Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

The Piano at the Station

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Constantly in trouble at school with little encouragement at home, Lacey’s future looks bleak until she discovers a love of music in this compelling tale by bestseller Helen Rutter.

Lacey’s smart tongue and quick temper are constantly getting her confined to isolation at school. But there’s a lot more to her that most people never see, and when Lacey gets sent to lunch-time music lessons to keep her out of trouble, she discovers a love and talent for the piano that opens up a whole new world for her.

Just as she’s really beginning to make progress, her music teacher has to leave, which throws Lacey back into turmoil. Will she go back to her self-destructive ways or will music offer her a way to save her from herself?

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Bryan Mealer & William Kamkwamba

Chapter book

William Kamkwamba’s story of perseverance and achievement in the face of incredible adversity shows the power of curiosity, dedication, and education. His desire to use his skills and knowledge to empower and improve his community should be an example to us all.

This well-written and gripping book should be a must-read for anyone who feels driven to improve themselves and the world around them. This really inspiring story for young people in a world full of consumerism will help pupils to learn about how wind can be used to generate power or electricity.

“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” is a moving true story of a boy growing up in famine and poverty who uses the resources of his local library to build something incredible. This adapted version of the book is good for upper mature upper key stage two readers and young adults especially young adults who are interested in science.

This story documents life in Malawi and the discovery of wind power by a boy who could not afford to go to school, but acted on his own initiative to help his family. He did all the research in the library! Some emotional chapters, which are hard hitting and may be challenging to read for some students. The book highlights the unfairness of the world at times and how perseverance can pay off. William is a fantastic role model for all children to read about.

Poo Crew Adventures: Journey to Poo-topia

James Turner & Steve May

Graphic novel

This is unapologetically and undeniably a book about poo.

It’s a fact-based science comic book, and likely to appeal to fans of “A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu and You” and other books in that series. There’s a lot of information crammed in about the digestive system, including comparing the human digestive process with that of other animals. There’s also detailed discussion of how sewage is processed. It’s all presented in a cheerful comic style in full colour throughout the book, with a lot of jokes thrown in.

Instructions for how to draw the two main characters are a nice addition. The style makes the book accessible for a wide range of ages and reading abilities. The authors don’t shy away from using technical vocabulary about the digestive system, but do introduce and clearly explain any terms that are likely to be unfamiliar. There’s also a helpful glossary provided at the back.

The subject matter means this book won’t appeal to all children; it’s not a book for the squeamish. Those children that do choose to read it are likely to love it and will laugh and learn a lot along the way.

The Bedtime Boat

Anastasia Suvorova & Sital Gorasia Chapman

Picturebook

A visually stunning, thoughtful and calming bedtime tale, featuring tried-and-tested mindfulness techniques.

“Watch the boat, Chandan, it floats on the ocean. It rises and falls with your breath’s gentle motion.”

Chandan has had an exciting day out with his mum – but now it’s time for bed, and however hard he tries, he just can’t sleep.

Luckily, his mum has some calming mindfulness techniques at her fingertips. The bedtime boat sits on Chandan’s tummy, rising and falling with his breath. As he travels on a voyage of imagination over the seas, the bedtime boat is always there to keep him grounded, and soon gently lulls him into a relaxed and peaceful sleep.

With stunning illustrations by award-winning illustrator Anastasia Suvorova, this lyrical rhyming picture book is the perfect way to help restless little ones drift off to sleep.

Bring the bedtime boat to life with the origami boat instructions inside the book.

Can I Come Too?

Owen Davey

Picturebook

Just because you are older, doesn’t mean you know better.

Teddy’s off to catch a fish, but Cub wants to come too. Little cubs always get in the way. But, luckily, they can also surprise you. Funny and stunning by turns, come with Cub and Teddy on an adventure to find, “Just the one I wanted”.

I Did See a Mammoth

Alex Willmore

Picturebook

Welcome to the Antarctic, where an intrepid bunch of explorers is making an in-depth study of penguins. Penguins. Penguins. Penguins. So many penguins . . .

But one young explorer has discovered something different. Something totally wild, spectacularly cool and quite a lot . . . EXTINCT.

