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Celebrate stories. Love reading. 1

 TO OUR MAGAZINE FOR
WORLD BOOK DAY 2018!
This year, World Book Day is on Thursday 1st March. It’s
3 S
YA BOOK
World Book Day a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most
3 YA Books importantly) it’s a celebration of reading. Children throughout
the country will receive a £1 book token, provided by National
4 World Book Day Books Book Tokens, which you can use at your local bookshop to
get one of ten exclusive new books free – see pages 4 and 5.
6 My Next Brilliant Book Alternatively, you can put it towards one of the five fantasticfull-
SUMMONER:
THE NOVICE
FLY BY NIGHT
Frances Hardinge
I HAVE NO
SECRETS
length books for teens priced at only £2.50 each at participating Taran Matharu £2.50 PB Penny Joelson
8 Gripping Reads stores (that’s only £1.50 with your £1 book token) – see page 3 £2.50 PB
The first book in the
From the author of
The Lie Tree,
Tree which
£2.50 PB
This original
opposite. Or you can use it to get £1 off any book or audio book bestselling magical won the Costa thriller from a debut
10 Read My Diary costing over £2.99 at a participating bookshop or book club. As adventure trilogy,
this follows the
Award, this is an
adventure story
author is narrated
by 14-year-old
well as the World Book Day books, we recommend a huge range set in a reimagined,
12 Celebrating Strong
story of Fletcher, a Jemma, who has
of other books for kids of all ages, on lots of different themes. humble blacksmith’s fantastical version severe cerebral
apprentice who of 18th century palsy and is unable
14 Women and Girls From fantasy and science fiction to diary novels, funny books,
adventure and mystery, to classics, interactive books and more,
travels to the
Vocans Academy to
England. Mosca
heads for the city of
to communicate
or move, relying
be trained in the art Mandelion, where on carers for
14 Fantastical Worlds there’s something for you between these pages!
she finds herself living by her wits. When
Illustrations © Jim Field. Photohgraphy © Simon Webb.

of summoning demons. Before long, he’s everything. She knows who did the murder,
caught in the middle of powerful forces and she uncovers a dark terror plot, merry because he told her. But she can’t tell
Join our campaign to get the nation sharing stories from discovers that the fate of the empire is in his mayhem leads to murder. Ages: 9+ anyone, and she’s powerless to do anything.
16 Books On Books breakfast to bedtime. We’d love to see what you’re reading hands. Ages: 9+ Or is she? Ages: 12+
and your favourite stories, so please share them on Instagram,
18 Rhythmical Reads Facebook and Twitter using #ShareAStory GANGSTA RAP
Benjamin
AN ABUNDANCE
OF KATHERINES
20 Adventure & Mystery Local bookshops are brilliant places, run by people who love
books and reading, we hope you enjoy visiting and will come
Zephaniah
£2.50 PB
John Green
£2.50 PB Full-length
books costing £2.50
This passionate YA In this heartfelt and
22 Funny Books back again to find your next amazing read. novel by acclaimed funny novel from
or £1.50 each with
poet Benjamin the author of A
The World Book Day book tokens are valid from Monday Zephaniah draws on Stars,
Fault In Our Stars
24 Wellbeing 26 February–Sunday 25 March 2018. For more information, visit his own experiences
with school and
teenager Colin is
a child prodigy your book token!
the website at the music business. who develops
26 Animal Magic Booktime Ray is permanently
excluded from
The Theorem
of Underlying
school and ends up Katherine
28 Classic Books This magazine is brought to you by Booktime,
the bimonthly book magazine available from
sleeping on the floor of a record shop. But if
he’s lucky, he’ll get a chance to shine on the
Predictability, after dating nineteen girls
with the name. But can his losing streak be
independent bookshops and libraries. rap scene. Ages: 12+ broken by dating Lindsey, when he embarks
30 Interactive on the journey of a lifetime with his only
friend, Hassan? Ages: 14+

2 3
 NADIYA’S BAKE ME A THE BABY BROTHER FROM
STORY OUTER SPACE
Nadiya Hussain & Pamela Butchart &
Clair Rossiter Thomas Flintham
£1.00 PB £1.00 PB

BOOKS A combination of a storybook

and a cookbook from Great
British Bake Off winner Nadiya,
Izzy and her friends are
convinced that there’s something
wrong with Haroon’s baby
full of delicious recipes and brother when his mum brings
scrumptious stories. Ages: 5+ him into school. Could he be
from outer space?! Ages: 7+
MY BOOK ABOUT ME BY
MR SILLY
Roger & Adam Hargreaves
£1.00 PB
A very silly book about Mr Silly’s
book! He began it with himself, PADDINGTON TURNS THE GIRL WHO THOUGHT THE BOLDS’ GREAT
but then decided to include his DETECTIVE AND OTHER SHE WAS A DOG ADVENTURE
friends, as he knows that if they
are in it, they’ll want to read it. FUNNY STORIES Clare Balding & Tony Ross Julian Clary &
Ages: 0+ Michael Bond & £1.00 PB David Roberts
Peggy Forman A new animal story from the £1.00 PB
£1.00 PB popular sports broadcaster, The latest funny story about the
A collection of three classic presenter and bestselling author Bolds, a family of hyenas, which
OI GOAT! stories featuring everyone’s Clare Balding, illustrated by explains how they managed to
Kes Gray & Jim Field favourite bear from Darkest Tony Ross. Ages: 7+ get from their African safari park
£1.00 PB Peru, Paddington! Written by the to their new home in England.
The new rhyming picture book much-loved and much-missed Ages: 7+
from the award-winning Kes master storyteller Michael Bond.
Gray and Jim Field, following the Ages: 7+
success of Oi Frog!, Oi Dog! and
Oi Cat!. Ages: 0+

