Age 9 plus
The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away
Sophie Anderson, Elisa Paganelli
and Melissa Castrillon
SIT back, make yourself comfortable, and get ready for the most fabulous fantastical journey you will take this spring! Lake District author Sophie Anderson, who won critical acclaim and a place on the CILIP Carnegie Medal shortlist for her 2018 debut novel, The House with Chicken Legs, returns with a thrilling sequel set in the same extraordinary world which was inspired by Slavic folk tales and the stories of her Prussian grandmother. Brimming with the same fairy-tale magic, themes of friendship and stunning world-building of the first book, The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away features Anderson’s trademark sublime and lyrical storytelling, a gift which allows her to sweep readers away to soaring, evocative landscapes where folklore and realism blend together in memorable, mesmerising adventures.
So meet Marinka who has lived all her life in her house with
chicken legs… a Yaga house which has always been kind, generous, playful and
protective. It is a house where dead souls come to celebrate their lives before
being guided to the stars in a beautiful, comforting ceremony. Running across
the world on thrilling adventures, Marinka knows how her house is feeling, and
it listens to her, too. But something is wrong. And before anyone can stop it,
the house has pulled itself apart and run away. With her friend Benjamin and jackdaw
Jack, Marinka races after the house to find answers. Travelling across
far-distant lands, through new realms and magical places, Marinka must face up
to her fears to save her friends. But her house might not want to stop
running...
Thanks to a beautiful prologue, The House with Chicken Legs
Runs Away can easily be read as a standalone and is generously littered with
the stuff of fairy story dreams, and all set in a fantastical parallel world full
of mysticism and magic. But it is also grounded in traditional values like
courage and compassion, love, caring and belonging, and explores big ideas and
questions about what it is to be human, and the sorrows and joys of the circle
of life. Brought to vivid, vibrant life by the atmospheric artwork of Elisa
Paganelli and Melissa Castrillon, illustrators of the original book, The House
with Chicken Legs Runs Away is another triumph. Filled with rich and
descriptive detail, nail-biting suspense, a pulsing sense of danger, and powerful
emotions, this is a story in the running to be one of the best of 2026!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £8.99)
Age 9 plus
The Seriously Epic Holiday of Lottie Brooks
Katie Kirby
Consequently, when she is invited to join her friend Amber’s family on a once in a lifetime skiing holiday, what could possibly go wrong?! Amber, it seems, has seen the light and returned to the Queens of Eight Green. Phew! But the holiday does throw up one tiny problem… Lottie has never been skiing before and she doesn’t know her piste from her poles! How hard can it be, though? Join Lottie as she learns how to ski with old and new friends, tries fondue for the first time, and discovers what the banana of destiny has in store for her. Will this be the best holiday ever or is it all downhill disasters from here?
Youngsters will love meeting up again with Lottie as she navigates
the pitfalls and perils of growing up in this fantastically funny and yet
wonderfully life-affirming new chapter of her chaotic journey through
troublesome friends, trying family members, pre-teen politics, and an endless
series of embarrassing moments. Guaranteed to have young teens giggling,
gasping and cringing all the way to a new school term!
(Puffin, hardback, £14.99)
Royal Institute of Magic: The Protectors
Victor Kloss
THE most powerful weapon in magic is missing and a boy’s
life depends on finding it... Immerse yourself in the third adventure of the
extraordinarily entertaining Royal Institute of Magic fantasy series from master
storyteller Victor Kloss who sadly died in 2016 aged 36 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 discovered the Royal Institute of Magic and a hidden new
world full of mind-blowing magic and fantastical creatures. Now Ben is
continuing his apprenticeship at the Institute hoping things will be slightly
less complicated now that he has advanced to the second grade. Fat chance…
Coupled with the sterner challenges that the second grade brings, there is also
the small matter of the impending dark elf invasion, making life at the
Institute even busier than usual. Ben is the only one who can stop them, by
finding Elizabeth’s Armour and its Guardians. Ben has retrieved one piece of
the Armour – the boots – but the rest remain hidden. He has just one clue,
which could lead to Elizabeth’s Helm… an old black and white photo given to him
by the Master of Apprentices. Ben must split his time between his
apprenticeship and searching for the helm, before the dark elves strike and all
hell breaks loose.
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 when you embark on another thrill
ride into an amazing world of mystery!
