Here’s our favourite, five star reads for the spooky season:
Board books
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Five Little Ghosts- Alex Barrow (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
Get your littlest of readers into the spooky spirit this Halloween with the most adorable board book around. Five little ghosts were flying one night, flying around to spook and fright. But Mummy Ghost seems to have lost them … can you turn the pages of this chunky board book and help her find her little, cheeky ghouls?!
With superb interactive sliders to push and pull and cardboard wheels to spin, this sturdy board book is a brilliant way to get those little fingers moving to develop those fine motor skills. The illustrations are vibrant and colourful with the cutsyest of Halloween characters playing across the superbly drawn spreads. It’s also a brilliant size to pop in the pushchair and take out and about with you. And, as with all Nosy Crow picture books, if you scan the QR code your little one can also listen to the fun rhyming text being read aloud. There will be no boo-hoo-ing from your young ones with this book – it will be smiles all round.
- New Store Stock
- Alex Barrow (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 8 Pages - 09/11/2025 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
Picture Books
Fox and the Mystery Letter – Alex Griffiths (author and illustrator), Frances Lincoln Children’s Books (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)
Not every book of the season has to be a spooky one. This beautiful picture book brings autumn indoors with its stunning spreads of woodlands and nature.
In a lonely cottage in the deep, dark woods lives Fox. He’s not lonely, of course not. He reads, he fishes… he likes being by himself. Until one day, a mysterious letter arrived for fox. A letter containing a challenge. A challenge to set off into the forest and solve a puzzle. Fox does love a puzzle. Where do you think the puzzle will take Fox? And will you be able to solve the puzzle before he does? I bet you can!
This is such a beautiful book. Filled with exquisitely illustrated two-page spreads which will warm any heart on an autumnal day, this is a story of friendships broken and mended. Of stubbornness and pride and the realisation that there is no place in friendships for such feelings. For true friends forgive and forget so that magic of shared experiences and beautiful moments can continue. A picture book with warmth and heart which is the perfect book to cosy down with and read with your little ones at this time of year.
- New Store Stock
- Griffiths, Alex G (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages - 08/28/2025 (Publication Date) - Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Publisher)
How to Scare a Mouse and a Bear – Ross Collins (author and illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
This spooktacularly seasonal and fantabulously fun book is another laugh-out-loud sequel to “There’s a Bear on my Chair” and Ross Collins has really pulled out all the Halloween dressing up favourites for this one. This gorgeous hardback edition, with its seasonal black cover, has huge, vibrantly coloured two page spreads of spooky joy made up of the most adorable and colourful illustrations. These combine with a brilliant rhyming story all about Bear trying to spook mouse on Halloween night. From vampires and werewolves, to ghosts and witches, surely something will frighten Mouse through and through? Or maybe the pair of them will get more of a shock than they first anticipated.
We love the feel-good ending to the story (I won’t give it away) and the fact that it really is a chortle fest of a picture book. If you are after a feel-good book which will bring non-scary spook and laughter into your lives then this is the Halloween picture book for you and your little ghouls.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Collins, Ross (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 09/11/2025 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
Chapter Books
Murray and Bun! Murray the Ghost Hunter – Adam Stower (author and illustrator), HarperCollins Children’s Books (publisher)
My son and I have honestly never laughed out loud so much at a book. I am talking belly-aching, rolling around in bed giggles!! We just love Bun and his hilarious expressions and escapades (the sock!!). We have all of the other books in this series of funny, original and engaging chapter books but we have declared this one our favourite.
These books suit my little boy. He just turned 8 last week but he would much rather be read to than read himself so these books are superb because we read them together (he does one page, I do another). Not only is there a larger font sized used thoughout but the amount of text on the pages varies too and each two-page spread has fantastic black and white illustrations so I think he feels like the transition from a chapter book is not over-facing. Added to that is the fact that each story is hilariously funny, adventurous and filled with a brilliant cast of characters and these books are a total winner in our house.
In this, the latest in the seriesMurray’scat flap leads not to the garden but to a haunted house! Oooooooooo! The terrific twosome are thrown into a spooktacular adventure trying to hunt a ghost for the Lady of the manor. Will you be able to be brave with them and help them catch the scary ghost?! They just need to try and find it ….
With superb black illustrations, interactive magically appearing ghost pages and bonus bits at the back of the book, this is an
adventure story with huge heart, fun and friendship at its core. We really appreciate the humour, silliness and fun in these books and we love this dynamic duo.
