Of course the weather is set to change now that the half term holidays are upon us … but a good book is always a great way to entertain your child. Here’s some of the newest ones around…
Picture books
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Danny McGee Drinks the Sea – Andy Stanton (author), Neal Layton (illustrator), Faber & Faber Ltd (publisher)
What an absolute hoot this extraordinary picture book is!
Danny McGee and his sister go out one day, to the sea. Danny makes a bet with his sister that he can drink up the whole sea. Completely disbelievingly, she hands him a straw. And he does! He slurps it all up!! But this little boy’s appetite is insatiable because he then eats a tree.., a man learning to ski…., a weather girl…, mountains…, jungles … all with glee! And so it continues until all that is left in the world is Danny and his sister Franny. And Franny has a surprise for him!
With a hilarious and somewhat disconcerting twist at the end of this superb picture book, we absolutely adored this laugh out loud rhyming romp of a tale of two naughty siblings. The illustrations are both brilliantly comedic and vibrantly colourful, sucking the reader into the story, much like the sea is sucked through the straw! We giggled away at the picture of the author writing inside Danny McGee and we love how the rhythm of the story just trips off the tongue.
An absolute belter of an author and illustrator pairing and a five star read in our eyes.
- New Store Stock
- Stanton, Andy (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Faber & Faber (Publisher)
The Bear-Shaped Hole – John Dougherty (author), Thomas Docherty (illustrator), Frances Lincoln Children’s Books (publisher)
For personal reasons, this book means a lot to us at the moment. And it is also why my review is perhaps more emotional than it would otherwise be. But this book means so much. I have read many books about grief, bereavement and loss designed for children (although I honestly believe teenagers and adults can take just as much comfort from these books) but there aren’t many out there about terminal illness of a loved one.
We often tell children that doctors can “make you better” but the sad reality is that this is not always the case and that life is not always fair. It is a harsh reality from which we would gladly protect our children but that is not always possible.
And that is where this beautiful and moving picture book comes in. We adored The Rabbit-Shaped Hole so we knew this book would be sensitively written but it is a truly moving masterpiece. Little Gerda loves her friend Orlo – an older bear who was sturdy and kind and made her feel safe and secure – with her all her heart. One day she realises he is not quite as agile as he used to be and he tells her that he is ill and he is going to die. What follows is a stunning portrayal in pictures and words of the feelings that those words invoke. Gerda is heartbroken and completely shattered. But with hugs and time spent making as many memories as they can, Orlo helps Gerda understand and prepare for her life without Orlo and the hole that he will leave behind. And grown up Gerda realises that Orlo was right. She would know love and happiness again. And sadness too. Some people have left holes in her heart when they have left. “But she’s just as glad now, as she was at the start, that she let every one of them into her heart.”
For any child who is having to come to terms with the terminal illness of a loved one, be they a pet or human, a family member or a friend, then this is THE beautifully illustrated picture book for them. Sensitive, heart-wrenching and incredibly moving, it is an ode to life, a celebration of loved ones and an invaluable tool. For me, I have to have the tissues handy every time I read it!
- New Store Stock
- Dougherty, John (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Publisher)
This Letter Says I Love You – Lucy Rowland (author), Sharon Rentta (illustrator), letter written by Matilda Handy, Scholastic (publisher)
Matilda misses her grandmother so much. She wishes she could talk to her again and tell her about her day. Tell her about all the things she has seen and done. Some days it makes her feel sad and angry and other days she remembers all the happy times and the treasured memories that she has shared with her grandma. Above all she wishes that she could find a way to connect with her again. To tell her that she loves her. So, she comes up with the brilliant idea of writing to her grandma and posting the letter in a special post box. And she realises something: that those who love us are never truly gone. They are always with us because love is endless and they will always be in our hearts.
Inspired by the true story of 10 year old Matilda Handy and her white, memorial postboxes, I cried floods of tears at the heartfelt beauty and poignant sentiment in this stunning picture book. We adored the gentle, soothing rhyme of the story and the gorgeous words which show how we stay connected to loved ones that are no longer with us. Yes, it is poignant and tear-jerking but it is also joyful and uplifting and ultimately helps us to celebrate and remember our departed loved ones.
I am genuinely blown away by the genius of Matilda’s idea: yes it is a simple one but I can’t believe no one did it before! What what a superb idea to have memorial post boxes – and now they have been rolled out across the UK. We also love that Matilda’s original letter to get grandma is included in the book. The illustrations are empathetic and heartwarming and provide a wonderful accompaniment to the rhyming text.
This is the most lyrical, beautiful, heartwarming book to support any child (or adult) who has lost a loved one. Bravo!
- New Store Stock
- Handy, Matilda (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Scholastic (Publisher)
Is It A Book or Is It A Plane? – Mike Henson (author), Katie Vernon (illustrator), Happy Yak (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)
Created in collaboration with the play team at Great Ormond Street hospital, this book is an imagination catcher!
Let your little ones dive right in to this brilliant picture book which is an ode to creative play and imagination. You see, this is not just any old book. No, it’s an astronaut, it’s a dinosaur, it’s a plane, it’s a pirate ship… it’s even a hat!! There is absolutely nothing boring about this book. It’s filled with the power of creativity, the wonder of the imagination and it is brimming with vibrantly colourful illustrations and interactive designs and features to have fun with.
