CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Water wonders, rewilding cities and a thrill ride

Discover the endless ways that water impacts humans and nature, marvel at inventions to rewild every city on Earth, join a horse-mad girl for the adventure of a lifetime, and enjoy lots of madcap antics with Beano star Minnie the Minx in a selection of super December books

Age 8 plus

The Wonderful World of

Water: From Dams to Deserts 

Sarah Garré, Marijke Huysmans and Wendy Panders 

WATER, water everywhere... dip into any page of this fun, fact-filled book and discover the endless ways that water impacts humans and nature, and sustains life on Earth. Water is our planet’s most important resource, yet it’s easy to overlook its significance in our daily life. This kaleidoscopic journey across the planet offers fascinating insights into how water is connected to the air we breathe, the food we eat, and how our own actions can upset the delicate balance of its cycle.  Readers learn about how water journeys from ocean to sky to mountains, rivers, soil and back again, how water purification works, the flora and fauna of the rainforest, cloud formations and the weather they predict, natural phenomena such as the tiger bush, why rivers flood, and what causes a tsunami. 

Did you know that three-quarters of Earth's surface consists of water and that because there’s so much water, astronauts see Earth as a blue planet from their spaceship. Discover how a water molecule consists of two types of atoms... one oxygen atom (O) and two smaller hydrogen atoms (H). And that's why scientists call water H₂O. Water, we learn, has always been there, and it travels round and round on an endless journey known as the water cycle. When it rains, part of the rain disappears into the ground. Those raindrops find their way into the groundwater and it can be just under our feet or much deeper. Some droplets reach the groundwater after a few days, weeks, or months, but it can also take years or even centuries. 

Learn about an oasis, an area of land where plants can grow in the middle of a very dry region because there is freshwater. Sometimes it’s a natural spring but there are also a great many oases where humans have given nature a helping hand. In the rainforest, meanwhile, there are an enormous variety of different animal and plant species... some yet to be discovered. Presented by researcher Sarah Garré, Professor Marijke Huysmans and illustrator Wendy Panders in lively and engaging double-page spreads, each topic is explored with quirky illustrations, trivia, and sidebars that encourage further exploration and experimentation. And best of all, it makes young readers aware just how deeply entwined their futures are with the health of our planet’s water.
(Prestel Publishing, hardback, £19.99)

Age 9 plus
Ultrawild: An Audacious Plan for Rewilding Every City on Earth 

Steve Mushin

STEP into the pages of a graphic novel like no other! Youngsters will be queueing up to join industrial designer, illustrator and maverick inventor Steve Mushin as he tackles climate change with an avalanche of mind-bending, scientifically plausible inventions to rewild cities and save the planet. Based in New Zealand, Mushin collaborates with scientists and engineers to solve perplexing problems that no one else seems to know what to do about and this intricately illustrated, mind-bendingly original book is bursting with brilliant inventions that could just save the world... while inspiring readers of all ages. Ultrawild – Mushin’s brilliant debut book – features one hundred technically possible, totally bonkers inventions as Mushin takes on climate change and sustainability, the big questions of our time, putting the ‘A’ firmly into STEM studies and showcasing how the arts can invigorate thinking. 

Jump into his brain as he designs habitat-printing robot birds and water-filtering sewer submarines, calculates how far compost cannons can blast seed bombs (over a kilometre), brainstorms biomaterials with scientists and engineers, studies ecosystems and develops a deadly serious plan to transform cities into jungles, rewilding them into carbon-sucking mega-habitats for all species, and as fast as possible. Through marvellously designed and hilarious engineering ideas, Mushin shares his vision for super-high-tech urban rewilding, covering the science of climate change, futuristic materials and foods, bio reactors, soil, forest ecosystems, mechanical flight, solar thermal power and working out just how fast we could actually turn roads into jungles, absorb carbon and reverse climate change. 

Developed over seven years – with all projects vetted by experts – Ultrawild is a book brimming with optimism as the author explores creative thinking, science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and the potential for massive change. Filled with laugh-out-loud design comedy, it aims to empower and excite a new generation of designers, scientists, engineers and ultra-wild thinkers. A tour-de-force of extreme problem-solving which is guaranteed to provide hours of enjoyment and encourage readers, young and old, to think outside the box as we adapt to an ever-changing world.
(Allen & Unwin, hardback, £14.99)

Age 12 plus

100 Tales from the Tokyo Ghost Café

Julian Sedgwick and Chie Kutsuwada

STEP inside the Tokyo Ghost Café if you dare! Author Julian Sedgwick and illustrator Chie Kutsuwada – the top team who brought readers the hugely successful Carnegie-nominated Tsunami Girl – return with this thrilling collection of ghost stories in their trademark blend of prose and Manga, a style of Japanese comic book and graphic novel. Telling ghost stories at Christmas was made famous in England by Victorian novelist Charles Dickens but in Japan, the culture of sharing spooky tales around a fire has been taking place for centuries. And these dazzling short stories, framed by an overarching narrative and interwoven with Manga illustrations, create an unforgettably unique offering for readers. Abducted by spirits from his village, lost boy Akira must make the long journey in north Japan to find his family and save his young sister before time runs out. Voyaging deeper and deeper into a Japan ‘between the worlds,’ Akira and his companions encounter a host of yokai monsters and infamous spirits, discovering a sometimes comical and sometimes terrifying world of interlinked and ghostly short stories along the way. Sedgwick and Kutsuwada create a brilliantly seductive twilight ‘otherworld’ peopled by Japanese spirits which all have their own personality, traits and powers, and are the inspiration behind the phenomenon that is Pokémon. A stunning exploration of the different elements of Japanese history and culture, and our own relationship with the spirits around us.
(Guppy Books, paperback, £10.99)

