Best Summer Ever

Heidi Swain

AT the age of twenty-eight, Daisy Patterson still doesn’t know where or what her place in the world is... her latest boyfriend has proved to be unfaithful, she has packed in a job that meant little to her, and she’s fed up with being a disappointment to her parents.

Left with few other options, Daisy returns home to the picturesque village of Wynmouth on the beautiful Norfolk coast in the hope that she can find a job she likes, bring structure to her somewhat disordered life, make her parents proud... and maybe, just maybe, enjoy a much-needed holiday fling.

Pour a glass of your favourite tipple and escape into the warmth and wonder of summer with the queen of feel-good Heidi Swain (pictured below) in a sizzling novel which explores what happens when the lives of two people – both of them harbouring secrets – collide against a kaleidoscope of sea, sand and sunshine.

Swain, who lives with her family in picturesque south Norfolk, has won thousands of adoring readers with her enchanting stories set in three very different fictional locations... the Fenland town of Wynbridge, cosy Nightingale Square in Norwich, and alluring little Wynmouth.

But whatever the setting, Swain’s stories always have a strong sense of community, family and friendship and this sparkling summer standalone – her remarkable twentieth novel – sweeps us into the troubled world of the delightful Daisy.

It’s July and summer is in full swing when Daisy drives back into Wynmouth in her almost-clapped-out car, having left both her most recent job and the man her parents thought (and hoped!) she was going to marry. 

Coming home and staying at her parents’ cottage on the Wynbrook Manor estate for a few months could be just what she needs to move her life on. But things are in disarray at the manor, owned by elderly Algernon (Algy) Alford. Algy isn’t getting any younger and has recently had a fall which has left him lethargic and lacking in enthusiasm. Daisy’s mum Janet, housekeeper at the manor, spends her days running around after him, while Daisy’s dad Robin, the gardener, has been let down by the person he had lined up to take care of the manor’s new cut-flower garden.

Daisy arrival hasn’t exactly been welcomed by her parents. After dropping out of university, and moving from one casual job to another, it seemed that dreamer Daisy had finally found a steady boyfriend... a man with what Robin considered ‘a structured career’ and who was helping to get his daughter’s life in order.

With no money, no prospects and no options, Daisy has at least found a summer job working behind the bar at Wynmouth’s quaint seafront pub, the Smuggler’s Inn, and even before she arrives at her parents’ cottage, she almost literally bumps into American tourist Josh who has hired the cottage next door to the pub for the season.

As Daisy slowly settles in again at Wynbrook Manor and in the village, she finds new purpose in helping with the cut-flower garden and enjoys the ‘electricity’ that continues to crackle between herself and the very attractive Josh. But when he turns out to be not the person she thought, will the spark between them fizzle out and with it, the chances of this turning this into the best summer ever?

Swain has a well-earned reputation for heartwarming and entertaining stories which showcase her talent for blending escapist romance, captivating locations, and a perfectly imagined cast of characters facing some of the real-life challenges of the modern world, and Best Summer Ever proves – rather aptly – to be one of her best novels ever. Readers will adore following chaotic but caring Daisy’s journey from lost soul to a young woman discovering the joys and rewards of self-belief and self-discovery as she finds her feet and a new purpose back home in the place where her life began.

Set against the seductive charms of the Norfolk coast, an enticing romance, a simmering mystery, and the evocative scents of a well-stocked flower garden, this summer holiday odyssey is a gloriously funny, insightful and inspirational celebration of the powerful bonds of home, family and friendship. So whether you are in need of a cosy book hug, a breath of fresh sea air, or want a summertime story full of fun, drama and secrets, look no further than this beautifully woven, feel-good tale... the perfect sunshine read!
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A chance meeting, a power girl and a new school

Discover how amazing things can happen when you give people a chance, meet a girl with a murder to solve, revenge on her mind and more questions than answers, and find out how a schoolboy tackles one of life’s big changes in a super selection of April children’s books

Age 9 plus
The Last House in the Row
Lesley Parr and Richard Johnson

AMAZING things can happen when you give people a chance! The unlikely friendship between a young girl and her eccentric neighbour takes centre stage in a moving and thought-provoking novella from former primary school teacher and bestselling author Lesley Parr. The Last House in the Row – brought to vivid life by Richard Johnson’s emotive and atmospheric artwork, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format – is packed with important message about the value of intergenerational relationships, as well as showcasing snippets of Welsh language in a setting inspired by the author’s childhood in Wales.

