The Excitements

C J Wray

IF your New Year is starting to fall flat and you need an uplift to banish those January blues, tuck into the cosy charm and irreverent humour of a deliciously feelgood mystery starring two sprightly nonagenarians on an all-out hunt for revenge.

Fast-paced, wonderfully witty, and full of intrigue, surprises and drama, The Excitements is the work of
C J Wray (pictured below)  – pseudonym of a bestselling author with more than forty books to her name – and delivers a joyful exuberance that is guaranteed to warm every reader’s heart.

At the centre of the action are Josephine and Penny Williamson, Britain’s most treasured Second World War veterans, two remarkably clever and brave women who helped save the world and survived the unthinkable, without ever losing their killer instinct... or their sense of fun. And it’s their chequered journey to Paris (with the help of their ever-faithful and troubleshooting great-nephew Archie) to covertly right the wrongs of their secret past that takes centre stage in this very British, and very funny, adventure.

Both now in their late nineties, Josephine and Penny are in huge demand, beloved of journalists and the Great British Public, popping up on red carpets and at fundraisers, festivals and commemorative events all over the country.

Josephine was a Wren with the Royal Navy while Penny worked in the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and despite their age, they are both still in good nick. Sprightly and sparky, the sisters are ready to seize every opportunity for fun, and always in search of the next ‘excitement,’ with their gay and much-loved great-nephew Archie acting as de facto organiser.

Their current ‘excitement’ is a trip to Paris to receive the Légion d’Honneur for their part in liberating France but what has always remained a secret is that Josephine was actually an intelligence operative who drew maps used for the D-Day invasion, while Penny was an SOE agent and a specialist at hand-to-hand combat, risking her teenage life in France. Both sisters have fond memories of the City of Light but this trip to Paris is not entirely what it seems either. Scandal and crime (not least some notable jewellery thefts) have always quietly trailed the

Paradise

Patricia Wolf

FROM the vast stretches of drought plains, sand dunes and red dust that mark out the famous Outback, to the topaz seas and white-sand beaches of the Gold Coast’s surfing paradise, exciting new Australian author Patricia Wolf has captured the very essence of her homeland in a thrilling crime series.

Paradise – set amidst the dark underbelly of Australia’s breathtaking Surfers Paradise – is the second outing for Aussie copper DS Lucas Walker after his dramatic arrival in last year’s cracking, tension-packed debut novel, Outback, which won much critical acclaim, and an army of readers hooked on both the charismatic detective and his authentically created world.

Wolf (pictured below) grew up in a mining town in outback Australia and although she now lives in Berlin, it was during a four-week road trip through far north-west Queensland in pre-Covid 2019, surrounded by the rugged beauty and harshness of the landscape, that principled and complex DS Lucas Walker and his stories took shape. Here we find Walker still recovering from a gunshot injury which he received during a recent case involving two missing young German backpackers in his Outback hometown of Caloodie, near Brisbane, where he had returned to care for his much-loved and terminally ill grandmother.

Assigned to light duties, he is temporarily relocated to the beachside city of Surfers Paradise as a guest lecturer for a drugs and serious crime training programme for Queensland police officers. It’s a place where gleaming high rises fringe sparkling surf beaches, sunny days lead to wild nights, and criminals and bike gangs mingle with tourists and dignitaries at five-star hotels, clubs and casinos.

But he is soon pulled into the dark twists and turns of an unspeakable crime at the luxury home of wealthy gym owner Craig Ford. Ford’s wife Siobhan was murdered in the house raid and his eight-year-old daughter Gabby was left critically injured and is now in a coma and fighting for her life in hospital. Determined to find the men responsible and keep the young girl safe, Walker digs into the hidden corners of this shimmering city by the ocean but a case from his own past resurfaces,

The Lost Girl

Rosie Goodwin

ADD a welcome ray of light to the dark days of winter as Rosie Goodwin, one of Britain’s best-loved saga queens, conjures up her storytelling magic for a drama-packed tale of hardship, mystery and restless spirits.

A former social worker and foster mother, four-million-copy bestselling author Goodwin (pictured below) has penned over forty beautiful, heartwarming novels, exploring life and love in days gone by. She was also awarded the rights to follow three of the late, great Tyneside writer Catherine Cookson’s trilogies with her own sequels.

And now she’s back to win our hearts again with a gritty tale which features the battles and hardships of two siblings forced to live with their cold and uncaring grandfather, and delivers Goodwin’s winning blend of romance, intrigue, an engaging cast of characters, and richly detailed, authentic and atmospheric settings. When their gypsy father Django goes missing and their mother Constance, a vicar’s daughter, dies suddenly, 13-year-old Esme and 15-year-old Gabriel are forced to leave their gypsy caravan in Nottingham and track down their estranged clergyman grandfather, Septimus Silver, in Lincolnshire.

Strict and unwelcoming, he is reluctant to take them in at the rectory but, aware of his standing as the village’s vicar, he knows must protect his reputation and is persuaded by his housekeeper Mrs Sparrow to allow the children to stay with him.

Esme’s relief at finding refuge soon turns to despair when Gabriel is sent to boarding school in Skegness, leaving her alone in their grandfather's unhappy home. But the house isn’t as empty as it first appeared and Esme, who has the rare gift of being able to see spirits, begins to encounter the ghosts of young women in the abandoned rooms and dark corridors of the rectory.

The women are trapped between this world and the next, and seek help from Esme, leaving her with a mystery to solve if she is to stand a chance of ever finding a peaceful, happy life. Can she lay the ghosts to rest to save herself... and can she find the new life she so desperately needs?