Age 9 plus

Finding Wonder

Lauren St John

MASTER storyteller and passionate conservationist Lauren St John returns with an unforgettable and moving tale starring a girl, a winning ticket, a stolen horse... and the adventure of a lifetime! Young horse fans will be chomping at the bit to get their hands on this equine extravaganza which blends daring deeds, a marvellous mystery and a stable full of stupendous steeds. Orphaned Roo Thorn feels like the unluckiest girl in the world... until she discovers a letter. The mysterious letter urges Roo to ‘grab life by the wings and fly’ and with the help of her aunt, Joni, Roo sets out to buy her dream horse... a fiery showjumper named Wonder Boy. When Wonder vanishes without a trace, Roo and Joni are determined to save him and set out to investigate his disappearance. But as the mystery deepens and more prize horses are stolen, the pair find themselves drawn into a thrilling, but dangerous, adventure. How far will they go, and what will they risk, to find Wonder? With eye-catching cover artwork by Levi Pinfold and beautiful interior illustrations by Marie-Alice Harel, this twisting, turning and gripping detective adventure celebrates not just one young girl’s heartfelt passion for horses but the joys to be found in family ties, friendships and the natural world. Rich in detail and emotionally charged, Finding Wonder is a thrill ride from start to finish.
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus

Children of Winter

Berlie Doherty

ONE of the most inspirational stories to come out of the devastation of the Black Death plague – which swept across England in 1666 – springs to life in this beautiful new edition of master storyteller Berlie Doherty’s Children of Winter. Author of over 60 books for children, teenagers and adults, and winner of the Carnegie medal for both Granny Was a Buffer Girl and Dear Nobody, Doherty lives in the Derbyshire Peak District and in this beautifully atmospheric and authentic novel she recreates the time when the tiny village of Eyam in Derbyshire was hit by the plague and cut itself off to protect other communities. Set in the 20^th century, the story centres around Catherine Tebbutt and her family as they set out from their home in Sheffield to visit their grandmother’s house deep in the Derbyshire hills. Sheltering from a storm in an ancient cruck barn with her younger sister and brother, it becomes strangely familiar to Catherine and she is drawn back to a time when three children sheltered all winter from a terrible plague that was ripping through their village. With beautiful cover artwork by Tamsin Rosewell, this emotion-packed and thought-provoking tale is a reminder of the suffering and loss wrought by the plague on families across the land, and the sacrifices of the brave folk in the village of Eyam.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus

The Wild Robot Protects

Peter Brown

CAN nature and technology exist together in harmony? The Wild Robot Protects is the third enchanting book in award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown’s bestselling The Wild Robot series which is brought to life by his gloriously atmospheric illustrations. These bold, original and imaginative adventures are contemporary classics which explore what happens when nature and technology collide. Roz the robot has made an unlikely home for herself on an idyllic island dense with forests, wild flowers and friendly animal inhabitants, including her own young son, Brightbill the gosling. Life on the island is perfect until a dying seal washes ashore and warns of dangerous, cloudy waters that are flowing towards the island, bringing new dangers for the animals. Forced inland, they will have to fight over fewer resources and Roz realises that she must march into the waves and undertake an incredible undersea adventure to find a way to protect her beloved island and all who live on it. With a heartwarming, moving and action-packed story about survival, unusual friendships and the importance of family, The Wild Robot Protects is a dazzling addition to this inspirational series.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus 

Beano Minnie’s Mission of Maximum Mischief

Craig Graham, Mike Stirling and Laura Howell

MINNIE the Minx, one of the shining stars of the Beano’s Bash Street Kids celebrates her 70^th anniversary this year and what better way to enjoy her famously madcap mischief than with the seventh book in this official, illustrated super-fun Beano Boomics series. Packed with comic artist Laura Howell’s cheeky illustrations, these hilarious adventures – written by top team Craig Graham and Mike Stirling – are a cross between books and comics and are the perfect introduction to the Beano, the longest running comic in the world. So join Minnie, Dennis and Gnasher in Beanotown where Bash Street have made it through to the knockout stages of Super Epic Turbo Cricket European Tour of Mischief for the first time in forever. And due to a case of mistaken identity owing to a rogue Gnasher racing on to the pitch, Minnie has just been made team captain! This should be amazing news except Minnie’s parents don’t seem to be happy for her. In fact, now that Minnie thinks about it, they haven’t been happy in a long while. Join Minnie on her mission to cheer up her parents again the best way she knows how... with a Super Epic Turbo prank. Will it work, or will it unearth what’s really going on? Full of comedy, capers and reassuring messages to children whose parents are splitting up, this marvellous Minnie mission is joyous fun from start to finish.
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus

The King's Coronation and the

Kohinoor Diamond

Anthea Turner, Wendy Turner and Rufus Thomas

DID you know that there is a community of mice who live beneath London's bustling Tube stations? Get ready for fun, laughter and action as celebrity sisters Anthea Turner and Wendy Turner join forces again to revive their endearing tales of a group of lovable mice in the first book of a brand new Underneath the Underground series. The sisters, who have both enjoyed successful television and business careers, first introduced readers to the antics of the furry creatures nearly 30 years ago with their popular series, Underneath the Underground. And now they have updated the enchanting stories – with the help of illustrator Rufus Thomas – and created this sparkling series for a whole new generation of younger readers, starting with this hilarious and topical adventure. It’s two weeks before the King’s Coronation and the British Asian Mice at Hounslow Underground Station are planning a fabulous party to celebrate. But disaster strikes when a huge glitter ball spins around and fails to shine! There’s panic all round until clever mouse, Mo Low, has a fantastic idea... to take back the famous Kohinoor diamond from the Royal Crown and return it to the Indian community where it belongs! It’s a daring plan and it could all go terribly wrong but the mice know the Kohinoor diamond is perfect to light up their ballroom on the King’s special day and they are determined to pull it off. The question is, will King Charles and Queen Camilla notice? The only way is up for these daring little Underground mice in a new series which is guaranteed to have young readers squealing with delight!
(Splendid Publications, paperback, £8.99)

Age 3 plus

The Colour Monster: The Feelings 

Doctor and the Emotions Toolkit

Anna Llenas

WHEN the world seems a scary and confusing place, there’s one person who can teach us all a lesson… the Colour Monster! Spanish-born author and illustrator Anna Llenas is winning hearts and minds with her beautiful picture book series, The Colour Monster, which explains, in the most delightful and imaginative way, the many human emotions that we all experience. In this new adventure, we discover that the Colour Monster is now a doctor and he’s more than ready to encourage conversations about consent, mental health and wellbeing because his first patient today is Nuna who is not feeling okay because she was asked to do something she didn’t want to do. She ended up saying yes because she didn't know how to say no, and it left her feeling strange and confused. Fortunately for Nuna, the Colour Monster can help to heal emotions, especially those that are big and difficult to understand. To begin with, Nuna cannot find the right words but with the help of Colour Monster and his emotions toolkit, Nuna learns how to use tools and techniques that will make her feel better. Together they try things like deep breathing, arts and crafts, blowing bubbles and dancing until she starts to feel calmer. Now will Nuna be able to talk about what's bothering her? This bright and colourful story addresses complex themes around consent, saying no and mental wellbeing in a sensitive, age-appropriate way. Using her experience as an art therapist, Llenas interweaves techniques that can make conversations easier, including large, fold-out pages which allow children to look inside the emotions toolkit and make use of the ideas for themselves (with the support of a grown-up when needed). Add on Llenas’ distinctive and visually exciting collage-effect illustrations, full of warmth, wit and vibrant colour, exquisite design and eye-catching contrasts, and this is a simple but highly effective and accessible exploration of feelings and well-being.
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus

The Duck Who Came for

Dinner

Steve Smallman and Joëlle Dredemy

YOUNGSTERS will love getting their teeth into the fifth tasty picture book in Steve Smallman and Joëlle Dredemy’s heartwarming and hilarious The Lamb Who Came for Dinner series. The Duck Who Came for Dinner sizzles with Smallman’s wit and warmth and French illustrator Dredemy’s striking and characterful artwork as we meet up again with Wolf, Hotpot the lamb and their pet crocodile Omelette one windy day when a little duck blows into Wolf’s backyard. Wolf and Hotpot call her Apple, and together they nurse her wonky wing back to health. But though she may be small, Apple is one plucky duck and it’s not long before she is flying to their rescue when Hotpot’s kite-flying adventure turns sky high. Smallman’s clever, comical and cautionary tale encourages young readers to challenge stereotypes and expectations, and look beyond the surface. The perfect book to share with your own special family and friends!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age one plus

Old Bear

Jane Hissey

CUDDLE up close for the return of Jane Hissey’s beloved Old Bear with this newly refreshed teddy-bear classic which is perfect for sharing with little ones! Old Bear himself was given to Hissey by her grandmother when she was born and he has travelled the world with her, visiting schools, libraries and literary events, becoming increasingly worn and threadbare but still recognisable to millions of adoring readers. Old Bear tells the heartwarming tale of how a much-loved teddy bear is lost and finally found again. After Old Bear is packed away in a box in the attic, Bramwell Brown becomes determined to save his forgotten friend. And so, with the help of Little Bear, Duck, Rabbit and an assortment of other toys, he plans an ingenious rescue mission to save Old Bear from loneliness and bring him safely back home. Nostalgia and the warmth of true friendship shines out from each page in this beautiful paperback edition of Hissey’s adorable story. Stunning, photo-realistic artwork blends with a funny, reassuring text, making this a teddy bear tale to love and treasure forever.
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age one plus

