We’ll Meet Again

Rosie Archer

ARE the high-flying Bluebird Girls about to be grounded by the trials and tribulations of wartime?

Welcome back to Gosport, the Hampshire town with a long and distinguished naval and maritime history which has become familiar to an army of readers thanks to the wonderful novels of Rosie Archer, one of its proudest inhabitants.

In the second book of her captivating, music and nostalgia-packed Bluebird Girls series, Archer whisks us back to the south coast of England where the dreams, dramas and dilemmas of three young singers play out against the dark days of the Second World War.

Rainey Bird, Ivy Sparrow and Bea Herron, the trio of Gosport songsters seeking fame and fortune during the uncertainties of war, have won the hearts of thousands of readers and now they take centre stage again in the icy January days of 1941.

ON SONG: Rosie Archer

The sound of ‘screaming bombs’ may have become horribly familiar in the Gosport area but it hasn’t stopped the Bluebird Girls from a busy round of engagements, including an appearance at the King’s Theatre in Portsmouth where they received a standing ovation.

The three teenagers are now well on their way to stardom and their kindly chaperone, Rainey’s mum Jo, and loyal driver and manager, Blackie Wilson, think the time has come for the girls to pack in their jobs at the armaments factory.

From workingmen’s clubs to the glamour of the Savoy Hotel, the Bluebirds have a string of appearances planned and there is even talk of performing with ENSA, the newly-formed Entertainments National Service Association, whose aim is to entertain the troops at home and abroad. But the war is raging on and reaching the top of their game will not be easy. Blonde bombshell Bea is still dealing with the fallout from a drunken episode with a sailor last winter, Rainey is determined to live up to her mother’s belief in her, but finds herself struggling with the whirlwind of life in showbusiness, and Ivy, usually so self-possessed, is hopelessly in love with Bea’s handsome older brother Eddie.

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As bombs rain down and rationing bites even harder, it will take all their determination, good humour and the support of friends and family to see them through. Can the girls keep their dream alive or are they heading for a fall?

Archer’s warm, nostalgic and gritty wartime series sings out loudly about the power of friendship, family and community at a time when daily life was under threat from bombing raids, rationing was in full force, and the loss of loved ones was a real and constant possibility.

The trio of gutsy songbirds, Rainey’s loving and supportive mum Jo, and the long-suffering Blackie are a delightful cast of characters as they all work hard to keep smiling through the many hardships thrown in their way, and to boost morale both at home and with the troops abroad.

With period charm and nostalgia on every page – whether that’s wartime songs, rationed food, the dreaded black-out or the wail of air raid sirens – this is a super showcase of romance and drama for all saga fans.

(Quercus, paperback, £6.99)

Tombland

C.J. Sansom

TWO years after the death of King Henry VIII, his son, the eleven-year-old boy king Edward VI, is on the throne but it’s chaos that reigns. Religious change is ‘convulsing’ the country, a prolonged war with Scotland is proving disastrous, the coffers are empty, inflation is raging, and rebellion is stirring among the peasantry because enclosure of common land has robbed many of their livelihoods.

Tudor England has never seemed so vibrantly alive and viscerally authentic than in the pages of the extraordinary Matthew Shardlake novels and after a five-year wait, C.J. Sansom’s mild-mannered, middle-aged, hunchback lawyer makes a magnificent return.

Tombland is the seventh book in a remarkable series which takes us as close as it is possible in fiction to the political and social realities of 16^th century life, and deep into the everyday existence of the people who strived, fought, worked and – in this case – rebelled, in one of the most tumultuous periods of English history. 

At the centre of the action is Matthew Shardlake, a London barrister and a man with close connections to the throne, and through his eyes we have witnessed – like awestruck bystanders  –  some of the major events of the age unfold in a gripping fusion of drama, menace, emotion and sheer terror.

BLOCKBUSTER;
C.J. Sansom

Here, we are swept back to Norfolk in the summer of 1549 where Shardlake is investigating a particularly brutal murder, and a band of dissatisfied peasants led by Robert Kett are making camp on a barren stretch of grassland at Mousehold Heath near Norwich.

While England waits for young Kind Edward to grow into his inheritance, his uncle Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, rules as Protector. Radical Protestants, now firmly in charge of religion, are stirring up discontent amongst Catholics while the Protector’s prolonged war with Scotland threatens to involve France, and the economy is in collapse.

Since King Henry’s death, Matthew Shardlake has been working as a lawyer in the service of his younger daughter, the Lady Elizabeth, but the gruesome murder of Edith Boleyn, wife of John Boleyn, a distant Norfolk relative of Elizabeth’s mother Anne, could have serious political implications for the 15-year-old girl.

The case brings Shardlake and his trusty sidekick Nicholas Overton to the summer assizes at Norwich where they are reunited with Shardlake’s former assistant Jack Barak, and soon the three men find layers of mystery and danger surrounding Edith’s death as a second murder is committed.

Suddenly East Anglia explodes as peasant rebellion that has been brewing for some time breaks out across the country. The yeoman Robert Kett leads a force of thousands in overthrowing the landlords and soon the rebels have taken over Norwich, England’s second largest city.

Barak throws in his lot with the rebels while Overton, who is opposed to them, becomes a prisoner in Norwich Castle. As for Shardlake, he must decide where his ultimate loyalties lie as government forces in London prepare to march north and destroy the rebels. And just as worrying is the discovery that the murder of Edith Boleyn may have connections reaching into both the heart of the rebel camp… and the Norfolk gentry.

Tombland is a big, beautiful blockbuster of a novel… 800 pages of the nearest thing to living real historical events as we are plunged into the sights, smells, sounds of Tudor England, and the political and social maelstrom of the 1549 peasant rebellions, ‘a colossal event,’ says the author, ‘that has been much underplayed.’

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Little is known of Robert Kett and his followers but using wide historical research and the vast sweep of his powerful imagination, Sansom brings the rebels and their extraordinary assault on Norwich to vivid life.

Humane, intelligent and obsessively cautious, Shardlake is a simply brilliant creation, allowing us a window on to both court politics and the concerns of ordinary men and women. United here with his ebullient former assistant Jack Barak, the wily lawyer is only one step away from danger when his investigations into the Boleyn family unearth a veritable nest of vipers, and the rumblings on the heath turn into a battle royal.

Packed with rich period detail, thrilling mystery, some forgotten corners of Tudor history, and with a fascinating scene-setting essay by the author at the end of the book, there can be no more pleasurable read than a date with the inimitable Matthew Shardlake… and his talented creator.

(Pan, paperback, £8.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Magical mysteries, amazing explorers and brilliant girls

Meet a girl with a mysterious past, discover what it takes to be an explorer, get close up to some extraordinary bugs, and find out what happens in the world of night time in a super new collection of children’s books

Age 9 plus:

The Girl Who Speaks Bear

Sophie Anderson 
and Kathrin Honesta

SIT back, make yourself comfortable, and get ready for the most fabulous fantastical journey you will take this autumn!

Lake District author Sophie Anderson, who won critical acclaim and a place on the CILIP Carnegie Medal shortlist for her debut novel, The House with Chicken Legs, can’t put a foot wrong in the world of middle grade fiction.

