoaster Champions League campaign, and all the action from around the biggest European competitions. Read all about the race for the EPL title, Jude Bellingham’s triumphant first season with Real Madrid, the Invincibles of Bayer Leverkusen, Kylian Mbappé's swansong season with PSG, Emma Hayes’ last season with Super League champions Chelsea and many more. This super edition – with its sparkling cover – is packed with stories of football heroes from across the world, plus stats and quizzes to test your knowledge. The ultimate yearbook for fans of the beautiful game... and bang on goal for all aspiring young players!
(Dino Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
See Inside The Future
Tom Cheesewright, Jason Solo
and Señor Salme

FASTEN your seatbelts and get ready to fast forward on a journey of discovery into our future world! Futurologist Tom Cheesewright takes readers on a tour of our world – decades into the future – in a fantastic lift-the-flap book full of fun and learning. Eight scenes show you what wonders might await in our cities, our landscapes, inside our own bodies and, of course, in the great expanse of outer space. Lift the flaps to find out what new things we will be able to do, how new technology will work, and what changes we can expect about the way we live. There will be virtual assistants to answer all our questions and guide us, and all sorts of gear we can put on to let us explore the oceans and the skies... closer than ever before. Gigantic new structures will straddle land and ocean, with soaring elevators that can carry us all the way to space. Engineers will find ways to help people live on Mars or explore the galaxy. Tiny robotic pills will be able to monitor our health from the inside and keep us alive for longer. The Future is a place of great hope and excitement... and it’s closer than you dare to dream! Brought to vivid and colourful life by the bold and richly detailed illustrations of Jason Solo and Señor Salme, this mind-blowing book uses today’s science to imagine tomorrow. The fascinating unfolding of a super-powered future!
(Usborne Publishing, board book, £10.99)

Age 5 plus
Everything Under the Sun: Quiz Book
Molly Oldfield

IF your curious children have a year’s worth of questions they want answered, treat them to this fun and interactive quiz book which features 366 questions... and (thankfully!) all the answers. Youngsters will love quizzing their friends and family and, at the same time, discovering fascinating facts about our world and beyond. This super quiz book is based on Molly Oldfield’s award-winning podcast and brilliant book, Everything Under the Sun. And here’s your starters for the rest of the year... Which animal has the most eyes? (Scallops have 200 eyes!) Why is blue cheese stinky? (Because it’s full of mould!) Why do we have eyebrows? (To protect our eyes and help us express ourselves!) All 366 multiple choice questions are accompanied by intriguing facts and are gorgeously illustrated throughout. Whether you try a question a day, or dip into it whenever you are feeling curious, this is the perfect gift for Christmas, or to simply enjoy and discover all year round!
(Ladybird, paperback, £9.99)

Age 5 plus
Happy Hills: Knick-Knacks Attacks
Sophy Henn

BRACE yourself, kids, because award-winning author and illustrator Sophy Henn is back with the second crazy, chaotic and totally crackpot new adventure in her hilariously funny full colour graphic novel series. Guaranteed to leave young readers in stitches, the Happy Hills books feature the friendly and not-so-friendly residents of Happy Hills, a place where anything can happen and always does! And in their second outrageous outing, the wacky Happy Hills gang have caught the attention of villainous Knick Knacks. He’s going to swipe, sneak and snatch himself a whole collection of new friends... whether they like it or not! Jam-packed with hilarious stories, this much-loved series is a classic blend of comedy and action with a big helping of heart which is guaranteed to capture the imaginations of every mischief-loving reader!
(Simon & Schuster Children s Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 5 plus
First Questions and Answers: Why are there wars?
Katie Daynes, Mairi Mackinnon
and Oksana Drachkovska

NEWS of war can make children anxious, concerned and upset so here’s a helpful lift-the-flap book that gently explains some of the important aspects of war. Written by Katie Daynes and Mairi Mackinnon in a clear, approachable style, the book explains how wars come about, how they have changed over time, who is there to help during wartime, what happens when a war is over, and how we can all help to make the world more peaceful. Using carefully chosen examples, and sensitively illustrated by Oksana Drachkovska, Why are there wars? is both informative and reassuring, and there are internet links which suggest positive projects for children, including making origami peace doves. Written with the help of expert advisers and child psychologists, this is a thoughtful book that offers hope for the future.
(Usborne Publishing, board book, £9.99)

Age 4 plus
Milo’s Hat Trick
Jon Agee

WHAT a magician will do without a rabbit for his hat trick doesn’t ‘bear’ thinking about in a simply delightful picture book from grand master of the absurd Jon Agee. Milo’s Hat Trick is another of this talented author and illustrator’s trademark gloriously mischievous creations featuring an eccentric magic man and Agee’s highly infectious zany and zingy humour. Milo the Magnificent is the world’s least magnificent magician. He can’t even pull a rabbit out of his hat! When theatre manager Mr Popovich gives him one more chance, Milo knows he has no choice... he has to go out and catch a rabbit for his act. Instead, he catches a bear. And the bear promises to help! Will the bear’s help secure Milo’s job... or will it doom him to failure? Brimming with Agee’s wonderfully understated comedy, rich imaginative powers, surprising twists and playful illustrations, this funny, exuberant and clever story is Agee at his entertaining best, and perfect for both older children and their adults!
(Scallywag Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Mr. Tickle’s Post
Roger Hargreaves

