CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Monster hunting, ice cream magic and an evil spider

Meet a boy using monsters to help him cope with his grief, buckle up for more thrilling, fast-paced action with two teenage mutant boys, tuck into a delicious, magic-sprinkled caper with ice cream at its heart, immerse yourself in the atmospherics of a danger-filled steampunk adventure, and share giggles with a ‘loser’ who proves to be a total winner in an exciting summertime selection 

Age 9 plus
The Boy Who Made Monsters
Jenny Pearson and Katie Kear

BLENDING comedy and pathos is always a complex business so full marks – as always! – to primary school teacher and award-winning author Jenny Pearson who has her finger firmly on the pulse of writing inspirational and reassuring stories perfectly pitched for children. The Boy Who Made Monsters is the fifth fantastic adventure from the Costa Award-shortlisted Pearson whose brilliant books and engaging characters are based on a wonderful mix of all the children she has ever taught. And this new tender, and yet laughter-filled, story stars a boy struggling with the grief of losing his parents in a sailing accident, the upheaval of moving to a new home in Scotland, and discovering that a monster in a loch is not the only monster he will have to take on.

Benji McLaughlin is a visionary... he believes in things that other people think are impossible, like that he and his brother Stanley will be happy in their new home in Scotland, and that the Loch Lochy monster exists, and that his parents will come home safely one day, even though they have been missing for months after a terrible sailing accident. When he finds out that his Uncle Hamish’s Loch Lochy tourist business is struggling, and it looks like Benji and Stanley might lose another home, Benji is not worried. He has a plan. If he can show everyone that the Loch Lochy monster exists, people will flock to come to see it, and the business will flourish again. Together with his new friend, wise-cracking Murdy and Mr Dog, the best dog in the world, Benji sets off to capture evidence of the monster, even if he has to get a little creative. But Benji might end up confronting more monsters than he expects. This uniquely moving and heartfelt tale of love, loss, laughter and hope – beautifully illustrated throughout by Katie Kear – sees Pearson at her very best as she expertly weaves between tear-jerking emotions and a full-on comedy capers in a manner that is both wise and accessible for youngsters. Reminding readers, both young and old, that it’s possible to find joy after terrible despair, and happiness after bereavement, and that there are caring people and coping mechanisms to help us navigate a way through even the darkest times, The Boy Who Made Monsters is a brilliant, bittersweet reading triumph.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
21% Monster: Serpent Strike
P.J. Canning

SCIENTIFIC know-how goes a long way in a thrilling debut trilogy from P.J. Canning whose adventures starring two teenage mutant boys have won over readers with their authenticity, logic... and fast-paced action. Serpent Strike is the last in the series and delivers the same blend of fun, science fiction and high octane thrills and spills in a stunningly imagined plot that is proving to be irresistible to adventure and action fans. For once, 21% monster teenage-boy Darren Devlin thinks he has the upper hand over Xastris, the secret organisation that transformed him into a genetically-modified superhuman. Since joining forces with 19% alien boy Marek Masters, 17% sabre-tooth polar-bear Aurora Valero, and now 16% alien girl Genie, Darren has never been in a stronger position... but neither have Xastris because they are busy planning an attack on the world’s greatest superpowers. The fate of millions is now at stake. Can Darren and the team intercept Operation Serpent Strike... or will Xastris land their deadliest bite yet? With a stellar cast of superhuman teens, a plot that revolves around a valuable secret, and more twists and turns than a snakes and ladders board, this pulsating, high stakes mission for the daredevil team is the perfect page-turning finale for a fantastic series.
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Sundae Delivery Service
Holly Rivers 

ICE creams are most definitely on the menu in Holly Rivers’ delicious sequel to The Boy in the Post, an enchanting, magic-sprinkled adventure which won the hearts of thousands of young readers. And this new outing to the delightful village of Little Penhallow delivers the same enchanting retro feel and cast of quirky characters as we are once more immersed into a fabulous fantasy world full of warmhearted fun and ice-cold skulduggery. A few months have passed since Orinthia Shalloo’s transatlantic adventure with her two younger brothers and the mailbox menagerie is thriving as they train animals to deliver the post. But then a family of ice cream makers arrive in the village – including daughter Dotty Ambrose – and announce they are entering their ice cream into the prestigious Golden Udder ice cream awards in Norway. And when Dotty discovers that the post in her village is delivered by animals trained by local children, it means her family could have their entry delivered by cows! But training cows is the easy part. Dotty soon discovers on the voyage to Norway that rival sundae-makers will do almost anything to sabotage their efforts and take the prize. The Sundae Delivery Service can be easily read as a standalone story as the friends set sail for Bergen and an epic adventure across land, sea and sky starring a menagerie of furry and feathered posties! A high-flying mission you won’t want to miss...
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Usborne Adventure Gamebooks:
League of Thieves
Sarah Crofton, W.J. Tattersdill and Tom Knight

CHOICES, choices… do you dare to enter a strange and magical world and choose your own danger-packed adventure? This classic adventure gamebook from Usborne is packed with exciting challenges, choices and decisions which will delight a new generation of thrill-seeking youngsters who want to put their own skills and imagination into play. Written by Sarah Crofton and W.J. Tattersdill, and spectacularly illustrated throughout by Tom Knight, League of Thieves is the latest atmospheric and enthralling adventure in a series which grips readers from beginning to end and brings together picture puzzles, exciting dice-based combat and a story in which the hero is YOU. As a member of the League of Thieves, you’re used to plenty of danger and mystery, but your most perilous mission yet is about to begin. Among the shadowy alleys and moonlit rooftops of Morrowstone, a mysterious enemy has kidnapped your friend... and the only person who can rescue him is YOU. Can you succeed where all others have failed and break into the infamous Castle Flaggstone to rescue your friend, steal a priceless treasure and uncover an ancient secret? From this point onwards, you are in control of an epic adventure. Every choice is yours, and your survival depends on the decisions you make. Who to fight? Who to trust? In a book where nothing is as it seems, even the pictures hold secrets that must be unlocked. Full of choices to make, each one leading to different adventures and endings, this dark and sweeping story, with its fiendish picture puzzles, is perfect for all fans of gaming and fantasy role-playing games.
(Usborne, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Carnival of the Spider
Kieran Larwood and Sam Usher

