CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Menacing monsters, family love and alien battles

Step inside a dazzling fantasy world full of magical creatures, meet a boy struggling with big family changes, share laughter with an alien girl trying to bring about world peace, and enjoy adventures at full throttle with two young dragon riders in a spectacular selection of new books

Age 9 plus
Magicalia: Storm of Chaos
Jennifer Bell

IF it’s high-octane adventures you’re after this half-term, step inside the dazzling fantasy world created by outstanding author Jennifer Bell in Magicalia, her spectacular, science-packed fantasy series brimming with incredible Pokémon-style creatures, dramatic locations and amazing inventions. Storm of Chaos is the third book in this thrilling and theatrical series and features the escape of magical creatures across the globe when an invention is damaged. When her dad was kidnapped by a woman with a giant hamstoceros, Bitsy and best friend Kosh were swept into a secret world of ancient meteorites and strange beasts called magicores, each conjured using a different emotion. 

Using a powerful bestiary called Magicalia, the friends can now become conjurors themselves. But when an amazing new invention, which can duplicate magicores, is sabotaged, rogue magicores escape across the globe. Bitsy and Kosh must embark on a dangerous quest to hunt them down in an adventure that takes them from the Galápagos islands to the rainforest of Borneo. With the help of their Magicalia handbook, the friends must confront their greatest fears… or watch chaos destroy everything. Bell launches another of her non-stop, breathtaking adventures as Bitsy and Kosh face an epic quest to save their world. With the energy levels ramped up to danger point, menacing monsters at every turn, and colourful adventures that unfold amidst filmic wonders, Magicalia takes fast-moving fantasy to a whole new level. And don't miss the first two adventures in the series… Magicalia: Race of Wonders and Magicalia: Thief of Shadows.
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Shadow Pony
Olivia Wakeford

TAKE a boy struggling with big family changes, dark secrets from the past, and a grandad whose memories are fading too fast, and you have the hallmarks of a story that will touch the hearts of readers young and old. Family love through the generations speaks loud and clear in Olivia Wakeford’s emotionally-charged new novel which is set in South Wales where she grew up and explores the area’s mining heritage through the lens of family and animals. Eleven-year-old Evan hates change, which is a big problem because the last few years have brought a lot of it. He recently moved to Wales, his mum’s new partner has come to live with them, his family is now split down the middle, and lately Grandad hasn’t been himself. Fortunately for Evan, he can always depend on best friend Okie Dokie, his lovable dog. When a school trip takes Evan to an old mine where Grandad used to work, things go disastrously wrong. Grandad refuses to talk to Evan about the mine, and especially about the poor pit ponies that worked down there in the dark. But Evan is desperate to know more about Grandad’s past and if he can only find out what Grandad is hiding, the weird gulf between them will surely disappear. Can Evan uncover Grandad’s secrets before they are lost forever?

Wakeford imaginatively and sensitively explores topics like family upheaval, bullying and mental health as well as introducing young readers to the concept of dementia and its impact on families. But despite the challenges that Evan faces, The Shadow Pony is also a story of hope, emphasising the importance of friendship, empathy and community, and celebrating the bonds between children and animals, and the memories shared between generations of a family.
(HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The World's Worst Alien Fights Back
Alice Primmer and Fred Blunt

AN alien disguised as a schoolgirl trying to bring about world peace comes out fighting in the second book of funny and quietly clever illustrated series from Alice Primmer and Fred Blunt. Sky is the laziest alien to ever visit Earth. Creating Planet Earth as a school project failed to get her a pass so her task now is to figure out how to fix the messes that humans keep making. If only humans would stop fighting wars all over the place! There’s only one thing for it… she must return to Oak Lane Primary School as an eleven-year-old girl and reunite with her human friends to stop all fighting using Sky’s genius idea of winning. But it would be a whole lot easier if a disastrous cricket match and a declaration of war painted on the school fence hadn’t just kicked off a battle with a rival school... With Primmer’s stories taking a salutary and satirical look at Earth and the behaviour of its humans through the eyes of an extra-terrestrial, and the comical artwork of award-winning illustrator Blunt putting words into pictures, these wonderfully chaotic capers are in-and-out-of-this-world winners!
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Lost Dragon of Roar
Jenny McLachlan and Alla Khatkevich

GET ready to roar with laughter as author Jenny McLachlan returns with another epic adventure in her bestselling and spectacular children’s fantasy series, The Land of Roar. These rip-roaring books have been billed as stories that make you believe in magic and these funny, big-hearted and thrilling adventures have certainly captured not just the best-loved characteristics of classics like Cressida Cowell’s How to Train Your Dragon and C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia but also the hearts of young readers everywhere. Irrepressible twins Rose and Arthur Trout, along with Win, their wizard-ninja best friend, are going back to dragon school, and now they are officially dragon riders, it’s time for their first mission… to find a mysterious crew of witches. And it’s another momentous ride where they will encounter an ancient lost city, a cursed island of witches, a ghostly mystery and a legendary dragon rumoured to be the most fearsome dragon yet in Roar. But an old enemy is on their trail… and there’s only danger ahead. McLachlan once more dives into the farthest reaches of her imagination for this all-action new thriller in the exhilarating and exciting Land of Roar while Alla Khatkevich works a special magic on a gallery of extraordinary illustrations. Adventure and laughter on full throttle!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Amari and the Metalwork Menace
B.B. Alston

FEEL the magic and get lost in a super-sizzling supernatural world as B.B. Alston returns with the fourth book in his fantastic Supernatural Investigations trilogy which began with Amari and the Night Brothers. Featuring the feisty, fearless Amari Peters – a heroic black girl with magic at her fingertips – this epic new adventure packs in thrilling action and a deadly new curse. In the wake of the Bureau of Supernatural Investigations’ war with Dylan Van Helsing and the magicians, Amari Peters has stepped back from being a Junior Agent to spend the school year as a normal kid. But now she’s faced with a decision… return to the Bureau and join an elite new agent programme, or retire for good which would mean safety, but also losing her memories of the supernatural world. Soon she finds that she may not have a choice. A deadly new curse is threatening the supernatural and mortal worlds as people are slowly becoming machines beneath their skin. Hundreds of cases have been cropping up with no cure in sight. And when the curse hits someone close to Amari, it’s up to her to get to the bottom of this deadly mystery… even if it means trusting an old enemy. These mesmerising, magical and imaginative Amari adventures possess everything young readers love… breathtaking action, surprises at every turn of the page, humour, and a courageous heroine they love to take to their hearts. Great stuff... bring on the next adventure!!
(Farshore, hardback, £14.99)

Age 8 plus
The Cheat Book (vol.3)
RAMZEE

CAN Kamal take down the robots? Welcome to third book in the hilarious Cheat Book series from London-based author and illustrator RAMZEE. When a new Smart School opens up, Kamal and his friends are part of the lucky first test group. With robot teachers, vending machines full of free snacks, and talking scooters that take you to your classes, what could possibly go wrong? The answer… everything. With the trusty Cheat Book and its lifehacks by his side, can Kamal find a way to fight back? Full of fun, crazy capers and giggles galore, these fully illustrated books are perfect for young mischief-makes and most definitely not for grown-ups!
(Hodder Children's Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Finders of Silverthorn Forest:
The Faraway Adventure
Rachel Chivers Khoo and Laura Catalán

