CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A dying world, creating comics and a golden monkey

Meet a boy who was born to save a world that is fast fading out of existence, discover a brilliant guide to making your own cool and colourful comics, journey to the Himalayas and join the hunt for a golden monkey’s hidden home, and saddle up for the jumps in a thrilling pony adventure as a super selection of new children’s books hits the shelves

Age 9 plus
Quill and the Last Generation
C.M. Lewis and Marina Vidal

AS the world fades and no more children are born, only one boy can save it… but first, he must defeat the King of Darkness. As January chills continue to bite, escape into the first gripping book of an epic new fantasy adventure series from award-winning Welsh novelist and screenwriter Caryl Lewis who is writing middle-grade fantasy for the first time as C. M. Lewis. Inspired by Welsh mythology and infused with folklore and magic, Quill and the Last Generation is a true thrill ride full of danger, action and daring deeds, and featuring dragons, shapeshifters and a brave boy who has become the Last Generation’s Hero. A world without children is a world dying for a hero. No babies have been born for twelve years and no one knows why. Quill, a shy, ordinary, twelve-year-old boy, doesn’t know the first thing about being a hero but that changes the moment a mysterious young shapeshifting girl, in the form of a raven, opens his eyes to a world bursting with urgent magic and breathtaking danger. Quill must prepare for dragons that guard the deepest secrets, a monstrous hound hunting lost souls and a waterhorse of deadly beauty. Everyone believes Quill is the last generation's only hope. But to save everyone, he must be ready to quash self-doubt, face the King of Darkness in battle, and claim the Light of the World before time runs out. And first he needs to find the courage to fight... With themes of friendship, growing up, resilience and valuing kindness, this enthralling tale of mythology and fantasy – filled with the illustrations of Marina Vidal – explores what it takes to grow up into a man, and what it means to be a hero and a leader. A tale of ancient and modern perfectly tailored for a new generation of readers. 
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Create Your Own Comics
Ned Hartley and Alex Lopez

DO you love comics? Well here’s a big, bold book that reckons to be the only guide you’ll ever need to making your very own cool and colourful comics! Written by Ned Hartley whose stories appear in the Beano comic every week, Create Your Own Comics is packed with story ideas, drawing tips, creative prompts and loads of fun suggestions to start you off on your way to becoming a comic master. And this isn’t just page after page of blank comic pages… it’s a comprehensive guide to what makes comics work, with templates to help you find your way and hints for getting the best out of your own story ideas. Learn the basics of common comic elements and how to use them, including panels, speech bubbles, splash pages and sound effects. Find out how to create comics in different styles and genres, from funny to scary and superheroes to monsters. Learn how to draw unique characters of your own and show their emotions (surprise, anger and laughter) through your drawing. And once you feel you’re a comic master, practise your new skills by using the story generator tools to get your imagination pumping and come up with unique stories of your very own. The next generation of comic masters never had it so good!
(Buster Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
The Golden Monkey Mystery
Piu Dasgupta

AFTER the success of her Waterstones Children’s Book Prize shortlisted novel, Secrets of the Snakestone, exciting author Piu Dasgupta returns with a thrilling follow-up adventure set in the rich and luscious jungles of 19^th century India. With its gothic vibes and starring an ambitious young girl on a dangerous mission to prove her worth to be a medical student, this tale of a lost monkey, a cursed jewel and a race against time is an amazing, all-action winner. Roma Moreau is determined that she will become the first woman to study at Bengal Medical College, no matter what her father or classmates say. So when she stumbles upon a rare golden monkey, she vows to return it to its hidden home in the Himalayas and discover the location of its habitat to prove her mettle. Armed with nothing but a mysterious map, she sets off but the path is riddled with peril… ruthless bandits, prowling beasts, and the sinister power of the Snakestone, a jewel that stalks her dreams. To make matters worse, Roma is forced to travel with Max and Arabella, two pampered children who seem more trouble than help. Only the map offers a chance of success, but with every step, pursuers of the Snakestone draw closer. Can Roma unlock the map’s secret before the jungle swallows them whole? Brimming with danger, daring, bandits and snakes, Roma’s battle to outwit ruthless enemies and sinister creatures is a rip-roaring ride from her audacious start to the golden monkey’s mysterious hidden home in the hills of Darjeeling. Perfect for fantasy fans and lovers of nature in the wild…
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Secrets of Wild Hill: Lottie’s Dream
Olivia Tuffin

INSPIRED by her own ponies and their funny antics, farmer’s wife and pony lover Olivia Tuffin brings us a gripping new action adventure in a heartfelt series about a girl, her family and their horses. So saddle up and join horse-mad Lottie as she faces old rivalries, new friends and a fresh start… as well as battling to rebuild her connection with her pony Patch, getting them to the championships and moving one step closer to her dream. Lottie works hard to heal her bond with Patch, desperate to learn how to hear him. But ever since the Rhinefields Show when he galloped off, Patch has been detached and afraid... Meanwhile, Lottie’s friendship with Felix is over and she feels betrayed. But when he texts her out of the blue, she realises how much she has missed him. Could she trust him again, and why does he need her help? As more secrets emerge, Lottie and Felix try to make sense of a photograph he found and the old connection between their two families. With local horse grazing landmark, Wild Hill, up for sale, there’s still so much to overcome. Lottie knows that without Wild Hill, there will be no more time with Patch. And without Patch, there is no dream. With unexpected twists, a story filled with realism and jeopardy, and adorable ponies aplenty, young horse fans will be galloping through the drama and racing to the finishing line!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Sandy Fin: Mystery of the Phantom Diver
Martin Stewart and Santy Gutiérrez

