Age 7 plus
Aesop’s Fables
Katie Haworth
and Lara Hawthorne
FIRST told as oral stories between the years 620 and 564BC,
Aesop’s Fables still speak truth to power with the same resonance today as they
did all those centuries ago. These engaging short stories – by the legendary
Ancient Greek storyteller – often use animal characters to teach cautionary human lessons about vices like hypocrisy, greed and pride, and the rewards of virtues such as honesty, patience and diligence. And now this stunning collection of the best-loved
Aesop fables – imaginatively retold for a young audience by editor and writer Katie
Haworth and beautifully illustrated by CILIP Greenaway nominee Lara Hawthorne –
is set to inform and inspire a new generation of children. There are many stories about who exactly Aesop was – the
favourite being a man enslaved by a philosopher who won his freedom by
interpreting omens – but, as the introduction to the book points out, these motivational
stories of survival, each with a thought-provoking moral, are now larger than Aesop
the man and have become a perfect invitation to reflect on human behaviour. So
meet mice and men, foxes and frogs, beasts and birds, and even mythical gods,
and enjoy wild and wonderful retellings of over twenty traditional tales, including
classics like The Hare and the Tortoise, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Town Mouse
and the Country Mouse, The Goose Who Laid the Golden Egg, The Lion and the
Mouse, and The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. This breathtaking gift edition gives the ancient fables new
life, vigour and colour, and comes complete with a dazzling foil cover making
it a must-have addition to any child's bookshelf.
(Templar Books, hardback, £16.99, published on August 27)
Disney Wings of Reverie
Anna Bright
IN a realm without dreams, one fairy’s magic could unravel
it all! Return to the thrilling world of Pixie Hollow with the enchanting companion
title to Allison Saft’s bewitching Wings of Starlight. Centuries after the
events of the TikTok sensation bestseller, Wings of Starlight, this lush new romantasy,
written by Anna Bright, stars two fairies who must battle a dangerous magic – and
their growing feelings for each other – in order to save their home in the
Winter Woods. When Pixie Hollow frost-fairy Periwinkle travels too close
to the forbidden border where Spring meets the Winter Woods, she unknowingly
discovers a thread of a lost magic and, for the first time, begins to dream.
While Periwinkle’s initial dreams are sweet, they slowly morph into more
disastrous visions of the Pixie Dust Tree destroyed. One night, deep in the
Winter Woods, after waking from sleepwalking, Periwinkle is confronted by a
sparrow man who says he knows two secrets… one that Peri has been dreaming and
two that the Winter Woods is in terrible danger. Weaver claims to be a
dream-talent, the last of his kind in Pixie Hollow, and with Periwinkle’s help
he says he can spin her dreams into dream-thread which can save the dying Pixie
Dust Tree. But first, they will need to embark on a quest to find a magic
spindle and scissors in the legendary lost fairy workshops of dream-talents
past. And so Peri begins a reluctant journey with Weaver, the infuriatingly
handsome stranger. Together they will face obstacles, monsters, and an
unspeakable danger, but Peri will also begin to question everything she thought
she knew. Because in Winter, even beautiful things can hurt you, and Weaver is
no exception. With its ethereal brand of magic, hidden secrets, powerful
emotions like grief, and a sweet romance centred on two charismatic sparring
lovers, this new visit to Pixie Hollow will have teen readers swooning with
delight!
(Studio Press, paperback, £9.99)
Medusa Gorgon’s Deadly Side-Eye
Bethany Walker and Katie Abey
IF you haven’t yet met Meddy Gordon then you need to know something that is very important… she isn’t just an ordinary twelve-year-old schoolgirl with some pre-teen angst issues but is actually Medusa, the mortal Gorgon from the thrilling realms of ancient Greek mythology whose hair transformed into snakes, her gaze turned onlookers to stone… and was famously slain by Perseus! Medusa Gorgon’s Deadly Side-Eye is the second book in a laugh-out-loud and thoroughly relatable series from children’s author Bethany Walker and illustrator Katie Abey. Ideal for helping youngsters dealing with friendship issues and school troubles, these brilliant stories are related through Meddy’s diaries, the perfect vehicle for letting out her anger and keeping her emotions in check. Meddy G is back for a new term at school, and unlike last time, everything it TOTALLY fine. She has finally settled into the 21st century life and everything is going well… apart from her stress levels which are worse than ever, so much so that she accidentally turns one of her teachers to stone! Another problem is that her teenage angst comes served with a stony side-eye.
To make matters worse, when new boy Percy shows up, she seems to go
into a very strange daze. Meddy can’t understand why her words get muddled and
her cheeks heat up every time she’s around him. But little does she know that
Percy has been send by Athena to cause yet more chaos in Medusa’s new life.
Because Percy is actually Perseus, and he has been sent on a mission to take
Meddy G down for good... Meddy may have her origins in the myths and legends of
ancient Greece but her stresses and strains are very human and very much 21st
century. Packed with chaos, comedy and contemporary concerns, and given extra
appeal by some fascinating facts and Abey’s anarchic illustrations, these
stories are perfectly pitched for your disgruntled tweenies!