COSY up for more magical adventures in enchanting Silverthorn Forest, home to lovable creatures, the joys of friendship and the rewards of courage. Written by Belfast-born author Rachel Chivers Khoo and beautifully illustrated throughout by Spanish children’s book illustrator Laura Catalán, this delightfully imagined story is the sequel to Finders of Silverthorn Forest: The Lost Treasures. Star of the show is once again Tuft, a young Finder of Silverthorn Forest who wakes early from hibernation and decides to set out on an adventure to find the legendary Faraway Forest. After an unexpected trip to London via a postbox, Tuft is reunited with his human friend Max and secretly signs him up for an adventure camp in the New Forest. Tuft is convinced that they will uncover the homeland of the Finders here, but Max is sceptical. The camp is the last place he wants to be spending his school holiday, especially as he doesn’t have any of the right equipment and it won’t stop raining. But with a severe storm approaching, things soon turn perilous, and Max must use all of his new-found skills if he is to save Tuft and the new Finders they have befriended. Written with a warm heart, a sprinkle of magic, and a genuine love of the natural world, these touching tales of the Finders are definitely keepers!
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Grimwood: Rock the Vote!
Nadia Shireen

YOU can never be too young, or too old, to enjoy a bit of anarchy! Youngsters (and their parents!) will be grinning, guffawing, snorting and sniggering when they get their hands on the fifth woodland caper in one of the funniest children’s series currently on the market. Grimwood – a sort-of Watership Down with foxes which evokes tears of laughter rather than of sorrow – is the work of author and illustrator Nadia Shireen who has won awards for her picture books and been shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Week Junior Book Award and the Laugh Out Loud Book Awards. Fully illustrated throughout, the books star two fox cub siblings, Ted and Nancy, who love their life in Grimwood… the forest where anything (riotous!) can happen. They have made a lot of new friends there but now Grimwood needs a new mayor! Titus has finally decided he’s had enough, leaving behind big antlers to fill. With characters new and old throwing their hats into the ring, who has what it takes, who has a hidden agenda, and who is simply in it for the parties? The only people who can decide the fate of Grimwood are… the residents of Grimwood. Oh, no! Shireen serves up an irresistible blend of glorious gags, hilarious comedy routines, boundless madcap escapades, and a memorable cast of quirky characters who young readers will love following from first page to last, and from book to book. With a side helping of zany, high-energy black and white illustrations, which bring both the animals and the action to life, the Grimwood series has the legs – and the laughs – to run and run.
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Little Miss Marple: Bump in the Library
Adam Hargreaves, Roger Hargreaves
and Agatha Christie

IT'S billed as a thoroughly mysterious and mischievous partnership between two British institutions… and who could argue with that? Agatha Christie’s most famous detectives, Miss Marple and Mr Poirot, receive the Mr. Men Little Miss treatment in this super-sleuthing board book series in which Mr Men and Little Miss creator Roger Hargreaves’ well-loved characters take leading roles in mysteries loosely based on Christie classics. Written and illustrated by Adam Hargreaves, son of the late Roger Hargreaves, these new detective adventures have a charming and humorous twist for younger readers, creating a perfectly fun-filled introduction to the concept of cosy crime.

In Little Miss Marple: Bump in the Library, we find her staying at Gossipton Hall when Sir Jelly finds a body in the library! This turns out to be a confused Major Bump, with a bump on his head. With growing uncertainty about whether this was accidental, Little Miss Marple joins Major Bump on a trip to the Majestic Hotel where there is much suspicion about his fellow holidaymakers. Can Little Miss Marple help Inspector Nonsense and Constable Silly find the culprit? And in Mr. Poirot: Mystery on the Opulent Express, the famous Belgian detective is travelling on the train  to Paris. His fellow passengers include the wealthy business tycoon Mr Rude and other intriguing passengers such as Madame Magic, Colonel Impossible and Professor Inventor. So, when there appears to be a thief on board the train, it is time for Mr Poirot to use his little grey cells to investigate this seemingly impossible mystery. Packed with sleuthing and subterfuge, the first two titles in this joyfully entertaining series – Little Miss Marple: Muddle at the Vicarage and Mr Poirot: Mischief on the Nile – are also available.
(Farshore, hardback, £9.99 each)

Age 5 plus
Happy Hills: Cheesy Bob Strikes!
Sophy Henn

BRACE yourself, kids, because award-winning author and illustrator Sophy Henn is back with another crazy, chaotic and totally crackpot new adventure in her hilariously funny full-colour graphic novel series. Guaranteed to leave young readers in stitches, the Happy Hills books feature the friendly and not-so-friendly residents of Happy Hills, a place where anything can happen and always does! And in their fourth outrageous outing, there’s a surprise new arrival in Happy Hills, and he means trouble! Cheesy Bob is a mischievous monkey magician, with plans for revenge… and only Ace knows the truth about him! Can he warn the gang in time before he wreaks magical havoc on the land? (Probably not, right?!) Jam-packed with hilarious stories, this much-loved series is a classic blend of comedy and action with a big helping of heart… and guaranteed to capture the imaginations of every mischief-loving reader!
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 3 plus
Tick Tock Around the Clock
Ruth Brown

CAT lovers of all ages will be purring with delight when they get their paws on this beautiful, gold-foiled picture book which puts a playful and fanciful feline at centre stage. Tick Tock Around the Clock is the creation of Carnegie Illustration Award-nominated author and illustrator Ruth Brown and follows an amusing, and not always restful, day in the life of an adventurous cat. Follow Tick Tock from waking up and munching and crunching his breakfast to slipping through the cat flap for adventures in the garden and the final cuddle before bedtime. Along the way, youngsters will enjoy his encounters with squirrels and mice which don’t end up quite as he hoped, and some banging and crashing mischief in the garden shed, before returning home to a tasty meal and a warm and welcoming human lap. With a simple rhyming text and Brown’s humorously observed and richly detailed colour illustrations, this is an adorable package from one of the greats of children’s illustration.
(Scallywag Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
The Birthday: A Big Hedgehog and
Little Hedgehog Adventure
Britta Teckentrup

PRICKLE and tickle your youngsters into a charming and heartfelt story about friends, birthdays, and dealing with your big expectations. The Birthday is the adorable new Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog adventure from award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup and – with its gentle story about the very intense feelings that children may have before and on their birthdays – it is guaranteed to tenderly guide your little ones into enjoying the magic of surprise. It’s Little Hedgehog’s birthday, and a day to wake up full of excitement. But as the day goes on and no guests appear, disappointment begins to take hold. Where did everyone go and have they all forgotten? Feeling sad, Little Hedgehog heads back home worried that there wasn’t going to be a party. When a secret plan is revealed and his friends are ready and waiting to party, Little Hedgehog learns that love and friendship can arrive when you least expect them.

The lovable and relatable Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog are just two of German-born Teckentrup’s many marvellous characters who embody human emotions which young readers can recognise and easily understand. In this new adventure, we follow Little Hedgehog through an emotional rollercoaster in which feelings of sadness and loneliness are validated before a final, joyful celebration of friendship, caring and community. Teckentrup’s signature artwork beautifully conveys the pleasures of the natural world from sunrise to a moonlit sky, the perfect backdrop for reading at bedtime!
(Prestel, hardback, £11.99)

Age 3 plus
Little Explorers: Let’s Go! Museum
Collaborate Agency

LET'S Go! Children will be ready for the off when they get their hands on this Little Explorers first information series, perfect for curious youngsters eager to learn more about the familiar places they might visit. With sturdy flaps to lift on every page, little ones can have hands-on fun looking behind the scenes to discover intriguing facts. In Let's Go! Museum, youngsters discover what goes on at the museum as they open doors, walk through each familiar area, from the art and sculptures to the cafe and gift shop, and find out what all the different people at the museum do. 

