Format: Chapter book

Koalas in Capes: The Zombie Chickens

Chapter book

This is the first book in the series and what an introduction to the amazingly funny duo, Bob and Archie, two koalas who have recently got superhero powers. Archie has invisibility powers and Bob has super-strength. I really enjoyed this book and the characters were very likeable.

So far they haven’t had much success rescuing anyone. When there is a robbery at the Museum they have no choice but to intervene. Supervillain Ostrich, Dr Colossus is behind the unusual crime and with the help of their friend, Quinn the aadvark they soon have a plan.

With short chapters, lots of illustrations and funny mishaps, this book is sure to be a favourite with readers.

The Galaxy World Cup

Alan Joyce

Chapter book

This is a hilarious book about daydreamer, Nick who gets a detention for well, daydreaming along with his friend Eddie, who thinks he saw a spaceship land in the woods. They join Phil, angry Mia and tech-savvy Sanjay in detention.

The PE teacher, Mr Barton wants them to play against talented Lucas and his team in the Community Centre. If that’s not bad enough they have to wear unwashed kit. The names on the back of the T-shirts are: Ronaldo, Messi, Mbappe, Morgan and Haaland. When they lose miserably, they are made to run laps around the park but they hear strange noises coming from the woods. When they see a green light they go in and are kidnapped by alien, Gaux and robot, Nauton who mistake them for the names on the back of their T-shirts to play in the Galaxy World Cup on the planet Bigpu!

Back on Earth, friends, families and teachers watch them as they play match after match. This was a gripping read with so many funny parts. Mia is always shouting, Phil is always vomiting and Sanjay can’t stop sneezing. This book would be perfect for football fans and fans of funny books alike. Although they seem like misfits who have nothing in common they actually work well together and learn they have ther own strengths.

The Experiment

Rebecca Stead

Chapter book

I was hooked into the story from the first couple of pages with questions as to why a boy named Nathan is locked in his room by his family, and why they are being summoned to the mysterious ‘Wagon’ – a journey that Nathan is clearly very reluctant to take.

The reader then discovers that he’s an alien from the planet Kast, and that his peers in the group, who arrived on Earth together, are disappearing. Nathan is also on a meticulously controlled and monitored food intake: Hester – the Kast leader – needs to see how long their people can maintain human form and blend in. When Nathan grows a tail, that’s clearly no longer possible, and this is why he and his family are summoned to the Wagon – their hidden spaceship – to meet Hester.

Once on the ship, it becomes clear that the situation is not as Nathan has been led to believe, and he has to try to convince his parents that they must all take action. When Nathan takes matters into his own hands and becomes trapped with Hester on the Wagon, the shocking truth about their identity and Hester’s experiments is revealed.

It’s a highly original story that explores our sense of belonging and what it is to be human – or alien. It does challenge a few preconceptions and has further themes of friendship, family and identity. It would be a fabulous science fiction read – more in this genre than fantasy – and would appeal to fans of Christopher Edge or Alistair Chisholm.

K-Pop Academy: The Stage of Shadows

Mina Finch

Chapter book

12 yr old Hana has been invited to study at the most prestigious training school in Seoul. As soon as she steps out of the taxi in front of the K-Pop Academy she causes chaos, making enemies straight away. But she soon makes friends with Tae, Nari and Jason and they stay with her at all times. When she spots a demon shadow during her first practise and fights it, she catches the attention of the Principal Lee and is given a secret mission.

This is a short book, making it a quick read for confident readers. I can see others giving the book a go because of Netflix’s K-pop Demon Hunters film. There are another 5 books in the series of ‘Unofficial stories’ that are not authorised or endorsed by Netflix and Sony.

Georgie

Malachy Doyle

Chapter book

14-year-old Georgie hasn’t spoken in years.

Withdrawn, isolated and full of rage, no one trusts him and no one gets close to him.

But then he is moved to a new home in the Welsh countryside.

Instead of an empty room with a bare mattress on the floor, he has a proper bed, a music system, a mirror.

There even seems to be someone here who might want to be his friend.

Is this the place where Georgie can finally overcome his fears and start to unlock the secrets of his past?

A raw, gritty, yet hopeful and uplifting story about mental health and the power of care and kindness.

Stitch Head (Film Tie-in)

Guy Bass & Pete Williamson

Chapter book

Guy Bass’s Scrap books have been among my favourite books of the last few years, so I was keen to read Stitch Head, particularly having seen trailers for the film recently. This version also has stills from the film inserted into the book.