Unsurprisingly, Goodwin is one of the most borrowed authors from UK libraries and here she packs in all those human events and emotions – births and deaths, loves and losses, good people and bad people – that have made her novels so beloved by readers over the decades.

Esme and Gabriel’s struggles after their father’s disappearance and their mother’s death proves to be a gripping emotional rollercoaster with plot twists aplenty and a story full of cruelty and sadness, but also friendship and determination. Full of Goodwin’s wisdom and warmth, and with the author’s delicious recipe for a classic apple pie to tickle the taste buds, this is a story to cuddle up with by the fireside and lose yourself in the heartaches, drama, and wonderful storytelling.
(Zaffre, paperback, £8.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: First love, Ice Age wonders and a feline mystery

Laugh, smile and cringe with a teen boy negotiating the painful path of first love, enjoy watching the Ice Age literally unfold, join a talking black cat for a feast of mayhem, magic and mystery, and travel back in time with a troubled youngster seeking happiness in a super line-up of new books

Age 11 plus
Northern Soul
Phil Earle

IF you can still remember the agonising awkwardness of your first teen romance then cringe (and laugh!) with this hilarious tale from award-winning children’s author Phil Earle, a writer who has his finger firmly on the pulse of his readers. Northern Soul – which follows 14-year-old Marv on his funny and painfully real journey through first love – is perfectly pitched for boys in the early teens range and fills an increasingly yawning gap in the market generally for young male readers. Earle, who lives in Yorkshire, is a hugely popular writer and this coming-of-age odyssey, with its down-to-earth northern humour and relatable characters, captures the agony and the ecstasy of what it is to be a teenage boy in love for the first time.

Marv is fourteen and his life is simple. There’s football and his best mate, Jimmy... perfect. Nothing else matters until a new girl at school called Carly crashes into his life. For Marv, it’s love at first sight, his emotions flipped upside down as he knows a girl like Carly will never notice him. He needs help – lots of it – but when it miraculously arrives in the shape of a musical idol from the past, the path to Carly’s heart proves anything but easy. First love is unforgettable, and poor Marv is about to learn this the hard way – him, and his northern soul. Readers will revel in Marv’s angst as we follow his disastrous attempts to win the heart of the cool new girl at school, helped (or rather hindered) by a fast-food addicted musical idol from the past, some of the most mortifying song lyrics ever, and last but not least, Marv’s (embarrassing) Croc-loving dad. Earle lets all the familiar anguish of unrequited love unfold with his trademark warmth, wit and wisdom as we join Marv on his rollicking, rollercoaster journey which packs in all the requisite toe-curling, cringeworthy dramas that accompany those formative experiences. Funny, honest and full of empathy, Northern Soul has all the hallmarks of a classic...
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Mega Meltdown
Jack Tite

ENJOY watching the Ice Age unfold (literally!) with this brilliant book packed full of fun, facts and fascinating artwork. Mega Meltdown – which comes complete with enormous fold-out pages – is the creation of illustrator and motion designer Jack Tite whose eye-catching artwork uses simplified shapes, gritty textures and a strict colour palette. And there could be no better introduction to the Ice Age which began nearly three million years ago when oceans froze, ice sheets covered the land, and weird, wonderful and huge prehistoric animals, along with humans, had to find ways to thrive. Every page of this informative book allows readers to explore the Earth continent by continent, as well as come face-to-face with Ice Age megafauna such as North America’s short-faced bear – which  was 3.7 metres tall – and mastodons which weighed twice as much as a T. rex! Tite’s amazing images of the Ice Age creatures are accompanied by a lively narrative excursion through pre-history which helps youngsters to imagine exactly what these mega animals were like. The Ice Age as you’ve never before seen it!
(Big Picture Press, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
The Floating Witch Mystery
Nicki Thornton

YOUNG readers who couldn’t get enough of Nicki Thornton’s fantastic Last Chance Hotel books have been enjoying more thrilling mysteries and magical moments with this talented author’s sparkling spin-off series. And after the amazing dramatic events in The Howling Hag Mystery and The Poisoned Pie Mystery, Thornton is back to thrill and chill with another spine-tingling page-turner featuring fan-favourite Nightshade, the irresistible talking black cat who, in this new story, takes centre stage for her very own mystery. Magic must never be missed! When a nosy stranger arrives in her riverside town, school reporter Veena Vale becomes suspicious. But only Nightshade, who has considerable investigative talents when it comes to magical crime, will listen to her. To find out the truth of what’s going on, the two of them must unravel an ancient curse, tell uncomfortable lies and bake an awful lots of flapjacks! Thornton excels at building a rich and exciting world full of bizarre and extraordinary characters, but with the authentic atmosphere of a classic Golden Age timeless tale, and a trail of intriguing clues that will keep young readers guessing right through to the last pages. Cosy, fun and threaded through with humour but still alluringly edgy, this fabulous blend of mayhem, magic and mystery is a winner all the way!
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Countdown to Yesterday
Shirley Marr

