CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Planet facts, giant seeds of hope and a winning loser

Find out why little Pluto is no longer a planet, meet a boy in search of hope, share Hollywood adventures with rival siblings, enjoy sniggers and snickers with a born loser, and celebrate the amazing diversity of life on Earth with some super, sparkling new children’s books

Age 8 plus
How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto: The cutting-edge space science of the solar system
Dean Regas and Aaron Blecha

DID you know that in 2006, poor little Pluto was kicked out of the exclusive planet club? There are a lot of grown-ups who still don’t know that fascinating fact… so all you youngsters out there who want to give your adults a much-needed science lesson, dive into this delightfully witty and informative book from astronomer and NASA Solar System Ambassador, Dean Regas, and show off your knowledge!

How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto is the first in a fantastic new series that puts children in the driving seat and allows them to educate adults on the wonders of science. The series has been beautifully and carefully created by Britannica Books whose mission is to inspire children’s curiosity and passion for learning, offering engaging non-fiction books that you can trust, and with experts behind every page of these humorous new guides to complex subjects, the books promise to be exciting, fun and fact-filled reading adventures.

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Although Pluto has not been a planet for 16 years, its tiny world still inspires people of all ages while sparking controversy. Regas reveals the reason why Pluto is not counted as a planet any more as he delves into the history of space discoveries, the key players who have helped our understanding of the universe (including the 11-year-old girl who named Pluto in the first place) and the ever-changing nature of science.

The book promises to equip every reader with the tools they need to bring their grown-ups fully up to speed, and to sneak in as many amazing astronomical facts as possible. And there’s a fun planetary personality quiz at the end, plus a handy test so that youngsters can check their grown-ups have been paying attention!

Related throughout in a funny and accessible way (with plenty of jokes to keep young readers amused) and one hundred original illustrations by Aaron Blecha to bring the cast of astronomical characters to life, readers young and old will learn that science is a living, breathing, changing adventure… and that’s what makes science so much fun. With the very latest science on the solar system, special features including timelines, a helpful glossary and fast facts, and holographic foil on the book’s cover and spine, there could be no better gift for budding astronomers and scientists.
(Britannica Books, hardback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus
Seed
Caryl Lewis and George Ermos

WELSH novelist Caryl Lewis sows giant seeds of hope and kindness in a magical, mesmerising story that is guaranteed to ‘grow’ on every reader who opens the pages of this wonderfully inspirational book. The award-winning author of literary fiction opens the door to youthful imaginations with this big-hearted adventure – beautifully illustrated by George Ermos – which explores the healing power of love and friendship. Marty doesn’t have much. Unlike his mum who has billions of things… newspapers, holey shoes, rusty lawnmowers, broken picture frames. She keeps everything! In fact, it’s hard to leave the house. Marty does his best to look after her and wonders if anything will ever change but on Marty’s birthday, Grandad, with a glint in his eye, gifts Marty a very special seed. Grandad hasn’t been this excited since he invented the bum scratcher 2000 or thought he had brewed wonder fuel from rhubarb leaves. The seed grows bigger and bigger, and launches Grandad, Marty and his best friend Gracie on an impossible, wondrous plan fuelled by love, hopes and dreams. Lewis tackles some serious issues with a big helping of heart and humour, all the while reminding us that it is in the love of family and the kindness of friendship that we find our greatest comfort and our greatest rewards. Uplifting and entertaining, Seed is heart, hope and humour in perfect harmony.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Sister to a Star
Eloise Smith

LIGHTS, camera... kidnap! Former Olympic fencer Eloise Smith is having a ‘stab’ at writing children’s fiction and the result is this super, swashbuckling tale starring a pair of warring sisters at the sharp end of a dastardly kidnap plot. Evie is forever crossing swords with her twin. While she practises her after-school fencing, Tallulah is winning movie auditions. Neither of them could have imagined how their worlds would collide, but when Tallulah goes to Hollywood, Evie goes too… as her sister’s identical stand-in. But that changes when the film needs some all-action sword-play. Soon Evie is the one enjoying the limelight… that is, until Tallulah goes missing. With three Commonwealth gold medals to her name, Smith knows a thing or two about duels and this super, action-packed story proves that her pen is as mighty as her sword. Sibling rivalry, Hollywood glitz and big screen skulduggery all play leading roles in this thrilling, rollercoaster mystery which stars a diverse cast of feisty youngsters and is set against the bright lights of Hollywood. Touché!
(Chicken House, paperback, £6.99)

Age 8 plus
The Warrior In My Wardrobe:
More Misadventures of Merdyn the Wild
Simon Farnaby and Claire Powell

WHO can resist the magic of a comedy of errors? Readers, young and old, are sharing the joy of this simply wizard middle grade series from Simon Farnaby, writer of Paddington 2 and star of Horrible Histories. More Misadventures of Merdyn the Wild is the second book in a hilarious series and once again stars the badly behaved, time-travelling Merdyn (the greatest wizard of the Dark Ages) and Rose, his 21st-century descendent. Vanheldon the vandal warrior, meanwhile, is furious. After all, last time they met, Merdyn turned his army to stone. Seeking revenge, Vanheldon comes up with a way to kidnap Rose and transport her back to Dark Ages Transylvania, set on luring Merdyn into a terrible trap. Except (whoops!) his magical minion kidnaps Rose’s teenage brother Kris instead. Rose, Merdyn and Bubbles the guinea pig must team up to save the day. But can they rescue Kris without creating historical mayhem? Will Rose's wizard ancestor even remember her and will Bubbles ever stop pooing? Whether this terrific tale of  is read alone or aloud, there are guaranteed gags, giggles and great adventures with a historical twist on every page as Farnaby lets his imagination and storytelling skills run riot, and Claire Powell adds the finishing touches with her super-charged, richly detailed illustrations.
(Hodder Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 7 plus
Barry Loser: Total winner!
Jim Smith

IF zany humour tickles your funny bone, then you have nothing to lose when you open the pages of a brilliant graphic series that has been making kids snigger and snicker for ten long years of laughter! Winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, the Scholastic Lollies award, and shortlisted for the Waterstones prize, Jim Smith’s hilarious Barry Loser is bounding back with a series of brand new adventures published for the first time in full colour. Anarchic fun, a super-child-friendly format full of graphic, cartoon-style illustrations, a ‘how to draw’ section to help youngsters make their own comic books, and crazy catchwords that have become part and parcel of the Barry Loser experience, are the hallmarks of Smith’s exhilarating books. So sit tight and join the laugh-out-loud fun with Barry, Bunky, Nancy and the gang as Barry (along with his new cat French Fries) decides he has had enough of being a loser and wants to prove he’s a Total Winner. But when his parents ban him from gaming, he has to think outside of the box! Smith has his finger firmly on the pulse of what makes kids (and grown-ups!) laugh… the pages of his books positively buzz with energy, madcap antics, and a joyful sense of outlandish chaos that is as addictive as it is entertaining. Wild, witty and completerly wonderful!
(Farshore, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Funny Bums, Freaky Beaks and Other Incredible Creature Features
Alex Morss, Sean Taylor and Sarah Edmonds