Inspired by Slavic folk tales and the stories of her Prussian grandmother, this exciting writer is bewitching us all with her sublime and lyrical storytelling, a gift which allows her to sweep readers away to soaring, evocative landscapes where magic, folklore and realism blend together in memorable mesmerising adventures.

EPIC FANTASY:
Sophie Anderson

And her wild and wonderful imagination takes flight once again in The Girl Who Speaks Bear, the epic fantasy tale of a girl raised by a bear in the cave of a faraway land and determined to discover who she is, and where she belongs.

‘They call me Yanka the Bear. Not because of where I was found – only a few people know about that. They call me Yanka the Bear because I am so big and strong.’

Found abandoned near a bear cave when she was just two years old, Yanka was raised by her kindly foster mother Mamochka who said they were meant to be together, but that hasn’t stopped Yanka, now aged 12, wondering where she is from. Yanka towers above all the other 12-year-olds in her small village and she is stronger than everyone, even the grown-ups. She tries to ignore the strange whispers and looks from the villagers, wishing she was as strong on the inside as she is on the outside.

Only her real parents could explain who she is, why she’s so different, and why she hears the trees ‘whispering secrets’ and the nearby Snow Forest pulling her into its tangled and icy mysteries.

And when she wakes up one morning to find that her legs have become bear legs, Yanka is joined by her house weasel Mousetrap, and her best friend Sasha, as she flees into the Snow Forest looking for answers about who she really is.

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What they discover is a journey far beyond one that Yanka had ever imagined… from icy rivers to smouldering mountains, the intrepid adventurers are set to meet an ever-growing band of unforgettable and extraordinary friends.

Anderson’s gorgeous story is littered with the stuff of fairy story dreams… bears, princesses, dragons, wolves and a thrilling parallel world. But it is also grounded in traditional values like compassion, love, identity, family and belonging, and Yanka’s mission speaks loudly about the importance of self-discovery and acceptance.

Multi-layered, beautifully illustrated by Kathrin Honesta, and packed full of powerful emotions, The Girl Who Speaks Bear gives classic folklore a fresh and vivid impetus whilst delivering a gripping modern fairy tale in which the past, present and future all play indispensable roles. This is a remarkable writer already at the top of her game, and her next tale of magic and adventure can’t come a moment too soon!

(Usborne, paperback, £6.99)

Age 7 plus:

Explorers: Amazing Tales of the World’s Greatest Adventures

Nellie Huang and Jessamy Hawke

TAKE a leap into the great unknown and find out just what it takes to be an explorer. DK (Dorling Kindersley) has become a byword in beautifully designed and illustrated children’s books and their exciting new non-fiction story book introduces youngsters to some of the world’s most audacious and ambitious explorers.

What child could resist joining big names like Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, James Cook, Vasco de Gama, Gertrude Bell and Marco Polo as they venture into steaming jungles in search of lost temples, fight off frostbite in the Arctic, and blast off into space!

Great explorers have one thing in common… a desire to leap into the unknown, no matter how dangerous that might be. From Magellan’s first circumnavigation of the world 500 years ago to the incredible achievements of Barbara Hillary, the first known African-American woman to reach the North Pole, a mission she accomplished at the age of 75 in 2007, Explorers documents the trials and hardships of the men and women who rewrote our understanding of the world, and showed us what humans are capable of.

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Discover the amazing 18^th century French botanist and explorer Jeanne Baret who was the first woman to sail around the world but had to go undercover dressed as a man because there was a ‘no women allowed’ rule on naval ships. And learn about Esteban Dorantes, a shipwrecked slave from Morocco who, in the 16^th century, was one of the first great explorers of the southern United States and became the first African to set foot in what is now Texas, and spent years trying to reach Mexico.

From across the globe and including a diverse range of genders, nationalities and abilities, Explorers looks at the towering achievements of more than fifty explorers in great detail, with incredible cross-sections revealing the amazing detail inside Spanish galleons, lost cities, and spaceships.

Hand-drawn maps reveal their intrepid journeys in great detail, and photographs highlight the artefacts and relics they found along the way. The explorers come from all walks of life and parts of the world. Combining richly detailed illustrations by Jessamy Hawke with fantastic photography, and packed with jaw-dropping facts written by adventure travel blogger Nellie Huang in language that will set young hearts heart racing, Explorers is the perfect book for any budding adventurer.

(DK Children, hardback, £16.99)

Age 7 plus:

Forgotten Fairy Tales of Brave 

and Brilliant Girls

Edited by Lesley Sims, designed by Sam Whibley 

and with a foreword by Kate Pankhurst

FORGET princesses waiting patiently to be rescued… because once upon a time, it wasn’t just boys who saved the day! Boys will marvel and girls will be inspired by this gorgeously produced book featuring eight largely forgotten but wonderfully empowering fairy tales starring fearless heroines who outwit giants, fight evil, awaken sleeping princes and, of course, live happily ever after.

Brought together to inspire a new generation of readers, and brimming with stunning illustrations, these diverse and delightful stories prove that heroines are not quiet and passive, but adventurous, intelligent and daring.

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In her foreword, Kate Pankhurst, author of Fantastically Great Women who Changed the World, reminds young readers that ‘stories can enchant our imaginations and shape our view of the world; they can even make us think differently about ourselves.’ And the introduction explains how, over the centuries, the fairy tales that became famous – and more often than not featured male heroes – overshadowed all the others and the tales of brave and brilliant girls were often hidden from view.

So here’s the chance to enjoy some lost fairy tales, which originate from various North European countries, including Spain, Germany, Scotland and England, and introduce us to a sleeping prince rescued by a princess, sisters who fight a goblin to rescue a bear, and a young girl who outwits a giant to save her family.

Inspirational, intriguing, and starring the feisty girls that time forgot, this exciting collection is the perfect gift for all young adventurers.

(Usborne, hardback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus:

The Battle for Perfect

Helena Duggan

IT'S the final showdown for the Town that used to be Perfect… but is still not perfect. There’s a maniacal genius at work in the third and final book of Helena Duggan’s outstandingly entertaining adventure series which included A Place Called Perfect and The Trouble with Perfect, and has become must-reading for middle graders.

A graphic designer and illustrator, Duggan’s inspiration for this offbeat, creepily addictive and excitingly imaginative trilogy was Kilkenny, her medieval, haunted home city in the south of Ireland. Blending good and evil, spine-chilling thrills, magic and menace, these fantastic fantasy mysteries fulfil every must-have ingredient for a classic adventure story and put the importance of family at the heart of the action.

ADDICTIVE TRILOGY:
Helena Duggan

Star of the show is ten-year-old Violet Brown who moved to a town called Perfect with her scientist father and found it to be anything but! However, having uncovered the secrets and plots that lay behind the spookily pristine town of Perfect (now called Town), Violet, her best friend Boy and the townsfolk are enjoying some much-needed quiet after the arrest of the evil Archer brothers, Boy’s uncles.

