With thoroughly researched historical detail, Call of the Titanic reimagines the sinking of the Titanic and the terrible aftermath in a way that makes it a comfortable read for children to understand and relate to. Lindsay Galvin also includes her trademark story ingredient of myth and legend, linked to reported historical sightings of sea serpents… There is no doubt that this book will be as popular to read in the classroom and as it will be during summer holidays.
 
Young cabin steward, Sid, is proud to be working on the Titanic, the greatest ship ever built. Clara dreams of adventure too, but she’s a stowaway in the hold of a much smaller boat, Carpathia. Here she meets the biggest, best dog she’s ever known: Rigel, who is on his way to be reunited with his owner. None of them could have imagined how they would need each other one ice-cold terrible night. Or that an even more extraordinary creature might also answer their call…

Finn Jones Was Here by Simon James Green, illustrated by Jennifer Jamieson is a funny, punch-to-the-gut story about life and death, embracing every opportunity, and making every second count. Award-winning author Simon James Green tackles the theme of bereavement with his natural wit.
 
Eric's best friend, Finn Jones, was the world's biggest prankster. Now Eric can't believe Finn's not here anymore... Or is he? Eric seems to be getting messages from beyond the grave, and as he follows Finn's wild, cryptic instructions, his hope grows that he'll find Finn laughing at the end. The journey also brings memories - and a truth that seems impossible to accept.

Molly, Olive and Dexter by Catherine Rayner is the start of an irresistible new picture book series, which sweetly celebrates friendship and play, all while delivering a reassuring message that loved ones are never too far away.
Molly the hare, Olive the owl, and Dexter the fox, are three friends who live near the oak tree at the edge of the meadow. Hide-and-seek is Molly’s favourite game, but things aren’t going her way. For starters, Olive and Dexter don't seem to know the rules. And when Molly shows her friends how to play properly, they hide a little too well. Set in a delicately rendered pastoral world of soft colour and shimmering line, this is a picture book that tackles outsize toddler emotions with sensitivity and whimsy

Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories by Jarvis is about the day-to-day adventures of two best friends, Bear and Bird. And while they don’t always understand each other, they both agree: all they want is to make the other happy. So, when Bear forgets to pack for a picnic (but pretends otherwise), Bird doesn’t let on that she knew all along. And when Bird discovers that Bear has more of a certain talent than she does, well, Bear finds a touching way to make her feel… Full of funny mix-ups, genuine warmth and sweet messages about being a good friend, these classic stories with a retro feel will be treasured by families for years to come.

Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum by Alasdair Beckett-King, illustrated by Claire Powell, is a murder mystery about protagonist Bonnie Montgomery – the world’s best detective. Many people go their whole lives without noticing anything that is afoot, without every experiencing that toe-tingling, stomach-twisting sensation that a mystery is about to unfold. No one has heard of Bonnie except her Grampa Banks... but they might have heard of the great Montgomery Bonbon, the well-dressed gentleman detective who (apart from the hat and moustache) looks suspiciously like a 10-year-old girl. In this case, they must solve the mystery surrounding a highly suspicious death at the Hornville Museum of Natural History and Suchlike. Together they’ll interview some dodgy witnesses, scour the scene for clues and – above all – hope no one notices that Bonnie and Montgomery are never in the same room, at the same time.

All Four Quarters of the Moon by Shirley Marr is a big-hearted, magical story about sisterhood and a family finding their way in a new place. The night of the Mid-Autumn festival, making mooncakes with Ah-Ma, was the last time Peijing remembers her life being the same. Now facing a new home, a new school and a new language, everything is different. Peijing thinks everything is going to turn out okay as long as they all have each other. But cracks are starting to appear in the family. Biju, lovable but annoying, needs Peijing to be the dependable big sister. Ah-Ma keeps forgetting who she is; Ma Ma and Ba Ba are no longer themselves. Peijing has no idea how she’s supposed to cope with the uncertainties of her own world while shouldering the burden of everyone else. If her family are the four-quarters of the mooncake, where does she even fit in?