- New Store Stock
- Stower, Adam (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 192 Pages - 09/11/2025 (Publication Date) - HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks (Publisher)
Middle Grade
Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo – Philippa Leathley (author), HarperCollins Children’s Books (publisher)
Wow! This book was epic!! I did not want to put it down, it was such a page-turner.
In a world where magic is costly and fates are determined by the magical tattoo you receive on your hand, Meticulous Jones (or Metty for short) hopes for a thrilling destiny when she attends her “fating”. She doesn’t want to be boring. But they say you have to be careful what you wish for: Metty’s tattoo depicts a skull in the palm of glove – she’s fated to be a murderer!! Well, it’s anything but dull!
When Metty’s dad goes missing, Metty and her gargoyle companion Pumpkin, are taken to stay in the magical New London with Aunt Magnificent (the Jones’ family all have rather grand names!). Metty is desperate to explore the glittering city and find her father but an underground and shadowy organisation known as the Black Moths seems to be after her and she doesn’t know why. When she sees them take away her father, she knows that she is going up have to put herself in harm’s way to get him back. But why would The Black Moths be interested in her; could it be because she is ill-fated?
What a book! What a world! What characters. We love Metty and her friends Sundar and Faith and their spiritedness and determination. We love that this is such an exciting, page turner of a magical adventure. We love the imagination, magic and wonder that the author has created. But we really love the fact that this book has so many layers. It’s really thought-provoking, leaving the reader to ponder questions about free-will and destiny, what actions people and groups are prepared to take to be taken notice of, whether a person can be wholly good or wholly “bad”, what truly makes a life, whether wealth should be distributed and so much more. It’s a fantastical adventure story with sparks with magic, wonder and imagination. One of my favourite reads of the year. Five stars from us.
- New Store Stock
- Leathley, Philippa (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 384 Pages - 08/28/2025 (Publication Date) - HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks (Publisher)
The Skeleton Puzzle – A Goldfish Boy Mystery – Lisa Thompson (author), Scholastic (publisher)
I have a confession. I haven’t read any other books by this author, nor the two books which precede this one in the series. And goodness me, have I been missing out!! What a brilliant writer.
The young detectives of Chesnut Close are back with a creepy puzzle to solve. Matthew, Melody and Jake are on the case of a mysterious skeleton which was unearthed while Jake was clearing Old Nina’s back garden. They are just beginning to piece everything together bone by bone when Old Nina’s long-lost son comes back from the dead. Looking very much alive and with his son in tow. Everyone else seems really happy for Old Nina but Jake is not convinced by the father/son pair. Could it just be jealousy, or are the twosome just trying to con a poor old lady. And, if so, why? What can they be looking for?
Meanwhile, Jake is also desperately worried about his Mum who cannot seem to do anything other than sleep. The house is a mess, the bin is overflowing, the washing is piling up …. And to top it all off, Jake thinks that Matthew is losing his battle with his OCD demons again. That’s a lot to be worrying about whilst also solving a decades-old murder mystery!
I was absolutely captivated by this page-turner of a book, right from the first page. The writing style is filled with warmth, humour and twisty-turny mystery and is truly unputdownable. It also packs a punch with its themes: dealing with adult mental health and how this can affect children, as well as exploring children’s mental health through Matthew’s OCD. There are wonderful relationships and friendships explored, with the three friends, as well as the inter-generational relationship with Old Nina that the three children have, particularly Jake. There are twists in the plot and puzzle pieces which slot together. It is such a brilliant book and we loved the messages of love, community spirit and friendship at its heart. I will certainly be going down to the library to check out all Lisa’s other books and we cannot wait for the next!
- New Store Stock
- Thompson, Lisa (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 336 Pages - 09/11/2025 (Publication Date) - Scholastic (Publisher)
Mallory Vayle and Maggoty Skull in The Beast from Beneath – Martin Howard (author), Pete Williamson (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
Oi bumcrack!! You need to read this book. Sorry about that, the rather rude form of Maggoty Skull appeared to take over then!! But, oh Mallsy Ballsy Bumcrack, what a tale.
One of our favourite reads of last year, we were so pleased to find out that Mallory Vayle and Maggoty Skull were back! Mallory is rather unusual in that she can see and hear dead people. And she is learning to get to grips with this talent of hers. Maggoty is a talking skull who just won’t shut up about the most magnificent wig he has seen which he is desperate for Mallory to buy for him. But the art of necromancy doesn’t pay well….. So, when Aunt Lilith comes up with a scheme to make their millions, you just know it is bound to go horribly wrong!