BRAIN FREEZE TERRY’S DUMB DOT STORY: MARVEL AVENGERS: THE

Tom Fletcher & A TREEHOUSE TALE GREATEST HEROES
Shane Devries Andy Griffiths & £1.00 PB
£1.00 PB Terry Denton A book full of fascinating facts
In this story about time £1.00 PB about everyone’s favourite
travel, from the author of The A special book about the world’s team of Super Heroes, Marvel’s
Christmasaurus, not everything coolest treehouse… but can Andy Avengers, with stunning colour
happens in the right order… but and Terry agree about the story? images. Ages: 9+
it’s full of adventure nontheless! Or will they attract the attention
Ages: 7+ of the story police? Ages: 7+

4 5
 MY NEXT
MARVEL AVENGERS: THE BOLDS
ULTIMATE CHARACTER Julian Clary
GUIDE £6.99 PB • 9781783443055
£9.99 PB • 9780241007617 Mr and Mrs Bold and their children
A guide to more than 220 Marvel Bobby and Betty live in a nice house
Avengers characters, from the Hulk and are just like you and me… except
and Iron Man to the villainous they are hyenas! Can they keep their
Thanos and Ultron, created in canine identities secret, or will a trip
collaboration with Marvel Comics to the local wildlife park reveal their
and packed full of comic book art. secret? Ages: 7+
It’s a must buy for all Super Hero
fans! Ages: 6+

MR MEN: MY MUMMY THE CREAKERS BABY ALIENS GOT MY

Roger Hargreaves Tom Fletcher & Shane Devries TEACHER!
£5.99 PB • 9781405285506 £12.99 HB • 9780141388762 Pam Butchart & Thomas
A magical new story about monsters Flintham
A special Little Miss book for
Mother’s Day, or for any other under the bed, from the former £6.99 PB • 9780857632371
occasion to celebrate your mother, McFly member and bestselling Izzy and her friends are suspicious
which will help you show your author Tom Fletcher. Lucy has when their teacher, Miss Jones,
mummy just how special she is to often wondered what those strange starts being nice to them. There can
you. Mummies are Splendid, Fun, creaking noises she hears at night only be one conclusion: she’s been
Magic and Sunshine, just like the are… then she wakes up to find taken over by aliens, and wants to
Little Missies! Ages: 0+ all the adults in her town have make them all aliens too! The first in
disappeared! Ages: 7+ the madcap series by Pam Butchart.
Ages: 7+

A BEAR CALLED PADDINGTON THE RACEHORSE THE 13-STOREY TREEHOUSE

Michael Bond & Peggy Fortnum WHO WOULDN’T GALLOP Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton
£6.99 PB • 9780007174164 Clare Balding & Tony Ross £5.99 PB • 9781447279785
The original story of Paddington £6.99 PB • 9780141357911 Welcome to Andy and Terry’s
Bear, which tells of how the The first book featuring Charlie treehouse! It’s got a giant catapult,
Browns first meet him at a railway Bass, a horse-mad ten-year-old who a secret underground lab and a
station. They soon discover that manages to buy a racehorse, Noble marshmallow machine. But watch
ordinary things, such as having a Warrior, but soon discovers that out for the sea monkeys and the
bath or going to the seaside, can he refuses to gallop. With Derby giant mutant mermaid sea monster…
become quite extraordinary when Day fast approaching, can Charlie A fantastically funny, illustrated
Paddington is around. Ages: 5+ prove that Noble Warrior can be a book. Ages: 7+
champion? Ages: 7+

6 7
 FLYING FERGUS: THE CYCLE THE UNFORGOTTEN COAT BIRTHDAY BOY
SEARCH & RESCUE Frank Cottrell Boyce David Baddiel
Chris Hoy, Joanna Nadin & £7.99 PB • 9781406341546 £12.99 PB • 9780008200473
Clare Elsom From the award-winning author Wouldn’t it be great if every day was
£4.99 PB • 9781848126206 of Millions, this is the story of two your birthday? Be careful what you
The latest book in the series refugee Mongolian brothers who wish for! When Sam Green relives
featuring cyclist Fergus and are determined to fit in with their his birthday again and again, it’s
friends, from the Olympic gold new schoolmates in Liverpool. It not long before things start going
medallist Sir Chris Hoy. Fergus’s also includes atmospheric Polaroid wrong… and begin to threaten
team the Hercules’ Hopefuls are photos, and is told with warmth and something he loves even more than
forced to work with their rivals the humour. Ages: 9+ birthdays. Ages: 9+
Wallace’s Winners once again for
them to compete in the upcoming
Internationals. Ages: 7+

