Swept Away

Beth O’Leary

IT was meant to be a one-night stand with definitely no strings attached... a passionate encounter fuelled by too much booze and what seemed like an instant chemistry. What Zeke and Lexi didn't expect was to wake up in a houseboat which has been swept far out to sea where there’s no sight of land and definitely no phone signal.

Survival at sea takes on a whole new meaning in this sparkling novel which will have romance fans happily drowning in the ocean-soaked trials and tribulations of a couple of strangers who find that their night of lovemaking causes more than a few giant waves.

If you enjoyed million-copy bestselling author Beth O’Leary's (pictured below) The Flatshare and The Wake-Up Call then Swept Away – an epic tale in more ways than one – is guaranteed to take you on an unforgettable voyage alongside two very different characters set dangerously adrift in the calmest of waters and stormiest of seas. Lexi is aged thirty-one but feels like she’s one hundred. She works at the Northumberland seaside pub her family once owned, has spent the last few years helping her single best friend raise her young daughter and feels she deserves ‘one night of stupid, reckless fun’ in which she can get drunk and just enjoy herself.

So it seems to be karma when Lexi spots Zeke sitting alone in the pub and quite unaccountably feels a shiver run over her ‘like a bird skimming water’ when he looks up and meets her eyes. Suddenly she’s ready and willing to do something irresponsible and spontaneous.

Problem is that 23-year-old Zeke, who is in Northumberland to buy back his late father’s cherished houseboat, has his own reasons to be looking for love and committing to a long-term relationship. But for one night with a woman like Lexi, he is prepared to break his own rules. What’s the harm. after all?

Soon sparks are flying at the pub, much wine is consumed, one passionate kiss leads to another and they end up stumbling out to the marina together and on to the houseboat. The next morning, hungover and shaken by an amazing night together, Lexi is quite happy to say goodbye to Zeke but there’s one small problem... the houseboat wasn’t tied up properly and has been swept out to sea. As their supplies start to run dangerously low, and the waves pick up, Zeke and Lexi soon realise there’s much more on the line than their new relationship. How long can they really survive on a drifting houseboat in the North Sea... and will search and rescue ever find them?

O’Leary’s captivating nautical romance featuring an unlikely but very likeable couple lost at sea is a joyful and surprisingly emotional reading experience as we witness Lexi and Zeke navigating their way through their hidden hopes, dreams, fears and insecurities... and the vagaries of unpredictable waves and weather. Struggling with both their current predicament, and the heightened tensions of being trapped in a small space with someone you hardly know, Lexi and Zeke are soon indulging in the kind of salutary introspection that their busy lives have never before permitted.

Lexi – a woman with a naturally cautious, steady and caring nature whose adult life has been consumed by her loyalty to a friend in need – would appear to be the perfect foil to the younger, more spontaneous and passionate Zeke who has been hit hard by his father’s recent death.

With no help in sight, faced with the prospect of their food running out, and prey to the ocean’s might, their relationship starts to shift and grow in new directions... and with a twist in the story’s tail, there are no certainties about the direction of voyage for the stranded pair.

Written with the kind of grounded authenticity at which O’Leary excels, but also full of the beguiling romance and magical moments that cannot but help seduce readers, Swept Away is guaranteed to sail away with your captured heart!
(Quercus, hardback, £18.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Animal magic, bee secrets and a gangster girl's escapades

Discover the many amazing similarities between humans and animals, get a buzz out of the remarkable life of bees, enjoy madcap escapades and exhilarating villainy with a feisty gangster’s daughter, and dive into an adventure full of magical realism, action and danger with a super selection of new children’s books

Age 8 plus
We are All Animals
Christopher Lloyd, Ben Hoare and Mark Ruffle

NOW here’s a thought... what do YOU have in common with a cat, a bat, a jellyfish and 150 other animals? If you believed that we humans have very different bodies to animals, then you’re in for a BIG surprise when you open the pages of this brilliant new book from What on Earth Books, a publisher whose mission is to bring all children the most trustworthy and inspiring non-fiction books. With an introduction by TV Supervet, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, We Are All Animals offers youngsters an awe-inspiring new way to understand the animal kingdom by uncovering incredible similarities in the anatomy of humans and other animals, as well as parallels in animal emotion, intelligence and community, including expressing love, showing grief, using language, having fun, working together, and even showing off!

With its unique focus, the book – written by Ben Hoare and Christopher Lloyd – celebrates our entire furry, scaly, slimy, slippery, extended family. Did you know that most animal bodies, including ours, are shaped like tubes, that humans share 75 per cent  of their genes with chickens, that animals get a lot of the same diseases (and medical treatments) we do, and that rats are ticklish and dolphins give each other names? Children will be delighted to discover how similar they are to bats, bees, dogs, frogs, jellyfish, giraffes, and many more. By encouraging readers to make connections between distant corners of the animal kingdom, the book celebrates the extraordinary ways in which all of Earth’s creatures are connected. Created in partnership with the Humanimal Trust, a charity advocating collaboration between physicians and veterinarians, We Are All Animals is underpinned by cutting-edge medical science and is lavishly illustrated by Mark Ruffle with original artwork, fascinating infographics and real-life photography. Animal magic for all the family to enjoy!
(What on Earth Books, hardback, £14.99)

Age 7 plus
Secrets of Bees
Ben Hoare and Nina Chakrabarti

If you ever wondered what it feels like to be a bee, how they make honey, and why they famously do a ‘waggle dance,’ look no further than this brilliant book which is guaranteed to ‘bee’ an all-round winner with your curious kids! Secrets of Bees – a children’s guide to hives, pollination and electro-sense – is the first book of a new Think Big series in an exciting collaboration between Nosy Crow children’s books and the University of Cambridge. Featuring illustrated single-subject STE(A)M topics, the books will explore some of the universe’s most fascinating subjects. Written by bestselling wildlife writer Ben Hoare, in consultation with Professor Beverley Glover and Dr Sally Lee of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Secrets of Bees features accessible, bitesize chunks and is filled with award-winning artist Nina Chakrabarti’s bright and colourful illustrations on every page. Bees are incredible and there are so many different kinds found all over the world, from humble bumblebees and honeybees to diggers, leafcutters, and even meat-eating vulture bees. Discover how a bee’s eyes see the world in a unique way, how bees pollinate plants, how they communicate with a ‘waggle dance’, and how without bees, the world would be a very different (and much less wonderful) place. Buzzing with fascinating facts and blooming all over with gorgeous artwork, the book will inspire young readers to become pollination pros and equip them with enough knowledge to do their bit to help save the bees!
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus
Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed
Eve Wersocki-Morris and Honie Beam