DIVE into the second smashing, splashing Sandy Fin deep sea adventure from the top team of children’s author Martin Stewart and illustrator Santy Gutiérrez. Ideal for youngsters moving on to junior fiction, these eco-themed books are packed with sea-washed action, mystery, laugh-out-loud fun, and heroes and villains in all shapes and forms. Ocean explorer Sandy Fin, the silver-scaled diver of the deep and puzzler of puzzles, and his best friend Lily are enjoying life by the sea after saving Portwhistle and its marine life from Albo Start’s aquapark. But suddenly, odd things are starting to happen… an escaped convict is on the loose, curious mounds of sand appear on the beach and, strangest of all, are reported sightings of the Phantom Diver… a figure of Portwhistle legend, long believed to be a figment of the most inventive imagination! Highly suspicious and armed with a compass that points to the truth, Sandy and Lily dive, snoop and climb their way through the mystery towards the Phantom Diver’s true identity. Stewart’s own imagination moves into overdrive for this wonderfully madcap journey to the dark depths of the ocean as our seafaring young heroes make waves on their new marine mission. Brought to life by Gutiérrez’s vibrant illustrations, this series is certainly making a splash!
(Zephyr, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Animagicals: Mia’s Tiger
Paula Harrison and Erwin Madrid

FIND your animal… and know your destiny! A new year has begun and it’s time to join a school where children can change into animals. Mia’s Tiger is the first book of Animagicals, a thrilling new magical fantasy series from Paula Harrison, author of the bestselling Kitty books, and illustrator Erwin Madrid. Animagicals are children born with the power to change into an animal. They can change into any animal and they need help controlling their ability until they find their true form… the animal they are destined to be. Will they fly like an eagle, leap like a leopard or skulk like a fox? And now you can meet these amazing animagicals at Wild Haven, a school set up to protect and train animagicals in a magical forest hidden from the ordinary world. Mia can hardly believe it when she discovers she is an animagical. She’s so pleased to join the magical school where she will be helped to control her gift… especially as she can’t stop turning into a mouse. Will that be her true form forever, or is there something more exciting in store? Mia can’t wait to find out! Adventure awaits all youngsters who love animals, nature and discovering their wild side!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
The Map of Me
Nicola Davies and Olga Shtonda

MAPPING out your new home, your old home, and even the world of your future home, becomes a moving story in a beautifully imagined and created picture book from Children’s Laureate of Wales Nicola Davies. The Map of Me – filled with the richly detailed and exquisite illustrations of Ukrainian illustrator Olga Shtonda – gently explores change, connection, and imagining a better world. When a young girl moves to a new country, her mum helps her draw a map to understand her unfamiliar surroundings. They draw the new neighbourhood, new friends and the special places the girl has found but important things from the past are missing like Grandma and Joe-Dog. So the girl makes the map bigger to include them. Soon the girl’s friends are inspired to add their own stories and the distances between them all seem to shrink. Yet when misfortune strikes and the girl’s world is shown to be less fixed than she thought, how will she learn to navigate change? Offering hope and comfort in unfamiliar places, The Map of Me helps children navigate big emotions while celebrating different experiences and reminding them of the power they hold to shape the world. The book also links to the author’s laureateship project, Maps of Today, Maps of Tomorrow, which invites children to explore their home patch by creating personal maps of how things are now… and how they could be in the future. Mapping a better world…
(Templar Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
The Big-Time Boogie-Woogie Animal Band
Giles Andreae and Nick East

MUSIC maestro, please! Youngsters will be tapping their toes and moving to the beat when they join in the musical counting fun of an ever-growing animal band. The Big-Time Boogie-Woogie Animal Band comes from the creative minds of top author and illustrator team Giles Andreae and Nick East. When a music-loving dog meets a fox with a fiddle, they decide to start a Boogie-Woogie Animal Band! Before long, the pair are joined by a lion with a lute, a tiger with a tuba, and a piano-playing penguin. As more friends join them, the band keeps getting bigger and bigger and BIGGER! But there’s one band member still missing. Who could it be? Grown-ups will be counting on this jiggling, wiggling, rhyming celebration of music and rhythm to open up the world of music (and counting!) to a new generation of toe-tapping youngsters.
(Orchard Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Our Dreams
Fátima Ordinola

‘Our dreams arrive with the falling of night,
They take us to the most wonderful places.’ 

COSY up and drift off into the magical world of dreams with this soothing, lyrical and lovingly created picture book from Fátima Ordinola, an exceptionally talented author, graphic designer and illustrator who was born in Peru. From cuddling pandas to snuggling polar bears, and lazy tigers to soft, woolly sheep, Our Dreams gently captures the restful bedtime moments shared between parent and child through the lens of the animal kingdom. Ordinola explores the magic and joy of dreaming through reassuring words and soft watercolour artwork, offering comfort, calm and love as your little one drifts off to sleep. Sweet dreams guaranteed at every bedtime!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)