Who could resist little Stitch Head with his woeful face, admirably rendered by Pete Williamson. The book is a shorter read, made easier by those illustrations, which I loved. The story is not complex, but the emotions are. The reader really feels for poor Stitch Head and the way he has been abandoned, and how he clings to the past. The villain is suitably villainous, and whilst the book is littered with monsters, this is not a scary read, and the scariest ones are actually the people.

Sometimes illustrations enhance a story, but in this case, they are part of the story and I’m sure that the visual aspect of storytelling is what made the book so ripe for being turned into a film.

Postman Planet

Ben Davis & Yasmin Sheikh

Chapter book

Postman Planet is a laugh-out-loud funny book that’s perfect for young readers who enjoy action, humour and a bit of chaos. With short chapters and plenty of illustrations, the book is presented in a way that feels inviting rather than overwhelming, making it an excellent choice for children building confidence with longer stories.

The story follows Postman Planet, whose job is to deliver mail to some very dangerous and unusual places across the galaxy. The twist is that he’s actually a secret nine-year-old boy, doing his best to survive space deliveries while teamed up with Stamp, his annoying (but very funny) assistant, who is part robot and part dog. The fast pace, silly situations and visual humour will keep children engaged and the accessible layout makes it easy to read in short bursts. Despite the comedy, the book also explores positive themes such as friendship, teamwork and problem-solving, showing how working together can help overcome even the most challenging situations.

As the first book in a new series, Postman Planet does a great job of hooking readers and leaving them eager for more adventures. It’s a strong choice for reluctant readers, independent reading or for children who enjoy humorous stories with a sci-fi twist.

Guardians of the New Moon: The Year of the Tiger

Eric Huang & Phung Nguyen Quang

Chapter book

A fun adventure and part of the ‘Guardians of the New Moon’ series, ‘The Year of the Tiger’ focuses on feisty Biao the Tiger.

Ming and Miaow are Guardians of the New Moon and are tasked with making sure Biao, the honorary tiger, is at the Heavenly Palace at the right time for the celebrations for the Year of the Tiger. But Biao has got more important things on her mind – she’s concerned about the destruction of the Western Forest but can’t get anyone, including the emperor, to listen to her.

Biao is extremely passionate about saving the Western Forest but doesn’t always get her ideas across in the right way. There’s an important message in the story about listening to others but also accepting help when you need it, as well as the theme of conservation. This would be a great first chapter book for children as each chapter is relatively short. There are illustrations throughout as well to break up the text further.

Boy vs Reality

James Fox

Chapter book

Most children will be more familiar than I with the trials and temptations of vlogging: seeking to present perfection; aiming for maximum likes; transitioning from hobby to business while simultaneously upping the fun factor and the revenue; not to mention losing sight of life’s priorities.

Y5 Ethan seems to have a better handle on what really matters in life (families, friends and wellbeing) than Mum, with her million followers, Dad, with his ‘Dad on the Rocks’ channel, or older brother, Mason, who kickstarts his own YouTube ambitions by recording and publishing the meanest possible pranks on his Little Loser Bro. When the perfect influencer family is actually tearing itself apart, when the smiles are forced, and the offline chat fractious and hate-filled, the grown-up plan is ‘fake it’ and keep shtum. No wonder chilling with his good mates, Arlo and Omar, brings Ethan welcome relief; no wonder he goes to Grandad and Colin the Dog for sanctuary and solace. Because confiding in and collaborating with true friends and, eventually, accepting professional counselling and moving towards reconciliation, is surely the better way.

What makes this book a winner is its contemporary and engrossing storyline, for sure. But it is also to be recommended for its humour, the Gen Z/Gen Alpha slang (for those in the know), and even the laying bare of Ethan’s ‘sticky thoughts’, helping real kids to see they’re not alone or ‘weird’. At 373 pages, Boy Vs Reality is a satisfyingly chunky volume: too long probably for a class read, but definitely one to have in the UKS2 library or classroom.

The Domesday Cows

Iszi Lawrence

Chapter book

Who could resist a book with the title The Domesday Cows? Coupled with being written by Iszi Lawrence, whose books I have enjoyed in the past, this was an irresistible draw for me.

This is a story about the culture clash between the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans. Billed as a comedy, this is a romp through the early days of the Norman Invasion and how it impacted the Anglo-Saxon people already living in England (and Wales). It is full of historical details, all cleverly disguised as a funny story. The fact that deer, for example, were no longer permitted to be killed as they belonged to the Normans is all wrapped up in an episode where a deer behaves incredibly stupidly, and the villagers can do nothing about it. I also did not realise the Normans brought rabbits into the country.

The amusing illustrations by Davide Ortu start each chapter with a hint of what is to come, and the tiptoeing cows are very funny. There is a lot to unpack in what seems like a simple book.