CELEBRATE the amazing diversity of life on Earth – and some of the remarkable creatures that exist on our planet – in this exciting, fully illustrated compendium. From puzzling toes and weird ears to odd noses and extraordinary eyes, the most unusual and unexpected body parts of the animal kingdom are explored through a humorous, accessible narrative and the stunning illustrations of freelance illustrator Sarah Edmonds. Marvel at the long pointy noses of giant elephant shrews, take a close look at the gecko’s wrinkly toes with their hundreds of folds, laugh at the eastern spotted skunk with the smelliest bum of all, and admire the mass of wrinkles on the neck of a wild turkey. These weird and very individual body parts might seem strange to us humans but, we learn, they are just perfect for the needs of this intriguing array of stars from the natural world. Written by Alex Morss, an independent ecologist, journalist, and campaigner, and author, poet and playwright Sean Taylor, this beautifully created and visually dynamic book carries important messages that everybody and everything is strange and wonderful in its own way, and that difference should be celebrated. With a section on how to help wildlife near your own home, and what can be done to protect the world’s endangered species, this charming book is ideal for young readers who love nature, wildlife and are curious about Earth and its most off-beat creatures.
(Welbeck Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels
Tim Collins and John Bigwood

IT might all be elementary for super-sleuth Sherlock Bones but he is still going to need some help to crack his toughest case yet! Put on your thinking caps and sharpen your pencils for the first fantastic book in a brand-new, interactive fiction series starring two crime-fighting (animal!) heroes. Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels – a right royal mystery featuring no less than the crown jewels – is the work of award-winning children’s author Tim Collins and illustrator and graphic designer John Bigwood. This fun-filled puzzle adventure contains over thirty games, including mind-boggling mazes, number puzzles, search-and-find challenges, spot-the-difference and silhouette matches, all cleverly woven into the action so that readers feel part of the exciting detective plot starring Sherlock Bones and his trusty sidekick Dr Catson. In this first case, the dynamic duo face multiple suspects and a trail that’s starting to run cold as they endeavour to track down the crown jewels which have gone missing from Kennel Palace. They are going to need some help to crack the puzzles if they are going to catch the culprit in time. Hours of fun for budding young sleuths!
(Buster Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 7 plus
Great Elizabethans: HM Queen Elizabeth II
and 25 Amazing Britons From Her Reign
Imogen Russell Williams and Sara Mulvanny

AS the nation gears up for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations next month, discover the life stories of some of the people who have called Britain home during her remarkable 70-year reign. Over the Queen’s long and eventful decades on the throne, Britain has seen incredible changes in the ways we live, think and feel, changes that were often shaped by the inspiring people who were born in Britain or arrived on its shores. From modern pioneers, leaders and scientists to writers, athletes and activists, each page spread in this beautifully illustrated special edition is devoted to a tale of an inspiring Briton. Written by writer and children’s books critic Imogen Russell Williams, and brought to life by Sara Mulvanny’s vivid colour illustration, the book also features a gloriously illustrated timeline, showing key events from the Queen’s reign, like the foundation of the NHS by Aneurin Bevan and the creation of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine by Sarah Gilbert. Meet activists like Paul Stephenson and Malala Yousafzai, scientists Stephen Hawking and Tim Berners-Lee, and learn about key figures from all areas of British life, including Winston Churchill, Alan Turing, Roald Dahl, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Yehudi Menuhin and Bobby Charlton. Great Elizabethans is not only a glorious celebration of the Queen’s reign, but also the citizens who have contributed to such an incredible seventy years.
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £9.99)

Age 3 plus
Bugs
Patricia Hegarty and Britta Teckentrup

‘If you look down towards the ground, A world of wildlife can be found. And now that spring is in the air, New life is blooming everywhere.’

A COLOURFUL array of amazing bugs and minibeasts take starring roles in this striking peep-through book from children’s author Patricia Hegarty and award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup. Little ones will love turning the pages of this gorgeously produced book to watch the wonders of nature’s insect world unfold. Hegarty’s lyrical, rhyming text helps little ones to understand the magical activities and busy lives of creatures like caterpillars, ladybirds, moths and butterflies throughout the year while Teckentrup’s colourful and expressive artwork brings the teeniest, tiniest bugs to life. Don’t miss this visual and verbal trip to a wild and wonderful world of creepy crawlies!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 2 plus
Tickle!
Amelia Hepworth and Jorge Martín

EVERYONE is going to giggle, wriggle and chuckle when they turn the final page of this terrific and ticklesome lift-the-flap book! Tickle! is the second inventive lift-the-flap board book creation of author Amelia Hepworth and illustrator Jorge Martín in a fabulous, fun-filled series that began with Roar! and features a cute animal story with a very noisy surprise in its tail. The challenge in this new, laugh-out-loud (literally!) adventure is to make Moose laugh! So little ones (and a cast of comical creatures including a proud peacock and an ambitious octopus) had better get their tickling fingers ready because this moose is a tough nut to crack! There are lots of laughs and miles of smiles to enjoy as youngsters peep under the flaps of this chunky board book, join in each animal’s antics as they attempt to make Moose chuckle, and giggle along with the surprise sound hidden under the final flap!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £9.99)

Age 2 plus
How It Works: Dinosaur
Amelia Hepworth and David Semple

LOOK and learn! Did you know that each of a T-rex’s 60 teeth was the size of a banana with razor-sharp edges! Take a close look at the ‘cutting edge’ of the most famous and mighty dinosaur of all in a super chunky board book perfectly created for the very youngest dino fans. Dinosaurs were incredible creatures and now little ones can look inside them and discover when they lived, just how small their brains were, where they laid their eggs, how powerful their legs were, and what they liked to eat. The sturdy book is ideal for little hands, with interactive, layered, peep-through pages to grasp and explore. There is a little Mouse to guide readers through the pages which are jam-packed with bite-size facts, simple labels and an accessible text to captivate curious children. Ideal as a first non-fiction series to engage and inspire young children, the inventive How It Works books also include Rocket, Tractor and The Body.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
One More Try
Naomi Jones and James Jones

