CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A pollination quest, magic bubbles and outdoor survival

Discover how flowers turn into delicious fruit that we can eat and enjoy, enjoy a magical mystery full of floating wishes, choose your own epic adventure with outdoor survival expert Bear Grylls, and celebrate the joys and quiet wonders of a rabbit’s well-lived life in a super new selection 

Age 5 plus
The Great Pollination Investigation and How We Get Food from Flowers
Deborah Hocking

HOW do bright and beautiful blooms turn into delicious fruit that we can eat and enjoy?  Dive into the fascinating world of flowers and the magic of pollination in this engaging and colourful interactive picture book from Deborah Hocking who is making her debut as both author and illustrator. Flowers make the world so lovely but how on earth do they make food? Youngsters will love digging into The Great Pollination Investigation and joining an exciting journey through the science of pollination. With lots of fun flaps to lift, the book allows readers to take a look inside a flower and find out what all the little parts do. Meet the amazing animals that carry pollen from bloom to bloom, and discover how seeds and fruits are made. Children will love looking for the adorable bees buzzing around on every page to help with the science sections, and they can carry out their very own pollination investigation with the project at the back of the book which includes instructions on how to make a pollination wand to tickle your flowers. Full to the brim with Hocking’s colourful and vibrant artwork, featuring a fact-packed text checked by the experts at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and with lots of flaps to lift, this blooming brilliant picture book is must reading for curious young minds and ideal for use in the classroom.
(Templar Publishing, hardback, £14.99)

Age 9 plus
A Place of a Thousand Wishes
Sarah Merrett

MASON Kemp reckons he and his dad make the world’s best ice cream but dreams of success melt away – literally – in the shimmering heat of a sunny summer’s day. But when he receives a surprise invite to the home of a mysterious magician, it might just be the answer to their problems. Sarah Merrett, the critically acclaimed author of dazzling debut novel, The Others, returns with another enchanting and gripping tale full of thrills, spills, magical mystery and a cleverly imagined and compelling late 19^th century world of heroes and villains. Nothing is going right for unlucky ice cream seller Mason but then famous wish-maker Darlington the Miraculous – who creates stunning bubbles that can float wishes to the sky and make them come true – arrives in town and opens his mysterious manor for the first time. Mason is stunned to be invited to his first performance and he hopes his luck is about to change. But Mason gets more than he bargained for. He and Darlington share magical gifts and family bonds, but also powerful enemies, not least a sinister stranger who wants to destroy Mason’s business. Soon Mason finds himself in a race against time to rescue Darlington... or lose his magic, his wish and his family. Brought to vivid life by the stunning, atmospheric black and white illustrations of prize-winning artist Ewa Beniak-Haremska, A Place of a Thousand Wishes is an enthralling ride from start to finish as we join Mason on a journey through intrigue, evil, menace and magic in a breathtakingly imagined adventure. Add on a cast of colourful characters and themes of family, friendship, bullying and belonging, and you have the perfect reading package.
(Everything with Words, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
Flember: The Secret Book
Jamie Smart

IF your youngsters like laugh-out-loud comedy, lots of madcap action and a poignant reminder of how important friendships are, then gift them the first book in extraordinarily talented illustrator and author Jamie Smart’s brilliantly entertaining Flember illustrated debut novel series. Packed with all the outrageously comical, addictive and high-energy action we have come to expect from Smart’s work, this series has a warm heart and certainly hits the mark with middle grade readers. Dev lives on a mysterious island and he loves inventing things. One day, he learns a secret about a magical life force called Flember. He creates a giant red robot bear called Boja, fills it with Flember and they become best friends. So open the book, turn the pages and enjoy the dynamic duo’s first adventure full of chaos, magic... and cheese! The bestselling creator of the Bunny and Monkey books, Smart has proved to be a comic genius and there are plenty of snorts, sniggers, ooh and aahs to enjoy on every page of this gloriously fantastical, anarchic, uplifting quest celebrating friendship, creativity, invention and loyalty.
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £7.99, published on June 5)

Age 7 plus
YOU Decide YOUR Adventure: Join Bear Grylls on the Ultimate Expedition
Bear Grylls and Jake Alexander

IMAGINE if you could choose your own epic adventure with outdoor survival expert Bear Grylls… what would you do and where would you go? There could be no better time of year to encourage your kids to trade screen time for green time and head out across snow-capped mountains, craggy cliffs, exposed grassland, dense forests and raging water rapids under the guidance of one of the world’s most recognised famous outdoor adventurers. But this is a choose-your-own adventure book so expect to have to think fast and make key survival decisions knowing the choices you make will reveal which page you need to turn to next in the book. And remember, Bear will be alongside to help you and give you some handy tips and tricks. With its exciting, interactive adventure story element – allowing youngsters to determine the outcome of the story and achieve different outcomes with each reading – the book helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills whilst promoting a love of the outdoors. Packed full of nature facts and Jake Alexander’s brilliant illustrations, the book enables kids to learn about the natural world whilst enjoying the ultimate in outdoor expeditions!
(DK Children, hardback, £14.99)

Age 7 plus
The Ordinary Life of Jacominus Gainsborough
Rébecca Dautremer

CELEBRATE the joys and quiet wonders of a life well lived with this beautiful, timeless picture book which marries heart-melting storytelling and sensational artwork in one glorious, colourful fusion. The Ordinary Life of Jacominus Gainsborough (translated from the French by Charis Ainslie) is the creation of Rébecca Dautremer, a celebrated French illustrator and author of children's literature, and brings us 12 richly illustrated scenes and portraits our hero Jacominus – a humble, fluffy white rabbit – through the changing seasons as life unfolds all around him. Each exquisitely illustrated spread of this long-form picture book pays homage to a great work of art whilst portraying Jacominus at different ages and stages of his life. From childhood through to old age, Jacominus is fortunate to be surrounded by family and friends. He may not be the biggest or strongest, but he grows, learns, faces moments of sadness and also finds great joy. And so we are witnesses to his ordinary and yet extraordinary life as he becomes a father, and then a grandfather, a soul who has loved and been loved, and celebrate the pride of having done one’s best and of the happiness of a life well lived. Dautremer’s moving book, which was first published in France in 2018, has been translated into English for the first time, and with its universal messages about the beauty of just being alive, it looks set to win the hearts of millions more readers!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £16.99)

Age 7 plus
Yendor: The Land of the Googolsaurs
Sarah Matthews and Rodney Matthews

WHEN a young dactyl’s mother vanishes, adventurer Yendor and his best friend Pink are determined to help... even if finding her means climbing to the top of Very Pointy Peaks! Catch up with the exciting adventures of Yendor, a determined little warrior who we met in Yendor: The Journey of a Junior Adventurer, the first book of an imaginative, out-of-this-world children’s series written by Graham Smith and lavishly illustrated by legendary fantasy artist and conceptual designer Rodney Matthews. It was a charming tale of derring-do, filled with wondrous scenes and weird creatures in vibrant colours. And now, in his new mission seemingly impossible – written by Matthews’ wife, children’s author Sarah Matthews – we follow Yendor again as he leaps into action on a daring rescue venture that will take him above and beyond to help his friend. As the mystery of Peetee's missing mother unravels, Yendor realises that this adventure is going to be far bigger than he ever imagined! Children will love journeying with Yendor on this wildly imaginative outing in a strange new world ruled by dinosaur-like creatures made of old technology... and discovering if he ever makes his way home again! Brought to life by Rodney Matthews’ lavish and atmospheric illustrations, this is a book to love, re-read and treasure.
(Rodney Matthews Studios, paperback, £8.99 each)