You see, Aunt Lilith has summoned and been taken over by a Nightmare which is desperate to unleash its darkness over all humanity. So Mallory Ballory Buttcrack Balloo and Maggoty have to take a perilous journey into the depths of Carrion Castle, their home, to put things right. When a dude with death on his mind (that would be Death himself!) turns up, the funsies really begin…. Will Maggoty and Mallory be able to save Aunt Lilith? And at what cost?
Maggsy and Mallsy forever!!! This book was just as good as the phenomenal first one. A unique and brilliant mix of delicious darkness combined with hilarious humour. Some of Maggoty’s lines are just brilliant in their wit. Chilling and chortle-enducing. Dark and light. Deeply moving yet side-splittingly funny. I have said it before but Maggoty Skull might just be my favourite character ever. I mean, what’s not to love about a green-eyed, wig-wearing skull with verbal diarrhoea?! And I have to mention the creepy illustrations and page adornments which add so much atmosphere and brilliance to an already wonderful book. Another sensational, spooktacular read. We hope for another in the series. Five stars from us.
- New Store Stock
- Howard, Martin (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 304 Pages - 09/25/2025 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
Dracula and Daughters – Emma Carroll (author), Faber & Faber Ltd (publisher)
Gosh, if you are after a spine-tingling spooky read this Hallloween then look no further! Gothic gravedigging, garlic and gruesomeness abound in this chilling adventure story, perfect for this time of year.
Strange happenings are afoot in Temstown. The townsfolk think vampires are to blame and so silver and stakes are selling out by the truckload. Mina desperately wants to be a doctor but only boys are allowed to be surgeons. So, when she goes to dig up the body of the famous singer Elsie Irving with her best friend Varney, she knows it is a risky plan. But she certainly didn’t expect to come across a newly formed vampire and an estranged cousin at the graveyard! Mina and her sister, Buffy, are about to discover a secret about their family and their new cousin and aunt that will change everything!
Will what they discover give them powers to help and heal vampires? It sounds like the very first vampire healing company is coming to Temstown… so get ready to sink your fangs into this gripping gothic mystery.
This was a page-turner of an atmospheric read which was filled with murder, mystery and plenty of bite (sorry, I will stop the puns, I promise!). My eldest daughter is terrified of vampires though so she actually put the book down and stopped reading at one of its more gruesome points and didn’t pick it back up again until I told her it had a happy, empowering ending! We loved the power to the girls that this vivid adventure story portrayed and the atmospheric, gothic setting of the novel. Superb.
- New Store Stock
- Carroll, Emma (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 320 Pages - 09/25/2025 (Publication Date) - Faber & Faber (Publisher)
Witchlight – Dominique Valente (author), Eleonora Asparuhova (illustrator), Usborne Publishing (publisher)
What a brilliant book!! This is the second book in this magical series. We were blown away by the first one so we couldn’t wait to get our hands on this beauty. Eglantine Bury lives in a sentient, magical house called Huswyvern. But her house, magical family and friends are being put in jeopardy because the Department of Isle-Spark Regulation is up to no good. You see, Huswyvern is sick; Eglantine’s wonderful him cannot stop sneezing and causing all manner of havoc by doing so. And Princess Victoria is living under the threat of losing her magical powers for good. But Eglantine realises the problem is much wider than that… all kinds of mystical beasts are falling ill around the world… when they begin to turn to stone, Eglantine and her friends know they need to act fast to save the magical world. But what can they do? Time-travel, genie wishes and a whole host of danger and adventure awaits. Can they save the magical kingdom and uncover the truth behind what is causing the mystery sickness before it is too late?
This was yet another unputtdownable magical adventure story from author Dominique Valente. We loved revisiting Huswyvern and the magical
World that the author has created. We loved getting to know the characters in more detail (Arthur, the dapper, loyal wyvern butler is still our favourite), particularly Eglantine, who is a strong, determined witch, despite having been put down by her Uncle and others in her life who criticised and shunned her for her “little arm”.Yes, this book is a magical page-turner of an adventure story but it also packs a powerful punch in terms of strong, important themes with its disabled protagonist, themes of fighting for injustice and against prejudice (of the magical beings) and toxic masculinity. The illustrations add even more character, atmosphere and fun to this quirky historical-fantasy story. We loved the magic, the adventure, the fun, the warmth and the hope in this story. Five huge stars from us.
