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Age Group: KS2

Chapter book

Cosy crime meets magical mystery in the new story from the bestselling author of The Last Chance Hotel, Nicki Thornton!

MAGIC MUST NEVER BE MISUSED . . .

When a nosy stranger arrives in her riverside town, school reporter Veena Vale becomes suspicious.

But only talking back cat Nightshade will listen to her.

To find out the truth of what’s going on, the two of them must unravel an ancient curse, tell uncomfortable lies and bake an awful lots of flapjacks . . .

A magical murder mystery story perfect for fans of Robin Stevens and Harry Potter

By the author of The Last Chance Hotel, chosen as Waterstones Book of the Month and nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Award

Follows on from The Howling Hag Mystery and The Poisoned Pie Mystery; a series starring fan-favourite Nightshade the cat as the star of her very own mystery!

Non-fiction

See the world through Faith Ringgold’s eyes and be inspired to produce your own masterpieces.

Have you ever wondered exactly what your favourite artists were looking at to make them sculpt, sew, or paint the way they did? In this book, created in collaboration with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, meet inspiring American artist and activist Faith Ringgold. Step into her life and learn what led her to mix different media and craft powerful stories into quilts. Travel with her to the places that influenced her and see the causes she fought for.

In this charming illustrated series, follow the artists’ stories and find intriguing facts about their environments and key masterpieces. Then see what you can see and make your own art. Take a closer look at landscapes with Georgia O’Keeffe, or yourself, with Vincent van Gogh. Try printmaking at home with Hokusai. Every book in this series is one to treasure – perfect for budding young artists to explore exhibitions with, then continue their own artistic journeys.

Chapter book

The perfect crime – it’s a work of art, in Frank Cottrell Boyce’s ingenious story, Framed.

Dylan is the only boy living in the tiny Welsh town of Manod. His parents run the Snowdonia Oasis Auto Marvel garage – and when he’s not trying to persuade his sisters to play football, Dylan is in charge of the petrol log. And that means he gets to keep track of everyone coming in and out of Manod – what car they drive, what they’re called, even their favourite flavour of crisps. But when a mysterious convoy of lorries trundles up the misty mountainside towards an old, disused mine, even Dylan is confounded. Who are these people – and what have they got to hide?

A story inspired by a press cutting describing how, during World War II, the treasured contents of London’s National Gallery were stored in Welsh slate mines. Once a month, a morale-boosting masterpiece would be unveiled in the village and then returned to London for viewing. This is a funny and touching exploration of how art – its beauty and its value – touches the life of one little boy and his big family in a very small town.

This edition of Framed includes bonus material and discussion questions from Frank Cottrell Boyce, and illustrations by Steven Lenton.

Non-fiction

Engineers are the superheroes of the real world. They use their problem-solving skills to face down the biggest challenges we have, from creating clean energy to designing prosthetic limbs, from eliminating food shortages to programming AI to exploring the surface of Mars. In this book you’ll meet 46 engineers, from apprentices and lab technicians to university professors and start-up CEOs and hear what problems they are solving and why they love their jobs. Engineers are changing the world. Will you be one of them?

Non-fiction

Scientists often take a leaf from nature when devising inventions. Find out more and let your imagination soar:
Discover how nature has inspired some great creations, from the Wright Brothers’ first aeroplane to Eiji Nakatsu’s bullet train.
Meet brilliant birds, boisterous bats, and family trees as we celebrate the creatures of the sky.
Explore the human and natural world, from bee discos to the design of outer-space cameras.

Chapter book

The first in a brand-new series about dancing, friendship and following your dreams from best-loved author Jean Ure, whose books are described by Jacqueline Wilson as “funny, funky, feisty – and fantastic reads!”

When new girl Caitlyn arrives at Coombe House School Maddy is sure she must be a fellow ballet dancer; she certainly has all the grace and poise of a ballerina. So when Caitlyn denies it, Maddy isn’t convinced. But it isn’t until she comes across Caitlyn practising ballet in the gym that she realises there must be more to her story… Just what can it be? Maddy is determined to find out!

Chapter book

A warm and wise tale about the unique challenges of pre-teen life from a master of the genre. Lucy has lived her entire life in her sister’s shadow – Lola is always the centre of attention and constantly in need of new clothes for a party or kit for her dancing, meaning Lucy often goes without. But when a talent show comes to town, an unlikely ally helps Lucy step into the spotlight for once. Will Lucy discover her own star quality? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Chapter book

A magical new young fiction series from best-selling author and illustrator, Laura Ellen Anderson!

Meet Marnie Midnight – a little moth with BIG dreams!

Marnie Midnight is SO excited to be starting at Minibeast Academy. She adores everything about the moon and she can’t wait to learn about its magic. But Marnie soon discovers that nobody believes in moon magic anymore!

Marnie is determined to get to the bottom of this moon mystery. The little moth and her minibeast friends explore far and wide in their search for the truth. But will they survive a run-in with a rebellious rat or an out-of-this-world trip with the terrifying Early Bird . . . ? One thing is for sure, Marnie is a little bug having a BIG Adventure!

Chapter book

The year is 2507. The oceans have risen.

A new dawn of piracy has begun.

Jacoby Blunt and Jasmine Peacock are students at the elite Pirate Academy.

This is no ordinary school!

Lessons range from Knots Class and Sailing to Combat Workshop… The teachers are all pirate legends… The pressure is always on…. Friendship is everything.

When a new kid, the mysterious Neo Splice, arrives, everything changes FAST. Suddenly the dangers are no longer simply out on the oceans but right here, amongst them. In the face of real peril, the students of Barracuda class must put everything they have learned to the test against a ruthless and seemingly unstoppable new enemy.

Welcome to Pirate Academy – once you step through the door you won’t ever want to leave!

Cover and interior art by Teo Skaffa

Chapter book

From beloved children’s author-illustrator Alex T. Smith, the bestselling creator of the Claude series, How Winston Delivered Christmas, How Winston Came Home for Christmas and The Grumpus, comes a rip-roaring fast-paced illustrated adventure through space, perfect for newly confident readers!

Astrid Atomic, a 6 year old human person, goes to bed every night like every other 6 year old human person. But unlike many other 6 year olds she doesn’t stay there. The minute the lights are off and the coast is clear the Space Cadet siren goes off, her uniform goes on, and 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – WHOOSH! – she blasts off on board the spaceship Stardust!

Along with her best pals Beryl, Professor Quackers and Zoink, Astrid is given her mission from The Chief – to clean up the Milky Way! But when a nearby alien is in trouble and with giant snaliens around, things aren’t likely to go to plan!

Don’t miss Astrid and the gang’s next adventure in book two: Astrid and the Space Cadets: Race from Planet Peril!

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