Me and My Brian is another entertaining and enriching story from Helen Rutter. Exploring the impact of family stress on relationships and mental health, it provides readers with very real strategies for dealing with an overactive brain that threatens to get the better of them. Josh has always had a mixed relationship with his brain… Continue reading Me and My Brian by Helen Rutter
Cuddle up under a blanket and keep the curtains closed! The queen of gothic tales, Lucy Strange, has done it again with a story that will send shivers down your spine. The Boy at the Window is a hauntingly gothic book inspired by dark stories of the 18th century. It will make a perfect addition… Continue reading The Boy at the Window by Lucy Strange & illustrated by Rohan Eason
Jenny Pearson's stories are always an absolute delight with true-to-life characters dealing with issues in unique, laugh-out-loud ways. This Christmas break has brought two new books from Barrington Stoke and Usborne that are a joy to read and perfect for children of all ages. Bigfoot and the Wild Boys (Barrington Stoke) - January 2025 Joe… Continue reading Brilliant Books by Jenny Pearson (Bigfoot and the Wild Boys & The Race Against Crime)
The Birthday Cake Thief is the first in a delightful new Little Gems series for young readers age 5+. Absolutely iconic Vashti Hardy, this vibrant story is a fabulous combination of STEM, action-packed adventure, engaging mystery and family connection. A bionic unicorn and a cog bunny named Gearlop join Hana and her new friend, detective… Continue reading The Moonlight Mystery Agency: The Birthday Cake Thief by Vashti Hardy
The dream team of Vashti Hardy and accessible publisher Barrington Stoke are back with the new Relic Hunters adventure series. Vashti's signature story elements shine through: a passion for STEM, the strength and intelligence of her characters, empowerment of girls, and inspiring adults who challenge young people to be true to themselves. Mabel and Will… Continue reading The Clockwork Key by Vashti Hardy
Midnight Adventures in Primrose Park contains two beautiful stories about the dangers British wild animals face. With short chapters and appealing illustrations, readers are taken from the animals' natural habitats to the scary city. Dogs, barbed wire fences, cars and flooding threaten the animals' health and separate them from their families. Hassan's mum works for… Continue reading Midnight Adventures in Primrose Park by Helen Peters
AdelAide Just Wants to Help is the second in a set of three standalone tech thrillers for age 11+. Published by Barrington Stoke, these scarily realistic stories are super accessible for teen readers (reading age 8+) with font, page tint and vocabulary that ease reading rather than distracting from the high-quality adventure. These stories are… Continue reading AdelAide Just Wants To Help by Melinda Salisbury
Family relationships are key to children's experiences and understanding of the world so books like He Says... She Says... are perfect for young readers. Playing with the funny side of intergenerational dynamics, it allows children to think about their own families and appreciate the time they have together. Skye and Harry will be spending the… Continue reading He Says… She Says… by Anne Fine & Gareth Conway
I absolutely adored the first The Island Vet adventure, Pirates and Sea Monsters, in which Tia and her mum move to Gull Haven Island and discover a wonderful community of people and animals waiting for them. Tia realises the importance of her mum's job as a vet and is able to help during a storm.… Continue reading The Island Vet: Rescue at Seal Bay by Gill Lewis
Tony Bradman and Sally Nicholls write fantastically honest and real stories for children. When Saturday Comes & Too Nice help readers understand the challenges of families splitting up and trying to balance the needs of two parents. When Saturday Comes by Tony Bradman & Tania Rex Daniel loves football! His team, the Haybrook Rockets, are… Continue reading Stories of Family from Barrington Stoke
Scope for Imagination 