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: THE ADVENTURES OF HOLES

TERRIBLE TUDORS CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS Louis Sacher
Terry Deary & Martin Brown Dav Pilkey £6.99 PB • 9781408865231
£5.99 PB • 9781407178677 £5.99 PB • 9780439014571 When Stanley Yelnats is sent
Discover all the foul facts about Captain Underpants’s true identity is to Camp Green Lake Juvenile
the terrible Tudors in this classic so secret that even he doesn’t know Detention Centre for something
Horrible Histories guide, updated who he is! But if you’re a naughty he didn’t do, he soon finds himself
with extra material and new villain like Dr Diaper, you’d better digging holes, along with the other
illustrations! Find out why Henry watch out – Captain Underpants has inmates. The warden claims it’s
VIII thought he’d married a horse, wedgie-power on his side. Illustrated character-building, but can Stanley
which shocking swear words the throughout, this is the first in the dig up the truth before it’s too late?
Tudors used and more. Ages: 7+ bestselling series. Ages: 9+ Ages: 11+

FREE LANCE & THE LAKE MAX & THE MILLIONS

OF SKULLS Ross Montgommery
Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell £6.99 PB • 9780571333486
£7.99 PB • 9781781127148 Being deaf, Max finds it hard to
The stirring story of Free Lance, make friends at his school, but loves
who journeys from village to village, making models. When the caretaker
competing in tournaments and Mr Darrow disappears, Max follows
working for his keep. But now he’s his parting instruction to go to his
on his most dangerous mission room, and discovers a tiny boy, no
yet – retrieving an enchanted crown bigger than a raisin… and a whole,
from the Lake of Skulls. Ideal for miniature civilisation of Millions!
struggling, reluctant and dyslexic Ages: 9+
readers. Ages 8+

8 9
 TOM GATES: EPIC THE SECRET DIARY OF
ADVENTURE (KIND OF) ADRIAN MOLE AGED 13¾
Liz Pichon Sue Townsend
£12.99 HB • 9781407168050 £6.99 PB • 9780141315980
The always enthusiastic Tom Gates First published in 1982, this
gives us another instalment of satirical diary of hapless teenager
his awesome life, full of doodles Adrian Mole has entertained both
and fun. Having two sets of children and adults for decades.
grandparents is turning out to Written by the much-missed comic
be very good – as they’re keen writer Sue Townsend, it details
on giving presents and they’re the terrible trials Adrian faces as a
planning an epic family outing! misunderstood intellectual.
Ages: 9+ Ages: 11+

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE BIG, FAT, TOTALLY TIMMY FAILURE: SANITIZED
DOUBLE DOWN BONKERS DIARY OF PIG FOR YOUR PROTECTION
Jeff Kinney Emer Stamp Stephan Pastis
£6.99 PB • 9780141376660 £5.99 PB • 9781407153230 £6.99 PB • 9781406365764
Isn’t it annoying when your mum The inimitable Pig returns for A new memoir from Timmy
thinks video games will only make another diary-based treat, with Failure - the founder, president
your eyes go square? Halloween his friends Duck, Cow, Ki-Ki and and CEO of Total Failure Inc, the
is coming up for middle school Rusty. Pig is sure that he sees one world’s greatest detective agency
student Greg, and making a film of the Evil Chickens, but can they (according to Timmy). Timmy
about gummy worms might get really have returned from out of finds himself on a road trip with
mum off his back. Mind you, a little space? 1000% true and 10,000% notorious criminal Molly Moskins,
bit of creativity may not go amiss BONKERS! Ages: 7+ but he has a case to solve and
if it means becoming rich and nothing will stand in his way!
famous! Ages: 7+ Ages: 9+

BARRY LOSER & THE NATIONAL TRUST: THE DORK DIARIES: CRUSH
BIRTHDAY BILLIONS SECRET DIARY OF JOHN CATASTROPHE
Jim Smith DRAWBRIDGE Rachel Renee Russell
£6.99 PB • 9781405283977 Philip Ardagh & Jamie Littler £12.99 HB • 9781471167751
Everyone’s favourite loser, Barry, £6.99 PB • 9780857639011 Nikki Maxwell’s dramatic
returns in this new hilarious story! Life at Widemoat Castle is busy adventures continue in this latest
It’s his birthday and his parents for John, especially when you are Dork Diary, as she juggles some
have bought him an amazekeel learning to become a knight. There big questions about how she’ll
gaming helmet… which his baby are important things to remember, spend her summer. And can she
brother breaks. But Barry has such as why the plates made of decide whether to see a new kid
a plan to become a billionaire stale bread must NOT be eaten. who’s interested in her, when it
inventor and make enough money He endures an interesting turn of could so easily hurt Brandon?
to buy another one… Ages: 7+ events when an invading Welsh Ages: 9+
party descends on the castle.
Ages: 7+

10 11
 MY BEST FRIEND THE WHAT WOULD SHE DO?
SUFFRAGETTE Kay Woodward
Sally Morgan & £9.99 HB • 9781783122950
Gareth Conway Meet 25 of the most inspirational
£4.99 PB • 9781407184623 women of all time, in this book

MEN A novel set in London in created by an all-women team

G WO and illustrated by a range of
STRON GIRLS
1913, amongst the suffragette
movement. Christine is eleven, internationally renowned artists.