- New Store Stock
- Valente, Dominique (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 10/09/2025 (Publication Date) - Usborne Publishing Ltd (Publisher)
Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom – P.J. Killburn (author), Markia Jenai (illustrator), Little Tiger (publisher)
Have you ever heard of a Dead Yard before? I certainly haven’t and that was just one of the things that I loved about this pacey Halloween read: I learned so much!
Jermaine is at his great-great Uncle’s Dead Yard – a service for someone who has passed away which lasts all night- when he decides to get away from the people and the music and tuck into the tempting food on offer at the table. Oh dear! Big mistake. You see, if you eat the food on the table before midnight on the night of the Dead Yard then the deceased person’s spirit cannot pass through to the other world. Jermaine just wishes someone had told him that!! Now he has the ghost of his grumpy great-great uncle around him all the time.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, it seems like all the creepy Jamaican ghost stories his great gran has been telling him are all coming true! There are duppies around, a mysterious illness making the children of the neighbourhood ill (including Jermaine’s sister), cursed seeds around. AND Jermaine, his friends and his uncle Carl are going to have to find the baggy old skin from an evil spirit to rub chilli in it! Uncle Carl and Jermaine are going to have to work together to make their community safe again. And then, maybe, just maybe, Uncle Carl can rest easy.
This was such a fantastic, page turner of a story. It was the perfect blend of humour, creepiness, chilling folklore and adventure. I loved learning all about the Jamaican traditions and getting freaked out by the terrifying ghost tales. I loved the community spirit, love and laughter that shone through the book and the brilliant black and white illustrations added atmosphere and character to this spooktacular story. We look forward to the next in the series. Five stars from us.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Killburn, P. J. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 159 Pages - 09/04/2025 (Publication Date) - Little Tiger Press (Publisher)
Stonewitch – Skye McKenna (author), Tomislav Tomic (illustrator), Welbeck Children’s Books (publisher)
What a book and what a series from Skye McKenna! It just keeps getting better and better. We loved this story of mystery and magic from start to finish. This is the fourth in the Hedgewitch series and Cassie Morgan is close to earning her Sapling pin so she can get her Witch’s Licence. But she’s not as invested in the process as she used to be because she is troubled by what she heard in Cornwall. She’s disturbed by her mother’s past involvement with the Erl King and so she isn’t finding any inspiration to invent a new spell to earn her pin.
So, when she learns of the Covenmoot, a series of challenging games where witches all come together, she jumps at the chance to attend. Cassie and her friends from Oak Patrol and the rest of her Coven travel to a remote valley in the Scottish Highlands to take part in the Covenmoot. But strange things are afoot in the magical highlands. When Cassie witnesses three green wolf-type creatures killing a white stag, a long-prophesied dark and haunting series of events is set in motion. Ancient stories and rumours begin to come to life and Cassie and her coven must all work together to prove themselves to not only the other witches but also to each other. Together with the local lone witch Una, Cassie and her friends must learn to trust one another, put their squabbles aside, and fight the force of the old Stonewitch who has been promised great things by the evil Erl king.
This story is the ultimate action-packed page-turner filled with magic and wonder. It gets ever more exciting and the ending is just superb. I loved the interplay between all the witches in this book and I especially enjoyed all the folklore and ancient magic depicted in this story in the highlands (one of my favourite places!). This is the perfect seasonal story; a must-read for anyone who would like to be transported to a fantastical world and can do so from the comfort of your duvet. We can’t wait for the next one here! Next year cannot come soon enough. Five huge stars.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- McKenna, Skye (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 464 Pages - 09/25/2025 (Publication Date) - Welbeck Children's Books (Publisher)
The Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good – Kirsty Applebaum (author), Nosy Crow (publisher)
Fran thinks the world has gone mad!! Yes, she didn’t really want to come and stay at her Aunt and Uncle’s house because she didn’t really want to have to spend a week with her rude, obnoxious cousin Imogen, but she didn’t expect her Aunt and Uncle to deny all knowledge of their daughter! You see, Imogen appears to be missing. No one can even remember her, apart from Fran. So when Fran meets Bex, Imogen’s best friend, she is determined that the pair of them will find out just where Imogen has disappeared to.