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But then Violet receives a strange note and she catches the scheming Tom, Boy’s identical twin brother, sneaking about. When stories reach her and Boy about five missing scientists, they soon uncover more trouble is brewing and a terrible plan is being hatched.

The Town is about to be taken over by a huge zombie army. Can Violet and Boy save themselves and their friends? It’s a matter of life or death! Fearless, feisty Violet has proved inspirational heroine for today’s youngsters, daring to go where  others fear to tread, and willing to tackle danger and face up to those who would do us harm through bullying, intimidation or threats.

Set against a perfectly imagined fantasy world and full of Duggan’s now trademark humour, intrigue, danger and thrilling adventures, The Battle for Perfect is the perfect ending to what has been one of the most perfect middle grade reading journeys.

(Usborne, paperback, £6.99)

Age 9 plus:

Lori and Max

Catherine O’Flynn

TWO misfit girls turn super sleuths in a beautifully observant comic crime mystery from prize-winning author Catherine O’Flynn.

O’Flynn whose adult debut novel, What Was Lost, won the Costa First Novel Award in 2008, delivers a brilliant children’s crime fiction debut which was inspired by her own upbringing in a family with six children in the tough inner-city of Birmingham.

Lori and Max, a crime story which addresses many unsettling, contemporary issues, is a book she says that she ‘was always meant to write.’ Written through alternating perspectives, this is a story with relatable and quirky characters and with a clever, compelling narrative that uses the lightest of touches to explore some challenging family situations.

Orphan Lori Mason wants to be a detective, but so far the most exciting mystery she has solved is the disappearance of her Nan’s specs down the side of the sofa… three identical cases in fact. There is also the unsolved case of Lori’s neighbour’s missing cat, Mr Socks, but that all falls by the wayside when new girl Max joins Class 6B.

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Lori is asked to look after her but Max is a bit weird. Her clothes don’t quite fit and her hair is as wild and unkempt as her attitude. She doesn’t fit in but then Lori realises she doesn’t really fit in either and the two outsiders end up becoming loyal friends.

When some class charity collection cash goes missing and Max disappears at the same time, Lori seems to be the only person who doesn’t think Max has stolen it and run away. Even the police don’t want to investigate and suddenly Lori finds she has a real crime to solve, along with some classroom conspiracies. Can Lori, along with her bobble hat wearing Nan and Mr Meacham from the sweet shop, track down Max and clear her name?

Max and Lori are both youngsters facing serious social issues that affect their daily lives… Lori has lost both her parents and Max is a neglected child and a carer for her dysfunctional family. Both girls seek escape in their vivid imaginations and a sense of bravado, and O’Flynn harnesses their uncertainties, fears and worries for a story filled with mystery, suspense, poignancy and compassion.

The power of friendship shines through in this funny, bittersweet tale which tackles serious issues head-on but also offers the hope of happiness, achievement and a better future.

(Firefly Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus:

There Are Bugs Everywhere

Lily Murray and Britta Teckentrup

THERE are bugs everywhere… some of them live in jungles, some of them underwater, and some certainly live in your house!

Get out your magnifying glass and explore the world of bugs in the second in a series of exciting non-fiction books illustrated by the talented Britta Teckentrup. Young readers will love discovering where in the world all sorts of insects and bugs can be found, and all the weird and wonderful things about them that they never imagined were true. Venture into rainforests where tarantulas hunt and a single square mile can be home to more than 50,000 different species.

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Peek inside hives where bees live incredibly organised lives, working together to produce food, care for their young and protect each other against predators, and learn how parent bugs will go to all sorts of lengths to attract mates, including dancing, bringing gifts, and risking their lives.

Written by Lily Murray, every page is filled with Teckentrup’s vibrant, colourful and detailed illustrations, and is crawling with the fascinating bugs that live everywhere from houses, gardens, deserts, woodlands and wetlands to caves, grasslands, rainforests and freezing Antarctica.

Creep-crawlies with attitude!

(Big Picture Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 5 plus:

Speedy Monkey (Colour Fiction)

Jeanne Willis and Chantelle 
and Burgen Thorne

WHEN picture books are too babyish and middle grade books too hard, just what can a young in-betweenie read? The answer is a wonderfully illustrated, full-colour fiction series from the ever-inventive book boffins at Little Tiger Press.

These beautifully produced books, with their sturdy hardbacks, enchanting stories and highly illustrated, glossy pages, are ideal for bridging the gap between picture books and chapter books for newly independent young readers. This funny and energetic new story about being yourself comes from the top team of award-winning author Jeanne Willis and South African illustration duo Chantelle and Burgen Thorne who delight in visual storytelling.

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Deep in the rainforest all is peaceful, all is calm... until Speedy Monkey comes along! Speedy can't keep still – all day long he whoops and swoops, prances and dances. The other animals are tired of Speedy’s crazy capers and long for some peace and quiet. Then danger strikes and the animals have to act fast. But where is Speedy when they need him?

Willis’ funny, high-octane story starring a chattering, curious and all-action money who learns about the world by asking questions is brought to glorious life by Chantelle and Burgen Thorne’s gallery of vivid, brightly coloured illustrations. Filled with the spirit of adventure and discovery and perfectly pitched for enthusiastic new readers, this is an eye-catching and exciting book for all the family to enjoy.

(Stripes, hardback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus:

The Usborne Book of Night Time

Laura Cowan and Bonnie Pang

AT night when youngsters are fast asleep in bed and dreaming, another world is waking up! Children will adore exploring the world of night in this gorgeous picture book which features nocturnal animals roaming the countryside, cities that never sleep, and the secrets and wonders of the night sky.

Spend a night in the Australian outback with koalas and rare bilbies, a night in the forest with leopards and bearded pigs, a night in space with shooting stars and the Milky Way, a night beneath the waves with octopus and sharks, and a night in the frozen North with Arctic foxes and reindeer.

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Packed with fascinating, bite-sized facts, all perfectly pitched for younger readers, and the busy, vibrant and atmospheric illustrations of Bonnie Pang, this enchanting book offers lots to look at and talk about on every page. And with links to specially selected websites enabling children to discover more about night life, this is the ideal book to discover what goes on after the sun goes down… from the safety of your warm and cosy armchair!

(Usborne, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus:

I’m not (very) afraid of the dark

Anna Milbourne and Daniel Rieley

AND if your little one is scared of the dark, turn the pages of another enchanting book from Usborne… and shine a new light on night time!

In the day, the Dark is small but when the sun goes down, the Dark stretches out. It gets bigger and bigger until it covers everything. The Dark can be scary, with shadows, ‘monster-y’ shapes on the wall and tap-taps on the window, but it can be other things too – it all depends on how you see it.

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This beautifully illustrated and imaginative picture book – packed with intriguing light and shade contrasts – tells the story of a little boy’s fear of the dark and helps to promote a more positive attitude to the darkness of night time. With its reassuring text and hundreds of intricate, laser-cut holes in which shapes and shadows on one page become simple, recognisable objects or vistas on another – including a stunning star-filled sky ­– this is the perfect antidote to scary dark nights.