GANGSTERS, gals, hoodlums and heists... welcome to the first book of a rip-roaring new middle grade series set in the shadowy streets of 1950s London and teeming with madcap escapades and the unlikeliest heroes! Leading the charge through all the exhilarating villainy is fearless young crook Clem Fatale, the simply delightful creation of exciting author Eve Wersocki Morris whose debut mystery novel, The Bird Singers, has been nominated for multiple awards. And what a first outing this is for feisty Clem as she sets out on a dangerous mission to find her dad, Jimmy Fatale, notorious jewel thief and leader of the Spider Gang. Jimmy has gone missing while raiding the home of wealthy Lord Weatherdale and with him the greatest prize in London... the Fool’s Canary. Along with her prisoner and/or sidekick Gilbert (depends who you’re asking), Clem sets off on a rip-roaring chase through the London underworld. Racing through dodgy dives, glamorous nightclubs, greasy spoons and secret alleyways, Clem – who has been pulling jobs with the Spiders since she was eleven – and Gilbert are soon pursued by a host of friends and foes. Will Clem find her father in time, or will the most sinister villain this side of the river put a stop to all her plans? Brimming with the characterful illustrations of Honie Beam, who is based in South Carolina, this high-octane adventure delivers fun, adventure, mystery, pulsating  action and a brilliantly imagined cast of characters from fast-talking dames and cranky crooks to lovable good guys and dastardly bad guys. Add on a sparkling dialogue and a brilliantly imagined Fifties backdrop, and you have a series destined to steal every reader’s heart!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Gargoyles: The Watcher
Tamsin Mori

AN inexperienced Guardian, a missing kelpie, a growing threat... if adventure-lovers haven’t already guessed, Tamsin Mori is back to thrill and chill us with the second book of her simply magical Gargoyles series which blends realism with fun and  fantasy, and was inspired by the fabulous myths and legends of her mother’s native Shetland Islands. Star of the show is an eleven-year-old boy called Callen whose family have moved into Gargoyle’s Rest, his father’s crumbling and mysterious childhood mansion, where long-forgotten magic has started returning and woken a disgruntled and extremely feisty gargoyle called Zariel. With dark threats lurking in the shadows and Zariel now his friend, Callen is in training as a Gargoyle Guardian but he’s still a novice and when Oculus – the organisation which oversees all the magical Sources – discover that Callen has been made a Guardian, they send a Watcher to assess his skills. Callen knows that if he fails, he risks losing both his gargoyle and his new home. But satisfying the Watcher is the least of his worries. With ghosts on the prowl, a missing kelpie to find, and blighted magic spreading beyond Gargoyles Rest, Callen’s friendships, his courage, and his ingenuity will all be put to the test. Packed with magical realism, danger and fast-paced action, these wild and wonderfully imagined Gargoyles stories deliver excitement and adventure all the way, but Mori also gently explores universal themes like protecting the planet, and the importance of family, friendship, and remaining true to yourself. Beautifully written, and wrapped up in the magic of our precious natural world, this is an unmissable series.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £8.99)

Age 8 plus
The Whisperwicks: The Impossible Trials
Jordan Lees and Vivienne To

IF springtime is reigniting your spirit of adventure, return to the labyrinthine streets of Wreathenwold and enjoy the second Whisperwicks magical mission from Jordan Lees, one of the most exciting new voices in children’s fiction. The Impossible Trials sees more spectacular world-building and storytelling from a writer whose imagination would seem to have no bounds as we meet up again with eleven-year-old Benjamiah Creek whose belief in science, logic and reason was shattered by his discovery of an impossible world. Packed with the glorious illustrations of New Zealand-based artist Vivienne To, this new outing for Benjamiah expands his incredible invented world into new spaces, creates new characters, and delivers the same seductive blend of heartfelt friendships and fantastical otherworldly adventures.‘Magic forged at Midsommer is the strongest and truest of all magic – both fair and foul.’ When Benjamiah discovers a strange fragment of witchstone, he find himself transported to the labyrinthine streets of Wreathenwold... a world of spectacular adventure, dark secrets and impossible magic. Along with his friends, the fierce and brilliant Elizabella Cotton, Mea and Silas the mapmaker, Benjamiah embarks on a dangerous quest involving a strange collection of fairy tales... The Book of Barely Believable Stories. The gang must undertake a series of magical trials to save the missing children of Wreathenwold before Midsommer ends and they are lost forever. With its wholly original premise, a cast of dazzling characters, spectacular storytelling and Lees’ rich and breathtakingly detailed world-building which takes us deep into the wonders of magical Wreathenwold, this is a standout series which has the legs to run... and run again.
(Puffin, hardback, £14.99)

Age 7 plus
Marvellous Messages
Rose Ayling-Ellis and Lena Addink

FIND out about the amazing people whose ingenious ideas have transformed the way we connect, and meet deaf heroes from the worlds of sport, science and showbusiness, in a fabulous time-travelling, globe-trotting journey through communication with award-winning actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, a longstanding pioneer for the deaf community. Packed with the vibrant and colourful illustrations of Lena Addink, an artist and illustrator based in the Netherlands, Marvellous Messages follows Ayling-Ellis, her cool cat Halo, and their magical tour guide, Perky the Pigeon, as they explore the story of communication as never before. Discover ancient language and decipher secret codes on a journey through time, and learn about all the different ways we can send, or receive, a message. With Perky leading the way, youngsters travel back to the beginnings of language, the first hieroglyphic ‘emojis’ and even learn about communication in the animal kingdom! Along the way, we cross continents and space, traverse time, and discover five world-changing inventions and how they shaped the evolution of communication. So whether it’s finding out how sign language began in the 1500, how bees communicate with one another, or simply discovering how language and communication work, this is the ideal gift book for your curious children.
(DK Children, hardback, £16.99)

