The daring Kitty Quest duo need all their woolly wits about them to defeat double trouble in book 3! Dagzobad find a new evil partner in crime to create some magical monster mayhem. Pawdor needs Woolfrik and Perigold more than ever!

How are your dreams these days? Are you someone who doesn't remember them, enjoys escaping off into wonderful fantasy worlds, or are you susceptible to nightmares? What about your kids? For this, friend, the first of a new fantasy series from the brilliant LD Lapinski, is about to shake your brain up!!

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 absolutely loved this book. The author’s life with her family on the farm no doubt provides endless sources of inspiration for her stories. 10 year old city-girl Ava spends a couple of weeks at with her Aunt Kitty, Uncle John, + cousin Tom on their farm during the Easter holidays, and it's the life-changing, life-affirming adventure she never knew she needed.

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.

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!!

'Wilder' is set in a British water-side village, perhaps 150-200 years ago, telling by the landowning gentry, clothing worn, lack of industry, Christian superstitiousness of traditional folklore ways. A touching story that achieves the delicate balance between sacrifice, loss, and an appreciation for life entwined in the presence of nature in any given moment.

A powerful true story of the WW2 Holocaust everyone should read. Greene’s illustrations seep into the reader’s consciousness emotions of surprise, disappointment, confusion, ignorance, bewilderment, pain, starvation, triumph, hope, love and more. Dronfield has masterfully retold the Kleinmann’s story.

It took 9 years for SF Said to write this book. SF Said is a scholar who is an entity unto himself, an oracle of learned wisdom evoking higher awareness through his multi award-winning works of children's literature. If you're a fan of apocalyptic literature soaked in symbolism you're going to love 'Tyger'. The cover artwork and plentiful illustrations throughout by the incredible Dave McKean are soul-clenching, jaw-dropping.

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.

An hilarious seaside caper for the sunshine season that will be enjoyed by both confident and reluctant readers. Wonderful 'guide' for empathy, and I'll try thinking of gerbils in egg cups next time I need a zen moment! Probably in 5 minutes...

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.

A gripping and intense story of two worlds, one where grief, bullying and neglect exist and another where beauty, someone loved (but lost) lives, and where there is peace, safety and control... ‘the best prisons…are the ones in which you think you’re free. How do you escape a trap you don’t realise you’re in?’

Meet Charlie and his dads!! They're about to adopt a little sister for Charlie, but Charlie's not sure he's going to be the best big bro!! He had no idea how brave and awesome a kid he was until he met magical fox, Cadno, and had to go on adventure to save him from some rather otherworldly baddies!! Exciting adventure set in Wales.

Do you think I could contain myself when I found out about another new debut author with Chicken House, Sabine Adeyinka published her new middle grade last month, set in a Nigerian girls boarding school ‘Jummy at the River School’?! It also made the Bookseller Association’s Independent Bookshops ‘book of the month’ too. Congratulations Sabine!