This is a superb fairy tale story for all children to enjoy, reducing the shame and stigma associated with bed wetting, or even little accidents during the day. I hope to see more picture books, and hopefully some poetry from this wonderful Children's creator, Effua Gleed, and her fun and joyful imagination.

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.

You simply have to meet Miss Cat! She's a slinky kinda girl, be-hoodied with pointy cat ears. Based in an old dairy at 29 Thirty Street, she runs her detective agency. You'll soon notice she's rather good at prowling, climbing, jumping, detecting danger, she's a thinker, and has a ‘kitty-cat’ sense. Miss Cat has a new case - a widow's beloved canary has been kidnapped!

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.

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.

Katherine Woodfine retells Lottie's true story with a delightful narrative. The reader is given a little background to Lottie's early life in the 1870s. It was when she was a little girl that lawn tennis became a new craze and their family had a court set up in the gardens. Was this a sport for girls though? Her Mother gave her some great advice: “Girls can’t play tennis as well as boys? What a load of nonsense!…You can do anything you want if you set your mind to it.” Go Mrs Dod!!

A wonderful opportunity to chat with this Korean-born Children's illustrator. Her work to date is stunning, and it's been fascinating to find out about her process, and journey so far + to celebrate her brilliant new early reader book with Polly Ho-Yen.

It was a wonderful to interview Naomi, her brilliant new picture book 'Thunderboots' tells a vital story about detecting signs dyslexia in our young people, and building awareness of the condition.

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!

Following the success of ‘Nen and the Lonely Fisherman’, Owlet Press have collaborated with the award-winning children’s television writer, Barbara Slade (credits include Angelina Ballerina, Winnie the Pooh, Rugrats) and illustrator Lucia Soto to create a fairy tale love story, this time between two girls, Cinder and Ella.

‘Rory’s Room of Rectangles’, breathtakingly illustrated by Jessica Knight, published exactly 1 month before Father’s Day, and for a very good reason. Taking art as a metaphor for life and art as a form or expression for emotions within the story, the author and illustrator are symbiotic in communicating Rory’s journey to readers. As the subtitle on the front cover reveals, this is “a story of blended families and big feelings”, and it delivers.

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.