Books for Children

The Jeweller's Apprentice
by Axel Scheffler
Review date: 26.03.24
Age recommendation: 4+
The Swing
by Britta Teckentrup
A very special meditation on how a particular place can mean so much to so many.
Review date: 21.03.24
Age recommendation: 4+
Sounds Good
by Hans Konnecke
A wonderful mix of fun illustrations and fascinating facts about musical instruments. Something here for all ages but aimed at 4-8 years.
Review date: 15.03.24
Age recommendation: 4+
No Ballet Shoes in Syria
by Catherine Bruton
A beautiful, life-affirming but ultimately troubling story of the plight of a family of refugees, and a girl who loves ballet.
Review date: 10.03.24
Age recommendation: 9+
The Day My Dog Got Famous
by Jen Carney
A warm, funny, big-hearted book about a boy who's good at drawing who has a dog who isn't good at tricks. And much more.
Review date: 02.03.24
Age recommendation: 7+
Digging for Victory
by Cathy Faulkner
A brilliant story told in free verse exploring the challenges of wartime England. Who can be trusted? Who are the real heroes?
Review date: 25.02.24
Age recommendation: 9+
Snail in Space
by Rachel Bright
This is a funny, rhyming story about a snail, Gail the Snail in fact, who has always wanted to go to space and how she manages to achieve it. 
Review date: 18.02.24
Age recommendation: 3+
Christopher Nibble
by Charlotte Middleton
A delightful story about a guinea pig with wonderful collage illustrations sharing messages about the environment and cultivation, suitable for children aged three upwards
Review date: 09.02.24
Age recommendation: 3+
Don't Hug Doug
by Carrie Finison
A colourful rhyming picture book to introduce the theme of consent to young children!
Review date: 04.02.24
Age recommendation: 3+
Daisy and the Trouble with Space
by Kes Gray
In Daisy's latest exploits, we learn all about space in class projects, and also how it's best not to replicate the solar system on your bedroom ceiling.
Review date: 13.01.24
Age recommendation: 5+
A Mouse Called Julian
by Joe Todd-Stanton
Wonderful illustrations, of course, and a lovely story about friendship.
Review date: 13.01.24
Age recommendation: 3+
Flora and Ulysses
by Kate di Camillo
A quirky story of family and friendship, a squirrel with superhero powers, poems and comic strip illustrations. Wonderful!
Review date: 28.12.23
Age recommendation: 9+
D is for Dog
by Em Lynas
Fabulous illustrations of funny and mischievous dogs frolicking through a rhyming alphabet of their favourite activities!
Review date: 17.12.23
Age recommendation: 2+
Foxlight
by Katya Balen
A wonderful tale of family, a quest, the natural world and the stories we tell ourselves.
Review date: 18.11.23
Age recommendation: 8+
Operation Nativity
by Jenny Pearson
A funny, heartwarming time slip adventure where children are tasked with saving Christmas.
Review date: 05.11.23
Age recommendation: 7+
Shadowhall Academy: Whispering Walls
by Phil Hickes
A boarding school ghost story adventure - set in Suffolk!
Review date: 30.10.23
Age recommendation: 9+
Mouse and Mole Boo to the Who
by Joyce Dunbar
On their latest adventures, Mouse and Mole go on a country walk, spook themselves in the dark and muse about the meaning of life over a bowl of soup!
Review date: 05.10.23
Age recommendation: 3+
Rhubarb Lemonade
by Oskar Kroon
A summer on a remote Swedish island is wonderfully atmospheric in this coming-of-age novel.
Review date: 05.10.23
Age recommendation: 12+
Peter the Cat's Little Book of Big Words
by Zeb Soanes
The latest from Gaspard the Fox and his friends, this time we learn new words from Peter the Cat. Brilliant!
Review date: 04.10.23
Age recommendation:
The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm
by Kathryn Foxlee
A nostalgic, rural setting for a story about myths and legends, and a wyrm. Great central character in Mary-Kate.
Review date: 16.09.23
Age recommendation: 8+
The Final Year
by Matt Goodfellow
A wonderfully warm and hopeful story told in verse, with beautiful illustrations. There are challenges but great characters too. Brilliant!
Review date: 16.09.23
Age recommendation: 8+
Island of Whispers
by Frances Hardinge
A gripping gothic thriller with magic, ghosts and a coming-of-age, beautifully illustrated.
Review date: 07.09.23
Age recommendation: 11+
Code Name Kingfisher
by Liz Kessler
A beautifully told dual narrative with equally gripping stories of the present day issues facing a young girl at school and home, and wartime tragic events.
Review date: 04.09.23
Age recommendation: 9+
The boy at the top of the mountain
by John Boyne
War is approaching and a young boy is sent to live with his aunt in a wealthy household on the top of a mountain. A challenging and poignant story.
Review date: 02.09.23
Age recommendation: 11+
The Snow Girl
by Sophie Anderson
A magical, wintery tale of relationships won and lost. Very special.
Review date: 24.08.23
Age recommendation: 8+
This Summer's Secrets
by Emily Barr
A wonderfully sultry coming-of-age mystery set in summers in Cornwall.
Review date: 24.08.23
Age recommendation: teen
Yours from the Tower
by Sally Nicholls
A nostalgic tale of three young women in 1896 returning to their very different lives after boarding school. Told in letters, with a modern slant.
Review date: 19.08.23
Age recommendation: 12+
Book Hospital
by Leigh Hodgkinson
A fun and quirky story about looking after your books!
Review date: 11.08.23
Age recommendation: 3+
Worrybot
by Simon Packham
Josh has learnt ways to cope with his worrying, but then he has to move schools. A page turner which handles issues with fun and a light touch.
Review date: 11.08.23
Age recommendation: 9+
Polly Pecorino
by Emma Chichester Clark
Polly is a girl known for rescuing animals. When a bear cub is acquired by the local zoo, it's up to her to return him to his family in the wild wood.
Review date: 24.07.23
Age recommendation: 7+
Victor, the Wolf with Worries
by Catherine Rayner
A beautiful, gentle and reassuring story about how one particular wolf dealt with the things worrying him.
Review date: 18.07.23
Age recommendation: 3+
Friends and Traitors
by Helen Peters
A nostalgic story of boarding school capers, ghostly goings-on in a wartime setting, based on real events. Brilliant!
Review date: 06.07.23
Age recommendation: 9+
April's Garden
by Isla McGuckin
April and her mother have to move to temporary accommodation. Their story seeks to help all children dealing with a big life change.
Review date: 06.07.23
Age recommendation: 4+
The Koala Who Could
by Rachel Bright
Kevin the koala doesn't like change, but his friends want to show him how much fun he could have by trying something new.
Review date: 06.07.23
Age recommendation: 3+
Julia Donaldson's Book of Names
by Julia Donaldson
The hugely successful, much-loved writer Julia Donaldson has signed a lot of books for children, and here she recalls some of their names - in rhyme.