The Grumpus and his Dastardly, Dreadful Christmas Plan by Alex T. Smith is a heart-warming story that celebrates the true meaning of Christmas, a modern day Grinch. It is a fantastically festive Christmas adventure about a very grumpy character. Do you know about The Grumpus? And his Dastardly, Dreadful Christmas Plan? And about the Awful Thing that happened at the North Pole on Christmas Eve?

The Midnight Panther is a stunning fable about courage and finding your place in the world. Panther is not like the other cats. Leopard has beautiful spots; Tiger has impressive strips and Lion has a magnificent mane. Panther is small, shy, and dark. One night he decides to go and find out where in the jungle he really belongs. Finally summoning the courage to scale the treetops, he answers the call of moonlight and ink-black night. Perhaps up among the stars, he will find out something about his own strength and beauty.

The Spectaculars by Jodie Garnish is a wonderful and enchanting new middle-grade adventure series that combines magic, theatre and danger with a large pinch of starstuff. The Greatest Showman meets The Night Circus. When three figures arrive at Harper’s window in a flying canoe, informing her that she is due to start her apprenticeship, Harper discovers she is a Spectacular – a magical performer, gifted special powers from the stars. Harper is thrilled to be part of the Spectacular’s travelling theatre and boarding school until everything is plunged into great danger. With her new friends Trick and Thief, Harper sets out to save her school... But while dreams come true at the Wondria, nightmares might just be lurking in the wings.

The Lucky Bottle by Chris Wormell is a wonderful adventure story which invites readers to believe in magic, the transformative power of friendship, and hope against all odds. Ten-year-old Jack is stranded on a desert island with no way to escape, but he's been very lucky - he's survived a terrible storm and the mysterious island he’s found himself on has a kindly (if unusual) inhabitant, fresh water and plenty of food. But Jack needs to find his way home, and as he uncovers incredible hidden treasures on the little island, he starts to formulate a plan, one  that will involve witchcraft, terrifying sea monsters and pirates! If Jack's going to succeed, he will need to be very, very lucky.

Our Tower by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Richard Johnson, follows three children living in a tower block as they embark on a magical adventure that will make them see their home in a new light. Drawing on Coelho’s own childhood experiences growing up in a tower block, this modern fable sees the children visiting a strange world inside a tree, only to learn that the real magic they were searching for was in their home all along.

Scientists are Saving the World by Saskia Gwinn and Ana Albero is a celebration of science today, shining a light on some of its best-loved, and lesser known, heroes. Featuring 20 inspiring scientists, the book explores the latest questions being asked about everything from space to the environment, from the oceans to time travel

Fight Back by A.M. Dassu follows thirteen-year-old Midlands teenager Aaliyah as she faces racial tension following a terrorist attack at a local concert. Aaliyah decides to speak up and wear a hijab to show that she is proud of her identity, but when her right to do this at school is questioned, she discovers that she is not alone and must make a stand for all her peers who feel discriminated against for who they are

Wilder than Midnight by Cerrie Burnell is an evocative adventure set deep in an enchanted forest, following three very different girls – one tired of being good and staying to the path, one dreaming of escaping her prison, and another, raised by wolves and full of spells. Inspired by Burnell’s own experience of limb difference, the book celebrates individuality and found family

We Sang Across the Sea: The Empire Windrush and Me provides a powerful and moving account of the voyage of HMT Empire Windrush in the form of a brand-new poem by national treasure Benjamin Zephaniah. The hopes, dreams and bravery of the Windrush generation are expressed through the real-life experiences of Trinidadian musician, Mona Baptiste, accompanied by vivid illustrations

It’s a Wonderful World: How to Protect the Planet and Change the Future written by Jess French and illustrated by Aleesha Nandhra provides an introduction to nature conservation and protection, teaching children about the importance of diversity of plants, animals, and environments, and how to protect these wonderful and crucial elements of our world. Vibrant illustrations bring vet, author, and TV presenter French’s facts about the natural world to life, showing kids that they can find wonder in the most unusual places.

Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good written and illustrated by Louie Stowell, follows Norse god Loki who, after one prank too many, is banished to live as a ‘normal’ eleven-year-old boy, only allowed to return to Asgard if he can improve himself within one month. To track his progress, Loki has to keep a magic diary which forces him to confess the truth – and anyone reading Loki’s diary is about to learn that this god hasn’t a clue how to tell good from bad, trust from tricks or friends from enemies

Jummy at the River School is the debut novel by Sabine Adeyinka, following Jummy, who is excited to have won a place at the River School, the finest girls’ boarding school in Nigeria, even though her best friend Caro can’t join her. School is everything she dreamt of, but when Caro arrives to work, rather than learn, Jummy has to bring her friends together to help.

