The Wolf Road Richard Lambert A tale of loss that is also a gripping thriller, a realistic study of grief that skirts the margins of fantasy, it walks wolf-like between worlds and genres. Richard Lambert writes with a poet’s eye; he has created something magical here. The storytelling is as bold, sinewy and uncompromising as the beast that shadows Lucas […] Adventure, Bullying, Emotion/ Feelings, Family, Fear, Fiction, Grief/Loss, Mental Health and Wellbeing AGES: 12-14 AGES: 14+ The Sound of Everything Rebecca Henry The Sound of Everything is a heart-felt coming of age story for all those who struggle to feel like they deserve love. Betrayal, rejection, violence Kadie has known it all. She’s tough and prepared for everything. Everything except love. Kadie has has just arrived in yet another foster home. She trusts no one and lives […] Communication, Family, Friendship, Growing Up & the Facts of Life, Love, Violence AGES: 12-14 AGES: 14+ Constable & Toop Gareth P Jones A darkly comic Dickensian ghost story from Blue Peter Award winner Gareth P. Jones: it’s not the dead you’ll need to worry about! Sam Toop lives in a funeral parlour, blessed (or cursed) with an unusual gift. While his father buries the dead, Sam is haunted by their constant demands for attention. Trouble is afoot […] Family, Funny, Historical Fiction, Monsters, Mystery/murder AGES: 10-12 AGES: 7-10 Pug Hug Zehra Hicks A very cute pug really wants a hug, but no-one wants to hug him! Cat doesn’t like hugs, Hamster just wants to run in her wheel and Rabbit’s chomping carrots, unconvinced by Pug’s nice red bunny ear costume. What is a pug in need of a hug to do? Fortunately, Pug’s very huggable little girl […] Animals, Emotion/ Feelings, Family, Fiction, Funny, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Rotten & Rascal Paul Geraghty Rotten and Rascal are quarrelling twin baby pterosaurs, who yell, shout, screech, howl, scream and snarl at each other all day long. One day a terrible argument begins and one by one the other dinosaurs try to resolve their noisy dispute. But the two terrible pterosaur twins prove impossible to shut up. Until, that is, […] Family, Fiction, Funny, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 On the Ghost Trail Chris Powling & Loretta Schauer A spooky comedy from Chris Powling with hilarious illustrations by Loretta Schauer. Perfect for fans of Amelia Fang and Knitbone Pepper. A ghost has been haunting Ben’s grandpa’s house with cobweb trails and the TAP-TAP-TAP of its heartbeat. So when the clock strikes twelve, Ben’s brother dares him to go on a hunt for the […] Family, Fiction, Learning, School/ Learning AGES: 7-10 Franklin and Luna go to the Moon Jen Campbell & Katie Harnett Luna and her best friend, Franklin the dragon, love stories and want to visit all the places they’ve read about in books. But for all their reading they still don’t know where dragons come from. And Franklin is now so old – 605 to be exact – he can’t remember himself! They search high and […] Family, Fantasy, Fantasy/ Supernatural, Mystery/murder, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Franklin and Luna and the Book of Fairy Tales Jen Campbell & Katie Harnett It’s Franklin’s birthday! Luna and all the villagers are planning a surprise party, and Franklin’s family are visiting from the moon. While the party is being set up, Luna takes Franklin book shopping. They find a padlocked book of fairy tales, which the bookseller tells them is full of dangerous magic. Luna’s tortoise, Neil, can’t […] Fairy tales and folk tales, Family, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 My Daddies! Gareth Peters & Garry Parsons A funny, heartfelt picture-book celebrating same-sex parents and shared story time, perfect for introducing children to the different kinds of family in the world today. Set off on a series of incredible adventures with an adorable family as the stories they read burst into colourful life. Battle dragons, dodge deadly dinosaurs, zoom to the moon […] Family, Fiction, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 The Castle of