Review date: 05.06.23
Age recommendation: 3+
The Magician's Daughter
by Caryl Lewis
A warm, wonderful story about magic, friendship and family and new beginnings.
Review date: 05.06.23
Age recommendation: 8+
An Adventure for Lia and the Lion
by Al Rodin
Vibrant colours and quirky illustrations in this tale about understanding and appreciating our differences, and making friends!
Review date: 05.06.23
Age recommendation: 3+
Peril in the Atlantic
by AM Howell
The first in a new series of Mysteries at Sea, this is a fabulous adventure.
Review date: 29.05.23
Age recommendation: 8+
I, Spy: A Bletchley Park Mystery
by Rhian Tracey
A beautiful cover and a fabulous setting of Bletchley Park, this is a mystery adventure set at the start of World War II which is inspired by real events.
Review date: 22.05.23
Age recommendation: 9+
Molly and the Dolphins
by Malachy Doyle
Captivating illustrations make this picture book really come to life as Molly learns to sail and has adventures on the open sea.
Review date: 15.05.23
Age recommendation: 3+
If I were king
by Chelsea O'Byrne
Thomas wants to escape his annoying family and wishes he could be king so that he can do exactly what he wants.
Review date: 07.05.23
Age recommendation: 3+
My Dad is a Tree
by Jon Agee
Trees stay outside all day long, so a little girl encourages her dad to join her in pretending to be trees!
Review date: 04.05.23
Age recommendation: 3+
Welcome to the world
by Julia Donaldson
A beautifully illustrated celebration in rhyme, introducing a new baby to the world.
Review date: 25.04.23
Age recommendation: 3+
I heard a bird
by Rob Ramsden
Bold illustrations and a simple, cheery story about listening and enjoying the natural world.
Review date: 25.04.23
Age recommendation: 3+
AdventureMice Otter Chaos
by Philip Reeve
Pedro wants to have an adventure, and who better to help than the AdventureMice! A fun, lively story of courage and friendship with colourful, comical pictures throughout.
Review date: 11.04.23
Age recommendation: 5+
The Starlight Stables Gang
by Esme Higgs
A lovely, upbeat, big hearted pony story.
Review date: 03.04.23
Age recommendation: 7+
Slow Down and Be Here Now
by Laura Brand
A beautiful and informative book to explore the natural world mindfully.
Review date: 03.04.23
Age recommendation: 6+
The Boy Who Made Monsters
by Jenny Pearson
A fabulous adventure in Scotland searching for Loch Ness with a young boy whose dealing with the monsters in his own tragic story. Amazingly funny and uplifting while also dealing with grief, loss and uncertainty.
Review date: 29.03.23
Age recommendation: 9+
Dick the Delightful Duck
by Kaye Umansky
He doesn't look very delightful on the cover, but this is about the day when Dick got out of bed the wrong side.
Review date: 23.03.23
Age recommendation: 3+
Saving Winslow
by Sharon Creech
Louis has to care for a sick baby donkey, and learns lessons about love, loss, friendship and kindness.
Review date: 28.02.23
Age recommendation: 7+
Five Bears
by Catherine Raynor
A beautiful, deceptively simple but thought-provoking tale of strangers and friendship.
Review date: 24.02.23
Age recommendation: 3+
A spoonful of spying
by Sarah Todd Taylor
Planes and motorbikes, couture and patisserie, models and spies - this book has it all! And it's set in Paris at the 1931 World Fair.
Review date: 12.02.23
Age recommendation: 8+
Kind
by Alison Green
Review date: 09.02.23
Age recommendation: 3+
The Little Island
by Smriti Halls
Review date: 09.02.23
Age recommendation: 4+
Mooncat and Me
by Lydia Corry
A beautiful picture book about a huge cat and overcoming fear and anxiety.
Review date: 04.02.23
Age recommendation: 4+
Lizzy and the Cloud
by Eric fan
A wonderfully whimsical tale of a girl and her cloud, and setting someone you love free!
Review date: 30.01.23
Age recommendation: 3+
The Station Cat
by Stephen Hogtun
A haunting and moving tale of a station platform and how a kitten brings joy and hope.
Review date: 26.01.23
Age recommendation: 3+
Where The River Takes Us
by Lesley Parr
A wonderfully nostalgic adventure, with the miners strikes of the 1970s as a backdrop.
Review date: 16.01.23
Age recommendation: 9+
You don't know what war is
by Yeva Skalietska
The vivid and powerful diary of 12-year-old Yeva as she experiences the first twelve days of war in the Ukraine.
Review date: 16.01.23
Age recommendation: 11+
Pony
by RJ Palacio
Powerfully atmospheric of the American west in the late 1800s just before the Civil War. It's about ghosts and mystery, friendship, loyalty, courage and grief.
Review date: 16.01.23
Age recommendation: 11+
Saving Neverland
by Abi Elphinstone
A feminist, modern retelling of Peter Pan with Martha Pennydrop and her brother Scruff.
Review date: 03.01.23
Age recommendation: 9+
Murder at Snowfall
by Fleur Hitchcock
A gripping, sinister, snowy murder mystery!
Review date: 03.01.23
Age recommendation: 10+
Artichoke Hearts
by Sita Brahmachari
All about life and death, friendship and culture - lots to unpeel!
Review date: 30.12.22
Age recommendation: 9+
Beyond the Frozen Horizon
by Nicola Penfold
An exciting and thought-provoking ecological adventure set in the Arctic.
Review date: 30.12.22
Age recommendation: 11
Midwinter Burning
by Tanya Landman
A very moody time-slip novel set in Devon with evacuee Alfie learning about an ancient legend.
Review date: 30.12.22
Age recommendation: 9+
The Little Match Girl Strikes Back
by Emma Carroll
A feminist reworking of the Hans Christian Anderson classic, this is brilliantly and sensitively done. Fantastic!
Review date: 30.11.22
Age recommendation: 7+
Jim's Spectacular Christmas
by Emma Thompson
All about a very special dog who lives in the V&A Museum and helps deliver the very first Christmas card.
Review date: 30.11.22
Age recommendation: 4+
October, October
by Katya Balen
A beautiful, thoughtful and inventive read with owls and mudlarking, city and countryside, love and conflict. Brilliant!
Review date: 25.11.22
Age recommendation: 8+
Flying Scotsman
by Michael Morpurgo
This is a simple, gentle tale with beautiful watercolour illustrations. A nostalgic picture book by a winning partnership.
Review date: 14.11.22
Age recommendation: 5+
Billie Swift Takes Flight
by Iszi Lawrence
When Billie sees a plane crash into a field, her adventures begin. Wonderfully joyful and adventurous!
Review date: 06.11.22
Age recommendation: 9+
The baker by the sea
by Paula White
Inspired by the author's home in Lowestoft, this book recalls her grandfather's story as a baker in the beachside village. It's very lovely!