(Usborne, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus:
Nibbles: The Monster Hunt

Emma Yarlett

HE’S back and he’s crunching his way into danger… Nibbles, the adorable yellow monster who has stolen hearts both young and old with his munching madness, is blasting off on a madcap new adventure in the wonderful world of books!

Multi-talented author and illustrator Emma Yarlett touches the funny bone of readers aged from nought to ninety as she rolls out her irresistible brand of clever, conceptual art and design work, and magical, fun-filled storytelling with her mischievous little book monster.

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The Monster Hunt is the third Nibbles adventure and offers the same captivating mix of imaginative storytelling, innovative flaps to lift and intriguing cut-out holes to peep through as youngsters embark on a journey of fun, facts, jokes and crazy capers.

Nibbles can’t help but cause chaos as he meets a dragon, takes a bite out of the moon, chases a cat, sinks a ship, goes for a ride on a rocket and makes a brand new friend...

Innovative, cleverly interactive, brimming with the kind of bright and lively illustrations that children love, and with fascinating facts about subjects as diverse as the sun and moon, cats and dogs, images and words, counting and colours, this a joyful and playful book that amuses, informs and entertains from first page to last.

(Little Tiger, hardback, £12.99)

 Age 3 plus:

Once Upon a Wild Wood

Chris Riddell

SEPTEMBER is proving to be an extra special treat for young readers with the publication of three magical picture books from Chris Riddell, the acclaimed author, illustrator, cartoonist and former Children’s Laureate.

First off the press is Once Upon a Wild Wood, the shortlisted picture book for last year’s Specsavers’ National Book Awards, which comes packed with Riddell’s signature artistic flair and soaring imaginative skill.

This super-funny story turns the classic fairy tales on their heads as a vibrant cast of familiar characters, from Red Riding Hood, Thumbelina and Rapunzel to Beauty and the Beast, the three bears and Cinderella, join a host of new faces in a story full of warmth, wit and Riddell’s trademark rich and colourful detail.

FLAIR: Chris Riddell

Little Green Raincape is on her way to Rapunzel’s party, deep in the wild woods. The way is long and dark, but Green is a smart girl. Smart enough to turn down apples offered by kindly old ladies, smart enough to turn down travel advice from helpful wolves, and above all, smart enough to solve a wealth of classic fairy tale problems… not least mend a lovelorn beast’s broken heart!

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Once Upon a Wild Wood is a richly imagined adventure starring fairy tale characters as you’ve never before seen them, and with a visual feast of Riddell’s illustrations on every page… picture book perfection!

Also out this month is The Emperor of Absurdia, the reprint of another classic picture book from Riddell, which gives centre stage to a strange and wonderful land where nothing is quite what it seems. Trees are birds, umbrellas are trees, and the sky is thick with snoring fish. Join one small boy as he tumbles out of bed into a crazy dreamland of wardrobe monsters, fierce dragons… and amazing adventure.

This exquisitely illustrated book is brimming with imaginative power and is sure to enchant readers as they return time and time again to enjoy the timeless story, and pore over the spectacular gallery of illustrations. A dream read for all the family!

And the same artistic prowess springs to glorious life in Wendel and the Robots, Riddell’s funny robot adventure with a subtle environmental message. Wendel is a very clever mouse, but he’s not a very tidy one. If his inventions go wrong, Wendel just throws them away and starts again. So when Clunk, his robot assistant, fills the sock drawer with cups and saucers and makes tea in a Wellington boot, Wendel throws him on the scrap heap and makes himself a new assistant… the Wendelbot. But he gets more than he bargained for, and soon Wendel finds himself on the scrap heap. Can he win back his workshop from the mighty Wendelbot? Let the robot battle commence!

Expect madness and mayhem as Riddell employs his characteristic verve on a wonderfully funny, action-packed story full of surprises and extraordinary inventions, and a reminder to all of us about the dangers of a throwaway society. Ingeniously imagined and illustriously illustrated…

(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99 each)

Age 2 plus:

The Smeds and the Smoos

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

SOAR into space with this glorious love story starring warring tribes of alien folk… the latest from the celebrated team that created The Gruffalo and Stick Man. Author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler work their special magic on a warmhearted and timely story underlining the importance of togetherness.

The Smeds and the Smoos is a funny, joyous and cleverly creative story full of Donaldson’s trademark irresistible rhyming and a lexicon of new nonsense words that will delight children.
Add on Scheffler’s vibrant, characterful and colourful gallery of illustrations, capturing the moving message, spirit and humour of two star-crossed aliens finding love against all the odds, and you have the perfect, inspirational story for a troubled world. 

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The Smeds (who are red) never mix with the Smoos (who are blue). So when young Smed Janet and Bill the Smoo fall in love, their families strongly disapprove. But peace is restored and love conquers all in this happiest of love stories… and there’s even a gorgeous purple baby to celebrate!

With an alien Gruffalo to spot along the way, powerful messages about love and friendship, and adorable characters to win everyone’s hearts, The Smeds and the Smoos is a marriage made… on a distant planet!

(Alison Green Books, hardback, £12.99)

The Love Child

Rachel Hore

A LOVE affair which blossomed amidst the death and despair of the First World War battlefields leaves 19-year-old Alice Copeman pregnant and at the mercy of a disapproving society which has little sympathy for unmarried mothers.

Forced by her father and stepmother to give up the baby for adoption, Alice must try to shut out the memory of her little girl but secrets from the past can never be truly buried… and two lives will intertwine in the most remarkable way. Rachel Hore, who worked in London publishing for many years and now teaches creative writing at the University of East Anglia, has become a master of beautiful, multi-layered novels and here she brings us the poignant tale of a young mother’s sacrifice and a girl’s desperate search for the truth.

Using her trademark compassion and human insight, Hore gets to the heart of the powerful bonds that tie a mother to her child, and the emotional fallout that ensues when that precious relationship is fractured.

MULTI-LAYERED NOVELS:
Rachel Hore

In 1917, Alice Copeman is serving as a VAD nurse on the Western Front when she falls in love with injured soldier Jack and, believing that they will one day marry, the young couple succumb to temptation. But when the man she loves is killed and 19-year-old Alice discovers she is pregnant, she returns home to London in disgrace and is told that she will have to give up the baby both for her own sake and the child’s to avoid shame and scandal.

Although Alice recognises that her stepmother Gwen has saved her from ‘a life in the shadows, a life that would have ended before it had properly begun,’ she cannot help but think about the small, ‘kitten-like’ baby girl she gave away, and still mourns the young soldier who would never have the chance to know his daughter.

Meanwhile, Edith and Philip Burns, a childless couple from a seaside town in Suffolk, yearn for a child of their own. They secretly adopt a baby girl, Irene, telling everyone that she is the child of cousins who have been killed in an accident.

But Edith, who often wonders why she allowed herself to take on a baby that she had never really ‘warmed to’ from the start, discovers soon afterwards that she is expecting a baby of her own and her son, Clayton, is the child that ‘would be hers indisputably.’

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As Irene grows up, she knows that she is adopted and different from other children, but no one will tell her the full truth of her birth, and so she finds solace with schoolboy Tom Dell and his eccentric, unmarried artist mother, Miss Juniper, who make her welcome in their modest home.