WHEN a young boy struggles to accept that his parents are getting divorced, he is offered the chance to travel back in time and rediscover his treasured memories of happy days with Mum and Dad. But are his best memories as perfect as he remembers? The repercussions of a marriage breakdown and the uncertainties of new beginnings take centre stage in a beautiful, heartwarming novel from Shirley Marr, a first-generation Chinese-Australian author who describes herself as having a Western mind and an Eastern heart, and often bases her stories on her own personal experiences of migration and growing up. Here we meet James who is stuck in the present even though that’s the last place he wants to be. His parents have suddenly separated, and he has to get used to living two completely different lives. Now, he has two homes to stay in, two bedrooms to divide his things between, and two different routes to take to school. Unfortunately, nothing is adding up to the one great life James used to have and he wishes he could go back to the past, to his Top Six good memories with Mum and Dad. Then during Science Week, James meets the enigmatic Yan, a girl who looks at the world with X-ray eyes, and he discovers that travelling back in time might not be impossible after all. But are his best memories as perfect as he remembers? Countdown to Yesterday is a beautifully imagined story of friendship, hope, and the enduring power and unbreakable bonds of family love even in the face of unexpected challenges and unwanted change. A magical, moving and reassuring story for any child facing upheaval and separation.
(Usborne, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Marvin and the Book of Magic
Jenny Pearson and Aleksei Bitskoff

NEVER trust a squirrel! Fun-lovers will cheering and clapping when young magician Marvellous Marvin takes centre stage in another laughter-filled, big-hearted story from ‘super miraculous’ Jenny Pearson, the children’s author whose debut novel, The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates, was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book of the Year in 2020. Since that heady starter to her writing odyssey, bestselling Pearson has won the hearts and minds of an army of young readers and this hilarious new adventure brilliantly showcases the magic that can be found in true friendship. After being humiliated by a badly behaved squirrel on national television, Marvin has vowed NEVER to perform magic in public again. But when he acquires a mysterious book that promises to show those with the gift of magic how to use it properly, his best friend Asha persuades him to make a comeback in the school talent show. Will Marvin manage to demonstrate that friendships are truly magical? Using her own special brand of magic, and more than a little sleight of hand, Pearson’s imaginative and entertaining story – published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format and brought to life by Aleksei Bitskoff’s richly detailed and comical illustrations – will delight audiences of every age. A wise, witty and wonderful adventure!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 6 plus
Love Is...
Lily Murray and Sarah Maycock

LOVE is the sweetest thing says the old song...  and that’s the message that shines out in this spectacular celebration of love in all its many different forms. Author Lily Murray and award-winning artist Sarah Maycock – who trained herself to draw animals from nature documentaries – combine their talents for this sensational picture book which has love written through the beating heart of every page. Starring a gallery of exquisitely drawn birds and animals, we learn that Love is LOUD, like a peacock proudly flashing its iridescent eyes for all to see, and powerful like the strength and passion of tigers in the wild, but sometimes love sings a quieter song... a song soft as the evening chorus, but no less strong. This beautiful collection of animal similes reflects the different kinds of love we all experience, from the strong bond between parents and their children to the importance of self-love. Maycock’s expressive and tender illustrations perfectly capture each emotion with just a few swoops of ink, adding extra power to Murray’s carefully crafted words. Verbal and visual perfection in one stunning book!
(Big Picture Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 3 plus
The Best You
Nima Patel and Cally Johnson-Isaacs

BE inspired to reach for the stars (as well as other more Earth-based goals!) with this thought-provoking and inspirational picture book from parenting coach and author Nima Patel and talented illustrator Cally Johnson-Isaacs. Instead of asking, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?,’ Patel encourages us to start asking WHO children want to be. From a firefighter’s bravery and a teacher’s fairness to the caring of doctors and the creativity of an artist, The Best You explores and celebrates the different values which can make us the best versions of ourselves, whether that’s trying hard, or learning from our mistakes and from others. With its uplifting and empowering text, dazzling artwork and a diverse cast of joyful, colourful characters, The Best You enables young readers to discover the importance of being kind, strong, passionate and determined. So whether your child dreams of being an engineer, an activist, or even a child mental health advocate, this is the perfect book to remind them that they can use their skills to do anything... or everything!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Love is in the Little Things
Stella J Jones and Jane Massey

WHAT better way to celebrate the little ways we show our love than a picture book brimming with warmth, kindness, friendship... and that very special ‘aaah’ factor? Love is in the Little Things – a heart-melting fusion of Stella J Jones’ beautiful words and Jane Massey’s emotive illustrations – is the perfect gift book for parents welcoming home a new baby or to share with a loved one on a memorable occasion. ‘Love is in the little things. A kiss, a smile, a cup of tea. Just me and you sitting quietly. A song, a hug, a helping hand that lifts us up so we can stand.’ Join Big and Small ( a cuddly bear and an adorable young child) as they journey through the moments that make a relationship... from blowing bubbles in the bath and a goodnight kiss to saying a heartfelt ‘sorry’ after a fight. Perfectly created for adults to read and share with little ones, Jones’ gentle, rhythmic, reassuring narrative inspires expressions of love and emotion, all brought to life by Massey’s stunning artwork in enchanting pastel shades.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
I Love You More
Clare Helen Welsh and
Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell

FEAST your eyes – and warm your heart – with a moving and mesmerising picture book celebrating both the love of a parent and the beauty of nature. Written by Clare Helen Welsh, who takes her inspiration from the countryside, and stunningly illustrated by husband and wife team, Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell, I Love You More is guaranteed to be a family favourite. How much does Mum love her little Rae? More than seal pups and penguins love their icy home, more than dolphins love the boundless sea, or lions love to race and roar, more even than all the stars, the moon and the sun combined. In fact, she loves her more than words can even say. With its stylish, retro artwork, and a rich and lyrical narrative, which reassures children that the love between a parent and child is unconditional and everlasting, this is the perfect story to encourage little ones to explore and discover, and to change and grow. And as a welcome added extra, every Nosy Crow paperback picture book comes with a free Stories Aloud audio recording... simply scan the QR code and listen along!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Sleep Stories:
Little Dragon & Little Bear
Sarah Cordingley and Kamala Nair

