It’s perfect weather for snuggling down with a book at the moment. Here’s fifteen of the best kids book for February we have reviewed….
Board books
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Big Outdoors for Little Explorers: Birds, Anne-Kathrin Behl (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
Will you be taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch? If so, then this is the book for your youngest readers as you get ready to take your little ones on an adventure in the big outdoors! Created in collaboration with The National Trust, this series of sturdy board books are superb for exploring the big outside world and having fun with your young readers. The latest in the series, Birds, is hugely interactive and encourages your child to hone their fine motor skills with fun sliders to push, pull and spin to uncover more about the avian world around them. The gentle rhyming text in the book is gorgeous way for your child to learn about their first birds with some fun facts about them.
The pages are chunky, allowing those little fingers to be able to grip and turn them, and the illustrations are both colourful and completely adorable, giving the glorious detail to the birds included in this board book. Vibrant and engaging, this book is perfect for little animal lovers everywhere and a handy size to pop in a changing bag or bottom of pushchair to take on your adventures out and about.
- New Store Stock
- Nosy Crow Ltd (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10 Pages - 01/15/2026 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
Very Special You – Emma Dodd (author and illustrator), Templar Books (imprint of Bonnier Books UK) (publisher)
A cute spring lamb is born into the world and its mummy teaches it all about its individuality and uniqueness. From the smile on their face to the way they can gambol about together, this little lamb begins to understand that they are one of a kind and that their mummy loves them just as they are. Her unconditional love and support is unwavering and that will allow the little lamb to grow and have confidence.
We are captivated by this beautifully-worded book and the depictions of love within it. It is a celebration of the joy of children and their individuality as well as celebrating the bond between a parent and child. The rhyming, lyrical text is brimming with love and is just made to be read-aloud to your little one. Like the other books in this series, it’s truly heart-warming.
The illustrations are simply exquisite: pages filled with adorably cute depictions of the little lamb and its mummy on a beautiful spring palette. The pages are burnished with an eye-catching metallic golden touch throughout which makes this book extra-special. A joyful book which pulls on the heartstrings, it would make the perfect ‘new baby’ gift.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Dodd, Emma (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages - 01/01/2026 (Publication Date) - Templar Books (Publisher)
Picture books
Frank and Bert -The One Where Bert is Scared of Frogs – Chris Naylor-Ballesteros (author and illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
Yippee, to see us through the January blues, our favourite duo are hopping onto the scene once again. I say this every time a new book comes out: I don’t know whether my twins love Frank and Bert so much because they are quite similar in personality to the loveable pair, or whether it is because the author manages to portray such relatable and fun characters, but every time I open the books, they are a guaranteed a giggle.
Frank and Bert love to go to the pond to sail Bert’s boat. When it’s warmer, they even like to splash about in the pond. There is just one problem though- poor Bert is rather terrified of frogs. He doesn’t like the way they jump, he doesn’t like the way they catch flies and he especially doesn’t like the “ribbit”- ing noise they make. So when a frog jumps into Bert’s toy boat, Frank really does want to help out to help Bert face his fears. But, maybe, just maybe, Frank might be a little bit scared too… can the friends help each other out and conquer their fears together?
As with the other books, we just love this chortle-fest of a book. We especially love the heart-warming messages of friendship and support contained within it and the idea that laughter and encouragement can really help us to work through our fears. It is such an insightful book for children (and adults!) because everyone has their own unique phobias and fears and it encourages children to talk about these and face them with the support of friends and those we love by our side.
As ever, the illustrations are humorous and adorable with pops (or should that be hops?!) of bright colour and fun throughout. Five froggy stars from us.
- New Store Stock
- Naylor-Ballesteros, Chris (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 01/15/2026 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
Chapter books
Animagicals – Mia’s Tiger – Paula Harrison (author), Erwin Madrid (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
Mia is magical: she can change into an animal. Ok, ok, so she hasn’t quite got it under control yet but that is why she is going to the Wild Haven School for animagicals, people just like her who can change their human form into animal form.