AND
and believes a girl should stay Each profile concludes with a
at home, whereas her new ‘What would she do?’ scenario,
friend Mary thinks girls should applying the subject’s attitude to
be able to do whatever they a relatable situation. Ages: 10+
want. Through letters, written
over a year, can Mary convince
Christine of her cause? Ages: 7+

I’M A GIRL! FANTASTICALLY GREAT RUBY REDFORT: LOOK

Yasmeen Ismail WOMEN WHO CHANGED INTO MY EYES
£6.99 PB • 9781408857007 THE WORLD Lauren Child
The girl in this picture book likes Kate Pankhurst £6.99 PB • 9780007334070
to win and be spontaneous, and is £6.99 PB • 9781408876985 Ruby is no ordinary thirteen-
fast and strong. She likes to wear Written by a descendent of year-old, she is in fact a special
a t-shirt and shorts, and is often suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, agent and genius code-cracker.
mistaken for a boy. When she this is an accessible book This instalment sees her tasked
meets a boy who likes wearing about women who changed the with uncovering the evil plans of
princess dresses and playing world, and is full of beautiful the Fool’s Gold Gang, after she
dolls, they both discover that they illustrations and astounding facts. receives an anonymous phone
have many shared interests. Fly through the sky with explorer call. The ultra-secret departments
Ages: 0+ Amelia Earhart, and join Mary of SPECTRUM need her help, but
Seacole in wonderful adventures. can she crack the code before it’s
Ages: 5+ too late? Ages: 9+

PRINCESS DAISY & THE AMAZING WOMEN THE WOLF WILDER

DRAGON Lucy Beevor & Sarah Green Katherine Rundell
Steven Lenton £12.99 HB • 9781847159175 £7.99 PB • 9781408854853
£6.99 PB • 9780857632883 An empowering and inspiring Feo lives in snowy woods of
Princess Daisy’s father, the King, book featuring an international Russia with her mother, and
won’t listen when the terrible selection of 101 prominent is a wolf wilder in training. A
sound of a dragon wakes the female figures of our time, wolf wilder is someone who
inhabitants of the kingdom. The such as Serena Williams, J.K. teaches tamed animals to fend
knights who come to the rescue Rowling, Beyoncé Knowles and for themselves and be wary of
are just a bunch of scaredy-cats Malala Yousafzai. Rejoice in the humans. But when the Russian
– but then a new knight, riding remarkable contributions women Army threatens her life, Feo has
a cow and armed with a book, have made to our society. no choice but to go on the run.
appears. It’s Princess Daisy, of Ages: 6+ Ages: 9+
course! Ages: 0+

12 13
 THE HUNGER GAMES THRONE OF GLASS
Suzanne Collins Sarah J. Maas
£7.99 PB • 9781407132082 £7.99 PB • 9781408832332
The bestselling, groundbreaking In this first in the Throne Of Glass
Hunger Games trilogy begins with series, Celaena is an teenager
this novel set in the near future. serving a life sentence in the salt
Twelve boys and twelve girls are mines of Endovier. She’s a trained
forced to appear in a live event assassin, so when she’s offered a
called The Hunger Games – where deal by young Captain Westfall, to
the only rule is kill or be killed. Can represent the prince in a to-the-death
Katniss survive, or will it be a death tournament, she jumps at the chance.
sentence? Ages: 12+ Ages: 13+

PERIJEE & ME FRONT LINES THE KNIFE OF NEVER DIVERGENT

Ross Montgommery Michael Grant LETTING GO Veronica Roth
£9.99 PB • 9780571317950 £7.99 PB • 9781405273824 Patrick Ness £7.99 PB • 9780007420421
A moving story which follows The first book in a trilogy from the £7.99 PB • 9781406379167 In this first in the series which
11-year-old Caitlin, as she makes author of the Gone series, this is The first in the imaginative Chaos inspired the popular Divergent films,
friends with a shrimp-like alien set in the Second World War, but Walking trilogy, soon to become it’s the near future and, in a post-
called Perijee. She teaches him about not the one we’re familiar with. In a major film, now in a new edition apocalyptic Chicago, society has split
the world, and treats him like a this alternative universe, girls join to mark its 10th anniversary. In into five factions. But 16-year-old Tris
brother… but he won’t stop growing. the boys at the front line, and must Prentisstown everyone can hear is forced to make a terrible choice,
And the authorities soon start to try prove their guts, strength and everyone else’s thoughts. But one and turn her back on her family. Can
and hunt him down. Ages: 7+ resourcefulness as soldiers. day Todd unexpectedly stumbles on she find out where she truly belongs?
Ages: 11+ a spot of silence. And now he’s going Ages: 13+
to have to run… Ages: 14+

DRAGON’S GREEN THE MAZE RUNNER

Scarlett Thomas James Dashner
£7.99 PB • 9781782117049 £7.99 PB • 9781909489400
After the catastrophic Worldquake, The last thing Thomas remembers
Effie Truelove has spent a lot of time is his own name. After the lift crank
in her grandfather Griffin’s library, opens, he is welcomed into a stone
learning about magic. But now a maze inhabited by others known as
secret organisation, the Diberi, has Gladers. No-one knows how they
plans to destroy the entire universe, came to be there, but encountering
and Effie and her schoolfriends are the dangers of what lies beyond the
the only ones who can stop them. sliding walls, may allow them to find
Ages: 9+ out. Ages: 12+

14 15
 CHARLIE COOK’S THE INCREDIBLE BOOK THE COVERS OF MY BOOK
FAVOURITE BOOK EATING BOY ARE TOO FAR APART!
Julia Donaldson & Oliver Jeffers Vivien French & Nigel Baines
Axel Scheffler £6.99 PB • 9780007182312 £6.99 PB • 9781781126028
£6.99 PB • 9781509812486 Henry loves books… but not An exploration of the fibs that
A classic picture book from the like most people do. He loves to both children and adults tell to
creators of The Gruffalo. Charlie eat books, and gorges on every avoid reading! From ‘I’m too busy
Cook is reading a book about a delicious book in sight! And the to read’ to ‘Reading is too hard’, it
pirate captain, who’s reading a book more books he eats, the smarter he turns negatives on their head and
about Goldilocks, who’s reading gets… can he become the Incredible celebrates the right we all have to
about a knight, who’s reading about Book Eating Boy? He soon discovers, access stories, and the wonders of
a frog… In this amazing book of however, that a book-eating diet the printed page. Ages: 4+
adventure, there’s something for isn’t that healthy… Ages: 3+
every reader! Ages: 0+