In London, Alice is putting hopes of marriage and children behind her, and inspired by the ‘sense of purpose’ she had found while nursing in France, she embarks upon a pioneering career as a doctor, striving to make her way in a male-dominated world.

And Irene, struggling to define her own life, eventually leaves her Suffolk home to find work and more self-fulfilment in London, and as the two women’s lives intertwine across two decades, will the painful separation of mother and child finally be resolved?

Hore weaves together the strands of Alice and Irene’s individual experiences with careful attention to historical and social detail, and through a cleverly worked cast of characters who bring added life and depth to a story steeped in authenticity and emotional wisdom.

The limitations and restrictions on women in what was still predominantly a man’s world in the post-First World War period spring to life and serve as a timely reminder of the ongoing battle for full female equality one hundred years later.

Warm, compelling, elegantly written, and full of fascinating 20^th century social history, The Love Child is the perfect read for autumn nights.

(Simon & Schuster, hardback, £16.99) 

Ghost Fire

Wilbur Smith with Tom Harper

WHEN teenagers Theo and Constance Courtney are orphaned in a brutal attack on a British fort in Madras in 1754, the siblings vow to each other that they will never be parted. But with the only life they have ever known now lying in ruins around them, and the future looking uncertain, both youngsters believe they have been cruelly betrayed by each other… can time ever heal the chasm that has opened up between them?

From the dawn of the 17th century right through to the 20th century, we have witnessed the fortunes and misfortunes of the sprawling and ambitious Courtney family as they negotiate war, social upheaval and the dark side of history.

Their creator is the phenomenally successful South African author Wilbur Smith whose thrilling novels have sold over 130 million worldwide, and whose full-time writing career began in 1964 with the publication of When the Lion Feeds. Fifty-five years later, the 86-year-old shows no sign of flagging as the nineteenth novel in the Courtney Series sweeps us away to the mid-18th century for an epic story of tragedy, loss, betrayal and courage.

FIRED UP:
Wilbur Smith

At the heart of this pulsating new adventure – written with thriller writer and historical novelist Tom Harper – is another branch of the sprawling Courtney family who find themselves caught up in the bitter French and Indian War of 1754-63, part of a larger imperial war between Britain and France known as the Seven Years’ War.

The French and Indian War pitted the colonies of British America against those of New France, a colony that stretched from Louisiana through the Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes to Canada, with each side supported by military units from their home countries and by American Indian allies.

In Ghost Fire, we meet 16-year-old Constance and 15-year-old Theo Courtney holed up in Fort St George, Madras, in 1754 as the rumblings of war between France and Britain are being felt amidst the well-heeled colonists making money by trading through the East India Company.

Inseparable since birth, the siblings are as different as chalk and cheese… ‘Connie’ Courtney is outspoken, restless and daring, constantly railing against the restrictions imposed on her as a female in a man’s world, while her younger, more cautious and serious brother has learned lessons from ‘painful experience.’

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When their parents are killed during an attack on the fort by the bellicose French, eager to capture some of the rich pickings in the East, the shattered young Theo blames himself for their deaths and is racked with guilt.

Left alone and orphaned, Connie and Theo are placed into the care of their cousin, Gerard Courtney, in Calcutta but while Connie revels in her new life of luxury, Theo is set to work as a clerk at the local fort and strikes a solitary and lonely path.

But he is still determined to atone for his mistakes and when he discovers that Connie is compromising and betraying him with her new free-spirited, free-living lifestyle, he decides to seek salvation in combat and conflict and joins the British in the war against the French and Indian army.

Connie, meanwhile, believes her brother has abandoned her, and abused and brutalised by a series of corrupt guardians, she vows never to let any man own her. Instead, she uses her beauty to manipulate her way to France, where she is welcomed into high society.

But Connie once again finds herself at the mercy of vicious men, whose appetite for war and glory lead her to the frontlines of the French battlefield in North America. And as the siblings find their destinies converging once more, they realise that the vengeance and redemption they both desperately seek could cost them their lives…

Smith is on his best form in this thrilling new adventure for the Courtneys as the action moves from the heat and humidity of Calcutta to the chic society of France and on to the warring amidst the wilderness of North America which would lead ultimately to the American Revolution.

Brimming with rich historical detail, real events, stirring adventure, bone-crunching violence, cruelty, conflict, and soaring passions, Ghost Fire delivers everything – and more – that we have come to expect from this exciting author.

Caught up in some of the most dangerous times in world history, Connie and Theo’s journey from childhood to adulthood is a spellbinding, rollercoaster ride, and one that no adventure-lover would want to miss!

(Zaffre, hardback, £20)

The Dark Side

Danielle Steel

AFTER her childhood was scarred by the tragic death of her sister, Zoe Morgan is determined to jealously guard her own daughter’s precious early years. But can a mother’s love be too powerful… and when does over-zealous care turn to serious harm?

Danielle Steel, one of the world’s most popular authors, turns her considerable talents to a gripping and haunting tale featuring a dark and disturbing side of motherhood that is rarely talked about.

The innocence of a child’s formative years jostles chillingly with the terrifying reality of a mother whose boundaries of parental protection tip into a well of unfathomable harm. The result is a harrowing story full of menace, white-knuckle psychological tension, and a twisted intensity that will have readers turning the pages with shaking hands and a sinking heart.

HAUNTING TALE:
Danielle Steel

Zoe Morgan and her younger sister Rose were always chalk and cheese siblings… Zoe, ‘long and angular,’ and Rose, round, small and smiling with ‘no sharp edges.’ But aged just three, Rose was diagnosed with leukaemia and life for both girls changed forever.

Almost overnight, Zoe’s idyllic childhood in San Francisco became a nightmare as her family watched Rose ‘slip away inch by inch’ over the next four years. Zoe witnessed how her parents dedicated themselves completely to Rose’s final days and when the end came, they were too ‘stunned and broken’ to deal with Zoe’s grief as well as their own.

The pressures of caring for a dying child proved too much and her parents divorced, leaving Zoe to care for herself both physically and emotionally.

As a young woman, Zoe sets the bar high for herself, giving up her training at medical school to pursue a career in a New York charity shelter for abused children where her deep compassion for disadvantaged youngsters finds a focus.

And when she marries caring child advocacy attorney, Austin Roberts, and has her own daughter, Jaime, Zoe is determined to be a perfect mother to the child who has filled ‘the aching void in her life without Rose.’

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But, haunted by ghosts of the past and increasingly obsessed with rigid child-rearing theories, Zoe’s long-dormant scars begin to pull her to the edge of an abyss which becomes more sinister and more deadly by the day…

The Dark Side is not an easy read… it’s a story full of emotional and domestic upheaval, mental disturbance, and events that are hard to contemplate, but it is also searingly honest and psychologically astute, allowing readers a glimpse into a dangerously damaged and troubled mind.

Zoe’s journey from a childhood marred and manipulated by extreme grief to an adulthood in which the past becomes the catalyst for catastrophe is exquisitely observed by a writer perfectly attuned to human vulnerabilities.