Little Explorers: Goodnight

Dinosaurs 

Molly Littleboy and Jacob Souva 

SLEEPY babies and toddlers can’t help but pick up on the gentle rhythms of this gorgeous new board book in the delightful Little Explorers series which combines facts, fun and a beautiful verse with cut-out, peep-through pages… perfect to share at the bedtime wind-down. ‘Drift through the mountains, the sky blushing bright. Pass by the dinosaurs, wish them 'Goodnight'.’ Little ones will love saying goodnight to the sleepy dinosaurs as the sun sets and discovering fascinating facts about the different dinos as they drift through valleys, along rivers and over mountains. And watch little ones’ eyes start to close as the creatures of land and sea settle down for their night-time slumbers. Produced in a chunky format, these beautiful books have fun facts on every page about the dinosaurs they meet, and the horizon page has a twinkling and foiled, double-page spread to illuminate the bedtime journey. A beautiful, interactive lullaby of soothing words and pictures…
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £7.99)

Celebrations for the Woolworths Girls

Elaine Everest

WELCOME back to life in post-war Kent in the entertaining fortunes and misfortunes of Elaine Everest’s ‘family’ of devoted and dedicated store staff who have become like friends to an army of readers.

Celebrations for the Woolworths Girls is the remarkable ninth book in Everest’s wonderfully nostalgic Woolies series which has brought new life and love for the famous stores that once graced almost every high street in the country, and taken us through the trials, tribulations and triumphs of a group of hard-working women during the turbulent war years.

Set once again in Everest’s home town of Erith in Kent, where she briefly worked as a Woolworths girl, we join the Woolies girls as they leave behind the war years and move into a brave new world... one that is full of changes and challenges which will test them to the limit.

It's February 1952, the nation grieves the death of King George VI and with a new monarch about to ascend the throne, the Woolworths girls face a very different world. At the Erith store, there is a new temporary manager and Sarah is getting more than a little concerned by problems he seems to be creating. The whole mess is enough to make her want to resign.

Meanwhile, Ruby is extremely worried about her friend Vera, and with illness causing a problem from her past to come flooding back, Vera knows it’s going to take a lot of strength and willpower to do what needs to be done. 

Then there is Freda, looking forward to the arrival of her first child but sick with worry that her Tony won’t have returned home in time for the birth. As Coronation Day for young Queen Elizabeth ll approaches, the girls from Woolworths celebrate friendship, family and overcoming anything that life can throw at them... Everest (pictured left) grew up listening to stories about the old Saxon town of Erith, which nestles south of the River Thames, and her love and knowledge of the people who live in this corner of the country shines through in these absorbing and nostalgic books.

Brimming with authentic historical and social history, an enchanting mix of drama, romance, friendship and family, lots of twists and turns, and the author’s storytelling magic, this new chapter for the irrepressible Woolworths Girls is the perfect escape for winter reading.
(Pan, paperback, £7.99)

The Ballroom Girls: Christmas Dreams

Jenny Holmes

AS wartime wreaks havoc across the world, can the magic of Blackpool’s famous ballroom keep on helping three girls to dance away their troubles?

Welcome to the second book of a sparkling saga series which brings to life the glitz and glamour of the famous Tower Ballroom, the turbulent years of the Second World War, and the vibrant dancing scene of the resort in the 1940s.

Ilkley-based Jenny Holmes (pictured below), author of The Air Raid Girls series, works her storytelling magic on this empowering series which spotlights three very different women, all eager to prove themselves during a time of change, hardship and uncertainty.

It’s November of 1942 in the resort and so far, worries are failing to dampen the glitz and glamour of the ballroom in the run-up to Christmas. After all, life is for living. 

The bliss of newlywed Pearl –oldest daughter in a large, chaotic family who all work at the Pleasure Beach – is cut short when her beloved husband Bernie is called up into the Army. Will dancing at the Tower Ballroom take the edge off her heartache or will it throw temptation her way?

Unexpected news of an inheritance presents Joy – an evacuee who lost her parents in the Blitz – with a different dilemma. Should she move to Scotland in line with her parents’ final wishes or stay in Blackpool to dance with Tommy, the man she loves? 

Meanwhile, ambitious Sylvia – daughter of one of Blackpool’s pre-eminent and most ambitious ballroom dancing teachers – ditches Eddie, her loyal dance partner, and launches into a new career teaching jive and jitterbug. But regrets soon set in. Is this the worst mistake she has ever made? Change is in the air. Can the ballroom girls fulfil their dreams and make this a Christmas to remember?

Readers will love waltzing back into the turbulent lives of the Blackpool ballroom girls as they hot step through the dramas, dilemmas and romance of the war years in a series full of excitement, nostalgia... and the sheer thrill of dancing!
(Penguin, paperback, £7.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Mischief and mayhem make magical Christmas reading

The countdown to Christmas has well and truly begun and it’s a bumper year for readers both young and old looking for the perfect children’s gift books

Age 5 plus
The Nutcracker: And the Mouse King’s Christmas Shenanigans
Alex T. Smith

THE key to the Kingdom of Sweets has been stolen and there is much mischief and mayhem afoot! You know the Christmas season is well and truly moving into top gear when talented writer and illustrator Alex T. Smith peeps his head over the parapet with his latest fantastically festive Christmas adventure. And after the success of the Claude series and his much-loved books How Winston Delivered Christmas, How Winston Came Home for Christmas and The Grumpus, Smith brings us another spectacular gift book that offers brilliant storytelling, stunning artwork and some marvellously mirth-making mischief!