Age 7 plus
Jack-Jack: Return of the Chickens
Ben Garrod and Charli Vince

ENJOY a dog’s eye view of his amazing world in the third book of delightfully cute and funny fiction series written by Ben Garrod, Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement at the University of East Anglia. Garrod was inspired to pen The Adventures of a Dog Called Jack-Jack books after filming the hit BBC2 series, Baby Chimp Rescue in Africa, falling in love with Jack, and bringing him back to the UK where the two are now inseparable. So meet Jack-Jack who is not just any old dog... he’s the world’s coolest dog and used to look after orphaned chimpanzees in Africa until his owner Ben flew him thousands of miles away to live in the ‘Yookay.’ Now every day is full of adventure although Jack-Jack is never just along for the ride. He is constantly proving his worth, from protecting his feline frenemy to thwarting the plans of fossil thieves trying to make off with precious palaeontological prizes. Jack-Jack was really enjoying his new home until the arrival of the ‘chickens’ in the garden marked the end of peaceful mornings and gave him a new set of challenges. He’s convinced Ronnie the rooster is out to get him. Is he paranoid or is this cheeky chicken on his case? Luckily, Jack-Jack is too busy fossil hunting in an actual mammoth graveyard and appearing on TV, with a special thermal imaging camera to see how fit he is, to let a rooster ruffle him...until a real predator sneaks into the chicken coop. Can Jack-Jack save the day and become a true hero? With the richly detailed and fun-filled black and white illustrations of Charli Vince on every page, Jack-Jack’s adventures and misadaventures cannot help but win the hearts of all young (and old!) animal lovers!
(Zephyr, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Nature Pop-ups: Minibeasts
Patricia Hegarty, Xuan Le and Yoojin Kim

DISCOVER nature in all its blooming colour, glory and life in a spectacular pop-up book full of minibeast marvels! Minibeasts is the first of a dazzling new series of nature pop-up books from Little Tiger Press. From a shimmering, glimmering dragonfly to a chirping grasshopper and a slow and steady snail, your little one will love watching insects pop up from the ingeniously engineered pages of this stylish board book. With Xuan Le’s gorgeous illustrations, Patricia Hegarty’s simple rhyming text, lots of fascinating facts, and the jaw-dropping paper engineering of Yoojin Kim, this beautiful pop-up book is a perfect introduction to the amazing minibeasts youngsters might meet in the garden. There could be no better way to watch nature spring to life!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
Sleep Tight, Disgusting Blob
Huw Aaron

THE sun has gone down, the day’s nearly done and it’s time to say goodnight to a horrid, beastly, awful, appalling, grotty, ghastly, repulsive, revolting... but precious little one! Welsh cartoonist, author and illustrator Huw Aaron turns traditional bedtime stories on their sleepy heads with this funny, clever and delightfully unique tale starring a cast of creatures best known to us all as folklore’s scariest characters. Blending stars of the grotesque with cute and cuddly bedtime themes, this rollicking rhyming romp is a sure-fire winner with your little ones. It’s bedtime for Blob but some persuading might be needed. ‘All creatures grim and evil, under the tired sun, are settling down - and so must you, my horrible little one…’ It’s time to go to bed, and whether you are a phantom, a vampire, a Dark Lord, a Cyclopsm a werewolf or a yeti, you still must brush your teeth, put on your pyjamas, and settle down with a cosy story. ‘Your duvet is soft and slimy. Your pillow is lovely and damp. Cuddle in close with a book (or three). We'll read by the light of the lamp.’ Full of warmth, humour, slime and blobby kisses, this disgustingly good bedtime book is guaranteed to amuse and delight your own sleepy little monsters!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
A Seed in the Universe
Elyon Liu

EXPLORE how the smallest things, like a tiny seed, are part of the biggest things, like our planet, in this playful board book with peep-through pages. Full of colour, ingenuity and subtle learning, A Seed in the Universe is the creation of Elyon Liu, a debut Chinese author and illustrator originally from Beijing and now living in Cambridge, who is passionate about plants and animals. Starting with a tiny seed and ending with our planet, which looks like a seed in the universe, this novelty book explains in accessible terms how all life on earth is connected. With its simple rhythm, and intriguing vintage-inspired illustrations, the book invites little ones to enjoy exploring the peep-through on each page. A book that grows on you!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, board book, £9.99)

Age 3 plus
Our Tree
Jessica Meserve

LIFE is better when it’s spent together! That’s the message that speaks loudly and clearly from the top branches of a tree that plays a special role in a stunning picture book from rising star Jessica Meserve who finds inspiration and happiness from the great outdoors. Little Red the squirrel is delighted when he discovers a beautiful tree and wants it all to himself! But he soon realises he is not on his own... animals of all sizes visit the tree to enjoy its shade, nibble on its leaves and rest on its branches. Little Red doesn’t want to share; he'd rather set off to find a place of his own. But after a slightly perilous altercation with a leopard, Little Red learns the value of friends who have your back! Our Tree – packed with Meserve’s exquisitely detailed and colourful illustrations – celebrates tolerance, togetherness and the power of community, and gently encourages little ones to recognise the importance of sharing and acceptance. A picture book to treasure, and to return to time and time again.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
If You’re Hoppy and You Know It
Alison Brown

CUTE bunnies, egg hunts and a joyful, familiar rhyme... the fun of Easter isn’t far away now! Celebrate this special time of year with a heart-melting, lift-the-flap picture book from talented author and illustrator Alison Brown who knows how to put the ‘aaaah’ factor into every one of her delightful creations. Little ones will love joining a crew of bunnies for an adorable Easter egg hunt! Sing along with the much-loved rhyme, If You’re Happy and You Know It, specially adapted for Easter by Queen of Cute Brown. Search around in all the best hiding places, see how many eggs you can find, and meet some friends along the way. Filled with fun actions to copy, things to spot, intriguing flaps to lift, Brown’s cute and quirky animal characters, and plenty of springtime joy, this is the perfect gift book for the Easter holidays.
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Zizzi Moonbeam
Emily Hibbs and Natalie Smillie