Devastating illnesses of both body and mind, terrible tragedies, and the malign influence of painful, unexpressed memories all play major roles but so too do the eternal strengths of love and shared experience, making this one of the best novels yet from a world-class storyteller.

(Macmillan, hardback, £18.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: The war on plastic, visionary art and fantasy fighting

Join pop star Dougie Poynter’s eco mission, be inspired by a pioneering artist, travel to the Tanzanian wilderness, and take a trip to outer space with a super selection of September children’s books

Age 7 plus:

Plastic Sucks! You Can
Make A Difference

Dougie Poynter

TUNE in to a better future for our planet by getting drastic with plastic! McFly bassist and environmental activist Dougie Poynter is urging youngsters to join the ever-growing band of eco warriors who are willing to go the extra mile to save planet Earth by helping the war on the use of plastic.

Plastic Sucks! You Can Make A Difference is an awesome and inspiring guide – written by Poynter who was a key player in the campaign to ban microbeads in the UK – showing children who want to make a difference how they can get involved in the mission to cut out single-use plastic.

Plastic is everywhere and it sucks. It fills up our oceans, endangers our wildlife and never goes away. So it’s time to take action, says Poynter, and to find ways to cut down our plastic use and help protect our environment because together, we really can make a difference.

SPREADING THE WORD:
Pop star Dougie Poynter

As a lifelong supporter of environmental causes, Poynter is always on the hunt for ways to reduce and replace plastic and this campaigning book, his first solo authored project, draws on his own experiences in the fight against plastic waste, including the problems he has encountered and the solutions he has found.

The book covers the history of plastic and the pros and cons plastic has had on the planet, from plastic bags to prosthetic limbs. It also introduces us to some key campaigners and eco entrepreneurs, and is full of top tips, pop art infographics, simple facts and pages for your own notes.

‘If we can all do just one small thing to help reduce plastic use and save the planet, we can give ourselves a big pat on the back,’ says Poynter, ‘and spreading the word is one of the most important things we can do.’

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The clear and easy steps in Plastic Sucks! You Can Make A Difference show us how we can all make small changes and become champions for our planet, and includes contributions from Will Travers, president of Born Free, James Robson and Andy Bool from the Sea Life Trust, Amanda Keetley, founder of Less Plastic UK, and Anna Cummins and Marcus Eriksen, founders of the 5 Gyres charity.

Ideal as an essential handbook for young eco warriors who might feel overloaded with information on the plastic crisis but are still determined to help, this is the perfect inspiration for anyone who wants to make changes to save our world.

(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus:

A Life Made by Hand: 
The Story of Ruth Asawa

Andrea D’Aquino

SOMETIMES it’s just the tiniest of details in the world around us that can inspire an artist to create their greatest work. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of pioneering Japanese-American artist and sculptor Ruth Asawa whose work is collected in major museums around the world, and who had the ability to turn a simple strand of wire into the most graceful sculpture.

Written and illustrated by Andrea D’Aquino, an artist and author whose previous books include an illustrated edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Once Upon a Piece of Paper, A Life Made by Hand is an enchanting introduction to Asawa’s work and comes with instruction for children to make their own paper dragonfly, and educational tools for parents and teachers.

Ruth Asawa (1926-2013) was an influential and award-winning sculptor, a beloved figure in the San Francisco Bay Area art world, and a devoted activist who advocated tirelessly for arts education.

INFORMATIVE:
Andrea D’Aquino

D’Aquino brings Asawa’s creative journey to life, detailing the influence of her childhood in a farming family, and her education at Black Mountain College where she pursued an experimental course of education with leading avant-garde artists and thinkers such as Anni and Josef Albers, Buckminster Fuller, Merce Cunningham, and Robert Rauschenberg.

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The gorgeous collages featured throughout the book reveal the ways in which Asawa went about her sculptural creations, including drawing forms in the dirt with her bare feet. She saw beauty in the ordinary… the webs of spiders, wings of insects, and drops of water found in the garden on the farm where she spent her childhood.

‘Though a respected name in the world of fine art, Asawa is still rather unknown even to the very engaged admirers of twentieth-century art,’ says D’Aquino. ‘The sheer beauty and bold, accessible nature of her art deserves a wider audience.’ She adds that the book focuses on her growth as ‘an original and visionary artist,’ and aims to ‘capture the spirit of her creativity itself.’

Inspirational, cleverly created, and informative, this is the perfect gift for young art lovers, and a delightful addition to any school library.

(Princeton Architectural Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus:

Everybody’s Welcome

Patricia Hegarty and Greg Abbott

AS the world faces a period of uncertainty and instability, it seems more important than ever to learn the age-old values of friendship. So what better than a gorgeous, fun-filled board book to help parents and carers to teach the very youngest children about the ideals of refuge, inclusivity and shared bonds?

Everybody’s Welcome, a warm and joyful rhyming story written by seasoned author Patricia Hegarty, is the brainchild of Thomas Truong, publisher of Caterpillar Books and the son of a refugee and a European migrant.

JAUNTY RHYMES:
Patricia Hegarty

‘It was made with love for our readers because everybody’s welcome, in or out, as long as they’re willing to share the home we are building together,’ he says, and this cuddly little book certainly tells a big-hearted tale.

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Wouldn’t it be great if you could build a home that opened its doors to everyone… tall or short, fat or thin, rich or poor? Well, perhaps if everybody pitches in to help, one little mouse can achieve that dream and give a much-needed home to Froggy the frog, some homeless rabbits, a lonely big Brown Bear and a host of other creatures.  

Hegarty’s jaunty and lovingly composed rhymes put sharing and togetherness centre stage while illustrator Greg Abbott brings the action to life with a gallery of cute and cuddly animal pals. Quirky page cutaways add extra interest for young readers and with its important messages about caring, sharing and kindness, this is the ideal book for parents and nursery or school groups. Friends united on every page!

(Caterpillar Books, board book, £6.99)

Age 3 plus:

We Are Together

Britta Teckentrup

‘On our own we’re special,

And we can chase our dream.

But when we join up, hand in hand,

Together we’re a team.’

AWARD-WINNING enchanting picture book brimming with love, discovery and peep-through surprises. Vibrant artwork featuring a diverse cast of children combines with a gentle, rhyming text and peek-through pages as we follow a journey of self-discovery and togetherness which teaches the importance of sharing and co-operation.

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Through simple rhyming text and a gradually widening cast of characters, Teckentrup explores the benefits of togetherness. The beautiful collage techniques bring humans, animals and the natural world together in a balance that delivers an unforgettable book and increases youngsters’ awareness of the wider global family.

Teckentrup is a prominent voice in books that promote inclusion and the overwhelming message of unity in this visual and verbal extravaganza will inspire and delight both children and parents.

(Caterpillar Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus:

Alice’s Wonderland Tea Party

Poppy Bishop and Laura Brenlla

SURELY no tea party could ever be normal in Alice’s Wonderland… so why is she insisting that there is strictly no silliness?

