Board books
Let’s Explore with Ted and Jump About with Ted, by Sophy Henn
“Find out what Ted’s marvellous imagination can conjure up! With sturdy flaps to lift on every page, this colourful pre-school series featuring the charming Ted is ideal for little hands.”
My Favourite Owl and My Favourite Puppy, by Daniel Roode
In this new series for older babies:
“Babies can have lots of fun opening the peekaboo flaps to discover what each animal is doing. There is a rhyme to share, recap questions and a wheel to turn at the end to choose your favourite character from inside the book.”
My Magical Mermaid, by Yujin Shin
“With push, pull and turn mechanisms and a sparkly foil cover wheel, My Magical Mermaid has plenty to keep little ones engaged and entertained.
“Yujin Shin’s beautifully coloured illustrations are paired with gentle rhyming text and lots of things to spot in four bright and busy magical scenes.”
Are You There Little Tiger?, by Sam Taplin
Another title in the increasingly popular die-cut hide and seek series.
Peppa’s Muddy Festival: a lift-the-flap book
“Peppa and her family are camping at a children’s festival! There will be crafts, music and fun in the field, but is it going to get muddy? Read the story and lift the flaps to find out!”
Picture books
Animal Pants, by Giles Andreae & Nick Sharratt
New addition to the excellent Pants series.
“Have you ever wondered what kind of pants honey bees wear? What about iguanas? Or even piranhas? Find out in this joyous explosion of colour and silliness that will have readers of all ages laughing together.”
A Mouse Called Julian, by Joe Todd-Stanton
New title from the winner of the 2018 Waterstones Children’s Illustrated Book Prize.
“When the fox tries to sneak into Julian’s burrow for a tasty bite of mouse, it finds itself stuck headfirst in Julian’s front door! At first alarmed and wary, they soon find themselves having a lovely dinner together, and it’s not long before each realises that they have found in the other a lifelong friend.”
Big Cat!, by Emma Lazell
In this debut:
“Isobel’s grandma has lost her glasses and she can’t see a thing without them. While Isobel and Gran are in the garden searching for the specs, they come across a cat. A very big cat. A very big and friendly cat. The big cat moves in with them, much to the disgust of gran’s other cats.”
Rocketmole, by Matt Carr
“Armstrong the mole doesn’t dig living underground. His friends think building a rocket to go to the moon, alone, is an astronomically bad idea, but Armstrong is determined to boldly go where no mole has gone before.”
The Nature Girls, by Aki
Sequel to The Weather Girls.
“The bold Nature Girls are ready for whatever nature throws at them! Join them as they pack their bags and start their journey, exploring natural habitats around the world. They swim in the sea, explore the desert, discover the harsh arctic tundra and more. There’s so much to discover about the natural world, when you join this bright group of girls.”
Super Sloth, by Robert Starling
From the author-illustrator of Fergal is Fuming!.
“Super Sloth isn’t fast. He can’t fly. But he is very, very good at moving slowly and looking just like a greenish bit of tree. When his arch enemy Anteater makes off with some prize mangoes, Super Sloth vows to save the day - eventually.”
B is for Baby, by Atinuke & Angelia Brooksbank
“B is for Baby. B is for Brother. B is for going to see Baba!
“One morning after breakfast, Baby’s big brother is getting ready to take the basket of bananas all the way to Baba’s bungalow in the next village. He’ll have to go along the bumpy road, past the baobab trees, birds, and butterflies, and all the way over the bridge. But what he doesn’t realise is that his very cute, very curious baby sibling has stowed away on his bicycle.
“Little ones learning about language will love sounding out the words in this playful, vibrantly illustrated story set in West Africa.”
One Springy Day, by Nick Butterworth
New Percy the Park Keeper title to celebrate 30 years of the series.
“Percy the park keeper and his animal friends are playing hide-and-seek in the park. The fox has found a great hiding place in Percy’s workshop but when he falls into a pot of Very Strong Glue, he soon finds himself springing into an embarrassingly sticky situation! Is there anything his friends can do to help?”
Kind, by Alison Green (ed.)
“With gorgeous pictures by a host of top illustrators, Kind is a timely, inspiring picture book about the many ways children can be kind, from sharing their toys and games to making those from other countries feel welcome.”
Published in aid of the Three Peas refugee charity.
Birds, by Carme Lemniscates
“A beautiful, lyrical picture book celebrating all kinds of birds and how they inspire and move us.”
Short chapter books
Clifftoppers: the Arrowhead Moor adventure, by Fleur Hitchcock
“For Aiden, Chloe, Ava and Josh, holidays at their grandparents’ cottage mean wild beaches, no curfew, Bella the dog, and most of all - adventure!