(Vinci Books, paperback, £9.99)
We Are Dragon
Alastair Chisholm
WHEN everything is at stake, how do you stay human? Return to a thrillingly imagined dystopian world packed with big ideas, spine-tingling danger and jaw-dropping surprises as highly-acclaimed author Alastair Chisholm unleashes the epic conclusion to his dazzling sci-fi trilogy. With a bold and highly original ‘other world’ at the heart of the stories, a cast of unforgettable characters, and plenty of thought-provoking concepts, Chisholm’s rip-roaring series – which has included I Am Wolf and I Am Raven – has brought youngsters page-turning adventures which enthral from first page to last. Rieka’s world is on fire. She has lived her whole life aboard Constructs, giant mechanical creatures that battle each other for territory. Now a new enemy has swept across the land… Dragon. And even with all the survivors united against it, Dragon is winning. Technically brilliant, Rieka believes that she alone can turn the war. But the path she sets out on is dangerous, both for her and her friends. And all the while, there is a truth about herself she must face… if she doesn’t, she could destroy everything she’s trying to save. With her world on fire, can Rieka extinguish her internal battles and the real-world war that threatens everyone? Or will Dragon engulf them all?
Expect to be bewitched and bedazzled by Chisholm’s
imaginative power as Rieka’s fascinating, fearsome world rolls out across 208
pages of action, intrigue, peril and unlikely alliances. Packed full of menace
and suspense, featuring world-building at its mesmerising best, and with hidden
danger waiting round every corner, We Are Dragon is the thrill-packed finale we
have all been waiting for!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)
What it was like in Ancient Benin
David Long and Stefano Tambellini
STEP into the world of the ancient Kingdom of Benin on the west
coast of Africa and discover a small but rich and powerful civilisation which
lasted for more than 700 years before disappearing in the 19th
century. Award-winning non-fiction writer David Long takes readers on a
captivating exploration of the daily life, culture and legacy of the unique Edo
people in the sixth book of his enthralling What It Was Like to Be... series.
An expert in distilling complex stories from the past into an informative and
entertaining format for young readers, Long skilfully explains everything about
this land of warrior kings in a fact-packed and accessible introduction to a
famous ancient civilisation. Under the rule of the Oba, the Kingdom of Benin
was one of the richest and most powerful in West Africa. Behind a network of
massive walls, its vibrant capital city boasted the Oba’s impressive palace,
filled with intricate artworks, while the Edo people worked as skilled
artisans, formidable hunters and talented traders. Yet as European influence
began to grow, so did the challenges that faced the Benin kingdom. From the
omnipotent power of their warrior-kings to the devastating impact of the slave
trade, Long unearths the remarkable stories of life, trade, and the unique
culture of the Edo people. With all the intriguing facts about the people and
their world brought to vivid life by Stefano Tambellini’s rich artwork, and
published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this is a
top class series from a dynamic writing and illustration duo.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)
Megalomaniacs: The Invasion Begins!
Jamie Smart
SAY hello to some tiny terrors who are BIG on monstrous
mayhem! If you haven’t already guessed, the multi-million copy bestselling
phenomenon Jamie Smart is back with a new graphic comic book series jam-packed
with out-of-this-world comedy and chaos. Megalomaniacs is the latest addition
to the Phoenix Comic Books series, published by David Fickling Books in
partnership with The Phoenix comic, which goes from strength to strength, a
success story that is due in large part to the genius of the extraordinarily
talented illustrator Smart. So what are Megalomaniacs, you may ask. Well… there are
three things you need to know about Megalomaniacs. They are TERRORS from outer
space, there are LOADS of them and they are TINY! Bobbletown is under attack from
the cutest, silliest and zaniest alien invasion ever! The super-powered
Megalomaniacs have crash-landed and they’re going to do their very best to take
over planet Earth. That is, if they don’t get in each other’s way first… Smart's uniquely exuberant humour and artwork prove
irresistible yet again and youngsters can rest assured that this latest wild
and wonderful extravaganza is like NOTHING they have ever before read!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)
Keeping Possession
Eve Ainsworth and Luna Valentine
MEET a talented young footballer who must tackle the complex
dynamics of friendship breakdown without losing sight of pursuing her dreams.