You can let your little one’s imaginations run wild as they decide to roar like a dinosaur or make a monster mask. The illustrations are absolutely joyful: bright and bold and full of dreams, laughter and fun.
And to top it all off, at least £0.36 is given by Quarto to Great Ormond Street from each copy of the book sold. Go on, let your inner child out and have a play with this far from ordinary book.
- New Store Stock
- Henson, Mike (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Happy Yak (Publisher)
Abbie’s True Colours – Claire Thompson & Abbie Thompson (authors), Elliott Bulpett (illustrator), Owlet Press (publisher)
“You don’t see rainbows when you’re looking down.”
Based on an inspiring true story of a brave and courageous girl called Abbie, we love this vibrantly beautiful picture book.
Abbie lived in a small town where she felt like she never fitted in. She felt different. And the other children at school didn’t seem to like different. So she kept her head down, trying to avoid the bullies. But her mum reminded her that if she always looked down at her feet then she would never see the beauty of the rainbows. Ingenious Abbie thought of a way to see the rainbows though. She carefully threaded bright and colourful beads through her shoelaces to help her feel fearless and happy. And then she started to feel braver and people started to see her true colours and acknowledge her beautiful beads. Soon, people everywhere wanted to wear beads just like her, in solidarity. To show the world that these rainbow beads show acceptance, kindness and love to everyone. Her rainbow beads showing support for the LGBTQIA+ community caught on and now the rainbow shoelace project has become a world-wide movement.
I had tears in my eyes as I read this inspirational story. It’s an absolutely beautiful story about the power of determination and bravery and it has the most gorgeous message about how everyone deserves to shine. We love the messages that this story highlights: kindness and love for all. This is a brilliant book to develop empathy and understanding and show that people are all different and however people differ from one another, everyone deserves to shine and have the chance to show their true colours.
- Claire Thompson (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 05/01/2025 (Publication Date) - Owlet Press (Publisher)
Where Did She Go? – Cariad Lloyd (author), Tom Percival (illustrator), Hodder & Stoughton (imprint of Hachette Children’s Group) (publisher)
Gosh, these picture books this month are really pulling at my heart strings!!
Where did Grandma go? When a little girl hears people saying that they are sorry that she has lost her grandma, she starts to wonder what on earth they mean?! Where has she gone? She’s not under the sofa, or in the garden where she normally gets cross with the slugs… nor is she in the shed, or the kitchen cupboards… nor is she in their favourite place in the park. Maybe Mum will know? And she does. Mum gently explains what people mean when they say that they are “sorry for your loss” and helps the little girl come to terms with this. Slowly, the little girl and her Mum find comfort in the beautiful memories that they have of Grandma.
This is such a heartfelt and moving portrayal of loss and grief and of one of life’s biggest mysteries. It sensitively explains that people believe different things about what happens to a person after death and that no one is right or wrong. I love the honesty of the stunningly-illustrated picture book. I love the fact that nature plays a huge role in healing and memories and I love it that it acknowledges that even adults (yup, us!!) don’t have all the answers. It’s a tear-jerker, sure, but it is warm, loving, heartfelt and sensitively written. For those curious children, or those children facing a loss, it is a must!
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Lloyd, Cariad (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Hodder Children's Books (Publisher)
Chapter books
Marnie Midnight and the Minibeast Mission – Laura Ellen Anderson (author and illustrator), Farshore (publishers), recommended reading age 7-9
Fans of Rainbow Grey and Amelia Fang will absolutely adore this magical series all about Marnie Midnight and a miniature world of minibeasts. We have adored the other two books in this series so we couldn’t wait to get our pincers on this one! And it is our favourite by far.
Marnie is still having a blast at Minibeast Academy, a school for training little bugs to prepare them for the outside big bug world but, in this story, Marnie and her minibeast mates are off on a fun camping trip! Excited as they are, the happy campers find themselves anything but when they wake up in the house of a “stomper” (aka a human).
The friends have all sorts of laugh out loud escapades trying to find their way out of the human house… from playful kitties to caring children, welcoming wasps and really nice Rons. With togetherness and a sprinkle of moon magic, maybe they will make it out of the house alive?!
We love the world created by Laura Ellen Anderson here. Clever, unique and filled with funny references to the world of minibeasts and hilarious puns (bee-nanas being my favourite!), this book was a brilliant, pacy read from start to finish. We love the themes which come across in this story about being true to yourself – “ Be proud of all your differences, no matter what they are. I hope you learn to embrace them one day.” – and what family means – “A family isn’t always mums and dads and brothers and sisters. A family is a bond between individuals. …. THIS … is a family. We are a family”. We also loved the facts thrown into the story, such as how to care for tired minibeasts by perking them up with sugared water (particularly relevant at this time of year).
The black and white illustrations throughout the book make this magical adventure story even more engaging as they really help to bring this brilliant bug world to life. From maps, through full-page brilliant chapter
-heading drawings to drawings of the characters involved, this story is a masterpiece for the eyes as well as for the imagination. Bursting with friendship, family, love, environmental themes, kindness, self-belief, magic and wonder, this book gets another a bug fat five stars from us.