Review date: 20.10.22
Age recommendation: 4+
The boy and the mountain
by Mario Bellini
A delightful picture book about art and walking, nature and animals, friendship and looking a little more deeply.
Review date: 20.10.22
Age recommendation: 3+
Resist
by Tom Palmer
A wartime story inspired by the early life of Audrey Hepburn. Excellent!
Review date: 20.10.22
Age recommendation: 10+
It's only Stanley
by Jon Agee
A silly and affectionate story about inventiveness, imagination and family togetherness. Lovely!
Review date: 20.10.22
Age recommendation: 3+
The Ministry of Unladylike Activity
by Robin Stevens
The first in a new series to follow on from the hugely popular Murder Most Unladylike series.
Review date: 12.10.22
Age recommendation: 8+
Goodbye Hobbs
by Emma Bettridge
The most beautiful illustrations and a charming and touching story about coping with grief and loss through two friends, the dogs called Merlin and Hobbs.
Review date: 11.10.22
Age recommendation: 3+
The Lost Pony of Riverdale
by Amanda Wills
The start of a fabulous series of pony books about Poppy McKeever in her new home in Dartmoor, seeking to befriend a Connemara pony with a troubled past. Will she be able to claim him as her own?
Review date: 03.10.22
Age recommendation: 8+
Solo
by Adam Beer
A beautiful and funny picture book about dogs getting on together on an island!
Review date: 11.09.22
Age recommendation:
The Accidental Stowaway
by Judith Eagle
An action-packed, nostalgic adventure with a contemporary feel, set on a steam liner crossing the Atlantic. Wonderful!
Review date: 15.08.22
Age recommendation: 8+
The Funny Life of Football
by James Campbell
Silly and quirky, packed with useful and useless information about football, this is another gem from the children's comedian turned author.
Review date: 15.08.22
Age recommendation: 7+
Pebble
by Julia Jones
The sixth in a series of fabulous adventures set on the rivers and sea in East Anglia.
Review date: 01.08.22
Age recommendation: 7+
Peggy the Always Sorry Pigeon
by Wendy Meddour
Beautifully illustrated, amusing story about a pigeon who needs to stand up for herself.
Review date: 01.08.22
Age recommendation: 3+
Luna Loves Dance
by Joseph Coelho
Celebrating the joy of dance, culture and family in the latest story about Luna.
Review date: 11.07.22
Age recommendation: 3+
The Cure for a Crime
by Roopa Farooki
Review date: 04.06.22
Age recommendation:
Seed
by Caryl Lewis
A fabulously fun adventure where Marty, his grandfather and his friend Gracie plant a seed and follow their dreams.
Review date: 04.06.22
Age recommendation: 8+
Escape to the River Sea
by Emma Carroll
A wonderful nostalgic adventure in the Amazon rainforest, inspired by Eva Ibbotson's glorious book 'Journey to the River Sea'.
Review date: 04.06.22
Age recommendation: 8+
Ajay and the Mumbai Sun
by Varsha Shah
Ajay longs to be a reporter, but he's a 13-year-old boy fending for himself in the slums of Mumbai. A story of ambition and determination.
Review date: 22.05.22
Age recommendation: 8+
Needle
by Patrice Lawrence
A gripping and compelling drama touching on fostering and the criminal justice system, aimed at the early teen who is struggling with their reading.
Review date: 20.05.22
Age recommendation: 12+
Friends Like These
by Meg Rosoff
A wonderful summer read - a coming of age story set in New York in 1982. Beautifully sensual and atmospheric!
Review date: 10.05.22
Age recommendation: YA
There Once is a Queen
by Michael Morpurgo
A personal perspective of the life of Queen Elizabeth II, beautifully illustrated, making a delightful keepsake for the Platinum Jubilee.
Review date: 10.05.22
Age recommendation: 5+
Brand New Boy
by David Almond
An entertaining page-turner of a read which explored themes of fitting in, difference, AI and what it is to be human. It's aimed at readers aged 9-12 years
Review date: 22.04.22
Age recommendation: 7+
The Secret of the Treasure Seekers
by AM Howell
It's 1948. Treasure has been found on a farm near Ely, Cambridgeshire. This may be a significant archaeological find but all is not as it seems.
Review date: 05.04.22
Age recommendation: 8+
The Midnight Fair
by Gideon Sterer
The animals take over a funfair in the middle of the night. A beautiful picture book with no words.
Review date: 04.04.22
Age recommendation: 3-7 years
Mister Toots
by Emma Chichester Clark
What appears a fun and quirky tale about a strange creature on the doorstep has much to say about kindness, friendship and hospitality.
Review date: 21.03.22
Age recommendation: 3+
Too Much Stuff
by Emily Gravett
A fun look at the consequences of accumulating too much clutter, as seen through the life of a family of magpies.
Review date: 21.03.22
Age recommendation: 3+
Shades of Scarlet
by Anne Fine
Scarlet is caught in the middle when her mum and dad decide to separate, but can she find a way to get them back together?
Review date: 20.03.22
Age recommendation: YA
Phyllis and Grace
by Nigel Gray
This is a touching story of a young girl befriending her elderly neighbour who has Alzheimer's.
Review date: 19.03.22
Age recommendation: 3+
The Rollercoaster Boy
by Lisa Thompson
Todd and Laurie are on holiday with their Dad. The hotel is rundown and Dad isn't well, and then there are mysterious goings on!
Review date: 16.03.22
Age recommendation: 9+
Max Counts to a Million
by Jeremy Williams
A warm, funny, sensitive and uplifting story of one boy's lockdown, counting to a million!
Review date: 12.03.22
Age recommendation: 7+
The Duck Who Didn't Like Water
by Steve Small
A beautiful and amusing tale of rain, holes in the roof, and unlikely friendships.
Review date: 27.02.22
Age recommendation: 3+
When the Sky Falls
by Phil Earle
An angry boy is forced to live through the second world war with the owner of a rundown zoo.
Review date: 18.02.22
Age recommendation: 9+
The Comet
by Joe Todd-Stanton
Nyla has to leave her home in the countryside for a new life in the city, and she's struggling. Then a comet crashes through the streets and gives Nyla a chance to escape.
Review date: 11.02.22
Age recommendation: 3+
The Luckiest Kid in the World
by Danny Wallace
When Joe Smith is identified as the most average kid in the country, he feels very special indeed. A funny adventure which makes some serious points about life today!
Review date: 11.02.22
Age recommendation: 8+
Small in the City
by Sidney Smith
The city can be a noisy, busy, scary place when you're small. This is beautiful story about a physical and emotional uest has a heart-rending conclusion.
Review date: 07.02.22
Age recommendation: 3+
Has Anyone Seen Archie Ebbs?
by Simon Packham
Archie seems to have the perfect life and he's happy with school, friends and family, and his cat, Dinger. Then everything changes when Archie and his family lose their home.