“A treasure hunt at a stately home takes a suspicious turn when the cousins discover a jewel heist unfolding around them. But how can they take down a gang of clever thieves when all they’ve got is their bikes and a very risky plan? By being braver, smarter, and sneakier than the villains they’re chasing.”
Hitchcock also released the critically acclaimed The Boy who Flew last month for older readers.
Mystery on the Ostrich Express, by Laura James & Emily Fox
Second adventure for Fabio the flamingo detective.
“It’s the height of summer and Fabio and his associate Gilbert are taking a relaxing holiday journey on the fastest train in the world! But no sooner does the conductor call ‘All aboard’ than a very expensive ruby necklace disappears and the great detective is back on the case!”
Jasper - Space Dog!, by Hilary Robinson & Lewis Jones
First in a new series.
“Charlie Tanner and his dog, Jasper, are keen to find out about space and the first moon landings. Is the moon made of cheese? Can space aliens deliver pizza? And did the astronauts see any flying saucers or flying dog bowls?”
Picture books for older readers
Ada Twist and the Perilous Pantaloons, by Andrea Beaty & David Roberts
Second title in the Questioneers series.
“Ada Twist is full of questions. A scientist to her very core, Ada asks why again and again. One question always leads to another until she’s off on a journey of discovery!
“When Rosie Revere’s Uncle Ned gets a little carried away wearing his famous helium pantaloons, it’s up to Ada and friends to chase him down. As Uncle Ned floats farther and farther away, Ada starts asking lots of questions: How high can a balloon float? Is it possible for Uncle Ned to float into outer space? And what’s the best plan for getting him down?”
Tyna of the Lake, by Alexander Utkin
Book 3 of the Gamayun Tales – a retelling of Russian folklore described as a cross between Aesop’s Fables and the Odyssey.
Junior novels
Bloom, by Nicola Skinner
This is one to watch.
“Sorrel Fallowfield is so good at being good that teachers come to her when they need help remembering the school rules – and there are LOTS.
“Luckily, Sorrel doesn’t have any trouble following them, until the day she discovers a faded packet of Surprising Seeds buried under a tree in her backyard.
“Now she’s hearing voices, seeing things, experiencing an almost unstoppable urge to plant the Seeds in some very unusual places… and completely failing to win her school’s competition to find The Most Obedient Child of the School.
“And all that’s before flowers start growing out of her head…”
Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal, by Jeff Kinney
“In Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid, Rowley writes about his life experiences and agrees to play the role of biographer for Greg along the way. (After all, one day Greg will be rich and famous, and everyone will want to know his life’s story.) But Rowley is a poor choice for the job, and his ‘biography’ of Greg is a hilarious mess.
“This journal offers readers a new way to look at the Wimpy world - one fans won’t want to miss!”
Pog, by Pádraig Kenny
From the author of Tin.
“David and Penny arrive in a strange new home in a forest. Other creatures live here - magical creatures - like Pog. He’s one of the First Folk, tasked with protecting the boundary between the worlds. But David is drawn into the forest, lured by a darker entity, who tells him there’s a way he can bring his dead mother back.”
The Tunnels Below, by Nadine Wild-Palmer
“On her twelfth birthday, the last thing Cecilia expected was to find herself lost in a labyrinth of tunnels beneath London. Afraid, alone, but determined, she sets to work on her escape, and soon realises that perhaps there is a reason she and the mysterious marble her sister gave her have ended up so far from home.
“Deep in the darkness roam the terrible Corvus, tyrants of the magical realm below. Cecilia’s struggle to return to her family becomes a mission of great danger and adventure, as she tries to help her new friends to free themselves and their beautiful, unique world. But will her heart be brave enough to ensure she doesn’t stay trapped in the darkness forever?”
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet, by Zanib Mian & Nasaya Mafaridik
Newly expanded and illustrated version of The Muslims, winner of the 2019 Little Rebels Award.
“My parents decided it would be a good idea to move house AND move me to a new school at the same time. As if I didn’t have a hard enough time staying out of trouble at home, now I’ve also got to try and make new friends. What’s worse, the class bully seems to think I’m the perfect target and has made it his mission to send me back to Pakistan. But I’ve never even been to Pakistan! And my cousin told me the pizza there is YUCK.
“The only good thing is that Eid’s just around the corner which means a feast of all my favourite food (YAY) and presents (DOUBLE YAY). I’m really hoping I can stay in Mum and Dad’s good books long enough to get loads.”