Even if it means visiting that creepy walled garden up at the big house, Stillness Hall. Fran is sure that place has something to do with it. All those rumours and warnings to stay away are surely not for nothing. And what of the mesmerising yet terrifying twelve statues of children in the garden? Can Fran piece together the old tales, stories of enchantment and magic to discover just what is going on on the Stillness Estate.
With short chapters, gripping writing, alternating narrators and chilling drama, this is a hugely addictive page-turner of a story. Both my eldest and I read it in one day, so eager were we to solve the mystery and discover where Imogen Good is. We both loved the way the threads of the story all came together, like the vines in the garden and we enjoyed the interplay between the creepy ancient stories and the present day storyline. The relationships of the children in the present day were particularly well written (even though at times both Imogen and Fran’s behaviour towards Bex is pretty awful) and we liked the fact that nice behaviour and friendships were truly valued (I am trying not to give too much away here). A unique, engrossing read, with a chilling old tale at its very core, we loved it. Another five star read for us.
- New Store Stock
- Applebaum, Kirsty (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages - 09/11/2025 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
Young Adult
How to Survive a Horror Sequel – Scarlett Dunmore (author), Little Tiger (publisher)
Now, I should start this review by mentioning this book is a sequel. To a story that I haven’t read. But it didn’t matter. I easily picked up the gist and got sucked along with the easy-to-read, chatty style of the book….
Charley is convinced her ex-best friend (oh, and serial killer!) Olive is still alive, so she and her mum are on the run. They have moved to a remote town in the middle of nowhere. But there are a few warning signs with their new abode, starting with the fact it is nicknamed “The Devil’s Punchbowl”. Not only that, Charley seems to be constantly hounded by strange-looking ghosts. And there was a witch hunt in the town hundreds of years ago. Could all these details be related?
Charley finds herself at the heart of what everyone else would describe as a horror film. There are more murders. More rules. More gore. More ghosts. Will Charley make it out alive this time?
This was a page-turning horror story filled with hilarious moments. You might think that horror and hilarity don’t go together but the author really does manage the balance between heart in your mouth moments and laugh out loud fun very skilfully. Grab yourself a bag of skittles and get yourself nice and cosy with this superb slasher story. Perfect for horror film buffs and secondary school children alike, this is a fast-paced, fright-filled adventure.
- New Store Stock
- Dunmore, Scarlett (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages - 09/04/2025 (Publication Date) - Little Tiger (Publisher)
Non-fiction
Curious Cryptoids – Eleanor Hawkin (author), Berat Pekmezci (illustrator), Templar Books (publisher)
Do you know what a cryptid is? Well, you will soon… it’s an animal that may or may not exist. You’ve heard of the yeti, right? Or the Loch Ness Monster? But do they really exist? And what about the sharp-toothed, deadly chupacabra of Puerto Rico? You might think you don’t believe in them but let me tell you that once upon a time kangaroos and platypuses were considered to be cryptids!!
So, pore through the amazing case studies of Dr Maya Soothfast as they present to you the fascinating and sometimes terrifying stories of seven of the world’s most legendary creatures. With stunning central pop-up illustrations of the curious cryptids in every two page spread and the most engaging presentation of the case findings, this book is a true gem of the non-fiction world and a perfect read for this time of year in particular. You decide – are these creatures fact, or fiction?
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Hawken, Eleanor (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 16 Pages - 10/09/2025 (Publication Date) - Templar Books (Publisher)
Activity Books
Where’s Stitch?- Paul Moran (illustrator), Buster Books (publisher)
Do you have a little Stitch fan at home?! Then this is THE search and find puzzle book for them! If you are looking at ways to entertain them over the half term holidays then this Disney official activity book should be your bag!
Superbly illustrated in bright, beautiful colours there are 14 bustling scenes to explore whilst searching for Stitch and friends. Each colourful scene is full of detail and fun and there is a brand new Halloween-themed search and find puzzle: can you find the loveable Lilo and sweet Stitch in the pumpkin patch? ! Even when you have spotted Stitch, there are lots of bonus items to look for on each intricately illustrated spread.
We’ve had great fun poring over the details on the colourful and bright pages of this book. We found some pages more tricky than others (although we didn’t cheat by turning to the answers at the back of the book!!) and we got really in the seasonal mood. The cover of the book even glows in the dark! A fangtastic search and find book perfect for any Disney fang. I mean fan.
- New Store Stock
- Walt Disney (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages - 09/04/2025 (Publication Date) - Studio Press (Publisher)
