Age 10 plus
Gloam
Jack Mackay and Ben Joel Price
IF you like your spooks to be seriously scary, you might want to roam in the Gloam! Brace yourself for writer, theatre-maker and horror enthusiast Jack Mackay’s debut middle-grade novel which delivers a seriously creepy thriller that sends shivers up your spine as fast as it warms your heart. Convinced – by his own experiences of being the child of divorced parents – that understanding the value of fear is a source of strength, and inspired by living at his grandparents’ creaky old house, Mackay lavishes imagination, empathy and his own powerful storytelling magic on this terrific tale of malice and monsters. Nothing on small, damp Gloam Island is quite what it seems... Gwen doesn’t want to admit that everything feels wrong for her since her mum died, and doesn’t need anyone to help her look after her younger siblings.
Also, she isn’t fooled by the beautiful babysitter with the hungry
eyes and sharp teeth. But everyone else is. So if Gwen wants Esme Laverne gone,
she’ll have to handle it herself. Gwen is determined to protect her family and
that means fighting off terrible creatures and nightmares comes to life. But as
Esme’s power grows, Gwen must embrace her deepest fears before she can defeat
the monster in her home for good. Because as everyone knows, it’s impossible to
be brave unless you’re already afraid. There is so much more to this terrifying but enlightening
story than a decaying house and a babysitter with a monstrous secret. There is
also a grieving family, and a young and confused girl caught up in the threads
of her own nightmares, and feeling that she has been left alone to fight off
evil and protect her precious siblings. With Ben Joel Price’s atmospheric
illustrations adding heft to the pulsating plot and its gothic vibes, Gloam is
a true terror treat and best read in daylight hours!
(Rock the Boat, paperback, £7.99)
Adventures in Lylaland
Louise Pentland
WHEN parents get divorced, it is often a confusing and
troubling time for their offspring so introduce them to lovely Lyla, a
ten-year-old who retreats into her imagination when her world starts going
off-kilter. Adventures in Lylaland is the debut middle-grade children’s
book from Louise Pentland, a lifestyle and beauty blogger, vlogger, author and
fashion designer, and what a wonderfully whimsical and magical tale it is,
combining spellbinding storytelling with an exploration of the ups and downs of
life as a child of divorced parents, including self-esteem issues and accepting
change. Lyla Wilde is ready for a fresh start. After a summer of
moving between her mum and dad’s houses, she’s fed up with the tension between
them. Her parents had promised that the divorce would make things better but it’s
only made them more complicated! So instead, she escapes to Lylaland, her very
own dream world where anything is possible. Then students at her school are
invited to participate in the National Inspiration Invention Competition and
finalists are offered the chance to bring their family on a weekend away. This
is it! Lyla sees the competition as the perfect chance to get Mum and Dad back
together and put an end to the arguing. But trying to think up an invention
that helps others is harder than she expects, and stepping into Lylaland doesn’t
offer her the escape that it used to and definitely not when sinister storm
clouds roll in and push her out! Just what will Lyla do when her daydreams
start to feel like nightmares? Can she rediscover the magic of Lylaland and fix
things in the real world too? Harnessing her own experience of single parenthood, and
featuring insights and inspiration from her own daughters, Pentland’s heartfelt
story is full of charm and empathy, celebrating the power of the imagination
and the wonder of young, creative minds.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)
The Magical Mermaid Society:
Official Handbook
Cat Montgomery, Nat Luurtsema, Khoa Le,
Selwyn E. Phipps and Alessandra Fusi
CALLING all mermaid fans… don’t miss out on this beautifully
illustrated guide to the marvellous and magical world of mermaids! For years,
the Magical Mermaid Society has been studying mermaids and gathering stories
from all over the world. In fact, the Head of the Society, Cat Montgomery, has
dedicated her life to travelling the world searching for mermaids and
documenting other people’s sightings. The result is this sparkling official
handbook which includes everything you need to know about these mysterious
creatures. Take a trip around the world to discover accounts of mermaid
sightings in Iceland, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Thailand and the Mediterranean.