MAGIC saves the day for a party planner fairy in a gorgeous picture book which has been exquisitely created for your own little party lovers! Little ones’ imaginations are guaranteed to take flight when they open the pages of author Emily Hibbs and illustrator Natalie Smillie’s dazzling, interactive, and fairy-filled adventure full of letters and invitations to read, flaps to lift, doors to open... and that must-have sprinkle of magic! It’s Zizzi Moonbeam’s first day as a party planner at Fairy HQ and she’s fizzing with excitement! Watch her whizz to the rescue to ensure every party runs smoothly. Rain on the day of your garden party? A bridesmaid’s dress covered in jam? No problem is too big for Zizzi Moonbeam! But oh no, it looks like she’s forgotten to reply to one of her letters. There’s no time to solve this party pickle on her own. Will one of her new fairy pals swoop in to help Zizzi save the day? Smillie’s colourful and richly detailed artwork brings the heartwarming story to life and with so much to discover on each page, this magical book is perfect for all young party lovers!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Hank Goes Honk
Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie

AN obnoxious goose – with a bad habit of honking – gets a lesson in kindness when he finally ruffles too many feathers and runs out of friends! Talented picture book duo author Maudie Powell-Tuck and bestselling illustrator and author Duncan Beedie work their magic on this comedy-filled picture book starring Hank the Goose who has never met a balloon he didn’t pop, or a conversation he didn’t – HONK! – interrupt. Hank even honks in the library and during movies but being like this isn’t always fun – and it’s upsetting everyone else. Maybe it’s time for a change, and time for Hank to learn how to be an im-PECK-able goose! Only it’s not quite as easy as it looks... Prepare to honk with laughter whilst learning important lessons about being mindful, and kind and considerate to others. With Powell-Tuck’s lovable anti-hero, a cautionary tale told with deadpan humour, and Beedie's brilliant illustrations, this is guaranteed to be a family favourite!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Dotty Doughnut
Momoko Abe

A PLAIN doughnut who is fed up with being left on the bakery’s bottom shelf cooks up a plan to get herself noticed but when her scheme falls flat, she discovers that just being yourself makes life taste much sweeter! Japanese-born author and illustrator Momoko Abe, whose delicious debut picture book, Avocado Asks, won the hearts of readers young and old, returns with another dainty dish full of warmth, wit and wisdom. Adorable Dotty is a plain doughnut who longs to be as fabulous as the colourful doughnuts sitting centre stage in the bakery window so she sets out on a mission to put herself in the spotlight. But when her makeover doesn’t quite go to plan, will Dotty learn to love herself for who she truly is? Dotty’s fun-filled adventure – brought to life by Abe’s stylish and colourful illustrations – carries uplifting messages about self-acceptance and embracing difference as she discovers that being true to yourself is the very best thing you can be!
(Orchard Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age one plus
We Love Fruit!
Becky Davies and Ailie Busby

IT might sound strange but... here’s a tasty book that gives little ones full permission to play with food! Little ones will love pulling out the sliding tray in the cover of this ingenious board book to reveal removable, double-sided fruit characters. And wait for the miles of smiles as they follow the clues to match the correct board piece to each page! Do you know which fruit grows in pairs, and which fruit can take up to three years to grow? Written by Becky Davies and colourfully illustrated by Ailie Busby, We Love Fruit! cleverly combines an interactive guessing game with an early learning concept. With simple facts to share along the way, it’s the perfect book to encourage balanced, healthy eating habits through play, and is guaranteed to leave your toddlers hungry for more!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £8.99)

Age one plus
Busy Builders: Dinos at Work
Stacie Bradly and Damien Barlow

MEET a bunch of busy dino builders and watch them transform into amazing construction machines with this super slider board book full of fun and action! T. Rex is on the building site and has to smash this wall! He needs someone to swing their tail... just like a wrecking ball! There’s so much work to be done on the building site, and the dinos need to find a way to smash, shift, mix and lift things quickly before the day is over. By pulling the sliding tabs on each page, little ones can help the busy builders use their special dino skills to transform into construction machines and build something roarsome together! With fun dino facts on each slider, Stacie Bradly’s rhyming text which is perfect for little ones to join in with, and friendly illustrations from Damien Barlow, Busy Builders: Dinos at Work is ideal for little ones who love dinosaurs and diggers!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)

Age one plus
Little Duck, Little Duck, What Can You See?
Kate Ware and Pintachan

LITTLE ones will go quackers when they get their hands – and eyes – on this lift-the-flap, mirror board book starring a daffy little duck. ‘Little Duck! Little Duck! What can you see? Under these flowers, who could it be?’ Lift the chunky flaps to help Little Duck and his dragonfly friend discover who is hiding underneath and reveal a cute caterpillar, a bird, a friendly fox, and a deer! With a mirror surprise under the final flap, and the colourful illustrations of Spanish artist Pintachan, this super seek-and-find book is perfect for sharing with the very youngest of readers.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)

The Seven O’Clock Club

Amelia Ireland

THE journey through the loneliness and darkness of grief – and its many emotional stages – is one of life’s toughest trials but it’s also one for which many human beings appear to be singularly unprepared.

It’s a concept that has been seized on and explored with insight, sensitivity and some storytelling magic by lawyer and debut novelist Amelia Ireland (pictured below) who wrote this moving, intriguing, surprising and utterly unique tale about trauma, healing and recovery in memory of her mother who died shortly after being diagnosed with early onset dementia.

Harnessing all those intense and harrowing feelings that litter the path to understanding and acceptance – anger, denial, depression, despair and guilt – The Seven O'Clock Club takes us into the troubled lives of four lost and broken strangers brought together in a London tower block to take part in an experimental treatment designed to heal broken hearts. The result is an immersive, powerful and slow-reveal story... one with an extraordinary twist at its heart which will have readers gasping, crying, smiling and hurriedly turning the pages as the therapy sessions with an unconventional woman called Genevieve take us above, behind and far beyond the normal healing process.

‘There comes a time in every person’s life when you have to take a gamble.’ 

Genevieve Dempsey, a determined woman with an unusual theory to test, is about to launch a series of therapy sessions for four very different people who all suffered a traumatic experience six months ago, have shown a dogged inability to put it behind them, but have all accepted an invitation to attend tonight's counselling session.

Their scepticism about this new kind of grief therapy – and their unnervingly perceptive counsellor Genevieve – means they are all wary, but as the weeks go by, they find themselves returning again and again, pulled back to work their way toward healing, even if it means first facing the pain head-on.

Fifty-two-year-old Victoria is a sharp-tongued lawyer at a cut-throat City law firm and has no intention of letting down her defensive wall and admitting that she’s grieving. Her privileged upbringing is one she would rather forget but it might be the one thing she needs to acknowledge in order to move on.