Review date: 29.01.22
Age recommendation: 8+
The Summer We Turned Green
by William Sutcliffe
A funny but challenging story of climate change, activism and family.
Review date: 25.01.22
Age recommendation: 9+
The Blue Book of Nebo
by Manon Steffan Ros
A beautiful, haunting and life-affirming post-apocalyptic story of a mother and son learning to survive in their changed circumstances in rural Wales.
Review date: 18.01.22
Age recommendation: Teen
Aaron Slater Illustrator
by Andrea Beaty
This is the latest in the fabulous Questioneers series of fun and aspirational rhyming stories. Here we meet a young boy discovering the power of telling stories.
Review date: 08.01.22
Age recommendation: 5+
Breaking news
by Nick Sheridan
A fun, informative and interactive guide to coping with 24/7 news, tips on becoming a reporter, plus much more!
Review date: 28.12.21
Age recommendation: 8+
Lost
by Sam Usher
Beautiful, nostalgic, fun illustrations with a simple story of a relationship between a boy and his grandfather making the most of a grey, cold day.
Review date: 23.12.21
Age recommendation: 3+
The Hug
by Eoin McLaughlin
A beautiful, funny and clever book of two stories, a hedgehog in one then flip the book over to find out about tortoise in the other.
Review date: 23.12.21
Age recommendation: 3+
A song of gladness
by Michael Morpurgo
A delightful and moving story of hope and celebration, written by the former children's laureate Michael Morpurgo with stunning illustrations by the award-winning Emily Gravett.
Review date: 23.12.21
Age recommendation: 3+
Einstein the Penguin
by Iona Rangeley
A wry, funny and charming story about a penguin on a mission - perfect for the whole family to enjoy.
Review date: 23.12.21
Age recommendation: 7+
Amber Undercover
by Em Norry
This is a perfectly paced adventure, with great characters and topical issues, aimed at readers aged nine upwards.
Review date: 18.12.21
Age recommendation: 9+
The Bookshop Cat
by Cindy Wume
The black cat loves reading and working in the town's bookshop is purrfect, but then disaster strikes.
Review date: 23.11.21
Age recommendation: 3+
Everyone Sang
by William Sieghart
A wonderful collection of more than a hundred poems, beautifully illustrated by Emily Sutton.
Review date: 05.11.21
Age recommendation: 6+
The Mermaid in the Millpond
by Lucy Strange
A magical adventure set against the dark backdrop of the industrial revolution, this is a story of friendship, courage and loss.
Review date: 05.10.21
Age recommendation: 8+
How to help a hedgehog and protect a polar bear
by Jess French
A beautifully produced book which mixes education and inspiration with colourful, bold images. It's easy and fun to dip into, use as a reference guide, and to read from cover to cover.
Review date: 23.09.21
Age recommendation:
The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess
by Tom Gauld
An offbeat, quirky fable about love, loyalty and courage by the 'Guardian' literary cartoonist.
Review date: 09.09.21
Age recommendation: 3-7
Swarm Rising
by Tim Peake
Humour, action and inventiveness with feisty and engaging characters, in a scientific, interplanetary, futuristic adventure.
Review date: 09.09.21
Age recommendation: 9+
Fight Like a Girl
by Sheena Kamal
A young woman copes with her troubled family life by taking up martial arts. The self-confidence it brings helps her to deal with the truth.
Review date: 09.09.21
Age recommendation: 14-18
Creature
by Andrea Ballance
This is a strange and wonderful picture book for young readers all about cats and the universe!
Review date: 09.09.21
Age recommendation: 3+
When I was a fairy
by Tom Silson
A touching story about magic and memories and the bond between a grandmother and her granddaughter, for readers aged three upwards.
Review date: 07.08.21
Age recommendation: 3+
Air Miles
by John Burningham
A very moving story of new horizons and saying goodbye, with beautiful illustrations.
Review date: 07.08.21
Age recommendation: 3+
The woolly bear caterpillar
by Julia Donaldson
The brown, woolly caterpillar is crawling through the garden wondering about her future. What type of moth will she become?
Review date: 07.08.21
Age recommendation: 3+
About a song
by Guilherme Karsten
A father and son get on a train together, plug in some music and are transported to different times and places. Full of bold, vibrant, fun illustrations, this is a simple but thought-provoking story.
Review date: 07.08.21
Age recommendation: 3+
Little Echo
by Al Rodin
A surprising and original story of Little Echo living alone in a cave! Subtle and poignant with unusual and distinctive illustrations. Rather lovely.
Review date: 27.07.21
Age recommendation: 3+
The Elephant in the Room
by Holly Goldberg Sloan
A touching and compelling story of friendship and separation, and the bond between animals and humans. Wonderful.
Review date: 27.07.21
Age recommendation: 8+
The Other Side of the Whale Road
by KA Hayton
From a sleepy Suffolk village, we're transported to the Dark Ages, the time of King Edmund and the threat of invasion. This is a time slip novel aimed at teenage readers, and I was gripped!
Review date: 15.06.21
Age recommendation: teen
How to be Brave
by Daisy May Johnson
A beautiful cover, an intriguing title and a funny and inventive adventure, aimed at readers in middle grade, aged 9-12.
Review date: 03.06.21
Age recommendation: 9+
The Small Things
by Lisa Thompson
As Ellie is too ill to attend school, a robot takes her place in class, next to Anna. An inventive story of friendship and not being afraid to be who you are.
Review date: 03.06.21
Age recommendation: 8+
Mouse and Mole The Secret of Happiness
by Joyce Dunbar
Three charming and amusing stories with beautiful and nostalgic illustrations. Rather lovely!
Review date: 22.05.21
Age recommendation: 3+
Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City
by Rob Biddulph
Peanut's father has gone missing but when she discovers a box of pencils he left her, she finds that she can draw images which come to life, including a door to the world in which her father has disappeared.
Review date: 17.05.21
Age recommendation: 9+
Noah's Gold
by Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Stuck on an island with no mobile phones and when the internet is broken, they've run out of food and they've discovered treasure. What an adventure!
Review date: 13.05.21
Age recommendation: 8+
Show Us Who You Are
by Elle McNicoll
A fabulous, thought-provoking page-turner set in an imagined future where one young girl challenges the offer of artificial intelligence.
Review date: 19.04.21
Age recommendation: 10+
Weirdo
by Zadie Smith
Wonderful illustrations by Magenta Fox for this story about Maud the guinea pig, who's considered a bit of a weirdo by the other pets.
Review date: 13.04.21
Age recommendation: 3+
Maria's Island
by Victoria Hislop
A beautiful, touching and life-affirming story of the people on Spinalonga, the former Greek leper colony, with a wonderful narrator and glorious illustrations throughout.