BUSY BOOKSHOP MY WORST BOOK EVER! THIS BOOK IS OUT OF

Marion Billet Allan Ahlberg & Bruce Ingham CONTROL!
£5.99 HB • 9781447264262 £10.95 HB • 9780500650905 Richard Byrne
Part of the energetic Busy series, Making picture books is such good £6.99 PB • 9780192746306
this board book is full of tabs you fun… but so many things can go An inventive picture book starring
can push, pull and turn to bring the wrong! This is the story of a picture Ben and Bella, in which the book
bookshop to life! Spin the wheel the book that’s doomed from the start, itself interferes with what happens
change the pictures, and pull the from the master of the genre Allan on the page. Press the buttons and
tab to make a dinosaur pop up. With Ahlberg, and illustrator Bruce witness the hilarious results every
bright and colourful illustrations Ingham. Can they get it together time the page is turned, in this
and a gentle rhyming text. Ages: 0+ and send a competent picture book interactive experience where you
to the printers? Ages: 4+ have to help to restore normality!
Ages: 5+

MAISIE GOES TO THE

BOOKSHOP THE BOOKSHOP GIRL
Lucy Cousins Sylvia Bishop & Ashley King
£8.99 HB • 9781406369847 £5.99 PB • 9781407159690
Adorable white mouse Maisy heads Property Jones was left in the lost
off the bookshop with her friends property cupboard of a bookshop
in this bibliophilic adventure. when she was five years old. She
Everyone has so much fun choosing loves living in the shop… but she
their books and imagining all sorts can’t read! When her family win a
of wild and wonderful things! They competition to win the magnificent
share their story time together and Montgomery Book Emporium,
even get to eat a tasty snack at the however, she finds herself in a heap
café. Ages: 0+ of trouble. Ages: 7+

16 17
 MUSICAL NURSERY RHYMES FUNNYBONES
Felicity Brooks Janet & Allan Ahlberg
£12.99 HB • 9781474918985 £6.99 PB • 9780140565812
Pressing the buttons throughout Allan Ahlberg’s classic story of SO MANY
this book plays the tunes for seven a funny bunch of skeletons who
classic nursery rhymes. The words are not the scary kind, illustrated
for each rhyme are also given to by his wife Janet Ahlberg. The
help with singing along, as well as a adventures of the big skeleton, the
range of other interactive features little skeleton, the dog skeleton and
including cut-out shapes and their night-time journey into the
finger-trails. Ages: 0+ unexpected are set to continue to
entertain. Ages: 0+
DR SEUSS: A CLASSIC NOW WE ARE SIX
TREASURY A. A. Milne
Dr. Seuss £8.99 PB • 9781405281294
£19.99 HB • 9780007234264 Initially published in 1927, these
NURSERY RHYMES IMAGINE Five Dr Seuss favourites including, children’s poems from the much-
BOOK & CD John Lennon & Jean Jullien The Cat In The Hat and Green Eggs loved author focus on Christopher
Axel Scheffler £12.99 HB • 9781847808967 & Ham, are brought together here, Robin’s experiences, including a
£7.43 HB • 9781509820634 Set to the lyrics of John Lennon’s providing the ideal introduction well-meaning attempt from Winnie-
iconic song Imagine, this to the uproarious stories, wacky the-Pooh to help Christopher with
Twelve childhood favourites, his homework. Ages: 7+
including Humpty Dumpty and Jack affectionately illustrated picture images and infectious rhymes that
and Jill, are collected for bedtime book tells the story of a pigeon have made Seuss’s imagined worlds
across this book and CD, featuring embarking on a mission to spread popular across the generations.
fun illustrations from The Gruffalo the word of peace throughout the Ages: 4+
illustrator Axel Scheffler. Ages: 0+ world. A royalty for every copy sold
will go to Amnesty International.
Ages: 2+ REVOLTING RHYMES A POEM FOR EVERY NIGHT
Roald Dahl & Quentin Blake OF THE YEAR
£5.99 PB • 9780141374123 Edited by Allie Esiri
Seemingly familiar fairy tales such £16.99 HB • 9781509813131
as Little Red Riding Hood and The This collection of 366 poems is
Three Little Pigs get the Roald arranged for each selection to
Dahl treatment in this collection of suit the date, from Maya Angelou
grizzly and gory rhymes, featuring on International Women’s Day to
the distinctive illustrations of Lewis Carroll on April Fool’s Day.
Quentin Blake. Ages: 5+ Featuring familiar poetic voices
as well as emerging talents, this
collection is ideal for sharing
between readers of all ages.
Ages: 7+