Mia makes some lovely new friends while she is at the school and begins to hone her magical skills but when the animals in the land are threatened by some people with evil intentions, Mia knows that she must stand up for what is right. It seems that the land of Animagiq is full of danger – can Mia and her friends use their new forms to stop the cruelty and danger happening? And will Mia begin to realise who she is really meant to be?
Brimming with animals and adventure as well as lashings of magic, this is a sweet chapter book with friendship, love and environmental themes at its centre. We really enjoyed this as a fast-paced read with plentiful black and white illustrations. A great debut in what is sure to be a popular new magical adventure series.
- New Store Stock
- Harrison, Paula (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 128 Pages - 01/15/2026 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
Graphic novels
Boss of the Underworld- Shirley vs the Huge Beast – Tor Freeman (author and illustrator), Hodder children’s Books (publisher)
If your child loves graphic novels or is a fan of The Phoenix or The Beano then they will love this full colour book. The second in the series, you don’t need to have read the first book to know what is going on because there is a helpful summary at the beginning!
Shirley’s best friend, George, has gone missing. In fact, he’s been kidnapped by a huge mole. Being the good friend that she is, Shirley goes off in search of her buddy … into the under-underworld. The queen of the under-underworld gives Shirley her crown and tells her loyal liege, Peels, to accompany Shirley on her journey to find George and try to rid the kingdom of the giant monster. Through junkyards of rubbish, avoiding vents of hallucinogens and menacing trash bats, Shirley and Peels go off on their quest. Will they find George? Or will the huge beast get the better of them?
With colourful cartoon-style illustrations and comic strip silliness throughout, we really enjoyed this graphic novel. It is funny, imaginative and a fast-paced adventure story. We’re looking forward to the next in the series already.
- New Store Stock
- Freeman, Tor (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 160 Pages - 01/15/2026 (Publication Date) - Hodder Children's Books (Publisher)
Puzzle Slug and the Intergalactic Poop Robbery – Candice Whatmore (author and illustrator), Usborne Publishing Limited (publisher)
Welcome to Planet Plopalot, Earthlings!! A place where slugs roam free, sliming what they want and eating all manner of dung and droppings. But the evil alien Dr. Nox is on a mission to find extremely rare poop diamonds… and, unfortunately for planet Plopalot, it is rich in poop diamonds, buried deep within its surface. The only way the planet can be saved is by the brain of one tiny slug. If he can solve all the puzzles Dr. Nox sets for him then the Machiavellian alien cannot invade the planet. So, are you ready to help the brave Puzzle Slug to save his home because he is going to need all the help he can get!?
With oodles of laugh-out-loud moments, fantastic quips and dialogue, colourful and comedic illustrations, this book has been a huge hit in our house with both my daughters. Puzzle Slug is so loveable a character and the other slugs are just hilarious. The puzzles are plentiful and great fun and really get those brain cells working. There are riddles to solve, an entire page of jokes and even a “how to draw” section at the back of the book. We cannot wait to return to planet Plopalot and Puzzle Slug.
- New Store Stock
- Whatmore, Candice (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 176 Pages - 09/11/2025 (Publication Date) - Usborne Publishing Ltd (Publisher)
Ghost Boys – the graphic novel – Jewell Parker Rhodes (author), Setor Fiadzigbey (illustrator), Orion Children’s Books (publisher) (young adult book – age 12 and up)
Hard-hitting and memorable, this is one very visual, very powerful book.
Twelve year old Jerome just tries to stay out of trouble. Away from the bullies at school, away from the gangs on the street. He looks out for his little sister, he doesn’t play outside and he always does his homework. But none of that makes any difference. He is still gunned down by a police officer in his neighbourhood who mistakes his toy gun for a real one.
When Jerome is dead, his ghost watches grief tear apart his family as they try to come to terms with his death. And the only person who can truly see and hear him is the daughter of the cop who shot him. And Jerome sees how her life is affected too. Jerome also begins to notice all the other ghost boys. They all have something important in common. They all have stories to tell. But will anyone hear them?
