CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A murderous twist, robot power and a magic school

Enjoy a deadly twist on Louisa May Alcott’s 19^th century classic book Little Women, meet a bunch of scientists who can turn humans into robots that will never die, join a schoolboy on his first day at magic school and discover how a school trip to a Viking museum takes a weird turn in an eclectic selection of new children’s books

Age 12 plus
Beth is Dead
Katie Bernet

THE four famous March sisters – stars of Louisa May Alcott’s 19^th century classic book Little Women – are not quite as sweet as they have always seemed in a fabulous contemporary murder mystery retelling from US author and award-winning creative director Katie Bernet. In a gripping, twisting and turning spin on the universally loved story – in which Beth March has been found murdered after a New Year’s Eve party and all her sisters are now suspects – readers discover that the sisters aren’t the only ones with a story to tell. When Beth is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer. Suspects abound. There’s the neighbour, Theodore Laurence, who has feelings for not one but two of the girls, Meg’s manipulative best friend, Amy’s flirtatious mentor, and Beth’s heartbroken first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives that each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable. Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt… money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister… but her boyfriend might, and she will protect him at all costs.

Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published Little Women, a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. It seems that Beth could have been killed by anyone… Beth is Dead is a bold, daring and ambitious murder mystery take on a worldwide classic, featuring familiar characters in a thoroughly up-to-date setting, exploring the complications of sister relationships, and brimming with suspense, betrayal and electrifying plot twists. With a tragedy that threatens to rip apart the March family, Beth’s first-person account told through revealing flashbacks, and the parallel unfolding of Meg, Jo and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation, it really would be a crime to miss it all!
(Scholastic, paperback, £8.99)

Age 11 plus
New You For Ever
Steve Cole and Chris King

CAN scientists turn humans into robots that will never die? In his frighteningly prescient and gripping new novel, internationally bestselling and award-winning author Steve Cole empowers youngsters to explore some of the many conundrums facing our contemporary world. Atmospherically illustrated by Chris King, published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format and particularly suitable for readers aged 11 plus with a reading age of eight, New You For Ever is a scorching dystopian thriller which asks difficult questions about our planet’s direction of travel and comes up with some thought-provoking answers. The year is 2070, and the New You Foundation claim to have found the ultimate answer to the climate crisis. They want human beings to upload their memories and personalities into a Pleeka, a replica of their body that can live forever without needing food, using the Earth’s resources or creating waste. Millions are taking up the offer at an even younger age but are New You’s promises too good to be true?

A chance meeting with eco-influencer Tera Helstrom leads trainee journalist Anders Jones to the sinister truth behind the New You Foundation’s expensive marketing campaigns, but is it already too late for those who have made the choice to turn to Pleeka? Anders must risk everything to expose New You… Pitched perfectly for the 11 plus age group, and taking in topics such as humanity, creativity, AI and abuse of corporate power, New You For Ever is a true chiller-thriller sci-fi for young teens, empowering them to explore and question the main pitfalls facing the future world.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Royal Institute of Magic: The Shadowseeker
Victor Kloss

COULD the first day of magic school be Ben Greenwood’s last? Immerse yourself in the second adventure of the extraordinarily entertaining Royal Institute of Magic fantasy series from born storyteller Victor Kloss who sadly died in 2016 aged 46 while writing the sixth and final book which was later completed with the help of his wife Tara and brother Darren. Two years after his parents mysteriously vanished without a trace, Ben Greenwood has discovered the Royal Institute of Magic and a hidden new world full of mind-blowing magic and fantastical creatures. The five departments of the Institute are Spellswords, Wardens, Traders, Scholars and Diplomats and, as an apprentice, Ben must master them all to become a full member. He has no idea what to expect when he begins his apprenticeship but he quickly realises his family history is going to make life difficult. On his very first day, a Shadowseeker – a mysterious and dangerous dark elf – surfaces, and Ben suspects the dark elves might be trying to capture him again in an effort to flush out his parents. When Ben renews his own search for his parents, he soon discovers they are closing in on a piece of Queen Elizabeth’s legendary armour – the only weapon strong enough to defeat the dark elf king once and for all – but it is guarded by something even more deadly than a Shadowseeker. 