- New Store Stock
- Anderson, Laura Ellen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Farshore (Publisher)
Woodland Explorers Club – Ajay and the Red-Winged Prince – Ewa Jozefkowicz (author), Gillian Flint (illustrator), Zephyr (publisher)
This is the third book in one of our favourite chapter book series combining nature, magic, fact, adventure and forest school fun.
Ajay loves collecting facts and is fascinated by the history of Willow Wish Woods. He discovers an old map of the woods and he finds out that it was drawn by the Red-winged Prince, a lover of nature and a champion of the woods and forest from long ago. Ajay and his friends, the woodland Explorers, discover a rare redwing thrush nest in the branches of a tree but they are disheartened to see what the nest is made up of: rubbish. So when the children discover that litter is being dropped by a group of older teenagers, Ajay decides to take inspiration from the Red-winged Prince and be brave to stand up for what he feels passionately about. Will Ajay be able to get the teenagers to see the damage they are doing?
Chockfull of woodland facts about birds and their nesting and migrations, this book will inspire a love of the natural world and to encourage children to want to get outside into the woods. We love the empathy with nature, the friendship bonds of the characters, the bravery that Ajay shows, the creativity shown through the artwork, the healthy and mindful lifestyle it encourages, the responsibility that we all have to respect the natural world around us… I could wax lyrical for ages about this series of books!!
This book, like the others, is superbly illustrated throughout with black and white drawings of nature and beautiful details about the birds it describes. The font is dyslexia-friendly and there are plenty of paragraph breaks, fact lists and note pages and illustrations dotted throughout the pages, making this an engaging read. We also love Ajay’s bird fact file and drawings at the back of the book.
A fabulously fun story with a wholesome moral, set in a wonderful woodland filled with magic and lots of brilliant bird facts to book. What’s not to love?!
- New Store Stock
- Jozefkowicz, Ewa (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 112 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Zephyr (Publisher)
Graphic novels
Squid Squad – Aoife Dooley (author and illustrator), Scholastic (publisher)
Let your young reader dive down to the ocean depths and swim about with some of the cutest and weirdest creatures of the ocean in this brilliantly fun new graphic novel by Aoife Dooley.
Welcome to Nowhere. It lies deep under the sea on the ocean bed and is home to Ollie the vampire squid, his best friend Zing the toxic sea slug, Thornelius the vain and thorn-flinging sea slug, Hypno the sea snail and many more. Each sea creature has a unique super power, hence they are known as the Squid Squad.
There are four laugh out loud and action-packed mini stories within this graphic novel, our favourite being the one with the magical sea toilet portal!! Each mini escapade is quirky, funny and brilliantly illustrated in bold and engaging illustrations. We ADORE the fact that this is a “faction” book too as it uniquely blends the fun fiction stories with the factual information about each member of the Squid Squad… . Like the fact that there is a type of sea urchin that is called a sea potato and the fact that sharks have been around for over 400 million years!
A stunning blend of engaging and hilarious illustrations, fun storylines, fact, imagination and friendship, this is a brilliant book that my children have all dived right into.
- New Store Stock
- Dooley, Aoife (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 224 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Scholastic (Publisher)
Middle grade books
Starminster – The Month of Birthdays – Megan Hopkins (author), Harper Collins Children’s Books (publisher)
I didn’t think it would be possible to love this book more than the stellar debut novel but it blew me away. I adored it!
Picking up where the first book left off, Astrid now has her wings. But something just doesn’t feel right with them. They are painful and clunky and she cannot seem to fly, or take off with them, no matter how hard she tries and what buildings she jumps off! Depressing as that is for Astrid, the new headmistress of the school is threatening her with expulsion from London Overhead if she doesn’t make more of an effort at learning to fly. Astrid turns to her friends for comfort but they are all struggling and fighting their own battles.
When the Month of Birthdays arrives, it’s supposed to be a time of fun and happiness, marvelling at the circus shows, glitz and glamour. But there is a darker underside to it that Astrid was never aware of. When a dangerous and legendary series of games with a prize that dreams are made of is begun, Astrid is desperate to enter it. Despite having been told by the headmistress that she should not enter. But Astrid has to win. She needs to fly. Even if that means quashing her friends’ dreams. But there is someone out to get Astrid. Someone who does not want her to win….. Will Astrid ever truly fly?
This is such a page-turner of a fantasy story. I loved entering the original world of London Overhead again and I particularly enjoyed the dynamics of the friendships in this book. I adore the descriptions of the sky-city and the brilliant detail about the Librae and the birds that they are based on (the register at the back is fascinating). This second book builds beautifully on the first and its fast-paced blend of magic, adventure, intrigue, friendship, nature and huge imagination make it a pure joy to read. Five stellar stars from us – we loved taking to the skies. Can’t wait for the next one!
- New Store Stock
- Hopkins, Megan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 288 Pages - 04/24/2025 (Publication Date) - HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks (Publisher)
How to Train Your Dragon School – Doom of the Darkwing – Cressida Cowell (author and illustrator), Hodder Children’s Books (an imprint of Hachette) (publisher)
If you have a Cressida Cowell fan at home then they are going to be so excited!! Because flying into our houses is a new series from the legend herself. Jam-packed full of superb black and white illustrations, high adventure and a hugely accessible text, this book is sure to be a roar-some hit with dragon lovers everywhere!