This was such a gripping, thought-provoking book about black history, segregation, prejudice, unconscious bias and so much more. It is a heart-wrenching read but such an important one and I would encourage all young adults and adults to read it. I promise you, it will stay with you for a very long time.
- New Store Stock
- Parker Rhodes, Jewell (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 264 Pages - 01/15/2026 (Publication Date) - Orion Children's Books (Publisher)
Middle Grade
Quill and the Last Generation – C.M. Lewis (author), Marina Vidal (illustrator), Macmillan Children’s Books (publisher)
Ooo, my first #fivestarreview of the year goes to this fantabulous fantasy novel….
The first in a brand new series (yippee!), this gripping adventure story follows twelve year old Quill, a child who is born of the last generation. The light of the world is slowly fading, summer is no more and no more children are being born. Earth is flickering out. And no one knows why. But everything changes when Quill meets an inquisitive raven who just so happens to be a shapeshifter. Called Deryn, she and her other shapeshifter friend, Finn, take Quill to the underworld and a land full of myths, magic and legends. Here, he will have to learn how to fight dragons, come to terms with his destiny as the hero and saviour of worlds, and learn how create and ride a beautiful and captivating horse made of water. Does Quill have what it takes to battle the king of darkness and bring back light to the worlds before it is too late? Will he find the strength and confidence that he needs?
Brimming with ancient stories and legends, strange creatures and magic, this was an epic start to what I think will be a superb series. We love that the author’s inspiration is drawn from Welsh mythology and the superb black and white illustrations really bring that to life. The themes of grief and self-doubt are dealt with in a sensitive and moving way and we love how there is also such lightness in the book in the forms of Finn and Jona. This is a story about friendship, adventure, loss and hope, as well as the circle of life, and we cannot wait for the next in the series.
- New Store Stock
- Lewis, C. M. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 288 Pages - 01/29/2026 (Publication Date) - Macmillan Children's Books (Publisher)
The Golden Monkey Mystery – Piu Dasgupta (author), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
I absolutely adored The Secrets of the Snakestone last year when I read it so I couldn’t wait to get stuck into this book.
We join this race through the jungle in India, 1881 when Roma, a student at Miss Oliphant’s School for Young Ladies, discovers a rare golden monkey and vows to return it to its home in the Himalayas. But the monkey is sold on by bandits to the rich foreigners and their seemingly spoiled children. Roma runs away from school and follows the monkey, even though her path is fraught with peril. With the monkey, Roma also discovers a yellow, sparkling jewel. A jewel that is said to be cursed. And Roma has seen this jewel before: it stalks her in her dreams.
Following the monkey, Roma’s adventure takes her across dense jungle, coming up against evil bandits and having to deal with the pampered children of the rich foreigners, Max and Arabella, who do not seem suited to hard jungle life. Will Roma, Max and Arabella ever see eye to eye? Will Roma ever be able to rescue the precious golden monkey and work out where its secret home in the Himalayas is? And will she manage it when she realises someone close to home is pursuing the Snakestone jewel!?
This was a gripping page turner of a historical novel set in the Indian jungle. I was captivated by the strength of Roma as the female protagonist and the unfairness of her situation, not being able to study medicine just because she was a girl. The puzzles, legends and descriptions were engrossing and the writing thrilling. I really enjoyed the bond that grew between the children throughout the novel, highlighting to children that you should not be too quick to judge. If you are a fan of Natasha Farrant or Jasbinder Bilan books, I think you will love this one.
- New Store Stock
- Piu DasGupta (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages - 01/15/2026 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
The Moonhaven Chronicles- The Last Wolf – Rob Biddulph (illustrator and author), Macmillan Children’s Books (publisher)
We could not wait to get our claws stuck into this new release by author/illustrator, Rob Buddulph as we are huge fans of the Peanut Jones trilogy! So, excitement levels were high in our house when this book dropped onto the doormat. And rightly so. What a ferociously fun adventure story!