TAKE one of most exciting, contemporary children’s authors and a multi-talented illustrator, and what do you get? This brilliant middle-grade series from superstars Kieran Larwood and Sam Usher is so steeped in the atmospherics of Victorian city steampunk that you can almost touch the grime and grit, smell the muck, and feel the miasma of choking smog! Carnival of the Spider – the follow-up to the fantastic Carnival of the Lost and Carnival of the Hunted – sweeps us back into the wonderfully murky, carnivalesque world of intrigue, friendships, magic and mysteries, and into an audacious rescue mission from London to Paris! Stars of the carnival show are an unusual troupe of performers that includes Sheba the wolf girl, Pyewacket, a witch’s imp, and Sister Moon, a knife thrower. And in this new adventure, we discover that were three men and two women... one had half a face, one had iron legs and the others all had one or both arms missing. There were pincers and claws and guns instead. When Sheba learns that her old friend Sister Moon is being held prisoner by the Spider and its gang of mechanical villains, the Carnival immediately launch a rescue mission to Paris. Along with Pyewacket, and catlike Inji, Sheba joins forces with Moon’s son Remy, a boy who can bend shadows to his will. Deep underground in the catacombs of Paris there is a map which they must find to trade for Moon’s freedom. With the city under siege from Prussian invaders and the Spider’s henchmen on their trail, the Carnival will need to use all their powers to save their friend. There is so much for youngsters to love and enjoy in this full-on, immersive adventure… humour, originality, page-turning thrills, danger and daring, and all brought to life by Usher’s gorgeously gothic and characterful illustrations. Middle-grade writing and illustrating at its best!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Big Amazing Poetry Book
Gaby Morgan and Chris Riddell

BIG really is beautiful – and amazing! – in a gorgeous anthology, filled with wondrous words, inspirational ideas and illuminating illustrations, from the top team of editor Gaby Morgan and award-winning illustrator Chris Riddell. The Big Amazing Poetry Book is a warm, funny and imaginative celebration of verse, and the ideal introduction to a mix of diverse poets, from famous names of the past like Lewis Carroll and Charles Causley, to well-loved poets of today including Nikita Gill and the new Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho. With Riddell’s superbly detailed and luminous black and white illustrations throughout, plus an insightful foreword from Liverpool poet Roger McGough, this perfect gift book is a rich and dazzling collection of poets and poetry. Morgan, who has compiled many bestselling poetry anthologies over nearly thirty years, has chosen the ideal pick’n’mix of poems that will intrigue and delight young readers, but also sometimes challenge and puzzle them. And The Big Amazing Poetry Book is certainly one to treasure. With its words of wisdom and emotional intelligence, the anthology features seven poems (one for each day of the week) by fifty-two poets (one for each week of the year) and a biography to showcase each poet. Readers cans simply dip in and out of the book as the time or the mood takes them. Packed with different styles of poetry – including ballads, riddles, tongue-twisters, shape poems, haiku (a short form of poetry originally from Japan), sonnets and raps – and featuring poems about seasons, festivals, animals, birds, love, war, food, fish and football and much more, every page is filled with Riddell’s stunning line artwork. From John Agard, Clare Bevan, Valerie Bloom, Steven Camden, Pie Corbett, Shauna Darling Robertson, Jan Dean, Peter Dixon, Julia Donaldson, Eleanor Farjeon and John Foster to Sue Hardy-Dawson, A.F. Harrold, Michaela Morgan, Brian Moses, Kate Wakeling and Zaro Weil, this is an unmissable feast of visual and verbal delights!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 7 plus
Myths, Mummies and Magic in Ancient Egypt
Stephen Davies and Núria Tamarit

DISCOVER the thrilling myths and magic of Ancient Egypt in a spectacular comic-strip style retelling by children’s author Stephen Davies and illustrator and comic artist Núria Tamarit who is based in Spain. The ancient Egyptian myths are some of the oldest and most famous stories ever told and this vivid and contemporary comic book collection is the perfect introduction to them. Myths, Mummies and Magic in Ancient Egypt features six striking tales full of mythical creatures, gods, pharaohs and adventure and explores traditional themes like love, loss, greed, envy and bravery. Set sail with Prince Naneferkaptah on his quest to find the magical book of Thoth, join Seth and Horus as they battle for the throne of Egypt, and meet a pharaoh called Khufu who wanted to have the most magnificent tomb ever. Bursting with detail and humour, and Tamarit’s funny and fascinating comic-strip illustrations, this fully accessible and entertaining retelling of ancient myths is a delight for readers both young and old.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £14.99)

Age 7 plus
Barry Loser: Double Trouble!
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 a total winner and bounding back with this 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 they take starring roles in three amazekeel stories, including one where Barry’s dad turns into a vending machine, and all Barry has to do is ‘press his buttons’ to get exactly what he wants, and another where hearing the most boring story in the world has a disastrous effect on Barry’s mind and body. 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 6 plus
Yomi and the Fury of Ninki Nanka
Davina Tijani and Adam Douglas-Bagley

A FUNNY thing happened on a trip to The Gambia... Join in the fun and fabulous fantasy adventure in the first book of author Davina Tijani and illustrator Adam Douglas-Bagley’s new Nkara Chronicles series which is being billed as Beast Quest meets Pokémon... across Africa! A fresh and fast-paced series based on African mythology, Tijani’s stories are brimming with heart and humour, and come perfectly packaged with a cleverly imagined and fully accessible mythology and fantasy theme. Yomi and her younger brother Kayode are supposed to be on the trip of a lifetime visiting The Gambia with their Uncle Olu. Instead, their uncle’s work has made this the most boring holiday ever! But when Yomi witnesses the Dragon King, Ninki Nanka, being kidnapped from the sky, things get a lot more exciting. Determined to save him, Yomi and Kayode uncover secrets and meet many magnificent beasts... but will it be enough to save Ninki Nanka? With dragons, mystery, danger and secret societies to enjoy, this African adventure series is set to be a big hit with young readers.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
Dave Pigeon (Kittens!)
Swapna Haddow and Sheena Dempsey