JOIN a determined little circle on an up-and-down journey of self-discovery in the pages of a brilliantly clever picture book from husband-and-wife team, author Naomi and illustrator James Jones. The couple’s fabulous debut, The Perfect Fit, proved to be a worldwide hit and this endearing new story features strong and positive messages about never giving up and problem solving, as well as introducing little ones to geometric shapes and the difference between 2D and 3D perspectives. Circle loves the tower that the squares and hexagons have built and wants to make his own. But circles, diamonds and triangles are pointier, rounder and much wobblier… making a tower is not as easy as it looks! The shapes try and try but their tower just keeps tumbling down. Can Circle persuade them to have just one more try? Geometry meets appealing storytelling and vibrant, full-colour artwork as Circle’s adventures and misadventures blend maths as a core Early Years Foundation Stage subject alongside important life lessons on personal, social and emotional development. And it’s a joyful, fun-filled story offering an entertaining and imaginative exploration of shapes as well as a warm, playful celebration of the rewards of perseverance, teamwork and friendship.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 2 plus
The Boy Who Sailed the World
Julia Green and Alex Latimer

ENJOY the hopes, achievements and adventures of a little boy in a beautiful, emotive picture book that was inspired by the childhood dream of author Julia Green’s son Jesse that one day he would sail round the world. ‘Right from the start, the boy loved the sea! He ran along the sand, danced in and out of the waves, his heart full of longing and delight.’ This little boy has always loved the sea and so he builds a boat and sails away on a voyage of adventure in which he faces strong sea currents, big ferries and cargo ships, watches magical sunsets, meets leatherback turtles and singing dolphins, rides the storms and makes new friends on their island home. Brimming with Green’s lyrical text which celebrates all the wonders of the natural world, and brought to life by the vibrant illustrations of Alex Latimer, this enchanting and inspirational tale of ambition, determination and the rewards of following your dreams is perfect for little ones who love adventure, the sea, and harbour their own hopes of one day travelling the world!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age from birth
People
OKIDOKID and Liuna Virardi

OPPOSITES are part of everyday life and it’s a concept that children are never too young to learn. So here’s an inventive board book series that teaches little ones first opposites in the most delightful and entertaining way. First in the series – which was created by OKIDOKID, an agency founded by Justine de Lagausie who now works hand-in-hand with children’s author Raphaël Martin – is People which lets little ones discover a world of opposites with different kinds of people. From happy kids to sad kids and real people to imaginary, little hands will love lifting the flaps of this bright and chunky board book. Featuring the bright, stylish and quirky illustrations of Liuna Virardi and simple, accessible pairings ideal for language development, the book’s chunky, fold-out flaps transform the pictured scenes to make the opposite come to life. Simply lift, learn and explore and look out for more books coming soon in this inventive opposite series… Vehicles, Animals and Houses.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £6.99)

Frontline

Dr Hilary Jones

TWO teenagers – from opposite sides of the tracks but both driven by their desire to help others – are destined to meet amidst the carnage and chaos of the First World War. The seemingly unremarkable collision of their young lives sets in motion a family dynasty that will be at the forefront of medical advances from the killing fields of Flanders and a devastating flu pandemic right through to the discovery of penicillin and the birth of the NHS.

Doctor Hilary Jones (pictured below), a General Practitioner and regular contributor to newspapers and television shows, has dug deep into his medical experience, knowledge and imagination for this epic new series charting the rise of a prominent medical family in the 20^th century.

With fascinating facts on caring for the sick and wounded, the life-saving developments in medicine which were hastened by war and disaster, and featuring the bravery and resilience of the medics who risked their lives to save others, Frontline is packed with real history and drama.

Grace Tustin-Pennington, who was born into the landed gentry, grew up with five brothers in rural Gloucestershire and soon proved to be the most impulsive, impetuous and fearless of the sibling brood. A risk-taker who is quietly efficient, confident and more than an intellectual match for her brothers, Grace decides to confound all her mother’s expectations about marrying and having children, and instead spends two years training to be a nurse.

And when the Great War breaks out in 1914, and despite her father’s vow that none of his sons would ever go to war, it is Grace who is first to volunteer with the mounted First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) and she heads off to France with the British Expeditionary Force.

Her job is to provide first-aid treatment on the spot but nothing had prepared Grace for the ‘maelstrom of death and destruction’ there. Soon she is tending grievously injured men with terrible wounds at casualty clearing stations, and working through the day and night after bombardments.

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Meanwhile, Will Burnett is the teenage son of a dockworker in Chiswick in London. A studious boy, Will likes to read about biology and the natural world, and opts to apprentice as a porter at a local hospital where he is soon noted for his interest in medicine and his exceptional care of patients. Driven to enlist by patriotism and the thrill of adventure, Will is sent out to France with his battalion but he has talents far beyond firing a gun

Walking The Invisible

Following in the
Brontës’ Footsteps

Michael Stewart 

MOST of us need little impetus to enjoy a revisit to the Brontë sisters’ exhilarating novels… But if you are seeking inspiration for summer reading AND walking, head for the hills of West Yorkshire with Michael Stewart’s literary guide through the walks and nature of the Brontë sisters and you’ll soon be treading the wild moorland that formed the memorable backdrop to literary masterpieces like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.

Stewart, who was born and raised in Salford, had still not encountered the Brontës’ books by the time he left his rundown comprehensive school at sixteen to work in a factory. And it wasn’t until he borrowed Wuthering Heights from the library and read it on the bus as he travelled to and from his workplace that his ‘Brontë fever’ was born. ‘I found it a bit of a slog to begin with,’ he tells us, ‘but I persisted. Slowly the story and characters drew me in. Somehow, they took hold of me and wouldn’t let go.’

Since those early days, Stewart (pictured below) has worked as Head of Creative Writing at the University of Huddersfield, and become author of Ill Will, which re-imagined Heathcliff’s life, as well as other novels and a selection of poetry. He is also the creator of the Brontë Stones project – four monumental stones situated in the landscape between the sisters’ birthplace and their parsonage home, inscribed with poems by Kate Bush, Carol Ann Duffy, Jeannette Winterson and Jackie Kay.

Stewart has travelled all over the north of England in search of their lives and landscapes and now he invites readers to enter into the world as the Brontës would have seen it by following the sisters’ footsteps across meadow and moor, and through village and town.

