Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

Sangu Mandanna Books

From the author behind The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Sangu Mandanna’s magical adventure series for kids begins with Vanya and the Wild Hunt, with stunning illustrations by Kristina Kister. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan, A. F. Steadman and Pari Thomson.

Eleven-year-old Vanya Vallen can talk to books. But more importantly, the books talk back.

When her family is attacked by a monster she believed only existed in legends, Vanya discovers that her parents have been keeping secrets, and that monsters do exist. Soon, she is whisked off to the enchanted school of Auramere, where she joins the ranks of archwitches and archivists.

Auramere is full of magic … and monsters. And the Wild Hunt is on the prowl. It’s up to Vanya to unmask its leader and stop them from destroying the only place she’s ever truly belonged.

Kiki Kallira can bring her drawings to life…but when a mysterious curse threatens her newly-created kingdom and friends, how can she use her powers to save them? A fantasy adventure inspired by Hindu legends about anxiety, creativity and finding your own strengths. For 8+ fans of Abi Elphistone and The Land of Roar.

Fresh from the exciting discovery that the beautiful kingdom and band of rebel kids she drew in her sketchbook exists in another world, Kiki Kallira has an unexpected visitor. One of the rebels has come into the real world to ask for her help – the river Kaveri that is Mysore’s only source of water has suddenly vanished! With no water to drink or grow food, Kiki’s kingdom is doomed.

When drawing a new river doesn’t work, Kiki returns to Mysore and stumbles upon the origin of the Kaveri: a princess from long ago who was transformed into water by a terrible curse! It’s up to Kiki and her friends to restore the river without sacrificing the princess again. With her mounting anxiety, enemies seeking to stop her and a city growing weaker by the minute, Kiki’s confidence falters.

Will she be able to unravel the curse and save her kingdom before it’s too late?

Kiki Kallira is not a hero. She is not brave, daring, or strong. She is the kind of girl who worries about her mother being murdered by geese if she leaves the door open. But she can do one thing… draw. Drawing takes all of her anxieties away. That is until she unwittingly unleashes mythological creatures from the Hindu legends she draws in her sketchbook and is given no choice but to become a hero, or both her world and the one she has created will be in big trouble…

To say I enjoyed this book would be an understatement. The story has a diverse cast of characters and pays tribute to the Hindu legends that inspired it. Full of fantasy, adventure and friendship, it is bound to be a winner in many classrooms.

Kiki has to be one of my favourite main characters that I have read recently. The descriptions of her anxieties and how they affect her life really will resonate with many children. By following Kiki and her journey to discover whether she can be the brave hero that the world needs, children learn that heroes come in all shapes and sizes and everybody has their own strengths.

 

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review

Stone Girl Bone Girl

review

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?

yes

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Any other comments

Any other comments