YOUNGSTERS (and their grown-ups!) will be all of a-flutter when author Swapna Haddow and illustrator Sheena Dempsey’s new Dave Pigeon comedy adventure wings its way into their eager hands. With a laugh guaranteed on every page, this much-loved, award-winning chapter book series shows off the outstanding queens of comedy at their very best and has received rave reviews since first publishing in 2016. In their fifth adventure, we find Dave Pigeon and his trusty sidekick, Skipper, minding their own business in the garden shed when they see their nemesis, Mean Cat, behaving very strangely. And why is she multiplying? The arrival of some very cute kittens is disastrous news! More cats? Ugh. But then the kittens come under threat... are Dave and Skipper cold-hearted enough to leave them defenceless? Especially when one looks a teeny, tiny little bit like Dave? If slapstick fun, outrageously bad behaviour and panda poo makes you giggle and guffaw, then Bad Panda is your perfect go-to comedy read. Packed with Haddow’s warmth and wicked, laugh-out-loud wit, and Dempsey’s irresistibly funny black and white illustrations, this fantastically funny and addictive series from one of the most inspired partnerships in children’s comedy fiction is simply irresistible!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus
How to Make a Book
Becky Davies and Patricia Hu

CHILDREN love to write and draw their own stories... but how many are aware of the creative journey that is involved before a book is published? How to Make a Book – a picture book that is the result of its own imaginative journey – comes from the pen of children’s book editor Becky Davies and the colour palette of talented illustrator Patricia Hu. Acting as an inspirational and informative illustrated guide to publishing, the book introduces youngsters (and adults too!) to all the people involved in creating a book, from the author and editor to the illustrator and the designer. Do you think it would be cool to have a job where you make books? Have you ever wondered how a book is made? Follow the stages from acquisition and artwork to publicity and printing, and enjoy taking an accurate look at the entire process of what it took to make a book like this one! With Davies’s clear and concise text, and Hu’s gallery of characterful and colourful illustrations, How to Make a Book is perfect for children, publishing and bookselling professionals, artists and authors...  and anyone who wants to see how a book is made!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 3 plus
The Ocean Gardener
Clara Anganuzzi

THE colour, vibrancy and beauty of the underwater world springs to glorious life in a dazzling and inspirational picture book from author and illustrator Clara Anganuzzi who was raised in the Seychelles. Ayla and her marine biologist mum live on a beautiful tropical island surrounded by a coral reef which they visit every day. One morning, Ayla notices that many of the fish have disappeared, and the once vibrant corals have turned pale. Is it too late to save the reef? Fortunately Ayla’s mum has a plan and they set to work together to give the coral reef a fresh new start. The Ocean Gardener – a story of hope and determination – is a stunning blend of verbal and visual beauty, capturing the colour and magic of the coral reef, and the important role it plays in the ocean’s eco-system. From the impact global warming has on reefs to the amazing things marine biologists are doing to protect it, readers will love learning about this fascinating topic and how we can protect our reefs. Anganuzzi's gentle story and breathtaking artwork looks at the complex topic of global warming in an eye-opening but positive way, showing that there is time to reverse the damage which has been caused. Ideal for use as a gentle introduction to how climate change affects coral reefs and how we can protect them, and with information about reef restoration projects and the marine biologist who inspired the story, The Ocean Gardener is a wonderful addition to every child’s book shelf.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3
Ray
Alex Latimer

THE funny, heartwarming tale of little mouse with a BIG imagination sheds light on children’s fears of the dark in a dazzling picture book from talented author and illustrator Alex Latimer who is based in Cape Town, South Africa. Ray stars a terrified mouse (and a menagerie of other creatures!) whose walk home through the dark woods is lit up by a friendly firefly. When night falls and the shadows get longer and darker, Mouse is scared. How will he find his way home? Luckily he meets a firefly who reassures him, ‘I’m Ray and I’ll light your way.'’ On their starlit walk, however, it can seem that behind every shadow is lurking danger. And the meerkat, chickens, frogs and squirrels who join them agree... until Ray flies close with his light and shows what the shadows really are. But sometimes, just sometimes, the shadows might be just what they look like... With a gallery of rich, atmospheric and luminous illustrations, a witty story featuring a cast of colourful creatures, and a twist in the tail that will make everyone giggle, this is the picture perfect way to illuminate those all-too-familiar night-time fears!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Sunny and the Birds
Wendy Meddour and Nabila Adani

CREATIVE writing lecturer and award-winning children’s author Wendy Meddour gently introduces the theme of immigration to young children in her moving and thoughtful new picture book. Starring a little boy who hatches a plan to help his father find joy in his new home, and beautifully illustrated by Nabila Adani, who lives in Indonesia, Sunny and the Birds celebrates family, kindness and the power of belonging. Sunny and his family have recently moved to a new country and his dad is struggling to see their new house as home. Sunny can tell that he is yearning for his old life where collared doves cooed in the soft morning light and swallows swooped in the sunset. So, with the help of his grandmother, Sunny buys his dad a bird table and a seed feeder to attract birds into their garden and soon the birds have a feast and dad’s sadness takes flight. With its sensitive exploration of moving to a new country and the meaning of home, this evocative, illustrated story is perfectly pitched for the youngest readers.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
The Digits: The Perfect Number & Odds Vs Evens
Tony Bradman and Miguel Sánchez

WELCOME back to the wonderful world of the Digits... friends you can count on to prove that maths is fun! The Perfect Number and Odds Vs Evens are the third and fourth books in Oxford University Press’s funny, entertaining and educational picture book series that makes learning about numbers a laugh-out-loud adventure. Each clever, playful story – imaginatively written by award-winning author Tony Bradman – stars the Digits, a group of number friends and in The Perfect Number, exploring addition and subtraction, we meet Eight who wants the Digits’ day trip to the Number Land theme park to be perfect.

But when it’s time to go on Eight’s dream ride, will there be the right number of Digits? With a simple maths concept subtly woven into the playful storyline, this is the perfect book for practising adding up and subtracting skills! 