Meet a curator, an invigilator and an art restorer, watch a new dinosaur skeleton go on display and find out all the skills each person needs to do their job. And in Let’s Go! Garage, young readers will enjoy lifting up the bonnet, recognising machines like car jacks and power tools, and finding out what all the different people do. Meet a tyre technician, an electric vehicles mechanic and a roadside recovery driver, watch a car get squeaky clean in an automatic car wash, and find out how all vehicles – big and small – get repaired. Each book features over 30 sturdy flaps to lift, along with charming artwork that introduces new concepts and vocabulary in a simple and accessible way.
(Templar Books, board books, £10.99 each)

The Younger Woman

Cate Ray

TELLING a stranger in a bar that she hated her husband and fantasised about him dying is recalled uneasily as just a drunken confession in a haze of too much alcohol when 52-year-old Gabby wakes the following morning.

But some words can’t be taken back and before long, disturbing events from the past are uncovered and Gabby finds herself caught up in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.

Cate Ray (pictured below) – an author known for her emotionally charged page-turners exploring issues which affect women in today’s world – digs deep into the dark corners of the human psyche and the complexities of midlife in this gripping domestic thriller.

Starring a woman reassessing her life, her empty nest in the wake of her daughter’s departure to university, and her far from perfect husband, The Younger Woman navigates the minefield of emotions, regrets, anxieties and frustrations that can rise to the surface at the arrival of what is often a pivotal era of renewal and self-discovery.

It was the day that Gabby had been dreading… her beloved daughter, Alice, has been deposited at university and with son Will already away, the absence of both children has left a yawning gap in her life. 

It’s also a time for introspection and Gabby finally has time to look back over her 21 years of marriage to Fred and recall just how much has changed between them. 

There have been ‘too many little betrayals, and some not-so-little ones’ by Fred and it’s at this point that Gabby comes to a startling realisation… she doesn’t just not love her husband any more, she absolutely hates him. Drowning her sorrows at a bar one evening, Gabby gets chatting to a very attractive but slightly unsettling younger woman named Ellis who emanates a ‘scary’ intensity. In a moment of drunken truth-telling, she tells Ellis that she wishes Fred was dead, and gets more than just a sympathetic response.

But later that night, Gabby begins to fear that she has ‘stepped over a shaky line into very dark territory.’ Even so, she doesn’t expect anything to come of it until she tries to track down Ellis again and realises that the young woman might not have been who she said she was. As Gabby begins to unravel the truth about Ellis, and what Fred might be hiding, she is thrown into a whirlwind of lies and manipulation. How much is she willing to risk to expose the truth… and who is the real target?

Ray is on fine form as she cunningly manoeuvres her readers through a tangled web of relationships, betrayals, and the experiences in Gabby’s troubled childhood that helped to mark out the course of her adult life. It’s a twisting, turning ride that takes in familiar marriage problems, long-held secrets, and hidden desires that have never been honestly voiced.

With a narrative that weaves between Gabby and the enigmatic and quietly menacing Ellis, we witness how what had seemed a cathartic chat with an unknown but receptive young woman becomes a freewheeling, unstoppable and unpredictable force that threatens to tear roughshod over more than just her life. It’s a time for realisation, reassessment and resetting, for ditching the past and searching for a new female empowerment, but as the uncertainties grow for Gabby so too do the risks, the high stakes, the emotional turmoil, and the dangers.

Packed with surprises and suspense, and a burgeoning sense of unease that creeps slowly but surely through the pages, The Younger Woman is guaranteed to hold you in its thrall right through to the final gut-punch.
(Fox & Ink Books, paperback, £9.99)

Darling Mine

Romy Hausmann

CAN there be anything worse for a parent than finding that a beloved child has gone missing… and then facing the rest of your life not knowing for sure what happened to them?

Five years after she thrilled and chilled readers with her sensational bestselling novel Dear Child – which became a major Netflix series – German author Romy Hausmann (pictured below) returns with another exceptional page-turner exploring the trauma of loss, its impact on a broken family, and the devastation of dementia.

Seamlessly translated into English by Jamie Bulloch, Darling Mine is a powder keg of emotional intensity as this soul-searching writer peers deep into the human psyche for a riveting, multi-layered mystery full of angst and intrigue, and with a classic unreliable narrator leading us through more twists and turns than a snakes and ladders board. It is twenty years since 16-year-old Julie Nowak went missing. Her disappearance broke her family and shattered their comfortable lives in Berlin where Julie’s father, Theo Nowak, was a renowned thoracic and vascular surgeon at the famous Charité Hospital, and her mother Vera, a former teacher.

Since then a broken-hearted Vera has died, Julie’s younger sister Sophia has married, and 74-year-old Theo, who is descending into the stultifying shadows of dementia, has found his world now consists of disorder, anger and the ‘yellow stickers’ which are left as reminders on his fridge and other places by Sophia.

Everyone seems to have given up on finding Julie… except Theo. So when he is contacted by true crimes podcasters Liv Keller and her partner Philipp Hendricks on the twentieth anniversary of Julie’s disappearance, he is determined to make one last effort to find out what happened to her. Liv has come across a new lead and she wants to put the case back in the public eye but Julie’s sister Sophia doesn’t want unhappy events being dug up again. Theo, meanwhile, is willing to get involved to find out the truth but he knows he must be quick before his dementia completely overtakes him.

There are so many questions still left answered… who abducted Julie and why does her ex-boyfriend Daniel, a man who was six years older than her, keep his mother’s bedroom door locked years after she passed away? As the past is revisited, will the mystery of missing Julie finally be resolved? 

Chief editor at a film production company in Munich at the age of just twenty-four, Hausmann uses all her gifts of suspense and drama to create a psychological thriller full of jaw-dropping revelations, hidden deceptions, and a palpable sense of urgency driven by the imperative of Theo’s increasing confusion and ever-advancing dementia. Two decades of uncertainty over what happened to Julie have festered in the Nowak family and the new investigation into her disappearance has exposed the fault lines in both her family and those who knew her, reigniting a simmering anger, a pervasive sense of guilt, and Theo’s desperate determination to dig out the truth.

The result is a highly-charged and complex mystery littered with red herrings, layer after layer of chilling secrets, and a cast of deeply unlikable and suspicious characters, each with their own hidden agenda. With a devastating darkness at its heart, and a plot which is so deliciously twisted that it will leave you gasping, Darling Mine is an unmissable, mind-blowing journey as disturbing as it is compelling.
(Quercus, hardback, £22)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Darwinian delights, family misfortunes and a happy hamster

Climb on board The Beagle and join Charles Darwin for adventures in the Galápagos, meet an online vlogging family discovering the downside of social media fame, celebrate the landmark anniversary of everyone’s favourite classroom hamster, and enjoy strange creatures in a debut graphic novel series 

Age 5 plus
Mr Darwin’s Tortoise
Angela McAllister and
Chiara Fedele

SET sail for an adventure in the Galápagos Islands with the world’s greatest scientist! To celebrate this week’s International Darwin Day, introduce your youngsters to the brilliant evolutionary biologist with this charming and gloriously illustrated picture book story from award-winning children’s author Angela McAllister and Italian illustrator Chiara Fedele. Mr Darwin’s Tortoise imagines an inquisitive boy who meets Charles Darwin and discovers a shared sense of wonder for the natural world. Antonio lives in the Galápagos Islands and wants to know everything about everything… he never stops asking questions! One day he meets a stranger called Mr Darwin, a scientist who also asks a lot of questions. Antonio shows him the wildlife around the island, including the cactus trees and lizards and the tortoise eggs which have yet to hatch. In return Mr Darwin shows Antonio all the things he has collected on his travels, like his beetle collection, rocks, plants and ancient fossils. When the tortoises hatch, Antonio gives one to Mr Darwin as a present, so that he always remembers his visit to the islands and his young friend. This beautifully created book, which features accurate illustrations of Darwin, his ship The Beagle, and Galápagos flora and fauna, is the perfect, child-friendly introduction to the famous evolutionary scientist and his groundbreaking discoveries.
(Zephyr, hardback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus
Boy vs Reality
James Fox