JOIN a little dragon as she searches for a bedtime hug – and a little bear looking for the perfect place to sleep – in the first two books of an enchanting new bedtime series from Oxford University Press. Drawing on their vast experience of children’s books for all ages, the book boffins have created the perfect calming reads to prepare little ones (and their carers!) for a good night’s sleep. In Little Dragon, we join the lovable creature as she soars down from the misty mountains to Sunset Woods for a final hug. But the woodland animals are already asleep. Will Little Dragon ever find the hug she needs? 

And in Little Bear, we find the little animal tossing and turning. His bed doesn’t feel quite right tonight so he sets off through the Twilight Forest. Will Little Bear find a cosier place to sleep? These enchanting, reassuring and soothing sleepy stories – beautifully written by Sarah Cordingley in consultation with a qualified mindfulness teacher, and gorgeously illustrated by Kamala Nair – transport youngsters to atmospheric, dream-like, twilight worlds where they follow the bedtime journeys of adorable animal characters. And as an added bonus, scan the QR code inside the book to access more mindfulness exercises, an audio version of the story, an atmospheric soundscape for reading the book aloud, and a gentle lullaby. The ideal wind-down after a busy day!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99 each)

The Illusions

Liz Hyder

DID you know that Harry Houdini, the famous escape artist, illusionist and stunt performer, once picked the locks of a rival’s establishment to steal an idea?

His desperate antic was just one of the many real-life stories that have flowed out down the years from the golden age of magic... a fascinating period of cultural history which saw the rise of pioneers like Houdini, inventive magician David Devant, and film-maker and special effects trailblazer Walter Booth.

And it’s the breathtaking tricks and triumphs of these late 19^th century magic-makers that provided the rich inspiration for The Illusions, a spellbinding new page-turner from Liz Hyder, author of extraordinary debut novel The Gifts which featured a group of winged women seeking liberation in early Victorian England.

Hyder (pictured below) has developed her own special brand of magical realism and employs it to dazzling effect for this immersive and powerful feminist-fuelled story which blends drama, intrigue, stunning atmospherics, romance, and a thread of magic and kindness that cannot help but weave its way into your heart.

So travel back to Bristol in 1896 and meet 16-year-old orphan Cecily (Cec) Marsden who has spent the last five years scraping a living (and learning the tricks of the trade) as the young assistant to ageing but kindly con artist, Arter Evans.

All changes for Cec – a small girl with ‘a loud voice and a knack for learning’ – when Arter dies after a bank of scaffolding falls on him one dark evening. It happened just as Cec was particularly angry with him and, convinced that she was to blame, Cec starts to believe that she has powers she little understands.

Meanwhile, pioneering early film-maker Eadie Carleton, who runs her late father’s photographic business in the city, is working on a living pictures projector but struggles for her abilities to be taken seriously in a male-dominated world and is under pressure from her half-cousin, who has a share in the shop, to sell the business. In another corner of the city is brilliant young magician, George Perris, who has been named as the first choice successor to a renowned, but now fatally ill, magician known as The Professor. Charming and confident, George cares deeply about the ethics of his ‘work’ and lives by the motto ‘All done by kindness.’

George, who is under pressure to produce a spectacular act for The Professor’s retirement show, is beginning to see the potential in moving pictures and believes that if he can harness this new

CHILDREN’S BOOKS: Family bonds, going for gold and animal scientists

Explore the lives and loves of three generations of a family, take a running jump into the action, hardships and drama of an ambitious young gymnast, find out why crows never forget a face, and immerse yourself in a tale of fiery friendships and daring dragon riders in a sparkling selection of January books

Age 9 plus
Granny Was a Buffer Girl
Berlie Doherty

A BEAUTIFUL, Carnegie Medal-winning book – which brings together the stories of three generations of a Sheffield family with exquisite emotional resonance – is brought to vivid life again for a new generation of young readers. Brimming with poignancy and the joys of family bonds, Granny Was a Buffer Girl is as powerful now as when it grabbed the headlines in 1986 and is the work of Derbyshire-based Berlie Doherty, author of over 60 books for children, teenagers and adults, and twice winner of the prestigious Carnegie Medal. Doherty was inspired to write Granny Was a Buffer Girl after seeing the Sir William Rothenstein painting, Sheffield Buffer Girls, which hangs in Sheffield Museums and Art Galleries and depicts two young women in their work clothes. The ‘buffer girls’ worked in the cutlery industry, using special polishing machinery on steel tableware in a job that was hot and dirty, and required protective clothing. And it is against this industrial backdrop, that Doherty weaves a cross-generational story steeped in the landscape of the city and its people.