Keeping Possession is the new empathetic and insightful sports tale in the
fourth book of acclaimed author Eve Ainsworth’s much-loved Lightmoor Lionesses
series. The Carnegie Medal-nominated writer has used the exciting story of
Lancashire’s real-life Dick, Kerr Ladies FC – the team of ordinary factory
girls from Preston who made footballing history during the First World War – in
her creative books. But this sensitively written, contemporary series shines a
light on topics that are close to the heart of youngsters in 21st
century society. Eboni’s decision to join the Lightmoor Lionesses has led to
a falling-out with her closest friends on her old team. They feel betrayed and
Eboni is frozen out at school. Feeling isolated, she is delighted when she
forms a new friendship with popular Olivia, quickly realising that they have
loads in common. But there’s one problem. Olivia isn’t interested in football
and can’t understand Eboni’s dedication to the sport that she loves. Will Eboni
stay true to herself or will she sacrifice her footballing dreams for
friendship? Published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format, and
vibrantly illustrated by Luna Valentine, the sympathetically told tale of Eboni’s
friendship dilemma is an ideal read for children navigating their own
friendship dramas for the first time while the series reinforces the positive
impact of female football.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)
The Island Vet: Storm Bird Magic
Gill Lewis and Irina Avgustinovich
A NEW school and a new island home far away from the big
city have transformed Tia’s life... and when your mum is a vet anything can
happen! Acclaimed and award-winning children’s author and former vet Gill Lewis
works her special brand of animal magic on this inspirational illustrated
Island Vet series which follows Tia and her mother’s exciting life on Gull
Haven Island. In this fifth conservation-themed adventure, Tia discovers the
true magic of the elusive storm petrel amidst island tales of long-lost fairies
and pirate chickens. Long-lost fairies hiding near the lighthouse… and chickens
belonging to a sea witch that warn sailors of coming storms? There are a lot of
wild stories going about as some tall ships seek shelter in Gull Haven Bay. Tia
and Nat don’t believe any of them to begin with. But when Nat’s dad helps
unravel the truth, they learn about a seabird that’s in danger. Can Tia and Nat
find a way to help, and will it allow them to rediscover the magic of the real
world all around them in their island home? Teamed with the beautifully emotive
illustrations of Irina Avgustinovich, and published in Barrington Stoke’s
trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this heartwarming and inspirational series
is ideal for young animal lovers and children who are passionate about taking
care of our natural world.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)
The Runaway Tortoise
Holly Webb and Ocean Hughes
ENJOY having your heartstrings well and truly tugged in a
gentle and moving story from bestselling author Holly Webb who has written over
130 books for children. Featuring a family’s hunt for their missing 45-year-old
tortoise, a story brought to vibrant life by the bright and colourful
illustrations of Ocean Hughes, The Runaway Tortoise is the latest book in the
super-readable Little Gems series which brings together leading authors and
illustrators, and a host of clever design and finishing techniques, like dyslexia-friendly
fonts, to create easy-to-read, first chapter books in a format ideal for little
hands, and with some extra activity fun inside the cover. Ava thinks that her
tortoise Albert is the most boring pet ever. She can’t take him for walks or
even cuddle him! But when Auntie Grace’s dog frightens Albert with all his
barking, Ava comes home from school to find a great big hole under the fence… and
the shocking discovery that Albert has made a daring escape! And now that he’s
gone, Ava realises just how much she loves her tortoise. Will she be able to
track down Albert and bring him home? Packed with heartwarming storytelling,
beautiful artwork and fun activities, this is the perfect early chapter book
for all animal fans and youngsters taking the first steps on the path to
reading independence.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £6.99)
Age 5 plus
Mirabelle and the Enchanted Sea Globe
Harriet Muncaster
(Oxford University Press Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
The Moonlight Mystery Agency: The Case of the Race
Vashti Hardy and Agnes Saccani
JOIN a little girl and her detective cat on their mission to
track down Brumble the bear wizard’s missing medals before a running race is
won in the third book of a marvellously magical series from Blue Peter
award-winning author Vashti Hardy and illustrator Agnes Saccani. The Moonlight
Mystery Agency series is part of publisher Barrington Stoke’s super-readable
Little Gems series which comes with a host of clever design and finishing
techniques, like dyslexia-friendly fonts, to create easy-to-read, first chapter
books in a format ideal for little hands. It’s race time for the animals of
Moonlight, but disaster has struck! Brumble the bear wizard has lost the
winners’ medals! Hana and her cat Ace from the Moonlight Mystery Agency must
use their detective skills to track down the medals, but can they also find
time to enjoy all the wonders they see along the way? Wordsmith Hardy conjures
up her world-building magic while Saccani’s illustrations bring the adorable
characters and their fun-filled adventures to colourful life. Add on an
intriguing puzzle inside the front cover and you have the perfect early reading
package.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £6.99)
Now You Know Your ABC
(Or do you?)