JOIN the eternally popular and universally loved Mr Men and Little Miss in a fabulous, fun-filled novelty book which sees Mr Tickle’s extraordinarily long arms put to very good use! Featuring real mail to open and enjoy, this delightful book is based on the original stories of Roger Hargreaves’ brilliantly funny illustrated classic children’s series which has been delighting children for generations with charming characters and their funny antics. Here, we find Mr Stamp, the Happyland postman, very busy delivering lots of post to Mr Tickle who has been invited to Nonsenseland to tickle a friend and have fun at the Happyland Fair. Join Mr Tickle as he opens six envelopes to discover a letter from Mr Silly, a map of Nonsenseland, a postcard and recipe from Little Miss Sunshine, a leaflet and vouchers for the Happyland Fair, a photo booth strip of pictures of his friends, and a very special birthday card! With bold, colourful illustrations, lots of favourite Mr Men and Little Miss friends, and the added fun of opening envelopes, this is a gift book well worth writing home about!
(Farshore, hardback, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
The Midnight Mitzvah
Ruth Horowitz and Jenny Meilihove

A LITTLE chipmunk breaks the rules of night-time to help a friend in need in an enchanting retelling of a 2,000-year-old story from the Talmud, the Jewish book of law. Award-winning children’s books author Ruth Horowitz and Israeli illustrator Jenny Meilihove conjure up a magical and moving picture book which explores the real meaning of charity and the importance of giving to others without causing any embarrassment to the receiver. ‘I know it's a mitzvah to help others,’ Hanina said. ‘And it’s also a mitzvah to make sure you don’t embarrass someone.’ Hanina Chipmunk’s favourite thing to do is gather nuts and share them with her hungry friends. But not everyone is thankful for her good deed. When Hanina realises aged Mathilda Squirrel is embarrassed to admit she needs help, she hatches a plan to deliver nuts in secret under the midnight hour. As a daytime animal venturing out at night, Hanina will need all the wits and bravery she has to complete her mitzvah. Horowitz’s gentle story, brought to life by Meilihove’s colourful illustrations, teaches youngsters about generosity, empathy and the power of anonymous charity. And with endnotes including more information about the original tale in the Talmud, the Jewish value of tzedakah (helping those in need) and other similar traditions across different religions, this is a story sure to win the hearts of every reader.
(Barefoot Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Ethel the Penguin
Ursula Dubosarsky
and Christopher Nielsen

MEETa totally wild and wonderful penguin in a gloriously exuberant picture book from author Ursula Dubosarsky and illustrator Christopher Nielsen who both live in Sydney. ‘Ethel the Penguin’s in my class, Though she doesn’t sit next to me. Miss Ink likes Ethel to sit by herself. She can be a bit lawless, you see.'  Everyone needs a best friend like Ethel. She’s not afraid of teachers, she's not afraid of heights. In fact, she’s totally wild! Dubosarsky, who was the 2020-2021 Australian Children's Laureate, lets loose her imagination on this rollicking rhyming romp which proves that there is no limit to the fun you can have with a misbehaving penguin. Add on all the colour and character of Nielsen’s illustrations and it’s madcap mischief all the way!
(Allen & Unwin Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Curtain Call to Murder

Julian Clary

WHEN a horrific on-stage death brings down the curtain at the opening night of a smash-hit new play at the prestigious London Palladium, it sends shockwaves through the theatre world.

The rumours are that the demise of the actor was a dreadful accident but there’s one person behind the scenes who is not convinced... and Jayne Oxley, a quiet, clever and experienced backstage dresser, is determined to find the killer.

As someone who has spent a lot of time working in the theatre, and confesses that he has often thought of back-stage as a perfect tinder-box for murder, the popular author, actor and comedian Julian Clary (pictured below) is well placed to bring readers not just a devilishly delightful mystery but a fascinating insight into the fiery feuds and hilarious histrionics of showbiz. Curtain Call to Murder is a wonderfully witty, devious and entertaining journey into the workings and warring of a theatre group full of divas, oversized egos and louche lotharios, all ably accompanied by a bunch of ruthless hangers-on who would likely run over their own grandmother if it meant getting a leading role, running the show or grabbing the biggest scoop.

So meet the irresistible and cheerful secret detective Jayne, the dresser who ‘prefers not to be noticed’ and consequently has the gift to notice things unnoticed. After two months without work, she’d had a premonition that something good was going to happen and two days later a letter arrived offering   her a job on the hit play Leopard Spots.

And after a few months on tour, it’s now the opening Press Night performance at the London Palladium... but tensions are running high amongst the feuding cast which includes a well-known ‘silver fox’, a national treasure, an amateur psychic and a comedian-turned-actor all vying for the spotlight.

When an unscripted on-stage incident – involving a ten-pound iron stage weight no less – leaves an actor dead and audience members screaming, it is clear only to Jayne that the drama was something much more than an accident. Can she step out of the wings and identify the killer before it is too late... or is murder set to make an encore? Written in the form of diary entries, WhatsApp group messages, newspaper headlines, police reports, letters, blogs and Clary’s own commentary as our ‘narrator,’ Curtain Call to Murder is the ideal stage set for a murderously funny theatrical production.

At its heart is a cast of unforgettable, larger-than-life characters – from the preening, squabbling actors to the backbiting backroom production team – each exquisitely and humorously imagined courtesy of Clary’s storytelling talents, forensic insider insight and mischievous wit.

Sleuthing covertly behind the scenery is Jayne, one of the show’s lowest pay grade workers but also the owner of the biggest brain on set, and she has her work cut out to find a way through the deadly drama, debauchery and sheer devilry en route to nailing the elusive murderer. Filled to the gods with plot twists, liaisons and laughter aplenty, this is a show you would be mad to miss!
(Orion, hardback, £20)