Before leaving Sheffield for a year’s adventure in France, 18-year-old Jess joins a family gathering. They share stories that have bound them together through generations... stories of heartbreak, humour and romance. She listens to the tale of her grandparents, Bridie and Jack, whose love kept them together in spite of family conflicts over crossing religious boundaries. There is also the story of her other granny Dorothy... her daily toil from the dirt and grime of the buffing wheel, and the weight of expectation and tradition that she must marry a man from her own working class. And then Jess learns of her parents’ first meeting... and, of course, there’s Jess’s own story too, one of love, disappointment, grief and new beginnings. With beautiful cover artwork by Tamsin Rosewell, this emotion-packed and thought-provoking tale is as powerful today as it was when it was first published 38 years ago. Spanning life in industrial Sheffield from the 1930s to the 1980s, we hear family stories of hardship, work and romance that are both heartbreaking and funny, but which bind together its various members in a circle of love and shared understanding.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 10 plus
Winner Takes Gold
Eloise Smith

IT takes courage to follow your dreams! Former Olympic fencer and three times Commonwealth gold medal winner Eloise Smith raises the bar high in the second thrills and spills adventure set in the high stakes world of champions and ambitious athletes. After hitting home with her debut book, Sister to a Star – set against the backdrop of Smith’s own sport of fencing and featuring two warring siblings – this exciting new storytelling talent takes a running jump into the action, hardships and drama of gymnastic competitions. And what a cut-throat world it turns out to be as readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride through the challenges of navigating friendships, the pressures of top-level competitions, and exploring whether winning is really the most important thing.

Pearl is a 12-year-old gymnast, hoping to be selected for the World Cup in Paris and tumbling her way to medals in memory of her ace gymnast mother who died a year ago. The pinnacle of Pearl’s dreams would be to win gold in Paris and she knows it’s what Mum would have wanted. However, being invited to join the elite training camp is super tough for Pearl (think ice baths and intense rivalry!) and that’s even with the help of her best friend Ryan and rising star Jada-Rae. There are rumours of a curse in their training group but as more problems occur with their equipment, suspicions arise that it could be down to one of the competitors. All of the young gymnasts face fear, falls and injury but then there’s the cheating, bullying... and now sabotage. When others will do anything to win, what will Pearl risk... safety, morals, friendships? Smith’s understanding of high-level sport – here seen through the lens of gymnastics – speaks volumes in this gripping, all-action adventure which reminds us that sport generally is about so much more than medals. Filled with passion, intensity, challenges and intrigue, plus timely lessons about making friends, being brave and freeing your soul, Winner Takes Gold is a dazzling warm-up for this summer’s Paris Olympics, and the perfect match for ‘tween’ readers aged 10-13 years.
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
How Do Meerkats Order Pizza?
Brooke Barker

DID you know that crows never forget a face, or that jaguars have a favourite perfume? We all love reading about the world’s wildest, wackiest and most fascinating creatures... but what about the scientists who study them? What strange methods do they employ to learn all about the habitats and behaviour of these incredible animals? The answers, and lots more, are packed into the pages of this fun and informative book from American writer and illustrator Brooke Barker whose successful Instagram account, @SadAnimalFacts, became the basis for her books. In How Do Meerkats Order Pizza?, she uses vibrant comic strip graphics to bring readers this funny and factual introduction to the amazing lives of creatures such as bonobos, lizards, humpback whales by revealing the bizarre things human scientists do to understand them. Have you ever wondered how to pet a yeti crab or whether dogs can tell if you’re smiling? And just what is a burrowing bettong? From crafting fake poo to slurping up bugs with a straw, it seems there’s nothing these amazing scientists won’t do to help us learn more about the animals around us. From unearthing secrets like why roosters crow, and discovering how meerkats make decisions as a group – all brought to life by diagrams, dialogues, colourful illustrations and laugh-out-loud humour – this book is a valuable resource for natural science education and a joy to read and share.
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £10.99)

Age 9 plus
Rise of the Shadow Dragons
Liz Flanagan

SET your January reading on fire with the mesmerising second book in Yorkshire writer Liz Flanagan’s thrilling Legends of the Sky fantasy trilogy which began with the much acclaimed Dragon Daughter. Inspired by many of the beautiful places she has visited, these dazzling stories sweep youngsters into a magic land of dragons and evil deeds where thrilling adventures bristle with tension, danger, fast-paced action, fiery friendships and daring dragon riders. In Dragon Daughter, we met 12-year-old servant girl Milla on the island of Arcosi and followed her epic quest to discover her hidden past and her true destiny as a dragonrider.  But now the action leaps forward several years and we find that Milla is nearly twenty five years old and still fighting their old enemy, the Brotherhood. Her cousin Jowan (Joe) Thornsen is growing up fast and wants only one thing... to bond with a dragon of his own on his upcoming birthday. Then disaster strikes and Joe’s world suddenly turns into a darker and more dangerous place. But a new friend and an astonishing discovery could lead him to what he has always wanted... if he is just willing to take a leap of faith and brave the impossible in the face of an erupting volcano. Can he act before it’s too late? Flanagan has a true gift for world building and this breathtaking tale of redemption, bravery and acceptance tingles with powerful emotions, political skulduggery and a sense of danger that is almost tangible. Set in a superbly imagined and richly detailed world, Rise of the Shadow Dragons brings readers a cast of unforgettable characters who face trials, tribulations and fire at every turn but find strength in their friendships, unity and shared loyalties. Fantasy writing at its very best!
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
The Creatures of Killburn Mine
Dan Smith and Chris King

