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Age 8 plus
How to Do (Almost) Everything
Becky Baines and Laurie Avon
LIFE in the real world involves hundreds of disparate
skills, some of them obvious and some of them more obscure. But each one adds
to the richness of just being human so feed your children’s curiosity with this
magnificent encyclopedia of expertise, a coruscating cornucopia of 100 skills,
ranging from making slime and escaping a maze to writing a secret message on a
piece of toast and baking a cake. Jammed full of the skills every child needs
to make the most out of every day, How to Do (Almost) Everything is written by
self-confessed ‘fact fanatic’ Becky Baines, lavishly illustrated by Laurie Avon
and is published by the ever-inventive children’s publisher, What on Earth.
Learn how to do (almost!) everything, whether that’s making
paper aeroplanes or solving a Rubik’s cube. With this book by their side, children
will gain a dazzling range of skills for real-life adventures, including practical
skills like reading a map and tying knots, craft activities such as making
paper airplanes and papier-maché, skills for outdoors including star spotting
without a telescope and building a den, brainy skills like writing an algorithm
and calculating Pi, and not forgetting life skills such as paying a compliment,
writing a thankyou letter and packing a suitcase. Every skill comes with the
seal of approval from top experts, and their stellar tips (including an eight times
world memory champion revealing how to remember (almost) anything!) are
threaded throughout the book, too. With step-by-step diagrams, Avon’s exuberant illustrations,
and stunning photography, this brilliantly entertaining and imaginatively
produced book, with its eye-catching gold foil cover, is the perfect gift for
the whole family to enjoy together as they learn (and re-learn!) some useful
and life-enhancing skills!
(What on Earth Books, hardback, £25)
The Lost Name Society
S.R. Krish
WHAT'S in a name? Winning is everything and losing is
eternal in this white-knuckle dystopian teen adventure set in a brilliantly
rendered Dark Academia where the supernatural meets the sadistic. The Lost Name
Society comes from S.R. Krish, pen name for Savita Kalhan, a London-based,
Carnegie-nominated author whose YA thrillers have earned her a reputation for
gripping, impulsive storytelling. And stories don’t come any creepier than this
tale of five misfits thrust into a cut-throat landscape where they must compete
in deadly games, knowing the price of losing is being erased from existence. Welcome to Merrybourne School… and try not to die! In the
heart of the Cotswolds, your name isn’t just an identity, it’s a target. Five
strangers arrive at boarding school expecting the usual academic grind.
Instead, they find a headmistress who is anything but human and a curriculum
designed for survival. The rules are simple… compete in a series of twisted
games, or be erased. With nothing in common but their unusual names, this
misfit group must navigate a perilous landscape. As the body count rises, they
realise the only way to survive is to stop playing by the demon’s rules. In a
world where fitting in means losing yourself, they must reclaim the power of
their names – the ones they were born with and the ones they have chosen – to
tear down the school. A sprinkling of folk horror and the supernatural meets a lethal
survival competition in this high-stakes thriller as Krish works her own
special brand of dark magic on a tale of malevolence, mayhem and misfits… best
read in daylight hours!
(Fox and Ink Books, paperback, £8.99)
A Year in the Forest
Christine Modafferi and Magdalena Konecná
DISCOVER the magic of the forest every day of the year!