Tangled Magic Sophie Anderson The magical bestselling adventure book by acclaimed author Sophie Anderson. Magic awaits, all you have to do is believe… When thirteen-year-old Olia, steps through a magical doorway, she discovers another land. A land tangled by magic, where hope is lost, and a scheming wizard holds all the power. Soon Olia learns that she is destined […] Adventure, Fairy tales and folk tales, Family, Fiction AGES: 10-12 AGES: 12-14 Indigo Takes Flight Chris Riddell & Krista M. Lambert Indigo has a secret – and it’s growing too big to hide! An enchantingly illustrated tale about coming to terms with who you are, and finding acceptance from those you love. Indigo Takes Flight is a deeply moving parable about the inner conflict involved in coming out as LGBTQ+ to family and friends. […] Adventure, Family, Fiction, Identity, LGBT/ Gender, Personal/social issues AGES: 7-10 Swallow’s Kiss Jane Ray & Sita Brahmachari When Blessing finds a lost bag of paper birds she follows a trail of hopes and wishes to the community who made them, in this lyrical, free-verse tale about kindness and friendship. Filled with light, love and birdsong, Swallow’s Kiss is a wonderfully uplifting story that explores the common threads that connect our communities, […] Faith/ Culture, Family, Fiction, Friendship, Identity, Migration/ Refugees, Multicultural/international AGES: 7-10 Forbidden Anjali Tiwari & Danica Da Silva Pereira Two girls with very different lives are drawn into a passionate friendship — and bound by a desire to break the taboos that divide them. Forbidden is a heartbreaking short story set in India. Forbidden was edited by Clare Whitston and art directed by Holly Fulbrook at Oxford University Press. Forbidden is part of the […] Emotion/ Feelings, Family, Fiction, Friendship, Personal/social issues AGES: 10-12 When Secrets Set Sail Sita Brahmachari Usha is devastated when her grandmother Kali Ma passes away. Then straight-talking Imtiaz arrives – her new adoptive sister – and the two girls clash instantly. They both feel lost. That is until Kali Ma’s ghost appears…with a task for them. Immy’s and Usha’s home is full of history and secrets. Many years ago it […] Adventure, Family, Fiction, Government, law and crime AGES: 10-12 AGES: 7-10 The Lumberjack’s Beard Duncan Beedie Every day, Jim Hickory the lumberjack heads into the forest with his trusty axe and chops down trees. Unfortunately, all sorts of creatures lose their homes in the process, so Jim gives them a home in his beard – until one day it all just gets too much. Time for Jim to come up with […] Animals, Family, Nature/ Outdoors, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 The Longest Strongest Thread Inbal Leitner ‘We are moving to a new home, where the lakes freeze in winter. I am visiting my Grandma to say goodbye.’ The little girl in this story loves visiting her Grandma’s sewing studio and watching her make things, and is worried about leaving Grandma behind and not being able to see her. Grandma re-assures her […] Family, Friendship, Historical, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 The Garden of Inside-Outside Chiara Mezzalama & Regis Lejonc & Sarah Ardizzone Inspired by the childhood of the author, whose father was appointed Italian ambassador to Tehran in 1980, this picture book is a beautiful evocation of a country struck by war, where friendship arises despite the rising walls. In the summer of 1981, Chiara and her family join their father in Iran. At their beautiful palace, […] Adventure, Family, Fiction, War AGES: 10-12 AGES: 12-14 AGES: 7-10 Saving Stella Bassel Abou Fakher & Deborah Blumenthal & Nadine Kaadan For fans of Two Bobbies comes a moving, true story about a young man and his dog who escape the violence of the Syrian War. Some bonds are stronger than war . . . Life for musician Bassel and his dog Stella in Damascus, Syria, has changed since the civil war began. Instead of enjoying […] Adventure, Animals, Emotion/ Feelings, Family, Migration/ Refugees, Non-fiction, Picture Books, War AGES: 3-7 River of Ink: Genesis: Book 1 – River of Ink H.L. Dennis What if a teenage boy washed up on the banks of the River Thames, soaked to the skin and unable to explain who he is? What if the only clue to the boy’s identity is a sketch he made of a strange symbol? Who would help him? Who would hunt him? Who is River Boy? […] Adventure, Family, Fiction, Government, law and crime, Magic, Mystery/murder, Social Care Homes AGES: 10-12 My Big Mouth Chanté Timonthy & Steven Camden ‘They think I’m cool.’ Dom’s face wrinkled up, ‘Who does? Who cares?’ But I did. I cared. When Dad leaves, ten-year-old Jay has questions. Where has he gone? Why did he go? When no one can give Jay the answers he needs, he makes up his own stories, setting off a chain reaction that sees […] Family, Fiction, Funny, Personal/social issues, School/ Learning AGES: 10-12 AGES: 7-10 Mohinder’s War A thrilling World War II adventure set in occupied France, featuring an Indian RAF pilot. Great for fans of Michael Morpurgo and John Boyne, and those who want diverse historical fiction. Thirteen-year-old Joelle Breton stumbles across Indian-born RAF pilot Mohinder Singh when his plane crashes in occupied France and it’s up to her and her […] Adventure, Family, Fiction, Historical Fiction, World Wars 1&2 AGES: 10-12 AGES: 12-14 Just Like Tomorrow Faiza Guene & Sarah Ardizzone Fifteen-year-old Doria isn’t in a good place. Or to be precise: she’s in the sadly misnamed Paradise Estate on the outskirts of Paris. Her father has gone off back Morocco to find a wife who can give him a boy, and her illiterate, non French-speaking mother is having to fend for herself with a cleaning […] Adventure, Communication, Emotion/ Feelings, Family, Fiction, Funny, Government, law and crime AGES: 14+ How I Saved The World in a Week Polly Ho-Yen A brilliantly imagined new 8+ adventure about resilience, family and hope. From the bestselling and Waterstones Children’s Book Prize shortlisted author of BOY IN THE TOWER. Perfect for fans of Ross Welford, Lisa Thompson and Onjali Rauf. Even when you can’t believe what you’re seeing, you’d better get ready to run for your life, because […] Adventure, Emotion/ Feelings, Family, Fiction, Government, law and crime, Illness / Hospitals AGES: 10-12 AGES: 12-14 Bright Bursts of Colour Aleksei Bitskoff & Matt Goodfellow ‘Matt Goodfellow is a fresh voice on the children’s poetry scene.’ (Pie Corbett) What if cats had flavoured fur or if you swallowed the sun? What if you were a special kind of badger or if you found a map to the stars? And what if your home was split during the week: one half […] Animals, Family, Fiction, Poetry AGES: 10-12 AGES: 7-10 Boy, Everywhere A. M. Dassu 13 year old Sami has a good life in Damascus, playing football and computer games with his friends, nagging his parents for new trainers and trying to get time on the iPad. Although he knows there is war in the rest of the country, he never seriously imagines it will reach Damascus. It’s a normal […] Family, Fear, Fiction, Personal/social issues, Politics/human rights, Travel, War AGES: 10-12 AGES: 12-14 Ash Mistry and the World of Darkness – The Ash Mistry Chronicles Book 3 Sarwat Chadda Book three in the incredible action-adventure trilogy about Ash Mistry, reluctant hero and living weapon of the death goddess Kali. Ash Mistry is in a world of pain. A parallel world in fact, where another version of him seems to be living his life, and the evil Lord Savage – now all-powerful and adored by […] Adventure, Family, Fantasy/ Supernatural, Fiction, Friendship, Myths and Legends, Religion AGES: 10-12 Always Here For You Miriam Halahmy 14-year-old Holly is lonely. Holly’s parents are never around after Gran’s Crisis and best friend Amy has moved across the Atlantic to Canada, loved-up with her new boyfriend, Gabe. Holly has no-one to hang out with at school apart from moody Ellen and misfit Tim – Madison and the bezzies barely notice her. Home alone […] Family, Fantasy/ Supernatural, Fiction, Personal/social issues AGES: 10-12 AGES: 7-10 The Little Crayon Amelia Kai & Jamie Beard Little Crayon is neither Blue like its mummy, nor is it yellow