Read about the Mami Wata mermaids of Africa, a narwhal mermaid encounter at an
Arctic research base, and a submarine captain’s magical experience in the
depths of the Pacific Ocean. Learn about the Sea Sprite mermaids of the Caribbean,
and the enchanting selkie mermaids of Ireland and Scotland. This lavish guide – with a foreword by Selwyn E. Phipps,
President of the Magical Unicorn Society, revealing his own incredible mermaid
encounter – features species fact files, the dos and don’ts of mermaid
encounters and tips on creating your own mermaid-seeking kit. You can also read
about the history of the society and find out how you too can become a member.
With its detailed information, captivating stories and exquisite hand-drawn illustrations
by Khoa Le and Alessandra Fusi, this is the perfect gift for all of those who
truly believe!
(Michael O'Mara Books, hardback, £14.99)
Astrochimp
David Walliams and Adam Stower
TUCK into the wit and wacky adventures that spill from the
pen of multi-million bestselling author David Walliams and the creative genius
of illustrator Adam Stower as they spin youngsters into space alongside a
chumpy chimp who picks his nose… with his little toe! Astrochimp – with its
wild, out-of-this-world backdrop – stars a wonderfully blunder-prone chimp
called Chump whose space mission becomes a laugh-out-loud cinematic romp full
of action, laughs, silliness and surprises. Chump the chimpanzee was always being silly. As well as
picking his nose in the strangest way, he would make rude noises from BOTH ENDS,
and eat the skins of bananas, hurling out the tasty part inside. NASA’s
scientists – champions of the Sixties Space Race – thought he would be the PERFECT
chimp to send into space. Little did Chump – who calls himself the first ape in
space – know that he had been selected for a deadly-dangerous mission. If a
chimp could orbit Earth, then chances were that a human could too. With Chump
the chimp at the controls of a spacecraft, what could possibly go wrong? As it
turns out, EVERYTHING can go wrong as we blast off with Chump and encounter dog
space pirates led by a rogue called Dmitri and evil giant fruit flies that
won’t stop buzzing and swarming! Walliams is on his best storytelling form with Chump, the
silliest chimpanzee who ever lived, in this wildly comical space adventure all
brought to life by Stower’s gallery of anarchic illustrations. Fun all the way
to infinity!
(HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks, hardback, £14.99)
Age 7 plus
You and Me and the Peanut-Butter Beast
Andy Griffiths and Bill Hope
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)
The Remembering Candle
Alison Goldberg and Selina Alko
DISCOVER an age-old and comforting Jewish memorial tradition
in the pages of this beautifully emotive picture book from American author Alison
Goldberg and Canadian-born illustrator Selina Alko. Offering a positive way for
children to cope with the loss of a loved one, we follow a Jewish family lighting
a yahrzeit candle as a way of commemorating the anniversary of their
grandfather’s death and joining together for a peaceful celebration of the
memories loved ones leave behind when they die. The little boy was sad when his
Grandpa died. He thinks about how sad his Mom was too. She says she misses
Grandpa but that all her memories are like shining lights. Grandpa died last
November and now one year later on the anniversary of his death, the boy’s
family light a special candle. It’s not a birthday, Hanukkah, or Shabbat
candle. It’s a yahrzeit candle in remembrance of him, and it will burn all
night and all day tomorrow until sunset. But why does it burn for so long? The
boy and his family spend the next night and day remembering Grandpa and sharing
stories with each other. From his stylish hats, to piano duets, and apple
squares for dessert, warm memories of Grandpa shine like stars with them while
the yahrzeit candle burns – and continue to shine when it goes out. Goldberg’s
sensitive and inspirational story – beautifully brought to life by Alko’s
collage-style artwork – explores how stories can connect people across
generations and how happy memories of our loved ones help us deal with grief.
And for inquisitive readers, there is more to learn about the Jewish calendar
and memorial traditions in the book’s endnotes.
(Barefoot Books, hardback, £12.99)
Thank You, Old Oak
Britt Crow-Miller and
Amy Schimler-Safford
‘Just like that, Old Oak’s rooted life came to an end.
Even
with her tap root severed, Old Oak would bring new life to the forest.’
AMERICAN duo, author Britt Crow-Miller and illustrator Amy Schimler-Safford, blend their
creative skills on this enchanting picture book story about the lifecycle of a
mother tree and the many creatures who rely on her. After 400 years in the
forest, it’s time for Old Oak to fall. With a pop, frenzy of snaps, and a
flurry of movement, she leans to one side and falls heavily to rest on the
forest floor. When news of beloved Old Oak spreads throughout the forest,
creatures big and small gather to show their gratitude for all she gave in her
rooted life. The squirrels thank her for the acorns, leaf buds, and catkins.