Author Poppy Bishop and illustrator Laura Brenlla turn the tables (literally, in this madcap adventure!) as the Mad Hatter and his chums become the hilarious party-poopers at Alice’s gathering at Grassy Bank in Up-the-Rabbit-Hole, Oxford.

Little ones will be laughing all the way to the Queen of Hearts’ tarts in this lift-the-flap and peep-through romp which begins with a curious fold-out invitation to a Wonderland tea party promising ‘no growing, shrinking, or silliness of any kind.’

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Alice wants her tea party to be perfect, not silly like the Mad Hatter’s. ‘Please bring something sweet to eat. Don’t bring anything silly!’ But wait a minute, the White Rabbit has brought only clocks to eat, the Dodo is carrying an upside down cake and the Cheshire Cat has a disappearing pie? And why is everyone upside down? Will Alice succeed in hosting a perfectly ordinary tea party or will her array of strange guests have ideas of their own?

Bishop provides the witty text, and the cast of well-known and loved characters are all captured in a beautifully vintage illustration style from Brenlla. With large lift-the-flaps, fold-out spreads and clever peep-throughs revealing some rib-tickling surprises, this entertaining and interactive story gets curiouser and curiouser with every turn of the page.

Young readers will delight in finding all the rich detail and amusing asides, including watching the Cheshire cat sneak in and out of sight along the way, in this enchanting twist on a much-loved classic.

(Little Tiger Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus:
Winnie and Wilbur: 

The Bug Safari

Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul

THE adventures of Winnie the Witch and her black cat have provided spellbinding, bite-size stories for 32 years and the two madcap stars take centre stage again in this multi-coloured, bug-hunting, super-size picture book.

Written by the ever-inventive Valerie Thomas and brilliantly illustrated in Korky Paul’s distinctive and charismatic style, Winnie and Wilbur’s escapades are always mad, bad and dangerously hilarious, and their new adventure comes in a colourful story written especially for the family’s youngest members.

PLAYFUL ILLUSTRATIONS:
Korky Paul

When Winnie waves her magic wand and turns both herself and her long-suffering black cat Wilbur into the tiniest, tiny creatures, they discover what life is like in miniature! For a start, the bugs in their garden suddenly seem very big indeed, and that’s just the start of an exciting safari. But when excitement turns to survival, mini Winnie and tiny Wilbur would rather be their right size again. There’s just one small problem, teeny, weeny Winnie can’t wave her whopping wand…

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Bugs, mini beasts, and creepy-crawlies are endlessly fascinating to children and they certainly come under the spotlight in Winnie and Wilbur’s latest all-action adventure. With giggles, anarchy and drama from the start, this story has all the hallmarks of a classic Winnie and Wilbur outing, but scatterbrained Winnie is not as simple as she seems and always conjures up some fascinating discoveries and life lessons amidst all the frantic fun and chaotic capers.

With Paul’s highly detailed and playful illustrations, and Thomas’ madcap story, this wickedly funny Winnie adventure is guaranteed to cast a spell!

(OUP, hardback, £11.99)

Age 8 plus:

Trailblazers: Jane Goodall

Anita Ganeri

Illustrated by Luisa Uribe, George Urmos and Keiron Ward

IN 1960, a young scientist set off into the Tanzanian wilderness to study chimpanzees, the first step to becoming the world’s leading expert on these amazing animals.

Discover the story of Jane Goodall’s inspirational career and what led this animal-loving woman to dedicate her life to primatology and conservation, and share some of her groundbreaking discoveries in this fascinating book.

Trailblazers: Jane Goodall is the new title in a fun and factual biography series inspired by the lives of pioneers both past and present. Packed with little-known trivia, fascinating facts and lively illustrations, these books celebrate the lives of forerunners in every sphere, from science and sport and business to activism, politics and the arts.

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So how did Jane Goodall become the world’s leading chimpanzee expert? Having dreamed of studying animals in their natural habitat since she was little, she jumped at the first opportunity to set sail for Africa and observe primates – even though many people were against the idea of a young woman living among wild creatures, so far from home.

Without a university degree or any specialist training, Goodall went on to invent new methods of research and made stunning discoveries about primate behaviour, turning her into one of the 20^th century’s most remarkable pioneers in the world of animals.

With a gallery of interactive illustrations and a lively text full of facts, and the spirit of adventure and discovery, this is the perfect book to make learning fun!

(Stripes, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus:

Little Penguin Rescue

Rachel Delahaye

HEAD off on a magical trip to Antarctica and see a snow-covered landscape full of amazing creatures like foxes, fishing birds, seals, orcas… and lots and lots of penguins!

Little Penguin Rescue is the third book in a beautiful series of gentle stories for younger children by former journalist Rachel Delahaye. Readers follow feisty Fliss on her action-packed adventures to save wild animals in danger.

MAGICAL TRIP:
Rachel Delahaye

Each story comes with gorgeous black and white illustrations and contains a subtle educational element, teaching children about the species of animal and the environment featured in the book.

Each adventure in the series is be set in a distant location around the world, transporting readers to amazing new places. Here we go into the far reaches of the South Pole for icy adventures with the animal-loving schoolgirl.

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In the middle of a snowball fight, aspiring vet Fliss is whisked away to the Antarctic! Surrounded by penguins, Fliss marvels at the sight of these beautiful animals huddling together to keep warm. Then a snowstorm blows in, separating a chick and its injured mother from the group. Fliss is determined to return her feathery friends to their colony, but the icy waters are full of dangerous creatures and Fliss isn’t used to the harsh environment. It’s going to take a lot of quick thinking, and waddling, to reunite them…

Little Penguin Rescue combines a lively, heartwarming adventure with easily recognisable real-life issues, like the environment, all told from a child’s perspective, resulting in a captivating story perfectly pitched for youngsters just starting chapter book reading… and anyone who is wild about animals!

(Stripes, paperback, £5.99)

Age 7 plus:

Star Friends: Hidden Charm

Linda Chapman and Lucy Fleming

MYSTERY, magic, adventure and danger… the perfect mix for young readers getting to grips with reading alone! Linda Chapman, author of over 200 books for children, has her finger firmly on the pulse of little girls and animal lovers in the fifth book of her wonderfully warm, exciting and tender Star Friends series which has won the hearts of thousands of youngsters.

PERFECT MIX:
Linda Chapman

Maia and her three pals are Star Friends – girls who can use magic to keep the world in harmony, looking after the environment, healing things and people, but most importantly conquering evil. And when they meet the Star Animals, a whole world of magical adventure unfolds.

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In their eighth adventure, the Star Friends are enjoying the holidays, but it’s not all fun and games as they try to discover who summoned the Shades that caused chaos in Westcombe. During their investigations, they notice that the village is strangely quiet – even the popular café is empty. Could the two be connected? The girls need to pull together to solve this mystery before it spirals out of control.

Chapman’s imaginative stories – ideally pitched for building reading confidence – transport children into the wonderful Star World through her gentle narrative and enchanting characters while Lucy Fleming provides the appealing and contemporary illustrations which capture all the dramas and challenges as the friends battle to overcome evil using their magical powers.