And in Odds Vs Evens, we find the Digits squabbling over whether odd or even numbers are best until Ten challenges everyone to a football match down at the park to settle the argument. This is the ideal, action-packed adventure for understanding the maths concept of odd and even numbers. With each story stylishly illustrated by Miguel Sánchez, and a guide for adults about reading, sharing, and exploring further topics and activities, these books are an invaluable asset for teaching, learning... and fun.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99 each)

The Witching Tide

Margaret Meyer

AT the age of forty-seven, midwife, healer and servant Martha Hallybread has lived long enough in a peaceful village on the East Anglian coast to know many things.

But there is a ‘new terror’ sweeping across England in the autumn of 1645; a terror that had been hitherto unknown, safely distant and merely a rumour. But now the witchfinders have arrived and Martha, mute since birth, fears that her every misdeed and defect could render her not just ‘less than nothing’ but even worse... ‘monstrous.’

Prepare to have your senses assailed and your heartstrings pulled as exciting new talent Margaret Meyer brings us a literary debut novel exploring the Norfolk and Suffolk witch-hunts of 1645-7 in which over one hundred innocent women cruelly lost their lives.

Born in Canada, Meyer (pictured below) grew up in New Zealand and now lives in Norwich, and it is the landscape and history of this corner of her adopted country that has been the inspiration for a hard-hitting and exquisitely piquant story steeped in the superstition, fear and misogyny of mid-17^th century England.

Set over the course of just a few weeks – weeks that forever change the people of the close-knit village of Cleftwater – The Witching Tide delivers powerful insights into the psychological impact of oppression, the fault lines that fatally beset friendships and loyalties, and the resistance to injustice that can arise in the most unexpected places... and people.

Martha Hallybread has lived for more than four decades in her beloved coastal village of Cleftwater. She has served her good and kindly master, Christopher ‘Kit’ Crozier, now married to pregnant Agnes, since he was a boy and is thankful that, despite her muteness, Kit has given her the dignity of work and a home. Everyone in Cleftwater knows Martha for her help and healing but one morning, the peaceful atmosphere of Master Kit’s home is shattered by the sinister arrival of

The Orphans from Liverpool Lane

Eliza Morton

IF a gripping blend of wartime, domestic drama and heartfelt emotions is your perfect reading recipe, then head off to Liverpool with actress Eliza Morton for a deliciously nostalgic saga for long summer nights.

Morton – better known as Elizabeth Morton and married to actor Peter Davison of Doctor Who fame – has a keen eye for drama and her childhood years in Liverpool have armed her with a love and in-depth knowledge of both the city and what makes its people tick.

And after success with A Liverpool Girl, A Last Dance in Liverpool Angel of Liverpool and The Girl from Liverpool, Morton (pictured below) returns once again to Merseyside for The Orphans from Liverpool Lane, a gritty and evocative tale featuring a family torn apart during the Second World War. Marcia Rogan is only twelve years old the first time she is sent with her older sister, Cynthia, to a Liverpool orphanage in 1944. With their father John in a PoW camp in Singapore, her mother Eunice is struggling to cope and hands them over to the nuns to be ‘orphans of the living,’ a cruel term for those children with living parents but whose families have abandoned them.

Things look up when their father finally returns and the girls are allowed home, but it’s clear the years in the camp have taken their toll on the sweet man Marcia barely remembers... and the family disintegrates.

Cynthia finds an escape with an aunt and follows her ambitions to be a dancer. But Marcia is sent back to the orphanage. And while she finds friends among her fellow ‘orphans,’ it’s no substitute for the family she so desperately craves...

The Orphans from Liverpool Lane – the first book of a Liverpool Orphans Trilogy – is a warmhearted, enchanting and gritty tale filled with nostalgia, colourful characters, romance, and the rich detail of life and its hardships in Liverpool in the wartime period and beyond. Readers cannot help but fall for the feisty Rogan sisters as they struggle to survive the war and battle to keep together their long-suffering and divided family. With emotions running high, the uncertainties of wartime, the strong sense of family and community that has always been a hallmark of this close-knit northern city, and an entertaining slice of Scouse humour to enjoy, this is an action-packed journey you wouldn’t want to miss!
(Pan, paperback, £7.99)

The Cupid Effect

Dorothy Koomson

CELEBRATE twenty years of thrills and spills with a special anniversary edition of award-winning author Dorothy Koomson’s funny, feel-good debut The Cupid Effect. Published in a new sturdy hardback, this delicious romantic comedy about love, life and good intentions was just the first of a string of bestselling novels which have been translated into more than thirty languages, with sales that exceed two million copies in the UK alone.

Her third novel, My Best Friend’s Girl, was selected for the Richard & Judy Summer Reads Book Club in 2006 while a TV adaptation based on The Ice Cream Girls was shown on ITV in 2013. Koomson (pictured below) was also featured on the 2021 Powerlist as one of the most influential Black people in Britain and appeared in GQ Style as a Black British trailblazer.

The Cupid Effect – hailed on publication as ‘a page-turning, bang-up-to-date romantic comedy’ – stars Ceri D’Altroy, a woman who has an extraordinary talent for matchmaking... with occasionally outrageous consequences.

Ceri’s hero-worship of Oprah Winfrey is beginning to have serious repercussions. So far, her questionable decisions have involved sex, shoes or giving unsolicited advice but now Ceri is bored with London life and after writing yet another ‘black is the new black’ fashion feature, she has decided to take Oprah’s advice and follow her heart’s desire.

Abandoning her London life and job, starting afresh in Leeds and going back to college might not be everyone’s dream but all Ceri's has ever wanted to do is teach. However, even though her professional life seems to be sorted, Ceri’s personal life is still a no-go area. The new Ceri has vowed not to meddle in other people’s love lives, no matter how good she is at it, but after six long, long, months without so much as a kiss, she has

Betrayal

Lesley Pearse

EVE'S violent husband Don Hathaway is a bully and an abuser, and she know she should never have married him, but she has two children and that means Eve must tread warily if she is to finally ditch Don and give them the future they desperately need.

Fortune, however, doesn’t always favour the brave... Don won’t give in easily and one disastrous act threatens to undo all her efforts to give her family that elusive fresh start.

With a life lived as rich with incidents, setbacks and joys as any found in her novels, bestselling author and master storyteller Lesley Pearse (pictured below) has both the personal experiences and the hard-gained wisdom to enthral her army of fans.