18 19
 THE GUGGENHEIM MYSTERY STORMBREAKER
Robin Stevens & Siobhan Dowd Anthony Horowitz
£9.99 HB • 9780141377025 £7.99 PB • 9781406360196
Twelve-year-old Ted Spark struggles After his uncle dies, fourteen-year-
to see the point of paintings, but old Alex is recruited into MI6. He is
when his aunt is falsely accused of set the task of investigating Herod
stealing a painting while working at Sayle who is offering top quality
New York’s Guggenheim Museum, Stormbreaker computers, which
Ted’s unique gifts of detection and seems just too good to be true. Ever
deduction are called back into action. wanted to know what it’s like to be a
Ages: 9+ teenage spy? Look no further!
Ages: 9+

THE NIGHT GARDENER THUNDERSTRUCK CODE NAME VERITY

The Fan Brothers Ali Sparkes Elizabeth Wein
£7.99 PB • 9781786030412 £6.99 PB • 9780192739360 £7.99 PB • 9781405278423
This debut picture book from the Fan Getting struck by lightning whilst Two unlikely friends are united by
brothers tells the remarkable story of huddling under a tree bestows Alisha the war effort, and then separated
the trees in William’s town becoming and Theo with the power to see Doug when one of them is captured by the
enlivened by topiary, with life in the and Lizzie, clad in seventies apparel Gestapo after having to evacuate a
town changing forever in the wake of and struck by lightning under the faulty plane over France. As Verity
this visit from the Night Gardener. same tree in 1975. Unfortunately, begins to write her account for her
Ages: 5+ other less friendly ghosts also begin captors, a moving tale of friendship
to make themselves known. Ages: 9+ and courage ensues. Ages: 12+

JULIA DONALDSON’S TWIST GASLIGHT THE WREN HUNT

OF TALES Eloise Williams Mary Watson
Julia Donaldson & Peter Bailey £6.99 PB • 9781910080542 £7.99 PB • 9781408884935
£6.99 PB • 9781781125700 Nansi’s search for her mother With tension between the augurs
Accessibly written and engagingly throughout Victorian Cardiff and the judges escalating, Wren the
illustrated, Julia Donaldson becomes all the more charged with augur must go undercover among
introduces the pleasures of fiction mystery when Nansi is conscripted the judges, employing her magical
and reading through a range of to Violet’s crooked psychic act, and powers in spite of the fact that each
funny stories and characters, such as when Violet’s associate Constance use of them depletes her grip on
the king who hides a terrible secret recognises Nansi, confirming the reality, and her sense of who the real
under his crown, and the marvellous mother’s identity. Ages: 9+ heroes and villains are. Ages: 12+
dream that inspires an epic journey.
Ages: 5+

20 21
 KID NORMAL THE TWITS
Greg James & Chris Smith Roald Dahl & Quentin Blake
£6.99 PB • 9781408884539 £5.99 PB • 9780141365497
Murph Cooper cannot help but Mr Twit and Mrs Twit happily live
feel out of place at his new school, in the nastiest way, and are a couple
because he feels that there is one best not meet. Muggle-Wump
something very different about the monkey and his family have been
himself compared with the other trapped by the Twits, but there is a
kids. Then he realises that his plan in motion to trick the foul pair.
Mum enrolled him in a school for Ages: 7+
superheroes by mistake! Ages: 5+

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED THE BUMPER BOOK OF THE MIDNIGHT GANG

AT THE MUSEUM VERY SILLY JOKES David Walliams
Davide Cali & Benjamin Chaud Steph Woolley & Jane Eccles £6.99 PB • 9780008164621
£8.99 HB • 9781452155937 £5.99 PB • 9781447226130 Midnight is a time of magic. When
If you’ve ever had a boring school Filled with jokes enough to make you all children should be asleep, there is
trip, this is sure to change your mind! cackle, any dull moments will vanish no rest for the Midnight Gang! When
Henry is late to a museum, and after reading this collection of over Tom is hit by a cricket ball, he finds
needs to catch up with his class. This 750 great quips. Includes gems such himself at Lord Funt’s hospital, only
is not as easy as it looks, because as ‘What do you call a woman with a to find less than friendly characters,
the exhibits are out of control with tortoise on her head?’ Shelley! especially the nasty looking matron
charging dinosaurs and erupting Ages: 7+ in charge of the ward. Ages: 9+
volcanoes! Ages: 7+

FORTUNATELY, THE MILK… DAVE PIGEON RADIO BOY AND THE

Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell Swapna Haddow & REVENGE OF GRANDAD
£6.99 PB • 9781408841792 Sheena Dempsey Christian O’Connell
From the bestselling author of The £5.99 PB • 9780571323302 £6.99 PB • 9780008200596
Ocean at the End of the Lane and The Have you ever wanted to learn From the award-winning broadcaster
Graveyard Book, this sees Gaiman Pigeonese? Good news, as long as comes the second instalment in the
explore an exciting world of pirates, you aren’t a cat. The thing is, the adventures of Spike, the World’s
wumpires and a very important cats take pigeons hostage in order to youngest DJ. When Spike’s grandad
carton of milk. A simple task of translate Pigeonese into Meow. This splits from Nan, he hopes to cheer
picking up milk turns into a very is unacceptable of course, because him up by inviting him on the show.
long journey home. Ages: 7+ Mean Cat must not discover Dave’s But Grandad only has three stories,
top secret ideas! Ages: 5+ and is soon sacked… Ages: 9+

