Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

Jo Lindley Books

Hello Winter

Picturebook

Meet four magical friends who control the seasons in this irresistible new series from author-illustrator Jo Lindley.

Finally it’s Winter turn to share her special season, and she’s SO excited. But her friends don’t like her chilly games. Instead of passing the weather crown to Winter, Autumn gives it to Spring.

As Winter stomps off to play snow games on her own, it isn’t long before her friends start feeling bad. Can they find their way through the ice and snow to tell their friend how much she means to them?

Perfect for little readers learning about empathy and taking turns.

Each title centres on a different seasonal character and gently explores key social and emotional themes, such as anxiety, self-belief and resilience.

Set in an enchanting natural world that readers will love to return to again and again!

With a sparkling foil finish!

Collect the series and discover more magical seasonal adventures:
Hello Spring
Hello Autumn
Hello Summer

Hello Summer

Jo Lindley

Picturebook

Meet four magical friends who control the seasons in this irresistible new series from author-illustrator Jo Lindley.

Say hello to the Little Seasons!

The sun is shining and the Little Seasons are on their way to the beach. But Summer is feeling hot and bothered . . . First their picnic is overrun by hungry creatures. Next their game of catch is ruined when their ball goes POP.

Luckily his friends know the perfect way to relax: building a giant sandcastle. Finally Summer is starting to have fun!

But no one has noticed the great big wave thats rolling in . . .

A pitch-perfect story about managing emotions, especially anger and frustration, and showing compassion to ourselves and others.

Meet four magical friends who control the seasons in this irresistible series from author-illustrator Jo Lindley.

Each title centres on a different seasonal character and gently explores key social and emotional themes, such as anxiety, self-belief and resilience.

Set in an enchanting natural world that readers will love to return to again and again!

With a sparkling foil finish!

Interdimensional Explorers

Jo Lindley & Lorraine Gregory

Chapter book

Danny’s grandad has a curious knack for finding list things. Nothing too unusual perhaps, until Danny discovers that Grandad has a very important, top-secret job working in the Interdimensional Lost Property Office (IDLPO). When Grandad falls ill, Danny is given the task of looking after the IDLPO. Entering the Office via a locker, Danny and his side-kick Modge are transported to new worlds and thrown into adventures beyond their imagination.

This is a book full of gags and mildly disgusting humour which children will love. As the boys race through the universe in their quest to return a fascinating array of alien creatures, they realise that they have the enthusiasm, determination and desire to do their best but that they lack the necessary knowledge of the ‘technical bits’. The boys have to resort to asking Danny’s bookish cousin, Inaaya, to join the mission. The trio discover a secret plot designed to bring down the whole universe. Woven into the narrative are engaging characters – Mrs Arbuckle, the lost property office supervisor who also happens to be a purple squid, brother and sister Kaspar and Kaylar and the veterinarian, Dr Triffle Piffle- each with a vivid appearance and quirky cosmic character. The action in the book moves at a fast pace and although there is excitement and peril it is humorous and really engaging.

Lorraine Gregory never fails to please. Children who love narrative-driven action will enjoy this book and will be turning the pages to discover if Danny, Modge and Inaaya can successfully return the lost things to their rightful galactic homes. Readers will, I am sure, await the next book in the series.

Hello Spring

Jo Lindley

Picturebook

Hello Spring captures the reader straight away with gorgeous illustrations that create a bright, happy feel. Readers are greeted with a magnificent map of the ‘Season Isle’ showing places the friends may go on their adventures together.

This is the perfect book to help children to understand seasonal changes that may happen in Springtime. The feeling of spring is evoked through a rich range of vocabulary and beautiful phrasing throughout, such as ‘Butterflies flitting and birds swooping, a dazzling symphony of colours.’

As well as weather and seasons, Hello Spring could also help to teach children about the importance of friendships.

The Heart Scarab

Jo Lindley & Saviour Pirotta

Chapter book

Renni and Mahu are brothers, but they are complete opposites. When Mahu hatches a plot to rob the tomb of a long-dead general in the Valley of the Kings, Renni is swept into the crime to help his family. But taking the general’s heart scarab sets a much greater chain of events into motion, which are governed by dark and mysterious powers. Will the brothers and their friend Balaal manage to return it before Anubis, the god of death, comes to collect their souls? Or will they, and the general, be cast into the Great Darkness forever?

Hello Autumn

Jo Lindley

Picturebook

Meet four magical friends who control the seasons in this irresistible new series from author-illustrator Jo Lindley.

As Summer passes the weather crown to Autumn, a season of bright colours and fun-filled adventure awaits.

But while his friends are getting excited about picking berries, leaf jumping and exploring the shadowy forest, Autumn is filled with worries and ‘what if’s . . .

What will it take to show him that he’s braver than he thinks?