Hayley is annoyed that her beloved cat keeps sneaking off to the garden of the eccentric old lady across the street. Lillian, or Boo as Hayley calls her, lives in the last house in the row after the rest were knocked down years ago. Lillian hasn’t stepped outside her front door since. But thanks to an unexpected act of kindness, a surprising friendship develops between them, and Hayley learns the real reason behind the old lady’s reluctance to move. So when a misunderstanding threatens their friendship, can Hayley repair what has been damaged and help Lillian find her way out into the world again?

Inspired by two old ladies who lived near Parr when she was growing up, The Last House in the Row speaks loudly about how unexpectedly surprising people can prove to be, and how important it is to foster connections with your local community. Beautifully written and conceived, this is a book to savour long after the last page has turned.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 10 plus
Rosie Frost: Ice on Fire
Geri Halliwell-Horner

DIVE back into the extraordinary life of a heroic girl with a murder to solve, revenge on her mind, and more questions than she has answers for! Enjoy the thrilling mix of mystery, history, nature and girl power as former Spice Girl, songwriter and author Geri Halliwell-Horner returns to work her magic on the second hidden island adventure in her thrilling Rosie Frost series. Suddenly orphaned and alone, Rosie was sent to the mysterious Bloodstone Island, home not only to the Heverbridge School for extraordinary teens but also a sanctuary for endangered species. And it was there that Rosie discovered that history can come to life in ways she never could have imagined. On the brink of discovering who, or what, lies behind her mother’s death, Rosie is now beginning a new term at Heverbridge and Bloodstone is in turmoil. Mutant animals are on the loose, jealous classmates want to bring Rosie down, and, even worse, there is a black hole to deal with. Below the island’s surface, an everlasting star is growing in strength and it just may end them all. Then Rosie discovers the north side of the island, home to the alluring Imperium Palace... but is the palace one of scientific genius or deadly menace? While she fights to know the truth about her past – and her family’s ancient ties to Bloodstone – Rosie begins to wonder if the price for the truth may be too high. She must discover what she’s really made of as a fresh danger puts her new home – and all that she loves – at risk. Youngsters will love returning to the dark and dangerous world of determined and big-hearted Rosie as she tackles life and her enemies head-on in an exhilarating adventure full of mystery, history, nature and girl power, and all set in a world where heroes are found in the most unexpected places!
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Zak Monroe is (Not) My Friend
Simon Packham

WHEN life brings big changes, it isn’t always something that children can relish. Nobody knows this better than author Simon Packham whose novels like Silenced and Worrybot have been highly acclaimed by critics. Packham uses his own experiences of being bullied at school, and his daughter’s problems with anxiety, to pen resonant stories which explore feelings, friendships, and transition, whether that is a move to a new area or to secondary school. In Zak Monroe is (Not) My Friend, we meet Sam who has been best friends with Cal, Fin and Jay for EVER. They are all about to move up to a new school together... it’s scary but exciting. But then he overhears them saying that they are not going to put him on their Friends Lists so Sam will be stuck in a different tutor group with a lot of kids he doesn’t know. Help! How can Sam convince them to change their minds? Can he keep on hiding his friendship with ‘weird’ new boy Zak Monroe? And what will happen when these two sides of Sam’s life collide? Packham delivers a perfectly pitched, heartfelt and inspirational story for any child feeling a little bit lost in the face of a big change. With its exploration of friendship and self-confidence through the transition into secondary school, this book is ideal for young people dealing with self-doubt or next-step nerves, and is an entertaining and warmly wise addition to school and home bookshelves.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Taking The Long Way Home
Jake Hope and Brian Fitzgerald

THE power of the imagination takes two siblings on an extraordinary journey in a warm, witty and wonderfully inspiring picture book from author Jake Hope and illustrator Brian Fitzgerald. Young readers will love observing how using all of our five senses can transform an ordinary walk back from school into a super-sized adventure. Normally Zarah and her brother are collected from school by their dad who rushes them home taking every shortcut. But today, Uncle Jerome is collecting them, and he takes them on ‘the long way home.’ Reluctant to go further than necessary, the children complain at first but are soon caught up in amazing adventures, as their uncle gets them to use their senses to conjure up a world of fun and imagination. Birds become pterodactyls, ripples in the water become crocodiles... and they soon realise that the best adventures only happen on the long way home! Hope, a reading development and children’s book consultant, demonstrates to readers how entering into the spirit of play and adventure empowers the children, while each spread conveys the sense of an ongoing journey full of unexpected discoveries. Fun to read aloud and given life and energy by Fitzgerald’s colourful illustrations, this is the perfect story to inspire a love of the great outdoors.
(Scallywag Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
I Am Strong Just Being Me
Laura Dockrill and Kip Alizadeh