Her gripping and immaculately researched stories often feature human drama, domestic discord and powerful emotions, and Betrayal – Pearse’s thirty-first book – immerses us into the desperate world of a woman fighting to free herself and her children from the iron grip of her aggressive husband. So many people – not least her dour and difficult widower father – had warned Eve not to marry plumber Don but his fiery temper and anger had never been directed at her, yet just a week after their honeymoon, he started hitting her.

The violence did not get any better despite the birth of their two children, Tabitha and Oliver, but she told no one what was happening because of fear for her now frail dad, fear of what her neighbours would say, and the fear of having to bring up her family alone.

It was when Don became violent with Oliver, and she was badly injured in one drunken rage too many, that Eve knew she had to flee their home and take the children to safety... somewhere he would never find them.

But she has no money of her own, resents leaving Don in the house that had been paid for with her now late father’s money, and is so desperate that she has even contemplated the different ways she could murder him.

Finally she summons up the courage to leave him after a warning from a police medic that ‘every day you let your children stay in that toxic home, they are learning bad things,’ and the family are sent from London to a women’s refuge in Sidmouth in Devon. Eve is warned that it’s a difficult path ahead but she wants to give her children hope for the future. Don, however, is bitter and getting away entirely from him proves impossible. Until the day Eve tries to

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Magical misfits, girlish giggles and sea storms

Venture – if you dare! – into a fantastical world of magic, mystery and mayhem, head off on a hilarious residential school trip with a mishap-prone schoolgirl, get in the swim with the boy born with the power of the ocean in his hands, and discover art from a whole new angle in a super selection of books for summer reading

Age 8 plus
Arkspire
Jamie Littler

MAGIC, mayhem and misfits! Welcome to the world of Arkspire... a city of twists, turns, tricksters and extraordinary secrets which only one girl can uncover. Jamie Littler, renowned creator of the bestselling Frostheart books, is back to amaze and entertain us with an extraordinary new middle-grade fantasy series full of thrills, chills, comedy and the talented author-illustrator’s stunning artwork. Arkspire is a city obsessed by magic. The five Arcanists – a group of all-powerful magicians – have protected the great city for as long as anyone can remember. Within the hustle and bustle of these cobbled streets lives Juniper Bell, a thief who would do anything for her family... even her unbelievably annoying twin sister, Elodie. Then one night, something incredible happens. A mysterious stolen relic (nothing to do with Juni, ahem) explodes, revealing a mysterious creature, Cinder, who appears to ‘bond’ with Juni. Problem is that the only creatures that are like Cinder are allegedly dangerous enemies of the Arcanists... and it's not long before they turn their attention to Juni. Soon Juni, Cinder and everyone she loves are pulled into an extraordinary world of magic, power and prestige... but also grave danger. It seems the world Juni thought she knew is nothing but a lie, and now only Juni and Cinder can bring it down. Magic – powerful magic – lies at the beating heart of Littler’s masterful new series as Juni must pretend to be something she isn’t, struggle to survive living a lie, and cope with a magical creature that has been inadvertently freed from its ancient prison. Packed with the sort of fabulous characters we have come to expect from Littler, glorious illustrations, and a mesmerising story that reminds us to never give in to self-doubt and to treasure our friends and family, this is storytelling and adventure at its very best.
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Lottie Brooks’s Totally
Disastrous School-Trip
Katie Kirby

‘Woe is me. So much is wrong in my life... 1. Still look like a tomato
2. Am stuck indoors whilst my friends go bowling without me (RUDE)
3. My parents are leaving me to go out on a ‘Date Night.’ GROSS!'

IF the tone of that message strikes a chord, then you’ll be heading straight off to the shops to buy the fourth brilliant book in Katie Kirby’s hilarious and relatable tales of Lottie Brooks’ adventures and misadventures... part of a runaway successful series that is being devoured by readers in the unique ‘tweenage’ years. Kirby, who writes and illustrates this perfectly pitched series, has a natural gift for finding humour in recognisable, everyday challenges, and the mega-funny Lottie Brooks books capture all the giggle-worthy and cringe-inducing essence of this often awkward pre-teen time of life. And after Lottie’s mirth-making mishaps in The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks, The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks and The Mega-Complicated Crushes of Lottie Brooks, she’s back for more extremely embarrassing adventures on a residential school trip. After a summer of meeting handsome French boys and getting a tiny bit sunburnt (OK, fine... a lot sunburnt), Lottie is heading off on a week-long residential school trip to a place called Camp Firefly. It’s going to be a whole week away from embarrassing parents and little brother Toby’s tasty air biscuits! But the trip soon turns into a total disaster. The other girls staying at the camp are MEGA-MEAN, best friend Jess is spending all her time with the new girl, super smiley Isha, and Lottie’s diary gets stolen! Who knew that a school trip could cause so much DRAMA?! Lottie once more navigates the pitfalls and perils of growing up in this fantastically funny and yet wonderfully life-affirming new story which is filled with friendship troubles, pre-teen politics and embarrassing moments, and is guaranteed to have young readers giggling, gasping and cringing all the way to the start of their own new term!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Alex Neptune, Monster Avenger
David Owen and George Ermos

INDIANA Jones meets Pirates of the Caribbean in another ultimate treasure-hunting, puzzle-solving ocean adventure from David Owen, the exciting author whose YA debut novel, Panther, was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Monster Avenger is the third book of Owen’s thrilling, all-action and fun-filled Alex Neptune series for younger readers which was inspired by his self-confessed love for nail-biting heists, fantastical monsters and heartfelt friendships. At its core is Alex, the boy born with the power of the ocean in his hands. In his new mission, Alex finds that the sea creatures near Haven Bay are acting very strangely, attacking boats, and he senses some dark power is controlling them. When he tracks down his friend the water dragon, he finds it has been infected too. If he can’t find a way to stop it, the deadly parasite the water dragon is carrying could spread throughout the seas. After battling storms, electric eels and an army of angry crabs, Alex realises that the only way that he and his team can save the dragon and all their ocean friends is by going inside the dragon...  With the power of the sea at the centre of a fast-flowing story, the weirdest cast of characters this side of the tide, eco themes that speak as loudly as the crashing of the waves and the fantastic illustrations of George Ermos, this sparkling maritime odyssey is must reading for all adventure lovers!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Super Ghost
Greg James, Chris Smith and Amy Nguyen