This year, Smith treats us all to a spectacular retelling of children’s Christmas classic The Nutcracker... a Christmas story in his trademark twenty-four-and-a-half chapters. The Mouse King is up to some very sneaky shenanigans. The night before Christmas, he steals the key to the Kingdom of Sweets and is determined to cause lots of Christmas chaos! Clara and Fritz Strudel, and their new friend the Nutcracker, are the only ones who can stop him. But when a magical curse is put on Fritz, it’s a race against time to make it to the Kingdom of Sweets and find the Sugar Plum Fairy – the only one who can break the spell! Can the adventurers stop the Mouse King’s naughty plan and save Fritz before it’s too late? With a brilliantly exuberant story featuring jokes galore and madcap magic, an unforgettable cast of hilarious characters, Smith’s bold and colourful illustrations, a festively foiled cover, a chapter to enjoy each day in December, and all lovingly wrapped in the author’s natural warmth, this wonderful book is destined to become a family favourite in the run-up to Christmas.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £15.99)

Age 9 plus
The Great Reindeer Rescue
Stephen Mangan and Anita Mangan

CHRISTMAS is in danger... all Santa’s reindeers have disappeared! Can a reindeer called Dave and a girl named Holly save the day? Hold on to your stockings and prepare for violent explosions of laughter as the sensational sibling team of much-loved actor Stephen Mangan and his talented artist sister Anita roll out their first fun-filled Christmas book. After the runaway success of joint debut novels, Escape the Rooms, The Unlikely Rise of Harry Sponge, and the hilarious The Fart That Changed the World, the dynamic duo return with a fantastically funny spin on The Night Before Christmas. It’s Christmas Eve and one of Santa's reindeers, Dave, is fed up. He’s stuck behind boastful Rudolph again and a fart in the face is the last straw. In the commotion, Santa crash lands on the roof of nine-year-old Holly’s home causing an almighty Christmas lights explosion that blasts the reindeers to far-flung corners of the Earth. It’s up to Dave and Holly to fly round the world – from the top of the Empire State Building and the glorious beaches of Tahiti to the icy Tundra of the Arctic – to rescue all the reindeers. Can Holly and Dave get all the reindeesr back to Santa to save Christmas? Anita Mangan’s quirky and characterful illustrations are the perfect pairing for her brother’s warm, wild and witty story which touches sensitively on the topic of parental bereavement and reminds youngsters that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Add on a celebration of youthful determination and ingenuity, and a brand of naughty humour that will have mischief-makers giggling all the way to the last page, and you have the perfect gift book to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas!
(Scholastic, hardback, £10.99)

Age 12 plus
Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being A Witch
Rhianna Pratchett, Gabrielle Kent and Paul Kidby

‘They say you don't find witchcraft, it finds you...’

IMMERSE yourself in a beautifully illustrated and practical guide to being a witch in Discworld – the global bestselling series created by the late, great Terry Pratchett – in this gorgeous slip-cased gift book. Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being A Witch has been co-authored by former graphic artist and now full-time writer Gabrielle Kent, and Terry Pratchett’s daughter Rhianna who says she has enjoyed ‘channelling the wit and wisdom of Discworld’s witches’ on this joint ‘life-affirming and occasionally tear-filled adventure.’ Filled with the rich, colourful and exquisitely detailed illustrations of Paul Kidby, this entertaining and visually exciting guide covers everything you’ve ever wanted to know from working with other witches to dealing with elves, and from tending flocks to fending off forces from other worlds. It has, of course, been lovingly compiled by Tiffany Aching herself, including snippets of remembered wisdom from Granny Aching alongside notes from Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Miss Tick, and Rob Anybody who offer their own unique perspectives on all things witchcraft. So whether you’re a herbologist or a headologist, this brilliant in-world guide – with its stunning gold foiled cover and page edges – will inspire and empower new witches and seasoned practitioners alike, and is the perfect addition to any Discworld collection.
(Penguin, slip-cased hardback, £25)

Age 3 plus
The Little Prince
Louise Greig and Sarah Massini

EIGHTY years ago, a novel was published in France which would become a classic across the world. The Little Prince was written by Frenchman Antoine de Saint-Exupéry while he was exiled in the United States from occupied France. A year after the book’s publication in 1943, Saint-Exupéry disappeared over the Mediterranean while flying a reconnaissance mission for his French air squadron. And now this charming story, which features an extraordinary space-traveller on a journey through the stars, has been beautifully adapted for young readers as a picture book by award-winning poet Louise Greig and critically acclaimed illustrator Sarah Massini. So meet the pilot stranded in the desert, and meet the Little Prince who tends his beautiful rose on a planet of his own. Then follow the Little Prince as he embarks on a strange and wonderful journey to strange and magical new planets and finally to Earth where he meets the pilot and together they uncover the secrets of love, friendship and compassion. The tender wisdom of Saint-Exupéry’s story speaks loud and clear in Greig’s exquisite adaptation while Massini’s emotive illustrations capture all the warmth and pathos of the memorable desert meeting. Add on a stunning silver-foiled cover and you have the perfect gift book for all the family to enjoy.
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
The Little Prince (Collector’s Edition)
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