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)
Serial Chillers: Horror in Hazard
Jennifer Killick
WELCOME back to Hazard, an ordinary town where strangeness
is a way of life... a place where
nothing is what it seems and where things really DO go bump in the night! Queen
of chills-and-thrills Jennifer Killick – author of the spine-chilling Dread
Wood and Crater Lake series – makes a welcome return with all those
super-spooky sci-fi vibes that kids love... horrors galore, a delicious dollop
of black comedy and a bunch of spiky classmates with a killer mystery to solve.
Horror stories are what Killick does best and this spine-tingling Serial
Chiller series delivers horror and humour in perfect harmony. To Travis and his classmates, Zayd, Seline and Danielle,
Hazard is home and they are looking forward to visiting Apocoland, the theme
park at the heart of Hazard. It’s going to be FUN… or is it, because this is a
trip with added danger. The teenagers are closing in on the weird goings-on in
Hazard, and they are about to face the powers that run the town. But first they
have got to get through the different theme park zones. Each one comes with its
own horrors and the friends must be prepared for anything – and everything! –
to happen. Killick is a slick and sassy storyteller… she knows just how
far to take her heart-stopping tales of cool comedy and scary horror as she
pumps up the action and lets loose her rich imagination. Expect big dollops of
menace, malevolence and mystery… and be prepared to read this gorgeous,
gigglesome and unputdownable chiller-thriller in one sitting!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99, published on August 27)
Trouble in Ogreville
Vivian French and Pauline Gregory
TROUBLE is brewing in Ogreville where one ogre is planning
to steal the king’s throne, another destroys everything he touches… and one is
about to throw an ALMIGHT tantrum. Who is going to save the kingdom? Join two
plucky youngsters as they battle to foil a dastardly plot in author Vivian
French and illustrator Pauline Gregory’s hilarious fairy-tale adventure packed
with capers, chaos and plenty of chocolate cake! When Monny the ogre accidentally destroys the village
bakery, the Pepper family’s business is left in ruins. To say sorry, Monny
offers to take them to Ogreville, where he’s sure that Good King Ogle will
grant them a new bakery if they make him a chocolate cake. Because all ogres
love chocolate cake. But when Jimmy, Maudie, Gran and Monny arrive in
Ogreville, they find the palace in disarray. Good King Ogle has been removed
from the throne, and his heir – Prince Pomlet – is throwing an almighty tantrum
about becoming king. At the centre of the chaos is an ogre named Hogspittle who
is determined to take power for himself. Can Jimmy, Maudie, Gran and Monny
restore King Ogle to the throne before it’s too late? Laughter all the way to
Ogreville with this tasty reading treat!
(Walker Books, paperback, £8.99)
Peng and Spanners: Doctor Biscuits!
Steve Webb
WHAT do you get when you pair an acerbically sarcastic and
silly penguin with a cunningly clever (but chatty) cat? The answer is double
act Peng and Spanners, the dynamic superheroes of a laughter-packed graphic
novel series from animator Steve Webb. A children’s author as well as a
freelance graphic designer, Webb delivers another full-on, fast and furious
adventure as Peng, aka super ninja penguin fantastic, teams up again with
Spanners (the only cat with a tool belt) for the Invention Convention with
Spanners’ latest and greatest invention, the Crust-Away! What they don’t yet
know is that rival inventor, Dr Biscuits, and his boss Magnificent are there
too… to steal the Convention's best invention. And when they see the Crust-Away
in action, they realise they could use it to steal anything from anywhere
without even leaving their secret hideout! Can Peng and Spanners stop them
before it’s too late, will security guards Bosh and Tickle use the Concrete
Banana of Justice, and what the flippers does all of this have to do with Mavis
Onions and her cat, Mr Stinky Pants? Expect paintball pens, invisibility hats, that mighty Banana
of Justice, and a story so silly that you’ll be laughing all the way to the
final pages where there are, incidentally, some nifty drawing lessons to enjoy
with Dr Biscuits and his sidekick Magnificent. A romping riot of farcical fun!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99, published on August 27)
Arthur and the Wild Griffin
Luke Marchant and Mark Beech
IMAGINE visiting a zoo and instead of lions, tigers,
gorillas and elephants, you discover mythical monsters, legendary beasts and a
ferocious wild griffin! Meet schoolboy and hapless dreamer Arthur Kingsley who
breaks the number one rule of the Fantasy Zoo… ‘Absolutely, positively…NO
HUMANS!’ What happens to him is positively eye-popping and you can read all
about it in author Luke Marchant and illustrator Mark Beech’s wildly
entertaining and hilariously illustrated Arthur and the Wild Griffin, a
race-against-time adventure full of high-stakes hazards and out-of-this-world
creatures. When Arthur is given a free ticket to the Fantasy Zoo by a misguided
garden gnome, he is mistaken for an elf and finds himself tending to warring
Scandinavian trolls, a fierce Wild Griffin, wailing banshees and an
eight-legged horse… all whilst trying to hide his true identity from his fellow
keepers. But when devious sorceress Morgana Le Fay plots to close the zoo once
and for all, it’s up to Arthur to save the day... but only if one of the
creatures doesn’t eat him first! Monster laughs and an up-close-and-personal
date with the craziest creatures are guaranteed for youngsters who dare to
follow Arthur into the amazing magical zoo. Packed with Marchant’s fun
characters and Beech’s quirky illustrations, this is a must-visit adventure for
your reluctant readers!