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From Liverpool to Scarborough, and taking in wild, windy – and often unforgiving – scenery, Stewart investigates the geographical and social features that shaped the Brontës’ work and discovered echoes of the siblings’ novels on his series of inspirational walks. And with the help of an unlikely cast of Yorkshire’s inhabitants, the author has found himself falling further into their lives and writings than he could ever have imagined. Vivid

The Secret Voices

M.J. White

WHEN Suffolk police hit a dead end in their hunt for a missing eight-year-old girl, their only hope of finding her might lie in a psychologist with a unique ability. Cora Lael’s rare sensory gift allows her to feel and hear emotions attached to discarded objects… but will she overcome the detectives’ scepticism and will she be in time to save the child’s life?

The Secret Voices – a compelling and clever murder mystery with a fascinating, mind-reading twist – comes from the pen of M.J. White (pictured below), a seasoned writer better known as Miranda Dickinson and author of a raft of bestselling women’s fiction.

Thrilling, chilling and brimming with suspense, this first book of a cracking crime debut fulfils White’s ten-year dream of bringing to publication a story she first imagined on a trip to Suffolk in 2012 when she stood on a freezing cold, windswept beach in Lowestoft. The result is a dark and haunting tale of a missing child, an emotive topic that acquires an extra power and emotional resonance through the unique perspective of a psychologist’s sensory ability to feel and hear the victim through her clothes and belongings – a gift which, we discover, can also be a curse.

When eight-year-old Hannah Perry goes missing on her way home from school in the small Suffolk village of St Just, the local community is rocked. It’s only seven years since another local child, ten-year-old Matthew Cooper, also went missing. His body was found four weeks later – he had been horribly murdered and his killer was never caught, leaving a ‘deep scar’ on the villagers that never fully healed.

Heading up the police investigation into Hannah’s disappearance is Acting DS Rob Minshull who is being fast-tracked for promotion after his success in cracking a fraud ring. But Minshull is out of his depth in a tough, high profile case that seems more and more to mirror the murder of Matthew Cooper. As the case meets a series of dead ends, and the kidnapper starts taunting the police with sinister deliveries of Hannah’s belongings and cryptic notes, the young girl’s life is now hanging perilously in danger. But then psychologist Dr Cora Lael, whose childhood home is in St Just, enters the picture with her rare ability to sense emotional echoes from objects… emotions that feel as real as if they were her own and which she wants to harness to help make a difference in other people’s lives.

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The police team are initially sceptical and sarcastic, not least Rob Minshull who is having to live up to being the son of the force’s most celebrated officer, but when Cora is shown the first of

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Talking plants, superheroes and Macbeth mayhem

Visit a world where threatened wildlife gets a powerful voice, discover your inner superhero in an inspirational sciences activity book, enjoy a riotous performance of Macbeth and meet an adorable princess who loves fixing mix-ups in a springtime selection of children’s books

Age 9 plus

The Map of Leaves
Yarrow Townsend

AFTER growing up surrounded by nature in its raw beauty, and currently living on a narrowboat with a garden on the roof, exciting new author Yarrow Townsend was determined to one day give our threatened wildlife a voice… and now she has done that literally!

The Map of Leaves is her extraordinary middle-grade debut novel, a rip-roaring adventure set in a beautifully atmospheric and authentic natural world where plants talk, friendship is hard won, and danger lies around the bend of every river.

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Orla Carson has lived on her own in the marshy, damp-soaked village of Thorn Creek since her Ma died from a fever that no herbs could ease. Fiercely independent Orla needs only her beloved plants and garden for company but when sickness comes and rapidly spreads across the land, nature takes the blame. Orla knows she must find a cure if she is to save the world and, armed with her mother’s book of plants and remedies, she steals away on a river boat with two other stowaways, Idris and Ariana. Soon the trio must navigate the terrifying rapids of the mighty Inkwater river to a poisonous place from which they may never return…

Townsend truly pushes the boat out as the daring friends risk everything to go against the flow – in more ways than one – as they battle the roaring rapids and find inspiration and courage in the whispering words and wisdom of the plants and ancient trees. As much a love letter to mankind’s relationship with nature as a wild, heart-pounding thrill ride, this breathtaking journey through foggy, plant-tangled wetlands and forgotten places brings botany and science to vivid and visceral life for a new eco-aware generation. Action and adventure all the way!
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus
SuperQuesters: The Case of the Stolen Sun
Dr Thomas Bernard, Lisa Moss and Amy Willcox

DISCOVER your inner superhero in this unique interactive story which aims to fire up imaginations and inspire the scientists, engineers, mathematicians and technology experts of the future! The Case of the Stolen Sun is the first book in a new SuperQuesters series from husband and wife team and STEM experts, Thomas Bernard and Lisa Moss, whose mission is to inspire and equip a new generation to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education and careers, reduce the skills shortage and close the ethnic diversity and gender gap in STEM studies.

At heart a young fiction adventure series with a fun educational twist, SuperQuesters blends exciting stories and hands-on activities, expertly designed to develop skills in creative new ways, and includes over 100 reusable stickers in each book. The stars are Lilli and her best friends Leo and Bea, three endlessly curious children with big imaginations. When they unite to solve a challenging science problem, they turn into superheroes Lillicorn, Leo Zoom and Bea Bumble and journey to a world full of magic, adventure and quests. And they want readers to join in the mission and the fun by helping them to track down Lord Grumble and his Snapettes and return the stolen sun to Questland. 

Combining brilliant storytelling with interactive hands-on learning, the book’s stickers feature magical charm rewards and there is also a reward chart to mark progress and celebrate success, and a glossary and answer page. Skills covered include coding, sequencing and algorithms and the book is carefully designed with cross-curricular learning opportunities in mind, linking with computing, maths and science in the national curriculum. It’s all brought to vivid life through the bright and colourful illustrations of Amy Willcox, so if you’re a superhero enthusiast and love learning through play then this is the perfect way to Read, Quest and Learn!
(QuestFriendz, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Writes of Passage: Words To Read Before You Turn 13
Nicolette Jones

WRITER, literary critic and broadcaster Nicolette Jones brings her own decades of wisdom, knowledge and experience to an inspiring, accessible and powerful collection of words that cannot but resonate loudly with a new generation of youngsters. Included in this gorgeous hardback book are over 100 pieces of writing – from poems to prose, letters to lyrics, speeches to songs, plus quotations, book extracts and lots more. Shakespeare, Stephen Hawking, Greta Thunberg, Galileo, Malala, Martin Luther King, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Lord Tennyson are just some of the names whose words of wisdom ring out from the pages. In turn powerful, funny, moving and thought-provoking, these thoughts on topics – including happiness and sadness, nature and the world, kindness and courage, equality and justice – have all been expertly selected with accessible and thoughtful commentary by Jones who has been children’s book reviewer for The Sunday Times for more than twenty years. With a stunning neon and foil-stamped cover, ribbon marker, and beautifully designed pages, Writes of Passage is the perfect gift to love, keep and treasure.
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus
The Unmorrow Curse
Jasmine Richards