22 23
 A MONSTER CALLS THE BELL JAR GIRL IN PIECES
Patrick Ness & Siobhan Dowd Sylvia Plath Kathleen Glasgow
£7.99 PB • 9781406361803 £12.99 PB • 9780571308408 £7.99 PB • 9781780749457
From the twice Carnegie Medal- Praised for its apt portrait of 1950s Seventeen year old Charlie Davis
winning Patrick Ness, this restyles society, Sylvia Plath’s only novel, has lost more than most, and she
the late Siobhan Dowd’s ideas about published in 1963, was based on her finds the best way to cope is through
loss and love. Conor keeps having own life, and explores the sometimes self-harm. This is an intense, yet
the same dream every night after his turbulent nature of relationships, incredibly strong narrative about
mother falls ill, but one particular and women’s aspirations through the possibilities of overcoming
night a visitor wants something: the the eyes of protagonist Esther traumatic life events. Ages: 13+
truth. Ages: 11+ Greenwood. Ages: 16+

A BOOK OF FEELINGS ALL THE THINGS THAT AM I NORMAL YET?

Amanda McCardie & COULD GO WRONG Holly Bourne
Salvatore Rubbino Stewart Foster £7.99 PB • 9781409590309
£6.99 PB • 9781406365917 £6.99 PB • 9781471145421 Evie is a girl that wants to be normal,
Brother and sister Sam and Kate Dan hates the fact that his big and a fresh start at a new college is
know what makes them happy, such brother has gone away. The only just what she needs. She does not
as cuddling Mum and reading a thing that helps him feel better need her past of taking meds to get
story with Dad. But they don’t feel about it is taking his anger out in the way of relationships, but her
happy all the time, and here we see on a schoolmate, Alex, at school. new friends Amber and Lottie do not
them explore their emotions, from However, when their mums arrange know. Can she afford to tell them?
feeling grumpy to embarrassed, for the two boys to finish building a Ages: 14+
frightened, sad and jealous. raft- it puts them to the test.
Ages: 0+ Ages: 9+

THE GREAT BIG BOOK OF ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES

FEELINGS Jennifer Niven
Mary Hoffman & Ros Asquith £7.99 PB • 9780141357034
£8.99 PB • 9781847807588 Violet Markey is ambitious, and has
Brilliantly illustrated by Ros Asquith, many plans for the future until her
this is a great introduction for sister dies very suddenly. Theodore
children to the importance of talking Finch finds it hard not to think
about your feelings, and being able about death. With strong emotional
to vocalise comfortably. There are themes, this is recommended for
brief text captions accompanying older teens. Ages: 14+
young characters in different
situations. Ages: 5+

24 25
 I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO FINGERPRINT ACTIVITIES:
CALL MY CAT ANIMALS
Simon Philip & Ella Bailey Fiona Watt & Erica Harrison
£6.99 PB • 9781471124136 £9.99 Spiral • 9781474914338
Choosing the name for your cat A great little activity book that
should be easy, shouldn’t it? Maybe helps develop early learning and
not! Find out just what this cat’s dexterity, this features simple
name turns out to be in this clever how-to instructions for creating
and witty picture book story from a animal scenes. The in-built pad of
debut author and a talented young ink results in no extra materials
illustrator. Ages: 0+ being needed in order to start
fingerprinting! Ages: 6+

FLIP FLAP DOGS SKY HAWK CLARE & HER CAPTAIN

Nikki Dyson Gill Lewis Michael Morpurgo &
£8.99 HB • 9780857637543 £6.99 PB • 9780192756244 Catherine Rayner
A charming but engaging Set in Scotland, this is an £7.99 PB • 9781781125281
combination flap experience which enthralling and poetic tale about When Clare goes on holiday to
is great for the whole family. There friendship. Callum and his friends Aunt Doris in Devon, it’s pretty
are plenty of ways to create several chase Iona off his farm into the boring, as her parents keep
dog hybrids. Why not a Whippet neighbouring village. But when arguing. However, things become
with a Chihuahua, which becomes Iona discovers a secret in the a bit brighter when she forms a
a Whippihuahua? The added nearby hills, she and Callum agree close friendship with retired horse,
charm comes from the author to tell no one else, and form a Captain, and his secluded owner.
having illustrated this herself. tentative alliance. Ages: 7+ Ages: 9+
Ages: 2+

CRAZY ABOUT CATS SHINY PIPPIN AND THE FOR THE LOVE OF BOB
Owen Davey BROKEN FOREST James Bowen
£12.99 HB • 9781911171164 Harry Heape & £8.99 PB • 9781444794052
This is a lovely compendium, Rebecca Bagley This is a special edition of The
perfect for feline fans. It £6.99 PB• 9780571332151 World According To Bob for the
boasts bold colourful images There’s a problem in the little age range of 11+. It focuses on the
communicating fascinating facts town of Funsprings, for Pippin. close relationship of James Bowen
about 38 species of cats, as well All the water and animals start with his feline companion, and
as covering a range of territories disappearing from her world, how it developed throughout dark
where these cats roam in the wild, and it’s up to her to stop it. She moments into a forever friendship.
such as the rainforest or the desert. discovers that Granny used to be A must-have for any cat-lover!
Ages: 5+ a secret crime fighter, and even Ages: 11+
better, she is Shiny. This means she
is able to talk to animals! Ages: 7+