Readers, young and old, will enjoy watching the forest and all its wonders come
alive on the page with this beautifully crafted year-round treasury which
features 365 fascinating nature facts, captivating stories and some accessible,
hands-on activities. Written by Christine Modafferi, an Italian-American who
now lives and works in London, and stunningly illustrated by Magdalena Konecná,
who lives in Prague, A Year in the Forest includes a poem for every month,
along with inspiring prompts for drawing and journaling, designed to spark
creativity while fostering a deeper connection to nature. Every page uncovers something
new… whether it’s learning about woodland creatures, exploring the wonders of
birdlife or discovering practical tips for sustainability and conservation. The
book also highlights key environmental dates throughout the year, such as Earth
Day and World Wildlife Day, making it the perfect guide to celebrate nature’s
milestones. Created for all age groups,
this beautiful gift book offers something special to explore every day,
providing a meaningful and enriching way to connect with the natural world and
to provide all-year-round inspiration. Add on Konecná’s exquisite artwork and
ribbon marker, and you have the perfect way to celebrate the magic and beauty
of our natural world.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £20)
Glam & Beardy: Volume 2
Ruby Clyde and Rachel WD,
and Vincent Batignole
IF your reluctant readers need some hilarious laughing
matter to draw them into an adventure full of fun and comic chaos, then whisk
them into the world of Glam & Beardy for a comedy double act invented by none
other than a comedy double act! Rachel WD and Ruby Clyde, also known as Shelf,
write and perform for adults and children, and now they have turned their
talents to this high-octane series written in anarchic diary form and
gloriously illustrated by French artist Vincent Batignole. In an adventure, written for us by Beardy, we discover that
the five Kindoms of Kin Isle have stood since the dawn of time and each holds
its own unique power. As we turn ten, explains Beardy, we meet our Familiar,
and our Familiar bears a mark that reveals which Kindom we belong to. And we
fit into our Kindom perfectly… or do we?! After my best friend Glam and I were
nearly blasted by someone from the (supposedly) destroyed Fire Kindom, we have
questions. Is Fire Kindom really still out there? What are they planning? Is it
nice? If I have Ice power, are we from the extinct and also evil Ice Kindom? If
we are from Ice Kindom, why don’t I have an Ice Mark? And why haven’t I been
able to use my power again despite trying really, really hard? Is there
something wrong with me? This is the diary (or ‘historical record’) of how Glam
and I went on an adventure to the secret and deadly Fire Kindom to stop their
evils plans. (And to learn more about an ancient and intriguing civilisation
and the true history of our world… Glam’s words, not mine!) Written as a shared diary (or historical record, depends who
you ask!), Glam and Beardy is fun with a capital F, and the perfect bait for
readers who like their adventures to come with lashings of laughs and a
proliferation of pictures!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)
An Anthology of Micro Life
Jess French, Angela Rizza and Daniel Long
JOURNEY into the micro life of Earth and discover the
minuscule miracles that live all around us… whether they are unseen, unheard or
unexplored! This beautifully created and presented Anthology of Micro Life –
written by conservationist, TV presenter, author and vet Dr Jess French – is
the tenth book of global publisher DK’s Children’s Anthologies series. Packed
with the stunningly detailed illustrations of Angela Rizza and Daniel Long,
this extraordinary gold-foiled gift book unlocks the secrets of more than 90 microscopic
life forms. Meet the tiny sea squirt that builds its house with snot,
the weird and wonderful tardigrade, the hardy little creatures which can
convert themselves into dried-out little balls when conditions are tricky, or
discover the tiny snail that lives in a house of glass, and dust mites who
think there’s nothing tastier than dead human skin cells. From tiny, delicate
seeds and pollen to stealthy viruses and bacteria that live around, on and
inside us, youngsters will love learning how small really IS beautiful in
nature. An Anthology of Micro Life is a truly breathtaking and
impressive collection of tiny miracles, showcasing a wide selection of micro
life forms by pairing photography and colourful illustrations with storybook
descriptions that will captivate young readers and introduce them to a whole
new world of surprises.
(DK Children, hardback, £20)
Grebs & Co: The Secret Lives of Gremlins
D.T. Moorhouse and Ewa Benika-Haremska
STEP into the magical village of Little Wobbleton! It’s a
curious place with a slightly wobbly sense of direction and more than a deep
fondness for the peculiar. Roads are curved and slanted where they don’t need
to be, some streets seem to lead nowhere while others lead on to themselves…
and it’s now home to a girl called Alice. Grebs & Co: The Secret Lives of
Gremlins is the delightfully quirky and adorably warm-hearted debut novel from D.T.
Moorhouse, a secondary school teacher from Ireland. The star of the story is Alice Fairchild who has just
arrived in Little Wobbleton and is fast discovering that the village is full of
magic. And no one knows more about magic than Grebson the Gremlin in charge of
the postbox on Muddleworth Lane. The world of Gremlins is complicated… like humans,
they are proud and get their feelings hurt. Some are shy, some are clever, some
are grumpy, some are terribly clumsy but all are loyal to their special world
of magic, contained within a postbox, small on the outside, humongous on the
inside. And when she is invited inside, Alice discovers a furious world of
magic controlled by Grebson… but it’s a world that is also in danger. Can she
save it? Ewa Benika-Haremska provides the rich and beautifully detailed
illustrations for Moorhouse’s gloriously offbeat story which sees the
courageous and creative Alice launching a campaign to save the gremlins’ way of
life and discovering the power of community, memory and the written word along
the way. Storytelling at its marvellously magical best!