DISCOVERING what social media can do to people is always sobering so here’s a funny, gripping and relatable story about real life versus the online world which gently asks youngsters to consider what’s more important… fame or authentic happiness? Boy vs Reality is the second book from multi-award-shortlisted author James Fox and features his trademark blend of observational humour and glorious heart with a lovable lead character and a clever, nuanced take on Instagram/YouTube vs Reality. Ethan Lacey is the youngest member of online family vlogging sensations Meet the Laceys. The Laceys are Ethan, his mum, dad and big brother Mason, and they film and upload their wholesome, everyday slice-of-life details for their million subscribers to enjoy… the pranks, the cosy family time, Dad’s passion for his camper van, the perks like going to the opening of an epic new theme park, and meal-prep Mondays. They are the perfect family... aren't they? But reality is not all fun and freebies. Behind the scenes, Mum and Dad have been arguing a lot recently, Dad is pretty much living in the camper van, and Mason has been picking on Ethan. Determined to keep up appearances, they are pretending that nothing is wrong but when the cracks start to show, Ethan is on a mission to persuade his family to fix the real world rather than fixating on the online one. Fox’s clever, compelling and moving story is ideal for sparking important conversations about sharing content online, without being sensationalist. The message is ultimately one about living in the present and enjoying the everyday moment of life in an authentic and happy way… one that is sure to resonate with youngsters who are taking their first steps into the internet.
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Advice from a 12-Year-Old Nobody
Helen Rutter and Julia Christians

EVERY child can sometimes feel alone and unheard so having a mum who is an agony aunt is surely ideal. Or is it? In her moving, wise and empathetic tale about family and mental health, Carnegie-shortlisted author and comedian Helen Rutter captures the quiet ache of feeling alone and turns it into something hopeful and human. Vinny’s got problems… lots of them. His family is falling apart and his best mates have dumped him for some really annoying girls. He should be able to turn to his mum for help because she’s an online life coach who answers other people’s problems for a living. But she’s too busy to see that Vinny is really struggling. Unable to solve his own issues, Vinny starts replying to unanswered posts on an old blog of his mum’s. At first the solutions seem easy, and he can be as hilariously honest as any 12-year-old boy would be, but what will happen when Vinny realises that he’s out of his depth? Beautifully observed, brought to life with Julia Christians’ illustrations, and published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format, Advice from a 12-Year-Old Nobody explores the fears and concerns that can grip youngsters and reminds adults that sometimes they miss those important warning signs of a troubled child.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Happiness According to Humphrey
Betty G Birney

WELCOME to the world of Humphrey the hamster, star of American author Betty G Birney’s delightfully fun series which has been capturing children’s hearts for twenty years. And to celebrate his landmark anniversary, everyone’s favourite classroom pet is unsqueakably thrilled to be in a NEW-NEW-NEW novel full of mischief and mayhem! A special guest is coming to Room 26 but when Humphrey sees who it is, he’s SHOCKED-SHOCKED-SHOCKED. The guest is a big dog and Mrs Brisbane doesn't seem worried at all. Luckily, this dog is very gentle. His name is Happy and he’s come to help Humphrey’s classmates with their reading. Then they hear about more dogs… a friendly one who can do tricks and sing, and a beloved pet who has gone missing. Of course, everyone wants to help find her. Good thing Humphrey is so good at helping kids solve their problems and he pawsitively loves to solve a mystery… even one involving a dog! With a fresh voice and an endearing hamster’s eye-view of school, families, and treats to hide in a cheek pouch, Birney’s antics are sure to bring lots of laughter… and a new love for classroom hamsters everywhere!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
The Wonder of Life on Earth
Henry Gee and Raxenne Maniquiz

DISCOVER the story of life on Earth as you have never before seen it! Fascinating facts about the planet and evolution are brought to vivid life through stunning colour illustrations in this beautiful gift book for budding ecologists. Written in 30 bite-size chapters by nature editor and author of the award-winning A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth, Henry Gee, The Wonder of Life on Earth tells the incredible and unlikely story of life on our planet against the backdrop of botanical illustrator Raxenne Maniquiz’s vibrant and richly detailed artwork. Billions of years of evolution are packed into 80 pages as we journey through disasters, evolutionary oddities, and a planet shaped by supervolcanoes, toxic air, and asteroids – always focusing on the most pivotal, important moments. Maniquiz’s illustrations reveal strange and marvellous creatures as we travel back in time to look inside bacteria and the first cells, to the planet's first trees and plants, to the weird rangeomorphs, and on to armoured fishes, dinosaurs, nimble mammals and resourceful apes and primates. From the first tiny bubbles of life in the ocean to the arrival of endlessly adaptable apes, planet Earth really is the ultimate survival story! Gee’s gripping narrative makes it easy to understand the carbon cycle, natural selection, fossilisation and the galactic fluctuations that have shaped the planet and the life on its surface. Complete with a glossary, a timeline and a view into the future, this easy-to-read natural history is perfect for younger readers.
(Two Hoots, hardback, £20)

Age 7 plus
Chicken Hill: Attack of the Zombie Cactus
Beccy Blake

CALLING all UFO spotters, underwater explorers, zombie cactus warriors and, last but not least, all comic fans! After a lifetime of enjoying drawing (and reading!) comics, author and illustrator Beccy Blake has filled her debut graphic novel with all the weird characters, strange creatures and crazy capers that have been crowding into her imagination for years. So welcome to Chicken Hill, just your average, everyday, run-of-the-mill small town where the pets can talk, the frogs rule over a secret underwater empire and you’re only ever one day away from an alien invasion. And join Ferdy, Gripper and Tink as they investigate all things strange in their seriously loopy town. Ferdy is a tech wiz with a knack for invention and a habit of running into trouble. Always with him is Gripper, his farty and self-obsessed pug, and Tink, his brother’s forever-tired cat. Together, they investigate the many wild and weird happenings in town. And whether fending off an invasion of zombie cactuses, or trying to keep an army of cloned conspiracy theorist cats out of office, there’s no shortage of things to keep them busy. Because in Chicken Hill, there’s only one rule… if you think things can’t get weirder, they always can. Youngsters can expect Fun (yes, that’s fun with a capital F) as the Chicken Hill residents (and their creator!) work their comedy magic on three hilarious short stories – brilliantly illustrated in a kaleidoscope of colour and chaos – in one brilliantly weird graphic novel. More please!
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Write Your Own Family History
Jane Bingham

WHAT was school like for Grandma? What was your Great Uncle’s first job? Who did this toy belong to? Create your own history journal and make it a family heirloom to treasure with this brilliantly instructive and engrossing introduction to writing your own family history. Written by Jane Bingham, and packed with colourful illustrations, this easy-to-use, spiral-bound book encourages young history detectives to discover more about the people, places and significant events within their own locality and family. Discover what information we can find out from old photos, documents and objects, and make a note of useful suggestions for questions to ask older members of the community. Topics to explore for your family history books include toys and games, clothes, hairstyles, food, transport and holidays, and the book also provides a compact way for children to record all their findings. Suitable for children from any family background including adopted and fostered children, and with ties to the Key Stage 1 and Foundation Stage History curriculum, which requires children to talk about past and present events in their own lives and the lives of family members, this is the perfect starter guide for all budding family historians.
(Usborne Publishing, spiral-bound, £12.99)