Hiccup and his friends are starting a new lesson in battle tactics at the Isle of Berk’s Training School for Vikings and Dragons. But Hiccup’s day does not start well (although at least he is not totally flattened by a falling tree!)…. And it goes from bad to worse. It turns out he’s terrible at the art of battle class, and his father does not want to listen to him when a suspicious looking soothsayer arrives on the island. To top it all off, the hideous stormy weather is getting worse and only Hiccup, his dragons Toothless and Windwalker, and his friend Fishlegs are willing to try and save their friend Camacazi and fellow Viking islanders, the Bog-burglars.
Off the hapless yet brave pair set out into the storm on their biggest and scariest adventure yet. When they come across the terrifying Darkwing dragon, they have very little hope of making it out alive. But it’s amazing what can happen when you pay attention to the little things …
We loved this brilliant and fun action-packed adventure story. The illustrations are superb: black and white sketchings filled with humour, fun and detail which really bring this Viking world to life. It’s a page-turner of a story, inviting your reader into the world of the hapless Hiccup and his dragons and friends. We loved Hiccup’s character, how he is kind and brave and pays attention to details, even if he isn’t the greatest of fighters. A brilliant new series for any adventure lover.
- New Store Stock
- Cowell, Cressida (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Hodder Children's Books (Publisher)
Land of the Last Wildcat- Lui Sit (author), David Dean (illustrator), Macmillan Children’s Books (publisher)
I raced through this fast-paced adventure story and your middle grade reader will too.
Puffin Lau has always believed in the legends of the Kuri, an orange type of wildcat with unknown magical properties. So when she comes face to face with one on her scientist mother’s laboratory, she knows she has to protect it, particularly from her mother’s power-crazed boss, the odious Professor Smoult.
What Puffin doesn’t realise though is that she is inextricably linked to this beautiful, magical Kuri and the animal needs to go back to its island in order to survive. Puffin knows she has to try and get it there. But that is no mean feat. Not only is it a mammoth journey to the island but she is being chased by the sinister, money-grabbing Smoult and she’s unsure who to trust anymore. She and her friend Lance are going to have to try and save the wildcat before it’s too late …. for the Kuri and its island…..
This was a fast-moving adventure story filled with themes of magic, friendship, family and the importance of conservation. We loved the environmental message , the friendship between Puffin and Lance, the complex relationship between Puffin and her mother, the idea that families don’t have to have a biological link to look out for one another, and the exploration of Puffin’s grief for her father. Ooo, and what a fabulous ending. We definitely didn’t see that one coming!
The story is peppered with brilliant black and white illustrations which really bring the book to life. For any Hannah Gold fans out there, or Greenwild fans, this is the perfect read.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Sit, Lui (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 273 Pages - 05/01/2025 (Publication Date) - Macmillan Children's Books (Publisher)
Pia’s Pet Club – Puppy Problem – Serena Patel (author), Emma McKann (illustrator), Usborne Publishing Ltd (publisher)
Meet Pia. She adores pets and would love nothing more than one of her own (she really doesn’t mind what kind of animal she gets but she would love a dog!). The problem is, neither of her parents want to let her have a pet. They have enough going on, having moved into separate houses/flats after their recent separation. But Pia isn’t going to give up on her dream that easily! Oh, no!
When she meets a boy called Hari in the communal garden of her dad’s new flat, she knows she has to help him try and train his new, excitable Labrador pup called Luna. I mean, if she shows her parents how responsible she is and how great she is at training pets, that’s bound to help, right?! But loveable Luna just loves causing chaos (with two Labradors ourselves we can relate to this!!) and things seem to go from bad to worse! It’s lucky that Pia meets so many new friends with adorable animals along the way … it’s Pet Club to the rescue to help Hari and Luna. Will Pia ever get her own furry friend to love though?
If you have an animal lover at home then this is the perfect read for them. It’s filled with friendship, warmth, family (and acknowledges how difficult family life can be at times), and lots of fun. There are lots of hilarious and brilliant black and white illustrations interspersed throughout the pages to make this an even more engaging read for the pet-lover in your life. We also loved the random animal facts dotted throughout and we particularly enjoyed the themes of the importance of responsible pet ownership and training of animals to keep them and those around them safe and happy. We are already looking forward to the next in this engaging new series.
- New Store Stock
- Patel, Serena (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 224 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Usborne Publishing Ltd (Publisher)
The Doughnut Club – Kristina Rahim (author), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
Don’t be fooled by the sugary sweet cover on this book (which makes me feel hungry every time I look at it!!) because this is a story which packs a thought-provoking punch.
Quinn and Olly have two mums. They were conceived using a donor rather than them having a dad. Quinn has always felt the odd one out in her sporty, adrenaline-junkie family. She would rather be drawing or walking, not squeezing herself into a wetsuit to go and choke on saltwater as she tries to surf! So when Quinn’s mums tell her that she has 16 donor siblings around the world (or diblings as they are often called in the book (but, I confess, this word is not for me!)), she is desperate to find out more. She will stop at nothing to find out if there are any other siblings that might be like her … even if that means stealing her mum’s bank card and using it to make a transaction to the donor website, meeting up with strangers and leaving her little brother with no supervision …. Will Quinn realise what is really important to her?