(Everything with Words, paperback, £8.99)
Age 5 plus
Isadora Moon & Friends Story Collection
Harriet Muncaster
(Oxford University Press, hardback, £14.99)
Isadora Moon: How To Draw & Dragon Migration
CHILDREN all around the world adore the colourful adventures of Isadora Moon, the half-fairy, half-vampire… and now youngsters can learn how to draw Isadora and the friends who appear alongside her in the top rated animated TV series based on the world created by Harriet Muncaster. This magical activity book features step-by-step guides for drawing Isadora and all her friends and family, plus simple drawing activities to practise your skills, and drawing tips and tricks to make sketches extra magical!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99 each)
The Gumdrops: Main Character Energy
Elissa Elwick
YOUNG imaginations are propelled into overdrive in this fun
and interactive graphic novel series from Elissa Elwick, an award-winning
children’s books illustrator and author who loves helping children to find
their voice, get creative, and discover the power of their unique and special
imagination. So meet Hope, Bubbles, Sparky and Rainbow, they’re the Gumdrops…
guardians of a magical land, full of magical beings! You might meet Imaginary Friends,
your favourite characters from a story, or creations from your dreams. The
Gumdrops are always up for a challenge… and when they get a letter from a child
in need of an imaginary friend, they have their work cut out. When the Gumdrops
meet Bowie, he’s fading because his book is being forgotten... can YOU help the
Gumdrops bring his story back to life by making it as exciting as possible?
You’ll have to travel inside Bowie’s book, and remember to watch out for the
mischievous, but adorable, Evilee! Brought to vibrant life by Elwick’s gallery
of gorgeous, colourful illustrations, and with an enchanting cast of quirky
characters, this is the perfect package for youngsters setting out on the road
to independent reading.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)
Age 4 plus
Cosmic Cruise: A Solar System Adventure
Owen Davey
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)
Pebble and Po
Emma Simpson
‘I always know where I'm going... except for when I don't.’
IF your little ones love the cosy idiosyncrasies of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh,
introduce them to Pebble and Po, the enchanting bear and bunny duo dreamed up
by Munich-based author and illustrator Emma Simpson. One morning, Pebble wakes
up on a soft, warm tummy… Po’s tummy! And so begins an unexpected friendship.
Together, they brave rainstorms, explore dark caves, and welcome a curious
companion or two along the way. They may not always know where they are going,
but they always have each other to lean on. Brimming with Simpson’s tender
storytelling and gentle, soft-focus artwork, Pebble and Po feels as much a warm
hug on a rainy day as an adorable adventure. The many charming moments invite
conversations about helping others, finding the courage to ask for help, and
navigating the wobbly feelings of getting muddled up or losing your way. The
perfect book to celebrate the enduring power of friendship…
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £14.99)
The Forest Is a Part of Me
Elizabeth Wathuti and Michelle Pereira
LET the beauty of nature move you… and the activism amaze
you! This empowering and enchanting picture book tells the powerful story of award-winning
Kenyan climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti’s lifelong work to protect her
homeland from the devastating effects of deforestation… and the story takes us
back in time to see a little seven-year-old girl plant her first tree. Since
then, she has planted millions more trees with schoolchildren and communities
across critical water catchment areas. Featuring peek-through pages, printed on
wood-free paper, and given life and colour by the vibrant artwork of Michelle
Pereira, The Forest Is a Part of Me is a gentle and moving introduction to the
importance of protecting the environment.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £14.99)
A Light in the Autumn Night
Frances Tosdevin and Sophia O’Connor
AS autumn fast approaches, cuddle up on cosy evenings with
this beautifully emotive and atmospheric picture book from the dream team of Frances
Tosdevin and Sophia O’Connor whose wonderfully descriptive books, The Library
Mouse and The Bear and Her Book series, won the hearts of thousands of readers.
Star of the show is Mole who loves autumn but when night falls, he prefers to
stay safely inside. The dark is far too scary. One night, Mole kindly shares
his glowing pumpkin light with friends who pass by in the wind and shadows. But
when Mole steps into the darkness himself and his light goes out, fear takes
over. Lost and alone, he soon discovers that the kindness he gave has followed
him into the night. Author Tosdevin’s gentle, reassuring and lyrical rhyming
story helps youngsters to overcome their fears, find comfort in friendship, and
understand how even the smallest light can shine brightest when it’s shared. Add
on O’Connor’s gallery of stunning illustrations, colourfully painted in loose,
tonal brush strokes, and you have the perfect bedtime read for autumn and
winter nights.
(Fox and Ink Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
Age 3 plus
Clive Penguin Learns to Fly, Sort of
Huw Lewis Jones and Ben Sanders
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)
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