Publisher: Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd

Michael Jordan (Little People, Big Dreams)

Non-fiction

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players of time.

Little Michael wanted to be the first at everything – especially if that meant beating his older brother. One day, he came home crying… he’d been rejected from the basketball team at school. With his mum’s message of ‘go out and earn it’ ringing in his ears, Michael practised all summer. Soon he was the star of the team , going from school, to college, to the Olympics.

After six titles, more than 1,000 games and exactly 32,292 points, MJ had become a sporting legend, who encouraged kids to ‘make it happen!’ This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back , including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the baller’s life.

History’s Biggest Show-Offs

Andy Seed & Sam Caldwell

Non-fiction

If you have children who like non-fiction then this is a ‘must have’ addition to your school shelves. Humour and history combine with eye catching graphics to introduce us to some well known (and not so well known) super ‘show offs’ from the past.Split into 3 main sections – People in charge, People who think up stuff and People who create things – we meet bold, brilliant characters who are known for their supersized power, riches, glamour, creativity or intelligence.

From the Ancient Indian Maratha warrior queen, Tarabai, to Henry VIII who showed off their power through military skills (and shoulder pads in Henry’s case); to the inventions of the Montgolfier Brothers, whose inaugural hot air balloon flight was staged at the Versaille Palace and the spectacular, showstopping art and architecture of Basquiat and Gaudi; extraordinary tales and quirky facts are shared about these characters who have more than made their mark on history.

The eye-catching design, illustrations and layout of this book make it accessible to a wide range of readers and children will be drawn in by its engaging, chatty, modern vibe. Top Ten’s and ‘battles’ between two brilliant minds in the same field (Edison vs Tesla being one) and a timeline to help give context also add interest. In addition, there are many ways children can interact with the book, with quizzes and questions carefully placed throughout and elements encouraging children to consider how they can stand out in the future.

Queen Elizabeth (Little People, Big Dreams)

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara & Melissa Lee Johnson

Non-fiction

In this book from the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch of modern times.

Little Elizabeth loved dogs and horses and dreamt of living on a farm. But, one day, she heard chants on the streets. Her uncle Edward had renounced the crown, which meant her father would be the next king, and she heiress to the throne. From that day on, she had to learn how to one day be the queen.

When she was only 13, World War Two broke out across the globe. Elizabeth bravely served as an ambulance driver, and after the war ended, she fell in love with and married the charming Prince Philip. In 1952, she was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, and for the next 70 years she would serve as a beacon of continuity, looking after her subjects and serving the country she reigned over.

This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the monarch’s life.

How Selfish

Clare Helen Welsh and Olivier Tallec

Picturebook

If it’s not too cheeky to sneak in a couple of my own titles, Dot and Duck in the ‘How’ series have an extremely testing relationship that all siblings will be able to relate to. I’m often asked where I came up with the ideas for ‘How Selfish’ and ‘How Rude’. I tell people that with two brothers, two children and ten years’ teaching experience, I didn’t need to look too far for inspiration! What is empowering about these books, is that both characters are equally as bad as each other but work out the right way to behave in the end.

Wolf Girl

Jo Loring-Fisher

Picturebook

The first page of Wolf Girl shows a sad face staring from a window of a tower block. Browns and greys surround her, the sky is clouded and the roads are twisted like the knots in her stomach. Behind Sophy’s forlorn face is a square of colour which stands out: a picture of a wolf.

Away from the outside world, Sophy finds happiness in her den – the place where she can be herself, or anyone else for that matter. Sophy’s face wears a smile when she is in her wolf costume, the skin she wears when being Sophy just isn’t enough. As a wolf, Sophy finds the strength and courage to be loud and fast. Sophy is a worrier and Sophy is shy, but wolves are brave and wolves are adventurous – so Sophy decides that she will be a wolf. Sadly, wolves in school isn’t to everyone’s liking and Sophy’s plan doesn’t gain her the friends that she longs for.

The illustrations in this beautiful book allow the reader, old or young, to feel Sophy’s anguish. We see how the children’s laughter causes her distress and how alone and bleak she feels. There is great depth and empathy within every page. When Sophy finds herself face-to-face with a bear, she has to confront the threat and she finds her voice. The reader might then be forgiven for predicting that the story would end with Sophy being a braver, less anxious child. But no, there is far more to learn from her experience. You see, Sophy looks at the bear and makes a very wise realisation. It is the lesson that Sophy learns from her encounter with the bear that then helps her to smile and for the subsequent pages to become lighter and brighter. The ending of Sophy’s story is a good one; it carries a message of hope to those children who feel that they don’t quite ‘fit in’ and it tells us that sometimes the things that we fear are not quite as big or as scary as we had once thought.