Review date: 03.04.21
Age recommendation: 8+
The Swallows' Flight
by Hilary McKay
The stunning companion novel to 'The Skylarks' War'. Wonderful characters and a gripping and moving story of courage, resilience and friendship.
Review date: 02.04.21
Age recommendation: 9+
Mort the Meek and the Raven's Revenge
by Rachel Delahaye
The first in a new series of very funny stories about the pacifist, vegetarian Mort the Meek who has to survive in a brutal and violent kingdom.
Review date: 02.04.21
Age recommendation: 8+
No! said Rabbit
by Marjoke Henrichs
A charming simple tale of a wilful, contrary young rabbit!
Review date: 27.03.21
Age recommendation: infant
By Ash, Oak and Thorn
by Melissa Harrison
A magical adventure introducing the Hidden Folk who give us a different perspective on the natural world.  
Review date: 25.03.21
Age recommendation: 9+
The Boys
by Lauren Ace
A beautifully illustrated story of a group of boys growing up together.
Review date: 22.03.21
Age recommendation: 4+
Gaspard's Foxtrot
by Zeb Soanes
Beautiful pictures illustrate the story of a bus trip through London with a fox, to enjoy a concert in the park.
Review date: 08.03.21
Age recommendation: 3+
Amari and the Night Brothers
by BB Alston
Funny, clever and gripping adventure where Amari will do anything to try to find her missing brother.
Review date: 15.02.21
Age recommendation: 9+
The Weather Weaver
by Tamsin Mori
A fantastic adventure set in the Shetland Isles where the weather is magic!
Review date: 08.02.21
Age recommendation: 8+
The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh
by Helen Rutter
Billy wants to be a stand-up comic but he's got a stammer. It can take him a long time to get to the punchline. Wonderfully funny and affirming.
Review date: 05.02.21
Age recommendation: 8+
The Day the Screens Went Blank
by Danny Wallace
How would we cope if all the technology stopped working? The world is in chaos and grandma is on her own at the other side of the country...
Review date: 03.02.21
Age recommendation: 8+
Space Oddity
by Christopher Edge
A fun adventure which introduces science - though robots and alien life - to young readers.
Review date: 22.01.21
Age recommendation: 8+
Feelings
by Libby Walden
This beautiful peep-through board book combines mesmerising, colourful images with rhyming text to open up conversations about feelings.
Review date: 11.01.21
Age recommendation: 3+
How to be a Hero
by Cat Weldon
Vikings, valkyries, gods, heroics, adventure and giggles. The first in a fun and action-packed trilogy.
Review date: 06.01.21
Age recommendation: 8+
The Closest Thing to Flying
by Gill Lewis
Taking place in the present day as well as Victorian England, there are two heroines who between them experience illegal immigration, early days of the suffrage movement, formation of the RSPB, cycling, bullying, as well as friendship, courage and hope!
Review date: 06.01.21
Age recommendation: 8+
Just One of Those Days
by Jill Murphy
It's been a bad day for the Bear family. Warm, cosy pictures are supported by a fun, rhythmic story which has a message for all to enjoy.
Review date: 27.12.20
Age recommendation: 3+
The Last Bear
by Hannah Gold
There aren't meant to be any bears on Bear Island, and the only people living in this remote Arctic Circle landscape are April with her father, a scientist researching climate change. But April discovers that one weak, lonely polar bear has been left behind.
Review date: 27.12.20
Age recommendation: 8+
The House of One Hundred Clocks
by AM Howell
A beautifully atmospheric and nostalgic tale where, whatever happens, the clocks must not stop!
Review date: 20.12.20
Age recommendation: 9+
Wild Symphony
by Dan Brown
Review date: 14.12.20
Age recommendation: 3+
Jumbo: The Most Famous Elephant Who Ever Lived
by Alexandra Stewart
Beautiful illustrations support this true story of a baby elephant who makes the journey from Africa in 1860 to delight visitors to London Zoo and wow audiences of Barnum's show in New York.
Review date: 14.12.20
Age recommendation: 4+
The Blue Tit Travels Africa
by Astra Taylor-Todd
A charming and amusing tale of the adventures of a blue tit meeting new friends and gaining in courage, with stunning and sophisticated illustrations.
Review date: 12.12.20
Age recommendation: 3+
When the World Was Ours
by Liz Kessler
A powerful and heart-breaking story of Europe in the second world war, told through the perspective of three friends.
Review date: 12.12.20
Age recommendation: teen
The Time-travelling Caveman
by Terry Pratchett
A collection of quirky and inventive short stories from the late, great, storyteller, Terry Pratchett. Illustrated by Mark Beech.
Review date: 07.12.20
Age recommendation: 7+
Inch and Grub
by Alastair Chisholm
Quite silly and rather funny while also presenting a serious message about competition and contentment.
Review date: 30.11.20
Age recommendation: 3+
Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright
by Fiona Waters
A beautiful book full of glorious poetry about animals, richly illustrated throughout.
Review date: 29.11.20
Age recommendation: 5+
The Highland Falcon Thief
by M.G. Leonard
A fun, nostalgic adventure with beautiful illustrations and clues to solve, on a royal steam train. What isn't there to like about this book for readers aged eight and above?!
Review date: 19.11.20
Age recommendation: 8+
Britannica All New Children's Encyclopedia
by Christopher Lloyd
Fabulous facts collected by theme and bold, lively colour illustrations and photography throughout. Brilliant!
Review date: 10.11.20
Age recommendation: 7+
The Snowflake
by Benji Davies
A magical Christmas story about finding your place in the world, told from the perspective of a snowflake!
Review date: 04.11.20
Age recommendation: 3+
The Book of Hopes
by Katherine Rundell
A collection of short stories, poems and pictures from the very best children's authors and illustrators, to bring hope and happiness, and raise funds for the NHS Charities.
Review date: 04.11.20
Age recommendation: 5+
How to Be More Paddington
by Michael Bond
Wise words and beautiful pictures of the world according to Paddington Bear.
Review date: 04.11.20
Age recommendation: - all ages
Rosie Revere, Engineer
by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts
Quirky characters, fun pictures, a story told in rhyme with humour, wit and a great message.
Review date: 03.11.20
Age recommendation: 3+
The New Girl
by Nicola Davies
Beautiful and haunting illustrations and poetic writing turn a powerful message about acceptance, difference and bullying into a magical story for children aged four and above.
Review date: 03.11.20
Age recommendation: 3+
What We'll Build
by Oliver Jeffers
Rich in colour, emotion and hope for the future, this is a story of a father inviting his daughter to help him build a home for their life together.
Review date: 03.11.20
Age recommendation: 3+
The Hospital Dog
by Julia Donaldson
Told in rhyme with cheerful, lively illustrations, and a message of kindness, this is the story of Dot the Dalmatian who visits children in hospital.
Review date: 25.10.20
Age recommendation: 3+
The Misadventures of Frederick
by Ben Manley
This is a funny, silly and beautifully illustrated story about friendship, outdoor adventures and overcoming a fear of things that might go wrong!