PREPARE to have your spine well and truly tingled as award-winning author and master of creepy sci-fi, Dan Smith, returns to reunite his ever-popular Crooked Oak mystery-solving gang for their most horrifying case yet. The Creatures of Killburn Mine is the fifth book in this wonderfully spooky series, which is brought to life by Chris King’s enthralling artwork and this time features an outer-space visitation and its seriously scary consequences. What’s slithering about deep underground? When a meteorite crashes to Earth near Crooked Oak, Pete, Nancy and Krish are determined to find it... but they’re not the only ones. After spotting one of their teachers up on the moor where the meteorite landed, they start to wonder if his strangely altered behaviour and appearance might be connected to the arrival from outer space. But nothing could prepare them for the horror they uncover deep down in Killburn Mine. With a twisting, terrifying plot, King’s wonderfully atmospheric black and white illustrations, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, this is a terrific, fast-paced tale of three brave youngsters caught up in an out-of-this-world adventure. Expect thrills, chills and spills… and best read in daylight hours!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Diamond Jack: Your Magic or Your Life
Anna Rainbow

GET ready to stand and deliver as born storyteller Anna Rainbow – author of middle-grade debut thriller Antigua de Fortune of the High Seas – pulls out all the stops for the first book of a new swashbuckling adventure series. Action-packed from first to last, Diamond Jack: Your Magic or Your Life stars a highway-girl with both attitude and fortitude, and is set to win the hearts of all young daredevils. While helping in Grandpa’s shop, Mr Browning’s Emporium of Strange and Magical Things, eleven-year-old Bramble  (Bram) discovers a strange scarlet mask. A tingling in her fingers tells her to try it on, but when she does she finds it fits so well that she can't take it off. And when she looks in the mirror, the face of a famous missing/presumed dead highwayman called Diamond Jack stares back. It seems Bramble has been chosen for a mission and she’s more than up for the job. Your magic or your life! With its fun and feminist theme, and a familiar but wholly original mash-up of classic tales like The Red Shoes, The Three Musketeers and Robin Hood, this magical series is set to deliver everything young adventurers could want!
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Bunny vs Monkey: Bunny Bonanza
Jamie Smart

MONKEY and the gang are on a hunt to find Bunny, after he mysteriously disappeared... On their search they'll be bamboozled by Old Bunny, Neanderbunny, the mysterious Shadow Bunny and the always-confusing Not Bunny. Will they ever find their faithful friend? It's a rollicking race in this cornucopia of chuckles! Buckle yourself in and get ready for an exciting rabbit rumble! Yes, Bunny and Monkey are back in their exhilarating remastered series which delivers all the comedy and chaos of the daffy duo’s helter-skelter world! This outrageously funny ninth book in the super-popular series – published in a sturdy hardback edition – features an abundance of bunnies, 216 pages of fast and furry-ous exuberant fun, and a draw-it-yourself activity. Bunny and Monkey are part of the Phoenix Presents series, published by David Fickling Books in partnership with The Phoenix comic, which goes from strength to strength. And much of that success is due to the genius of the extraordinarily talented illustrator Jamie Smart whose ingenious comic-strip Bunny vs Monkey books create giant waves of laughter across a sea of young readers. These manic, high-energy stories are perfectly created for fidgety readers who like their books to come with plenty of comic-strip illustrations and loads of snorts and sniggers. Madcap antics for your action kids!
(David Fickling Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 6 plus
Find Peace in a Poem
Various authors and various illustrators

‘In poetry there is a kind of quiet magic. For all its wordy wonder,
it holds a hush at its centre – a silence that promises refuge
from the hustle and bustle of the world.’

OPEN the pages of this beautiful, illustrated book of verse and discover a treasure trove of writing that celebrates calm, quiet and mindfulness and features powerful poems written by a wide range of contemporary voices. Read the poems aloud or curl up with them in a quiet corner as you begin the wonder-filled journey into a lifelong love of poetry. The diverse range of poets share their unique perspectives on the topic of mindfulness, from listening for silence and living in the moment to the colour of dreams and what the trees can teach us. From exploring our own thoughts and feelings to learning to admire the tiniest details in our surroundings, this warm and gentle anthology demonstrates how mindfulness and poetry can help readers to escape the everyday and see the world anew. Showcasing original verse alongside existing works, Find Peace in a Poem features the powerful words of Mandy Coe, Jack Prelutsky, Pat Mora, Kate Wakeling, James Carter, Nikita Gill, Joseph Coelho, Valerie Bloom, Amina Jama, Michael Rosen, Sue Hardy-Dawson, Mary Ann Hoberman, Georgia Heard, Sophia Thakur, Sanah Ahsan, Elizabeth Acevedo, Kit Wright, Naomi Shihab Nye and Zaro Weil. Add on rich, colourful and vibrant illustrations which give extra life and meaning to youngsters as they read the text and enjoy the visual representation of words on the page, and you have a book to share and cherish... and an invaluable starter for a lifelong love of poetry.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 5 plus
Sidney and Carrie Have a Party
Lisa Thompson and Jess Rose

THE rewards of teamwork take centre stage in an enchanting story from Lisa Thompson and Jess Rose, the top author/illustrator team who are stealing hearts with their perfectly pitched books exploring empathy and friendship. Sidney and Carrie Have a Party is the third adventure featuring Sidney and his best pal Carrie and delivers the same heartwarming blend of fun, fears, and the ups and downs of friendship.  He we find the good friends really excited about having a joint birthday party! But excitement turns to disappointment when they can’t agree about the invitations, the entertainment or even the kind of cake they would like to have. Will the birthday party be a disaster or can the two friends find a way to compromise that will make them both happy? These warm, wise and reassuring stories are part of Barrington Stoke’s super-readable Little Gems series which brings together leading authors and illustrators, a host of clever design and finishing techniques to create easy-to-read, first chapter books in a small format for little hands, and provide extra reading, jokes and activity fun inside the covers. Once again, award-winning children’s author Thompson brings her powerful and empathetic storytelling skills to this clever, engaging story which looks at a friendship being put to the test, and teaches youngsters the fine art of compromise. Perfectly matched with Rose’s emotive and child-friendly illustrations, this sensitively created adventure is ideal encouragement for young readers to celebrate and enjoy their own close friendships.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus
Princess Katie’s Kittens:
Poppy and the Prince
Julie Sykes and Sam Loman