As the parent of a shy little girl who doesn’t think she fits in, this story struck a chord with me. We all can do with our own secret wolf sometimes, but we also need to know that bears need hugs too.

A beautiful book with wolf-like wisdom and bear-sized warmth.

Reviewer: Jo Clarke.

Greta and the Giants

Zoe Persico & Zoë Tucker

Picturebook

Greta and the Giants is a new picture book containing a fictionalised forest story inspired by Greta Thunberg, the Nobel Prize nominee who has stirred people to action worldwide through the youth climate movement. The book itself is printed on 100% recycled paper and with every purchase a donation is made to GreenpeaceUK.

Greta is a young girl who lives in the forest. The forest is beautiful but is threatened by a group of giants, who chop down trees to make big houses and have extended their busy city until there is nearly no forest left. Greta realises that the forest may soon disappear but the unthinking giants are too busy to listen. When some of the forest animals approach Greta to ask for help in saving their home, she has an idea to make herself small. As a single voice, the lumbering giants will never take notice, but once other people and animals notice her peaceful protest and decide to join too, soon the giants begin to see their actions in a new light.

The vibrantly illustrated story allegorises the spirit of Greta’s real campaigns while putting it into words and pictures that are accessible to even the youngest of children. There is an additional section at the back of the book with information about the real Greta and some positive actions that everybody could take to make a difference to the environment.

Ramadan Moon

Na’ima B. Robert & Shirin Adl

Picturebook

This picturebook offers an explanation of the way in which many Muslims see the period of Ramadan from the first sighting of the new moon through the full moon and back, as well as giving insight into the ‘month of mercy.’ This book would be a great addition to any school or library as it would help support adults who are less familiar with the experience of Ramadan to explain it to children. The explanation of Ramadan is explained beautifully and sensitively in this book and the accompanying illustrations enhance the text perfectly, presented with a beautiful texturing effect that adds a ‘real-world’ feel to them.

A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals

Christopher Corr & Claire Grace

Non-fiction

With fact-filled text accompanied by beautifully bright illustrations from the wonderfully talented Chris Corr, prepare yourself for a journey as we travel around the world celebrating and uncovering a visual feast of culture.

Countless different festivals are celebrated all over the world throughout the year. Some are national holidays, celebrated for religious and cultural reasons, or to mark an important date in history , while others are just for fun . Give thanks and tuck into a delicious meal with friends and family at Thanksgiving, get caught up in a messy tomato fight in Spain at La Tomatina, add a splash of colour to your day at the Holi festival of colours and celebrate the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Amanda Gorman (Little People, Big Dreams)

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara & Queenbe Monyei

Non-fiction

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the incredible life of Amanda Gorman, America’s astounding young poet and activist.

From an early age, Little Amanda read everything she could get her hands on , from books to cereal boxes. Growing up with an auditory processing disorder and a speech impediment, Amanda had to work hard, but ultimately she took great strength from her experiences .

After hearing her teacher read aloud to the class, she knew that she wanted to become a poet, and nothing would stand in her way. At the age of 19, she became America’s first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate. And, after performing her inspiring poem ‘The Hill We Climb’ at the Presidential Inauguration in January 2021 , she became an icon across the world .

This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back , including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the incredible young poet and activist’s life so far.

Captain Tom Moore (Little People, Big Dreams)

Christophe Jacques & Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Non-fiction, Picturebook

Once there was a humble boy from Yorkshire called Tom, who was born with his feet firmly on the ground. His determination and courage saw him and his comrades through the worst crisis the world had ever known: World War Two. So when a new crisis struck in 2020, just before his 100th birthday, Captain Tom knew just what to do. Aiming to raise GBP1,000 for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden, his story soon became known all over the world, with people donating so much that he quickly raised over GBP30 million! Captain Tom’s story shows us that, by coming together, we can dream bigger than ever, and that when the going gets tough, you just have to keep on walking.

This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back , including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the Captain’s life.