THERE are so many different ways to show how strong you are... and many of them are not what you might expect! Award-winning writer Laura Dockrill and illustrator and visual artists Kip Alizadeh touch readers’ hearts with this lyrical picture book exploring strength and its many guises. Is strong brave and fearless? Does it always win a fight? Does strong have a shouty voice? Is it always right? These are some of the questions that an inquisitive child called Bean asks Nanna one day while in the garden. From the power of silence to the strength of an embrace, the uplifting story offers an alternative to the stereotypes around strength, and encourages all children to believe that they can be strong in their own way. Add on Alizadeh’s beautifully evocative illustrations which celebrate the natural world and you have the perfect book to teach little ones to love themselves just as they are!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 2 plus
Moon Girl
Thomas Docherty

SOMETIMES Leila is a little bit scared of the dark... but then she meets Moon Girl and discovers how wonderful the world is after the sun sets! If your little ones are wary of darkness and shadows, take them on a thrilling night-time adventure with award-winning author and illustrator Thomas Docherty. Leila loves bright colours but she isn’t so keen on the dark. That is until she meets Moon Girl who carries a brush and a paint-pot full of moonlight and together they go on a night-time adventure, painting moonlight in the darkness and discovering bats, cats, foxes and moths, and a town full of surprises. In this creative celebration of the night world, Docherty takes an imaginative approach and offers a reassuring exploration of life after dark, making it perfect for children who are afraid of the night. His beautifully illuminated illustrations have a wealth of detail to hold young readers’ attention as the hours of darkness become a thing of beauty, curiosity, and wonder.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

Crucified

Lynda La Plante

STILL haunted by a harrowing case involving a sadistic serial killer who butchered and decapitated young girls, London Met Detective Sergeant Jack Warr is fast reaching breaking point.

With his home life at high pressure point after the birth of a new baby, his doctor wife Maggie on maternity leave, and the family finances struggling to cope with house renovations, the last thing Jack needs is another grisly murder.

Liverpool-born screenwriter and author Lynda La Plante (pictured below), one of the nation’s favourite police procedural writers, is back to dazzle and delight readers with the fifth book in her latest coruscating crime-cracking series which has its seeds planted in Widows, the runaway hit story starring a group of robbers’ widows who attempt a daring heist after the demise of their crooked husbands.

Harnessing the same gripping cocktail of crooks, cops and cunning plot twists, the DS Jack Warr novels have fast forwarded over 25 years to discover not just what happened to those nefarious gangsters’ molls but to meet intriguing new star Jack, a thirty-something detective finding his feet in the Met after a move from rural Devon, and discovering links to the past that, even in his wildest dreams, he could never have imagined. In Crucified, we find Jack struggling to cope with life at a time when he should be resting on his laurels. He’s just put brutal, unrepentant murderer Rodney Middleton behind bars and he’s ready to enjoy some time at home with his GP wife Maggie, young daughter Hannah, their new (as yet unnamed) baby boy and Jack’s adoptive mum Penny who lives with them.

Instead, Middleton’s gruesome legacy has left Jack with violent nightmares in which he punches, shouts and kicks out, terrifying Maggie. The torment he feels over the killer’s refusal to reveal the whereabouts of his other victims, plus a series of other events and dark secrets, make him feel like there is ‘a hurricane raging inside his head.’

Refusing the Met-offered counselling service, Jack instead finds solace in renewing a dangerous friendship with charismatic art forger Adam Border. But when a man is found horrifically murdered and nailed to a giant cross in a framer’s shop, Jack cannot help becoming fascinated by the elaborately staged killing and senses a connection to the case even though it is not in his jurisdiction.

Could Adam be the victim, or even the murderer, and is Jack’s involvement that of a detective or witness? Finding the truth will unveil a shocking portrait of a corrupt art world... but it could also expose the secrets Jack is so desperately trying to keep hidden.