Age 6 plus
The Narzat and the Shifting Shadow
Luke Marchant and Rory Walker

IMAGINARY worlds don’t come more funny, fantastical and downright wacky than this delightful comic series from primary school teacher, and now author, Luke Marchant. Packed with the equally zingy and zany illustrations of Rory Walker, these hilarious and warm-hearted adventures star the lovable Narzat, a fantasy animal faced with some very weird and wonderful villains in the very, very faraway Jumble Jungle Wood. The legendary Captain Carver and his wicked pirate crew commanded by the Gloom Badger have arrived in the Jumble Jungle Wood on board their pirate ship The Shifting Shadow in search of monstrous beasts to capture and use to tyrannise all the animals in the wood. They have already captured the Ravenoserous, the Chargemeleon and are heading for Fire Island beyond the deep dark depths with the daringly wicked plan to steal the eggs of the Gorgoconda, a two-headed snake whose eyes can turn you to stone. The Gloom Badger is in daily charge of a dastardly crew of rodent pirates but they haven't reckoned with the Narzat, the Looky Lizard and the Chatty Chirper! Dive into a host of comic characters and an unpredictable plot. Featuring an unpredictable plot and a host of comic characters to love and to boo, The Narzat is a visual and verbal delight as Marchant and Walker harness their considerable talents on another all-action romp that packs in everything that young readers adore. A sure-fire winner with your own mischief-makers!
(Everything with Words, paperback, £8.99)

Age 5 plus
Genius Kid Goes Viral
Waldo Pancake (aka Jim Smith)

GET super brainy about science with zero effort thanks to Waldo Pancake (better known to comedy fans as Jim Smith, author and illustrator of all the ‘mega keel’ Barry Loser books). Award-winning Smith has his finger firmly on the pulse of what makes kids (and grown-ups!) laugh… the pages of his books positively buzz with energy, madcap antics, and a joyful sense of managed mayhem that is as addictive as it is entertaining. And he is on top form in this zany, laugh-out-loud bonkers Genius Kid graphic novel series packed with large and small facts, and Smith’s wild and wonderful wit. Genius Kid is back with his best friend and neighbour Flea to tackle nasty viruses... from the techy kind of virus that shut down computer mainframes and causes total panic to the going-viral global-fame type of virus that also creates total panic. And then there’s the snotty gross kind of virus which creates a different sort of must-go-to-bed now sort of panic. Fortunately GK and Flea are here to explain everything in the way that only they can! Here's hoping that they go viral too... Full of super clever facts and really stupid jokes, Genius Kid Goes Viral will make you want to quote from it, repeat the gags, and re-read it again and again. Organised chaos for your fun-lovers and mischief-makers!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99, published on June 5)

Age 4 plus
The Glass Heart
Sally Gardner

YOUNG hearts will be stolen by this timeless tale about three Venetian princesses with glass hearts in a classic picture book from Costa and Carnegie-winning author and illustrator Sally Gardner. The Glass Heart was first published in 2001 and this beautiful new hardback edition is the perfect gift for a new generation of young readers. In a faraway, magical kingdom of palaces built on water and secret gardens, there once lived three princesses whose hearts were made of glass. The first princess’s heart was broken. The second princess’s got cracked and could not be mended. But the third princess was lucky and her heart stayed whole. This is the story of those three princesses... Gardner, who was a successful theatre costume designer before illustrating and writing books, delivers a gentle, thoughtful exploration of how we cope with emotion and change, and wraps it in beautifully detailed artwork. With themes of kindness, courage and heart-melting happiness, this is a modern fairy tale with all those cherished classic ingredients.
(Zephyr, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Farm Magic Painting
Axel Scheffler

BRING a busy farmyard to life with the sweep of a ‘magic’ paint brush! Little ones will love joining the farmer and his wife with Farm Magic Painting, a brilliant reusable activity book with artwork from Axel Scheffler, bestselling illustrator of The Gruffalo. Lots of mess-free fun is guaranteed as youngsters explore the farmyard, colouring in all their favourite farm animals by just adding water. Brush the pictures with water to watch the colours magically appear, wipe off any excess water, then turn the page. 

Leave the book to dry standing upright and the colours will fade, ready to paint all over again! With a paintbrush to help develop fine motor skills and an easy-to-grasp carry handle, as well as things to spot and count on every page, this activity book is the perfect gift for little ones out and about, or at home. And keep youngsters busy with London Magic Painting, another book in this super series. Take a journey around busy London town, from fish and chips on the South Bank to sunny Hyde Park. There are red buses to enjoy, the crown jewels, pigeons, beefeaters, St Paul’s Cathedral and much more! With colourful artwork by Marion Billet and details to spot on every page, this is the perfect gift for little tourists.
(Campbell Books, board books, £8.99 each)

Age one plus
Dear Zoo: Spin and Say!
Rod Campbell

SPIN the wheel, point and say! Youngsters will be in a spin when they get their hands on this delightful interactive spinner book based on Dear Zoo, the bestselling pre-school classic book by Rod Campbell. Learn all about favourite animals, colours, counting from one to ten, and more in this brilliant book which is packed full of everyone’s favourite zoo animals as well as a host of wild animals and pets. Little ones will love spinning the wheels and answering the questions on each page... who is that animal, how many are there, and what colour? Simply spin the wheel, point and say!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, board book, £7.99)

Age one plus
Not Tired! & Won’t Go!
Sumana Seeboruth and Fotini Tikkou

WE'VE all heard that familiar refrain... ‘I don't waaant to go to bed!’ If you need a little help with your troublesome toddlers, calm and reassure them with this clever (and amusing!) Feelings & Firsts board books series which comes armed with language that little ones can use to express their big feelings. In Not Tired!, an exhausted tot resists sleep with wild and wide-eyed antics until her mama finds just the right way to calm her down and snuggle into bed. Perfect to help with bedtime routines, the humorous story includes techniques to help adults overcome children’s resistance at bedtime in a playful and relatable way. 

And in Won’t Go!, a stubborn child struggles to switch gears when it’s time to leave the house for ballet class. Once she has arrived, she needs a bit of time to warm up. But when her baby brother doesn’t want to leave, she puts her new skills to good use to help him countdown to transition time! Full of humour, this adorable tale offers a positive model for guiding children through transitions as they learn that however hard it is to stop having fun, getting out the door leads to more adventures!  With words by Sumana Seeboruth and Fotini Tikkou’s characterful illustrations, these delightful books provide help and humour for harassed parents.
(Barefoot Books, board books, £7.99 each)

Kate Foster

‘They said I would swing for the crime and I did.
I wear the rope-bruise like a necklace...’

ANY reader who has enjoyed a pint or two at Maggie Dickson’s pub in the middle of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket may not know the dark and mysterious story of the woman who was hanged only a stone’s throw away for murdering her newborn baby... but survived her own execution.