BE swept away to the thrilling world of myth and magic in an epic adventure that blends the tropes of Groundhog Day with classic tales of the Norse gods. The Unmorrow Curse comes from Jasmine Richards, a former children’s publisher and founder of Storymix, a studio which creates children’s stories with diverse casts of characters in an organic, joyful and authentic way, and works with emerging and established writers and illustrators from minority backgrounds. It’s not every day that you wake to find a famous weather woman bound by magic to a tree deep in the woods… or discover that the weatherwoman is in fact Sunna, the Norse Goddess of the Sun, and one of the seven day guardians who keep time in order. But that’s just what happens to new friends Buzz and Mari… and it’s only the start of their adventure. Now, as humanity is forced into a lockdown called the Unmorrow Curse, and must repeat the same Saturday over and over again, Buzz and Mari head off on a dangerous journey to collect the Runes of Valhalla and awaken the other day guardians… before vengeful god Loki can get to them first. Fantasy abounds in this fabulous world of adversity and adventure as the two courageous youngsters face some fearsome foes and hidden perils. The race is on!
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Hurly Burly: Macbeth Mayhem!
Ross Montgomery and Mark Beech

FAIR is foul and foul is fair in a riotous performance of Macbeth that would, for once, leave the Bard stuck for words! Award-winning author Ross Montgomery puts fun and laughter into the famous playwright’s classic tale of murder and revenge in the third book of his super-inventive Shakespeare Shake-ups series. Beth has been looking forward to the Prizegiving Assembly all year. She has won best-behaved pupil two years in a row and is confident that she will triumph again for a third time. But as preparations continue for the ceremony, which includes a performance of Macbeth by the drama club, Beth finds out that she has been pipped at the post by not one but two of her classmates, leaving her in third place. Beth cannot bear to lose so she channels her inner Macbeth and will stop at nothing to tarnish the reputation of her competitors. But as she puts her dastardly plans into action, she realises that villainy comes at a high price! Perfectly pitched to inspire youngsters to learn to love Shakespeare and printed in in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, Montgomery’s riotous parody offers a brilliant introduction to Macbeth while Mark Beech’s action-packed illustrations bring the cast and action to vibrant life. A laughter-filled show-stealer that will have youngsters giggling from curtain up to the final encore!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
Princess Minna: The Enchanted Forest and The Unicorn Mix-Up
Kirsty Applebaum and Sahar Haghgoo

MEET an enchanting little princess who adores fixing mix-ups and mishaps… even if that means travelling to the farthest reaches of her kingdom and getting back in time for tea! There’s nothing like a bright and lively colour fiction series to catch the eye and win the hearts of young readers ready to say goodbye to picture books and discover the joy of chapter books. And children’s author Kirsty Applebaum – whose middle-grade novel The Middler was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize – and Iranian-born illustrator Sahar Haghgoo have the perfect answer with this new full-colour, illustrated chapter book series starring daring and delightful Princess Minna who lives in Castle Tall-Towers with the King and Queen, Raymond the Wizard and her best dragon friend, Lorenzo. 

There are often mix-ups and mishaps in the kingdom and Princess Minna loves to sort them out. She can tame unicorns, kiss frogs and fight dragons (apart from Lorenzo) and she is very good at fixing things before it’s time for bed. In The Enchanted Forest, Princess Minna has to wake a sleeping prince before nightfall. But along the way, she finds a swan, an old lady and a very fluffy sheep… all of them in a fix! Can she help them and still reach the prince before sundown? And in The Unicorn Mix-Up, we join Minna on another adventure, this time to tame a unicorn! Princess Minna is so tired she gets a bit muddled and fights a unicorn, kisses a dragon and tries to tame a frog, which won’t do at all! Can she sort it all out and make a new friend along the way? Featuring funny, exciting adventures and a whole new take on what is expected of a princess, this picture perfect series (with the added bonus of a page of fabulous colour stickers to enjoy!) is ideal for new readers.

(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99 each)

Age 5 plus
Supernan’s Day Out
Phil Earle and Steve May

SPENDING the day at the seaside with his nan sounded like the worst news ever for secret caped crusader Stanley (aka Super Stan) so how did it turn into the best day out… ever! Award-winning author Phil Earle and his partner in mischief, super-talented illustrator Steve May, zoom in again with Supernan’s Day Out, a hilarious and heartwarming celebration of family relationships. Following on from the duo’s colourful and comic Superdad’s Day Off, this laugh-out-loud adventure is the latest super-readable Little Gem from innovative publisher Barrington Stoke. Plane crashes, robberies and fires were not what Stanley was expecting on a day out at the seaside with his nan and the other residents of her care home. Nan doesn’t know about his superpowers, so Super Stan can’t step in to help as it would blow his cover. Luckily, though, another mysterious superhero seems to be on hand, saving the day. But who could it possibly be? Earle casts the spell of his magical mirth and wicked wit over an action-packed story which puts the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren at centre stage. Add on the joy of May’s anarchic illustrations, a chunky, chapter book format ideal for little hands, and a spot-the-difference fun hiding inside the jacket, and youngsters are guaranteed slapstick giggles and guffaws all the way to Blackpool!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
The Boy Who Grew a Tree
Polly Ho-Yen and Sojung Kim-McCarthy

MEET a little boy who reaches dizzy new heights in his fight to save nature… and his local library. Inspired by her passion for nature and her love of libraries, author Polly Ho-Yen – critically acclaimed author of The Boy in the Tower – takes youngsters on a heartwarming journey filled with hope, community, caring and courage. Nature-loving Timi notices things that pass most people by… snails on the ground and tiny leaves at the bus stop. He sees nature everywhere, even in the tiny spaces in the middle of the city. But Timi is unsettled by the arrival of a new baby sister and turns to tending a tree that he has grown from a seed which he found between the dusty floorboards while attending an after-school club at his local library. There is something magical about the tree and it’s growing fast into a huge tree. Then Timi and his friends learn that the library is going to be demolished. Can Timi save the library, which has become his refuge, and his tree, and maybe bring his community closer together along the way? The power of nature and the joy of libraries shines through in this enchanting early reader chapter book which is filled with the emotive, black and white illustrations of artist Sojung Kim-McCarthy. A gentle yet resonant reminder of the importance of protecting community libraries and the nature that flourishes in inner-city areas.
(Knights Of, paperback, £5.99)