Age 6 plus
The Far-Out Five: Snot Jelly Island
Olaf Falafel

WHAT do you get if you pair a group of kids and a grumpy magician with a magical mega tornado… the answer is The Far-Out Five and a quest to solve the mystery of Snot Jelly Island! Welcome to the first book of a hilarious graphic novel series from author, illustrator and stand-up comedian Olaf Falafel, and a brilliantly bonkers adventure. Starring a zany group of friends who find themselves magically transformed into strange creatures, and whisked far away from home when a funfair magic trick goes wrong, laughter is set to ring out from first page to last. Stewart, Sophie, Zainab and Jeffrey’s world got flipped and turned upside down when the Great Waldini’s trick got out of control. Unfortunately, the wand that could change them back to normal is lost, leaving a madcap team of adventurers which includes Spewnicorn, a punk unicorn who vomits rainbows, Wally, a pompous and cowardly koala, Tubbs, a walking bathtub, Bloof, a blue-footed booby, and Glossy Jeff, a really chilled-out seal. Sailing across the ocean in Tubbs the bathtub, the Far-Out Five have to face bizarre creatures, weird landscapes and mysterious tasks on their quest as they try to find Wally’s missing wand and get back home. Can they escape the wobbly statues of Snot Jelly Island? Giggles galore guaranteed!
(Puffin, paperback, £9.99)

Age 5 plus
Fairytale Fiasco: Cinderella
Myles McLeod and Evgenia Golubeva

MEET Cleo! She has a special power and with the help of her friend, Book Mark, she can launch herself into any fairy tale and try to fix all the things that go wrong. The problem is that it tends to turn into a fiasco and she has to use her courage and quick wit to save the day! This clever, colourful and enchanting new comic-form series is the creation of husband and wife team, author Myles McLeod and illustrator Evgenia Golubeva, and with contemporary, fresh retellings of familiar favourites, each with a brilliant twist, the books dish up everything to entice and entertain newly independent readers.  Poor Cinderella is desperate to go to the ball, but even Cleo can’t charm her mean stepmother. 

Luckily Cinderella’s fairy godmother magics up all of Cleo’s clever ideas! But when midnight strikes, can Cleo make sure Cinderella lives happily ever after? And will Cleo get home in time for her bedtime story? And in Fairytale Fiasco: Hansel and Gretel we find the two children lost in the woods! But Cleo is there to help, and she won’t fall for the nasty witch’s mean tricks… or will she? Can Cleo and her new friends escape before they are baked into sticky toffee children? Packed full of McLeod’s empathetic storytelling and Golubeva’s endearing and inclusive colour illustrations, and published in a small size book that is tailor-made for little hands, early reading just got a whole lot of fun!
(Guppy Books, paperback, £7.99 each)

Age 4 plus
Rumpelstiltskin
Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis

THE classic tale of a nasty villain called Rumpelstiltskin – first written down in Germany over 200 years ago by the Brothers Grimm – gets a thoroughly modern makeover in this retelling by bestselling American author Mac Barnett. Given extra life and vibrancy by the stylish illustrations of Carson Ellis, whose artwork is inspired by folk art and mysticism, expect a wonderfully subversive account of the age-old tale of good guys and a very bad guy. Once upon a time there was a clever girl with a not-so-clever father. When her father claims she can spin straw into gold, the king forces the girl to perform this impossible task. She has no other choice than to accept a strange deal from a mysterious little man. But when he arrives and attempts to collect the debt, the fiendish trickster Rumpelstiltskin discovers that he is the one who has been tricked! Spun with lies, and some brilliant twists from the ever inventive and witty Barnett, and with the added delights of Ellis’ visual take on the favourite tale, this is Rumpelstiltskin as you’ve never before seen him!
(Scholastic, hardback, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
When Tad Kicked Vlad
Julian Gough and Ross Collins

HERE'S a pure genius picture book that is guaranteed to blow you away! The award-winning duo of Irish author Julian Gough and Glasgow-born illustrator Ross Collins are on top form as they kick off the year with the tale of shock, glee and a truly meteoric fart. In a moment of fury, induced by a piece of stolen cake, Tad kicks his best friend Vlad and runs away to hide. Unable to retaliate, but similarly feeling rather cross, Vlad kicks Tad’s mum who kicks the postman, who kicks a policewoman who kicks a politician… until the kick travels around the whole world! Only problem is that the kick land back up at Tad’s birthday party a year on. But then there’s something WORSE than a kick now in circulation. What on earth could be worse than a kick up the bum? It's up to Tad to wrestle with his anger, break the cycle and send something far better off round the world. Delivering laughter (and farts!) aplenty, Gough and Collins use slapstick comedy and a gallery of wonderfully anarchic filled illustrations in this brilliantly clever riotous romp about a circle of violence and how it finally gets broken. Ideal as a teaching tool for any child who has ever had an outburst, When Tad Kicked Vlad is a classic in the making!
(Faber Children’s books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Sticky Mildred
Alastair Chisholm and Rikin Parekh

TEASE and tickle your little ones into enjoying being clean, shiny and UNSTICKY with this chaotic caper from award-winning author Alastair Chisholm and imaginative illustrator Rikin Parekh. Sticky Mildred – a hilarious melee of mess, mayhem, and getting clean again – will have youngsters queueing up for bath night. Mildred Honeyfur loves being sticky and refuses to have a bath. She sets off to find the stickiest things in the world – doughnuts, pond slime, toffees and glue – until she becomes a ball of stickiness, rolling through the town sticking to everything… and everyone! Stuck in the ultimate sticky situation, will Mildred ever be stopped? With Chisholm’s subtle, fun-filled lessons about consequences and saying sorry, and Parekh’s brilliantly anarchic illustrations, this surreal cautionary tale of cleanliness is sure delight exasperated parents… and maybe make even the most reluctant kids excited about bath time!
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Breathe Deep
Joanie Leeds and Bárbara Quintino

Take a deep breath and dive into the latest singalong picture book from Barefoot Books. Read the story, listen to the song by scanning the barcode on the back of the book, watch the animation, and then sing along and dance with a soothing original lullaby by award-winning artiste Joanie Leeds! Breathe Deep – packed with Bárbara Quintino’s colourful illustrations – is the ideal way to calm little ones’ bodies and mind before bedtime. The gentle lyrics and soothing music guide children through a mindfulness exercise, bringing awareness to different parts of their bodies before they breathe deep and count from one to ten. And with endnotes providing more mindfulness activities to aid winding down and relaxing, parents and carers will be breathing easier at bedtime!
(Barefoot Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
New Boots: A Cedric & Boo Book
Tim Hopgood

A PAIR of shiny red boots becomes an unlikely battleground in a delightful board book from award-winning author and illustrator Tim Hopgood. Boo the elephant has just bought some new, shiny boots. So shiny that he can see his face in them! He absolutely does not want them to get dirty so he decides not to play outside any more. But when he sees his best friend, Cedric the crocodile, at the park, he can’t help but join him running through the autumn leaves. His boots get all muddy, but maybe his friendship with Cedric and the fun they have together is more important after all? Hopwood works his storytelling magic and picture perfect talents on this heartwarming tale as the adorable Cedric and Boo discover that friendship really is the key to happiness!
(Walker Books, board book, £7.99)

Winterbourne

Elisabeth Wolf

A REMOTE, wind and rain-battered island off the west coast of Scotland, a vast Victorian house with a magnificent library full of priceless first editions… and a young librarian eager to take a job far away from the haunting memories of a car crash that killed her beloved twin brother.

Twenty-four-year-old Anne Adams had hoped that taking up a post at Winterbourne House on Craigsea Rock would finally give her the peace of mind and privacy she yearned for but there is a secret room within the mansion’s walls and it houses forbidden books that should never, ever see the light of day.