Inspired by this infamous real-life case, The Mourning Necklace is the new and unforgettable historical novel from the Women's Prize for Fiction-longlisted Kate Foster (pictured below), author of The Maiden and The King’s Witches which impressed critics and wowed readers with their powerful storytelling and feminist themes. Foster’s mission is to give a voice to history’s forgotten women and their very real, lived experiences, and as she tells us in her author’s note, ‘sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.’ In fact, there can be few stranger stories than this true tale of the legendary ‘Half-Hangit Maggie,’ the unmarried Scottish fisherwoman who left her home in Fisherrow in 1724 and travelled to Kelso where she gave birth to a baby and allegedly abandoned it on the banks of the River Tweed.

Sentenced to hang for child murder, 22-year-old Maggie survived death on the gallows by some trick of fate... and it is her life before, during and after her hanging that Foster imagines in this coruscating novel which explores emotive issues like women’s reproductive rights, working conditions, and poverty which are as relevant today as they were three hundred years ago.

‘Human life is cheap. They die on street corners, in rags, an empty bottle rolling around beside them. They die of poxes and plagues and starvation and hangings. They die in childbirth. Or shortly thereafter. Whispers of the afterlife are sometimes the only hope we have.’

The working class world of Scotland’s 18th century fishing community is tough and unforgiving, and in a village tavern on the outskirts of Edinburgh, the family of Maggie Dickson gather to drown their sorrows on the day of her hanging.

Her mother, father and sister Joan mourn her death but cannot help but feel relieved that she is gone. Shame haunts them and passers-by avert their eyes from the cheap-looking coffin on its rickety cart. Despite protesting her innocence, Maggie was hanged for the murder of her newborn child. But as her family pray that her soul rests in peace, a figure appears at the door of the pub. It’s Maggie. Miraculously she is still ‘living and breathing.’ Bruised and dazed, she has ‘defied the Grim Reaper’ but Maggie has little time for her family’s questions with her future survival now in the balance.

Whether she bribed the hangman or has been touched by God matters little now. With her neck slashed and bearing a rope burn that she fears will be a scar that marks her out for life, all that matters to Maggie – who claims her baby was born prematurely – is proving her innocence before the city sheriffs order that she hang for a second time.

Written in the first person voice of Maggie to give the story extra emotional power, tension and authenticity, The Mourning Necklace is Foster’s best novel yet... a blistering and beautifully crafted portrait of an ordinary young woman from a working class background who is sentenced to death under rules made and enforced by men.

Employing an extraordinarily insightful and elegant prose which belies the viscerally cruel darkness of Maggie’s story, Foster transports readers to 18th century Scotland where we discover the pivotal events, family pressures and complex relationships that have led to the arrest and sentencing of the young mother. By blending authentic social history with what is known about Maggie and her grinding life as a fisherwoman, Foster shows us how the close, and sometimes abrasive, companionship of the hardworking wives and mothers provided solace, determination and a shared resilience in a world in which women had few rights and were given little education.

Loss, hardship, bullying, poverty, and even smuggling, all have a part to play in Maggie’s life and we share her pain and fear, and feel her vulnerability, in an age when women were little more than the property of their husbands and had no say over their own bodies.

But by surviving a hanging against all the odds, Maggie also acts as a beacon of hope and strength, and a reminder that women from all corners of the past have a story to tell that speaks loudly to those who face intimidation and injustice today. A timely and terrific tale...
(Mantle, hardback, £16.99)

Nightshade

Michael Connelly

MEET Detective Sergeant Stilwell... he’s a homicide cop whose departmental politicking got him chucked out of his job with Los Angeles County Sheriff office and ‘exiled’ to the holiday island of Catalina twenty-two miles from the mainland.

His ‘punishment’ move should have seen him dealing only with petty thefts and cases of drunk-and-disorderly but when a woman’s body is found weighted down under a yacht in the harbour, the recalcitrant murder detective just can’t help overstepping his permitted line of enquiry.

Welcome to the crime-hunting life of the man known to friends and colleagues as Stil... the brand new detective hero of an unforgettable police world created by superstar American writer Michael Connelly (pictured below), author of a raft of bestselling novels which include the Harry Bosch series, the Lincoln Lawyer series, and the Renée Ballard series. With enticing hints that Stilwell may well, in future, connect with much-loved characters from Connelly’s other LAPD series, this opener is a blast from start to finish as our doggedly determined and unrepentant cop makes his mark on both the sunshine island and its fiercely entrenched residents.

Detective Stilwell is only too aware that his low-key post policing Catalina Island was payback for a department clash which saw him taken off the homicide desk on the mainland and sent away to a backwater outfit which has little in the way of serious crime.

But Stilwell has been on the island for a year now, is commanding officer of the small police department, has a rewarding relationship with assistant harbourmaster Tash Dano, and against all odds, has found that ‘sometimes the place you don’t want to be turns out to be the place you should be.’ However, what he didn’t expect was to get a report of a body found weighed down by an anchor chain at the bottom of the harbour just as a busy summer holiday weekend is set to start. As a former body-recovery diver, Stilwell discovers that the victim is a woman identifiable at first only by a streak of purple dye in her hair.

At the same time, there is a report that a buffalo has been beheaded on a protected reserve... a case that becomes fraught with violence and danger when Stilwell digs into the shady past of one of the island’s big names. Under instructions from his LAPD boss to ‘play nice’ with two former colleagues who have arrived from the mainland to investigate the murder, Stilwell still crosses all lines of protocol and jurisdiction and works both cases even though he was told not to.

Hampered by one of his ex-colleagues determined to thwart him at every turn, Stilwell is convinced he is the only one who can bring justice to the woman known as Nightshade. Soon, his investigation uncovers closely guarded secrets and a dark heart to the serene island that was meant to be his escape from the evils of the big city.

Nightshade proves to be classic Connelly...  packed with fast-paced thrills and spills, Stilwell’s first outing features a gripping murder mystery and a compulsive investigation that digs deep into not just the island’s dark undercurrents but the shadows that loom large from the fiercely independent Stilwell’s chequered past, forcing him to confront uncomfortable truths.

As always, we meet a brilliantly drawn cast of characters from all walks of life, including Stilwell’s former Los Angeles colleagues, resentful locals, and the new love in his life, Tash. But the real-life island of Catalina – a popular tourist destination which can be reached by ferry services from the mainland – also plays a leading role, adding atmosphere, colour and vitality to Connelly’s immaculately plotted crime thriller.

With a romance simmering nicely against the bejewelled island idyll, a liberal sprinkling of Connelly’s dark brand of humour, a murder mystery mired in crime and corruption, and a principled detective ready to leave no stone unturned, this is a rip-roaring start for a terrific new series.
(Orion, hardback, £22)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Branching out, fascinating flag facts and daffy donuts

Marvel at a seed’s amazing travels as it turns into a tree, explore fascinating facts, maps and flags of the world, discover what donuts get up to when they’re not being eaten, and head off to Hollywood for a Tinseltown comedy with a super new selection 

 Age 5 plus
Once I Was a Tree 
Eoin McLaughlin and Guilherme Karsten 

THE seed of an idea which explores the amazing connection between trees, books and stories transforms into a guaranteed future classic picture book thanks to the brilliant pairing of award-winning duo, Irish author Eoin McLaughlin and Brazilian illustrator Guilherme Karsten. Youngsters will love the hilarious adventures (and unexpected journeys!) of a seed that turns into a tree and then into a book...THIS book to be precise! So get ready to gape, guffaw and giggle as readers meet Barbara the beetle and Derek the squirrel who (through the power of poo) help a wise-cracking seed turn into a handsome tree... and become a wonderful book! And guess what... it’s the book that you are holding! The wonders of nature, and a pine seed’s up and down journey to become a towering tree, blossoms into a comedy-filled rollercoaster ride as we meet a squirrel with a voracious appetite, a beetle with pizzaz, and a tree with a character all of its own. Add on Karsten’s characterful illustrations, a tactile jacket cover with a surprise underneath, the fun of turn-around pages, and a delightful twist at the end, and you have a very special book to love, share and treasure! 
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £12.99) 

