Publisher: Scallywag Press

Cat School: Odd Cat out!

Graphic novel

First in a graphic novel trilogy featuring young kittens Tangle and Eno, and their new and neurodivergent friend Pelly.

It’s a new year at Cat School – a place where curious kittens learn to become confident cats. After overcoming their nerves, old friends Tangle and Eno look forward to their exciting new schedules. They meet their classmates—including Pelly, a neurodivergent kitten who knows she’s a little different and hides her true self to fit in. Can Tangle and Eno learn to understand her? And can Pelly hang in there long enough to understand them?

Taking the Long Way Home

Brian Fitzgerald & Jake Hope

Picturebook

Normally Zarah and her brother are collected from school by their dad, who rushes them home taking every shortcut.

But today, Uncle Jerome is collecting them, and he takes them on ‘The long way home’.

Reluctant to go further than necessary, the children complain at first, but are soon caught up in amazing adventures, as their uncle gets them to use their five senses to conjure up a world of fun and imagination.

Birds become pterodactyls, ripples in the water become crocodiles … they soon realise that the best adventures only happen on the long way home!

To Activate Space Portal Lift Here

Anoinette Portis

Picturebook

Before you lift the cover, be sure you’re ready to meet Zrk and Blrg. They’re not so different from you-but to them, you’re the alien!

After their initial shock at seeing you through the portal, they’re eager to see what kind of teeth you have, compare home planets, and maybe team up for a prank. You met as aliens, but by the time the portal closes, maybe you’ll be friends.

To Activate Space Portal, Lift Here is an interactive treat sure to delight young galactic explorers. Antoinette Portis’s bright lines and bold colours pair perfectly with humour that also offers a subtle message of acceptance. Whether for bedtime or circle time, this is a portal you’ll want to open!

I am Ray’s Imaginary Friend

Bethan Welby & Brian Moses

Chapter book

Brian Moses, a prolific and much-loved children’s poet, ventures into new territory with I Am Ray’s Imaginary Friend, his first verse novel.

From the outset, the gentle cover, light humour, and engaging narrative voice quickly draw readers in. The story is told from the perspective of Jacob, an imaginary friend created by Ray, whose warm and witty narration establishes an immediate emotional connection.

Ray’s life in his village is turned upside down when he overhears his parents discussing a potential move. Distressed and unsettled, he invents Jacob as a source of comfort. Through their conversations, Jacob helps Ray build resilience and confidence, guiding him through feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. The story sensitively explores themes of change, empathy and emotional growth, presenting them in a way that is both accessible and reassuring for young readers from 6 years upwards. It also covers the topic of a Ukrainian refugee mother and child coming to live in Ray’s new family home.

The book’s verse format enhances its accessibility. While it is a relatively quick read, the structure encourages moments of reflection. I Am Ray’s Imaginary Friend is a comforting and thoughtful story about coping with change. Its uplifting conclusion leaves room for the return of Jacob, offering a reassuring sense of continuity and hope.

Bear’s Perfect Dance

Rachel Tilda Wolf

Picturebook

The story follows Bear, who is determined to perform the ‘perfect’ dance. As you’d expect, things don’t quite go to plan. What makes this book shine is the gentle way it explores themes of perfectionism, resilience, and self-acceptance, ideas that need discussion in all classrooms. Many children will recognise that feeling of wanting to get something exactly right, and Bear’s journey helps normalise making mistakes along the way.

The illustrations are bright and expressive, making it easy to keep even the youngest learners engaged during story time. They also give you lots to talk about, including facial expressions, movement and how emotions are shown visually.

From a teaching perspective, this book lends itself nicely to PSHE discussions, growth mindset activities, and even a bit of drama. You could easily extend it into a movement or dance lesson, letting children create their own imperfect dances and celebrate individuality. It’s also a good starting point for talking about trying again after things don’t go as planned.

This charming and accessible book fits comfortably into early years and KS1 settings. It’s not overly complicated, but that’s exactly its strength, it delivers an important message in a way that young children can genuinely connect with.

Wolf in the City

Rachel Tilda Wolf

Picturebook

This is the author’s debut picture book and it is a magnificent entry into the world of picture books.

Rachel Tilda Wolf has written a heart-warming story of a wolf who feels there is more to life out there in the big city and doesn’t want to be the only wolf in the village only statue in the village. She feels neglected and underappreciated. Though she soon realises that not everyone in the city is as friendly as everyone back home, in her town square, and perhaps she was happiest back where she belonged-even with the pigeons! Upon the wolf’s return, a party is held in the town square in her honour and she now understands that she was missed and is important to the locals.

The illustrations throughout are stunning and have all been done by the author. Each page has so much detail that you will find yourself becoming immersed in the story-wondering about all the people that could be seen and what the buildings might be home to.

Elki is Not My Dog

Elena Arevalo Melville & Tonka Uzu

Picturebook

When a small group of children befriend a stray dog, the entire community is inspired to become involved.

Elki does not have a home – she is a stray dog who finds kindness in the company of a little group of children. They play together during the day, but Elki must stay alone outside every night because dogs are not allowed in their block of flats. One day Elki disappears and is found injured. Who will look after her and how?

Written by an award-winning picture book creator.

One-Button and the Sea

Sara Stanley & Viviane Schwarz

Picturebook

Through collaborative story telling, a child and his grandfather explore a traumatic experience they have shared.

‘Grandpa, tell me the story again of when we went to sea. That’s a BIG story, One-Button.

How does it begin? It begins with the uprooting . . .’

And so Grandpa tells the story of how he and One-Button and their whole community were uprooted from their everyday lives, and how they all had to take to sea in different boats. Until one day everything changed, and they were able to return home and resume their previous lives…different, but the same.

The Smile Shop

Satoshi Kitamura

Picturebook

The Smile Shop, by Satoshi Kitamura, is a wonderful book which will appeal to both young child and adult reader as they follow the boy around a bustling market, trying to decide how to spend his pocket money, before the eventual pay-off that kindness and connection are more important than cash.

The boy’s internal monologue will be instantly familiar to children as he queries and wonders at the world around him, and worries what to do after his pennies are lost (“How would you feel? What will he do?).

Beyond the beautifully concise wording and enticing storyline, The Smile Shop is filled with detailed but deceptively simple images. The busy market, diverse characters, and expressive faces remind me of Quentin Blake in his ability to convey emotion and character with a few simple lines (the grumpy nun at the grocers stall a particular favourite). Muted colours rule throughout, including a switch to monochrome when the money is lost, with just the boy standing out in his bright red scarf and blue jumper, the centre of his own world, as children are.

Taken as a whole, this simple story with a big message will be a wonderful addition to any EYFS or KS1 bookshelf.

On Poetry Street

Brian Moses & Mark Elvins

Poetry

On Poetry Street provides 52 poems, one for each week of the year.

The book begins with Brian Moses welcoming readers with a ‘simple test’ for seeing whether they are ‘hooked on words’ and can create poetry for themselves. He then invites readers to ‘walk down poetry street’ with him, introducing them to the spectacular range of poems ahead.

In this collection, the opportunities for writing poetry or engaging children in oracy opportunities are endless. There is so much playfulness and creativity on each page. This collection of poems feels to be written with fun at its centre, while also providing scaffolding for budding poets to write their own. You can see why Brian Moses is one of Britain’s favourite children’s poets. A must for every classroom bookshelf or for a teacher to keep on their desk to read aloud and inject the joy of poetry into the classroom every day.

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Publisher: Scallywag Press

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