Edinburgh-based author Elisabeth Wolf (pictured below) – who also writes crime novels as Alison Belsham – has won an army fans with her irresistible reinvention of the gothic genre, creating contemporary thrillers packed with classic tropes like crumbling mansions, vulnerable heroines, windswept landscapes and brooding anti-heroes, but alluringly spiced with a thread of supernatural mystery. And Winterbourne certainly dishes up the thrills, chills and dark romance as readers follow troubled librarian Anne Adams who travels to the isolated island to catalogue thousands of books only to discover that Winterbourne House is not just the source of strange happenings but has an owner as unpredictable, moody and dangerous as the sea that frames its views.

Anne’s life was literally turned upside down when a car she was driving swerved down an embankment, killing her much-loved twin brother Malcolm and leaving her with serious facial burns and a badly broken leg.

Distraught at the loss of Malcolm, Anne’s parents blame her for the terrible accident. Forced to stay with them until she has recovered enough, and feeling unloved, rejected, grief-stricken and guilty, Anne applies for a job cataloguing the library of Winterbourne, an architectural masterpiece on Craigsea Rock.

The island is owned by the largely absent Lucien Broussard and its only permanent inhabitants are the Coopers, an odd pairing of gruff brother and sister who live in a cottage by the jetty and work as housekeeper and groundsman. Anne will live alone in rambling Winterbourne House but she finds solace in both the awe-inspiring landscape and the library with its dazzling collection of books.

However, her early weeks in her new job are beset by obstacles… there’s no internet, the house plunges into darkness every night when the generator is switched off, a swarm of death’s head hawkmoths suddenly appear in the library, and she has two near-fatal accidents. And then there are the unexplained mysteries on the island such as the figure in the lighthouse, a freshly dug grave, and the unaccountable disappearance of the previous librarian who started the cataloguing but abruptly stopped.

When the dark and handsome Lucien visits, he and Anne dine together, they discuss literature and books, and she falls for his eloquence and charisma. But then she discovers a secret room off the library with an unspeakable collection of books… and the diary of the missing librarian whose experiences at Winterbourne mirror her own in an uncanny way. Shocked and afraid, Anne finds herself alone, frightened, vulnerable… and, worse still, she knows she has no way of calling for help or escaping the island.

Winterbourne proves to be a veritable vipers’ nest of secrets, shocking revelations and terrifying events as unsuspecting Anne fights to disentangle her mental fog of post-accident grief, fear, dreams and misconceptions from the nightmares that are unfolding around her.

Trapped on an island where contact with the outside world is almost impossible, the ever-changing weather rules the waves, and even the wildlife seems to have a menacing mind of its own, Anne’s  fears quickly start to ramp up and the actions of the dangerously charming but unsettling Lucien become increasingly disturbing.

Playing a devilishly clever game of gothic trickery, Wolf delves tantalisingly into the territory of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey with a cast of memorable characters – not least the creepy Coopers – and a house which seems filled to its creaking rafters with hidden evil.

From its terrifying storehouse of secrets to its spine-tingling, claustrophobic intensity, Winterbourne is a sweep-you-away, enthralling wild ride… and with an unexpected denouement that could well herald a second chapter, journey’s end might not yet be in sight!
(Black & White Publishing, hardback, £16.99)

City Girls Forever

Patricia Scanlan

CATCHING up with old friends is always a joy but when it’s the City Girls who won our hearts in three entertaining books from much-loved Irish author Patricia Scanlan then you know it’s going be extra special!

Yes, the City Girls – three Dublin friends who have shared their romantic, domestic and professional triumphs and traumas with a worldwide fan base over three bestselling books and three decades – are back and it seems fair to warn that laughter and tears are most definitely guaranteed.

City Girls Forever follows on from the much-loved trilogy, City Girl, City Woman and City Lives, and stars Devlin, Maggie and Caroline whose friendship began when they shared a house in Dublin. It was a friendship that soon became their lifelong emotional anchor as they faced the kind of dramas, love-life disasters and family changes that are all so familiar. A wise author who can peer into the soul, Scanlan (pictured below) doesn’t put a foot wrong when writing about the problems that so often beset women’s lives and in this new visit, we find the friends older and wiser but now wrestling with mid-life challenges like menopause, ageing parents, adult children, broken relationships, and unexpected new loves.

Packed with insight and Scanlan’s lovable Irish wit, this new chapter for Devlin, Maggie and Caroline also delves into the secrets that have remained hidden over the years whilst exploring what long‑term friendship looks like in real life… sometimes messy, sometimes exasperating, but often the one sure thing that holds everything else together.

Devlin Delaney’s iconic gym and spa, City Girl, is the ‘poshest’ in Dublin and she is preparing to mark the big 35-year anniversary with a fabulous party where she and best friends Caroline and Maggie can put their problems behind them and do some serious celebrating. But Devlin’s past has returned to haunt her with a shocking revelation relating to her misogynistic, cold-hearted and controlling ex-boyfriend Colin Cantrell-King who brought her only tragedy and suffering.

Caroline, labelled ‘a total workaholic’ by her friends, turned to psychotherapy work following a marriage that ended in despair and a hard-fought battle with alcoholism. A subsequent failed relationship, with a man she thought could be her forever love, left her with no faith in ever finding happiness. Still unable to face up to her own long-suppressed issues, Caroline has a new man in her life but will she ever let him become more than a friend?

For successful author Maggie, it’s her family that is driving her mad. Her daughter Shona is getting married and as she doesn’t get on with her dad, Maggie’s ex-husband Terry, he most definitely won’t be giving her away. That leaves Maggie ‘slap-bang in the middle’ and with an alarming discovery about her elderly mother’s financial affairs, Maggie has the urge to just run far away. One thing is for sure… sparks are going to fly, and some people are going to get a lot more than they bargained for!

From Dublin landmarks and Devlin’s stylish gym to family kitchens and the bracing country air of County Wicklow, Scanlan takes us on a whirlwind journey of discovery through some painful real-life ordeals, emotional storms, and tender moments of heartwarming poignancy.

Devlin might now be ‘ticking the fifties box’ and battling her menopausal ‘brain fog’ but remains the superwoman that readers of this vibrant, eternally enchanting series have come to love. For Maggie, family matters loom large with her daughter’s wedding threatening to re-open old battle lines but, as always, she tackles problems with humour, heart and gusto. Caroline, meanwhile, is still throwing herself into work, taking on board other people’s problems through her psychotherapy sessions but unable to fully process her personal history.

Scanlan is on top form as she weaves together the trials and tribulations of these three charismatic women whose lives we have shared down the years. And if you haven’t before met Devlin, Maggie and Caroline but have fallen for their authentic charm, fear not… City Girls Forever can easily be read as a standalone, although discovering the books that chart their earlier days could well be an irresistible temptation!
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Secret spies, ancient magic and danger at sea

Discover the amazing true story of how the Girl Guides worked undercover as spies during the First World War, lose yourself in the ancient magic and epic adventures of a soaraway fantasy series, join a school trip that becomes a frantic fight for survival, and brave the dangers of Ancient Rome’s towering Colosseum with a thrilling line-up of February children’s books

Age 9 plus
A Girl’s Guide to Spying
Holly Webb

FUN, friendship, secrets… and some super-slick espionage! Welcome to the first thrilling mystery of a dazzling new wartime adventure series from Holly Webb, one of Britain’s best-loved children’s authors. The Rose Patrol Mystery series was inspired by Webb’s own lifelong experiences and membership of Girlguiding, and by the amazing true story of how the Girl Guides worked undercover for MI5 during the First World War. Her parents fear that the organisation might be unladylike but when Phyllis (Phyl) Dean is dragged along to the Girl Guides by her keen younger sister Annie, the last thing she expects is the adventure of a lifetime. It’s the summer of 1914 and the start of the war and soon the Guide captain offers Phyl a job as a messenger for MI5. 

