Brilliant Middle Grade from Barrington Stoke ~ Autumn 2022

Barrington Stoke books are wonderful in their diversity, ability to evoke thoughtful emotion and incredibly enjoyable stories. Written by top-notch, current authors, they are the gold-standard of quality and appropriateness for today’s children. With dyslexia-friendly font, spacing and page tint, everyone can enjoy these books. The manageable length and carefully chosen vocabulary encourages success and brings children back for more.

Bertie and the Alien Chicken by Jenny Pearson (Jan 2023)

Jenny Pearson is back with a hilariously far-out farmyard adventure perfect for readers in Year 2 onwards. Bertie does not want to spend the summer with his uncle at Long Bottom Farm. It’s smelly, muddy and not very much fun. Everything changes when he meets Nugget, an alien chicken, who is trying to find the most important resource on Earth. Bertie joins in his quest with unusual results.

In true Jenny Pearson style, this brilliant story encourages children to think about what really matters to them. In their quest to find the world’s most important resource, Bertie and Nugget discover the value of friendship, family and a sherbet lemon.

Picture Perfect by Serena Patel & Louise Farshaw (July 2022)

All Sonal wants is a photograph of her family altogether, all looking the same way and not on their phones. Is that too much to ask? Apparently it is and Sonal is worried she’ll never finish her photography project for school.

Her lovely grandfather, Nanna, suggests a family camping trip and digital detox so they can spend some time together without all the distractions of everyday life. They find it tough but, ultimately, it brings them all closer together. What they discover along the way is that time together, special moments, stories and memories are worth far more than the time they spend on their gadgets. Family life is messy and slightly out of focus but they all love each other and that’s what really matters.

The Day My Family Disappeared by Jo Simmons & Lee Cosgrove (September 2022)

Bob Bunyan comes from a family of artists and performers yet he is completely ordinary. He’s teased, left out and made to feel that being ‘normal’ is something to be ashamed of. He has enough of feeling rubbish and wishes his family would disappear.

The next morning, it seems like his wish has come true. With Home Alone vibes, Billy has been left to fend for himself. At first it’s brilliant but then reality hits. As he sets out to try to find his family, readers will laugh out loud at his attempts at survival. He’s not exactly Bear Grylls and life in the wild (with sheep) is almost more than he can handle. Billy soon realises just how much his family mean to him.

Journey Back to Freedom by Catherine Johnson (September 2022)

Based on Olaudah Equiano’s own book and detailed research, Journey Back to Freedom tells the harrowing story of a child sold into slavery who grows in strength and determination to eventually earn his own freedom.

Faced with the trauma of kidnap, loss of his family and even his own name, as well as immeasurable cruelty, he battles through life almost as a living ghost to discover who he really is. He clings to what makes him human and doesn’t let his “masters” destroy his spirit.

This book shares a part of history traditionally hidden and left untold. It is a powerful vessel for empathy and truth, allowing readers to understand the reality so many people faced and how long it took for slavery to be abolished.

Everest: Reaching the Roof of the World by David Long & Stefano Tambellini (September 2022)

David Long is an expert in history for children who knows exactly how to pitch facts in a fascinating and accessible way. His latest book for Barrington Stoke is no exception. This book provides detailed non-fiction for older readers with plenty of text for research and reference.

This comprehensive record of the ultimate challenge includes everything from the very first attempts to Sir Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Tenzing Norgay’s success in 1953 to the queue of ambitious trekkers trying to reach the peak today. Equipment challenges, the impact of weather, imposing dangers and significant individuals give readers the full picture.

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