Age 3 plus
Eye Spy
Ruth Brown

EYE SPY with my little eye… a book that children will love! Every picture hides a colourful riddle in a cleverly imagined and beautifully created picture book from inventive author and illustrator Ruth Brown. A member of the Chelsea Arts Club, Brown employs her artistic talents, rhyming skills and sense of fun to intrigue, challenge and entertain youngsters as they study elaborately detailed nature drawings to discover hidden wildlife. This playful journey through the day, from dawn to dusk, comes from Scallywag Press which is three years old this year and aims to publish books featuring distinctive, amusing and quirky art, and the work of talented newcomers, established authors and illustrators, and classics. The gentle, rhyming text is set against a gorgeous backdrop of countryside landscape, and the reader must solve a riddle to guess which animal is hiding, and then search for it in the wonderfully detailed illustrations. With red herrings in the artwork to make the objects harder to find, each page turn confirming the answers, and an endearing bedtime ending to enjoy, Brown’s twist on the favourite childhood game ensures hours of fun and discovery for all the family!
(Scallywag Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
This is NOT a Dinosaur
Barry Timms and Ged Adamson

IS it a sign-osaur, a shine-osaur, a leap-saur, or maybe a sleep-osaur? Author Barry Timms and illustrator Ged Adamson have lots of over-sized fun with a dinosaur that’s not always a dinosaur in a picture book that will have tiny tots wanting their own green and grinning pet! But don’t run away with the idea that this funny and heartwarming story is about a dinosaur. Well… it’s not any old dinosaur. This dinosaur can become the most amazing things… a footballer, pirate, deep-sea diver, knight, magician and even a hairdresser! Having a dinosaur for a friend is one big adventure as Timms works his wordplay magic on a story that celebrates the fun of playing and the joys of friendship while Adamson puts heart and humour into his gallery of gorgeous illustrations. With a ton weight of appeal for both girls and boys, a free ‘Stories Aloud’ audio recording when you scan the QR code, and some spooky houses, prehistoric creatures, silly fish and sparkling teeth to enjoy, this is destined to be a more-osaur favourite!
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Fantastic Frankie
Jess Rose

A FASHION-CONSCIOUS fox – with an eye for outlandish clothes – steals the show in this delightful debut picture book from Jess Rose, an illustrator, author and designer who lives and works in rural Yorkshire. Written to encourage children to shine their own light and be confident in who they are, Fantastic Frankie is a fabulous whirl of colour, words and inspirational messages. Frankie is a fox with plenty of style... fabulous in a rainbow cape, amazing in pirate boots and ready to take on the world in a gold crown! But not everyone likes what Frankie wears and the more Frankie tries to change, the more his (and everyone else’s!) world turns grey and the more unhappy he feels. But what happens when friends start to miss their old Frankie, can they help him to put colour back into their lives? Youngsters will love joining Frankie on his rollercoaster journey where he discovers that staying true to yourself is the best way to find happiness. Using a palette of colours that moves from grey uniformity to bright bursts of vivid shades, Rose cleverly conveys the feelings and messages in the story. Fashion, fun and friendship prove a winning combination!
(New Frontier Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Great Big Softie
Kaye Baillie and Shane McG

GET ready for some monstrous trouble – and some monstrous laughs! – as Aussie author and illustrator duo, Kaye Baillie and Shane McG, very KINDLY dish up a rip-roaring romp starring a soft-hearted monster. Elliot the green monster is a great big softie. But to fit in with the other monsters who like to dribble, trample and burp their way into trouble, he decides to perform some of his own monstrous deeds. But after scaring a little girl on her bike, and winning the Monster of the Week Cup, Elliot has to decide whether to continue being monstrous or follow his kind heart. Baillie tugs at our heartstrings with this wonderfully soft-centred story which gently explores themes of wanting to fit in, staying true to yourself, being kind and reaping the rewards of forgiveness. Shane McG adds his own colour, verve and heart to the cautionary tale with a gallery of eye-catching, emotive illustrations. A story to enjoy and the perfect starting point for discussions about integrity, inclusivity and differences.
(New Frontier Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Nanny Needed

Georgina Cross

IT seems like a dream job to Sarah Larsen… nanny to a three-year-old girl in a glamorous New York City penthouse apartment for a salary that would add several zeroes to her waitressing wages. But from the first day of her employment at the upmarket Manhattan home of the Bird family – a role which involved signing a binding secrecy contract – Sarah knows that there is something strangely and terribly wrong.

Author of psychological page-turners The Stepdaughter and The Missing Woman, Georgina Cross (pictured below) ratchets up the gothic vibes in this super-spooky tale of madness, deceit and eccentricity which takes readers on a crazy, non-stop thrill ride into the heart of darkness.

So buckle up, switch off from reality, and enjoy the gripping action and menacing mystery as we follow 26-year-old Sarah to the bulletin board in her East Village apartment block where she lives with boyfriend Jonathan and struggles to pay medical bills racked up when her beloved aunt was in her final days. There on the board – posted on a creamy card and bearing a very exclusive address – is the flyer: ‘Nanny needed. Discretion is of the utmost importance. Special conditions apply.’ One glance and Sarah believes she has found her ticket out of a dead-end restaurant job… and a dead-end life that is drowning in debt.

When Sarah gains an interview, the job seems like a dream come true… a luxury penthouse apartment on the Upper West Side of NYC with a salary of twelve hundred dollars a week to look after a young girl called Patty, daughter of wealthy businessman Alex Bird, and his younger wife Collette.

And the interview goes better than Sarah could ever have hoped. Beautiful, kind and friendly, Collette feels more like a friend than a potential boss and Sarah is overjoyed when they offer her the position, signing the contract binding her to complete secrecy without a second thought. These are important people, after all… they can’t be too careful about who they let into their home.

Click HERE for Lancashire Post review

But Sarah soon discovers that there is something very off-kilter about the Bird family. Their disturbing behaviour amounts to more than the eccentricities of the wealthy. Why does Collette never leave the apartment alone, what happened to the nanny before her… and is it now far too late for Sarah to seek help? Brimming with spine-chilling claustrophobia, edge-of-the-seat suspense, and revelations that explode bomb-like across the pages, Nanny Needed opens with a sinister children’s party and ends with a wickedly clever, jaw-dropping twist. 

Along the way, we encounter various creepy and colourful characters, explore some disturbing real-life issues, meet menacing atmospherics head-on, and marvel at Cross’s inventive plot that lurches, tantalises, teases and shocks right through all the unsettling drama. Riveting, heart-pounding and impossible to put down, Nanny Needed is job done for Georgina Cross!