When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle transports readers to London in 1941 where young Joseph is sent to live with Mrs F, a gruff woman who only cares for the rundown zoo she runs and gorilla, Adonis. As boy and gorilla grow close and secrets are revealed, what will happen if the bombs falling on the city set Adonis rampaging free?

When the Sky Falls won the Children's Fiction Award at this year's Books Are My Bag Readers Awards. 
 

The Night The Moon Went Missing tells the story of Moon, who becomes upset that people on Earth seem happy to see Sun but go to sleep when he comes out. Little does he know that little girl Lucy loves to look up at him, so when Moon disappears one night, it falls to her to find out where he has gone and show him how much he is loved

The Story of Afro Hair: 5,000 Years of History, Fashion and Styles by K.N. Chimbiri, illustrated by Joelle Avelino, is the ultimate guide to Afros, diving into the history, fashion and styles of Afro hair over the last 5,000 years, from the Kingdom of Benin to Henry VIII’s court, the Harlem Renaissance to 1980s Britain.

Julia and The Shark, written by The Girl of Ink & Stars author Kiran Millwood Hargreaves and illustrated by Tom De Freston, follows Julia who is living on a remote Scottish island for the summer while her dad works and her mum tries to find the elusive Greenland shark. When her mother’s obsessions threaten to submerge them all, Julia embarks on an adventure with dark depths and a lighthouse full of hope.

Maddy Yip is perfectly happy in life, until she realises that everyone she knows has a talent – except for her! Maddy is determined to change that, with the help of her brothers, bewildered grandad and her best friend Dev. There are disastrous attempts at breakdancing and playing the recorder, revolting cakes, and a magic disappearing trick that ends up with an escaped guinea pig. Will Maddy ever find her true calling?

Wild Child: A Journey Through Nature by award-winning conservationist Dara McNulty is a family friendly guide to the natural world, teaching children fascinating facts about native birds, animals and plants, and much more. With illustrations by Barry Falls, the book combines explanations of how the natural world works with activities for readers to do at home and advice for young conservationists.

Being kind is super important, but it isn't always easy. Using a goodhearted, enthusiastic little boy's perspective, a lot of sensitivity and a little gentle humour, this story explores the potential pitfalls of trying to be kind, and what being kind really means. To be truly kind, it turns out, you have to try to look at things from other people's points of view. 

Three tiny, ancient beings – Moss, Burnet and Cumulus, once revered as Guardians and caretakers of the Wild World – wake from winter hibernation in their beloved ash tree home. But when it is destroyed, they set off on an adventure to find more of their kind, a journey which takes them first into the deep countryside and then the heart of a city. Helped along the way by birds and animals, the trio search for a way to survive and thrive in a precious yet disappearing world ...

Meet Maud: a guinea pig who inexplicably wears a judo suit - and not everyone understands or approves. When Maud is thrown into a new and confusing situation, it takes brave decisions and serendipitous encounters for her to find her place and embrace her individuality. Weirdo is an endearing story about the quiet power of being different by two veteran writers, and introduces an exciting debut illustrator. Together they have created a picture book that adults and children alike will treasure.

If you met a dragon, could you keep it secret? One day in the forest, Winnie discovers the last dragon in the whole world. His fabulous friends, the gryphon, the winged lion and the tree-man, are the last of their kind, too. They’ll be in danger if grown-ups discover them. But can Winnie really keep them secret?

Divorce is tough for any kid. But when - like Vi's parents - your mum is ex-secret service and your dad is a retired bad guy, 'till death do us part' takes on a whole new meaning. And with her parents' focus on each other, the real super-villains are having a field day. To save her family - and the world - from evil domination, Vi must turn spy ...