Age 9 plus
The Maps and Flags Book: Explore
amazing facts, maps and flags of the world 
Joe Fullman and Andy Rowland 

THE two most important ways to visually represent a country are maps and flags so chart a course through the world with this fun and fact-packed book which takes youngsters on a colourful, globe-trotting reading adventure. This exciting and engaging new reference book – written by Joe Fullman and illustrated by Manchester-based Andy Rowland – kicks off with a detailed introduction so that readers can learn how maps are created, how countries are defined, and take in some useful background information about flags before they get set off on their exciting journey of discovery. Split continent by continent, and with every country in the world included, readers learn key stats about countries’ populations, capital cities, the currency used and what the flag looks like in an engaging way. Each country entry is also met with a fun fact about the flag which helps readers to understand the meaning and symbolism of each one. Along the way, readers make some furry friends amongst the local animals, from pigeons to warthogs and dolphins to turtles! Bonus quirky maps are dotted throughout, covering topics such as national animals, journeys of exploration, pirate maps and flags, and time zones. Packed with information and exciting facts, this is the perfect introduction to the wonderful and unique flags of the world for young geographers, global adventurers and budding explorers!
(Buster Books, paperback, £10.99) 

Age 7 plus 
Donut Squad: Take Over the World! 
Neill Cameron 

COMICS genius Neill Cameron is back with a delicious new graphic novels series... and it’s a hole lot of fun! Any youngsters who like silliness and donuts are going to be gobbling up these perfectly baked and addictively moreish stories starring donuts with BIG plans for world domination. So if you’ve ever wondered what donuts get up to when they’re not being eaten, meet Sprinkles, the leader of the Squad, Jammyboi who spreads stickiness everywhere, Dadnut and Lil' Timmy who explain obscure facts, and Spronky who is bizarrely unconventional! But don’t mention the arch-nemeses of the donuts... the bagels who are secretly plotting Donut Squad’s doom! This jam-packed new series comes from comic powerhouse, The Phoenix, and features all the characters from the comic strip that fans know and love. Full of crazy humour and mouthwatering full-colour illustrations that will keep readers going back for seconds, the book also helps budding artists to create awesome characters just like the Donut Squad with a section of how-to-draw tutorials from Cameron. Add on links to The Phoenix comic club website where you can find draw-along videos, free printable material and top tips from tons of creators, and you have the perfect oven-baked series for all donut-loving mischief-makers!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99) 

Age 9 plus
The Blockbusters! 
Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Steven Lenton

LIGHTS, camera, action... Frank (Cottrell-Boyce) is going to Hollywood! Head off to Tinseltown in this hilarious and heart-warming new adventure from the UK Children's Laureate and bestselling author who cannot help but deliver a rip-roaring adventure every time he puts pen to paper! Award-winning Cottrell-Boyce – who is also a screenwriter and film industry insider – unleashes his vast imagination on a joyous comedy caper which gives young readers an exciting behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of a major blockbuster movie and is brilliantly illustrated throughout by his talented partner, Steven Lenton. When new boy Rafa and his friends accidentally stray on to the set of a Hollywood blockbuster, the last thing they expect is to become part of the action. Rafa’s likeness to the famous movie star, BB, gives him VIP access all areas. But Rafa isn’t the only one having an adventure. His big brother, Cillian, is missing. He sent Rafa a clue to his location but he can’t really be in actual Hollywood, can he? It’s up to Rafa to keep acting the part of a movie star if he is to find his brother – and home. Master storyteller Cottrell-Boyce scatters an abundance of Hollywood glitter and glamour over this dazzling and entertaining story which blends laugh-out-loud fun with exhilarating adventures and a big helping of heart. Featuring Lenton’s brilliantly vibrant illustrations and with fascinating insights into the thrills and chaos of film-making, The Blockbusters! will keep readers gasping and giggling right through to the final scene. 
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99) 

Age 8 plus
The Boy in the Tree 
Lisa Thompson and Katie Kear 

THE fall-out on a child from a broken marriage lies at the heart of an uplifting and inspirational tale from Lisa Thompson, one of the shining stars of children’s fiction and bestselling author of The Goldfish Boy which was nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Written with love, empathy, humour and wisdom, The Boy in the Tree is written in the first person, enabling young readers to understand the complexities of parental separation and explore the story behind one boy’s heroic fight to save a tree... and his parents’ marriage. No one can quite believe it when troublemaker Noah gets involved in the campaign to save a majestic local oak tree in his local park. And when he teams up with goodie-two-shoes Grace and takes his protest into the tree’s branches and refuses to get down, the story goes viral, attracting more attention than he could ever have imagined. But while Noah does really want to save the tree from developers, and marvels at the thousands of creatures that depend on it as their home, he also really wants to save his parents’ marriage. He hopes that his actions will somehow unite them and stop them arguing, but has he gone too far this time? Published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, and with the heartfelt illustrations of Katie Kear bringing a visual reality and extra depth to Noah’s dual battles, this sensitively and lovingly written story about family, life changes and saving the environment sees master storyteller Thompson on her very best form.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99) 

Age 8 plus
The Fart that Saved the Universe
Stephen Mangan and Anita Mangan 

HOLD your breath and step into the another fun-filled, fart-powered adventure from the sensational sibling team of much-loved actor Stephen Mangan and his talented artist sister Anita. The dynamic duo – whose joint success has taken the book world by storm – make a welcome return with a trademark high-energy, brilliantly imaginative and laugh-out-loud tale that is guaranteed to blow away young readers. When Saskia is captured by aliens who plan to turn her into a human fart-machine, Perks, Jezza and Leslie blast off on a mission to bring her back down to Earth. Things get even more complicated when they discover the spaceship holds some top-secret cargo… a gadget that the most dangerous, double-crossing villains in the galaxy are in hot pursuit of. Throw in a pit-stop at the universe’s worst restaurant, a visit to the Milky Way Museum of Oddities and a deeply strange encounter with a praying mantis wearing a big bouffant wig and sparkly platform booties and it’s truly an out-of-this-world adventure for our heroes. But when the mysterious gadget falls into the wrong hands, the kids must be the heroes the universe needs… and could the day be saved by one teeny, tiny fart? Anita Mangan’s quirky and characterful illustrations are the perfect pairing for her brother’s wild, witty, planet-hopping, fart-powered, spaceship-shaking story which celebrates youthful ingenuity and heroics, and features a brand of humour that will have mischief-makers giggling all the way to the last page... and ensures that The Fart that Saved the Universe will be another ‘resounding’ success!
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99) 

Age 8 plus
Science is Lit: Awesome Electricity and Mad Magnets
Big Manny and Subi Bosa 