Callum, aged 29, is a rock star who found success too young.  Struggling to stay on the straight and narrow, and forced to keep out of the public eye by his record label, he is one drink away from losing it all and rages against the world so he can forget a day that haunts him. Mischa, aged just 20, is a fragile and impressionable young woman from an east London council estate who left school to be a full-time carer to her ailing mother. Plagued by loneliness and blackouts she can’t control, all she wants is something or someone to live for, and a place to belong.

And then there’s 32-year-old Freya, an interior designer and a kind, sensitive wife who had a picture-perfect home, marriage and career but can now barely bring herself to leave the house because of panic attacks, or admit that the life she had isn’t necessarily the one she wants back. But there is another reason these four people have been brought together. And when that perfectly ordinary tower block near Westminster turns out to be not quite so ordinary, all those involved in the group are forced to make some unexpected – and, for some, impossible – decisions.

Grief is one of the most powerful human emotions and the grieving process can both aid and hamper mental recovery. Grieve for too long and it can become a stumbling block, but embrace it, understand it and accept it, and it can be the source of new-found strength and provide light at the end of a long, dark and seemingly endless tunnel.

In this way, Ireland cannot help but capture the hearts and minds of readers as she digs deep into the human psyche to explore grief and its many facets. Packed with wisdom and empathy, The Seven O’Clock Club meticulously follows the rollercoaster journeys of Victoria, Callum, Freya and Mischa... each trapped in one or more of the various painful stages of grief, and each witnessing their lives and secrets unfolding through a series of sometimes shocking revelations.

Through Genevieve and her previously untested techniques, each of these flawed but very human characters is forced to step into the arena, face unpalatable truths, discover lost confidence and strength, and finally deal with the raw emotions and hidden fears that are holding back their recovery. Unsurprisingly, their reawakening engenders a whole range of reactions and behaviours from anger, sarcasm and outright hostility to unexpected affection, mutual understanding, flashes of dark humour and a warm connection.

Superbly plotted, written straight from the heart, packed with drama, suspense and mystery, and featuring a soupçon of magic, messages of hope, friendship and love, and that unforgettable, jaw-dropping twist, The Seven O’Clock Club proves to be the cleverest, most thought-provoking, and ultimately most uplifting read you’ll encounter this spring.
(Black & White Publishing, hardback, £16.99)

Date With Destiny

Julia Chapman

WEDDING bells might be ringing for Yorkshire Dales detective duo Samson O’Brien and Delilah Metcalfe but some harsh realities, and secret doubts, are casting a shadow over their forthcoming nuptials.

And when a shocking murder rocks their small community, the chalk-and-cheese couple’s personal worries and reservations have to be set aside while they concentrate all their efforts on finding a brutal killer.

Welcome back to drop-dead gorgeous Bruncliffe, the not-so-sleepy Dales town where murder, mystery and malice are only ever a heartbeat away. Date With Destiny is the tenth and final novel in Julia Chapman’s brilliantly entertaining Dales Detective Agency series which stars the irresistible private investigator Samson and his delightful fiancée and sleuthing partner Delilah, owner of the Dales Dating Agency. These enchanting whodunits have become a hot favourite with readers seduced by the stunning scenery, ingenious plotting, superb characterisation, and Chapman’s (pictured below) fine line in earthy Yorkshire wit. And in our last visit to Bruncliffe – just when things should be going smoothly for Samson and Delilah – there seems to be another storm to weather.

After an impulsive proposal to Delilah (who said yes!) Samson had seen nothing but bliss ahead of them but the woman he worships seems to be reluctant to actually commit to getting married. What started out as a niggling worry has turned into ‘fully fledged anxiety’ because three weeks from the wedding date, invitations have not been sent out and Delilah hasn’t even chosen a dress for the big day.

Beset with worries, the last thing Samson needs is handsome and charismatic reality TV star Jake Ramsbottom (now known to his adoring fans as the single name Tyke) comes knocking on the Dales Detective Agency’s door, seeking their services.

Tyke, who has family connections to Bruncliffe, has been receiving menacing death threats and is willing to pay a large sum of money to find the culprit. Samson is initially reluctant to help for many reasons, not least a bit of jealousy because Delilah seems star-struck by his arrival.

But things quickly escalate following a shocking murder at the town’s Fellside Court retirement complex and, as one of their friends comes under suspicion, Samson and Delilah must set aside their own problems to catch a killer. It’s a case that will bring so many of Bruncliffe’s secrets out into the open, and this final investigation for the Dales Detectives has the potential to wreak irreparable damage.

Chapman pens her clever stories with the lightest of touches but there always remains a layer of gritty reality beneath the wryly funny double act of Samson and Delilah, and the likeable, down-to-earth residents of Bruncliffe. And it is the timeless charm of her writing, the ability to immerse readers in the everyday lives of ordinary country folk, and the endless joys of observing the rollercoaster relationship between Samson and Delilah that have made this series such a memorable delight.

With an intriguing murder mystery to solve, an exquisitely imagined cast of characters both familiar and not-so-familiar, the rolling hills and rural delights of the Dales providing a luscious backdrop, and a wedding that was always destined to see our romantic heroes complete ‘a perfect circle,’ this is a thoroughly satisfying farewell to what has been a quintessentially Yorkshire reading treat.
(Pan, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Deadly games, ancient stories and a chiller-thriller

Feast your imagination on a brilliant, brand new Hunger Games adventure, get lost in the mists of time with a thrilling account of Britain’s rich myths and legends, go down to the woods with a bunch of spiky classmates who have a killer mystery to solve, and find out what life as an ancient Egyptian was actually like in a super, sparkling collection of new books

Age 12 plus
Sunrise on the Reaping
Suzanne Collins

IF you have an insatiable appetite for more of Suzanne Collins’ phenomenal dystopian adventure series The Hunger Games then feast your eyes and your imagination on this spectacular, thrill-packed prequel set in the sadistic world of Panem twenty-four years before we met the unforgettable Katniss Everdeen. Sunrise on the Reaping – the fifth book of a blistering series that has taken the world by storm – opens on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, and what happens next is guaranteed to fascinate, horrify, amaze, and break your heart.