Jax, Jovi, Esau and Fourth adore the full-moon. They live for the outdoor, illicit adventures that they have every month. Sneaking out after curfew (which is put in place for everyone’s safety), dodging the Nighthawks’ patrols and romping all round the empty streets of Moonhaven. Moonlighters forever!
But little do the children know that a lone werewolf is on the loose. And when it attacks, the children are blamed. They must go on the run from London Pike and his army of Nighthawks. The friends must learn who to trust and what to believe, all the while trying to discover the whereabouts of Jax, Jovi and Esau’s missing parents. The secrets they uncover will challenge everything they believe and they all realise that the truth is more dangerous than they ever imagined.
Filled with over a hundred stunning black and white illustrations, this was a gripping page-turner of an adventure story set in the world of Moonhaven. We love the world that the author has created and the characters that are brilliantly written into the story. We love the themes of friendship, inclusivity and kindness which run through the book and the darker undercurrents of prejudice, paranoia, selfishness and evil intent bubble along just under these to make a brilliant book. And the cliffhanger?! Oh my!! We cannot wait for the next story. Five stars from us.
- Hardcover Book
- Biddulph, Rob (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 02/05/2026 (Publication Date) - Macmillan Children's Books (Publisher)
The Midnight Sweet Factory – Clare Povey (author), Usborne Publishing Limited (publisher)
This book is a Wanderdays adventure story but you can easily read and enjoy it as a standalone….
When four friends, Flo and her brother Joseph and Isaac and Funmi, head to the new sweet shop at the amusement park in town, adventure is the last thing on their mind. But when they unwrap a gobstopper to find a message contained within it crying out for help, the friends know that they have to act. At the same time, another of their friends called Charlie goes missing and the children begin to suspect that the two things are linked.
Their journey will lead them to the secret and secluded Midnight Forest where the only people around are those who seem to do the bidding of Melissa Midnight, the new sweet shop owner. The children will have to test their wits against the carnival of sugar-filled tricks and illusions that make up the Midnight Factory. Will they be able to find out who sent the mysterious message and find their friend Charlie? Or will Melissa and her brainwashed workers manage to thwart them?
With twists and turns, this was a page-turner of a mystery. It is filled with friendship and loyalty and encourages children to stay true to theirselves and their beliefs. As huge fans of sweeties, we loved how the descriptions of the bright and colourful sweets contrasted with the sinister undertones of the creepy factory owner, Melissa, and her desire for dominance and control. The book contains not only fast-paced adventure and fun but also subtle messages against dictatorship and dominance. It also looks at how dangerous it can be when the capacity for free thought is taken away. We loved the themes of friendship, caring for the environment and community spirit which sang throughout the adventure story. Sweet yet dark, delicious yet dangerous, we really enjoyed this one.
- New Store Stock
- Povey, Clare (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 320 Pages - 09/11/2025 (Publication Date) - Usborne Publishing Ltd (Publisher)
Escape from the Child Catchers – Sufiya Ahmed (author), Anderson Press Limited (publisher)
Fast-paced and fascinating, we raced through this historical fiction adventure story and loved every minute of it.
It’s 1865 and Humza’s brother has gone missing. He set sail for London as a lascar on a ship and hasn’t been seen since so Humza and his best friend, Ranj, set off on a daring adventure across the ocean to England to try and find Dani, Humza’s missing brother.
But London is a dangerous place for two Indian boys on their own and they soon meet a wolf in sheep’s clothing in the form of the dapper gentleman, Basil Brookes. He takes them to an inn and they have a narrow escape from his evil clutches when the innkeeper’s daughter tells them that they need to run because the seemingly pleasant gentleman is actually a child snatcher!!
What follows is a heart-in-mouth game of cat and mouse across London as the nefarious Brookes and his gang of henchmen chase the boys, with the aim of capturing them to use as playthings for the rich of society. Will Humza and Ranj know who to trust? Will they ever find Dani? And will Basil Brookes ever get his comeuppance?