A race against time follows, with Ben desperate to warn his parents they are walking into a death-trap, while somehow completing the first level of his apprenticeship and securing his place at the Royal Institute of Magic. Kloss lived in a small town in West Sussex where he built websites by day and by night, wrote stories full of fast-paced action and prodigious imagination for children who love secrets, danger and magic.  So if you thought that magic isn’t real, you’re going to get the surprise of your life on this thrill ride into an amazing world of mystery!
(Vinci Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus
Imagination Island: Race to Rumble Ruin
Mel Taylor-Bessent and Alessandro D’Urso

DO YOU have what it takes to win the Race? Head back to the magical island where anything you imagine comes to life! Mel Taylor-Bessent, author of the much-loved The Christmas Carrolls, sets her creative powers loose on the third book of a thrilling illustrated and collectable fantasy action adventure series packed with the illustrations of Alessandro D’Urso. With friendship, humour, incredible world-building, and a colourful cast of characters who must complete a series of challenges to win very special Races, there is fun all the way on this new wild and wacky ride to Imagination Island. Ten-year-old Luca was once afraid of everything, but now he and his team-mates – all Protectors of Imagination Island  – have conquered two maps in the fabled Imagination Island, where anything they imagine comes to life. Now they have three more challenges to face in this THIRD leg of the Race! They must crack jokes in Laughter Lagoon, ride giant space hoppers along Silly String Street, and finally, join in a game of Sneak ’n ’ Seek in a crumbling Roman-style coliseum where, if you are found, you are turned to stone. Will Luca overcome his fears, will Om find the courage to speak for the first time, and who will lose and leave the Race… FOREVER? Young imaginations are guaranteed to run riot in Taylor-Bessent’s brilliantly inventive new adventure brought to vivid life by D’Urso’s vibrant illustrations. So hold on tight and get ready for magic, mayhem and daring challenges as you meet unforgettable whale gameshow host, Tallulah Beluga, and a pearl-obsessed flamingo. You won’t stop reading until the race is won!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
The Accidental Vikings
Karen McCombie and Anneli Bray

A SCHOOL trip to the Viking Museum takes a weird turn in a fun (and cleverly educational!) adventure from Karen McCombie, bestselling author of over 90 books for children, and illustrator Anneli Bray. Alfie and Kat are excited about their school trip to the Viking Museum where they will be learning about life in Viking Britain. But what they didn’t expect was to be whisked back to a Viking village when they get separated from the rest of their group. Life-size Viking models around them start to come to life and at first Kat is sure they are being pranked for a TV game show. Trying to be sensible, she urges Alfie to play along, and they take part in Viking village life… cooking, weaving and even digging a toilet pit. But will they ever be able to find their way back home? Inspired by visiting the brilliant Jorvik Museum in York, McCombie’s all-action and highly imaginative time-slip romp – an exciting follow-up to The Boy Who Stole the Pharaoh’s Lunch – speaks volumes to children about unlikely friendships and the long history of diversity in Britain. With its strong curriculum links, and the clever balance of fascinating facts about Viking culture with McCombie’s rich and engrossing storytelling, The Accidental Vikings is published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format and ideal for use in the classroom.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
There are Mammals Everywhere
Camilla de la Bedoyere and Britta Teckentrup

PACK your rucksack and get ready to track down some amazing mammals of all shapes and sizes. There are Mammals Everywhere is the fifth title in a series of non-fiction books illustrated by bestselling artist Britta Teckentrup and teaches where in the world different sorts of mammals can be found, and the weird and wonderful things about them. Written by Camilla de la Bedoyere, who has an academic background in zoology, and vibrantly illustrated by Teckentrup, this beautiful book introduces young readers to fascinating facts about mammals and their habitats. See mammals climbing through canopies, scuttling through undergrowth, and even travelling underground! Follow a pride of lions across the savannah, spot a polar bear hidden in the Arctic snow and swing through the treetops with a family of gibbons. The combination of science and art provides an enchanting educational experience for curious minds while the exciting search-and-find feature invites youngsters to actively engage with the content, making learning about mammals an adventure. Drama, surprises and fascinating facts on every page!
(Big Picture Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Boss of the Underworld:
Shirley vs the Huge Beast
Tor Freeman

HOW did a kid end up being the boss of the Underworld? It’s a kind of weird story and comes from the eclectic, electric imagination of award-winning author and illustrator Tor Freeman who goes above, beyond and a long way below in the second hilarious book in a fast-paced, funny, full-colour and accessible graphic novel series. Discover the fun and laughter for yourself as we meet up again with Shirley and find her falling down a hole into the Under-Underworld while following her giant cockroach companion George. Shirley never suspected she would end up there and she certainly never expected to be immediately crowned queen of the Under-Underworld. With Peels, a banana-skin royalist, Shirley travels across the junkyard of this new world to rescue George and confront the Huge Beast which has been terrorising the land. Fizzing with charm, energy and the silliest comedy this side of the Under-Underworld, this is one Boss that youngsters will be happy to obey!
(Hodder Children's Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Sadie Jones and the Ball
Sally Nicholls and Ashley King