(Avon, paperback, £8.99)

Summer Secrets at Bletchley Park

Molly Green 

AFTER falling in love with an American on the first day of the war, young reporter Dale Treadwell is left distraught when he is posted abroad without the chance to say goodbye.

Will helping the war effort help mend her broken heart or will she find new beginnings and a new love working as a code breaker at Bletchley Park?

Summer Secrets at Bletchley Park is the first book in an inspiring and authentic new Second World War saga series from seasoned author Molly Green, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

In September of 1939, London is in blackout, war has been declared and junior newspaper reporter 21-year-old Dulcie (better known as Dale) Treadwell can think only of American broadcaster Glenn Reeves. She met and fell in love with Glenn on Westminster Bridge on the day that war was declared but he never got to say a final farewell before leaving for Europe as a war correspondent.

Heartbroken, Dale, who has some knowledge of German, leaves her journalism job and is posted to Bletchley Park where she must concentrate on working to crack the German Enigma codes. The hours are long and the conditions tough, with little recognition from her superiors… until she breaks her first code.

Click HERE for Lancashire Post review

Because of the Official Secrets Act, Dale has to keep her real job hidden from her family and friends but she finds solace with her handsome, happy-go-lucky colleague Eddie Langton whose friendship could become more than that if only her heart didn’t stop whispering Glenn’s name. But when a spiteful act of jealousy leads to Dale’s brutal dismissal, her life is left in pieces once again. Is it too late for Dale to prove her innocence and keep the job she loves? And can her broken heart ever truly heal if she doesn’t hear from Glenn again?

Green (pictured above) serves up plenty of drama, romance and nostalgia in this gripping tale which also opens a fascinating window on to the crucial work of the code breakers at Bletchley Park and the personal and social difficulties of working for the war effort under the constraints of the secrets act. 

Moving, atmospheric, with a cast of vibrant characters, and full of Green’s compelling storytelling and rich period detail, this is an impressive start to an exciting new saga series.
(Avon, paperback, £7.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Sea mystery, art for the heart and fun on the farm

Set sail on a thrilling high seas adventure, discover an island ruled by whales, learn how art can brighten your life, join a princess and a pig in muck, and meet a farmer chasing his runaway cows in a super springtime array of new books

Age 8 plus
The Riddle of the Sea
Jonne Kramer, Laura Watkinson (translator) and
Karl James Mountford

BATTEN down the hatches for a thrilling sea adventure featuring a lost father, a cursed ship and a grumpy pirate! The Riddle of the Sea – the outstanding debut novel of Dutch author Jonne Kramer – was nominated for several prestigious prizes in Holland and has now been beautifully translated into English by Laura Watkinson so that a new audience can revel in a terrific tale of friendship and overcoming fears.

When Ravian’s father doesn’t return home from sea for his son’s birthday, Ravian is certain he must be in danger. Hearing tales of a cursed ship, The Night Raider, that captures fishermen, Ravian goes in search of his father accompanied by his only friend, Marvin the seagull.

Click HERE for Lancashire Post reviews

Before long, the pair find themselves trapped on a ship with a kindly boy and a bad-tempered pirate for company. The ensuing voyage is beset with battles with giant squid and fierce storms and despite uncovering wonders beyond his wildest dreams, Ravian despairs that he might never find his lost father. Featuring the fabulous black and white illustrations of acclaimed artist Karl James Mountford, this suspense-packed and atmospheric story, with its exciting cast of characters and splashes of dark humour, is the perfect read for adventure-loving middle graders.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 10 plus
Day of the Whale
Rachel Delahaye  

ON an island ruled by whales, one boy is searching for his missing father, another is refusing to forget the past and a girl is on the run. In a fabulous flight of imagination, novelist Rachel Delahaye transports youngsters to Cetacea, an island in a flooded dystopian future where ruling whales speak to the population through a giant screen and three youngsters embark on an adventure of discovery that could anger the whales and crack their community apart. ‘Follow the big blue. Tell the Truth.’ That was the last thing Cam’s father said to him and it was important. Cam follows Big Blue… everybody does on the island of Cetacea. Their lives take place within his rules, delivered to them by enigmatic whale-talker, Byron Vos. Byron was once a marine scientist but is now organising an epic clean-up operation to revive the ocean after centuries of human greed and neglect. And yet Cam wonders if there is a more complex truth… a truth that may be connected to his father’s disappearance. Cam’s quest to understand Big Blue leads him to new friends, Banjo and Petra, and shared adventures but the truth, when he finds it, is more dangerous than ever he could have imagined. In a story filled with danger, adventure, determination, daring and immense courage, Delahaye explores topical issues like climate change, truth, history and freedom as the three curious youngsters unravel some dark secrets. Gripping and moving in equal measure.
(Troika, paperback, £8.99)

Age 8 plus
Every Cloud
Ros Roberts

THE transition to high school is always an anxious and pressured time for children so here’s a funny, reassuring and uplifting story that will help to ease the fears and lighten the load. Every Cloud – a sensitively written and heartfelt exploration of fresh starts and new friends – comes from the pen of Ros Roberts, an author whose magical debut, Digger and Me, proved an instant hit.  Here we meet Amy, who feels like everything is going wrong. For a start, she’s just found out she isn’t going to the same high school as everyone else. Add to that her annoying younger brothers, Pops’ worsening dementia and Cassie, her supposed best friend, being meaner than ever, and Amy’s summer is not looking promising. It’s even worse when Mum tells her they are moving in with Gran and Pops for the holidays… all the way over to the other side of town. But then she discovers who lives over the road from her grandparents… Jay, the kind, quiet boy from school. Soon Amy realises that friendship isn’t always about who talks the most and the loudest, who does the most exciting things or throws the coolest parties. Sometimes a friend is just someone to talk to, someone to listen. But when outside pressures start to creep back in, can Amy hang on to her summer of silver linings? Roberts explores issues like moving house and school, coping with dementia in the family, making friends, and accepting difference with a gentle and yet humorous touch. Full of wisdom, empathy and hope, this is a story that will resonate and comfort many worried youngsters as they prepare for their own new school adventures this autumn.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 7 plus
Art for the Heart
Xavier Leopold