like its daddy. One day, it’s asked to make an impossible choice that leaves the poor crayon confused and in doubt of its identity. The Little Crayon is a touching story about family, friendship and self-love, brought to life by vibrant colours and […] Family, Friendship, Identity, Multicultural/international, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Clean Up! Dapo Adeola & Nathan Bryon Rocket is SO EXCITED because her, her mum and her brother Jamal are going to visit her Grammy and Grampy in the Caribbean. Even more excitingly, Rocket’s grandparents run whale watching tours and have an animal sanctuary at the back of their house. It’s brilliant finally seeing Grammy and Grampy – Grammy is a pretty […] Animals, Environment/Climate Change, Family, Nature/ Outdoors, Picture Books, Science Fiction, Water AGES: 3-7 Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Virus? Maya Oakley What is a virus? What happens inside your body when you get sick? Why can’t we see our friends and family right now? During this global pandemic this little book is a tool to help children and parents talk about tricky subjects and understand what our wonderful immune systems are doing to protect us and […] Communication, Emotion/ Feelings, Family, Fear, Growing Up & the Facts of Life, Illness / Hospitals, Learning, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Non-fiction, Personal/social issues, Picture Books, Survival AGES: All-Ages Luna Loves Art Fiona Lumbers & Joseph Coelho At the gallery, Luna is transfixed by the famous art, but her classmate Finn doesn’t seem to want to be there at all. Finn's family doesn't look like the one in Henry Moore's 'Family Group' sculpture, but then neither does Luna's. Maybe all Finn needs is a friend. Creating art/ Imagination, Emotion/ Feelings, Empathy, Family, Friendship, Marriage/ Divorce, Picture Books, School/ Learning AGES: 3-7 AGES: 7-10 Katie meets the Impressionists James Mayhew Five Impressionist paintings come to life when Katie jumps through the frame and into the picture! It’s Grandma’s birthday – wouldn’t it be lovely if Katie could give her some flowers like those in the painting by Mr Monet …or Mr Renoir …or Mr Degas! Learn all about three Impressionist painters with Katie as she […] Adventure, Creating art/ Imagination, Family, Fiction, Historical, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 The Most Important Gift of All David Conway & Karin Littlewood Ama has a new baby brother! And when she asks Grandma Sisi what gift she can give him, Grandma tells her to simply give him the gift of love. But where can Ama find this precious gift? Ama sets off to find out, but in the end, the gift of love comes to her instead. […] Family, Growing Up & the Facts of Life, Love, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 AGES: 7-10 The Day the Rains Fell Anne Faundez & Karin Littlewood Long ago, when the world was new, Lindiwe gazed down from the heavens, proud of the earth and the creatures she’d created. She and her daughter Thandi swooped down to check their work, only to discover something was wrong. Everything was wilting and dusty and the animals looked sad; the earth needed rain. When the […] Animals, Family, Multicultural/international, Myths and Legends, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 AGES: 7-10 Rose, Interrupted Patrice Lawrence Being a teenager is hard enough, but it’s even harder in a world you’ve never known … Eighteen months ago, 17-year-old Rose and 13-year-old Rudder escaped a strict religious sect with their mum. They are still trying to make sense of the world outside – no more rules about clothes and books, films and […] Family, Fiction, Growing Up & the Facts of Life, Personal/social issues, Romantic AGES: 12-14 AGES: 14+ Indigo Donut Patrice Lawrence Seventeen-year-old Indigo has had a tough start in life, having grown up in the care system after her dad killed her mum. Bailey, also seventeen, lives with his parents in Hackney and spends all his time playing guitar or tending to his luscious ginger afro. When Indigo and Bailey meet at sixth