Format: Chapter book

Sadie Jones and the Ball

Chapter book

‘Sadie Jones and the Ball’ is a dyslexia-friendly retelling of the traditional Cinderella story.

From the perspective of Sadie Jones, a kitchen maid at the palace, this is a funny tale about all the other people who get invited to the ball, rather than just Cinderella and her stepsisters. The story also carries an important message about fairness – why is it just the female servants that are invited to the ball? Can’t the male servants go as well? Prince Charming isn’t happy about the rules being broken though so Sadie has a challenge on her hands to convince him that everyone should be invited.

Perfect for children who are new to chapter books as if they are familiar with the story of Cinderella, it will feel like a familiar setting. Also a great read aloud as it raises plenty of discussion points throughout about friendship and fairness.

The Accidental Vikings

Anneli Bray & Karen McCombie

Chapter book

The Accidental Viking is an easy-to-follow and entertaining adventure story, with a few twists and turns along the way.

In true Barrington Stoke fashion, the text and print used mean this story is inclusive and accessible for all readers. The story is told through short, manageable chapters with illustrations running alongside.

The Accidental Viking also includes interesting historical facts about Viking life, which would further support the understanding of any reader learning about this era of time, in particular those linking to a Viking village. Some of the facts are quite humorous, particularly those about Viking toilets!

The story has a funny, playful undertone throughout, and readers will no doubt like the personalities of Alfie and Kat – the two main characters – as well as their approach to managing life as Vikings and their reasons behind this. This book would be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in Vikings or as part of a reading bank to support learning about Vikings in a classroom.

New You For Ever

Chris King & Steve Cole

Chapter book

‘New You For Ever’ is a futuristic thriller where artificial intelligence has taken over the world – a world that is suffering from the devastating effects of climate change – a world where extreme measures are being explored to solve the climate crisis.

The ‘New You Foundation’ is giving people the chance to turn themselves into a Pleeka – a replica of their own body with their personality and memories uploaded but importantly a body that can live forever without using up scarce resources such as food and water. Advocates of the Foundation are calling for everyone to turn Pleeka to take the strain off Earth, and influencers and celebrities are jumping on the bandwagon.

Anders and his dad are journalists reporting on the Foundation. But Anders becomes suspicious about the true intentions of the organisation and he is determined to discover the truth.

This is an easy gripping read, which explores an extreme future scarily based on reality. It will certainly make you think!

George and the Mini Dragon

George Webster & Helen Harvey & Tim Budgen

Chapter book

The start of a fabulous new series for kids aged 6 and older by CBeebies star George Webster.

Most of George’s classmates have cats and dogs as pets, but George’s parents are not pet lovers and despite George’s pleading they refuse to get him either.

On George’s birthday, he decides to wish for a pet Labrador, but at the last minute he changes his mind… a pet dragon would surely be more fun?!

When George finds a dragon at the end of the garden, he realises his wish has come true, but this dragon has a mind of its own, and it’s going to be hard to conceal its antics at school and to his parents.

Can George and his friends keep Lava a secret together?

The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away

Elisa Paganelli & Sophie Anderson

Chapter book

Marinka, Benjamin and the House with Chicken Legs are back in a fabulous sequel to the original The House with Chicken Legs.

Marinka and her House have finally stopped wandering and settled down to live near her best friend, Benjamin. But all is not well with the House; it seems tired and distant. In an effort to help the house regain some of its sparkle, Marinka and Yaga Tatyana decide to host a guiding but it goes disastrously wrong, plummeting Marinka and Benjamin into a breathtaking adventure which makes Marinka question her past, her future and everything she thought she knew. Testing her friendships to the limit, can Marinka save her House? Can she get Benjamin safely back to his family? And will she finally find out who she really is?

I usually find that sequels are rarely as good as the original, but this is most definitely an exception. Fast-paced and as well-written as we have come to expect from Sophie Anderson, this is a welcome addition to any bookshelf and an exciting return of a much-loved story.

