This book deserves a place on everyone’s bookshelf, especially in schools. This book is a fantastic resource for parents, carers, and teachers to read with children throughout primary school. It’s a great tool to help teach kids about online behaviour, especially the concept of ‘trolls.’

Excitedly it’s Shakespeare’s The Tempest that gets a Louie Stowell-style makeover for the second in this picture book series, and it is beautifully illustrated by Isobel Lundie with a really cosy autumnal seasonal feel. Great story for emotional development AND learning about our British bard at the same time!!

The first in a lovely new graphic novel series about friendship, accepting others, feeling valued. Pocketville is cute, the artwork is superb, and the text well-spaced for an enjoyable, calm and cosy reading experience.

The creator of the lovely picture book series including her debut, ‘NO! Said Rabbit’ (Scallywag Press, 2022) and the sequel, ’READY! Said Rabbit’ (Scallywag Press, 2022/3), Marjoke Henrichs, is back with a new character, Catz, who has a case to solve for his friend Flossy!

New fiction from the author of the award winning ‘Orphans of the Tide’ trilogy! Domino and her new found friends head into battle in a quest for the peaceful balance between magic and science in this gripping philosophical fantasy adventure. Expect genetically modified lizards (dinosaurs brought back from extinction), Spirit creatures from your wildest dreams, and some dastardly despotic evil rulers to defeat in order to bring peace back to Abzalaymon once more.

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!!

KIDS LOVE POETRY!!!!!!! Our current UK Children's Laureate, the absolutely AWESOME Joseph Coelho, has teamed up with poetry performance company Apples and Snake, publisher Otter-Barry Books, with support from the Arts Council England - and illustrator Ruthine Burton to LIFT UP and publish poetry from 10 debut poets - and the poetry is a wholesome and well-rounded collection of poetry for older Primary-age children, dealing with themes of friendship (and the hazards of gossip), disability, poverty, cultural representation (food, names, heroes, history (including slavery), hair and more), emotions, relationships with grandparents, being yourself.

I’ve been waiting for Rachel to whisk my imagination away on another one of her sweet magical adventures. I adored ‘The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice’ (Walker Books, 2023). 10 year old Callie struggles with a far away house move and grief after losing her mum. A magical mishap brings some much-needed sparkle into her life again in more ways than one.

Having followed Xin Li for some time on social media, as soon as she started dropping hints of this book, I was hot on the case, and wow, does it take your breath away - it’s absolutely STUNNING! Xin Li cites many influences on her website including: Shaun Tan, Maurice Sendak, Jackie Morris, The Fan Brothers and many more greats… I love this empathy story about Emma, who finds the busy, loud side of kid life hard to cope with.

Literally the most comedy you’re going to find in a chapter book for young readers!! In this latest Grimwood adventure, it all starts with a dream. Many dreams, but one in particular - Nancy’s dream. She is having a recurring dream, a memory trying to resurface according to Dr Khan (highly recommended pigeon psychologist over in Twinklenuts). Could it be that she’s finally remembering what happened to her parents?

Based on the true events that took place in Paris during WW2, of a community of heroic and compassionate North African-heritage Muslims who selflessly risked their lives to ingeniously hide Jews (and sometimes British soldiers) from the Nazis, then helped them to escape; I simply cannot wait to share it with you.

Hurrah! A new graphic novel series for 5-7 year olds by the legendary Jamie Smart! I’m so overjoyed. Welcome to the high-colour, bouncy, bubbly, cute and clever world of Max & Chaffy. This the first of 3 books publishing this year. Its' a buzz!

GM Linton is a truly exciting debut author, her writing filled with charm, wit and soul. Paying homage to her parents of Jamaican origin, she wanted to honour their legacy and knack for storytelling in a book for children that respects the experience of the Windrush generation and reflects how they are remembered and celebrated in our time.

It’s the final term of Form One at River School, and there’s a new girl on the bus called Dongo who Jummy is immediately impressed with when she stands up to the ‘Atlantic Four’ (ie the mean girls)! This series is infused with delicious Nigerian meals that make my mouth water, the clothing some of the teachers and children wear are amazing, and you’ll learn a few words of Yoruba language too!

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 love to travel in the books I read (as you know)… and I have never read a book before filled with narrative from the perspective of the First Country people of Australia. The landscape, wildlife and plants of the bush, almost feel alien to my own lived experience of the European countryside. It is totally fascinating. This is top notch storytelling from someone who has an incredible imagination, foresight and attention to detail. This book is so 'deadly'!! I loved it!!

A debut author with a brand new seaside mystery to solve. This is gripping stuff!! Entwined with legends of pirates and a diamond the size of a fist, this seaside stormy mystery showcases the ingenuity of young minds together with a blind determination for justice and selfless compassion for an unknown child and her story.

A brilliant debut from Townsend!! A lonely human soul, 12 year-old Orla lives in a simple wooden shed in her garden away from the rest of her water-side rural village of Thorn Creek. She's grumpy, stubborn, closed, hurt, conflicted...and she has a lot to live up to. I will never forget Orla's story and the underlying legacy and importance of female healers and wise-women.

Book Review by The Kids Books Curator: ‘The Lost Whale’ by Hannah Gold, illustrated by Levi Pinfold (HarperCollins) For ages 8+. From London to LA, an 11 year old boy goes on a journey to find belonging, himself, joy, love and the healing power of an endangered grey whale. A beautiful and bold story of second chances. You'll love it... ocean's promise!

Another inspirational and edge-of-the-seat adventure by Sri Lankan-born author, Nizrana Farook. As with all her books, readers are delighted by the stunning landscapes and nature of the island of 'Serendip'. In her latest story, a young girl has to do all she can to protect an endangered leopard from poachers... a dangerous mission indeed.