This was such an action-packed adventure: we genuinely couldn’t put it down. It’s a story which shines a light on the plight of Indian children arriving in the UK during the 1800s and it does this in an impactful and moving way. We also loved the kindness which runs through the novel, from random strangers willing to help out to Daisy, her father and the community they live in. It’s a story which is filled with opposites: meanness and cruelty verses kindness and compassion, community spirit verses selfish individualism, love verses hate, the warm Bombay sunshine versus the cold, grey London, and so much more. Unforgettable and un-putdownable, its length (just over 200 pages) and typeset make it perfect for those who struggle with longer books or who can be reluctant to read. Five stars from us.
- Ahmed, Sufiya (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 208 Pages - 01/29/2026 (Publication Date) - Andersen Press (Publisher)
The Not- So Great Escape – Emma Green (author), Usborne Publishing Ltd
I am starting the year with a gripping yet hard-hitting middle grade story which will have you laughing out loud and blubbing like a baby.
Hedley’s life changed forever one night when he was in a car accident with his family. Since then, he lives his life cautiously and carefully, weighing up the risks of doing anything. So when his frenemy Aiden, steals an angry alpaca from a local farm and Hadley gets the blame for it, he is swept away on an adventure that he does not want to be on. And things go from bad to worse for Hedley…. He accidentally takes part in a robbery, spends the night in the freezing, dark woods and creates a name for himself on the internet #alpacavigilante!
But as Hedley’s journey becomes more chaotic, he begins to realise that he and Aiden have more in common than he first thought… they are both in denial about something and they are both running away from the police AND the truth. Will Hedley have the strength to face the truth and take on his biggest risk yet?
Filled with humour and fun, this is a page-turner of an adventure which packs an emotional punch in terms of subject matter. It explores grief, the lies that we tell ourselves in order to survive, the psychological effects of the death of loved ones and how friendship, family and therapy can support us when dealing with these difficult journeys. We love Hedley, with his wry sense of humour and the huge amounts of resilience that he has and the twist at the end of the story was masterful. A delightful mix of humour and heartbreak, this is a marvellous middle grade.
Non-fiction
Everything you know about BIRDS is Wrong! Dr Nick Crumpton (author), Gavin Scott (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
Another book published in January, just at the right time for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, this wonderful work of non-fiction takes everything you think you know about birds and turns it on its head (or beak!). Birds are not very brainy, right?! Dodos were dumb, right?! All birdsong is beautiful, right?! Baby birds are cute chicks, right?! This book shows you just how wrong you can be!!
We love the format of this myth-busting colourful non-fiction book (yup, penguins really do live in places other than the South Pole!). It takes everything you think you know about our feathered friends and dispels your illusions in the most interesting way. The facts are fun and informative, packed with avian awesomeness, and the text is set out in short paragraphs, surrounded by the most stunning illustrations, meaning that this book is very difficult to put down because you want to keep reading! The artwork is colourful and vibrant, really bringing to life the beautiful (and not so beautiful) birds of the world in all their glory. Like the others in this fantastic factual series, this book is clever, colourful, fun and informative.
Create your own Comics – edited by Gary Panton, designed by Zoe Bradley, Buster Books (imprint of MOM books)
Goodness me, this book has captivated the heart of my youngest child (who adores graphic novels) and she has spent hours in a world of imagination and fun because of it.
So, if you have a comic or graphic novel fan at home then this is the perfect book for them! They can learn how to make super-cool, vibrantly colourful comics using this fun guide. It’s easy to follow, filled with story starters and great ideas to get their creative juices flowing and is bright and very fun. Their guide along the way is Com-X (like what they did there!), who can provide hints and tips on how to create speech bubbles, how to convey sound effects, how to draw characters and their expressions and so much more. It is non-stop, jam-packed fun and games allowing a child’s imagination to run free. From plotting out stories, to creating panels, there is a world of creativity to explore and plenty of space and opportunity within the book to do so.
Interactive, bright and immersive, this is a superb book for any aspiring artists and comic book creators. Wonderful.