Jack, who still struggles to walk a straight line between the right and wrong sides of the law, has now firmly embedded himself in readers’ hearts. With a new baby in the house, and domestic duties competing with hidden allegiances, our maverick detective is increasingly being forced to re-evaluate just where his priorities lie. Still emotionally drained from his dealings with the sadistic Middleton, and the resultant night terrors, Jack seems to have problems and secrets in all corners of his life... not least the crisis in their finances which he has so far refused to reveal to his wife and his long-suffering mother.

Packed with suspense, authentic police and forensic detail, La Plante’s dark, satirical humour and a brilliantly imagined cast of characters, including the restless, unpredictable Jack Warr, Crucified is another masterclass in crime writing.
(Zaffre, hardback, £22)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Celebrate Easter with some sparkling Usborne titles

Easter is almost here and Usborne children’s books have put some spring sunshine into their bright new line-up

Age 12 plus
Under a Fire-Red Sky
Geraldine McCaughrean

JOIN four young people who would rather stay and help London’s war effort than be whisked away with other evacuees to the safety of the English countryside in a blistering new novel from Geraldine McCaughrean, twice winner of the CILIP Carnegie Medal and one of today’s most highly esteemed children’s authors. Under a Fire-Red Sky – an emotion-packed tale of survival, heartbreak and hope – is set during the London Blitz and was inspired by the author’s firefighter father, Lesley Jones, who was a young fireman both before and during the German bombing offensive which brought devastation to the capital city. With the Second World War looming, four young people sit on a train waiting to be evacuated to a safer place... but they don’t want to go. They climb out of the carriage window and head back to Greenwich, forming an unlikely friendship. They spend their days trying to be useful. Laurence is building a secret machine. Gemmy searches bombed-out homes for things of value... only to find an adorable mutt she can’t even give away. Franklin wants to join the Fire Service, although it means lying about his age. Olive looks after her father, who is broken by the deaths of his fellow firefighters. And together, the four roam the streets of London, discovering their resilience amongst the secrets of the city. But as the Blitz unleashes a barrage of bombs on London, turning the sky ragged with flames, can the friends keep each other safe and survive?

McCaughrean is a master storyteller and she fills her beautifully imagined and compelling coming-of-age story with both the raw realities of a firefighter’s experiences in the horrors of the Blitz and the impact of the bombings on the ordinary city folk living through what seemed like a never-ending nightmare. Published in the 80^th anniversary year of the end of the Second World War, Under a Fire-Red Sky is a reminder to young readers of the terrible consequences of war and the lessons that can be learned from past conflicts. But the book is also a celebration of those who fought the war in many different ways, harnessing the spirit of endurance, courage and friendship to see them through the darkest of days.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £8.99)

Age 5 plus
Billy and the Mini Monsters:
Monsters at Easter
Zanna Davidson and Melanie Williamson

JOIN Billy and the hairy but not-so-scary mini-monsters for another madcap adventure as they get ready for Easter celebrations. Author Zanna Davidson and illustrator Melanie Williamson provide lots of fun and laughter with this hilarious chapter book series which cleverly navigates crucial first experiences and everyday fears. Here we find Billy feeling nervous about the village Easter Hat Parade. The Mini Monsters have made him an ENORMOUS hat and he wants to wear it to make them happy, but he doesn’t want everyone looking at him. Then something happens to make Billy realise there are even more important things to think about... like a tiny, mysterious creature in Ash’s garden. Could it be... an Easter mini-monster? With the gentle focus on first experiences and packed with colour illustrations, comic strips and speech bubbles, plus an action-packed plot, these stories have an instant appeal for reluctant readers and are perfect for newly independent readers.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £5.99)

Age 5 plus
Sticker Dolly Dressing Easter Egg Hunt
Fiona Watt and Daniela Dogliani

EASTER week is here and it’s time to dress the fairies and explore Fairyland on an Easter Egg Hunt! Hours of hands-on fun are guaranteed with the new Sticker Dolly Dressing book, one of Usborne Publishing’s best and most popular series. And this magical new book is bulging with gorgeous sticker clothes and accessories to dress the dolls and decorate the pages as the fairies skip, flutter and fly through the colourful pages. Join the fairies as they hide Easter eggs, go on an Easter egg hunt, follow the Easter bunny’s muddy footprints and have lots of fairy fun! Use the vast array of stickers to dress the fairies and decorate the enchanting scenes. Children won’t be stuck for something to do with this beautiful activity book and with so many reusable stickers to choose from, this is a Fairyland adventure no young fashionista will want to miss!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age six months plus
There There Little Bunny
Anna Milbourne and Rotem Teplow