Review date: 03.10.20
Age recommendation: 3+
Potkin and Stubbs
by Sophie Green
The first in a fabulous trilogy, introducing dynamic duo, Lil and Nedly as they seek to root out the sinister shenanigans in Peligan City.
Review date: 03.10.20
Age recommendation: 8+
Wed Wabbit
by Lissa Evans
Review date: 03.10.20
Age recommendation: 8+
The 1,000 year old boy
by Roos Welford
Review date: 03.10.20
Age recommendation: 8+
The Skylarks' War
by Hilary McKay
A beautiful, charming, amusing and poignant story of innocence in gloriously sunny holidays, and the stark realities of life and the tragedies of the First World War.
Review date: 03.10.20
Age recommendation: 8+
The Lost Spells
by Robert Macfarlane
A book to cherish always - stunning illustrations, beautiful words to sing, recite and savour, and a gold ribbon to mark your page!
Review date: 29.09.20
Age recommendation: 6+
Bloom
by Ann Booth and Robyn Wilson-Owen
A beautiful and surprising picture book with a powerful message.
Review date: 19.09.20
Age recommendation: 3+
Robin Hood: Hacking, Heists and Flaming Arrows
by Robert Muchamore
A fabulous modern interpretation of the myth of Robin Hood.
Review date: 05.09.20
Age recommendation: 11+
The Last Paper Crane
by Kerry Drewery
Mizuki's grandfather is sad and full of regret and guilt for a terrible episode in his past.
Review date: 27.08.20
Age recommendation: 13+
Shy Ones
by Simona Ciraolo
A beautiful and funny picture book for young children, with a positive encouraging message.
Review date: 24.08.20
Age recommendation: 3+
Framed
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
A fun adventure set in Wales, inspired by real events during World War II when paintings held by the National Gallery were hidden in the mountains to keep them safe. Brilliant!
Review date: 17.08.20
Age recommendation: 7+
After the war
by Tom Palmer
With WWII finally over, three boys are among 300 children who have been brought from Europe to the peace and safety of England's Lake District.
Review date: 12.08.20
Age recommendation: 8+
Clap When You Land
by Elizabeth Acevedo
Two girls are united in grief as a plane crashes. An extraordinary book with a dual narrative in blank verse. For young adult readers.
Review date: 02.08.20
Age recommendation: Teen
The Unadoptables
by Hana Tooke
A quirky, charming adventure following five children who have been abandoned, left in the hands of the cruel staff at the Little Tulip Orphanage.
Review date: 19.07.20
Age recommendation: 9+
The Soup Movement
by Ben Davis
A powerful message with engaging, resourceful characters. Loved it!
Review date: 05.07.20
Age recommendation: 9+
A Sky Painted Gold
by Laura Wood
A charming, magical, escapist summer read, particularly for anyone who loves the 1920s and the Cornish coast!
Review date: 22.06.20
Age recommendation: Teen
Cloudburst
by Wilbur Smith
A fabulous African adventure for older children from the master storyteller, Wilbur Smith, with Chris Wakling.
Review date: 28.05.20
Age recommendation: 11+
The Star Outside My Window
by Onjali Q. Rauf
A beautifully told story of believing in a star, but with the backdrop of domestic abuse, grief and foster care.
Review date: 16.05.20
Age recommendation: 9+
Becoming Dinah
by Kit de Waal
Coming-of-age road trip novel about identity, loss, friendship, fractured relationships - also described as a feminist take on 'Moby Dick'!
Review date: 29.04.20
Age recommendation: Teen
Gaspard the Fox
by Zeb Soanes
A beautiful story of the relationship between humans and animals in London streets, illustrated by James Mayhew.
Review date: 15.04.20
Age recommendation: 3+
The Guggenheim Mystery
by Robin Stevens
Three children investigate an art theft and explore the streets of New York trying to find the answers. Funny, clever and great scene-setting, this is a fabulous follow-up to The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd.
Review date: 09.04.20
Age recommendation: 8+
The Great Godden
by Meg Rosoff
The story of one family, one summer, in a holiday home by the coast. A wonderful escapist coming-of-age read.
Review date: 09.04.20
Age recommendation: - teens
The Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue
by Anna Fargher
Based on the true stories of heroic animals in the second world war, this is the sequel to The Umbrella Mouse. Beautiful illustrations and a powerful story for readers aged 8+.
Review date: 09.04.20
Age recommendation: 8+
Potkin and Stubbs - The Haunting of Peligan City
by Sophie Green
A return to Peligan City to meet our crusading investigators Lil Potkin and Nedly Stubbs, and it's darker and funnier than the first book!
Review date: 07.11.19
Age recommendation: 9+
Piglettes
by Clementine Beauvais
A funny, uplifting, quirky and inspiring story of three girls who take a road trip to Paris to prove themselves after bullying at school.
Review date: 07.11.19
Age recommendation: Teen
The Sharp Edge of a Snow Flake
by Sif Sigmarsdottir
Social media influencers, investigative journalism, manipulation of the truth and murder, in Iceland. A thriller with two young women at its heart, taking on troubling contemporary themes.
Review date: 07.11.19
Age recommendation: Teenager
The Umbrella Mouse
by Anna Fargher
A beautifully written animal adventure set in World War II, with tragedy and heroism in equal measure.
Review date: 30.04.19
Age recommendation: 9+
A Girl Called Justice
by Elly Griffiths
The first in a series of children's books by the writer of the best-selling Ruth Galloway novels, published in May 2019.
Review date: 07.04.19
Age recommendation: 9+
Potkin and Stubbs
by Sophie Green
A fabulous, inventive, funny, detective-ghost story which is the first of a trilogy. And what a great cover!
Review date: 23.03.19
Age recommendation: 9+
The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree
by Paola Peretti
A charming, poignant tale of a young girl who is facing the loss of her sight.
Review date: 03.10.18
Age recommendation: 8+
Buried Crown
by Ally Sherrick
Set in wartime Suffolk, steeped in the myths of the Sutton Hoo finds, this is a story of friendship, courage, superstition and faith.
Review date: 25.09.18
Age recommendation: 8+
Boy 87
by Ele Fountain
Prompted by news reports of children fleeing war and poverty, this is a powerful story of hope and friendship in terrible, terrifying circumstances.
Review date: 18.05.18
Age recommendation: 8+
Black Powder
by Ally Sherrick
A story of violence, cruelty and betrayal, while also celebrating courage, loyalty and friendship. Stunning!
Review date: 17.04.18
Age recommendation: 8+
Liar and Spy
by Rebecca Stead
Review date: 06.03.18
Age recommendation:
Ghost Boys
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
A stunning book for young readers. Powerful, challenging and incredibly sad, as this explores racism in the US.