This was a page-turner of a story and it was written in an easy-to-read, engaging style. I enjoyed the warmth and humour in the story and it was heartwarming to see what Quinn felt was important to her and how she opened up to her family and herself and her wants and needs. This book is a celebration of creativity but also of individuality and it combines that with the warmth of family, a sense of belonging and the idea that secrets within families do more harm than good. It’s definitely a book for the older age range of middle grade because it will prompt a healthy amount of questions and thoughts. I loved the fact that it acknowledges that children will deal with being donor-conceived differently: some, like Quinn, will want to dive right and others, like Olly, are just not that interested: you just have to work out what is right for your child and your family. Inclusive, representative and easy to read, this was a lovely story of family and love.
- New Store Stock
- Rahim, Kristina (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 288 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
The Curse of Silvan Oaks – Georgia Channon (author), Pushkin Press (publisher)
There is a deadly curse in the fantastical Silvanland. Prince Corylus (Cory) Silvanheart, instead of fighting against the enemies, is forced to stay behind the safety of the palace walls. But Cory is unhappy about this. He wants to prove himself. He is so desperate to do so that he is willing to put himself and others in the way of harm.
In the human world, a girl called Oli is wandering through an old Manor House when she falls through a long-forgotten portal to the magical Silvanland. At this point, an ancient prophecy is triggered. From here, the lives and destinies of Cory and Oli collide and the pair embark on a dangerous and terrifying mission. Will the two be able to work together and to break the deadly curse? Or will Silvanland be doomed forever?
For children who love a fantastical adventure story then this if the book for them. We loved the magical world that the author has created in this adventure quest story. It’s perfect for fans of Impossible Creatures and The Spiderwick Chronicles.
- New Store Stock
- Channon, Georgia (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 04/10/2025 (Publication Date) - Pushkin Children's Books (Publisher)
Teachers vs Aliens vs The Kids – Steve Williams (author), Ellie O’Shea (illustrator), Farrago (imprint of Duckworth Books Ltd) (publisher)
Finley Swinnerton loves lists. He loves school. He loves learning and mind diamonds (short fabulous and mind-blowing facts – like Uranus being originally called George (from 1781-1851 to be precise, I asked Mr Google!)). So when aliens take over his school one extraordinary day, he is not happy about it.
But Finley is not brave. He gets scared and thinks he is weak. He leaves all the hero stuff to his best friend Lyra. With Lyra being stuck inside an alien-green booger-ice-cube and all the teachers in hiding or in similar states, Finley has to make a stand if he wants to save his precious school and his best friend.
Hot coffee, washing up liquid, mind diamonds and recorders will all play their part as Finley discovers his biggest muscle of all – his brain – and grows in confidence. But will it be enough? Will the aliens find “the one” and destroy their school in the process?
This was a laugh out loud, rip-roaring page-turner of a story filled with humorous black and white illustrations throughout. We loved the messages of self-belief, confidence, friendship and learning being cool. The mind diamonds and nods to science and learning throughout were brilliant and very cleverly brought into this chortle-fest of a book. Clever comedy genius for kids at its best.
- New Store Stock
- Williams, Steve (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 208 Pages - 05/15/2025 (Publication Date) - Farrago (Publisher)
The House at the Edge of the World – Nadine Aisha Jassat (author), Flavia Sorrentino (illustrator), Orion Children’s Books (imprint of Hachette) (publisher)
Written in verse, this is a page-turner of a magical mystery which we thoroughly enjoyed.
There stands a house. On the edge of a cliff. Some say it is the edge of the world. Some say the house is haunted. Some say it’s filled with Hope…. And it certainly seems Hope-filled to Amal and her family. After having lost their beloved library home, owing to funding cuts, they cannot believe their luck when they inherit the crumbling mansion, Hope House, on the edge of nowhere. But things don’t run smoothly for the family: the unwelcoming villagers think the place is haunted and a rival claim is made for the house. Amal and her family must try and prove their claim to the house and show that it is rightfully theirs.
But the more that Amal and Sara, her sister, try and investigate the claim, the stranger things become. They soon find themselves embroiled in mysterious clues, bizarre rumours and unbelievable magic. There are rumours of the founder looking fresh as a daisy and completely unchanged almost 9 decades apart, secret passageways, disappearing chalk and so much more. Will they ever uncover the mystery of Hope House and will they be able to remain?
This was a gripping verse mystery novel that we found hard to put down. We loved the mix of creepiness, magic and hope all mixed together. We loved the mystery and intrigue and the personalities of characters in the family. The sibling relationship between Amal and Sara was lovely and the whole family working together was so well written. It’s also a story about childhood anxiety and worries and we loved how this was portrayed in the story and the things that helped Amal try to come to terms with her busy mind. And we loved the resources detailed about anxiety and mental health at the back of the book.
A brilliant magical mystery written entirely in verse and interspersed with some fabulous black and white illustrations, we loved it.
- New Store Stock
- Jassat, Nadine Aisha (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 320 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Orion Children's Books (Publisher)
Young Adult
The Wish Switch – Lynn Painter (author), Scholastic (publisher)
This book was such an enjoyable, page-turner of a read!! I loved it!
Combining magic, moody teens and melodrama, it was great fun and a really unique idea for a story.