AWARD-WINNING authors and Radio 1 broadcasters, Greg James and Chris Smith, team up again for a superhero adventure that is guaranteed to have readers laughing all the way to Paragon City! This is the top team that gave us the hilarious Kid Normal series, and the guffaw-inducing The Great Dream Robbery, so expect to split your sides and giggle till your tummy hurts when you join them on this action-packed journey into the unknown. It's just another day at the office for world-famous superhero Doctor Extraordinary as he battles his arch-nemesis Captain Chaos in yet another epic showdown. Unfortunately this one doesn’t quite go to plan and they both get blown up inside a giant robot. Doc Ex’s number-one fan, twelve-year-old Sonny Nelson, is devastated. A world without heroes is totally rubbish! But things take an even more extraordinary turn when Doctor Ex returns as a ghost and only Sonny can see him. With Paragon City under attack from cute baby pandas, Sonny and his best friend, Spot, must help Doctor Extraordinary save the world one final time. There are laughs aplenty in this tale of thrills, spills, chaos and crystals as James and Smith plunge youngsters into their unforgettable comedy caper which has a big, warm heart and carries inspirational messages about friendship, family and what it takes to be a real hero. Add on the fabulous illustrations of Vietnamese artist Amy Nguyen, and the unforgettable grinning pandas, and you have the perfect book for your own young adventurers!
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Art is Everywhere
Joe Haddow and Ellie Hawes

IF you thought that art was just pictures on the walls of a gallery, then you’re in for a BIG surprise when you turn the pages of a fun and fascinating new book from Joe Haddow, the leading light of the BBC Radio 2 Book Club. Haddow, whose CV includes being a drummer, radio producer, podcast presenter, art collector and a passionate music fan, is a passionate advocate of the arts, and one of his most recent projects is working with Soho House on their How To Be An Artist podcast series. And now he’s on a mission to teach youngsters that ‘art’ has many different forms – drawing, colouring, writing, poetry, music, film, TV – and wants to share how joyful and inspiring those arts can be, and how great are the people who make ‘art.’ Packed with the engaging and accessible illustrations of artist and designer Ellie Hawes, Art is Everywhere explores the concept of ‘the artist,’ explaining to young readers that while an artist can be someone holding a paintbrush and standing in front of an easel, the term artists can means so much more. So whether you sing, draw, write, dance, paint, act, play an instrument or tell jokes, or if you are just wanting to find out how to discover what kind of artist you want to be, this inspiring, friendly guide to art and why it matters is the perfect springboard to a future in the arts.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Lucky Bottle
Chris Wormell

AHOY, me hearties, here’s a super swashbuckling tale of pirates and witchcraft that is sure to cast a magic spell! Chris Wormell, one of Britain’s most celebrated author-illustrators, sweeps young readers across the ocean to a little desert island for a rip-roaring adventure with a young Robinson Crusoe-esque castaway called Jack Bobbins. Ten-year-old Jack is stranded on a desert island with no way to get home. He’s been very lucky… he has survived a terrible storm and the mysterious island he has found himself on has a kindly (if unusual) inhabitant, fresh water and plenty of food. But Jack needs to find his way home and as he uncovers incredible hidden treasures on the little island, he starts to formulate a plan… a plan that will involve witchcraft, terrifying sea monsters and pirates! But if Jack is going to succeed he will need to be very, very lucky. Packed with Wormell’s evocative and atmospheric illustrations, The Lucky Bottle is a thrilling visual and verbal adventure, full of exhilarating escapades, unexpected friendships, danger, daring and a big dollop of magic. Storytelling and illustration in perfect harmony!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Agent 9: Flood-a-geddon!
James Burks

ADVENTURE-LOVING readers will be purring with joy when they get their hands on the first book of an outrageously funny new graphic novel series from James Burks, the talented US movie and television show animator and author. Leading the feline fun and cat-orchestrated chaos is Agent 9 of the Super-Secret Spy Service... a fearless feline operative who seems to court danger, daring, and some unfortunate destruction! The Super-Secret Spy Service's mission is to keep the world safe from maniacal villains. And Agent 9 is one of its best operatives. Although Nine always manages to complete the mission, there is occasionally some collateral damage (like the priceless Pigasso painting that was destroyed while foiling an art heist). So Agent 9 is now on probation but when bumbling supervillain King Crab manages to overtake S4 head­quarters, there is no one else to turn to. Nine – along with a robotic partner named FiN – is all that stands between King Crab and his diabolical plans to melt the polar ice caps and build a massive water park. Can Agent 9 prove to be the right cat for the job by overcoming impulsive behaviour and saving the world from a complete flood-a-geddon? Fast, furious and hair-raisingly hilarious, Agent 9’s madcap, spy thriller-style adventures are guaranteed to leave youngsters gasping for breath and crying with laughter. With comedy and chaos on every page, Burks’ special brand of one-liners, and lots of brilliant illustrations to enjoy, readers will be counting down to the next outing for Agent 9 in October!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
There are Reptiles Everywhere
Camilla de la Bedoyere and Britta Teckentrup

PULL on your sturdy boots and get ready to track down some of the world’s most amazing reptiles! There are Reptiles Everywhere – with its stunning gold-foiled cover – is the third in a series of non-fiction books illustrated by bestselling artist Britta Teckentrup, teaching where in the world all sorts of reptiles can be found, and revealing some of the weird and wonderful things about them that it’s hard to believe are true. Written by Camilla de la Bedoyere, who has an academic background in zoology, and sumptuously illustrated by Teckentrup, this beautiful book explores the world of reptiles and brings these wonderful creatures to life through fascinating facts and rich and vibrant colours. This fabulously illustrated introduction to everyone’s favourite cold-blooded creatures is full of bitesize facts. Learn more about reptilian anatomy, natural habitats, conservation efforts, migration patterns, survival strategies and extinct species. Who would have guessed that the world of reptiles is so varied, so intriguing... and so brightly coloured!
(Big Picture Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Crow
Nicola Skinner and Rebecca Bagley

