The Alligator’s Mouth Award

This funny, young fiction story from David O’Connell tells the tale of a firefly, a snail and their wacky adventures.

Dash is a firefly with a difference – one wing is shorter than the other. Dribble is a slow snail by name and nature, with all kinds of things tucked away in his shell. So together they make a hilarious duo who bump into trouble, causing chaos wherever they roam!

This short chapter book makes reading accessible to readers 6+ who love fun, laughs and a little bit of cheekiness. Dash flies a little slower than he would like, eating as much of his favourite food, custard, as he goes. Dribble’ favourite food is cabbage alongside inventing things. Readers join them in their first adventure, aiming to foil a criminal plot full of bugs, beetles and lots of giggles.

Children with a love of nature and minibeasts will enjoy this cheeky, sneaky, laugh-out-loud adventure story.

Good Bits by Kes Gray is a wonderful collection of short stories and unique by doing exactly what the title promises: skipping straight to the ‘good bit’!

With each story, readers are plunged directly into the heart of a narrative from the very first sentence and are pulled along at a fast pace before suddenly being faced with an unexpected twist only pages later. It is a brilliant, fast-paced formula that consistently leaves you wondering what might happen next.

This book is perfect for reluctant readers, who crave instant excitement and like stories to get straight to the action, as well as creative children who love letting their imaginations run wild. Showcasing a range of genres – spanning from laugh-out-loud comedy to spellbinding fantasy and high-stakes science fiction – there is a tale here for every type of reader. The writing is creative, utilising rich figurative language that paints incredibly vivid mental pictures for the reader, and each story is complemented by illustrations that further help to bring the text to life.

Good Bits is a must-have addition to children’s bookshelves.

This is the first instalment of a charming new series by author Nicola Kent. Cat and Dumpling are best friends, but they’re very different. Cat is a dreamer who loves to knit, and Dumpling is a cautious planner who loves gardening. So when they are looking for their first home, it turns out it is in the SAME flat.

This is a perfect introduction to a short chapter book for early readers. The story tells of pranks and schemes that provide fun and laughter. Alongside beautiful full colour illustrations depicting best friends, Cat and Dumpling are loveable and charming from the outset. Will these opposites put their differences aside?

A gorgeous read-aloud classroom story or a short chapter book to stretch a newly independent reader. Keep a lookout for the next book in the series: Cat and Dumpling: The Talent Show.