(Everything with Words, paperback, £8.99, published on August 27)
Behind the Scenes
Illustrated by Åsa Gilland
MOST of us have visited a zoo at some time in our lives… but
how many have had the privilege of an access-all-areas tour? Well here’s your
chance to explore where no visitors have gone before… and venture behind the
scenes of two leading zoos! In collaboration with the Zoological Society of
London, Behind the Scenes – edited by Rebecca Kealy and lavishly illustrated by
Swedish artist Åsa Gilland – uncovers a fascinating world of animal care and
conservation at London and Whipsnade Zoos. For 200 years, the Zoological Society of London has been
dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and through their important work,
carried out both across the world and in their zoos, they aim to create change,
protect species, restore global habitats and help people and wildlife live
better together. From the quiet corners of the reptile house to the vet
hospitals, and even the kitchens where meals are prepared, youngsters can explore
where no visitors have gone before. Lounge with the Sumatran tigers in the
outdoor pool at London Zoo, the world’s first scientific zoo where Sir David
Attenborough began his broadcasting career. Walk among the Asian elephants at
Whipsnade’s unique 600-acre site, and even experience a day in the life of a
zookeeper and meet the teams of experts that dedicate their lives to working
with and caring for the animals. Every page of this colourful guide is packed
with awesome and roarsome discoveries and fascinating facts about the two
world-leading conservation centres which protect wildlife across the globe. A
wild and wonderful reading adventure!
(Templar Books, paperback, £7.99)
Luna Grace: Monster Mix Up
Julie Sykes and Emily Jones
ARRIVING from a planet in outer space was a BIG step for a
girl called Luna Grace and now she is finding her feet on planet Earth! Monster
Mix Up is the second book of a delightfully engaging series for young readers
from Julie Sykes, bestselling author of more than 100 books for children, and
Cardiff-based illustrator Emily Jones. Luna and her family are from Starbright, a colourful planet
in another galaxy, and they have come to Earth to study its wonderful wildlife.
The mission is simple… Luna and her family need to fit in with their new
neighbours down on Earth. But fitting in is hard when your hair changes colour
depending how you feel, you can move things with your mind and you have a
mischievous moon cat called Twizzle! But now Luna is so excited because her
grandparents are coming to visit from Starbright. She wants to prove how
grown-up she has become since moving to Earth by showing them around the
Halloween fair at her school. But in her efforts to prove herself, Luna ends up
making some monster mistakes… Can she make up for her mix-ups before it all
goes too wrong? This astronomical and warm-hearted series explores being
yourself, dealing with very human and down-to-earth emotions, and learning to
celebrate your differences. Filled with Jones’ colourful illustrations, this is
ideal early reading for fun-loving youngsters!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99, published on August 27)
The Cow in the Dark at Night
Jess Hannigan
IT'S night time and one naughty cow is determined to
discover the secrets of the dark! Canadian author and illustrator Jess Hannigan
– a self-declared lover of all things silly and pointless nonsense – sets free
the wild side of her imagination on this offbeat, out-of-this-world picture book.
Follow a naïve and curious cow – and her exasperated guardian cat – as she sets
out to find new friends and uncover what goes on when the sun goes down. Tonight,
she will discover it all… adventures, nocturnal friends, every exciting thing
waiting out there in the dark new world. But these night people may have other
things in mind. It’s a good thing that the moon is very bright tonight!
Curiosity leads to some very strange and colourful encounters as the cow
discovers what exactly goes on when the sun goes down. It’s enough to make a
cow jump over the moon! The Cow in the Dark at Night is a terrific tall tale
told with Hannigan’s tongue-in-cheek humour, and awash in bold graphics and a
stand-out palette of colour. Perfect for youngsters who love things that go
bump in the night!
(Quill Tree Books, hardback, £12.99)
You Choose Party Time
Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt
MAKING choices is all part of growing up... and sometimes
those decisions can be positively exciting! The long-running You Choose series
has sold over 2.5 million books and comes from the creative minds of author Pippa
Goodhart and award-winning illustrator Nick Sharratt. The colourful and
beautifully presented books offer the youngest children a simple text, a
collection of inspirational word ideas, and the power to not just create their
own stories but to let their imaginations run wild. And in this new edition, with its dazzling foiled cover,
party time is here and readers can choose what happens! What kind of party will
it be, who will you invite, how will your face be painted, which cake would you
like to eat and will you dance to a steel pan band or bagpipes? And don’t
forget to find the decorated egg hidden on every page. Entertaining interactive
tasks help to develop thinking, and word and sentence forming, as well as
unlocking creative abilities and encouraging decision-making. In fact, the
possibilities are endless in this magical storytelling toolkit which sets
children free to tell their own stories and make their own adventures over and
over again. The perfect choice for busy little hands and minds!
(Puffin, hardback, £12.99)
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