ESCAPING into her own little world seems the best way for Hattie to cope with her worries about moving to a new home and a new school. But she hadn’t reckoned on her extraordinary new ‘friend’ making it even more difficult to fit in! A magical wish goes bizarrely wrong in critically acclaimed children’s author Nicola Skinner’s brilliant Barrington Stoke debut... a surreal and funny schoolyard tale brought to life by the atmospheric illustrations of Rebecca Bagley, and published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format. After moving from the busy, bustling city of Bristol to a village in Somerset, lonely Hattie Mole feels out of place at her new school and creates a scarecrow called Crow. Hattie wants him to guard the den she finds in the playground, the only place she feels happy and comfortable. Poor Crow really just wants to have fun with the other children, but he takes his job for Hattie very seriously and his behaviour starts to get scarier and scarier. Will Hattie realise that Crow is ruining her chance to make new friends before it’s too late? Skinner’s unique voice shines through in this fantastical comical and enthralling tale which explores relatable anxieties around friendship and starting a new school, and is perfectly pitched for middle grade readers.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Princess Katie’s Kittens:
Pixie at the Palace & Bella at the Ball
Julie Sykes and Sam Loman

WELCOME to Starlight Palace and enjoy princesses, kittens and sparkly fun! Princess Katie’s Kittens – an adorable series written by ace storyteller Julie Sykes and illustrated by creative artist Sam Loman ­ hits the spot perfectly for youngsters just moving on to chapter books. In Pixie at the Palace, the first book in the series, we meet Princess Katie who lives in a beautiful palace in the kingdom of Tula. Her greatest wish is for a cat of her own so when she finds six little kittens abandoned in the forest, she just has to take them home! But when one of the kittens goes missing, can Princess Katie and her best friend Becky find little Pixie and bring him safely back to Starlight Palace? 

And in her second adventure, Bella at the Ball, everyone at the palace is busily preparing for a grand ball but mischievous kitten Bella is busy getting up to mischief. Her playful curiosity is putting everything out of place and the King and Queen are not happy. They remind Princess Katie that Bella’s behaviour is her responsibility. But can the princess and Becky keep Bella out of trouble for the big event? With short chapters, the endearing black and white illustrations, and some top tips about kitten care, these gorgeous books are ideal for newly confident readers. And look out for the other books in the series... Suki in the Snow, Poppy and the Prince, and Ruby and the Royal Baby.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £6.99 each)

Age 5 plus
Itty Bitty Princess Kitty: The Royal Ball
Melody Mews and Ellen Stubbings

LEARNING is always fun when we join Itty Bitty Princess Kitty for adventures in her royal realm of Lollyland! New-York-based author Melody Mews and illustrator Ellen Stubbings turn up the cute factor again in the second book of a chapter book series that is perfectly created for new young readers. In this new outing for Kitty, a royal ball at the palace is planned. The ball is the occasion when Itty will present herself as princess for the first time. Itty also has to teach all of Lollyland a new dance on the spot. There’s just one problem... Itty has no idea how to dance! Will the princess work something out, or will she dance her way into disaster? With an easy-to-read, playful story and Ellen Stubbings’ lively illustrations on every page, the Itty Bitty Princess Kitty books are proving addictive for young readers who love kittens, princesses... and lots of mischief!
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £5.99)

Age 5 plus
Tiny, the Secret Adventurer
Aisha Bushby and Kübra Teber

BEING teeny weeny doesn’t mean you can’t have big, scary and exciting adventures! Aisha Bushby, author of a string of children’s books, lets her imagination take flight for a beautiful new early reader chapter book series which comes complete with the gorgeous illustrations of Turkish artist Kübra Teber. Tiny is a small creature with a big heart living in Oakwood Primary School garden. Her animal neighbours don’t like her because she looks like a human. They think humans are big, noisy and messy... and they’re scared of her. But when Frog is in danger, Tiny comes to the rescue and makes new friends too! With its inclusive, heartwarming adventure story, a gallery of adorable illustrations, and the cutest star player this side of the school’s garden wall, little readers are destined to fall in love with Tiny!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £5.99)

Age 4 plus
The Midnight Babies
Isabel Greenberg

AWARD-WINNING illustrator, comic artist, and writer Isabel Greenberg makes even the weariest parent raise a smile in a fun and fantastical bedtime adventure starring babies battling the thing they hate most at bedtime.... sleep! The Midnight Babies – with its army of rebellious babies joining forces to defy their night time nemesis sleep – is a gloriously whimsical picture book fusion of fantasy, fun, feisty infants and fabulous illustrations guaranteed to capture the imagination of both parents and their little ones. Greenberg turns the concept of winding down for bedtime on its head with this hilarious, tongue-in-cheek nocturnal-themed anti-lullaby that will strike a chord with wide-eyed toddlers and sleepy parents everywhere. Surely bedtime shouldn’t be this much fun!
(Abrams Books for Young Readers, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Dinos Don’t Give Up!
Smriti Halls and Richard Merritt

ENJOY a summer-themed, tidal feast of fast-flowing words, and a sunshine gallery of big, bold illustrations, in a fantastic, fun-filled picture book from award-winning author Smriti Halls and star illustrator Richard Merritt. Dinos Don’t Give Up! is an enchanting, rhyming tale about discovering your true grit and firing up your determination, and stars Diplodocus Dinah who is brilliant at everything. There’s nothing she can’t do and no competition she can’t win! But what happens when the Surfing Contest comes to Dino Town and Dinah discovers that surfing is something she just can’t dino-do. For the first time ever Dinah doesn’t come first. Will she be distraught... or will she discover that there’s more to having fun (like a shared hug and cuddle!) than winning? Filled with gentle humour and youthful joie-de-vivre, this inspiring story of brilliance, resilience and getting back on your feet is packed with encouragement to face adversity, hidden details on every page, and an assortment of everyone’s favourite dinos! Perfect for sharing and reading aloud...
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Never, Ever, Ever Ask a Pirate to a Party
Clare Helen Welsh and Anne-Kathrin Behl