WELCOME back to Starlight Palace for more princesses, kittens and sparkly fun! Princess Katie’s Kittens – an adorable series written by Julie Sykes, creator of Netflix hit Unicorn Academy, and illustrated by creative artist Sam Loman – ­hits the spot perfectly for youngsters just moving on to chapter books. Stars of the show are Princess Katie who lives in a beautiful palace in the kingdom of Tula and her six playful little kittens. In her fourth adventure, Poppy and the Prince, we meet Poppy, a very friendly kitten. She wants to play with Prince Edward who is visiting Starlight Palace. But the prince thinks cats are silly and he teases little Poppy. So, when Poppy and the prince disappear at the same time, Princess Katie is suspicious. Could Poppy be in trouble? With short chapters, 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... Pixie at the Palace, Bella at the Ball, and Suki in the Snow which are out now.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
Don’t Ever Smile at a Shark
Harriet Evans and Michael Slack

YOUNGSTERS are going wild for these fantastic pop-up books which bring all their favourite creatures to vibrant and colourful life! In this new outing in author Harriet Evans and illustrator Michael Slack’s fun-filled Creature Feature Pop-up series, we meet a whole host of amazing underwater animals. ‘If you meet a sea creature, It’s best to be polite. Otherwise, don’t be surprised If they give you a fright!’ Don’t make an enemy (or should that be ‘anemone’…) of any of these super-sensational sea dwellers and you’ll have a whale of a time with this fin-tastically fishy pop-up book that comes packed with clever puns to get all the family giggling!! From a jumpy octopus and a pinchy crab to some cheeky clownfish and a hungry shark, there’s a whole host of popular underwater superstars. And with spectacular pop-ups to enjoy on every page, Slack’s wacky and wonderful illustrations and Evans’ witty, silly text, Don't Ever Smile at a Shark is the perfect book ‘bait’ to encourage your child to read along!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £10.99)

Age 3 plus
A Horse Called Now
Ruth Doyle and Alexandra Finkeldey

WE all know that worries can sometimes be overwhelming and for a young child, it can be a hard to know how to cope with them. So here’s the perfect panacea...  a calm and comforting picture book about overcoming your fears and living in the present moment. A Horse called Now enjoys the singing of the birds, the chattering of the crickets and all the wonders of nature. But Rabbit fears being chased by a fox, and Hen thinks a swooping magpie will catch her chicks. When a thunderstorm arrives, Now leads her friends to shelter... where they soon discover that not everything is as frightening as it seems. ‘When I’m afraid, I breathe in and out and let the feelings come... and then go. Nothing lasts forever,’ she tells them. Written with warmth and understanding by animal lover Ruth Doyle, and exquisitely illustrated by Canada-based artist Alexandra Finkeldey, A Horse Called Now offers reassurance and empathy on every page, and is the perfect book to open conversations with young children about their worries.
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
I Love You to the Moon and Back: All Year Long
Amelia Hepworth and Tim Warnes

AAAH… gifts for mum (and especially on Mother’s Day!) don’t come more special and genuinely touching than this gorgeous picture book which celebrates the eternal and loving relationship between parent and child. This is the third book in this adorable series from top team author Amelia Hepworth and illustrator Tim Warnes and comes packed with the same beautiful words, heartfelt emotions and endearing illustrations. ‘I love to see the sun come up, and melt the winter snow. I love to see your wonder as the spring shoots start to grow.’ As the hope of spring turns into the warm days of midsummer, the story follows Big Bear and Little Bear who share their love and gratitude for one another across the seasons. Toddlers (and their parents) will love turning the pages of this uplifting celebration of love and togetherness which was tailor made for cuddling up close at bedtime!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Mole’s Quiet Place
Jane Chapman

EVERYBODY needs a bit of peace and quiet now then... even a fun-loving little mole! Author and illustrator Jane Chapman works her special (and adorable!) magic on this beautifully emotive tale of friendship, understanding, and finding a place to be by yourself. Mole loves the hustle and bustle, laughter and excitement of being with her friends... but sometimes she needs a little space for herself. She needs to stop and breathe, to think and rest. Can she find a quiet place all of her own? Maybe with a little help from her friends. Sometimes everyone needs some space to be themselves... to refresh and reset. Will her friends understand and still love her? With its focus on empathy and important lessons about considering the needs of others, Mole’s Quiet Place is ideal for helping sensitive and introverted children. Chapman’s beautiful illustrations add extra warmth and piquancy to her moving story which celebrates the power and comfort of true friendship. 
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Science Words for Little People: Weather & Let’s Build
Helen Mortimer and Cristina Trapanese

YOU can rely on Oxford University Press to engage and entertain youngsters with brilliant books like this Science Words for Little People series which makes learning both friendly and inspirational. The books aim to build children’s confidence with vocabulary and ideas around various topics, and provide a foundation for learning in a way that feels good. Written by Helen Mortimer and illustrated by Cristina Trapanese, the same winning team that brought us Big Words for Little People, the books are special not just because they focus on science subjects in a child-friendly way, but because the Oxford book boffins pack them with educational goodness that helps children develop and grow. In Weather, little ones follow an exciting adventure walk to explore weather, from the blustering wind to frozen water and snow when the temperature drops! 

