A brilliant book about starting secondary school, fast-friendships and fast-fashion. ‘Stitched Up’ is a thoroughly enjoyable yarn with heartwarming and meaningful threads of knowledge and creativity when Cassie finds out the Year 7s are designing a new school uniform at the same time as her helping her local KnitWit community group win their dress-making competition!!

What a gorgeous first time collaboration from two of my favourite Children’s book creators: Tom Percival (Big Bright Feelings series, The Invisible and more) and Richard Jones (Perdu, Little Bear and more). ‘Quiet’ is an intensely beautiful, yet powerful story. A small little bird too afraid to speak her mind sees something truly terrifying one day - a “huge metal monster” tearing up the trees! Can she find her voice to warn the others and take action to save their home?

This has to be one of the most highly anticipated middle grades for 2023 - a new novel from the Costa Book Awards winner for ‘The Voyage of the Sparrowhawk’, author Natasha Farrant! Very exciting! This is a BIG story. BIG because like one of my favourite cakes, there are layers upon layers of delicious storylines for the reader to immerse themselves in, but at the heart of it is a dollop of yummy chocolate ganache - unconditional love for one's family and friends.

I am so thrilled to see that the hugely gifted children's author and illustrator Brendan Kearney is back with a sequel to 'Fish', as I completely adore Finn and Skip, and the adventures they go on together to help children understand ecological issues around the world.