THE fine art of learning science is back with a BOOM thanks to TikTok science sensation Big Manny, aka Emanuel Wallace, a 26-year-old science-first content creator and music artist who is making the periodic table and Bunsen burners cool again! With a master’s degree in biomedical science, Big Manny creates age-friendly and class-friendly content that is entertaining, educational, and experimental. He has a combined following of 3.4 million on TikTok and Instagram, has appeared on Blue Peter, and regularly collaborates with BBC Bitesize. Packed with the characterful illustrations of Subi Bosa, an artist based in Cape Town, South Africa, Science is Lit: Awesome Electricity and Mad Magnets is the second book in the series and shows youngsters how they can become a real-life scientist and try out amazing experiments at home. Using his own special vocabulary (wagwan, ite, likkle and ting!) Big Manny’s second book has some fascinating facts about physics tings, from sound waves to circuits. We meet the awesome forces – from mad magnetism to fantastic friction – and discover mind-blowing experiments, from bending water to building an electroscope! (If you want to know what an electroscope is, you’ll have to read the book!) It’s time to start experimenting and find out why science is lit, innit. Perfectly created, written and illustrated to engage children, and with accessible, easy-to-follow experiments to try out at home, this is science on steroids for tomorrow’s professors!
(Puffin, paperback, £8.99) 

Age 3 plus
Tiger, Don’t Worry!
Daishu Ma 

ADORABLE duo, Tiger and Mei – a little girl and her tiger best friend – learn the value of responsibility and courage in the second endearing and inspiring picture book in a delightful series from Daishu Ma, a London-based Chinese illustrator and graphic artist whose work expresses her keen interest in science and nature. In this heart-warming new tale of friendship, responsibility and courage, Mei and her exuberant friend Tiger eagerly try to help make tea, but their efforts lead to broken tools and panic! Fearing they will be scolded, they run away but Mei soon realises the importance of facing their mistake. Returning home with dread, they are met not with anger, but with patience... and a lesson on how to make tea properly! Little ones will love joining this delightful duo again as they welcome every new day, navigate fresh experiences, learn that it’s always better to admit your mistakes, enjoy a world full of fun, adventure and friendship, and still manage to get home in time for tea... tea for two of course!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99) 

Age 2 plus
Liliana the Strong
Quentin Blake and Emma Chichester Clark 

IF your youngsters are feeling a little down and out, give their spirits a much-needed lift with this brilliantly funny picture book from two award-winning superstar creators. Featuring a small but mighty little girl with superhuman strength, Liliana the Strong is the work of Quentin Blake – one of the world's foremost illustrators, best known for his collaboration with Roald Dahl – and Emma Chichester Clark, one of Britain’s best loved children’s authors and illustrators. Liliana wears her super power lightly, using it to help others in a crisis. A resilient child, she thinks nothing of singlehandedly rescuing a highland cow stuck in the mud, or of stopping an out-of-control steamroller in its tracks, or of throwing a beached whale back out to sea. But one day, languishing in her bed because she has a cold and feels quite weak, she appears to have lost her powers. In step Mum and Dad with a reminder that everything will soon be well... particularly when a stash of iron bars appear for Liliana to bend, twist and arrange! Written with humour, and a big helping of heart, by Blake and illustrated with Chichester Clark’s beautifully detailed and playful artwork, this classic-in-the-making is the perfect gift for any child who needs a little reminder that everything will be okay.
(Two Hoots, hardback, £12.99) 

Age 2 plus
Matty and Mo: The Lost Teddy
Rosalind Beardshaw 

MEET Matty and Mo... two adorable puppy siblings who are also best friends and take starring roles in a fresh and funny new board books series from award-winning children’s illustrator Rosalind Beardshaw. With flaps, a wheel and an enchanting fold-out heart ending, their (often chaotic!) adventures are inspired by relatable, real-life family experiences. In The Lost Teddy, a story about learning to play together, Matty and her little brother Mo are playing rainy day picnics inside with all their toys. Matty is a bit sad when she can’t find her favourite teddy, but luckily Mo has a useful bag for taking on important missions. So off they set... 

And in Matty and Mo: Are We There Yet? the two pups are going to the beach. It’s a long drive in the car so the siblings will need to try to be patient. Armed with snacks, sticker books and toys, they set off. But five minutes down the road, Mum hears a familiar question! 

With a simple story to keep little ones engaged, Beardshaw’s engaging and colourful illustrations, gentle lessons about being helpful, patient and playing together (however tricky that proves to be!), and a free audio recording available via QR, giggles galore are guaranteed for readers young and old.
(Campbell Books, board books, £7.99 each)

Last Train to Freedom

Deborah Swift

THE two thousand Jews who managed to escape the Nazi invasion of their native Poland in 1939 and fled to neighbouring Lithuania found themselves caught in a deadly pincer movement when rampaging Russian troops moved west the following year.

Caught between two ruthless armies, there was only one route that offered the possibility of survival...an almost six thousand mile journey across Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway, and onward to freedom.

A forgotten, and little known, chapter of wartime history springs to life in all its heartbreaking cruelty, peril and human cost in a gripping new novel from bestselling Lancashire-based author Deborah Swift (pictured below) whose Secret Agents trilogy, which included The Silk Code, The Shadow Network and Operation Tulip, thrilled her army of fans. Swift, who lives in Warton, near Carnforth, used to work backstage as a scenographer in many North-West theatres, including Liverpool Playhouse and The Duke’s theatre, Lancaster, and it is her imaginative flair, painstaking research, and keen eye for drama and authenticity, that has made her historical novels so viscerally real and exciting.

And she once more turns to real history in this breathtaking page-turner which explores the true story of Japanese diplomat Sugihara Chiune – based in the Lithuanian city of Kaunas – who saved the lives of thousands of Jewish refugees by issuing them with transit visas from Lithuania to Japan before the Russians invaded and all embassies and consulates were forced to close. It’s a story filled with betrayal, espionage, danger and daring as Jewish refugee twins, Zofia and Jacek Kowalski, discover that the price of escaping the clutches of two brutal enemies is not just a perilous train journey across Russia, but taking on a clandestine mission to deliver a package containing explosive intelligence on the Nazis.

In June of 1940, the Jewish refugees who have found an uneasy sanctuary in the city of Kaunas are well aware that Russian troops are ‘massed like a dark smudge’ over the border and when the invasion begins, Zofia and Jacek Kowalski know they must flee to survive.

The twins left Poland after their father was shot by the Nazis and now their temporary refuge is no longer safe and the ‘feeling of restlessness, having nowhere to go’ comes flooding back. Jacek’s work as a journalist on a local newspaper makes him particularly vulnerable to the Russians who will see him as anti-Soviet while his anger at their situation is like a volcano ‘ready to erupt.’ Zofia – who speaks fluent Polish, Russian and English – feels her twin brother’s hurt but she is much more of a realist and accepts that the world has changed and there was nothing on earth they could do to change it back.

Caught ‘between the jaws of two lions,’ the twins and Jacek’s Lithuanian sweetheart Masha are thrown a lifeline when Japanese consul Sugihara offers them Japanese visas – which could be their tickets to freedom – on one condition... Zofia must deliver a top-secret parcel to government officials in Tokyo. Inside lies intelligence on Nazi atrocities, evidence so incendiary that Nazi and Soviet agents will stop at nothing to possess it. Pursued across Siberia on the Trans-Siberian Express, there is danger at every turn as Zofia races to expose the truth before Japan moves ever closer to allying with the Nazis. With the fate of countless lives now hanging in the balance, can she complete her mission before time runs out?

