Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

James Brown Books

The Lost Dogs by Patricia Forde is a heartwarming and action-packed adventure that captures the enduring spirit of friendship, loyalty, and hope.

Perfect for readers aged 8 and up, this touching tale follows three very different dogs—Luna, Bella, and Eddie—thrown together by loss and misfortune, who form an unbreakable bond on a quest to find their way home.

Luna, a Labrador, is anxious and fiercely protective, convinced her family can’t survive without her. Bella, a gentle Cocker Spaniel, has lost most of her memories but still clings to the warmth of a once-loving home. Eddie, a cheeky and optimistic Terrier, masks his grief over his late owner with humour and courage. Together, the trio escapes a cruel dog pound and embarks on a daring journey, filled with danger, hilarity, and moments of deep emotional resonance.

Forde masterfully blends heart-stopping action with tender emotional beats. From escaping captivity and outwitting a sinister dog warden to facing natural disasters and criminal gangs, the dogs’ epic adventure is packed with twists, scrapes, and narrow escapes. Yet at the core of this lively romp is a story about finding family in unexpected places and never giving up—even when the odds seem stacked against you. With echoes of The Incredible Journey, The Lost Dogs is a modern classic in the making. Forde’s engaging prose, well-drawn canine characters, and perfect balance of humour and heart make this a thoroughly captivating read. Young readers will cheer, laugh, and cry alongside Luna, Bella, and Eddie as they grow braver, stronger, and closer with every page.

A story of survival, resilience, and love, The Lost Dogs is a joyful celebration of the power of friendship, and paws down, a must-read for dog lovers of all ages.

A gorgeously illustrated and engaging guide to the world of art.
Immerse yourself in the amazing world of art in this beautiful book with text by Helena Hunt, stylishly illustrated by the inimitable print-maker James Brown.
What is art, and how have we used it to express ourselves throughout history? From cave painting right up to pop art; the Renaissance to twentieth-century sculpture, discover the stories behind great movements, processes and artists – both the household names and the perhaps not-so-familiar. Covering thirty topics, including printing, pigment, ceramics and pattern and photography, as well as Impressionism, Romanticism and Surrealism, this is a thoughtful and easily digestible approach to a huge subject.

A stunning collection of the world’s most important discoveries for all the family to enjoy.

In the stylish miscellany, print-maker James Brown travels through the past and present, showing the amazing breakthroughs in science and technology that have changed our lives for ever. Discover fascinating facts and figures about space travel, the human body, time, the computer and much more with Brown’s bold, bright colours and beautiful contemporary designs. Each illustration is presented alongside an engaging fact-filled explanation by celebrated author Richard Platt. Covering more than 30 diverse and fascinating topics, this is the perfect book for the whole family to enjoy.

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