Dancing the Charleston, by Jacquline Wilson & Nick Sharratt
“Mona and her aunt live in a little cottage on the edge of the Somerset estate, where her aunt sews wonderful dresses for the lady of the house. Mona never knew her mother or father, but Aunty has always looked after her - and Mona knows she can always talk to her mum where she lies in the village graveyard.
“When Lady Somerset dies and a new member of the Somerset family inherits the house, things begin to change for Mona. She has never really fitted in anywhere, but the new Bohemian atmosphere at the house offers opportunities for her to shine - and to find new friends.
“Dancing at fancy Sea Creature balls and trips to London are wonderful new experiences - but new experiences sometimes bring revelations and Mona discovers there are secrets in her past she can’t dance away from.”
My Brother’s Name is Jessica, by John Boyne
“Sam Waver’s life has always been pretty quiet. A bit of a loner, he struggles to make friends, and his busy parents often make him feel invisible. Luckily for Sam, his older brother, Jason, has always been there for him. Sam idolises Jason, who seems to have life sorted - he’s kind, popular, amazing at football, and girls are falling over themselves to date him.
“But then one evening Jason calls his family together to tell them that he’s been struggling with a secret for a long time. A secret which quickly threatens to tear them all apart. His parents don’t want to know and Sam simply doesn’t understand. Because what do you do when your brother says he’s not your brother at all? That he thinks he’s actually your sister?”
Non-fiction
The Sea: exploring our blue planet, by Miranda Krestovnikoff & Jill Calder
“This book will have you diving into the deepest depths of the blue, exploring the astounding seas and oceans that cover our planet and discovering the amazing animals that populate our waters, including the largest living animal: the blue whale!”
Marvel Studios Character Encyclopedia, by Adam Bray
“Learn the facts, figures, super-powers and origins of your favourite characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). From the Avengers and Ant-Man to Black Panther and Doctor Strange, this book spans over a decade of action-packed Marvel Studios movie releases. Filled with interesting facts and key information, whether your favourite hero is Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, the Wasp, Iron Man or Gamora, you’ll be able to find out all about their story, super-powers, weapons, and much more.
“It isn’t all heroes though; this book includes powerful villains and their followers, sinister spies, brave soldiers, and even ordinary people who find themselves caught up in epic battles!”
Martin Brown’s Lesser Spotted Aniamals 2, by Martin Brown
“Bored with the usual suspects? Got a thirst for more nifty nature knowledge and a love of the unknown underdog? Then this is the book for you! Discover more brilliant beasts you never knew you needed to know about from the altai argarli to the yellow-belied glider and everything in between.”
What a Waste: rubbish, recycling, and protecting our planet, by Jess French
A timely guide to our environmental impact, from the author of Saving Species and Minibeasts.
“Everything you need to know about what we’re doing to our environment, good and bad, from pollution and litter to renewable energy and plastic recycling. This environmental book will teach keen young ecologists about our actions affect planet Earth. Discover shocking facts about the waste we produce and where it goes.”
Planet Fashion, by Natasha Slee & Cynthia Kittler
“Hold onto your hats and lace up your boots; we’re off on a fashion adventure! Travel through 25 scenes in fashion history, circling the globe with your two young stylish travel companions – one boy and one girl, dressed the part in every picture. Each lavishly illustrated scene captures the mood and style of a unique time and place, accompanied by a trove of fashion history facts.”
Boy Oh Boy, by Cliff Leek & Bene Rohlmann
“Meet 30 positive male role models from throughout history. From people of peace like Gandhi, to artists like David Hockney, musicians like Prince, poets like Kit Yan and fashion icons like Edward Enninful - all are talented and diverse. These men have fought conventional stereotypes to prove that modern day masculinity can be cool - and defined freely.”
Little Frida, by Anthony Browne
“The artwork of Frida Kahlo inspires former Children’s Laureate and twice winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal Anthony Browne in this beautiful and surreal picture book. Stunning illustrations tell the story of a lonely young girl who discovers the power of the imagination to set you free.”
Utterly Unbelievable World War II, by Adam Frost
“Did you know that onions were given as birthday presents in WWII? Or that exploding camel dung was used as a weapon? Could a leaky toilet force a submarine crew to abandon ship? This is history like you’ve never known it before! Ask yourself - would you eat squirrel tail soup, cow’s udders, or a carrot on a stick? Could you share 12.7cm of bathwater with your WHOLE family - for your weekly wash? If you were a spy, which gadgets and inventions would you choose?
“From flying tanks to Operation Toenail, read about the daring, tragic and heroic events that shaped one of the most influential conflicts in modern times.”