Alex Willmore’s hilariously funny picture book brings the prehistoric woolly mammoth dancing, swimming and SKATEBOARDING back to life. But will anyone believe it?

Would YOU?!

Winner of the InspiREAD Award 2023.

The Blue-Footed Booby

Rob Biddulph

Picturebook

The newest picture book written and illustrated by the bestselling and award-winning Rob Biddulph, the creative star behind the viral and phenomenal #DrawWithRob!

Let’s follow the footprints!
Let’s hunt for some clues!
Left footprint! Right footprint!
No time to lose!

As everybody knows, Red-Footed Boobies are fabulous bakers. But when Desmond’s frangipane tart goes missing amidst a flurry of footprints, the Blue-Footed Booby becomes the chief suspect. But all is not as it seems…

Featuring one of the stars of Draw With Rob (video number 24), this is a gloriously silly rhyming story about the perils of jumping to conclusions. Perfect read-aloud fun for children aged 3+!

The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science

Alfredo Caceres & Kate McKinnon

Chapter book

Better known for her stand up comedy work on Saturday Night Live and more latterly for playing the “weird” Barbie in the blockbuster film, McKinnon has produced a delightful story that will hopefully give those who are left feeling a bit “different” the assurance to know that one day they will find their place and feel valued for the wonderful person that they truly are.

When the Porch sisters, Gertrude, Eugenia and Dee-Dee are expelled from yet another school of etiquette, their Aunt and Uncle threaten to send them to a corrective School for Failures in the Austrian Alps, the mysterious invitation to The Marjory Questions School of Etiquette seems like a good opportunity to avert a prison-like future. One look at the home of the school soon has the girls running as their new headmistress, the legendary pickler of brains, Millicent Quibb rounds them up with the help of Antonio. a blue hermit crab with hidden talents.

Utterly bonkers, fast paced, with more twists and turns than the Alpe D’Huez this is sure to appeal to those mad about science, adventure and theatre (or anyone who cares to pick it up and read it!).

Simply a joy and I am already looking forward to the sequel.

Rugby Academy

David Shephard & Tom Palmer

Chapter book

Celebrate the buzz of the Rugby World cup with this action-packed, globe-trotting rugby adventure from top-selling author Tom Palmer.

Borderlands First XV have their sights set on becoming the best school rugby team in the world. But while the boys focus on their matches, many of their parents are serving overseas in the armed forces, and everyone is worried as conflict grows in the Central Asian Republic. New pupil Woody is a footballer by nature and must decide if he’s prepared to give rugby his all. Rory feels like he’s losing his focus, distracted by thoughts of his parents in danger. And Owen finds himself a t the centre when conflict breaks out within the team. With so many hurdles to face along the way, how far will they get in the rigorous schools’ tournament?

Evenfall: The Golden Linnet

Alexander Armstrong

Chapter book

The central character in this debut fantasy novel by Alexander Armstrong is Sam, who lives with his father in Durham – an interesting historical city with many legends going back to the Vikings. Sam’s mother died in a mysterious crash some years earlier and Sam feels responsible for his father, who has struggled to cope since.

Sam discovers that his family was once at the heart of a secret society – The Order of the Evening – that had long protected the world. As the story progresses we discover what the long-buried secrets of Sam’s family are, and we are drawn into a battle between forces, dark and light, with a gathering of characters calling themselves the ‘Elver’ setting off on a march through England to protect ‘The Tempest’, and a sinister billionaire father-son plot to eliminate the same Tempest and steal his powers to control Bellasis, the Order’s hidden palace and the source of its powerful magic, the óthr.

Sam’s deep friendship with best friend Ish is very believable and central to the story, and it is Ish’s family who provides the support Sam needs to manage both his home life and accomplish his mission, whilst the developing friendship with Goz adds another thread to the storyline.

This is a sophisticated fantasy book at just under 400 pages and the writing and storylines are complex, with storytelling, symbolism and a fast-paced plot, so it would provide a compelling read for those children who are advanced readers and aged 10+. Highly recommended for readers who like fantasy, magic, intrigue and adventure.

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Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

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