MEET a little bunny who needs your tender loving care! Little ones will love getting their hands on this adorable new book in Usborne’s award-winning Touchy-Feely Books series, a much-loved favourite with both parents and children. In this new Easter-themed book, the fluffy bunny wants you to stroke its ears when it’s scared, rub its nose better after an encounter with a tickly bug, and stroke its back when it’s feeling sleepy. Each page has different snuggly, touchy-feely patches and characters to interact with, and the text encourages kindness and provides a calming activity in very little children as they gently rub the bunny better from minor mishaps. Touchy-feely genius at a stroke and ideal for quiet time with your little ones!
(Usborne Publishing, cased board book, £7.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Big decisions, a seaside sleepover and an epic rescue

Meet a schoolboy who needs help with some big decisions, join a group of friends on a trip to the seaside, head off in stormy seas with a brave girl on a daring rescue mission, and share adventures in a dystopian world packed with spine-tingling danger in a fantastic springtime selection 

Age 8 plus
The Boy with Big Decisions
Helen Rutter

SCHOOLBOY Fred is on the cusp of moving to a new school and he’s going to face some big decisions... decisions that YOU are going to have to make not just with him, but for him! Youngsters will love teaming up with indecisive Fred in award-winning author Helen Rutter’s brilliant interactive story book which puts readers in the driving seat on a multitude of possible pathways, offering choices that aim to encourage empathy and kindness whilst also delivering big-hearted, exciting adventures shaped by YOUR decisions.

Fred can't make a decision about anything... his parents always tell him what to do, from what to eat every day to which secondary school to choose. That’s how Fred has found himself a pupil at the high-pressure, strict Gains School when he’d much rather be going to Browtree with its brilliant art department and kind teachers. As Fred waits for the bus to his new school, he sees the bus for Browtree pull up and a wild, thrilling, thought strikes him. Should he jump on this bus and pretend he’s a new student at Browtree? Will he be brave enough to follow a different path for once?

Standing in Fred’s shoes and making decisions alongside him throughout this story provides youngsters with lots of fascinating choices. Can you help him to stand up for what he believes in, learn what he truly loves to do, make good friends and face choices about whether to swerve or walk into drama. Don’t miss the bus because YOU are in charge!
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
The Seaside Sleepover
Jacqueline Wilson and Rachael Dean

WHEN bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson’s funny and moving book, Sleepovers, was first published in 2001, many of her (now grown-up!) readers told her that it was their favourite of the over one hundred stories Wilson has written. The much-loved tale introduced us to school friends Amy, Bella, Chloe, Daisy and Emily who were looking forward to planning sleepovers for their birthdays. Perfect for newly confident readers who are navigating primary school friendship issues, each story is full of relatable details and gentle confidence-building messages. And those all-too-familiar worries about bullying, disabilities, siblings and friendships are explored again in this heartwarming sequel – the third book in the Sleepovers series – starring the same friendship circle. The summer holidays have finally arrived and Daisy is bored. She is glad she won’t have to see her worst enemy Chloe for a while but she longs for a proper holiday at the seaside, building sandcastles, eating lots of ice-cream and maybe even spotting a mermaid in the sea. 

Daisy’s non-verbal sister, Lily, wants to come too but, she uses a wheelchair which can make trips to the seaside tricky... especially with all that sand! Daisy’s summer improves when she starts looking after her neighbours’ dog, Scruff. Daisy has always wanted a dog of her own to walk and cuddle and she knows Scruff would love a trip to the seaside just as much as her. Will Daisy, Lily and Scruff get their ice-cream-filled dream holiday... and maybe even have a Seaside Sleepover? Rachael Dean’s beautifully emotive illustrations bring Wilson’s sensitively written and inspirational story to life as readers enjoy following the girls through another rollercoaster chapter of family and friendship dramas, and the triumphs and disasters of the new summer sleepover plans. With her gift for understanding and acknowledging the fears that so often affect children, and the subtle messages of help and guidance that flow from the pages, this is Wilson on her very best – and most entertaining – storytelling form.
(Puffin, hardback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus
Becoming Grace
Hilary McKay and Keith Robinson