The Unchosen One

Amy Sparkes

Chapter book

The first in a hilarious, super readable and magical new adventure series from the New York Times bestselling author of The House at the Edge of Magic.

Tassie has grown up in the Citadel under careful watch, well away from any form of danger – and adventure. When the Wisest of the Wise Witches comes to visit and proclaims her the Chosen One, destined to save her people from death and destruction, Tassie realizes why she’s spent her life wrapped in cotton wool.

Tassie needs to find a new Chosen One, so along with her best friend, a griffin called Spin, and an enigmatic elf, she sets off on an epic (and somewhat chaotic) quest through magical lands in a race against time. Unfortunately, she’s never been on time for anything.

The wit and wackiness of Terry Pratchett’s young fiction combines with the jaunt and unlikely hero story of Kung Fu Panda in this unputdownable adventure.

Snow by Meera Trehan

Meera Treehan

Chapter book

A magical fairy-tale adventure set in a winter wonderland, this gift hardback makes the perfect Christmas present for fans of Frozen, The Snow Queen and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

In this enchanting fantasy, an imprisoned princess needs the help of a girl from the modern world to undo a wish gone wrong and save her snowy kingdom.

Every day, a lonely princess digs through the snow in search of a way to undo the terrible wish she made – one that has left her with an empty kingdom. But one day, a mysterious girl named Ela tumbles through the kingdom’s protective mist barrier. The princess is determined to bring Ela to her father, the king, as proof that her wish can be undone. Meanwhile, Ela is shocked to discover she’s stumbled upon the very Snow Princess whose picture graces the cover of the locked book that Ela’s mom won’t let her read.

Can these two brave girls from different worlds come together to set things right? This captivating adventure of courage, belonging and unlikely friendship would make a wonderful stocking filler, and is the perfect book to curl up with on winter nights.

Amir and the Jinn Princess

M. T. Khan

Chapter book

A thrilling new adventure into the glittering realm of the jinn from the author of Nura and the Immortal Palace.

Amir has lived all his life in splendour, being the son of a wealthy businessman. But when his mother disappears at his father’s factory, Amir is the only one who feels sure she’s not gone forever.

When a strange jinn shows up on his doorstep with clues to his mother’s whereabouts, Amir finds himself following Shamsa into the realm of the jinn – a world of trickery, tests and deceit.

But could his mother also be hiding in this world of pink seas and purple skies, and could a jinn princess be his key to finding her?

Fairytale Fan Club

David Roberts & Richard Ayoade

Chapter book

FAIRY-LAND EXCLUSIVE! Discover THE TRUTH about your favourite fairy-tale characters in Richard Ayoade’s second children’s book.

Read about the real lives of fairy-tale characters in this exclusive collection of letters between curious kids and their fairy-tale idols.

What are they doing now? Was it really Happily Ever After? Is the Big Bad Wolf actually that bad? When will Sleeping Beauty get out of bed? And what makes frogs so kissable?

Only one man has the answers, direct from the ACTUAL LEGENDS themselves: meet C.C. Cecily, Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club.

BAFTA-winning comedian, actor/director and presenter Richard Ayoade brings his trademark comic genius to Fairy Tale Land.

Buck and Ears

Jennifer Bell & Sarah Horne

Chapter book

This new series from Jennifer Bell is a top recommendation for young readers aged 6-9 who enjoy a mix of mystery, adventure and silliness.

Buck and his rabbit sidekick, Ears, have been dubbed the worst pirates ever! So, they decide a career change is in order. Rebranding themselves as Pirate Detectives, they take on a high-stakes case for the mighty Captain Bloodfang: find the missing mermaid chef, or end up in the ship’s stew pot!

The story is a barrel of laughs. Readers will enjoy the mishaps of the hopeless but harmless crew, from a navigator who won’t swim to a porcupine who adds marshmallow to the end of his quills to protect his friends from being prickled. Sarah Horne’s energetic illustrations perfectly match the good clean humour of the story, making this a brilliant chapter book storytime pick for fun loving adventurers in Year 2 or 3.

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