Razi, a local fisherboy, is watching turtle eggs hatch when he sees a boat bobbing into view. With a chill, he notices a small, still hand hanging over the side… Inside is Zheng, who’s escaped a shipwreck and is full of tales of sea monsters and missing treasure. But the villains who are after Zheng are soon after Razi and his sister, Shifa, too. And so begins an exhilarating adventure in the shadow of the biggest sea monster of them all…

Harrison Beck and his Uncle Nat are enjoying the final journey of the Highland Falcon, Britain's most famous steam train. But when a precious jewel goes missing, Harrison and his new friend Lenny find themselves at the centre of the investigation. Can they solve the mystery and catch the culprit before they reach the end of the line?
Hear whispers in the dining car, find notes in the library, and unknown passengers among the luggage as you help Harrison to solve the mystery aboard one of the world's grandest trains.

Sylvie wakes one night, suddenly, without knowing why. Then she sees the most spectacular sight – a pair of wings, enormous in size, made of the softest snow-white feathers imaginable. An angel in her bedroom … a snow angel. He tells her that he is here to look after her, for Sylvie is not as well as she seems... Many months later, as Sylvie recovers from her illness, she longs to see her snow angel again. He saved her life, after all. There is so much she wants to tell him, so much she wants to know. Will he ever come back to her? And how can Sylvie make sure that everyone she loves has their own snow angel, to keep them safe, too?

Told from the perspective of a bully, this book explores themes of bullying and homelessness, while celebrating kindness, friendship and the potential everyone has to change for the good. 

Tamarind never knew her Indian mum, Chinty, who died soon after she was born. So when she arrives at her ancestral home, a huge mansion in the Himalayas surrounded by luxuriant gardens, she’s full of questions for her extended family. But instead of answers, she finds an ominous silence – and a trickle of intriguing clues: an abandoned hut, a friendly monkey, a glowing star ring, and a strange girl in the garden who calls herself Ishta. Slowly, Tamarind unravels a mystery at the heart of who she is …

The story of best friends Bear and Squirrel who find that although it’s good to have someone to see you through good times and bad, friends can sometimes be overbearing. When Bear breaks Squirrel’s favourite teacup, Squirrel decides he needs some time alone

Flinty Bo Diddle is writing a tune for his fiddle. All his diddles have lined up nicely – except for one who keeps going DUM, right in the middle! No matter what he tries he just can’t get this diddle to diddle like it’s supposed to! A story about standing out from the crowd that will have you in fits of giggles!

Nine-year-old Alfie Blackstack’s parents have met a very unfortunate end. Now he’s living in the super creepy Switherbroom Hall with his mad-haired Aunt Gertie and warty Aunt Zita. The thing is, Alfie’s aunts aren’t just weird – they’re witches! When the circus arrives in town Alfie makes his first ever friend, the fearless Calypso Fagan. But when Calypso’s little sister Nova disappears, they must face the terrifying Head Witch in a race to find Nova and stop the next Witch War.

A beautifully illustrated introduction to the concept of DNA for younger readers. All living things grow – every plant and every animal, including human beings. Some things grow fast and others grow slowly; some things grow by tiny degrees, while others grow to be enormous. Yet there's something about the way we grow that links us all together. Ever since you were the size of a dot, your body has been following a set of instructions: a code, which connects you with every creature on the planet...

When a mysterious boy washes in with the tide, the citizens believe he's the Enemy - the god who drowned the world - come again to cause untold chaos. Only Ellie, a fearless young inventor living in a workshop crammed with curiosities, believes he's innocent. But the Enemy can take possession of any human body and the ruthless Inquisition are determined to destroy it forever. To save the boy, Ellie must prove who he really is - even if that means revealing her own dangerous secret . . .

Tackle the plastic problem with Isatou Ceesay by recycling waste into beautiful objects. Marvel at the intelligence of chimpanzees with Jane Goodall. Learn why it's important to shop fair trade and cruelty-free with Anita Roddick and The Body Shop. Resist devastating deforestation and plant seeds of change with Wangari Maathai. Written with hope and encouragement, this book shows that all actions, big and small, can be powerful in the fight against climate breakdown.

A rollicking rhyming story about two bears, a jar of honey and the consequences of not sharing. When one bear with a very rumbly tummy steals a jar of honey from the other, it sparks a hilarious trail of events that lead to an epic and calamitous conclusion.