One of the secrets of Swift’s success as a historical novelist is the depth and rich detail of her research, an aspect of her writing which she finds the most enjoyable and rewarding. And the immaculate wartime backdrop she paints for this emotionally charged and heart-pounding tale brings to life both the plight of homeless Jews and the people of the Baltic nations caught up in a vicious power struggle between Germany and Russia.

Full of the darkness and danger of being ensnared in some of the Second World War’s most horrific events, Swift’s enthralling tale seamlessly weaves together actual events with a fictional drama without losing sight of the very real suffering of the Jewish people who were hunted and haunted by enemies every step of the way. And at the heart of the action is the constant uncertainty, desperation and menace for Zofia and Jacek as they set out on on their epic train journey across the vast wastelands of Russia. Travelling on a dubious visa, pursued by both the SS and agents of the Russian secret police, and not knowing who to trust, they guard a secret that would almost certainly be their death warrant if it was discovered.

Real history in the raw, heart-pounding drama, bone-chilling danger, intrigue, romance, and characters to love and fear…Last Train to Freedom has it all. Don’t miss the ride!
(HQ, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Dog dreams, dangerous dares and a retold Dracula

Meet a lonely boy who dreams of having a pet dog, learn life lessons from two girls taking online dares to dangerous extremes, revel in a thrilling retelling of evil vampire Dracula, and return to a fantasy world of edible magic with an exciting selection

Age 9 plus
Letters to a Dog
Piers Torday and Alice McKinley

YOUNGSTERS will be lapping up this moving, funny and utterly enchanting story – about a lonely little boy who longs for pet dog – from award-winning author Piers Torday, whose gift for writing magical and meaningful books has captured the hearts of thousands of adoring fans.   In his debut novel for dyslexia-friendly publisher Barrington Stoke, we meet Jamie Monroe, a troubled boy struggling with unhappiness at home and his own emotions, and longing for a dog to be his companion. Jamie is in hospital waiting for a life-changing operation. And to make a difficult time even harder, he’s fallen out with his dad and refuses to speak to him when he comes to visit. In fact, Jamie and his dad haven’t talked much since his mum died, and his dad always says no when Jamie asks if he can have a dog. To keep his spirits up, nurse Shirley suggests he writes a letter to the dog he desperately wants to adopt from the local dogs home. But imagine his surprise when Dog writes back!Torday, whose first book for children, The Last Wild, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Award and nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, focuses on the complexity of family connections with imagination and sensitivity, blending heart and humour to perfection. Given extra warmth and visual power by Alice McKinley’s adorable illustrations, this is a little book with BIG messages. 
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 12 plus
I Dare You
Tamsin Winter

HOW far would you go to get yourself noticed online... and how far would you go for a friend? Award-winning author Tamsin Winter tackles the serious topic of online dares with her trademark bold approach, authenticity and humour in this powerful and heartfelt story which has a message that all young teens need to read. Willow and Alma are best friends, sharing a love of the spotlight. All they want is fame and fortune, and Willow is determined that the best way to get it is to go viral. So they start filming dares. Okay, so getting stuck in a basketball hoop doesn’t get them the sort of attention they were hoping for, but as their challenges get more extreme, their fan base grows. Duct-taping themselves to a wall? No-brainer. Eating super-hot chillis? Of course! Waxing an eyebrow off? Super funny! And if they get in a bit of trouble, it’s worth it. But if they really want to prove themselves, they have to go all-out. So they come up with the perfect idea... an idea that causes more than just a bit of trouble, an idea that might destroy not just their ambitions but their entire friendship for good.

Told through a dual narrative, this is an entertaining, cautionary and teen-friendly story about a pursuit of online fame that goes horribly wrong, about a friendship tested to its limits, and the importance of owning up to our mistakes. Winter reveals she felt compelled to write the book after reading news stories about the very real dangers of online dares in which children and teenagers are seriously hurt or killed, and I Dare You is ideal as a starting point for parents and teachers who want to raise discussions on the subject.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £8.99)

Age 13 plus
Dracula: A Retelling
Tanya Landman

DRACULA...it’s one of the masterpieces of English literature, Bram Stoker’s nightmarish tale of evil deeds, vampires and insanity that has thrilled and horrified readers since it was first published in 1897. And now Carnegie Medal-winning author Tanya Landman has added this extraordinary Gothic classic to her superb series of retellings for publisher Barrington Stoke, a specialist in super-readable, dyslexia-friendly fiction for children. In a story told through letters, diary entries and newspaper articles, we follow a ship steered by a dead man, encounter a huge black dog springing from its deck, and meet a girl sleepwalking towards disaster. But the action begins when rising young solicitor Jonathan Harker unwittingly helps the mysterious and sinister Transylvanian nobleman, Count Dracula purchase property in London. What he has unleashed is an evil that threatens to destroy the whole of humanity.It’s no surprise that Stoker’s Gothic horror story popularised the vampire theme which has permeated literature and films alike, and now Landman’s stunning retelling – produced in an accessible format – means that that more readers can understand and enjoy it. The perfect introduction to the unforgettable world of Dracula!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 12 plus
The Unofficial Fan Guide to Oasis
Eddie Robson

THE Kings of Britpop, Oasis, are back... and it’s going to be the best reunion ever! The return tour of the biggest band of the 90s is the talk of the music world but for the younger generation, Oasis might not be a familiar name. So ahead of their Live '25 Tour – scheduled to begin on July 4 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff – introduce your youngsters to the rock legends with this unofficial fan guide. Discover the Gallagher brothers’ rise to fame, how family drama interfered, the disastrous break-up, and everything there is to know about the reunion tour. With profiles on all the band members (former and current), their explosive shows, the history of Manchester’s music scene, and Oasis songs to learn on the guitar, this is a must-have book for Oasis fans new and (not-so) old.
(Wren & Rook, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
The Battle of Farrowfell
Ravena Guron and Alessia Trunfio

WELCOME back to a deliciously imagined fantasy world where edible magic is the hottest commodity for thieves... and the adventures are so wild and entertaining that to miss the fun would be a crime! The Battle of Farrowfell is the fabulous finale of an epic series from Ravena Guron, a British Indian biochemist turned lawyer turned middle grade author who brings her own captivating brand of energy and joy to the genre, and was highly commended in the FAB Prize, created by Faber to help discover new writers and illustrators of colour. At the heart of these tasty, action-packed adventures is twelve-year-old Jude Ripon, the youngest member of a family of magic-stealing masterminds in the town of Farrowfell, and a girl who is set on a (not always easy!) quest to become a true Ripon.

Jude is now living happily with Moorley, Uncle Runie and Spry. But then the Dark Rivers start failing and raw magic is everywhere. The Consortium jumps into action and assures everyone that the situation is under control, but the people they are arresting are never seen again. And anyway, Jude knows better than to trust those in power. Jude and Moorley must find a way to reverse the effects of the raw magic. All their usual leads are sending them to dead ends, until Jude meets a strange boy called Darcius who seems to know far more than he should. Can they resist the temptation of raw magic and save Farrowfell once and for all? Fizzing with comedy and energy, packed to the gills with magic and mystery, and given extra vim and vigour by the black-and-white illustrations of Italian artist Alessia Trunfio, this creative, world-building series has created a head of steam on each outing and the final defence of Farrowfell in its darkest hour will not disappoint!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Valley of the Vikings
Liz Kessler

BEING transported into a magical undersea world of mermaids, mythical gods and a scary ocean king is enough to make any child’s imagination take flight, and can only mean one thing... Emily Windsnap, half-girl and half-mermaid, is back and she’s ready for a new adventure! Semi-mer Emily – a girl on land and a mermaid in water – is the creation of Southport-born Liz Kessler who has written over twenty books for children and young adults, including the internationally best-selling Emily Windsnap series. As popular as ever after 20 years, Emily – a brave, fierce, loyal social justice warrior – returns in an exciting new, standalone adventure which carries important messages about looking after our planet.