COME on in and join the party! There’s fun, some fiery surprises and a very unusual guest list in this fantastical birthday party adventure from the top team of favourite picture book writer Clare Helen Welsh and talented German illustrator Anne-Kathrin Behl. If you want the perfect party, never, ever, ever invite this crowd of chaotic guests! The unicorn will demand sparkles and bubbles, the dragon will set fire to your decorations and the fizzy drinks will send the aliens wild! But... never, ever, EVER send your guests home. Because a party is only a party if you share it with your friends! Featuring a dinosaur, dragon, unicorn, pirate and a spaceship full of aliens, this action-packed and playful celebration of the joys of friendship, sharing and partying will have little ones grinning and giggling from first page to last. Never, Ever, Ever Ask a Pirate to a Party includes a free ‘Stories Aloud’ smartphone audio book. Simply scan the QR code on the inside front cover.
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
The Thunk
Michelle Robinson and Deborah Allwright

THERE'S a world of adventure just waiting to be discovered in a gloriously fresh, funny and whimsical picture book from award-winning Michelle Robinson who lives with her family in a village called Tatamagouche in Nova Scotia, Canada. With a clever, comical story celebrating the power of the imagination and the joys of friendship, Robinson’s flawless rhyming text transports us to a land of colour, comical creatures... and terrible smells! So meet Hector Voltaire, a young explorer who can’t wait to discover all the wonders of the wide world. First up is a magical, mythical creature called the THUNK. The Thunk has a trunk and its fur’s blue-ish pink, and it’s ever so slightly, completely... EXTINCT. Or at least, that's what everyone else thinks. Young Hector is determined to prove them wrong and sets out all alone with his exploring equipment on a grand journey of discovery. Brought to spectacular life by the stunning illustrations of bestselling picture book illustrator Deborah Allwright, a wonderfully wild adventure awaits all who those dare join Hector on his expedition to the land of fairies, unicorns, monsters, trolls... and thunks!
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £6.99)

Age one plus
Finn’s Little Fibs: A Big Bright Feelings Book
Tom Percival

BE open, be honest, be you! That’s the message that speaks loud, clear (and without being preachy!) in the seventh book of author and illustrator Tom Percival’s hugely popular Big Bright Feelings series for little people.  This beautifully emotive and resonant series is the ideal starting point for discussions about mental and emotional health, positive self-image, building self-confidence and managing feelings... and ideal for gentle bedtime reading. In this reassuring and funny new story about the importance of being honest, we meet Finn who has always loved going to stay with his grandma...until one day, he tells a little fib. When Finn accidentally breaks his grandma’s precious clock, he tells a teeny tiny little lie... and blames it on his sister instead. Soon, Finn’s little lie is out of control and it’s getting in the way of everything! Can he find a way to tell the truth? A warm and affectionate story that helps children understand the importance of honesty and telling the truth, Finn’s Little Fibs is the seventh title in a series that has won the hearts of adults and children alike. Also available in the Big Bright Feelings series are Ruby's Worry, Perfectly Norman, Ravi's Roar, Meesha Makes Friends, Tilda Tries Again, Milo's Monster.
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age one plus
Word Museum
Isabel Otter and Sophie Ledesma

JOIN Oriel the ostrich and her students as they explore the word museum in this joyful and interactive book which introduces little learners to two learning topics... words and museums. From the ancient pottery arcade to a corridor full of gadgets, and from animals and furniture to technology and clothes, youngsters can join a group of little animal culture lovers as they explore the museum’s exciting exhibits. Lively illustrations from Sophie Ledesma and an engaging story from Isabel Otter take youngsters on a journey of discovery and learning. With gatefolds, peek-through holes, shaped pages and questions for curious minds, Word Museum is perfect for little hands as they explore the mesmerising world of museums, learn some brilliant first words in an enjoyable  and original way, and have fun spotting the little mouse in every scene. Cute animal characters and an interactive text encourage readers to engage in the museum tour, making them feel like part of the class. The ideal fun and stimulating first word book to share with your toddlers.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £8.99)

The Wedding Dress Repair Shop

Trisha Ashley

DESPITE her late mother’s early years in the countryside near Ormskirk in West Lancashire, Garland Fairford has spent the thirty-four years of her life in and around London.

But when she is hit by two cruelly unexpected events in one week, Garland’s world is turned upside down and she must decide whether her future could yet lie amongst the green and pleasant hills of Lancashire rather than the bustle of the big city.

Much-loved rom-com author Trisha Ashley (pictured below) may now be living in North Wales but her wonderfully entertaining and uplifting books would seem to confirm suspicions that her heart still lies in the countryside of her native Lancashire.

The Wedding Dress Repair Shop – her wise, whimsical and wonderful new novel – has been lovingly curated and fashioned amidst the rural uplands of the corner of the county where Ashley was born, an area which has become the inspiration for many of her gorgeous, feelgood stories. A beguiling blend of dark Lancashire humour, heart-melting romance, and characters so lovable (well, most of them!), so quirky and so alluringly real that you want to live next door to them are just some of the many reasons why Ashley’s clever comedies always fly off the shelves.

And this delightful new confection, which neatly stitches together parallel love affairs, hidden secrets, a family mystery, gorgeous wedding gowns and a grumpy cat called Golightly, is brimming with Ashley’s signature warmth, empathy and wry observations on humankind’s many frailties.

Garland loves her dream job as a seamstress with Beng & Briggs, a high-class London theatrical and historical costumier, and recently she has been transfixed by a V&A Museum display of a costume worn by her famous ancestor, the 19^th century actress Rosa-May Garland, when she played Titania in a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

After an illustrious stage career, Rosa-May married dashing army officer, Captain Guy Fairford, who left his new bride with his brother and wife at their remote mansion on the Lancashire moors while he set off to fight at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Very little is known of what happened to Rosa-May after that but Garland is now making a copy of the Titania costume to wear as her wedding dress when she marries her own fiancé, the avant-garde playwright Marco Parys, who seems to be always too busy with his new production or too reluctant to nail down a date for the big day.

Fortunately, Garland has found a new source of happiness with the woman who owns the Titania costume... Honey Fairford, a well-known and wealthy author who is also a descendant of Rosa-May, and with whom Garland senses a ‘strange link’ and a shared passion for unearthing their