Review date: 10.02.18
Age recommendation: 9-13
The List of Real Things
by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
Grace and Bee's parents have died suddenly and the two girls are dealing with their deaths very differently. A charming, beautiful and moving book, due to be published on 29 March 2018.
Review date: 07.02.18
Age recommendation: 9+
The Last Wild
by Piers Torday
Reading just one section of the book at a time for each week's discussion was tough. There was tension, humour and great characterisation in this imagined future of a corrupted world.
Review date: 31.01.18
Age recommendation: 9+
One
by Sarah Crossan
A moving and sensitive account of conjoined twins, told in verse. Amazing!
Review date: 11.10.17
Age recommendation: Young Adult
One Christmas Wish
by Katherine Rundell
A beautifully illustrated, charming story for all the family to enjoy at Christmas.
Review date: 09.10.17
Age recommendation: 5-8 years
Sky Hawk
by Gill Lewis
A gripping read which is moving, uplifting and educational!
Review date: 28.02.16
Age recommendation: 8+
Mango and Bambang the Not-a-Pig
by Polly Faber
A funny and charming collection of linked stories, beautifully illustrated by Clara Vuillaumy.
Review date: 22.12.15
Age recommendation: 3+
Minus Me
by Ingelin Rossland
Beautifully written adventure of a seriously ill 13-year-old girl - her coming of age as she faces death, with a twist.
Review date: 14.11.15
Age recommendation: 11+
Grrrrr!
by Rob Biddulph
Fun illustrations, rhyming text and a grrrrreat story!
Review date: 10.11.15
Age recommendation: 3+
Trash
by Andy Mulligan
Three boys living on a dumpsite make a discovery they have only dreamed about. But will it bring them a new and better life or destroy them? A stunning thriller.
Review date: 09.10.15
Age recommendation: 11+
Liquidator
by Andy Mulligan
When work experience goes out of control! A fantastic idea which has produced a gripping and ultimately uplifting thriller.
Review date: 06.10.15
Age recommendation: 11+
Longbow Girl
by Linda Davies
A thrilling adventure set in Wales with archery, adventure, time travel, romance and a strong female character.
Review date: 29.09.15
Age recommendation: 11+
Oliver and Patch
by Claire Freedman
Combining chic and cute in beautiful illustrations with a touching and uplifting story.
Review date: 18.08.15
Age recommendation: 3+
How the Library (not the prince) Rescued Rapunzel
by Wendy Meddour
A silly modern take on the story of Rapunzel with a more positive message about girls and libraries!
Review date: 30.06.15
Age recommendation: 3+
The Astounding Broccoli Boy
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Another funny adventure from this brilliant author, inspired by real events!
Review date: 18.05.15
Age recommendation: 9+
The Apple Tart of Hope
by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
A beautiful, perfectly constructed, magical book about friendship and the importance of kindness.
Review date: 16.04.15
Age recommendation: 10+
The Rest of Us Just Live Here
by Patrick Ness
Terrible things are happening in town, but Mikey and his friends just want a normal life. Published in August.
Review date: 07.04.15
Age recommendation: Teenager
Fire Colour One
by Jenny Valentine
A YA novel about troubled relationships, love, loyalty, deception and revenge, and art. Published in July.
Review date: 06.04.15
Age recommendation: 12+
Bears Don't Read
by Emma Chichester Clark
A funny, sweet, stimulating and colourful introduction to the adventure of reading a book
Review date: 01.04.15
Age recommendation: 3+
The Golden Plate
by Bernadette Watts
Delightful, traditional illustrations for a story with a powerful message.
Review date: 07.03.15
Age recommendation: 4+
The Winter Horses
by Philip Kerr
A powerful, shocking and moving story of war and survival.
Review date: 10.02.15
Age recommendation: 9+
Snow Day
by Richard Curtis
A beautifully illustrated book celebrating the magic that a snowy day brings.
Review date: 22.12.14
Age recommendation: 3+
William and the Missing Masterpiece
by Helen Hancocks
An amusing, colourful tale about a cat detective searching for the Mona Cheesa in Paris!
Review date: 12.11.14
Age recommendation: 3+
The Baking Life of Amelie Day
by Vanessa Curtis
A teenage girl loves baking and plans to enter a national competition, but her illness looks set to get in the way.
Review date: 15.09.14
Age recommendation: 9+
Zeraffa Giraffa
by Dianne Hofmeyr
With beautiful illustrations by Jane Ray, this is a real life fairy story.
Review date: 28.07.14
Age recommendation: 3+
We Were Liars
by E. Lockhart
A beautiful, sensual account of family summers off Cape Cod, where a tragedy exposes this life of luxury and privilege.
Review date: 23.06.14
Age recommendation: YA
Jumping Jack
by Germano Zullo
A funny story about a champion showjumper with quirky, colourful illustrations by Albertine
Review date: 16.06.14
Age recommendation: 3+
Broken Glass
by Sally Grindley
A gripping and moving adventure about two brothers, set in the poverty of India.
Review date: 03.04.14
Age recommendation: 7+
Rosie Revere Engineer
by Andrea Beaty
Review date: 17.03.14
Age recommendation:
A Walk in London
by Salvatore Rubbino
A gentle story, retro illustrations, packed with detail and fascinating facts about London.
Review date: 17.02.14
Age recommendation: 4+
Never Ending
by Martyn Bedford
Surprising subject matter but beautifully pitched. Gripping and thought-provoking - how do we handle grief?
Review date: 20.01.14
Age recommendation: Teen
More Than This
by Patrick Ness
A gripping thriller about a boy who thinks himself dead!
Review date: 16.12.13
Age recommendation: Teen
The Promise
by Nicola Davies
An unusual and sophisticated picture book about making a difference.
Review date: 11.11.13
Age recommendation: 5+
The Day the Crayons Quit
by Drew Daywalt
Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, this is a funny, quirky book containing letters from crayons to a little boy.
Review date: 17.10.13
Age recommendation: 3+
Between the Lines
by Jodi Picoult
For everyone who loves books, and wishes their favourite characters would come to life.
Review date: 29.07.13
Age recommendation: Teen
Split second
by Sophie McKenzie
A bomb explodes in a city market and the lives of two teenagers are changed forever. An action-packed thriller.
Review date: 28.07.13
Age recommendation: Teen
Forbidden Friends
by Anne-Marie Conway
A holiday friendship fills two young girls with happiness and hope, but instead a dark secret threatens their future together.
Review date: 03.07.13
Age recommendation: 10+
One Dollar Horse
by Lauren St John
A feel-good story about overcoming the odds for a girl whose dream is to ride in the Badminton Horse Trials.
Review date: 21.05.13
Age recommendation: 11+
Butter
by Erin Lange
Review date: 07.05.13
Age recommendation: Teen
Back to Blackbrick
by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
An astonishing book exploring Alzheimer's and time travel!
Review date: 30.03.13
Age recommendation: 10+
How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant
by Elen Caldecott
Bringing humour and adventure to a story which encompasses loyalty, the importance of keeping your word and bereavement.