Emma Rockford’s Nana always believed in magic. In fact, before she died, she left Emma with a set of specific instructions to follow in order to have four wishes granted on a particularly special day of the year. She believed in other realms and magic and the power of the wish. So, when Emma follows her instructions with her two best friends and they all plan to throw their four wishes down the hole, Emma is sure everything will go swimmingly. Until, that is, the irritating new boy, Jackson, throws in some wishes of his own and knocks Emma’s wishes totally off course. When Emma’s friends’ wishes start to come true and nothing changes for her, she becomes a bit despondent… but when she realises that her wishes are coming true, she is just not the recipient of them – Jackson is!- she is livid! Emma and Jackson need to sort this out because her final wish is one that would totally change Jackson’s family life forever!
What follows is a beautiful and at times funny story about friendship, belonging and growing up. It’s about love, life, friendship and family and navigating the often difficult time when you begin to have feelings for someone else. Throw into that a magical element, a speed-demon of a Great-Aunt, burgers, hot dogs and a bit of chemistry and you have this wonderful book. Five stars from us.
- Painter, Lynn (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 320 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Scholastic (Publisher)
A Flash of Neon – Sophie Cameron (author), Little Tiger (publisher)
We picked up this book because it was such an interesting idea….
Neon is Laurie’s first kiss. He’s from New York, he’s outgoing, glamorous and fun and he is Laurie’s best friend. He’s who she can talk to about anything. He is also completely and utterly made up!!
So when he steps off the train to meet her at the time she made up for him to visit her, she’s also completely stunned!! How can this be happening?! What is happening?! How can he be here?! But from the moment he steps into her life (from wherever he has come from), he begins to teach her about what it means to be real… what real friendships look like, what it feels like to step outside of your comfort zone and how real life can take bravery sometimes just to live it.
This was a book with a really original premise and we enjoyed so many of its themes – the themes of family, true friendship, growing up, experimenting, being true to yourself and many more. We enjoyed how inclusive it was and we were rooting for the main characters in the story. The magical element of the story intrigued us and we were captivated by the idea of turning Blanks sucking creativity and creating prejudices. A clean young adult story of friendship and first kisses with an interesting imaginative twist.
- New Store Stock
- Cameron, Sophie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 240 Pages - 05/01/2025 (Publication Date) - Little Tiger (Publisher)
Non fiction books
Wild Your World- Bees; Wild Your World – Birds – Philip Giordano (illustrator), Design Eye (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)
You need to check out these two stunningly illustrated works of non-fiction! They are some of the most exquisitely illustrated around!
Let your young reader take flight and soar to new heights learning all about their feathered friends. With fascinating facts about different types of birds and vibrant illustrations throughout, your reader will devour this book like a hungry chick. They can learn all about different bird migrations – discovering mind-blowing facts such as a bar-tailed godwit flies non-stop for 8 days!! – and different types of birds, such as wetland, coastal, rainforest and so many more.
In the bee book, your reader can buzz around learning fascinating facts about this superhero insects. They can read about different bee senses (they can detect thunderstorms far away and return to the nest before the rain arrives!), the honeybee life cycle, their deadly sting (what they can do to a hornet is impressive, if not a little terrifying!), the different types of bees, how to keep bees and so much more.
Each book has a comprehensive glossary, easy to digest chunks of information and text blocks of fascinating facts set out in unique ways and shapes to entertain the reader. Each book is stunningly illustrated and has a bold and vibrant design which appeals to any reader. We also love the section on saving the birds and bees and what we can do to help. Non-fiction for children at its best!
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Bedoyere, Camilla de la (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 46 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Design Eye (Publisher)
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Bedoyere, Camilla de la (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 46 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Design Eye (Publisher)
Little People, Big Dreams – Mary Earps– Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara (author), Ana Gomez (illustrator), Frances Lincoln Children’s Books (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)
Did you know that a female football player only earns the same in a year as their male counterpart earns in a week!! I found this statistic so saddening.
As a child, little Mary loved playing football in the garden with her dad and brother and she joined her local team and saved a penalty in their match when she was age ten and realised that she loved playing in goal. Over the years, she developed her skills and her passion for professional football grew and grew. But female footballers don’t earn anywhere near the amount male footballers do so Mary went to university to get her degree to make sure she could pay her bills. On graduating she made it into England’s senior squad and became Manchester United’s goalie. When she was dropped from the England squad and her contract from Manchester wouldn’t pay enough, she thought her footballing days were over and she was very low.
But she put on her boots and kept kicking… and played for England again in the World Cup final in Australia. The lionesses didn’t win but they made their country proud and Mary Earps has become an inspiration for young football fans everywhere with her dignity, determination and self-belief. Her path to success was not easy but she never gave up and she and her teammates have put women’s football in the spotlight and campaigned for girls to have the same opportunities as boys to play football in the UK.
We learned so much about this passionate and energetic athlete from this book! As usual, there is a fantastic further facts and black and white photo section at the back of the book where your little reader can learn more about the lifetime achievements of this girl with a goal.