26 27
 THE RAILWAY CHILDREN THE SECRET GARDEN THE ADVENTURES OF
E. Nesbit Frances Hodgson Burnett HUCKLEBERRY FINN
£5.99 PB • 9780099572992 £2.50 PB • 9781853261046 Mark Twain
After their father leaves under One of the best-loved children’s £2.50 PB • 9780007351039
mysterious circumstances, Roberta, stories of all time. Mary Lennox Set in the southern states of
Phyllis and Peter move into a was selfish and spoilt, until she America, this follows Huckleberry
cottage deep in the countryside. was sent to stay with her uncle Finn as he seeks a new life after
There they discover both the in Yorkshire. There, she finds a escaping his alcoholic father, by
beauty, and the dangers of the secret garden, and as she meets faking his own death. A fellow
railway. A picturesque insight into and befriends local boy Dickon, escapee from the slave trade, Jim,
an Edwardian childhood, and the and comes across her sickly cousin joins him on this journey and
ability to embrace change. Colin, her life is changed forever. together they adventure down the
Ages: 9+ Ages: 11+ Mississippi river. Ages: 12+

THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT LITTLE WOMEN TREASURE ISLAND

Beatrix Potter Louisa May Alcott Robert Louis Stevenson
£5.99 HB • 9780723247708 £5.99 PB • 9780099572961 & David Mackintosh
A timeless tale about a young Four sisters strengthen their bond £5.99 PB • 9781847494863
rabbit who, instead of picking through the hardships which fall The original tale of pirates
blackberries with his sisters, runs upon them after their father leaves and adventure, which was first
into Mr McGregor’s garden to to fight in the Civil War, in 19th published in 1881. When young
cause mischief. This warns of the century America. Living on very Jim Hawkins joins a voyage on the
consequences of bad behaviour, as little money, the girls learn new seven seas for buried treasure, as
Peter is spotted and chased by Mr ways to entertain themselves, and a cabin boy, he soon finds himself
McGregor. Ages: 3+ make the most of what they have. in the middle of mutiny with
Ages: 9+ some unsavoury and unprincipled
pirates. Ages: 11+

THE HAPPY PRINCE GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Oscar Wilde & Charles Dickens
Maisie Paradise Shearring £5.99 HB • 9781402766459
£10.95 HB • 9780500651117 Pip has an unexpected encounter
The story of a Swallow that takes with a convict on Christmas
refuge on a golden statue of a Eve, and does not think much of
prince in a European town. The it. Little does he know that this
Swallow does his bidding by occurrence will lead to meeting the
helping to deliver gold pieces from mysterious Miss Havisham and
the statue to those less fortunate. her adopted daughter Estella. This
The lively illustrations by Maisie classic novel is a simplified edition
Shearring really bring the story to aimed at younger readers.
life. Ages: 5+ Ages: 11+

28 29
 PEPPA’S LONDON DAY OUT ALL AROUND THE WORLD
STICKER & ACTIVITY BOOK Géraldine Cosneau
£3.99 PB • 9780241299494 £9.99 PB • 9781854379764
Join Peppa Pig and her little An illustrated journey of discovery
brother George, as they explore through different environments,
London, in this activity book including the ocean, the forest, the
based on an episode of the popular jungle, the desert and the Arctic.
animated TV series. With stickers, Each is shown in a giant, fold-out
dot-to-dots, spot the differences panorama, with quirky illustrations
and more, kids will love travelling and pictures to complete with
around the capital with Peppa’s hundreds of reusable stickers.
guide – the Queen! Ages: 3+ Ages: 6+

SING ALONG WITH ME!: THE ROSIE REVERE’S BIG THE ROUND THE WORLD
WHEELS ON THE BUS PROJECT BOOK FOR BOLD QUIZ BOOK
Yu-Hsuan Huang ENGINEERS £7.99 PB • 9781786574312
£6.99 HB • 9780857634382 Andrea Beaty & David Roberts This tricky quiz book, brought
Part of a series of bright, slider £8.99 PB • 9781419719103 to you by leading travel guide
board books featuring popular Based on the picture book Rosie publisher Lonely Planet, features
nursery rhymes, this bursts with Revere, Engineer, this will inspire more than 500 questions about
energy and cheerful illustrations. It young readers with creative our amazing world. With fun
includes both an instrumental and activities of all kids, such as illustrations and a bright neon
a vocal version of The Wheels On designing a bicycle, building a cover, it’ll keep the whole family
The Bus, accessed via a QR code catapult and constructing a solar entertained on the road, or at home.
on the first page, so little ones can oven. It helps teach problem- Ages: 8+
sing along. Ages: 0+ solving and creative-thinking skills
crucial to STEM fields. Ages: 4+

LOOK INSIDE SCIENCE MY TRAVEL JOURNAL BRAIN GAMES FOR CLEVER

Minna Lacey & £8.99 HB • 9781760341008 KIDS
Stefano Tognetti The must-have journal for any Gareth Moore
£9.99 HB • 9781409551287 adventure! This is full of exciting £4.99 PB • 9781780552491
This introduces you to the ways to keep memories safe, with A bestselling puzzle book, full
fascinating world of science, in a lots of spaces to draw, colour and of memory, word and number
simple and engaging way. With collage – small enough to fit into conundrums for the cleverest
flaps beneath flaps, science your backpack, it even boasts a of kids. Featuring everything
topics such as how plants bright neon cover! Ages: 5+ from battleships and spot the
grow, astronomy and forces, it differences to Japanese puzzles
also features simple practical such as hanjie, Sudoku and
experiments for you to try yourself. futoshiki, this will enable you to
Ages: 3+ test your brain skills to the limit!
Ages: 9+

30 31
 BUY F R O
M
YO U R LO
CA L

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