Winner of the Books Are My Bag Readers Award

Aya is eleven years old and has just arrived in Britain with her mum and baby brother, seeking asylum from war in Syria. When Aya stumbles across a local ballet class, the formidable dance teacher spots her exceptional talent and believes that Aya has the potential to earn a prestigious ballet scholarship. But at the same time, Aya and her family must fight to be allowed to remain in the country, to make a home for themselves and to find Aya’s father – separated from the rest of the family during the journey from Syria. With beautiful, captivating writing, wonderfully authentic ballet detail, and an important message championing the rights of refugees, this is classic storytelling – filled with warmth, hope and humanity.

In Griselda Bone's gloomy orphanage, daydreaming is banned, skipping is forbidden and Christmas is well and truly cancelled. But for Phoebe and her sausage dog Herb, is it possible that, just when things seem at their bleakest, magic awaits in the swirling, snow-filled air? 

The Somerset Tsunami follows Fortune Sharpe, a young girl sent away from home to find work dressed as a boy. She is soon employed at a manor house, but Barrow Hill's inhabitants harbour dangerous secrets of their own, the suspicious owner is hunting for witches, and the house itself is a little too close to the sea.
 

Starbird is a magical story about love, freedom, and the wisdom of children. Starbird's songs weave the richest dreams and delight all who hear him, but when the Moon King traps him in a cage as gift for his daughter, the colour and life in his voice begin to drip away. While the Moon King is blinded by greed and selfishness, his young daughter can clearly see the injustice and cruelty of his actions. A heartfelt, lyrical story that shows the importance of standing up for what is right.
 

Have you got 2 minutes? That's all the time it takes to become a #2minutesuperhero. Plastic is everywhere. It is in the rivers and it is in the sea. We need superheroes to fight plastic and help save our oceans. Read this essential book and find out how you can become a #2minutesuperhero by completing 50 missions to fight plastic at home, school and on your days out. Informative, practical and positive, this guide for children is written by Martin Dorey, anti-plastic campaigner and author of the bestselling No. More. Plastic.

As life for German Jews becomes increasingly perilous, Anna’s parents put her on a train leaving for England. But the war follows her to Kent, and soon Anna finds herself caught up in a web of betrayal and secrecy. How can she prove whose side she’s on when she can’t tell anyone the truth? But actions speak louder than words, and Anna has a dangerous plan…

Fresh off the boat from England, Vita Marlowe has a job to do. Her beloved grandfather Jack has been cheated out of his home and possessions by a notorious conman with Mafia connections. Seeing Jack's spirit is broken, Vita is desperate to make him happy again, so she devises a plan to outwit his enemies and recover his home. She finds a young pickpocket, working the streets of the city. And, nearby, two boys with highly unusual skills and secrets of their own are about to be pulled into her lawless, death-defying plan.

Swift lives with his pack in the mountains, until one day his home and family are lost. Alone and starving, Swift must make a choice: stay and try to eke out a desperate life on the borders of his old hunting grounds, or strike out and find a new place to call home. The journey Swift must go on is long and full of peril for a lone wolf, and he'll need to take every chance he can. Will he find the courage to survive all by himself?

David and Penny arrive in a strange new home in a forest. Other creatures live here – magical creatures – like Pog. He’s one of the First Folk, tasked with protecting the boundary between the worlds. But David is drawn into the forest, lured by a darker entity, who tells him there’s a way he can bring his dead mother back …

Little Bear has just woken up from his long winter sleep. But when he pokes his head out of the den, the world around him is vast, white and silent. The only thing he sees is a smooth little stone, just as alone in the snowy wilderness as he is. He nestles it in tight to his fur and off they go in search of friends.

 

The international bestseller that celebrates the myriad talents that each child brings to the world.

Smart is not just ticks and crosses,
smart is building boats from boxes.
Painting patterns, wheeling wagons,
being mermaids, riding dragons...

England is at war. Growing up in a lighthouse, Pet’s world has been one of storms, secret tunnels and stories about sea monsters. But now the clifftops are a terrifying battleground, and her family is torn apart. This is the story of a girl who is small, afraid and unnoticed. A girl who freezes with fear at the enemy planes ripping through the skies overhead. A girl who is somehow destined to become part of the strange, ancient legend of the Daughters of Stone …