The artwork is superb: vibrant and beautiful, bringing to life the energy and enthusiasm of Earps and the incredible things she has achieved by putting one foot in front of the other and keeping on fighting. If you would like to find out more about this wonderful series, do take a look at the Little People, Big Dreams website Little People, BIG DREAMS – Be Bold, Be Brave, DREAM BIG! (littlepeoplebigdreams.com) to subscribe to their newsletter so you can stay up to date with the latest releases.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Sanchez Vegara, Maria Isabel (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Publisher)
Wonder World Earth – Ben Lerwill (author), Xuan Le (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
Did you know that there are 400 billion billion worms in the soil?! Or that trees share nutrients with each other through fungi and use it as a message network to communicate with each other about disease and danger?
This brilliantly colourful picture book takes your reader on a marvellously muddy journey through one of the wonders of the world: sensational soil. It allows your reader to dig down (pun intended) into the different types of soil around the world and look into the world that lives below their feet. They will meet worms, insects, animal homes, tree networks, fungi, microbes and so much more. They will learn how all of these are connected together and operate in a life cycle which keeps our world healthy and functional. The science of soil is explored and laid out in easy to understand terminology and fascinating detail.
The pages of the book are awash with stunning illustrations and vibrant depictions of the wonder of our world and really bring to life the magical miracle of soil for your reader. This book is perfect for any little nature lover, outdoor enthusiast, forest-school participant and those who have a curiosity about the world around us. Sensational.
- Lerwill, Ben (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 04/10/2025 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
The Maps and Flags Book – Joe Fullman (author), Andy Rowland (illustrator), Buster Books (publisher)
Well, if this isn’t the perfect book for the mini traveller in your life then I don’t know what is!!
Colourful, fascinating and globe-trotting, your little reader can jet off on the adventure of a lifetime in this vibrant guide to the maps and flags of our world. With a handy introduction to what flags actually are, how countries are defined and how maps are created, this fabulous fact book is a mine of fascinating information about countries around the world.
Split into continents, your reader can explore the flags of every nation and find out the population, area and currency of that nation, as well as when their flag was adopted. Not only that but each flag has a brilliant flag fact detailed which my children have all loved. And that’s not all! Along the way they can make friends with various animals and explore bonus quirky maps on topics such as pirates, time zones, maps through time and many more.
This is a bright, colourful, beautifully illustrated introduction to the flags and maps of the world and it will instil any reader with a sense of wonder about the geography of our great globe. We are off on a cruise at the end of this month and we are taking this book with us to see what flags we can spot.
- New Store Stock
- Fullman, Joe (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 96 Pages - 05/22/2025 (Publication Date) - Buster Books (Publisher)
Pride – Eric Huang (author). Amy Phelps (illustrator), Words & Pictures (an imprint of Quarto) (publisher)
Written in a fun style and an accessible, inclusive format, this bold and bright book is joyful blend of fact and fiction explaining all about the colourful celebration of Pride.
Your reader can join Brian and his family and friends as they celebrate Pride month and get ready for the Pride parade. Brian and his friends learn all about the Stonewall Uprising in New York, make Pride flags together, attend a drag queen story hour at the local library, make their all-important Pride parade outfits and much more. There is lots of time spent with friends and family having fun and displaying affection and celebrating with the whole community.
This book is so joyful because not only does it contain lots of age-appropriate and easy to understand facts about Pride month, it also explains what LGBTQIA+ stands for, what the different colourful flags mean but it also details Pride celebrations around the world and there is a fab short quiz at the end of the book you can test your knowledge with. There are superb interactive ideas such as making your own Pride flag and making rainbow Pride cookies, as well as facts and real life photos of Pride celebrations around the world.
The illustrations are bold, joyful and fun, making this a really engaging read. You will be dying to get involved. Educational, well-written, engaging and filled with love, life, acceptance, inclusion and joy, this is fantastic work of non-fiction.
- New Store Stock
- Huang, Eric (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - words & pictures (Publisher)
Girls with Goals – Clelia Castro-Malaspina (author), Holler (imprint of Quarto)
What an absolutely fascinating (and mind-blowing) insight into the history of women’s football and all its inequalities and injustices!
Both my girls love football, the youngest in particular, and it makes me so angry that women’s football has had to face such adversity. From outright banning (for over 50 years and where players might dress up as boys or play in the dark), to football kit inequality and just plain injustice, this brilliant book dribbles your reader through the twisty turny upside downs of the female football world and yet leaves you with a true sense of grit, resilience, respect and joy.
There are chapters on the game’s humble beginnings, history’s great “hall of fame players”, fashion of the game (I know what the headbands the girls often wear is made of now!) and so much more. It highlights the inequalities that still stand (particularly over pay!!) and aims to defeat the abuse by calling it out, campaigning for change and carrying on in the face of adversity.
Packed with fabulous facts and fascinating black and white photos, this book is a must read for anyone. It’s a book which details athletic brilliance but also friendship, camaraderie, sheer determination and resilience, passion and triumph and leaves you with a huge amount of respect and pride for these players. These girls deserve all their goals to be achieved. Brilliant.
- Hardcover Book
- Castro-Malaspina, Clelia (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 176 Pages - 05/08/2025 (Publication Date) - Holler (Publisher)
The World’s First Human Cannonball and Other Incredible Jobs – Mike Barfield (author), Franziska Höllbacher (illustrator) , Templar books (publisher)
Ooo, we do love a good Mike Barfield book!! And this is one of the best! Following on from the raucously fun The World’s First Rollercoaster and Other Amazing Inventions, this, the second book in the series, is a wonderful whirlwind tour of history’s most weird and wacky jobs!