With captivating animal characters, enchanting adventures and a lively group of Star Friends to get to know and like, there is fun, love and adventure on every page as well as important messages about wildlife and the environment. A spellbinding series that inspires a love of reading…

(Stripes, paperback, £5.99)

Age 9 plus:

Fighting Fantasy: 
Assassins of Allansia

Ian Livingstone

THE groundbreaking Fighting Fantasy role-playing gamebooks, which thrilled a generation of young adventure-seekers in the Eighties and Nineties, have been making a welcome comeback thanks to Scholastic Books.

Many of those readers from thirty or more years ago are now parents and enjoying introducing this iconic series to their own kids and watching a new generation become the superheroes of outrageous tales of monsters, demons and magical worlds.

ICONIC SERIES:
Ian Livingstone

The books – created by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone – are brimming with adventure, initiative and imagination and provide an original twist on traditional fiction by letting the reader take control of the story’s leading player and make choices that will affect the outcome of the story. With their striking covers and atmospheric illustrations, each title provides old-fashioned fantasy and heroics with a thrilling twist, and hours of fun and constructive thinking.

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Assassins of Allansia is the latest book in the series and comes from the pen of Ian Livingstone, one of the founding fathers of the UK games industry. Together with Steve Jackson, he co-founded the iconic Games Workshop in 1975, launching Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer in Europe.

In time-honoured style, the hero is the young reader who has accepted a wager to live on a small, uninhabited and inhospitable island. But after taking up the challenge to survive on Snake Island, which lies off the coast of Allansia, a nightmare unfolds when a bounty is placed on your head.

From being the hunter, you become the hunted. Now you must find the Assassins before they find you. But who are they? Where are they? Everybody you meet could be an assassin. Trust no one. And may your stamina never fail!

Livingstone brings his own special brand of heart-stopping action, terrifying monsters and page-turning plotting to this new thrilling Fighting Fantasy adventure. Expect the unexpected!

(Scholastic, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus:

Once Upon a Star

James Carter and Mar Hernández

AND here’s a story that makes a BIG impression…

Once upon a star, There were no stars to shine, No Sun to rise, No Sun to set, No day no night, Nor any time, There was no Earth, Nor universe.

The Big Bang theory comes in for some stellar treatment in this super space-travelling picture book from prize-winning poet and educational writer James Carter, and star illustrator Mar Hernández.

SPACE MISSION: 
James Carter

In a unique blend of compelling verse, exciting space discovery and graphic illustration, Once Upon a Star takes young readers on a colourful and exciting trip through space and time as they discover the origins of the universe and how our solar system was formed.

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Every day our universe is expanding as scientists and researchers learn more and more about outer space. But where did it all begin and where do we come from? Find the answers through words and pictures as the worlds of poetry and non-fiction collide to create a unique picture book about our Sun.

Turn the pages and delight at Hernández’s striking and dynamic illustrations as Carter’s simple but informative verse portrays the mighty boom that led to a Big Bang and the giant rocks that formed eight unique planets.

A lyrical and lovely out-of-this-world picture book for all young space explorers!

(Caterpillar Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus:

The Space Train

Maudie Powell-Tuck and 
Karl James Mountford

IMAGINE a space train so fast that it makes stars look like streaks in the sky! Maudie Powell-Tuck and Karl James Mountford take flight in a super picture book brimming with big ideas, futuristic fun, a space-mad boy called Jakob, a granny who can’t sit still, and a robot chicken called Derek.

FUTURISTIC FUN:
Maudie Powell-Tuck 

This stunning intergalactic adventure comes packed with knockabout escapades, captivating flaps to lift and a gallery of big, bright, out-of-this world illustrations.

Jakob, who lives in a space station light years from Earth, has found the long-lost Space Train hidden away in Hangar 19, but it’s old, battered and broken and looks like it can never be mended. Granny reveals that the Space Train once criss-crossed the universe on tracks of stardust visiting two thousand, seven hundred and forty seven space stations.

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With the help of Granny, her Toolbot and Derek the robot chicken, can Jakob fix the train and head off into space to find new friends? Little ones will love joining Jakob on his space voyage beyond the peek-through pages and hidden flaps. Powell-Tuck imbues her tale with the spirit of fun and adventure, a big helping of imagination and plenty of giggles while Mountford’s rich and intricately detailed illustrations invite us to step through the book’s cut-out cover and into a thrill-packed ride. Climb aboard for an unforgettable space odyssey!

(Little Tiger Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 2 plus:

Tibble and Grandpa

Wendy Meddour and Daniel Egnéus

MOVING STORY:
Wendy Meddour

LOVE between the young and older generations shines brightly in a beautifully expressed and moving story from one of the picture book world’s top teams. 

Author Wendy Meddour has received an Arts Council grant to enable her to fulfil a project entitled Vulnerable Children and the Power of Picture Books, and Tibble and Grandpa is the last of three books which has included Lubna and Pebble, another winning partnership with Swedish illustrator Daniel Egnéus.

STUNNING ARTWORK:
Daniel Egnéus

Using her powerful affinity with a child’s eye view of the world, Meddour brings us a warm, powerful and deeply emotional story about love, loss, and family bonds as a little boy slowly breaks down his grandfather’s barrier of grief after the death of a beloved granny.

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Tibble loves talking to his Grandpa but Grandpa has stopped listening to him and is only interested in doing some gardening. Mum says to just give him time but impatient little Tibble wants to talk to Grandpa now so he tries to get Grandpa interested in his favourite game… choosing their Top Threes!

And that’s when something amazing happens… Grandpa starts talking again, taking Tibble out again, and telling the child that he was his Granny’s Top Star!

Meddour’s insightful and tear-jerking tale is given extra poignancy by Egnéus’ stunning artwork which captures all the charm and gentleness of the exquisite unfolding of Tibble’s innocent but effective efforts to help Grandpa grieve and make him smile again. A heartwarming story and the perfect book to help children explore the difficult subject of bereavement…

(Oxford University Press, hardback, £11.99)

Age 2 plus:

Jazz Dog

Marie Voigt

TALENTED author and illustrator Marie Voigt hits all the right notes in a beautiful picture book which aims to heal destructive divisions in society. Jazz Dog – a clever and compelling story celebrating friendship and togetherness – has music at its heart as jazz-loving cats and ‘rocker’ dogs learn that the sweetest harmonies come from sharing the limelight.

IN HARMONY:
Marie Voigt

In a divided world where dogs only play powerful Rock Dog music and cats only play the smoothest Cat Jazz, one little dog is determined to buck the trend and follow the music in his heart. He dreams of cats and dogs playing together some day even though everybody laughs at him.

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But who is destined to have the last laugh when the little dog starts jamming with the cats?

Voigt uses her original narrative voice to convey resonant messages through a delightful, thoughtful story that sings out to young readers the importance of following your dreams and standing up for what you know is right.

Using beautifully layered and atmospheric artwork in a palette of distinctively muted shades, Voigt plays out her timely and ultimately uplifting story with a warm heart and a wise head. A musical extravaganza for a divided world…

(Oxford University Press, hardback, £11.99)