Phyl is desperate to help the war effort and is thrilled to be working with spies but she can’t seem to do anything right in the eyes of grumpy Major Warren, one of the MI5 officers. Annie, meanwhile, has been making her own investigations into a family she suspects of being German. When Major Warren suddenly disappears, Phyl and Annie think that he may in fact be a double agent. Now the two sisters must solve the mystery of his whereabouts before it’s too late. Fortunately, their friends from the Rose Patrol are ready to help...

Webb, who still volunteers as a Brownie and Guide Leader, certainly puts her heart, soul and humour into this first mystery romp which has all the classic ingredients of a spy drama… Morse code, murder, dramatic chases, a charming spy (of course!) and even a bullish bull terrier called Hector. With real history as the backdrop, an intriguing mystery to solve, danger always just around the corner, plenty of twists and turns, and the thrill of joining a group of gutsy Guides with a case to crack, this is the perfect opener for what promises to be a must-read series!
(Rock the Boat, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Evenfall: The Tempest Stone
Alexander Armstrong and Tom Roberts

ANCIENT magic, soaraway fantasy, epic adventures and deadly danger! If that’s a mix that tickles your reading taste buds, then dive into Evenfall: The Tempest Stone and lap up the second book of a thrilling series that fuels your imagination and pulls at your heartstrings. As the father of four sons, Alexander Armstrong – a familiar face and voice from television and radio – knows that sharing the joys of reading and stories is an important part of growing up. And after a childhood in the north-east of England, with its mystical history of the ancient North, he has finally created a truly magical series which has lived in his head for many years. The Golden Linnet, first book of the dazzling Evenfall series, was the number one bestselling children’s debut and described by one critic as ‘Da Vinci Code for kids.’ Thought-provoking as well utterly enthralling, these wild and wonderful adventures have a moving thread of realism and star a 13-year-old boy who had always believed himself to be ordinary until he discovered his destiny was something far more extraordinary.

Sam is now the Tempest – head of the secret, ancient Order of the Evening that protects the world from evil. But with great power comes great responsibility and Sam holds the future of the world in his hands. Sam’s nemesis is Georgie, a madman with the terrifying power to slice through portals of time and he is on a mission to destroy the world with a virus so deadly that it could wipe out the whole human race in a heartbeat. Sam and his friends are the only ones can who stop him and this deadly game of cat-and-mouse will take them to the very ends of the Earth. But not everyone will survive… With Tom Roberts’ atmospheric and richly detailed black-and-white illustrations setting the scene, a hero who everyone is taking to their hearts, and a stories brimming with magic, intrigue, peril and glory, this is a stunning series which succeeds in fulfilling every childhood fantasy!
(Farshore, hardback, £14.99)

Age 11 plus
Escape
Sophie McKenzie and Melania Badosa

WHEN her school trip takes a perilous turn, Bernice must channel all of her knowledge to survive in this gripping drama from the queen of teen thrillers, Sophie McKenzie. Perfectly pitched at struggling Key Stage 3 readers aged eleven and over, published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format, and with complex and authentic teen relationships at its heart, Escape will have youngsters hooked from first page to last. Bernice had been looking forward to a dream school trip to a sea-life sanctuary but the day becomes a nightmare when she finds herself in a race against the tide. Her friends’ reckless behaviour plunges them all into the freezing waters of Shark Bay and Bernice has to confront her fears and summon all her knowledge of marine life to find a way to safety. But in shark-infested waters, can she act quickly enough to save the day? Overflowing with edge-of-your-seat high-school drama and fascinating marine life facts, and illustrated throughout by Melania Badosa's atmospheric black-and-white illustrations, Escape is a sure-fire winner for your tweenies!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Nova
Chris Bradford and Charlotte Grange

WHEN a space-travelling boy’s life-craft is pulled into a wormhole, he’s going to need a whole galaxy of luck to return to safety! Star-struck young readers will be over the moon when they get their hands on the final book of a heart-thumping, outer-space trilogy from top-selling children’s author, Chris Bradford, and illustrator Charlotte Grange which has included Lunar and Stellar. Max Nova is heading to Mercury with his father, a space trucker, when their ship is suddenly diverted. They have a new urgent mission. An abnormal gravity reading has been detected near the Sun. There are fears that this could signal the start of a supernova! But what Max and his father discover is much more dangerous – and far stranger – than any supernova. Flung to the outer reaches of the universe, Max must navigate some perilous dangers to find his way home before time runs out! Bradford, creator of the hugely popular Young Samurai and Bodyguard series, is a master of authentic and thrilling adventures and Nova delivers not just his familiar nail-biting action drama but a standalone story threaded through with fascinating facts about space travel. Brought to life by Grange’s atmospheric black-and-white illustrations, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this final space-bending survival thriller is a mission you won’t want to miss!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Impossible Gladiator
M.G. Leonard and Manuel Sumberac

TAKE your seat on the chariot, hold on to the reins, and brave the dangers of Ancient Rome’s towering Colosseum in the third thrilling time-travelling adventure of bestselling author M.G. Leonard’s epic Time Keys series in which music is used to open doors into the past. Loved and admired for her prodigious imagination which has created stories about fantastical beetles, beautiful birds and thrilling train rides, Leonard was inspired to write this breathtaking series from her own lifelong passion for music and she certainly hits all the right notes with these all-action mysteries, brought to vibrant life by Croatian artist Manuel Sumberac’s richly detailed and atmospheric illustrations.

So buckle up and enjoy an utterly spellbinding journey back in time with Sim, his cousin Jeopardy and friend Nelson, a band of young musicians who discovered they have the ‘keys’ to open time doors and travel through epochs and age in a bid to search for treasure and solve mysteries. Here we find the trio enjoying an amazing holiday in Rome until they are swept up in the mysterious disappearance of world-famous illusionist Kinetic. He vanished during a live broadcast from the Colosseum but never reappeared. When Kinetic’s sister finds a strange description in a history book of a gladiator who sounds uncannily like her brother, the friends are determined to help. They travel through secret time doors to the spectacular – and deadly – Colosseum, but can the brave trio survive long enough to find Kinetic and bring him home? Gladiator meets the time-travelling wonders of Doctor Who in this terrific adventure which harnesses the thrills and spills of Ancient Rome with the fun of witnessing history in the raw. Ideal as a standalone novel, or enjoyed as part of the Time Keys series, The Impossible Gladiator is simply past perfect!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
The Galaxy World Cup
Alan Joyce

AS the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws enticingly closer, give your youngsters an early warm-up with this brilliant tale of intergalactic soccer shenanigans from debut author (and football fanatic!) Alan Joyce. Billed as Space Jam with football, The Galaxy World Cup is a fun-filled feast of slapstick comedy and features everything from wormholes to bouncy pitches as exciting South Tyneside writer Joyce rolls out his perfect underdog story. When aliens mistake schoolboy Nick Wilson and his fellow misfits for the world’s greatest football players, they are whisked across the Milky Way to compete in an intergalactic football tournament against real aliens. The only problem is they are NOT the greatest football players on Earth… in fact, they’re the WORST! But if they want to go home, they’ll have to lace up their boots and try to actually score a goal. Joyce plays a blinder with his wacky and wonderfully original intergalactic adventure which hits home with its eternally popular and relatable themes of friendship and team spirit, and is right on goal when it comes to drawing in reluctant readers. The perfect World Cup warm-up!
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Toby and the Pixies: How to be Cool!
James Turner and Andreas Schuster