FAIRY tale heroes come in all shapes and sizes… and feisty, big-hearted kitchen maid Sadie Jones is definitely on the small side! Enjoy dancing to the tune of a delightful and dazzling twist on everyone’s favourite story of Cinderella in an enchanting new adventure from author Sally Nicholls and illustrator Ashley King. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella and how she and Prince Charming danced the night away at the ball. But what happened to all the other girls who were invited? Sadie Jones, the smallest kitchen maid in the palace, is furious when everyone else is left standing around with no one to dance with while Prince Charming and Cinderella have a wonderful time. Sadie is determined that no one should be left out so when Cinderella disappears and Prince Charming flounces off in a huff, it’s up to Sadie to save the day! Published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format, this frothy frolic is perfect for all little fairy tale fans who want to join in the fun of what REALLY happened at Prince Charming’s ball!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus
So This Is Love: Disney Colouring Book

CELEBRATE love in all its forms with over 80 gorgeous images to colour! Bring your favourite Disney characters to life as you colour in an array of heartfelt scenes featuring the different kinds of love… romantic love, family love, friendship and more. From Cinderella, Prince Charming and Mickey and Minnie Mouse to Simba, Mufasa and Lilo and Stitch, this cute selection of images is an inclusive celebration of love in all its forms. With intricate patterns, scenes of perfect partners and BFF fun, this book will entertain young colouring and Disney fans for hours.
(Studio Press, paperback, £10.99)

Age 3 plus
A Believer’s Guide to Unicorns
Jenni Desmond

FIND out everything there is to know about unicorns in this ethereally beautiful picture book from award-winning author and illustrator Jenni Desmond. Filled with fun, magic and soaring imagination, A Believer’s Guide to Unicorns reveals everything unicorn lovers need to know about their favourite mystical creatures. Unicorns live high up in the clouds, and though some readers may have never spotted one, there are plenty of magical clues that let true believers know they’re there. From bouncing on the clouds to make it snow, to zooming across the night sky like shooting stars, or whipping up a magical party storm, unicorns have lots of fun… and plenty of cheeky ways to say hello from high above! Cleverly created and designed, with a stunning palette of artwork, and an exquisitely imagined world of unicorns, this is destined to be a favourite book at bedtime!
(Hodder Children's Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Goldilocs
Ella McLeod and Rochelle Falconer

WRITER, performer, spoken word poet and actress Ella McLeod and talented illustrator Rochelle Falconer cast a magic spell with Goldilocs, an empowering new twist on a classic story! This colourful picture book will inspire young girls everywhere with its fun story and vibrant artwork. There are just three things that a girl who lives in Fairytale Land can be... First off, there’s a Witch but she should brew potions and Goldilocs would much rather make porridge. Then there’s an Evil Queen but she always wants more power, and as for a Princess waiting for a prince, that just sounds BORING! When Goldilocs tries to be the things she’s told a girl should be, she finds that none of them quite fit. But when she meets some bears who aren’t as scary as they seem, Goldilocs learns that being herself is what matters most. Packed with rhythm and rhyme, McLeod’s retelling breathes new life into a familiar tale while Falconer’s charming and cheeky illustrations will delight little readers.
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Wrapping Things
Linda Burgess and Hilary Jean Tapper

AUTHOR and illustrator team Linda Burgess and Hilary Jean Tapper have the chaos and cosiness of family life all wrapped up in this delightfully imagined picture book story about the arrival of a new baby. Rosie likes to wrap things up… her crayons, her toys, her kitten, a parcel for Granny, some baking, and some flowers. Rosie herself is wrapped up in a towel after her bath, her mother wraps up warm when she goes out in the cold, dark night, and Granny, who has come to stay, wraps up Rosie in her bed when she’s too upset to sleep by herself. It’s all been strange and disconcerting for Rosie but finally she meets the family’s brand new baby… all wrapped up in a cuddly blanket! The imaginative world of little Rosie takes centre stage in Burgess’s endearing and relatable story which is brought to life by Tapper’s adorable illustrations. A picture book classic in the making!
(Allen & Unwin Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age one plus
Love
Sophie Cashell and Axel Scheffler

WITH love, we can do anything! Author Sophie Cashell and Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler warm the hearts of readers young and old with this joyful picture book about love and kindness. ‘Love is a feeling that wraps you up tight, Like a hug when you're lonely or a light in the night. Love is a feeling that comes from the heart. It's easy to share it, come on – let’s start!’ With its warm text and playful animal characters, Love shows that sharing love and kindness is easy and fun… and makes our world a better place. Cashell’s beautiful, rhyming verse and Scheffler’s endearing animal characters are perfect for sharing messages of kindness, and a donation from every copy of Love sold goes to Three Peas, a charity which supports refugees who have had to flee their homes.
(Alison Green Books, board book, £7.99)