The rabbits remember the cosy burrows her roots provided. Even the weevils
scuttle above ground to acknowledge all she gave them as tiny grubs. But the
creatures soon discover Old Oak’s life is actually just beginning, and her
legacy will serve the forest for hundreds of years to come. Thank You, Old Oak teaches
youngsters about all the unique ways trees provide resources for the forest
ecosystem. This beautifully produced, written and illustrated book features a
wide range of forest creatures and the endnotes include fascinating facts about
oak trees, how to read tree rings, and the forest ecosystem. A root and branch
lesson for young green warriors…
(Barefoot Books, hardback, £12.99)
Age 6 plus
PawPrint Productions: Stop! Gangster Koala!
Jenny Moore and Berta Maluenda
(New Frontier Publishing, paperback, £8.97)
The Forest of Dreams
Merve Atilgan
‘WE are such stuff as dreams are made on.’ Readers will be
reminded of Shakespeare’s immortal line from The Tempest in this beautiful,
whimsical picture book from Merve Atilgan, an Istanbul-based illustrator and
artist specialising in children's book illustration, concept art and character
design. The Forest of Dreams is a magical picture book that follows a young
girl's imaginative journey through an enchanted forest. With just a pinch of
will and creativity, her mind begins to soar, her thoughts and feelings float
to the sky and transform into the strangest and most amazing moments. As the
forest grows from the very fabric of her dreams, it acts as a powerful reminder
of the limitless magic within our minds. Brought to vibrant life by evocative,
colourful and eye-catching illustrations and, with a soothing, lyrical text,
Atilgan’s spellbinding folk tale is a calming adventure ideal for bedtime
reading, and perfectly created to spark multi-coloured dreams and a lingering sense
of wonder.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £12.99)
Luna Grace: Girl from Outer Space
Julie Sykes and Emily Jones
ARRIVING from a planet in outer space was a BIG step for a
girl called Luna Grace and she’s going to have to take SMALL steps to find her
feet on planet Earth. Luna Grace: Girl from Outer Space is the first of a delightful
new series for young readers from Julie Sykes, bestselling author of more than
100 books for children, and Cardiff-based illustrator Emily Jones. Luna Grace
and her family arrive on Earth at midnight. Luna is from Starbright, a
colourful planet in another galaxy, and they have come to Earth to study its
wonderful wildlife. The mission is simple… Luna and her family need to fit in
with their new neighbours down on Earth. But fitting in is hard to do when your
hair changes colour depending how you feel, you can move things with your mind
and you have a mischievous moon cat called Twizzle! Luna is determined to try
her best but as she embarks on her first day at school, things get cosmically
out of control! What can Luna do to make herself like her new classmates? Or
will she find the courage to be different? This astronomical and warm-hearted new series explores
dealing with very human and down-to-earth emotions, and learning to celebrate
your differences. Filled with Jones’
colourful illustrations, this is ideal early reading for fun-loving youngsters!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)
Colin’s Grandma
Holly Swain
IF you still recall chuckling and chortling at Holly Swain’s
award-winning picture book Colin’s Castle – starring a vegetarian vampire
called Colin who buys a castle only to find that it comes with a duck – then
you’ll be laughing and loving again when you meet his unforgettable Grandma!
Yes, Colin and Duck are back in this highly anticipated sequel and they are now
good friends, happily sharing their castle and hobbies like gardening, watching
movies and trampolining. But now they’re expecting a visitor… Grandma! Colin
hasn’t seen his Grandma for over 100 years and she hasn’t changed a bit. But
she does come with baggage, well, luggage to be precise… lots of luggage, and then
there’s her pet crocodile. Eek! Will she like Colin’s unconventional castle,
will she like his vegetarian cooking and will she like… DUCK?! With an early Halloween
vibe but a sense of fun that will create a wave of giggles at any time of the
year, Colin’s Grandma certainly sets the feathers flying and with hilarious new
characters, a story perfectly created to read aloud, and a brilliantly funny
final twist, no youngster will won’t want to duck out of this rollicking romp!