BUCKLE up and get ready to laugh out loud as illustrator, cartoonist and comic writer James Turner teams up with German-born cartoonist Andreas Schuster for another unstoppable ride into side-splitting silliness! How to be Cool! is fourth of their hilarious Toby and the Pixies graphic comic book series which is brimming with chaotic energy and pixie mayhem, and was originally published in the hugely popular The Phoenix comic. So head off to an ordinary town and meet shy and anxious Toby Cauldwell who thought he was an ordinary schoolboy until a magical kingdom full of pixies in his garden named him their king! Now, the pixies are always on hand to assist their leader but end up causing complete and utter chaos in the process. Toby is currently trying his best to reinvent himself as ‘T-train,’ the coolest boy in school, and the pixies are keen to help… but every time they do, things go very wrong. From giving Toby a ‘fresh start’ at school by erasing everyone’s memories – including his Dad’s and his best friend Mo’s – to mixing up their magical size-changing powder on Toby’s spot causing it to grow GIGANTIC, the pixies seem to wreak havoc wherever they go! Brimming with all the zany slapstick fun that young readers expect from their comic book anti-heroes, this anarchic series delivers unlikely friendships, madcap antics and pixie-themed magic. And for readers who love to draw and want to create awesome characters just like Toby and the Pixies, the back of the book has a section of how-to-draw tutorials from illustrator Schuster plus links to The Phoenix comic club website where you can find draw-along videos, free printable material and top tips from lots of creators. Everything you could wish for when two superstar comedy creators let their imaginations run wild!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 5 plus
Lift and Learn: Our Weather
Isabel Otter and Hannah Tolson

FROM sunshine to snow and ice, weather happens all around us… but have you ever wondered how it works? How does the wind blow, what are hailstones, and how do we feel heat? Discover the answers to these questions and more by delving into five amazing weather systems in this beautifully created and educational book written by Isabel Otter and cleverly illustrated by Ilkley-based artist Hannah Tolson. Join in the lift-the-flap fun and get ready to come across fascinating facts about everything from rain, thunder and lightning to sunshine, wind and snow. Combining learning with an engaging text and colourful illustrations, this sturdy, cased board book guide to the weather not only provides valuable geographical knowledge but also inspires youngsters to get outside and explore nature. Perfect for nature lovers and budding geologists!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £12.99)

Age 5 plus
Watts & Whiskerton: The Great Glacier Hotel Heist
Meg McLaren

AN adorable cat-and-dog detective duo have a case to crack as well as the ice in the third adventure of a mystery and mischief-filled series from Waterstones Children’s Book Prize-shortlisted author and illustrator Meg McLaren. Highly illustrated throughout in child-friendly, two-tone colours, the adventures of Watts & Whiskerton are doggedly delightful and purr-fectly fun for emerging young readers. In this new wintertime caper outing, budding detective Watts and his friend Pearl Whiskerton, a curious cat with a nose for mysteries, are looking forward to a holiday at the Great Glacier Hotel and Ski Resort. But when they arrive, their quiet vacation soon turns into another high-stakes investigation. The priceless Ice Crystal has been stolen from the hotel safe, and Watts’ parents are the prime suspects! Will Watts and Pearl be able to clear Mr and Mrs Watts’ names, and will they be able to catch the real jewel thief? With McLaren’s comic-style illustrations and a locked room mystery bursting with sleuthing, heavy snow, and suspicious staff, Watts and Whiskerton’s ice-packed new adventure is guaranteed to melt every reader’s heart!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
Bear’s Perfect Dance
Rachel Tilda Wolf

DANCING to the music in your heart is the quick step to happiness in this warm and joyful picture book from author and illustrator Rachel Tilda Wolf whose passion is creating and developing empowering stories for children. So meet Bear who loves to dance… he practises all day long and spends hours perfecting his moves. But one thing bothers Bear… he’s always dancing by himself, and some dances are better with two. Will he ever be able to find an equally perfect dance partner? Bear’s discovery of a new dance partner is brought to vibrant life by an array of colourful illustrations featuring a forest full of fun and friendly animals. With her trademark warmth and humour, Wolf explores the importance of connection and friendship, the rewards of self-discovery and embracing imperfection, and how being open to new ideas and compromise brings companionship and happiness. It really DOES take two to tango!
(Scallywag Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Owl and Moon
Kate Rolfe

ALSO dancing to the music of time is a little Owl who can’t help but feel sad at the darkness left behind by the waning Moon. If your little ones have their own fears about the darkness of night time, bring a touch of comfort and magic to their bedtime wind-down with this beautifully soothing and comforting picture book from award-winning author and illustrator Kate Rolfe. When Moon shines down, Owl's toes feel tingly and her wings feel fluttery, and she can't help but dance in the moonlight. But what happens when Moon begins to wane and Owl is left in the darkness? Will she find the inner strength to venture out beyond her treetop home and dance anyway? With its gentle and joyful themes of friendship, kindness, finding your own path, and shining your light even in the deepest dark, and gorgeous illustrations in the alluring light and dark shades of night time, this is the perfect antidote to those bedtime blues!
(Two Hoots, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert is Scared of Frogs
Chris Naylor-Ballesteros 

RRIIBBIITT! With a good friend beside you, even scary moments can have a happy ending! Author and illustrator Chris Naylor-Ballesteros steals our hearts again with another emotionally powerful and fun-filled picture book featuring Frank and Bert, his stellar fox and bear double act. And this time, the dynamic duo are heading into the great outdoors to contemplate on facing up to your fears, and to celebrate the joys and rewards of a true friendship. Frank the fox and Bert the bear are the best of friends, and they love to sail Bert’s toy boat on the little pond. But – oh no! – there’s a FROG in the pond today and Bert is scared of frogs. Poor Bert! Frank wants to help his best friend… but is he just a little bit frightened, too? With its warm and wise heart, and infectious sense of fun, this enchanting story – brought to vibrant life by Naylor-Ballesteros’ stunning illustrations, with their eye-catching use of colour, expression and visual humour – proves that conquering your fears and making new friends is all part of a life well-lived. And with giggles guaranteed right through to the last page, and a free Stories Aloud QR code audio recording to enjoy, this is plain sailing for all little fun-lovers!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Mrs Owl’s Forest School: The Treasure Hunt
Ruth Symons, Seb Braun and Lizzie Noble

IF you go down to the woods today... you’ll find fun at a very special forest school! The joys of the great outdoors spring to glorious (and fascinating!) life in the latest adventure of an inspirational picture book series which aims to get youngsters into the wild and wonderful world of nature. Deep in the woods, beneath the trees, the animals are gathering. It’s time for Mrs Owl's Forest School. Join Mouse, Squirrel, Fox and Rabbit as they learn about wildlife, try something new, get creative and – of course – make friends! Out in the woods today, they are taught about trail-making and will enjoy the fun of following clues to find treasure, discovering along the way that nature might be the most precious gift of all. Written by author Ruth Symons in consultation with Lizzie Noble, a forest childcare provider with experience of running creative, play-based forest school sessions for families, and featuring richly detailed and colourful scenes created by French artist Seb Braun, these beautiful books will have little ones itching to explore their local woodland. And with exciting, fact-packed stories to share, and lots of activities to try for yourself, the Mrs Owl’s Forest School books are the perfect accompaniment for your own spring and summertime adventures.
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age one plus
Baby, You're Our Sunshine
Sophie Beer

BABIES can be loud like thunder, roly-poly like the clouds, and even jiggly like a raindrop! But all babies bring light and joy into our lives… just like sunshine. This joyful board book from award-winning Australian author and illustrator Sophie Beer captures all the delights of life with a baby, the wonder of the natural world and the love between parent and child. Baby, You're Our Sunshine is the perfect celebration of beautiful babies with a simple, gentle text and Beer’s bright, bold and affectionate illustrations. Featuring chunky pages and vibrant art, the book is an ideal gift for new parents, and a lovely and loving reminder to carers to slow down and enjoy the precious moments with little ones.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)