A YOUNG girl who overcame her own fear of drowning to help rescue survivors of a shipwreck off the Northumberland coast in 1838 takes centre stage in an epic tale of endurance and bravery from Costa award-winning author Hilary McKay. Becoming Grace – gloriously illustrated by Keith Robinson – reimagines the incredible true story of Grace Darling, daughter of the lighthouse keeper on the rugged Farne Islands, who rowed out in a fierce storm to help with a dangerous mission to rescue stranded survivors on board the Forfarshire, a vessel travelling from Hull to Dundee. Grace Darling nearly drowned when she was eight but despite her fear of boats and the sea, she loves her life as the daughter of a lighthouse keeper and spends fun-filled childhood days with her three sisters, four brothers, numerous goats, chickens, cats and her beloved dog Happy. The only shadows come from the many shipwrecks caused by the poor location of their lighthouse, a problem that seems to be fixed when a new one is built further out on the remote Longstone Rock. But in September 1838, the steamship Forfarshire is wrecked on the perilous Harcar Rock. Grace alerts her father to survivors, but can she find the courage to help him row out through the mountainous waves to rescue them? Master storyteller McKay adds her special touch of heart and soul to this moving real-life story which has captured the imagination of both children and adults over almost two centuries. Through the simple joys and hardships of Grace’s family life, youngsters learn about society’s expectations of young women in the Victorian era. Full of drama, rich descriptive detail and Robinson’s emotive artwork, this is another winner from a dynamic writing and illustration duo.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
I Am Raven
Alastair Chisholm

RETURN to a thrillingly imagined dystopian world packed with big ideas, spine-tingling danger and jaw-dropping surprises as highly-acclaimed author and puzzle creator Alastair Chisholm unleashes the second book of his dazzling middle grade trilogy. With a bold, ingeniously detailed and highly original ‘other world’ at the heart of the stories, a cast of unforgettable characters, plenty of thought-provoking concepts, and page-turning adventures to get lost in, youngsters are hooked from first page to last.  Once, Brann belonged to Raven. She flew high above the world on the incredible mechanical Construct... and she was fearless. But that changed when Raven was destroyed by Dragon. Now Brann has lost the life she once knew, her home is gone and she is desperate to find Raven’s missing crew. Determined to find the truth, Brann heads north with her friends Coll, Rieke and Finn. But secrets start to unravel and what they learn will change everything they know about their world, and themselves. Where did Dragon come from? What happened to Raven's crew? And what is the secret Brann is hiding? Expect to be bewitched and bedazzled by Chisholm’s imaginative power as Brann’s fascinating, fearsome world rolls out across 218 pages of action, intrigue, peril and unlikely alliances. Packed full of menace and suspense, featuring world-building at its mesmerising best, and with hidden perils waiting round every corner, the final book in the series can’t come too soon!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Peregrine Quinn and the Mask of Chaos
Ash Bond

IF gods, monsters, oracles and a thrilling quest tickle your reading taste buds, then treat yourself to the second book of an electrifying debut series which imagines a cosmic realm tingling with mythology, mind-blowing fantasy and mesmerising magic. Peregrine Quinn is the brainchild of former bookseller Ash Bond who sprinkles her classics-based stories with a special brand of fairy dust, and sweeps away readers to edge-of-the-seat adventures and worlds full of mayhem and malevolence. Using a bold and inventive new spin on classical myths, Bond brings us the traditional Greek heroes but with their fantastical lives cleverly melded into a contemporary and inventive technology known as CosTech. The result is a spectacular collision between ancient and modern, and rip-roaring escapades starring old heroes and a feisty and fearless young girl who must race between worlds. In this enthralling new adventure, it's just another week in the Cosmic Realm. The city of Cosmopolis is buzzing with excitement. The Cosmic Games are fast approaching, and eight champions are about to compete for a magical golden apple and a lifetime of glory. 

It’s the event of a generation! But behind the scenes tensions within Olympus Inc. are running high as they struggle to hide signs of a rebellion, and the fact that a mysterious figure is trying to sabotage the Games. Who are they, and what do they want? In Oxford, Peregrine is desperate to return to the Cosmic Realm but her mum Penelope is not keen. Surely, Peregrine’s life is adventurous enough? The decision is taken out of Penelope’s hands when Peregrine receives a letter from Athene herself, asking for Peregrine to compete in the Cosmic Games. How can Peregrine possibly compete against the other Academy-trained champions, especially when someone is making it very clear that she should not be allowed to win... Bond says plucky Peregrine was forged from ‘a lifetime of curiosity for the ancient world’ and our daring adventurer certainly delivers a coruscating, cosmic package of breathless action, witty dialogue, other-worldly fun, and a marvellous makeover of some familiar myths and characters. And with maps and chapter-head illustrations by Patrick Knowles, and the brilliant character illustrations of Brie Schmida putting Peregrine and her people into focus, this is an adventure to thrill and a book to treasure.