It all began with a 16-year-old girl whose life changed forever when she was selected to fight to the death in the terrifying Hunger Games but rewind the story – Collins’ unique and inventive blend of the worst excesses of reality television, the savagery of ancient Rome and the chilling oppression of communism – and we discover the formative days of characters we have come to know across the first four books. When you've been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for? As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honour of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He is torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes... a young friend who is nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight... and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

It’s no wonder that film producers can’t wait to get their hands on new Hunger Games books. Full of heart-stopping action and terrifying violence, these white knuckle adventures are just ripe for big screen treatment so no surprise to learn that this new addition is already earmarked for cinemas in November next year. But each futuristic story carries with it life lessons for young readers about the dangers of tyranny and control, and features the same moral choices and dilemmas that face people on planet Earth. With plot twists galore, a relentless pace that keeps the nerves tingling without over-egging the action, Sunrise on the Reaping is another master class in suspense fiction.
(Scholastic, hardback, £19.99)

Age 9 plus
Storyland: Britain began with myths...
Amy Jeffs

IMMERSE yourself in mist and magic, and discover heroes and monsters right on your doorstep, with a thrilling book that was created for adults but has now been retold for children so they too can marvel at Britain’s fascinating and age-old myths and legends. Based on her bestselling Storyland: A Mythology of Britain, Amy Jeffs – an author, printmaker and art historian specialising in the Middle Ages – brings youngsters a beautiful book packed with landscapes which they can recognise but populated with everything from goddesses, Trojans and giants to runaway servants and power-hungry kings. Many of us have heard of Thor, Medusa and Hercules... but what about the myths which are closer to home? Learn about the Trojan heroes who wrestled giants, the Syrian sisters who found refuge on our lands, the dragons who slept in hollow hills, and the kings who communed with the dead. Travelling across the wildest of landscapes – as far north as Orkney and way down to Cornwall in the south – children will learn how Britain got its name, build Stonehenge with the young Merlin, chase hounds up the mountains of Wales, ride stags into the forests of Scotland, and sail with Trojans along the rivers of Britain, discovering a land bursting with thrilling adventures. Full of enchantment, beauty and discovery, and brimming with Jeffs’ striking lino cut illustrations, this stunning book is the perfect way to dazzle children with home-grown tales of magic and adventure... and introduce them to an unforgettable array of dragons and demons, kings and princesses, giants and prophets. Simply wizard!
(Wren & Rook, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
Serial Chillers: The Witch in the Woods
Jennifer Killick

WLECOME to Hazard, an ordinary town where strangeness is a way of life... a town where sink holes appear with no warning, where people go missing way too often, and where things really DO go bump in the night! Queen of chills-and-thrills Jennifer Killick – author of the spine-chilling Dread Wood and Crater Lake series – makes a welcome return with all those super-spooky vibes that kids love... horrors galore, a delicious dollop of black comedy and a bunch of spiky classmates with a killer mystery to solve. Horror stories are what Killick does best and Serial Chillers: The Witch in the Woods delivers horror and humour in perfect harmony in this brilliant new story filled with big dollops of menace, malevolence and mystery. To teenager Travis and his classmates, Zayd, Seline and Danielle, Hazard is home. But when they are set a school project to investigate the history of the town, they decide to look into the local urban legend of Blood-Eyed Mary, hoping for nothing more than a good grade. But when they head straight into the heart of Mary’s lair in the woods at night, what they find there changes everything, not least that something strange and alien lies beneath Hazard. What can they learn from their investigations into the mysterious witch in the woods? And – if the witch really does exist – will they make it home to tell the tale? Killick is a slick and sassy storyteller… she knows just how far to take her heart-stopping tales of cool comedy and scary horror as she pumps up the action and lets loose her rich imagination. Just be prepared to read this gorgeous, gigglesome and unputdownable chiller-thriller in one sitting!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
What It Was Like
to Be an Ancient Egyptian
David Long and Stefano Tambellini

FIND out what life as an ancient Egyptian was actually like, both for pharaohs and ordinary people, alongside Blue Peter Award-winning author David Long in the fourth book of his enthralling What It Was Like to Be... series which introduces children to the daily life, culture and legacy of some of history’s most extraordinary civilisations. From sacred cats to the invention of toothpaste, calendars and door locks, Long takes readers to the beating heart of the ancient Egyptian civilisation which lasted for an incredible 3,000 years. Ruled over by pharaohs, the Egyptians developed agricultural skills and trading partnerships that enabled them to build a rich and powerful nation centred on the River Nile. Far more advanced than any European countries at the time, the Egyptians achieved incredible feats of building, created a new way of writing, and revolutionised farming. The pharaohs’ powerful armies were undefeatable for generations so how did such an impressive empire suddenly disappear? Long’s concise and thoroughly entertaining account brings the ancient Egyptians’ fascinating civilisation into focus, allowing a deeper understanding and appreciation of their culture. With all the intriguing facts and mysteries of their lives brought to vivid life by Stefano Tambellini’s rich artwork, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this is a dazzling addition to a top class series from a dynamic writing and illustration duo.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The World at Night: Discover the world that wakes when you sleep
Ben Lerwill and Paula Bossio

HAVE you ever wondered what goes on around the world in the deepest, darkest depths of night? The truth may well surprise you because while we sleep, our planet is transforming and thriving! Dip into this amazing and informative book and you’ll find that at night, magic is all around in the natural world, from bioluminescent seas in the Caribbean to the Northern Lights on Arctic winter nights. Discover how wild animals embark on awe-inspiring journeys or hunt stealthily under the cover of darkness, while some people wake to work through the hours of darkness. Packed full of incredible facts and brought to life by Paula Bossio’s beautifully quirky illustrations, The World at Night takes readers to the ends of the Earth and everywhere in between to uncover the hidden wonders of our nocturnal planet. Young readers will love exploring the lives of animals who tread a different path under the cover of darkness, not least the perilous moonlight journey taken by baby turtles and the global migration of bearded pigs. Discover nocturnal plants that have evolved to only bloom in the moonlight, and wild mushrooms that depend on their glow-in-the-dark superpower for survival. Follow the people who work hard through the night... hospital staff, fishing crews, bakers, firefighters, postal workers and security guards. Learn about our reliance on electric light across the world, and the human body clock’s vital connection to light and darkness. With a glossary of all notable terms at the end of the book, The World at Night is the ideal way to learn, discover and watch our planet come alive in ways you have never seen before!
(Buster Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 7 plus
Bronte Tempestra and the Weather Witch
Bex Hogan and Hannah McCaffery