Caspar Salmon and Matt Hunt
LEARNING the alphabet is fun when you join the top team of
author Caspar Salmon and illustrator Matt Hunt on a romp right through from A
to Z! But you’ll have to mind your Ps and Qs because a wolf is chasing you and
he’s a master of disguise… The award-winning and irrepressible creators of How
to Count to One have set their sights on teaching the alphabet now and this
hilarious race from A to Z puts the reader firmly in the driving seat. So you
think you know your ABCs, right? Great! A is for apple, B is for ball, C is for
castle… you get it. But is it really that easy? What if D is for dog, but that
dog in the picture is actually a wolf in disguise? And that wolf starts chasing
you through all the other letters? Get ready to learn your ABCs like never
before as you journey pell-mell through the alphabet and try to outsmart that
dangerous wolf. And with giggles guaranteed right through to the last page, Hunt’s
comical illustrations, and a free Stories Aloud QR code audio recording to
enjoy, learning the alphabet has never been so much fun!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)
The Bear and the Seed
Poonam Mistry
MARVEL at the ethereal beauty and timeless wonder of an
exquisite new picture book from Greenaway-shortlisted author and illustrator Poonam
Mistry. The Bear and the Seed is a gentle, hopeful and heartwarming fable about
protecting and preserving nature’s beauty, brought to life by stunning
illustrations. Bear lives in the bountiful forest, filled with breathtaking
flowers and plants, and trees that tower up to the sun. One night, the trees
and plants disappear and when the animals wake up, they begin to flee the
forest in grief. But when Bear finds a lonely seed, he works tirelessly to help
it grow, seeking words of advice from the few animals that pass by. He shades
it from the harsh wind and cold snowy season, but nature’s power is unavoidable
and soon it is time for him to hibernate. Bear hopes that by the time he wakes
up, his determination will help the forest renew. Using a resonant and lyrical text,
and a landscape rendered in dazzling shades of green, purple, brown and yellow,
Mistry’s folktale reminds readers about the importance of caring for the planet
and protecting our fragile environment.
(Templar Books, hardback, £12.99)
Moon’s Lullaby
Júlia Moscardó
TRANSPORT your little ones into the land of sleep with this
beautiful picture book that was just made for bedtime reading! Award-winning
artist and Carnegie-nominated illustrator Júlia Moscardó uses the power of
words and pictures to soothe and calm youngsters after a busy day on the go. ‘Can
we have the story of Moon's lullaby?’ asks a little gosling. ‘Yes,’ says Mama. ‘But
you will have to be very quiet and listen…’ Day is drawing to a close at the
pond but five little goslings aren’t ready to sleep just yet. They want to hear
their favourite bedtime story about the animals that Moon watches over on her
nightly crossing of the sky. Soon the goslings are wrapped up in their mama's
words, scurrying like rabbits, buzzing like bees and croaking like frogs. But
as darkness blankets their home, they find themselves feeling sleepier and
sleepier… Filled with atmospheric illustrations in an increasingly blue palette
to reflect the colours of approaching night time, Moon’s Lullaby follows familiar
woodland animals in their final adventures before darkness falls. The perfect
last book of the day for tired tots!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)
Uh-Oh, Niko: The Farm
Chris Chatterton
‘Feed the chickens. What a crowd!
Uh-oh, Niko. That’s so
loud!’
EVERY toddler needs a helping hand when they are learning about all
those recognisable daily routines and familiar places to visit. Whether it’s
bathtime, bedtime, going to nursery or spending time at a farm, this gorgeously
illustrated, push, pull and slide interactive board book series, starring adorable
little bear Niko, from author and illustrator Chris Chatterton puts your
toddlers at centre stage. In his new adventure, little ones are invited to help
little Niko feed the animals, ride a tractor and waddle with the ducklings.
Niko sometimes gets things a little wrong but whatever happens, he always tries
again and learns new skills along the way. With a fun-filled rhyming text and
colourful illustrations, these sturdy, board books are the perfect way to entertain
toddlers and help them with their daily lives.
(Ladybird, board book, £7.99)
Bunnies Know & Grow
Dr Laura Gehl and Amy Schimler-Safford
YOUNG bunnies know how to do so much, but there is always more to learn! Follow adorable young bunnies and discover the ways they learn as they grow. From snuggling with their siblings to hopping and munching on lettuce, there is so much to learn! Also in the series is Puppies Know & Grow in which little ones follow puppies from sleeping to learning to walk and fetching sticks.
(Barefoot Books, board books, £7.99 each)
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