AND here’s a chance to revel in the visual and verbal beauty of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s timeless classic with this brand new slip-cased Collector’s Edition featuring the original translation by Katherine Woods and full-colour illustrations. Woods (1886–1968) produced the original English translation of The Little Prince in 1943. It was later followed by several other English translations but her classic, poetic translation is treasured by fans and is often considered to be the definitive English translation as it perfectly captures the enchantment and charm of Saint-Exupéry’s storytelling. And what an enchanting fable it is... a story full of wisdom that teaches the secret of what is really important in life and has changed the world forever for its readers both young and old. This stunning collector’s edition also features bonus non-fiction content which explores the history of The Little Prince, the real-life plane crash that inspired the story, and the life of the author. A beautifully created book to read, enjoy and treasure.
(Farshore, slip-cased hardback, £20)

Age 8 plus
Stepfather Christmas: A Festive Countdown Story in 25 Chapters
L.D. Lapinski

ENJOY the countdown to Christmas with this thoroughly heartwarming festive story which stars a girl who is convinced her new stepdad is actually... Father Christmas!  Written by L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency, this hilarious tale is structured like an advent calendar and ideal to read one day at a time in the lead up to Christmas (with an extra special chapter for Christmas Day!)  It's 25 days until Christmas and 10-year-old Harper gets a surprise when Mum announces she's bringing her new boyfriend Nick home for the holidays! Nick seems nice enough but why do strange Christmassy things happen whenever he’s around... like snow falling only in the family’s garden and a reindeer suddenly appearing on the roof? Harper is convinced that Nick must be Father Christmas and if her mum and older brother Will won’t believe her, she'll just have to find a way to prove it herself! Stepfather Christmas is a festive treat with lots of fun to enjoy whilst exploring emotive topics like parents launching into new relationships and the effect that it can have on children. With 25 chapters, Stepfather Christmas is ideal to read and share every night in December.
(Orion Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Operation Nativity
Jenny Pearson and Katie Kear

IT shouldn’t happen to the Angel Gabriel! The race to save Christmas is on in a sparkling, festive, feel-good adventure from the Costa Award-shortlisted Jenny Pearson whose brilliant books are based on a wonderful mix of all the children she has ever taught. With inside illustrations from the talented Katie Kear, Operation Nativity has everything you could want from a Christmas story... laughter, heartwarming messages about love, hope and togetherness, and the timeless joy of celebrating the season with your family. Oscar, Molly and their parents are spending Christmas with their grandparents, the Cuthbert-Andersons, at their grand home, Barlington Hall, in the pretty village of Chipping Bottom. Mum isn’t keen because of the ordeal of taking part in Barlington’s chaotic annual nativity play but what they don’t yet know is that this year is going to be a Christmas they will never forget! It all starts when Oscar and Molly rush outside to investigate a crash in the night and are shocked to find a dazed Angel Gabriel wandering around their grandparents’ back garden. And they are certainly not expecting to find themselves in a race to save Christmas but if they don’t track down a missing shepherd called Steve, Balthazar the wise man, the donkey and the actual Mary and Joseph, who have all crash-landed in Chipping Bottom, not only will Christmas cease to exist but they will too. Operation Nativity is on! If you love epic adventures, a cast of the quirkiest characters you’ll find this side of Christmas, an extra-large dose of festive vibes, and a story that acts like a warm and cuddly book hug, then Operation Nativity is the Christmas cracker you’ve been looking for!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
The Nutcracker: An Enchanting Pop-up Classic
Steve Patschke and Zanna Goldhawk

WATCH in amazement as E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic fairy tale of The Nutcracker literally springs to life in this stunning book full of intricate artwork and inventive pop-ups. ‘He was dressed in a handsome red jacket lined down the front with white loops and brass buttons. His painted eyes sparkled a brilliant green, while a kind, good-natured smile hid beneath a snowy cotton beard.’ When Marie is given a nutcracker on Christmas Eve, she immediately loves it. Little does she realise that, when night falls, the Nutcracker will defend her from the monstrous Mouse King and whisk her away to a fantastical kingdom. Magic is the keyword for Hoffmann’s much-loved Christmas-themed tale of defiance, loyalty and wonder as Steve Patschke’s clever adaptation, Zanna Goldhawk’s richly coloured artwork and each fabulously engineered pop-up make every page an exciting adventure!
(Templar Publishing, board book, £11.99)

Age 3 plus
'Tis the Season: A Lift-the-Flap Advent Calendar Full of Christmas Poems
Richard Jones

ENJOY the countdown to Christmas with this spectacular advent calendar book filled with festive poems, hidden surprises and a magical fold-out frieze! Brimming with the words and wisdom of well-loved poets like Ogden Nash, Nikki Giovanni, John Agard and Christina Rossetti, and produced in partnership with the National Trust, each poem is brought to life by the joyful artwork of Richard Jones. Peek inside the windows of the house to find a family wrapping presents, take a look behind a holly bush to find a little mouse, and see what’s happening in the town behind a glittering Christmas tree! This classic Christmas collection has a flap to lift alongside a special poem for every day of advent and a fold-out concertina displaying a beautiful snowy landscape. With sturdy flaps, sparkling foil and a ribbon tie closure, this beautiful gift book is designed to be shared together as the days get closer to Christmas and will fill your family with festive cheer, year after year.
(Nosy Crow, board book, £19.99)