Neptune and Thor battle for power and their fight upsets the balance of the world. Lightning strikes, curses fly and towering waves swallow a Viking longship and its crew into a watery valley, taking with it the secret of the magical blue crystals. A thousand years later, Emily, a girl who is half-human, half-mermaid, discovers a bangle with a mysterious and beautiful blue crystal. With the help of her human and mer friends, she discovers the truth about the jewel... and the danger the world faces. The team must race against time to persuade the powerful but notoriously selfish gods of sea and sky to make peace with each other, before disaster strikes. Kessler creates a wonderful two-dimensional world for Emily... with a flick and a swish of her mermaid’s tail she moves between a life we can recognise, and another that belongs in the realms of fantasy. Written with warmth and sensitivity, and exploring themes of friendship, power and conservation, this is a treat for Emily Windsnap fans new and old.
(Zephyr, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Nora and the Compass of Chaos
Joseph Elliott and Nici Gregory

IF you think great-grandmothers are ‘cutesy-wutesy, scarf-knitting old biddies,’ you need to meet super-cool, disco queen Nora who is the shining star of Nora and the Compass of Chaos, the outrageously funny sequel to award-winning author Joseph Elliott and German illustrator Nici Gregory’s hilarious novel Nora and the Map of Mayhem. Featuring anarchy run wild, and a gran who would rather be slapping on some lippy and skinny-dipping in a lake than caring for kids, this explosion of hilarity and hair-raising comedy is another sure-fire winner from start to finish. When Nora is invited to a fancy dress party, she thinks that’s the worst of her problems... until she discovers her friend Grizzler is missing. After finding his boat wrecked, Nora sets off on a wild adventure to try to find him. What she didn’t expect was to find that her great-grandchildren, Atticus and Autumn, have stowed away for the ride! Between dodging fingernail-eating skuttlecrags and wrangling ice-breathing jujugars, there are also whispers of a rogue Monster Hunter on the loose with monstrous plans in motion. With only some wool, a corkscrew and half a pack of sweets in their possession, can the trio stop the true villain before it’s too late? Elliott lets loose a rollicking, raucous riot of mayhem as naughty Nora’s memorable mishaps are brought to joyful life by Gregory’s gallery of rip-roaring, fun-filled illustrations. Don’t miss the ride!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
How to Train Your Dragon School: Doom of the Darkwing
Cressida Cowell 

TWENTY years ago, author, illustrator and Waterstones Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell, penned her first How to Train Your Dragon novel and created a magical world that became a global bestselling phenomenon. And now she’s back to delight her fans – and a new generation of young readers – with a dazzling spin-off delivering the same winning ingredients of adventure, heroes and dragons, and starring Hiccup, Toothless, Fishlegs and other favourite characters from the original books. So step into the How to Train Your Dragon School where Viking and Dragon Heroes are made! Join Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third and his dragons, Toothless and Windwalker, in their hilarious, hair-raising adventures at the Isle of Berk's Training School and find out why they are BOTTOM in pretty much everything. Disastrous Lesson Number One was The Art of Battle. It was supposed to be a quiet, sensible lesson. Hiccup never meant to get into trouble but things take an unexpected turn along the way and Hiccup and his friends soon find themselves adrift on stormy seas, in a sinking ship, facing imminent doom, in one of their biggest adventures ever. Cowell’s gift for mesmerising world-building and her creation of quirky characters you can see and almost hear is central to this fun-filled, action-packed story which comes with her trademark wit, humour, and richly detailed imaginative powers. Perfectly created for even the most reluctant of readers!
(Hodder Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Marnie Midnight and the Minibeast Mission
Laura Ellen Anderson

MEET up again with an adorable little moth and her magical, miniature world! Laura Ellen Anderson – best-selling creator of the Amelia Fang and colourful Rainbow Grey books – makes a flying return with another hugely imaginative series. Written and gorgeously illustrated by Anderson, these delightful stories star little moth Marnie Midnight who has BIG, out-of-this-world dreams. In her final adventure, the moon-loving moth and her friends are going on a camping trip. Marnie, Floyd and Star snuggle down for a good night’s sleep tucked up inside their leaf sleeping bags. But when they wake up they realise that they are no longer in the meadow… they’re inside a HUMAN HOUSE! As the friends search for a way out of the giant house, they stumble across all sorts of weird and wonderful things, including a very playful cat and a whole swarm of perplexing wasps. Can the friends go on a Minibeast Mission and make it back to school safely? Anderson has become the go-to author for her amazing world-building skills and exquisite artwork and this magical mystery series delivers everything young readers love... quirky characters and humour, warmhearted friendships, exciting adventures, and fascinating facts about the natural world. Add on some extra sparkle, shine and colour – not least the eye-catching orange-sprayed book edges – and it’s fun all the way to the moon and back!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 6 plus
Little Lim and the Golden Treasure
Frann Preston-Gannon

DIVE into a beautiful watery world and discover the magic and wonders of nature! Young readers will love immersing themselves in this heartwarming adventure story about friendship, exploration and nature from award-winning illustrator and designer Frann Preston-Gannon. Nestled between the pink morning sky and the sparkling sea lies a small green island where the story begins... Limpet Pebble is a true explorer so when Tidepool, her little town nestled within a rockpool, organises a Young Explorers competition, Little Lim knows she must win! With the help of her best friend Kai, she sets out to find the most unique shell to submit and prove her worth as an explorer. But with only hours until sunset, Little Lim struggles to find the perfect one. That is until she reads the legend of a long-lost golden shell. Can Little Lim discover the truth behind the story in time to be crowned the best Young Explorer? Brimming with colourful and vibrant illustrations, a stunning gold-foiled cover, and including fascinating facts about the sea world and rockpools, Little Lim and the Golden Treasure is beautiful, inspiring and wonderfully uplifting.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 6 plus
Disney Travel Puzzles
Roland Hall

JOIN your favourite Disney characters for an exciting and entertaining puzzle-packed adventure! Challenge yourself to solve 100 word, logic, number, memory and picture puzzles, all with a delightful holiday twist. Whether you’re travelling by train, flying on an aeroplane, relaxing by the pool or enjoying a cosy getaway, this puzzle book featuring characters such as Lilo and Stitch, Anna and Elsa, Aladdin, Mike and Sulley, will help children to exercise their brains the Disney way. Written by Roland Hall, an author, editor and puzzle setter, and bursting with Disney magic, the compact-sized book is an ideal companion for travel and school holidays and will keep children entertained for hours. The ultimate boredom buster for Disney fans on the go!
(Studio Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 6 plus
Woodland Explorers Club:
Ajay and the Red-Winged Prince
Ewa Jozefkowicz and Gillian Flint  