A PLUCKY girl is not afraid to show the knights just how brave a princess can be! Enjoy a feminist twist on the traditional tales of brave knights and trembling princesses in this fun-filled fantasy quest series from author Bex Hogan and illustrator Hannah McCaffery. The delightful and daring Bronte Tempestra is an unforgettable heroine, the first ever princess to train as a knight, and here we join her for her third adventure at Sir Sebastian’s School for Squires! Bronte and the other trainee knights are visiting the Stones of Forgotten Secrets with the princesses from POOP (The Palace of Obedient and Outstanding Princesses). But the joint school trip is plagued by mysterious mist which Bronte believes is the work of a weather witch. When the mist turns dark and dangerous, and with the camp in peril, it’s up to Bronte and her friends to discover the witch’s intentions... a quest that leads them to question history itself. Can Bronte uncover what is truly behind the chaos at camp and succeed in saving the day, like her hero Sir Pen Tine? Tradition is well and truly turned on its head in this funny, all-action romp, packed with secrets, sorcery and sabotage, and the quirkiest creatures you’re ever likely to meet. Add on McCaffery’s imaginative illustrations bringing Bronte’s exciting fantasy world to life, it’s a glorious gallop from start to finish.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Toby and the Pixies: Best Frenemies!
James Turner and Andreas Schuster

BUCKLE up and get ready to rock as illustrator, cartoonist and comic writer James Turner and German-born cartoonist Andreas Schuster return for another unstoppable rollercoaster ride into side-splitting silliness! Toby and the Pixies: Best Frenemies! is the second book of a hilarious graphic comic book series full of chaotic energy and pixie mayhem that was originally published in the hugely popular The Phoenix comic. So head off to an ordinary town where shy and anxious Toby Cauldwell is an ordinary schoolboy who just wants life to stay normal... but the magical pixies have other ideas. King to a colony of pixies living in his garden, Toby’s life is NOT regal as their every attempt to help goes horribly wrong. A trip to the dentist, going on holiday, learning to cook... the mischievous pixie ‘help’ he receives causes complete and utter chaos! With tormentor Steph on his case, Toby is desperate to get through the school day in one piece. Will pixie advisers Toadflax. Mouldwarp and Gatherwool come to his aid or do they have other plans? It’s total pandemonium with the pixies around! Brimming with all the zany slapstick fun that young readers expect from their comic book anti-heroes, this anarchic series delivers unlikely friendships, madcap antics and laugh-out-loud pixie-themed magic. Everything you could wish for when two superstar comedy creators let their imaginations run wild!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 7 plus
Bunny vs Monkey:
The Whopping World of Puzzles
Jamie Smart

BRACE yourselves for a rollercoaster ride with a devilishly funny puzzle book that will not just keep your brain engaged but also deliver giggles galore. Yes, Jamie Smart – creator of the bestselling Phoenix Presents Bunny vs Monkey series – is bouncing back with a magnificent activity book brimming with interactive fun! When Bunny, Monkey and the gang discover a secret theme park lost deep in their woods, with rides just waiting to be ridden, so begins a new competition in which YOU are at the heart of the adventure. With wordsearches, puzzles, mazes and, of course, lots of fun, this is a puzzle book guaranteed to create giant waves of laughter across a sea of young readers!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 6 plus
BEANO Betty and the Yeti:
Friends at First Fart
Hugh Raine

MAKE a new friend at first fart in the funniest, messiest and smelliest new graphic novel series! Young mischief-makers will be laughing out loud when they get their hands on the first book of a hilarious illustrated series from author and illustrator Hugh Raine. Betty and the Yeti are the best of friends, but Yeti is, well… a yeti, and Betty isn’t supposed to have a yeti living in her room – not that she’s asked! What the ‘groan-ups’ don’t know won’t hurt them, right? Well, just their house, their garden and their bank accounts! But shh! You wouldn’t tell them about Yeti, would you? Readers will be blown away by Betty and Yeti as they get to grips with being room-mates and Yeti learns how to act like a human to blend in. Will it end in disaster or will they become friends at first fart? Find out in this laughter-filled story which includes awesome activities to complete including puzzles and a wordsearch.
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 6 plus
Ballet Besties: Dante’s Winning Dance
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! Dante’s Winning Dance is the third 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. Dante loves nothing more than scoring goals on the football pitch then racing to Shimmer & Shine to ace his pas de chats. But when his football friends start to tease him for his passion, Dante struggles to find the confidence to keep doing the two things he loves most. Will encouraging Miss Diamond to enter their class into a dance competition be just what Dante needs to prove how fantastic dance can be? Will their adaptation of Beauty and the Beast win over his friends, or will Dante have to put his own modern spin on things to truly shine?  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
Meet The Mubbles
Liz Pichon

PUT some added colour, fun and sheer unadulterated joy into your spring with Meet The Mubbles, an outrageously entertaining new graphic novel series from the multi-talented Liz Pichon, bestselling creator of the global phenomenon Tom Gates books. Youngsters – and their parents – will be laughing all the way when they head off to the Isle of Smile, a beautiful island that runs on sun, wind and flower power. Welcome to the island where everyone – including the Wibbles of Wobble Mountain, the singing Earworms and the one-eyed Drib Drabs – lives in perfect harmony... well, most of the time! But when the Clouds of Joy bump together to make a wonky rainbow, it means one thing... someone or something is coming to visit. Who could it be? Time spent with The Mubbles on the Isle of Smile makes everything better... see for yourself! Packed full of colourful characters, boundless fun and lots of adventures, this series is guaranteed to be a number one hit with youngsters who like their stories to come with bags of eye-catching artwork. Add on a QR code that will take you to a website packed with extra content, including arts and crafts and many fun songs from The Mubbles world and The Isle of Smile, and the result is a fabulous, all singing, all dancing book of joy!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £9.99)

Age 5 plus
Adventuremice: Mice, Camera, Action!
Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