(Piccadilly Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 7 plus
Dino Knights: Extinction
Jeff Norton and Jeff Crosby

PICK two favourite themes – dangerous dinosaurs and daring knights – blend them together, and what do you have? Dino Knights, of course! In the third book of his fabulous, action-packed chapter book series, Jeff Norton transports youngsters back to his thrilling and imaginative medieval land where dinosaurs still roam and brave knights ride into adventures on the back of roaring dinosaurs. Norton, loved for his stories which create compelling characters, awesome escapades and immersive worlds, is on his best form in this new tale starring the now established Dino Knight, Henry Fairchild, defender of Brecklan, his beloved homeland, who sets off on the back of his trusty T-rex to find his lost parents. But there’s trouble ahead and Henry is soon caught up in a battle to save the environment of the dinosaurs and to uphold the duty of conservation. With Jeff Crosby’s exciting and atmospheric black and white illustrations bringing Norton’s world-building to vivid life, a gallery of amazing characters, a map, playful heraldic chapter headings and a dinosaur field guide, this all-action story of bravery, loyalty, family, conservation and duty is perfect for all fearless young adventurers.
(Scallywag Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Meg and Merlin: Having Fun
Tanya Landman and Sònia Albert

SADDLE up for the fourth action-packed instalment of Carnegie Medal-winning author Tanya Landman’s captivating Meg and Merlin series which is proving a dream read for pony lovers. Packed with action, fun and friendships, these warmhearted stories celebrate the close bond between horse and rider, and this entertaining new adventure will have youngsters (who dream of owning their own horse!) cantering through the pages. Here we join Meg and Merlin braving a ‘fun day’ at the nearby stables and learning some exciting new tricks. Meg and her friend Sam Houseman take their ponies Merlin and Alfred to the fun day but with Sam’s bossy mum as one of the instructors, the day isn’t anything like as much fun as they’d hoped. But when Sam’s mum tries to force Merlin over a water jump, he refuses and she ends up getting very wet and soon there are plenty of laughs all round! Brought to life by the lively illustrations of Sònia Albert, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this new drama-filled adventure is a sure-fire winner for all young horse riding fans.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 6 plus
Where’s the Spy?
Alex Frith, Laura Cowan and Colin King

JOIN Usborne’s classic espionage hero Si the Spy on his mission to save the world! He’s an expert at blending in with a crowd but be warned... you’ll have to find him, and his spy enemies, and solve all sorts of puzzles along the way. Authors Alex Frith and Laura Cowan combine their talents with illustrator Colin King on this brilliant spot-and-find story which is packed with codes to crack and twelve intricate ‘can you spot puzzles’ to fathom as you embark on a thrilling tale of espionage.  Who are the Twindicate? What do they want? And can Si the Spy stop their dastardly plans in time? Look out for him in a crowded train station, a thronging carnival, a shopping mall, a science lab and of course a secret underground villain lair. As well as spotting our hero on every page, he'll need your help with codes, puzzles and unravelling fiendish conundrums to get to the bottom of an international crime conspiracy. Are you ready for the fun?
(Usborne Publishing, hardback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
Where Did They Go?
A Search and Find Book
Emily Bornoff

SPOTTING books are always fun and here’s one that packs in important messages about conservation as well as all those much-loved search challenges. Where has the polar bear gone, where did the lemur go... can you find them? Writer and illustrator Emily Bornoff’s lush, painterly artwork creates beautiful patterns and lots of playful hide-and-seek elements as youngsters search for endangered animals in jungles, deserts and on the ice. Where Did They Go? enhances children’s observational skills but as every animal featured is becoming increasingly rare, there are also fascinating facts to absorb along the way. Learn where in the world they come from, what is being done to save them, and enjoy finding them all as you turn the pages!
(Big Picture Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 5 plus
Mirabelle and the Baby Dragons
Harriet Muncaster