From the awesome animals with brilliant tasks – think Winston the pigeon who flew 96km home in South Africa with a 4GB memory stick and was greeted to a hero’s welcome because he flew it home faster than it could be downloaded! – to the fabulous flatulist (aka parper extraordinaire!)Joseph Pujol who made his millions from his musical derrière, this book has ALL the jobs. Good. bad. Ridiculous. Dangerous. You name it!! The cat whose day job it was to look grumpy. The cheeky charlatan who trapped tricksters during his lifetime. The sculptor who turns broken toys into pieces of art…. this fantastic fact book is filled with funny stories, creative comic strips, fascinating history and a giggle-fest of weird and wonderful jobs.
We have loved dipping in and out of the book, opening it up and becoming absorbed in whatever page we turn to. It’s brilliantly illustrated in vibrant colour tones, has comic-strip style pages galore and really brings to life the humour and fun of this alternative way of presenting facts to children. There is absolutely nothing not to love about this fabulous fact book and my children adore it.
- New Store Stock
- Barfield, Mike (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 96 Pages - 04/10/2025 (Publication Date) - Templar Books (Publisher)
Activity Books
Out and About – Animal Spotter – Emma S. Young (author), Tania Garcia (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
We are very lucky and we see so many animals out and about where we live … badgers, foxes, roe deer and fallow deer (my favourite – they are so magical) and this book is a mine of colourful illustrations and fascinating facts about 50 different wild animals. If you have a little nature lover at home then this is the book for them!
Produced in collaboration with The National Trust this fantastic guide encourages your children to truly explore the animals around them. It’s easy to use and has a comprehensive contents page allowing your child to dip in and out of the book if they so choose, or to read it in one sitting. Split into sections of mammals, amphibians and reptiles, there are also introductory “did you know” facts (like the adder being the UK’s only venomous snake – I vividly recall seeing an adder when I was a child in the Lake District), details of animal footprints, a section on poo (always guarantees a giggle in my house) and lots of beautiful illustrations. There’s even a fantastic quiz at the end of the book to test their knowledge (my eldest loves this feature!).
And the best bit (other than the fact you can take this brilliant book out and about with you): there are fun activities suggested throughout the book, such as building a hedgehog hotel or doing a mini beach clean.
With gorgeous, bold illustrations covering each colourful page and top spotting tips and fun activities to do, this is the perfect book to take out and about with your on your holiday adventures during the May bank holiday break and beyond.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Young, Emma S. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 96 Pages - 04/10/2025 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
Make & Play – Build a Tree – Philippa Forester (author), Natalia Rojas Castro (illustrator), Quarto Publishing plc (publisher)
What a book!! A mix of fact and fun, this is one epic way to get your child’s creative juices flowing by putting their modelling skills to the test.
This fascinating fact book is brimming with beautiful illustrations of tremendous trees in all their glory and your child can gaze in wonder as they turn the pages of this uniquely-sized book. They can learn all about trees and why they are so important, as well as discovering how trees can change through the seasons, the animals and wildlife that rely on them for their habitat and much more. They can swing up high in the canopy and creep down low on the forest floor, learn all about some of the most famous trees on Earth and explore different types of forests. Through this book your reader can understand the threats, both natural and man-made, to trees and how we can go about conserving them.
Not only is this book stunningly illustrated in vibrant colours, fascinating and fact-filled but it also contains a model of an oak tree showing all four seasons for your child to build. Your child can slot together all the pieces to make the 30cm model and play with the adorable wildlife that also accompanies it. Creative, fascinating and fun- this is an amazing way for children to play and learn about the vitally important role trees have on our planet.
- Hardcover Book
- Forrester, Philippa (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 05/22/2025 (Publication Date) - Design Eye (Publisher)
Other
Words Can Fly – Mindful and Uplifting Poetry for Children – Donna Ashworth (author), Eirinn McGuinness (illustrator), Templar Books (imprint of Bonnier Books) (publisher)
I am in LOVE with this book and its cover! It draws me in and makes me want to pick up this book and share it with my children. Indeed, there is an inscription in the book which invites readers to use it in any way their heart desires but we do love to pick it up and open it at random to read the poem. Having said that, I know that there are some themes in here that are going to be very useful for my children in the near future on grief and sadness so I have, as a parent, also found the poetry index which groups the poems into themes very useful.
This anthology of stunning poetry is soothing for the soul. There are poems for the happy, and poems for the sad. There are poems about emotions, and poems about family and friendship. There are poems to heal the mind, and poems to calm the worries. There are poems about pineapple pizzas, and poems about chocolate. Poems about differences, and poems about what makes us all the same….
Each poem is beautifully illustrated with exquisite artistry which really brings the words on the page to life and draws the reader into this book and grounds them in the here and now. It’s calming, it’s uplifting, it’s tear-jerking, it’s comforting… it’s a book for your little ones to open and pore over; a book to be shared; a book to provide beauty and joy and hope for tomorrow. A book to keep coming back to, year after year after year.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Ashworth, Donna (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 144 Pages - 06/05/2025 (Publication Date) - Templar Books (Publisher)