YOUNGSTERS love these meeces to pieces! The dream team of author Philip Reeve and illustrator Sarah McIntyre pool their talents for the new book in a simply delightful early reader series which has all the fun of TV hit Paw Patrol, and the charm and whimsy of classics like The Wind in the Willows. With its focus on fun, friendship and kindness, Adventuremice features Pedro, a timid little mouse who has proved himself to be brave enough to join the heroic team who protect the Mouse Islands from danger. In this new outing, an exciting letter has arrived at Mousebase from Hollybush. A famous producer is making Adventuremice: The Movie. Pedro and the team travel to the film set where there’s glitz, glam, and an out-of-control otter! It’s up to the Adventuremice to save the day... and the movie. Get those cameras rolling! Reeve’s lively, heartwarming and fun-filled storytelling delivers all those ingredients that children love – immersive adventures, lovable heroes, reassuring friendships, exciting action and plenty of smiles – and all brought to vibrant, colourful life by McIntyre’s exquisitely characterful illustrations. A warm and whiskery favourite with mouse lovers of every age!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
Call the Puffins: Tiny and the Cave Ghost
Cath Howe and Ella Okstad

WHEN a rescue is needed, call in team puffin! Author, teacher and self-confessed puffin enthusiast Cath Howe works her word magic on the fourth book of a sparkling series starring a stellar group of young puffins. So welcome back to the island of Egg where Muffin, Tiny and the rest of the trainees are busy learning the skills they need to become rescue puffins. The friends are delighted to be taking part in a special day of celebrations called Puffin Power where they can practise all the things they have learned. But when a chick goes missing, the young rescuers must put their training into practice, and before long they are deep in the cave network searching for the lost chick. It’s dark and spooky... what if the legend of the ghost puffin that haunts these caves is true? Muffin, Tiny and the others need to gather their courage and work as a team to rescue the chick and lead everyone to safety! Brought to life by the enchanting artwork of illustrator Ella Okstad, this gorgeous series celebrates teamwork, belonging and resilience as the new puffin team get in the swim for their exciting rescue roles. Add on an irresistible helping of fluttery fun and high-flying mischief, and youngsters are in for another perfect puffin fest!   
(Welbeck Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
Gozzle
Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie

SAY hello to a VERY cute little gosling! A funny and heartwarming tale about mistaken identity, family and growing up from one of the best teams in picture books is set to steal the hearts of readers young and not-so-young. Written by the brilliant, much-loved author Julia Donaldson and stunningly illustrated by the award-winning Sara Ogilvie – creators of the bestselling The Detective Dog – Gozzle is a fabulous flight of fancy full of youthful joie de vivre. It's springtime, Bear has woken up hungry and finds a lost egg outside his cave. Breakfast? Definitely not! Tap, tap, tap and out hatches Gozzle, a very sweet little gosling who is convinced that Bear must be her daddy – and that she should be able to climb, dig and eat honey just like him. Follow Bear on his journey from reluctant carer to parent in this loving and joyous picture book which reminds us all what family truly mean. Prepare to laugh out loud and have your heart totally captured!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
I am Emily the Owl
Pam Ayres and Nicola O’Byrne

TAKE flight with Emily the Owl in a heartwarming and inspirational new picture book from much-loved poet Pam Ayres and award-winning artist Nicola O’Byrne. Written in Ayres’ moving rhyme and gloriously illustrated by O’Byrne, youngsters witness one owl's extraordinary journey, unveiling the fascinating world of these secretive and enchanting creatures. Did you ever see us, in these fields and grassy places? Sensed our silent wings; glimpsed our exquisite heart-shaped faces? From the loss of her cherished barn to finding hope and a new home, young children will love discovering the resilience and beauty of barn owls like Emily. Learn what sustains these graceful hunters, from their search for voles and mice to the snug boxes that become their sanctuaries. Bursting with natural facts interwoven throughout the story, and with an information spread at the end that includes tips on how to spot these majestic creatures, I am Emily the Owl is the third book in Ayres' Animal Stories series, following on from I Am Oliver the Otter and I Am Hattie the Hare.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
A Home is a Nest
Emma Carlisle

WELCOMING a new baby into the family is always a special time and here’s a beautifully created book that puts all that emotion and love into lyrical verse and stunning artwork. A Home is a Nest – a comforting picture book which explores the idea of ‘home’ and ‘family’ through nature’s lens – is the work of award-winning artist and Waterstones Prize shortlisted author Emma Carlisle. From the cosiness of winter dens to the arrival of spring and a young bird’s first flight, this gorgeous gift book draws parallels between the way animals care for their babies and how humans nurture their own. With its gentle narrative and exquisitely tender illustrations, the book is an ideal choice for reading aloud at bedtime, or to simply snuggle up with and share. A heartwarming celebration of the precious early days of parenthood and the love between parent and child.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Ten Whizzy Racers: Chaos at Crackling Creek
Timothy Knapman and Richard Merritt

‘Here, at the start line, they wait to begin,
Engines go vroooom! Who’s going to win?’ 

WHO could resist joining in the speedy fun of a new racing themed countdown picture book series from author Timothy Knapman and illustrator Richard Merritt? We’re ready and waiting, the countdown’s begun... join ten whizzy racers for super-fast fun! Zoom through Fairytale Forest with the racers as they all compete to win the Beanstalk cup. Watch out as they avoid the temptation of gingerbread forests, pass through the scarily named Troll booth and dodge angry fairies on their quest to be number one! Even the most reluctant readers will enjoy reading along with Knapman’s bouncy rhyming text. Add on Merritt’s vibrant illustrations, a colourful collection of wacky cars, and a high energy race, and you have the perfect countdown picture book adventure for little ones who love cars and counting.
(Ladybird, paperback, £7.99)

Age from birth
Hello Bunny! & Hello Bee!
Sharon King-Chai

COLOUR, reflection, fun and learning! This gorgeous new mirror board book series for babies and toddlers – from talented designer and illustrator Sharon King-Chai – comes complete with a unique illustrated mirror landscape format. Babies and toddlers will love finding the colourful creatures on every reflective page which has a printed mirror right through to a high quality mirror on the final spread in which the little readers can see themselves. 

The shiny mirror and bold, bright colours are perfect for baby brain development and sensory play, catching the eye and keeping little ones engaged as they say hello and bye-bye, and then spot themselves in the mirror at the end! Mirrors on every page extend the lush and immersive landscape... simply hold the book upright to create a magical mirror world to explore. Every Mirror Magic also book includes a free audio download via the QR code on the back. Listen along and learn new words as the book is read out loud, then read again to enjoy a bonus audio spotting game!
(Two Hoots, board books, £8.99 each)