BEING different is fun… especially when it comes to making mischief! From the magical world of author and illustrator Harriet Muncaster’s much-loved half-vampire, half-fairy Isadora Moon comes her impish, lovable cousin Mirabelle Starspell who puts the nice into being naughty. Mirabelle's mum is a witch, her dad is a fairy, and she is a bit of both. She likes casting spells with her fairy wand and flying around on her witchy broomstick, but most of all the thing she really, really likes to do is cause mischief. When Mirabelle and her family are invited to spend some time at a dragon sanctuary, Mirabelle cannot wait to get stuck in and show off everything she knows. But she’s about to find out that she's not quite the dragon expert she believes herself to be! Full to its sparkly covers with crazy capers and enchanting purple and black illustrations, this enchanting series of first chapter books is perfect for early readers who like their glitter with a bit of knockabout, naughty fun. Mirabelle and her madcap family are perfectly created for youngsters getting bored with run-of-the-mill fairies and princesses, and are eager to get their teeth into something excitingly different. Clever, imaginative, funny and positively fizzing with potions and broomsticks, Mirabelle’s misadventures always leave youngsters eager for more!
(Oxford University Press Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
The One and Only You
Shane Hegarty and Ben Mantle

TAKE an amazing trip across space and time to discover just how special YOU are! Bestselling author Shane Hegarty and award-winning illustrator Ben Mantle combine their talents on this big, beautiful picture book which puts every young reader firmly in the frame. Written with Hegarty’s sparkling sense of fun and brimming with Mantle’s bold and colourful artwork, The One and Only You is a glorious celebration of individuality. In this whole wide world of people and animals, and plants and flowers, and oceans and lakes, and so, so many things, there is still only one you. With lessons for little ones about cherishing just who they are, and illustrations full of depth and rich detail, this is a joyful reading journey for all the family to share!
(Hodder Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
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. Also in the series is Our World: USA written by American author Joëlle Retener and American illustrator Sarah Walsh in which readers enjoy a hearty Southern breakfast, play a pickup game of hoops in Chicago, and fall asleep under the estrellas in New Mexico with eight different characters from a wide variety of backgrounds across the country. And why not spend a day in Türkiye with Turkish author Emrah Güler and illustrator Deniz Üçbaşaran and eat fresh simit and plums, play yakantop, and search for stories inside coffee cups. These One World books avoid stereotypes and concentrate on daily life rather than landmarks. Bold artwork and an engaging text make global learning accessible to young children while back-of the-book notes offer simple explanations of the objects and actions found in the book. A whole world of knowledge!
(Barefoot Books, board books, £7.99 each)

Age 2 plus
Frog Can Float!
Tony Neal

IF science concepts are giving your youngsters that sinking feeling, here’s a brilliant book that puts comedy into learning. Frog Can Float! is another fabulously fun and cunningly clever book in perennially popular author and illustrator Tony Neal’s Animal Academy series. Stars of the show here are Frog and friends who are desperate for ice-cream, but the truck is across the river and they need to find a way across. Laughter is guaranteed as Frog gets caught up in a series of funny mishaps in this introduction to the science of floating and sinking. And in Dig Monkey Dig! Monkey has discovered a jar of seeds, but what are they for? Children will love this introduction to the science of plant lifecycles and the fun activities which provide little ones with hands-on learning. Children will be so busy laughing along with the animals’ hilarious mishaps and exploring Neal’s comical artwork that they won't even realise they are learning, and with entertaining activities to help youngsters explore more about the science concepts, and tips for adults on how to get the most out of the book, these ingenious science lessons are the perfect teaching tool for home, school and nursery.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99 each)

Swept Away

Beth O’Leary

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

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

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

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

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

Soon sparks are flying at the pub, much wine is consumed, one passionate kiss leads to another and they end up stumbling out to the marina together and on to the houseboat. The next morning, hungover and shaken by an amazing night together, Lexi is quite happy to say goodbye to Zeke but there’s one small problem... the houseboat wasn’t tied up properly and has been swept out to sea. As their supplies start to run

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

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

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

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

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

Age 7 plus
Secrets of Bees
Ben Hoare and Nina Chakrabarti

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

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

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

Age 9 plus
Gargoyles: The Watcher
Tamsin Mori

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Age 3 plus
Sleep Tight, Disgusting Blob
Huw Aaron

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

Age 3 plus
A Seed in the Universe
Elyon Liu

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

Age 3 plus
Our Tree
Jessica Meserve

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

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

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

Age 3 plus
Zizzi Moonbeam
Emily Hibbs and Natalie Smillie

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

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

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

Age 2 plus
Dotty Doughnut
Momoko Abe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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