Age 3 plus
Santarella
Suzy Senior and Lucy Semple

DOES Cinderella dream of marrying a charming prince? Certainly not in this brilliantly feminist twist on the traditional fairy tale from the top team of author Suzy Senior and illustrator Lucy Semple! It’s more a case of Santa meets Cinderella in this funny rhyming romp which takes Cinders round the world and back in the twinkling of an eye. Oh no, it’s a chilly, frosty Christmas Eve and Santa’s hurt his back. He cannot fly the sleigh or even lift his sack. Is Christmas ruined? Not if Cinderella has anything to do with it! Leaving her mean step-sisters behind, she offers to give Santa a hand, and – along the way – travels across the world. But Santa has one more gift in his sleigh. Could it be the chance for Cinderella to write her own happy-ever-after? Senior’s addictive, rollicking rhyme and Semple’s richly detailed and comical illustrations are the perfect match for this retelling of the classic fairy tale which challenges stereotypes and is a joy to read aloud. Festive magic on every page!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 2 plus
Pip and Posy: Snow Coaches

WHOOSH! Join best friends Pip and Posy as they head off for some snowy adventures... and learn a few life lessons along the way. Snow Coaches is the latest picture book in a series based on the award-winning, animated TV series, produced by Magic Light Pictures, which follows the mouse and rabbit pals in their wonderful world of play. Pip and Posy are excited to spend the day sledging as fast as they can down the snowy slopes. They both think their way is the best way to sledge as fast as possible! Jamila wants to join in their fun but who should she listen to when it comes to learning how to sledge? Will Pip and Posy learn to work together to help their friend sledge down the hill? Youngsters will love this seasonal, snow-sprinkled story which offers fun and frolics as well as important lessons about the benefits of listening to other people’s ideas. And don’t forget to access the free Stories Aloud smartphone audio book. Simply scan in the code inside the front cover.
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)

Age 2 plus
Bizzy Bear: My First Sticker Book: Christmas Time
Benji Davies

TOYS and elves and Santa’s sleigh, Bizzy Bear can’t wait for Christmas Day! Toddlers and pre-schoolers will love getting stuck into this fun and festive first sticker book which has over 40 BIG stickers and features charming artwork from Benji Davies, illustrator of bestselling picture book The Storm Whale. Join Bizzy Bear as he has lots of adventures this Christmas, playing in the snow, visiting Santa and delivering presents to children all around the world. Every page includes a panel with objects to spot in the picture and there are colourful stickers to complete the Christmas scenes. The perfect interactive book to keep little hands out of mischief!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £5.99)

Age one plus
Peekaboo Santa
Camilla Reid and Ingela P Arrhenius

LET your little ones enjoy the fun of Christmas time with a sparkling new festive title in Nosy Crow’s hit novelty series featuring multiple sliders. The books are created by the award-winning team of author Camilla Reid and illustrator Ingela P Arrhenius and feature easy-to-use peekaboo sliders, a funny rhyming text and a surprise mirror ending. With ten smooth mechanisms to push, pull or turn on every spread, this beautiful book for babies and toddlers is packed full of seasonal fun. Connecting with faces and playing peekaboo is one of the first games that babies play and tiny tots will love this cute Christmas-themed book. Guaranteed to be read time and time again!
(Nosy Crow, board book, £7.99)

Age one plus
The Great Big Christmas
Tree Hunt
Ekaterina Trukhan

TODAY is an exciting day... it’s time for a great big Christmas tree hunt! Little ones’ eyes are guaranteed to light up when they get their hands on this charming interactive Christmas board book from Nosy Crow in partnership with the National Trust. Follow Polar Bear as he sets off on an exciting lift-the-flap adventure. But all is not quite as it seems... will Polar Bear ever find any decorations to put on his tree or will he find something even better along the way? With lots of sturdy flaps to lift on every page, the bold illustrations of Ekaterina Trukhan to enjoy, and a simple story introducing cute animal characters, this delightful Christmas board book is full of surprises and perfect for sharing this festive season!
(Nosy Crow, board book, £6.99)

Age from birth
Pip and Posy at Christmas
Axel Scheffler

AWARD-WINNING author and illustrator Axel Scheffler returns with a fun and festive new title in his much-loved Pip and Posy felt flap series for babies. This beautiful board book, with colourful, soft felt flaps throughout, is based on Scheffler’s bestselling picture book series which stars the delightful Pip and Posy and features all those familiar dramas of pre-schoolers .With five colourful felt flaps and rich artwork, toddlers will love joining in this snowy game of hide-and-seek and exploring (and tugging on the felt flaps!) while they look for little mouse and rabbit friends Pip and Posy on every page. The perfect gift to keep little hands busy this Christmas!
(Nosy Crow, board book, £6.99)

The Sewing Factory Girls

Posy Lovell

INSPIRED by the brave, hardworking women who fought to improve working conditions at the Singer Sewing Machines Factory in Clydebank, saga writer Posy Lovell brings us a moving story of female strength and resilience.

