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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