Look out for a rainbow when it rains and the sun shines at the same time, discover how plants need rain and sunshine to grow, and marvel at the long shadows we see in winter sunshine. This is the ideal way to begin to explore vocabulary about the elements and the weather, and with something wonderful to discover and learn about on every page, this is perfect for sharing with adults. And in Let’s Build, youngsters meet the busy little builders in their hard hats as they construct tall cup towers, traffic lights made from sweets and a garage made from boxes! Filled with colour, fun and creativity, the book shows how you can make things with everyday objects around you, and is specially designed to introduce children to the world of science and construction vocabulary, giving them key words to talk about building. Published in sturdy hardback, packed with fun characters, engaging questions and activities, and Trapanese’s playful artwork, the books are the perfect size and shape for reading together whilst exploring and enjoying the different concepts of science.
(Oxford University Press, hardback, £5.99 each)

Age 2 plus
Meet the Wildlings
Gwen Millward

IT all started with a growl! Every parent knows the ups and downs of teaching a child to share so here’s a book that puts the problem firmly at centre stage. Written and illustrated by observant author and illustrator Gwen Millward, Meet the Wildlings was inspired by Maurice Sendak’s well-loved characters from Where the Wild Things Are and stars two typically warring siblings. Poppy and Max are brother and sister. And brothers and sisters are supposed to share... except Poppy was playing with Max’s truck! Max was cross. Poppy was cross. And then suddenly... crash, flash, fizz! They were Wildings! Can mum and dad find a way to get the less wild and much less hairy Poppy and Max back? Or will the children find a way to work together before it goes from bad to worse? Millward’s funny and wholly relatable story about learning to share and the dreaded tantrums springs to life with a gallery of bright, bold and quirky illustrations. At its heart is a blended family who give voice to how tricky sharing can be, as well as showing youngsters how they can process their anger, frustration and jealousy. Wildly educational!
(Templar Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

The Messenger

Megan Davis

FORGET the City of Light and immerse yourself in the darkness and menace of Paris’s tension-riven suburbs in a pulsating murder thriller from award-winning debut novelist Megan Davis.

Australia-born Davis – who worked in the film industry and is also a lawyer – uses her years of living in Paris to pen this gripping, edge-of-the-seat mystery which explores life inside the notorious banlieues, places of little hope where concrete, Brutalist-style apartment blocks house the city’s diverse ‘outcasts.’

These are the often unseen shadowy corners beyond the more familiar, sunlit, tourist trail landmarks... the unloved quarters where ‘vast stretches of the unwanted, forgotten and the uninvited’ eke out an existence and where criminality abounds and animosity can fester with the power of an unexploded bomb.

But Davis (pictured below) digs beyond the routine darkness of the banlieues to bring readers a sinister tale of conspiracy and deadly danger which goes to the beating heart of contemporary Paris, and paints an unforgettably convincing and enthralling portrait of social unrest, political corruption, and resentments on both sides of the wealth divide.

Wealthy and privileged, 16-year-old Alex Giraud has moved back to Paris with his French journalist father Eddy after living in the United States for ten years.  He has an easy path to success in the Parisian elite but he’s the new kid at school, doesn’t speak French ‘properly’ and hasn’t made a single new friend.

Alex’s absent and divorced mother is still in America, and he and his domineering, heavy-drinking father have never seen eye to eye. Desperate to escape the increasingly suffocating atmosphere of their apartment, Alex seeks freedom on the back streets of Paris where his new-found friend, 18-year-old Sami Lantou, teaches him how to survive. But everything has a price, and one night of

Return to Half Moon Farm

Holly Hepburn

IMAGINE an ancient, wisteria-clad oast house as it nestles comfortably in the lush greenery of the Kent countryside, and the battlements of a centuries-old castle... and you’re ready to bask in the warm glow of another irresistible ‘getaway’ with Holly Hepburn, author of a raft of feel-good fiction.

Originally published as four e-book novellas – Spring Fever, Summer Love, Autumn Dreams and Winter Magic – and now brought together in one bright and beautiful book, Return to Half Moon Farm is a joyful, warm and romance-filled treat which is ideal for sweeping away the January blues.

Packed with Hepburn’s (pictured below) trademark humour and heart, and featuring a beautifully imagined cast of characters (both animal and human), this delightful rural odyssey has all the ingredients you need to settle back in front of a roaring fire. When only child Daisy Moon’s estranged mother Rose suffers an unexpected heart attack, she is forced to leave her home in Milton Keynes and return to the family hop farm at Mistlethorpe in Kent where she grew up and which she hasn’t visited for almost twenty years.

Moving back to Half Moon Farm to care for her mother has meant uprooting her ten-year-old twin sons, Finn and Campbell, but divorced Daisy has had no real choice and despite her long absence and the dilapidated state of the farmhouse, she feels a warm sense of gladness to be back.

But a new life in the Kent countryside isn’t all a bed of roses. Daisy – who left all those years ago because of her controlling stepfather – finds the relationship with her mother is still complicated and the tumbledown farm isn’t the only thing that needs rebuilding.

Daisy and the boys must work hard to adjust to their new way of life in the middle of nowhere, a leaking roof, and the pain of having no WiFi. Luckily for Daisy, she might yet find some distraction