USE art to brighten your life with Xavier Leopold, the City trader who picked up a paint brush during lockdown in 2020 and found a whole new world of communication for feelings. Leopold had no prior art training but his unique abstract portraits were instantly admired and now the founder of ByXaviArt, he has exhibited at London’s OXO Tower Wharf, and runs workshops to spread awareness of causes like Black Lives Matter and mental health issues to young people. Aimed at children aged seven plus, Art for the Heart is a wellness journal with a difference, featuring a fill-in art journal with ideas and inspiration. Young readers can use art to brighten their day, find calmness and confidence, and show how they really feel. Using his own story to show readers how to use art for self-expression and wellbeing, the journal explains how anyone can put their thoughts and dreams on paper, no matter what training they have. Themed around key wellness topics like healthy living, positive thinking and expressing emotions, each chapter contains lots of inspiration for art from the heart. And readers can make the journal their own by filling the pages with their art and they can join a free online art club. The ideal book to put your feelings in the picture.
(Welbeck Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 6 plus
Unipiggle: Camping Chaos
Hannah Shaw

SOMEWHERE over the rainbow… madcap Princess Pea is off a right royal camping trip! Get ready for more fun-filled anarchy with a princess who loves breaking the rules and her Royal Unicorn who just happens to be a smelly pig… sorry, a Unipiggle! Award-winning author and illustrator Hannah Shaw welcomes back her readers to Twinkleland Kingdom where everyone is 100 per cent perfect… except for the irresistible Princess Pea who doesn’t like rules, thinks being perfect is boring and would rather wear wellies than a frilly frock. In their fifth adventure, Princess Pea and Unipiggle are very excited to be attending Royal Camp for the first time. They are looking forward to meeting other princes, princesses and royal companions, and staying in a tent. But someone is out to ruin Royal Camp. Things are going missing and the activities are all spoiled. Even worse, it looks like Princess Pea and Unipiggle have done it. Can Unipiggle and Princess Pea find the real culprit and stop the camping chaos? Like a pig in muck, Shaw has fun, games and muddy magic with this wonderfully madcap and imaginative series which is filled with high-energy pictures in all the colours of the rainbow, includes knockabout comedy and a draw your own llamacorn section, and perfectly bridges the gap from picture books to chapter books. Laugh-out-loud antics all the way!
(Usborne, paperback, £5.99)

Age 3 plus
Farmer Llama
Donna David and Fred Blunt

FORGET the old nursery rhyme about the cows in the corn… the cows are on the run and accident-prone Farmer Llama has his work cut out to round them up again! Enjoy a laugh-out-loud, rhyming picture book from clever author Donna David and seasoned illustrator Fred Blunt. ‘Alarm-a-Llama bolts awake and bashes his poor head. Pyjama-Llama rubs his eyes and climbs out of his bed. Banana-Llama grabs some food. He's ready for the day!’ And so the scene is set for a day of madcap antics as Farmer-Llama starts his truck and heads out to collect hay. Little ones will adore joining the irresistibly lovable Farmer Llama for this hilarious farmyard adventure which comes complete with pesky cows who just won’t get out of Farmer Llama's way. With its simple phonics-based text, Donna David’s rhyming romp is perfect for reading aloud and developing early reading skills while the bright, bold and eye-catching artwork of Fred Blunt is the icing on the storytelling cake!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
Sunshine at Bedtime
Clare Helen Welsh and Sally Soweol Han

A LITTLE girl’s curious questions about why the sun is still shining when it’s her bedtime becomes the springboard for a magical journey across space and its wonders in an informative and inventive picture book. Sunshine at Bedtime comes from Storyhouse Publishing, founded by Rachel Lawrence and dedicated to producing beautiful picture books to inspire positivity, care and wellbeing for a bright future, including ideas about friendship, collaborative play, kindness and conservation. In this inspirational new book, author Clare Helen Welsh – who writes stories that mix of fact and fiction through clever storytelling – aims to reassure children with fascinating, simple science about the reason for lighter bedtimes in spring and summer. Curious Macie notices that the evenings are brighter in summer and wants to know why. Together Mummy and Macie soar high into the sky to discover the wonder of the sun, stars and planets, just in time for bed. With the gorgeous, lyrical illustrations of Sally Soweol Han and a double-page spread of non-fiction facts at the end, this is the perfect wind-down story at the end of a busy day!
(Storyhouse Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Let’s Go Outside!
Ben Lerwill and Marina Ruiz

THE spirit of youthful exuberance – and the joys to be found in the great outdoors – shine through with dazzling colour and clarity in a beautifully emotive picture book from author Ben Lerwill and illustrator Marina Ruiz. ‘Let’s go outside! Let’s run as fast as our legs can carry us. Let’s make the best den in the whole wide world.’ The wonders of the great outdoors are waiting, ready to be filled with excitement and imagination whatever the weather in this inspirational story about spending time outside every day. Explore the fun that can be found outdoors in all weathers and count how many children have gone outside to play in this joyful and picture perfect celebration of imaginative play. Lerwill’s lyrical story puts the simple pleasures of spending time outside and cosying up indoors at the end of the day at centre stage and Ruiz’s colourful illustrations bring all the action to glorious life. And with discussion prompts and outdoor activity suggestions at the end of the book, parents and children will be champing at the bit to say… let’s go outside!
(Welbeck Children’s Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 1 plus
Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes
Axel Scheffler

GET ready to read, sing – and simply share – this joyously collated and illustrated treasury of over fifty traditional and much-loved nursery rhymes. Brought to vivid and colourful life by the exquisite full-colour illustrations of award-winning Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo, this fabulous gift anthology includes classic nursery rhymes, traditional lullabies and favourite action songs. Mother Goose and her three little goslings act as guides through this nursery rhyme journey while Scheffler’s warm and funny illustrations bringing the tales to life. With the rhymes linked together by enchanting original stories about Mother Goose and the goslings as they learn to waddle, swim and fly, this beautiful book gives a unique and fresh twist to the traditional favourites. From Humpty Dumpty to Jack and Jill, and from Baa Baa Black Sheep to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful gift treasury …a must-have for every family bookshelf!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 2 plus
One Tiny Dot
Lucy Rowland and Gwen Millward

LET kindness grow! That’s the heartwarming theme of a gentle, caring and reassuring picture book from the top team of author Lucy Rowland and illustrator Gwen Millward. Kindness is represented as a simple dot which grows bigger with each kind act that is performed by an assortment of people. ‘There once was a dot, who was really quite small, walking along and not minding at all that it wasn't that big or that bold or that tough, for this dot was kindness and that was enough.’ Rowland’s charming story imagines that kindness comes in all shapes and sizes, starting out as a dot and morphing into all sorts of different forms as it spreads joy wherever it goes. Millward’s colourful, evocative and vibrantly eclectic illustrations reinforce messages about the ability of kindness to uplift, comfort and unite, as well as to help overcome anger and sadness. Deceptively simple in its clever wording but powerful in its messaging, One Tiny Dot will be loved by all the family.
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £6.99)