AS the nation’s woodlands burst into the blooming life of the spring and summer seasons, discover the wonders of nature and some of the ways we can protect the natural world in the new Forest School adventure from Waterstones Prize shortlisted author Ewa Jozefkowicz. Brimming with friendship, adventure and learning through nature, this inspirational series – packed with Gillian Flint’s fun illustrations – features the Woodland Explorers who solve mysteries and protect the animals of Willow Wish Woods. At Forest School, Woodland Explorer and history-lover Ajay has discovered an amazing old book in the library. It contains a beautiful map of Willow Wish Woods in the 14^th century and he knows it’s something special. The book also tells the story of the Red-Winged Prince, who cared for the forest many moons ago and looked after the animals, including wild boar and red squirrels. But when Ajay and the other Woodland Explorers – Benji, Shyla, Trix, Fujiko and Eric – see that the woods are being damaged by a gang of older children who are leaving their rubbish behind, Ajay decides to be brave like the Red-Winged Prince and stand up for what is right. With magic, mystery, forest school fun, a whole natural world to explore, and the added bonus of bird facts and woodland activities to enjoy, youngsters will be pulling on their wellies and heading for the great outdoors!
(Zephyr, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Squid Squad
Aoife Dooley

DIVE down and deep to meet the wackiest and weirdest creatures of the ocean in a hilarious, zany and action-packed full-colour graphic novel from award-winning illustrator, writer and comedian Aoife Dooley from Ireland. Stars of the show are naughty best friends Ollie the vampire squid and Zing the toxin-squirting sea bunny and youngsters will need to come up for air when they join them for chaos in deep waters with the rest of their undersea crew! Ollie and Zing live in a town called Nowhere deep under the sea, a place that’s home to the strangest creatures of the ocean... creatures like the stinky Blob, crafty Hypno-snail, and the mysterious Snakey Unicorn Thing. Ollie and Zing's antics with their colourful neighbours always keep things lively, especially when they get the better of dastardly old Thornelius, the thorn-shooting sea slug! Squid Squad contains four hilarious mini episodes, featuring a missing pet sea anemone (who makes a dashing wig), a very mysterious noise, and a magical portal toilet. All brought to life by Dooley’s striking, bold and friendly artwork, the stories are packed with anarchic visual humour and feature a lovable cast of vibrant characters based on real deep-sea animals. A gloriously madcap celebration of imagination, friendship and being unique, and ideal for less confident readers.
(Scholastic, paperback, £9.99)

Age 4 plus
Sea: Activity Book
Selina Wood and Britta Teckentrup

DIVE into the deep blue sea and discover a world beneath the waves with this beautiful ocean-themed sticker activity book based on award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup’s acclaimed picture book, Sea. From tiny, graceful seahorses to darting tropical fish, and from electric eels to humpback whales, this utterly absorbing Sea Activity Book features over 200 colourful stickers and hours of entertainment for creative young minds. This latest instalment in the Teckentrup-inspired sticker activity series is packed with mazes, mosaics, wordsearches, puzzles, colouring scenes and lots more. A magical and interactive introduction to the wonders of the ocean!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £9.99)

Age 3 plus
Pick a Story: A Wizard Astronaut Pyramid Adventure
Sarah Coyle and Adam Walker-Parker

DECISIONS, decisions, decisions! Being given a choice can be scary and for some youngsters, it can be terrifying. But making choices and decisions is an inevitable part of life so make it fun – and not too easy! – with this sparkling interactive children’s illustrated picture book series where YOU choose the story. Author Sarah Coyle and illustrator Adam Walker-Parker have fun and challenge little ones to start making decisions and enjoy the bigger picture with these super ‘pick your own’ whirlwind adventures. And in this fifth empowering and laugh-out-loud interactive story, youngsters discover not one, but three completely different, fun-filled worlds featuring three childhood favourite themes which were specially selected in a competition involving 250 UK primary schools... space, wizards and the mysterious pyramids of ancient Egypt. Bo’s sister, Kai, has lost her special stick... and he needs YOUR help to find it before she starts to cry! Is the stick lost in space, has a wizard cast a spell on it, or is it buried in an ancient Egyptian pyramid? It’s up to YOU to decide! Each page includes an activity, such as search-and-find, odd-one-out, mazes and more, all woven seamlessly into the stories. And with a different story guaranteed every time the book is read, plus lots of twists and turns, hilarious characters and decisions to make on every page, this is the ideal book to inspire a lifelong love of reading. So what are you waiting for? Come on in and join the fun!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
I Could be Eaten by a Shark
Marcela Ferreira and Mark Chambers

SPARE a thought for Louie. He’s scared that he could be eaten by a shark... even though there aren’t any around! Top team, author Marcela Ferreira and illustrator Mark Chambers – who brought us delightful picture book Bear vs Dragon – get their jaws around this funny and cautionary sharp-toothed tale about learning to face your fears.  Meet Louie who one day sees a teeny, tiny baby shark at the beach, and that’s where it all starts. Now everywhere he goes he sees sharks... in the bath, in the park, even down the toilet. With some help from his grandpa (who is very wise), Louie begins to face his fears. After all, he has fireflies to count, new friends to make, and a whole new world to discover. With a laugh-out-loud twist in its tail, this uplifting and inventive story will have little ones grinning at the action, and gawping at the fascinating bonus facts about sharks!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age one plus
Mini Pops:
Happy Baby & Growly Tiger
Ruth Symons and Isa Pirracas

LET'S face it... little ones love a pop-up book so introduce them to Happy Baby and Growly Tiger! With six chunky pop-up faces – both human and animal – bursting out from every vibrant double page spread, this adorable new Mini Pops board book series is guaranteed to delight the very youngest readers who have an endless fascination with different faces. 

Clever paper engineering makes these chunky little books surprisingly durable... meaning pop-ups aren’t just for big kids. And these Mini Pops are the perfect balance... just small enough for little ones to easily hold, and just big enough to spring a surprise with every page turn. 

Accompanied by Ruth Symons’ catchy, rhyming, read-aloud text, and Isa Pirracas’ eye-catching illustrations featuring a variety of human emotions, this playful range of books will have babies and toddlers asking for them time and time again!
(Templar Publishing, board books, £6.99 each)

Age one plus
Hippo’s Garden Day
Nicola Kent

LION has a lovely, tidy garden but poor Hippo’s is very overgrown... can YOU help Hippo do the gardening? Full of flaps, wheels and sliders, this interactive board book is a hands-on introduction to the grown-up tasks that fascinate toddlers. Follow Hippo around the garden as he mows the lawn, prunes his bushes, waters the plants, and picks fruit from the trees. Full of flaps, wheels and a slider, this line-up of busy chores for little paws is the work of award-winning author and illustrator Nicola Kent. So roll up your sleeves, turn on the fun and get your little ones using their ‘green fingers’ with this picture perfect exploration of grown-up tasks!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)

Age one plus
Who Said Beep?
Becky Davies and Yi-Hsuan Wu

BEEP beep! Was that the hot air balloon? No, it was the truck! Lift the peep-through flaps to find out which vehicle makes each noise with this funny pairings book which has tactile pages and a surprise mirror ending. 

Written by Becky Davies and colourfully illustrated by Yi-Hsuan Wu, this touch-and-feel board book will make children laugh as they learn which noise matches which vehicle. With sturdy flaps to lift and a surprise mirror ending, this is a fun-filled journey through the world of transport!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)