In 1911, 10,000 workers at the Scottish factory went on strike in solidarity with twelve female colleagues protesting against a larger workload and no increase in pay, and it is these real-life events that Lovell (pseudonym for Kerry Barrett, author of several historical fiction novels) uses as the backdrop to The Sewing Factory Girls.

Like half of all the young women living in the Scottish town Clydebank in early 1911, Ellen works at the sewing machine factory. So does her big sister, Bridget, Bridget's fiancé Malcolm, and her new friend Sadie, who has come to work at the factory after the death of her father.

For Sadie, the factory is a way to make ends meet, but Ellen has sewing in her veins. She is even making Bridget’s wedding dress on her beloved sewing machine. 

But after the excitement of the wedding dies down, everything changes. Ellen discovers that the work of the cabinet polishers – her job – is to be reorganised and they will be doing more work for less pay. Ellen feels betrayed because the sewing factory is her family and they have let her down.

Sadie is more pragmatic but the women aren’t going to give in without a fight. They have been reading about strikes and they’ve got an idea... much to the disgust of manager Malcolm. Meanwhile, Bridget, forced to choose between her husband and her sister, has made a new friend and is fighting her own battle alongside the suffragettes. The events of the strike will throw Ellen, Bridget and Sadie’s lives into turmoil but also bring these women closer to each other than they could ever have imagined.

Lovell’s (pictured above) cast of feisty workers lie at the heart of this revealing and uplifting story about the power of female friendship and the courageous stand of a group of women forced to take action over the inequity of their treatment by the factory bosses. Rich in drama and authentic detail, The Sewing Factory Girls is the perfect stitching together of real history and compelling fiction.
(Orion, paperback, £9.99)

Sisters of the Sky

Lana Kortchik

WHEN Hitler launched an attack on the Soviet Union in June of 1941, it wasn’t just Russian men who lined up to volunteer for active service. Across the country, thousands of women rushed to conscription points to fight the enemy as nurses, snipers, machine gunners and artillery operators… but what few might know is that a thousand women also trained as pilots to lead three, all-female bomber and fighter aviation regiments.

These feisty, fearless, female flyers fought combat missions against the Nazi invaders until the end of the war and, at the time, were the only women in the world allowed to fly in combat.

And it’s these plucky pilots – led by the world famous Soviet pilot and navigator Marina Raskova – who were the inspiration for this thrilling story from the pen of Lana Kortchik (pictured below) who grew up in Ukraine and Siberia, and now lives in Australia.

Kortchik – author of gripping historical novels Sisters of War, Daughters of the Resistance and The Countess of the Revolution – sweeps us into the lives of two friends who discover that war brings battles not just in the skies but also in the hearts of those behind the lines. As war rages in the Soviet Union in October of 1941, the noise of battle, and the smell of fire and death, have become the soundtrack to the life of Nina Petrova in her home city of Moscow.

The Germans have snatched away Nina’s future with their bombs and constant terror, and now she faces the devastation of watching her beloved younger brother Vlad heading to the battle front as a fighter pilot. 

Nina has witnessed so many soldiers go to war and never return, and with her father, uncle and three cousins already on the battlefield, Vlad is her only family left. Alongside her is best friend, Katya Bogdanova, whose husband Anton is also heading to the front, leaving Katya to care for their distraught three-year-old daughter Tonya. Sick of feeling helpless and living in ‘darkness with not a glimmer of hope,’ Nina and Katya – who both learned to fly when they joined a flying club as teenagers – are determined to fight for the motherland to volunteer for the first female-only aviation regiment, led by their hero, the legendary pilot Major Marina Raskova. Leaving her daughter with her mother, Katya joins Nina at the training centre at Engels but while Katya grieves for her lost life in Moscow, Nina relishes every minute of the vigorous training regime.

Fourteen months later, the two young women complete the course and are ready to join the 587^th Dive Bomber Regiment to pilot powerful Pe-2 planes, one of the most sophisticated Soviet aircraft with twin tails and twin engines. But fighting a war is nothing like they expected, and soon the battle lines are no longer restricted to the front. And when a forbidden love begins to blossom, Nina is faced with the ultimate betrayal. Even if she and her loved ones make it out alive, will Nina’s life ever be the same again? 

Sisters of the Sky is both an eye-opening account of the war’s remarkable band of Soviet female pilots and a moving, drama-packed story of love, friendship, betrayal and sacrifice. The daily hardships and frustrations, the jaw-dropping bravery and the dangerously daring missions undertaken by the crews spring to life as the women find comfort in friendships, and strength in their shared endeavours and achievements.

Harnessing her extensive research, Kortchik’s drama-packed story highlights the dedication and resolve of these women as they face the vagaries of the brutal Russian weather, the punishing schedules, the constant danger, the inevitable loss of life, and the almost daily challenge of driving back the enemy. There is breathtaking courage, awe-inspiring determination, self-sacrifice, guilt, and the terrible pain of loss in this fierce and emotional tale but we also witness the joys of love and the power of female friendships which, the great Marina Raskova reminds us, ‘is the most precious thing in the world… it brings out the best in us.’ A dazzling tribute to some of the unsung heroines of wartime…
(HQ, paperback, £9.99)