Review date: 28.03.13
Age recommendation: 8+
Extra Yarn
by Mac Barnett
A little girl loves knitting and with her endless supply of wool, she can supply the whole neighbourhood with colourful garments.
Review date: 25.03.13
Age recommendation: under 4
The Lucy Variations
by Sara Zarr
A talented young pianist opts out of the competition circuit, alienating herself from her ambitious family, then looks again at what she wants from life. Published in May.
Review date: 11.03.13
Age recommendation: 13+
Little Miss Bronte Jane Eyre
by Jennifer Adams
Lovers of Charlotte Bronte's classic novel will not fail to be delighted by this clever, quirky board book, teaching children numbers 1 to 10.
Review date: 25.01.13
Age recommendation: 18 months upwards
Maggot Moon
by Sally Gardner
A stunning, compelling story with so many layers and facets.
Review date: 14.01.13
Age recommendation: 11+
A World Between Us
by Lydia Syson
Review date: 26.11.12
Age recommendation: Teenage
The High Street
by Alice Melvin
A beautiful lift-the-flap picture book celebrating traditional town shops with a contemporary look.
Review date: 17.09.12
Age recommendation: 4
Pirate Gran Goes for Gold
by Geraldine Durrant
A picture book which is great fun: lots to look at in the illustrations and plenty of giggles from the text
Review date: 09.07.12
Age recommendation: Under 5 years
Hero on a Bicycle
by Shirley Hughes
Review date: 22.05.12
Age recommendation: 10+
Noah Barleywater Runs Away
by John Boyne
The book is a funny, magical modern fairy tale, and while there is a little bit of sadness, it is a story of hope.
Review date: 19.03.12
Age recommendation: 9+
Daylight Saving
by Edward Hogan
A ghost story with 'issues' set at a woodland holiday complex.
Review date: 11.02.12
Age recommendation: 12+
Mockingbird
by Kathryn Erskine
A fascinating and charming portrayal of a girl with Aspergers struggling to come to terms with tragedy.
Review date: 23.01.12
Age recommendation: 12+
Clara Button and the Magical Hat Day
by Amy de la Haye
Beautiful, detailed illustrations and a charming story set around the Victoria and Albert Museum and a visit to London.
Review date: 28.11.11
Age recommendation: 4-7
Between Shades of Gray
by Ruta Sepetys
A moving and haunting fictionalised account of a young girl deported with her family from Lithuania to Siberia during the Second World War.
Review date: 26.11.11
Age recommendation: Teenage
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
A sequel to the classic story written by Ian Fleming and turned into a film by Roald Dahl.
Review date: 11.10.11
Age recommendation: 8+
S.W.I.T.C.H. Beetle Blast
by Ali Sparkes
The adventures of twins Josh and Danny who, thanks to an experimental serum, turn into insects!
Review date: 27.09.11
Age recommendation: 6 - 8
Theodore Boone
by John Grisham
Best-selling American author, John Grisham has written his first book for children with this tale of Theodore Boone, a 13-year-old who can't wait until he can become a lawyer.
Review date: 08.08.11
Age recommendation: 9+
Life: An Exploded Diagram
by Mal Peet
Review date: 20.06.11
Age recommendation: Teenage
The Truth about Celia Frost
by Paula Rawsthorne
We are introduced to Celia as she comes to realise that her life has been built on a lie.
Review date: 29.05.11
Age recommendation: 12+
Boys Don't Cry
by Malorie Blackman
Dante is listening out for the postman bringing his A level results. He's quietly confident and looking forward to university but when the doorbell rings, he's surprised to see an ex-girlfriend with a baby and life suddenly takes a completely different path.
Review date: 23.05.11
Age recommendation: Teenage
Gravenhunger
by Harriet Goodwin
A ghost story for children set in a house inspired by Sutton Hoo, near Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Review date: 26.04.11
Age recommendation: 9+
The London Eye Mystery
by Siobhan Dowd
Ted and Kat are waiting for their cousin, Salim to come off the London Eye. They've seen him get in, and watched his pod on its entire rotation, but when the doors open, he doesn't come out.
Review date: 10.04.11
Age recommendation: 7+
Flip
by Martyn Bedford
Fourteen-year-old Alex Gray wakes up one morning to discover he's not in his own bedroom. He goes downstairs to be greeted by a family he's never met before. And when he looks in the mirror, he doesn't recognise himself. How is it possible that Alex has become another boy - someone called Philip? And how have six months passed overnight?
Review date: 09.04.11
Age recommendation: 12+
Stan and Mabel
by Jason Chapman
A dog and a cat, fed up with life in their block of flats, decide to follow a neighbour to Europe to hear her play in a music competition. Along the way they meet other animals who can play musical instruments and together they form an orchestra to appear at the competition themselves.
Review date: 24.01.11
Age recommendation: 3+
Cosmic
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
A group of children win a prize to go on a trip into space - but this is no theme park ride...
Review date:
Age recommendation: 7+
Millions
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
A family's dilemmas when they discover they have stumbled across millions of pounds.
Review date:
Age recommendation: 7+
There's a girl in the boy's bathroom
by Louis Sacher
Bradley tells lies and his teachers refer him to a counsellor to deal with his behaviour problems.
Review date:
Age recommendation: 7+
That's Life, Lily
by Valerie Dayre
Disgruntled Lily imagines life without her parents, but what is real and what's not in her account of that summer?
Review date:
Age recommendation: 7+
Magical Moon Cat: Moonbeams and the Dream Cafe
by Annie Dalton
Feel good, fun and magical story for girls
Review date:
Age recommendation: 7+
Ghost Knight
by Cornelia Funke
A beautifully illustrated but very sinister ghost story for children set around Salisbury Cathedral, published in October.
Review date:
Age recommendation: 8+
I Capture the Castle
by Dodie Smith
This wonderful coming-of-age classic is set in a castle inspired by the ruins at Wingfield, near Eye, Suffolk.
Review date:
Age recommendation: teen
I Believe in Unicorns
by Michael Morpurgo
Children gather around a model of a unicorn in their library to listen to stories, but one day tragedy strikes.
Review date:
Age recommendation: 7+
Jordan Stryker Bionic Agent
by Malcolm Rose
A massive explosion destroys the south of England, but one boy is saved and his damaged body is rebuilt.
Review date:
Age recommendation: 9+
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece
by Annabel Pitcher
James has just moved to the Lake District with his dad and his older sister, Jasmine. It is meant to be a fresh start for them all.
Review date:
Age recommendation: 11+
Being Billy
by Phil Earle
Billy lives in a care home. He is considered trouble because no one can touch him. He does what he wants, and he is full of anger. But Billy's younger brother and sister live in the home with him. They have known nothing else, and Billy will do anything to protect them.
Review date:
Age recommendation: 12+