(Farshore, paperback,
£7.99)
One Silly Sausage Dog
Alastair Chisholm and Alex Willmore
WHAT happens when a very silly sausage dog overstretches
herself? Find out in author Alastair Chisholm and illustrator Alex Willmore’s
feast-of-fun picture book which is the perfect countdown to early learning.
Little ones will love going walkies with very naughty, very silly and very
stretchy sausage dog Cordelia. While Cordelia is out for a walk, she can’t help
getting distracted by EVERYTHING in the park! Her body stretches and stretches
until she’s in all sorts of sticky situations. Oh no! Can she learn how to get
everything back to the way it was? Award-winning Chisholm’s quirky counting
tale – transformed into a colourful feast of fun by Willmore’s sparkling
illustrations – stars a lovable sausage dog and is simply bursting with
bouncing bunnies, whizzing bicycles and sizzling sausages!
(Hodder Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Teeny Tiny Science:
I See a Star
Saskia Gwinn and Daniela Sosa
‘I see a star that sparkles with light, high up in Space,
so
very far away…’
YOUNGSTERS will love learning about the fascinating life-cycle
of a star in the latest title in a fun, friendly and lyrical Teeny Tiny Science
picture book series about cycles and systems for the very young. From clouds of
dust drifting in the freezing depths of space to the explosive power of a
supernova, join two children and their cat on a fantastic journey through the
life-cycle of a star. As they ride on a meteor, zoom in a rocket and stargaze
from their garden, young readers will discover how the stars up above us begin,
grow and die in an incredible, ever-changing cycle. I See a Star is produced in
a storybook format, written in a beautiful, lyrical text by Saskia Gwinn and created
in consultation with Dr Matthew Bothwell from the Institute of Astronomy at
University of Cambridge. Add on the breathtaking and colourful collage-style
artwork of Daniela Sosa, and this book is guaranteed to entertain, inspire and
gently educate your little ones. The perfect introduction to stars and space!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)
Shmoof
Heidi McKinnon
ENJOY furballs, fun and two delightful pets called Floof and
Shmoof in a mischief-filled picture book from Heidi McKinnon, a children’s book
author and illustrator who lives in sunny Melbourne, Australia. Following on
from her bestselling Floof and I Just Ate My Friend, this new chapter for a
lovable pet stars Floof’s new best friend and he’s just the shmoofiest! Today
is Floof's birthday! Floof is excited because Floof loves parties. And cake.
Most of all Floof loves presents and Floof has saved the biggest present for last.
What could it be, Floof? This is Shmoof. Shmoof is Shmoofy, Shmoof is VERY
Shmoofy. In fact, Shmoof is the SHMOOFIEST! Uh oh, Floof might not be entirely
happy... Packed with McKinnon’s bold, colourful illustrations and animal comedy, plus themes of playfulness, contradiction and pets, this is the perfect
picture book for lovers of all cheeky cats, dogs, floofs… and anyone who loves
getting up to mischief!
(Allen & Unwin Children's Books, paperback, £7.99)
Our World: England
Sumana Seeboruth and Ella Hobbis
HELLO! Let’s spend a day in England, eat a full English breakfast, watch the horses grazing from the train, enjoy a picnic and playing cricket on the heath, and relax with the birds, bees, and butterflies. Author Sumana Seeboruth and illustrator Ella Hobbis have drawn on their personal experiences of growing up in England to create this charming board book which features educational endnotes and is part of Barefoot Books’ Our World series for young readers.
(Barefoot Books, board books, £7.99 each)
Ten Minutes to Bed:
Where’s Little Dragon?
Rhiannon Fielding and Chris Chatterton
SNUGGLE up with Flicker the Dragon in this lift-the-flap
adventure which is the latest fun title in Ladybird’s much-loved and calming Ten
Minutes to Bed series which has sold over three million copies. It’s time to
snooze in the Land of Nod but not everyone is in bed yet... can you find where
Flicker the Dragon is hiding before bedtime? This magical new adventure
features sturdy, hard-wearing flaps on every spread as young children search
for Flicker, meeting all their favourite characters from the Ten Minutes to Bed
series along the way, from Twinkle the Unicorn to Rumble the Dinosaur! Weaving
a journey from lively beginning to a gentle, sleep-inducing end, this gorgeous
novelty board book is perfect for little ones winding down for bedtime. Miles
of smiles for sleepy toddlers!
(Ladybird, board book, ££7.99)
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