form, serious sparks […] Adventure, Crime/ Thriller, Family, Fiction, Friendship, Love, Personal/social issues, Romantic AGES: 14+ Snap Patrice Lawrence When Soraya’s younger brother Farhad runs off into the freezing night, Soraya and her friend, Austin, are in a race against time to find him. High above the streets, Farhad’s guilt closes in. He doesn’t want to be found. A story of two friends, one missing boy and a secret as precious as gold. Family, Fiction, Friendship, Personal/social issues AGES: 12-14 Diver’s Daughter: A Tudor Story Patrice Lawrence Eve Cartright is a young black girl growing up with her mum in London in the late 16th century. Life is tough, Eve is almost always hungry, and they always seem to be just one step away from gruesome poverty, despite her hard-working mum’s best efforts. When Eve nearly drowns and her mum’s expert diving to […] Adventure, Family, Fear, Fiction, Friendship, Historical Fiction, Migration/ Refugees, Politics/human rights AGES: 10-12 A Dollop of Ghee and a Pot of Wisdom Chitra Soundar Illustrated by Uma Krishnaswamy Here is a bunch of dung-dropping, sweet-stealing, luck-jinxing villains! Four stories about young Prince Veera, who, along with his friend Suku, helps his father, the king, solve some of the problems he is having with his subjects. Trickster tales with lots of humour and colour, based on traditional Indian folktales. Fairy tales and folk tales, Faith/ Culture, Family, Fiction, Funny, Personal/social issues AGES: 3-7 The Red Beast: Controlling Anger in Children with Asperger’s Syndrome Kay Al-Ghani Deep inside everyone, a red beast lies sleeping. When it is asleep, the red beast is quite small, but when it wakes up, it begins to grow and grow. This is the story of a red beast that was awakened. Rufus is in the school playground when his friend John kicks a […] Family, Friendship, Personal/social issues, Picture Books AGES: 3-7 Hercufleas Sam Gayton Greta needs a new hero to defeat Yuk, a giant who keeps returning to her town to eat people. Many heroes have tried and failed in the past. Then she discovers Hercufleas who, more than anything, would love an adventure. Trouble is, Hercufleas is tiny, but what he lacks in brute strength he makes up […] Adventure, Animals, Fairy tales and folk tales, Family, Fiction, Friendship AGES: 7-10 Old Dog, New Tricks Bali Rai When the Singh family move into a new house, their neighbour Mick is far from welcoming. He’s mean to everyone and his racist beliefs make living next door to him hard for the Singhs. But Harvey is convinced that Mick just needs help and that he’s the one to do it – he just needs […] Family, Fiction, Friendship, Racism AGES: 12-14 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Sonia Leong Shakespeare’s famous tragedy unfurls in front of a dramatic manga setting, in which the fair city of Verona becomes a street in the highly fashionable Shibuya district of Tokyo. The swordfights become duels with katanas; the Capulets and the Montagues, opposing Yakuza families. Conflict explodes when Romeo – a bleached-blonde, well-dressed rock star – falls […] Adventure, Family, Graphic Novel/ Comic, Love AGES: 10-12 Can You See Me? Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott Tally is eleven years old and she’s just like her friends. Well, sometimes she is. If she tries really hard to be. Because there’s something that makes Tally not the same as her friends. Something she can’t cover-up, no matter how hard she tries: Tally is autistic. Tally’s autism means there are things that […] Emotion/ Feelings, Empathy, Family, Fiction, Friendship, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Special Needs AGES: 10-12 AGES: 12-14 Pink Lion Jane Porter A bold and colourful picture book with a heart-warming story about always being yourself. Arnold blends right in with his bright pink flamingo family. Then a growling gang of lions stops by and demands that Arnold should be more lion-like, just like them. Poor Arnold tries but misses his old life. But then his […] Animals, Emotion/ Feelings, Family, Identity, Picture Books AGES: 3-7
